Green Mountain
Chapter 148 - 107, Zhang Xia

Chapter 148: 107, Zhang Xia

Chen Ji gazed outside the Medical Hall — the bun shop’s front was empty, as if no one had ever stood there watching them.

He spoke, "We need to figure out whether this person is stalking the Princely Heir or the Commandery Princess. Princely Heir, have you ever been stalked by this person alone?"

The Princely Heir shook his head, "No."

"Commandery Princess, have you encountered this person when you were out alone?"

Bai Li replied, "Yes, I remember last year’s Lantern Festival at the temple fair. My brother was drinking with friends from Jianghu, and while I was with the maid guessing lantern riddles, that person was also hidden in the crowd, secretly watching me."

"Did you mention this to Lady Consort Yun?"

"I did. She told me not to overthink it and consider it a mere coincidence."

Chen Ji was slightly taken aback.

Normally, if a stranger was tracking one’s daughter, the first reaction would be to ensure her protection, not to dismiss her concerns as mere imagination.

Consort Yun likely knew who that person was.

Just then, a burst of hoofbeats interrupted Chen Ji and the others’ thoughts, and a chestnut horse stopped abruptly in front of Taiping Medical Hall.

The people in the Medical Hall paused their conversation and looked over — both the chestnut horse and its rider seemed as if they were the main characters on stage, always the most dazzling, whether playing the role of a young male lead or a female lead in a drama.

The chestnut horse was drenched in sweat, steaming in the early winter sun.

The horse’s saddle, inlaid with gold thread and jewels, carried a girl in red who dismounted, throwing her riding crop casually. The horse, as if sentient, caught the crop in its mouth.

Unbound by any tether, the horse simply stood at the entrance of the Medical Hall, going nowhere.

The girl, dressed in a sharp polo outfit, strode into Taiping Medical Hall and demanded loudly, "Who is Chen Ji?"

Everyone instinctively looked towards Chen Ji, who stood behind the counter and calmly responded, "I am."

The girl, paying no heed to others, moved up to the counter to scrutinize Chen Ji. She noted his wooden hairpin and the white-washed grey fabric of his clothes.

Looking across the mahogany counter at Chen Ji, she asked directly, "Have you studied?"

"I have."

She continued, "From ’University’, ’Analects’, ’Mengzi’, ’Doctrine of the Mean’, which are you most proficient in?"

Chen Ji hesitated, "I am not proficient in any of those."

The girl’s frown deepened, then she asked, "The Five Rites, Five Archery, Six Arts, Six Arts, Six Books, Nine Numbers – which of these arts are you proficient in?"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment before answering, "Nine Numbers should be fine."

The girl’s frown tightened even more, "Can you write poetry? If you have, show me."

Chen Ji shook his head, "I can’t."

Liu Quxing, She Dengke, Bai Li, and the Princely Heir exchanged glances, still unclear about the situation.

The girl seemed to have fallen from the sky, appearing with voracity.

Yet, the girl, standing before the counter and examining Chen Ji, was silent for a long while, as if struggling with some internal conflict.

Finally, she abruptly rolled up her sleeves and placed her slim wrist on the counter, "Treat me."

Chen Ji spoke softly, "Miss, I am just a humble apprentice here at Taiping Medical Hall, and my skills are not yet perfected. I am not qualified to treat anyone. The old man over there is my master; he is the one to see for treatment."

With a clang,

the girl pulled out a silver ingot from her waist pouch and slapped it on the counter, bluntly saying, "I want you to treat me."

Chen Ji was about to say something when he saw Old Yao already snagging the silver ingot.

Old Yao, while stuffing the ingot into his sleeve, slowly said, "When a patient makes such a request, we doctors should comply, for mental ailments are still ailments."

The girl looked at Chen Ji, "Your master has spoken; don’t dawdle."

Bai Li, seeing her domineering attitude, was about to step forward to argue but was pulled back to her spot by the Princely Heir.

Chen Ji scrutinized the girl, whose head was adorned with a deep red jade hairpin, clear as the evening’s fiery clouds, her phoenix eyes full of sharpness.

Yet, what did he know about treating diseases?

When Chen Ji first time-traveled, he considered brushing up on his medical skills. However, he soon discovered that Old Yao’s Direct Disciple taught not medical arts but the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture, so he quickly gave up on the idea.

Now, how was he supposed to diagnose patients?

After a moment of silence, Chen Ji said, "Miss, I need to ask you a few questions. After you answer, I will rate them based on my judgment with these five levels: ’none,’ ’mild,’ ’moderate,’ ’severe,’ ’very severe.’ Is that okay?"

He was familiar with this.

The girl opposite the counter was initially stunned and then her expression turned serious, "Are you making fun of me?"

Chen Ji calmly responded, "It was you who started playing games with me first."

The fiery girl frowned, "When have I played you?"

