Pharmacist Jiang had originally been sent by Pei Xiong Ji to look after Pei Yuan Jin.
Everyone else was marveling at Pei Yuan Jin’s glorious exploits in Southern Yu. Only his own father was concerned about whether he had been left with any hidden injuries. Before Pei Yuan Jin, martial artists’ understanding of battles at the Martial King level or above was simple: one dead, one injured. Pei Yuan Jin had taken three cities in succession. Who knew what kind of hidden damage that might have caused?
But when Pharmacist Jiang later examined Pei Yuan Jin and discovered that his true essence had transformed into a Golden Core, he was practically beside himself with joy.
When he heard that Pei Yuan Jin had spent a period unable to use true qi, he could not help complaining, “You dared hide something this serious and not report it? If the Palace Master knew, he would certainly fly into a rage.”
Fu Xi Yan could not picture the perpetually smiling Pei Xiong Ji flying into a rage.
Jiang Xiu was only saying it for form’s sake. Right now, when he looked at Pei Yuan Jin, he might as well have been looking at mountains of gold and silver. Fu Xi Yan chattered beside him for ages before realizing that Jiang Xiu still had his hand pressed to Pei Yuan Jin’s wrist and refused to move even a step away. The light in his eyes only grew brighter. He had not paid the slightest attention to anything Fu Xi Yan said.
Fu Xi Yan coughed dryly. “Pharmacist Jiang, did you hear anything I just said?”
Without raising his head, Jiang Xiu said, “His face is radiant and his voice is full and strong. Why would I need to care what you’re saying?”
Fu Xi Yan switched into a booming announcer’s voice. “Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, Lixia has just passed, and we are about to joyfully welcome Grain Buds.”
Jiang Xiu turned and glared at him for being noisy.
Seizing the opening, Fu Xi Yan asked, “Pharmacist Jiang, can you refine pills?”
“No. All I can do is bathe, burn incense, and pray for pills to fall from the heavens. That’s exactly how the Harmonized Yang Pill was refined!” Jiang Xiu’s sarcasm was turned all the way up.
Fu Xi Yan continued, “What about the Golden Origin Pill?”
Jiang Xiu: “…”
Fu Xi Yan handed him the formula.
Looking at the circles and crosses beside the medicinal ingredients, Jiang Xiu asked in confusion, “What do these mean?”
“A circle means we’ve already found the ingredient. A cross means there’s a chance it might fall out of the sky in the next couple of days.” Fu Xi Yan smiled. “After all, that’s basically how the Riverbed Moon Begonia and Dragon Spring Slough fell into our hands.”
Jiang Xiu had never heard of either ingredient and asked suspiciously, “You truly found both of these?”
Fu Xi Yan was willing to stake Prince Yue’s reputation on the Riverbed Moon Begonia. As for the Dragon Spring Slough… he said modestly, “Would you give it an expert look?”
Jiang Xiu went to inspect the supposed Dragon Spring Slough.
After thinking for a while, he said, “A shed snakeskin is itself a medicinal ingredient. It clears heat and toxins, calms fright, and dispels wind. People say there were originally no dragons in the world, only snakes that were mythologized into dragons. It is entirely possible that a dragon molt is simply a snake molt with stronger medicinal effects.”
Fu Xi Yan asked, “So is it one or not?”
Jiang Xiu continued, “Snakes are cold by nature, so their molts are cooling as well. Birds, however, are warm by nature. Tell me, then, would the tail of a Red Peng be cool or warm? And spring is a warm season.”
Fu Xi Yan had not been particularly confident about the Dragon Spring Slough to begin with. After hearing that explanation, he became… even more lost in the clouds.
Jiang Xiu glanced at him and shook his head. “The amount of Moon Begonia required for pill refinement is small. We can try refining it first. If something turns out wrong, we can adjust it afterward.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…” A conclusion this dependent on fate really did not require all that exquisite analysis beforehand!
“Now we’re only missing the final ingredient.” Jiang Xiu looked at him.
Fu Xi Yan understood. “I’ll go pray for Daddy Heaven to love me one more time!”
Jiang Xiu also knew how difficult it was to find rare spiritual medicines. He quickly withdrew his attention and returned it to Pei Yuan Jin. Jiang Xiu had contributed considerably when the Sacred Flame Art was improved, so he understood Pei Yuan Jin’s physical condition extremely well. Yet the changes before him now lay completely outside his expectations. How could he not be delighted by such a fascinating case?
Fu Xi Yan went outside and found Yu Su Huan pacing by the door. “Aunt Yu, are you looking for Yuan Jin?”
