Green Mountain
Chapter 80 - 66, Two Si Cao

Chapter 80: 66, Two Si Cao

The beginning of the story is always tender, the ending always cruel.

The more fun they had in playing, the harsher they were punished afterward.

At dawn, in the main hall of Taiping Medical Hall, She Dengke and Liu Quxing stood in line at the counter.

Old Yao went to the backyard and brought out two bamboo sticks, beating them until they howled like ghosts and wolves, "Learned to stay out all night drinking, have you? Did your parents fork over tuition fees to send you here just so you could drink? You can’t even take pulses accurately, how can I rely on you to diagnose patients?"

Liu Quxing wailed, "Master, I can take accurate pulses; it’s She Dengke who can’t!"

She Dengke cried so hard he blew bubbles from his nose, "Liu Quxing, your grandpa!"

At this moment, Old Yao turned fiercely and eyed Chen Ji on the bamboo chair, who was watching the play: "And you!"

Chen Ji rolled his eyes, "Master, my wound hurts so much."

Then, he pretended to faint.

However, Old Yao ignored this and swept down a bamboo stick barrage until Chen Ji screamed himself awake, "Master, I’m injured, I’m injured!"

"Now you remember you’re injured? Why didn’t you think of that while you were having fun!" Old Yao continued to lash out at his apprentices in turns. If one stick broke, he took up another, and everyone understood why he brought out two bamboo sticks to begin with...

After beating the apprentices, Old Yao looked toward the Princely Heir, "The Princely Heir has studied at Donglin Academy for three years and, upon returning, frequents the pleasure quarters daily; it seems the masters of Donglin aren’t much good either."

The Princely Heir unconsciously agreed, "Truly not that great..."

He suddenly realized he misspoke and hastily tried to rectify with a smile, "No, you misunderstand. It’s just that we were too happy yesterday, we truly hit it off..."

Old Yao slowly raised his hand, causing the Princely Heir to quickly shrink behind Princess Bai Li, muttering under his breath, "You must have been this impulsive in your youth too..."

Princess Bai Li stepped forward, supporting Old Yao’s arm, "Don’t be angry, don’t stoop to their level."

Old Yao raised an eyebrow, "Weren’t you also out last night? Stand back in line."

Princess Bai Li reluctantly lowered her head and stepped back into line.

Old Yao then looked at Liang Gou, "Living well in my Taiping Medical Hall, and then leading my apprentices astray?"

Liang Gou also hung his head, "Rest assured, next time I definitely won’t let them stay out all night."

Old Yao’s eyes widened and his beard bristled, "Next time?"

This old man, with hair and beard all white, was like everyone’s elder, fairly reprimanding everyone except for Liang Mao’er. The Princely Heir and Princess Bai Li, as well as Liang Gou, all hung their heads without rebuttal...

Yet oddly, although Old Yao was just the Imperial Physician from Prince Jing Mansion, everyone, including the Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess found it completely reasonable and natural when he scolded them.

Doctor Yao spoke coldly, "Everyone stand here and reflect properly!"

Saying this, he turned and went back to the backyard, and everyone let out a relieved sigh.

Liu Quxing sobbed, "Master beat us too harshly."

Liang Gou, sprawled lazily on the counter, his elbows propped on the surface, said, "Be content. Nowadays, finding someone willing to discipline you is rare. If someone had beaten me good back in the day, perhaps I wouldn’t be drinking daily..."

Liang Gou looked at the Princely Heir, "You and the Commandery Princess needn’t stand in punishment, the old man can’t control you, why stay and take the scolding?"

The Princely Heir chuckled, "What are you talking about? Good friends share wealth and adversity!"

...

...

At that moment, a knocking sound came from outside: "Is Doctor Yao here?"

Everyone inside Taiping Medical Hall breathed metaphorically, salvation arrives with visitors!

Doctor Yao leisurely returned to the main hall and glanced at She Dengke, "Roll out and Open the Door!"