Chen Ji replied, "You’re not here for a consultation. As soon as you entered, you started asking all sorts of irrelevant questions. I don’t even know who you are or what your name is. Answering those questions was already very polite of me."

The girl pursed her lips, "I just wanted to see what you have learned after spending two years in the medical hall."

Chen Ji calmly said, "What I have or haven’t learned is none of your business. I believe you are a forthright person; if you have something to say, you can just say it directly, without needing to probe indirectly."

The girl didn’t explode with anger; instead, she slowly calmed down, "You really are as the rumors in the street describe."

"How do the rumors describe me?"

After a moment of thought, the girl said, "The street rumors say that you are dull and strange, with unpredictable moods. You gamble excessively and frequent places like Hongyi Lane. And that you joined Taiping Medical Hall as an apprentice because your family kicked you out."

Chen Ji nodded, "What they say is true indeed."

The girl was taken aback, "You aren’t going to argue?"

Chen Ji smiled and replied, "If it’s the truth, there’s no need to argue... or, there’s no need to argue with you."

The girl raised an eyebrow, "I’m Zhang Xia."

"Zhang Xia?" Chen Ji looked puzzledly to the side, where Liu Quxing was frantically gesturing, his motions completely incomprehensible.

Zhang Xia questioned, "You haven’t heard of me?"

Chen Ji honestly said, "I haven’t."

Standing outside the counter, Zhang Xia continued indifferently, "You don’t have to pretend that you haven’t heard of me. I came to the medical hall today to tell you something: where I want to go or what I want to do in the future is my own business, and you shouldn’t interfere. Obsessing over it will only bring trouble upon yourself."

"As long as you behave properly, I will provide you with silver every month. But you must not go to the gambling house nor Hongyi Lane again. If I find out that you’ve disgraced me, I will cut off your allowance."

"Also, try to limit your dealings with the Chen family. During festivals and holidays, I will arrange for gifts to be sent on your behalf, but you’d better not go back often."

The Taiping Medical Hall quieted down.

She Dengke paused while weighing medicine with copper scales, Liu Quxing’s mouth hung open wide enough to fit a whole bun, and the Princely Heir’s grip on Bai Li’s arm tightened.

Old Yao slowly stroked his pure white beard, his expression complex.

Chen Ji sighed lightly, "Miss Zhang Xia, have you misunderstood something? I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Zhang Xia leaned on the counter, her voice stern, "My father is currently at your Chen Mansion. Are you saying you don’t understand? I am here just to give you a heads-up on how to behave in the future."

Seeing her direct approach, Chen Ji dropped all the chess pieces into the basket and laid his cards on the table, "Second Miss Zhang, I don’t even visit the Chen Mansion; they can’t decide anything for me. I can see that you look down on me. In that case, why don’t you go persuade your father to abandon this absurd idea?"

Zhang Xia shook her head, "It’s the command of the parents; their decision is final. Besides, to me, who my partner is doesn’t make much difference, as long as they are obedient. You shouldn’t feel mistreated; as the legitimate daughter marrying you the bastard, I’m actually enhancing your status. From now on, you won’t have to worry about food or clothing, and can live comfortably."

Chen Ji looked across the counter at Zhang Xia, "Please go back and tell Lord Zhang that I will sign a contract with Prince Jing today, and ask him not to think about the cement formula anymore. Second Miss Zhang, regardless of what you think, I currently have no plans to settle down. Please leave."

Zhang Xia was taken aback, "You don’t think highly of me? What gives you the right? You’re nothing compared to your legitimate brother Chen Wenzong; I don’t know what my father sees in you."

Bai Li finally couldn’t restrain himself and interjected, "What you just described is no different from being a marital pawn. Even if Chen Ji is a bastard, he wouldn’t lack the backbone to enter into your Zhang Family as such."

Zhang Xia glanced sideways at Bai Li, "And who are you? What does his matters have to do with you?"

Bai Li was furious, "We are his close friends, and we won’t allow you to belittle him! Additionally, you say he’s inferior to Chen Wenzong, but we firmly believe he’s a hundred times stronger than both Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao!"

Zhang Xia confusedly exclaimed, "Have you lost your mind? Chen Wenzong just topped the civil service exams today, is thoroughly versed in the Four Books and the Meanings, and is proficient in the Six Arts of a gentleman. You say Chen Ji is a hundred times better than Chen Wenzong, but in what way?"

Bai Li’s veins bulged in anger, "He just is better than Chen Wenzong!"

Zhang Xia didn’t argue further with Bai Li, turning instead to Chen Ji, "If you don’t think much of me, that’s fine. Go speak with your father and let him put an end to my father’s notion. If you’re afraid to speak up, then do as I just instructed."

After speaking, Zhang Xia turned and left the medical hall.

As she stepped out of the doorway and took the whip from her horse’s mouth, she mounted the horse, "Zaozao, let’s go home!"