Yu Su Huan stopped. “How is the Young Master’s condition?”
“He’s still being examined…” Fu Xi Yan’s eyes shifted. “Aunt Yu, are you actually looking for Pharmacist Jiang?”
Yu Su Huan had indeed come to find Jiang Xiu.
“I want to ask Pharmacist Jiang to travel north with me.”
She had already accepted that she and her beloved were separated by life and death. Now that she had finally seen a glimmer of hope, naturally she wanted to seize it tightly. If the sachet he carried had been torn into such a state, what condition must the person carrying it be in?
Even now she could not imagine how he had survived, or what terrible price he might have paid. If she brought Jiang Xiu north with her and her husband truly had some problem, having a physician at hand would at least be better.
Fu Xi Yan looked at her, wanting to speak but holding back.
Yu Su Huan said, “I know the north has stationed troops along the Northern Border and may go to war with Northern Zhou. I also know I don’t know martial arts, and traveling north will not be safe. But I still have to go. Even if I die on the road, I have to go.”
If she had said all that in a burst of agitation, Fu Xi Yan might still have tried to persuade her. But she was so calm that she had clearly thought it through carefully rather than acting on impulse. In that case, Fu Xi Yan could only be impulsive himself for once.
“I’ll go with you.”
Yu Su Huan smiled gently. “Northern Zhou is on the verge of great turmoil. How could you possibly get away?”
Fu Xi Yan said, “A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall. It’s precisely because great turmoil is coming that I need to get away.”
Would Yu Su Huan want Fu Xi Yan to accompany her? Naturally she would. If he went, Pei Yuan Jin would inevitably go as well. The two men’s combat power and destructive ability no longer required any further practical demonstration. But Fu Xi Yan still had the Count Yongfeng Estate behind him. He was not a lone wanderer with no ties. She advised tactfully, “Your uncle is still in Haojing. Why not discuss it with him first?”
Fu Xi Yan remembered that Fu Xuan’s appointment had not yet come down, so he did not dare promise too much.
* * *
As for Fu Xuan’s appointment, the actual decision-maker, Emperor Jianhong, was still undecided. He had originally intended to summon Pu Jiu Lin, but hesitated before giving the order and called Shi Wei Liang instead.
Because Fu Xi Yan had returned to his post, Shi Wei Liang had been summoned frequently in recent days and had grown thoroughly accustomed to it. He took the initiative to report the latest news about Fu Xi Yan.
Emperor Jianhong asked meaningfully, “Do you think he truly found nothing, or is he deliberately shielding Rong Liang?”
Shi Wei Liang said, “Either is possible. Though perhaps he is not shielding Rong Liang.”
“Why?”
“Rong Liang and that performer appear to be preparing to flee Haojing. If Fu Xi Yan had tipped Rong Liang off, Rong Liang should be lying low now and waiting for the attention to pass, rather than rushing to leave and inviting suspicion.”
Emperor Jianhong said, “Then in your view, why do they want to leave?”
“Perhaps Fu Xi Yan was careless during the investigation and alerted them, making them suspicious.”
“How do you know he did not deliberately expose a weakness to warn them in secret?”
Shi Wei Liang bowed. “Which is why this subject said either possibility exists.”
That answer was as good as saying nothing, but Emperor Jianhong was not angry. He had repeatedly suppressed the aristocratic clans and court officials precisely to establish his unquestioned authority. Shi Wei Liang’s deferential attitude instead made him feel comfortable.
He continued, “Fu Xi Yan is an official of Zhou. Why would he help the north?”
Shi Wei Liang said, “Lord Fu is not only an official of Zhou, but also a man of the jianghu. The thoughts and positions of people in the jianghu have always been difficult to fathom.”
“True.” A trace of mockery entered Emperor Jianhong’s voice. “They speak of settling gratitude and grudges as they please, but in the end it is merely doing whatever they want without restraint.”
He paused. “Since Fu Xi Yan cannot be trusted, how do you think We should arrange Fu Xuan?”
Shi Wei Liang said, “This subject is deficient in strategy and has no answer at present. I remembered that Your Majesty once said General Fu might be sent to the Western Border, so I assume Your Majesty has already considered the matter.”
“Heh.” Emperor Jianhong pointed at him twice through the air. “We think you hide cleverness beneath clumsiness. What an old fox!”
Shi Wei Liang hurriedly knelt. “Your Majesty’s eyes are bright as torches. This subject’s tiny tricks could never escape Your Majesty’s sight!”