She Dengke hurried outside and soon led the guest into the backyard.

Chen Ji looked up, only to see the smiling Shopkeeper Yuan from Bailu Pavilion holding two bags of things, with fruits, pastries, and even a fresh leg of lamb.

In that moment, all dreams, songstresses, and sweet wine dispersed like smoke for Shopkeeper Yuan’s visit, making last night seem like only a pleasant dream.

Since the injury, Chen Ji felt as if he was far from conflict, learning fisticuffs at Qingshan side-by-side with the pranks of the Princely Heir.

It was a fulfilling and stable life, as if the shadows of the past had indeed receded, never to return.

But he knew, whatever was destined would come.

Old Yao asked, "I just restocked medicinal materials at my Taiping Medical Hall a few days ago; why does Shopkeeper Yuan come in person? Don’t you have business to run?"

Shopkeeper Yuan responded with a cheerful tone, "An apprentice from Bailu Pavilion mentioned seeing Chen Ji carried around injured yesterday on the street, so I thought to check on him."

Chen Ji knew that his yesterday’s flaunting with the Princely Heir and Commandery Princess had likely attracted the attention of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department.

He knew they might come but didn’t expect their arrival so soon.

Old Yao glanced at Shopkeeper Yuan, speaking sparingly, "Shopkeeper Yuan, a busy man, yet visiting such a minor apprentice in my Taiping Medical Hall?"

Shopkeeper Yuan was unbothered by the sharpness, "Previously, Dr. Chen often visited Bailu Pavilion for medicinal materials, and we clicked at first sight, so I thought to bring something and visit. You go ahead with your tasks, I’ll chat with my Dr. Chen."

Old Yao nodded, "Hmm, then you two talk. She Dengke, you roll out and fetch water; Liu Quxing, you roll out and mop the floor; Liang Mao’er, you roll out and cook; Liang Gou... you go sleep."

Liang Gou sheepishly said, "I’ve been freeloading at Taiping Medical Hall; you asking me to roll out is no problem, don’t be polite with me."

"Alright, then roll out and split some firewood!"

"Right away!"

The Princely Heir quickly offered, "We’ll also stay and do some work before leaving; Princess Bai Li, go find a cloth and wipe down the counters in the main hall..."

Princess Bai Li smiled and said, "Okay!"

Manager Yuan took advantage of everyone being busy and asked in a low voice, "Did you find that defected spy the night before last?"

Chen Ji shook his head, saying seriously, "That night, I was severely injured and passed out. I don’t know what happened afterward. But since the Spy Department hasn’t come for me yet, they probably haven’t caught him."

Manager Yuan, with his hands clasped behind his back, walked thoughtfully around the main hall, where the atmosphere suddenly solidified like ice.

The door of Taiping Medical Hall remained closed, the morning light piercing through the white paper on the window and illuminating the dim room.

Chen Ji quietly observed the other’s expression, saying nothing.

A moment later, Manager Yuan asked, "Has anyone from the Military Intelligence Department come looking for you these past two days?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "No."

Manager Yuan stared at Chen Ji, "Really no one?"

Chen Ji returned his gaze earnestly, "Really no one."

Manager Yuan dropped the topic and changed the tone, "The last batch of goods has already been sent to the North. I’m giving you one day to find a way to inform the significant figure in the Prince Mansion that it’s time to send the next batch. As soon as the goods are in place, the Division Head will head south immediately."

Chen Ji expressed his difficulty, "But Lord Si Cao, look at how injured I am, how can I contact that important figure? Can we wait until my injury has healed?"

Manager Yuan’s expression darkened, and he unexpectedly bent down to press his hand on Chen Ji’s thigh wound.

As if struck by lightning, beads of sweat the size of beans fell from Chen Ji’s forehead, and within a few breaths, his shirt on his back was drenched with sweat, yet he dared not make a sound.

Liang Gou was in the back yard, and Chen Ji could call out for him, and he would hear. But, after hearing, would everyone know he was a spy from the Military Intelligence Department?