“Send Fu Xuan to the Western Border…” Emperor Jianhong folded both hands into his sleeves and closed his eyes in thought for a while before saying, “Duke Haixi is advanced in years and cannot remain in that bitterly cold land forever. Sooner or later he must return to Haojing to spend his old age. The Ji family’s roots in the Western Border are rock-solid. If Fu Xuan goes there, he will find it difficult to establish himself independently within two or three years and will still have to rely on the Ji family. Meanwhile, Ji Chou Ying in the Southern Border will need the Fu family’s support. Exchanging generals between the two borders means cooperation benefits both, while division harms both. Even if they cooperate, they will need time to adjust. For at least three to five years, the Ji and Fu families will keep their attention on managing their military affairs.”
Words like these were not really things the Left Censor-in-Chief ought to hear.
Shi Wei Liang remained prostrate on the floor and pretended he did not exist.
Emperor Jianhong said, “Summon Fu Xi Yan to the palace.”
Shi Wei Liang raised his head. “Your Majesty, Fu Xi Yan is a man of the jianghu.”
Emperor Jianhong sneered. “If he wanted to assassinate Us, do you think these palace walls could stop him?”
Shi Wei Liang refused to yield. “If Your Majesty has something to say, this subject can convey it.”
Emperor Jianhong grew somewhat impatient, but after thinking about it, changed his mind. “Fine. We will not waste your loyalty. Go find Fu Xi Yan and have him arrest Rong Liang and that woman. We want solid evidence before making the arrests! Then have him interrogate them himself. Once he has finished and gotten everything clear, bring the result into the palace. We will reward his uncle with a post as a senior general on the Western Border!”
Call it slapping Fu Xi Yan in the face and it was actually giving him face. Call it giving him face and it was still quite a slap. Emperor Jianhong’s move was an open scheme through and through. As long as Fu Xi Yan was not genuinely stupid, he would understand the meaning behind it.
The moment Shi Wei Liang left the palace gates, he headed straight for Count Yongfeng Estate.
Fu Xi Yan had received Lou Wu Zai’s farewell letter and was preparing to leave the city to see him off when Shi Wei Liang blocked him right at the gate.
Shi Wei Liang asked casually, “Where is Lord Fu going?”
“To see off a friend.” Fu Xi Yan guessed Shi Wei Liang had come looking for him and said, “Would Lord Shi like to come along? We can talk on the way.”
“Lord Fu, there is official business.”
Fu Xi Yan frowned. “What unfortunate timing.”
Shi Wei Liang said speechlessly, “Today is not a rest day.” Do you truly feel no shame at all being caught skipping work at home by your superior?
Fu Xi Yan asked, “What official business?” He had already made up his mind to send Shi Wei Liang away first, then go see his friend off.
Unfortunately, Shi Wei Liang was plainly not as easy to dismiss as Fu Xi Yan had imagined. Fu Xi Yan ended up mounted on a horse borrowed from one of Shi Wei Liang’s subordinates and was forced to ride all the way toward the Rong residence.
Looking at Shi Wei Liang riding not far ahead, he could not help asking, “Lord Shi, don’t you have anything else to do?”
Shi Wei Liang said, “Lord Fu borrowed a horse. If I follow along, it’ll be more convenient to return it afterward.”
…
Fu Xi Yan said, “Actually, I can run faster than a horse. How about I give it back now?”
Shi Wei Liang looked back at him with a half-smile. “When arresting someone, sitting on horseback always looks more imposing than standing in the street.”
Fu Xi Yan said, “Arresting someone mainly depends on manpower.”
“Don’t worry. We have plenty.”
Ever since Rong Yue fled north, the entire Rong family had lived in constant fear, terrified that one day the emperor, who could have their heads cut off, would remember this group of “relatives of a traitorous minister.” So when the Censorate officers charged into the Rong residence, the family was alarmed but also carried the resignation of people who had long expected this blade to fall eventually. Shi Wei Liang, fearing the matter would grow too large, personally went to explain the situation to several Rong family elders.
Fu Xi Yan remained at the entrance and watched Rong Liang being brought out.
Rong Liang had previously been taken away and questioned by people Wei Li Ming sent. He had thought he was exposed and spent several days terrified and suspicious of everything, only to be released almost immediately. When the court showed no further movement, he guessed that the people who interrogated him had not been officials of the imperial court and prepared to flee. Before he could put the plan into action, however, he was arrested.
After Rong Liang was taken, the spy hiding in the opera troupe was captured as well.