No, he couldn’t reveal his identity.

Manager Yuan said in a low voice, "I don’t like people bargaining with me. How you contact him is your duty, not mine. You should be thankful I spared your life; do not mess up my plans."

Just then, Princess Bai Li came back from the backyard twisting a cleaning cloth, humming a little tune cheerfully.

Seeing her, Manager Yuan looked up, then whispered to Chen Ji, "No matter how, I’m only giving you one day."

"Understood."

Manager Yuan turned and left, pushing open the door only to stop as if blocked by someone.

Chen Ji’s gaze extended past him and saw outside the door a figure wearing a bamboo hat and patched clothes, holding a short knife and standing in the thin morning mist, their face obscured.

The figure stood there silently confronting Manager Yuan, neither speaking a word yet the air filled with a deadly intent.

Wait, this was another Si Cao from the Military Intelligence Department!

Chen Ji suddenly realized: if the Spy Department has the Twelve Signs, then the Si Cao of the Military Intelligence Department also wasn’t limited to one; even in Luocheng City alone, there were two: one disguised as Manager Yuan, a plump man, and another was known for wearing a ghastly mask and liking to use a short knife.

Sensing danger, Chen Ji turned to Princess Bai Li, who was wiping tables, and asked, "Commandery Princess, could you get me a glass of water?"

Princess Bai Li, unaware of the current situation, responded with a smile, "Sure, I’ll get it for you now."

After Princess Bai Li left, they heard Manager Yuan speak calmly to the other Si Cao, "What are you here for?"

The other Si Cao scoffed, "What are you here for?"

"Luocheng City is under my control now; you need to know your place," Manager Yuan said, and then boarded a carriage, quickly departing.

The Si Cao in the bamboo hat watched Chen Ji for a long time before finally leaving.

Chen Ji was baffled, Why were the two Si Caos gathered at the entrance of Taiping Medical Hall?

At this moment, Princess Bai Li brought a cup of hot water, "Here, it’s warm..."

Chen Ji did not take the water but looked up at Commandery Princess Bai Li, "Princess, can I trust you?"

Princess Bai Li smiled, "Of course, I’m very reliable."

Suddenly, Chen Ji stood up from the bamboo chair, limping towards the outside. Reaching the door, he looked back at Princess Bai Li, "After I leave, lock the door and keep my secret, please."

...

...

Chen Ji took advantage of the scanty crowd on the streets and briskly made his way to the back wall of a fabric store’s backyard.

But just as he turned into the alley, he froze, seeing Wu Yun squatting on the gray tiles against the white wall, with over a dozen Li Hua cats attentively behind him.

Opposite Wu Yun, a half-blinded Li Hua cat sat on the tiles, also followed by a dozen cats, including fat oranges and cow cats.

A great battle was about to erupt.

Chen Ji, unable to ponder what was happening, immediately waved at Wu Yun, "Wu Yun!"

Wu Yun meowed, "Step back first, don’t let the blood splatter on you."

Chen Ji: "..."

There was killing intent.

He said, "Don’t fight yet; I have a crucial task for you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yun immediately retracted his killing intent and looked at Chen Ji, "What is it?"

Chen Ji stated, "A man wearing a bamboo hat just left Taiping Medical Hall, heading south. He’s wearing patched clothes and straw shoes. If you chase him now, you can catch up. I need you to follow him quietly; I must know his real identity!"

Wu Yun meowed once more, disregarding the cats previously confronting him, and turned with a dozen Li Hua cats to scatter into the alleys, chasing southward.

Simultaneously, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the Medical Hall.

Jin Zhu lifted the carriage curtain and hopped down, arriving smilingly at the front of Taiping Medical Hall to knock on the door.

Princess Bai Li approached the door cautiously, "Who is it?"

Jin Zhu, hearing the Commandery Princess’s voice, also paused, "Hello, I’m Chen Ji’s friend. I heard he was injured and came to visit him."