Chapter 34: Casual Chat

Meinang took the maids and left. Rui Zhu and Rui Bao, who had not been summoned, dared not enter to serve, so they waited in the corridor. Xu Jun Ying, Zhang Jing Yun, and Ling Xu Zi made their own tea and continued chatting.

Zhang Jing Yun said to Ling Xu Zi, “Your master, Wei Zhen Ren, has a great love for orchids. I didn’t expect that the Third Master and Third Madam of this household are also connoisseurs who are obsessed with orchids. They have collected and cultivated many varieties of orchids. The number of varieties is beyond imagination, and among them is the Jiang Bei, Xue Lan, which Wei Zhen Ren carefully cultivated. It blooms all year round with a fragrant and elegant scent, so they specially placed it in their bedroom and study. If it weren’t for the young madam inviting you to diagnose Third Madam’s pulse, I, too, would not have paid attention to such matters and wouldn’t have recognized the unusual qualities of that orchid. Third Madam’s relationship with her children is quite shallow!”

Ling Xu Zi sighed softly, “Master carefully nurtured the Jiang Bei Xue Lan, but never told us about its characteristics. Once, when Master went on a journey, the eldest senior brother was in charge of the orchid. A friend came to visit, and because of the orchid’s pure white blossoms and fragrance, he repeatedly asked for it. Unable to refuse, the eldest senior brother secretly gave him a pot. When Master returned and found out, he went to retrieve the orchid, but by then, it had been given away to several people. Master then revealed that the scent of this orchid had a special property it could cause infertility in women. The news spread, and many women who loved orchids were at risk. The eldest senior brother was severely punished for this. At the time, I was still young and only knew that Master and my senior brothers were looking for the lost orchids, but I didn’t expect that the Third Master and Third Madam of this household also had this variety. You should have mentioned its dangers to them earlier. This orchid should only be grown in the outer courtyard, in an open area, and should never be given to young women!”

Zhang Jing Yun nodded. “I’ve already explained the dangers and provided an antidote, but it will take some time to recover.”

Xu Jun Ying felt embarrassed. “You came to catch up with me, and yet you’re worrying about my family’s troubles. No need for thanks!”

Ling Xu Zi smiled and said, “Jing Yun and I met in the deep forests of the eastern mountains when we were only eight or nine years old. He had come with his master and stayed for six years. Later, our masters allowed us to travel together. He took me to the northern grasslands, where we met you and another person. Although we weren’t from the military camp, we lived and died together, shared our hearts, and have been close friends for years. So, why would we keep our distance?”

Xu Jun Ying recalled the past with emotion, smiling as he poured tea for both of them. “You two saved my life. If not for you, I doubt I would have made it through that time. You came just to rescue us from danger… You haven’t seen him in two or three years, right? How did he find you this time? Didn’t you all go back to your masters? Why are you together again?”

Ling Xu Zi lowered his eyes while Zhang Jing Yun replied, “It was a stroke of luck that he found me. As for Ling Xu Zi, perhaps he should now be called Xia Xue Yuan? But he refuses to take off his Daoist robe when he was four years old, he was gravely ill and nearly died. His father, in desperation, sent him to Master Wei in his hometown, where he became a young Daoist and survived. His father, however, could not bear to part with him. The Xia family is a prominent family in Jiangnan, and his father only has one son. Master Wei, seeing his plight, made a pact with him if the Xia family had another son, Ling Xu Zi would not need to return, if not, when he turned twenty-five, he would shed his Daoist robe, return to the Xia family, marry, and have children to continue the family line. Now, Master Wei is going to the capital to cultivate, under the guise of sending Ling Xu Zi back to visit his parents, but in truth, he was expelled by his master. He didn’t go home but came to find me. So here we are, caught in a trap, both summoned to the capital!”

Xu Jun Ying looked at Ling Xu Zi in surprise. “So, Xia Xue Yuan will leave the Dao and marry? That’s great news!”

Ling Xu Zi hung his head, feeling dejected. “What’s so great about it? Imagine, if you were to leave the monastic life, what would your state of mind be? For me to leave the Dao… it might be even harder than that!”

Zhang Jing Yun chuckled, and Ling Xu Zi glared at him. “What are you laughing at? My master once told me that even if I leave the Dao, I can still cultivate myself. This robe is not something I absolutely must discard! As for you, could you not enter that door?”

Zhang Jing Yun wiped the smile off his face, his sickly yellow face becoming rigid and cold. “What’s the point of entering? When my mother died, I severed ties with him. I have no relationship with him anymore.”

Xu Jun Ying sighed. “You can’t just sever ties with close relatives like that. At the time, you fled the family when you were only five or six years old. Your master took you away from the capital. I heard he searched for you for years, feeling deeply sorrowful. After all, you were the legitimate eldest son…”

Zhang Jing Yun’s voice became filled with anger. “Don’t mention the legitimate eldest son to me I only know my mother, not my father!”

Ling Xu Zi looked at him. “I’ve never met the Duke of Jing Guo, but when you entered the capital, you had to wear this human mask. I can guess that you and he must be quite alike. The truth is, you can’t ignore it. Can you really avoid seeing him for your whole life?”

Zhang Jing Yun sneered. “A lifetime is not that long. The world is so big, I don’t necessarily need to stay in the capital. My maternal grandparents are old, and I can only visit them twice a year. With my uncle here, it’s not a problem. But I didn’t want to be summoned by him to come live in the capital for a long time!”

Xu Jun Ying said, “The night before you arrived, he went to the Yi Yun Mountain Villa outside the city. The Empress suddenly wanted to look at the stars… He probably heard your news and will return to the palace soon. Since marrying the Empress, he’s been very affectionate toward her. The Empress is weak, and although she’s finally pregnant with the emperor’s child, she’s frequently ill. The imperial physicians have no good solution. He called you here to treat the Empress’s health. You’ll likely stay until she gives birth.”

Ling Xu Zi looked at Zhang Jing Yun and sighed. “What’s the big deal? If I had known, I wouldn’t have looked for you. It’s better if I… well! The royal family has the Yi Yun Mountain Villa, and you have the Gui Yun Mountain Villa what’s the connection between them?”

Zhang Jing Yun lazily replied, “My mother raised me and didn’t want me to be part of the Zhang family’s genealogy, so she gave me the name Jing Yun. Gui Yun Mountain Villa was specially built by my maternal grandfather for me, to bring me back home. It has nothing to do with the royal family’s Yi Yun Mountain Villa.”

Xu Jun Ying laughed. “It really is just a coincidence. The Empress’s maiden name also has the character ‘Yun’. The Yi Yun Mountain Villa was built specifically for her. Gui Yun and Yi Yun Villas are located far apart, one in the south and one in the north, about seventy or eighty miles apart!”

“Ah, I see.” Ling Xu Zi looked at Zhang Jing Yun and said seriously, “The Xia family has shops and estates in the capital. I don’t want to disturb them, so I’ll stay at Gui Yun Mountain Villa. If you’re bothered by me, just say so, and I’ll build a ‘Liu Yun’ Villa tomorrow!”

The three of them laughed heartily. Xu Jun Ying said, “There’s one more thing I need to tell you: there has been a small battle in the west. We just received good news that Prince Qi defeated the enemy, but he was seriously injured and is being rushed back to the capital. Prince Qi is the emperor’s younger brother, and he is strong and skilled. He went to the western front at sixteen and stayed there for three years. But this time, he returned seriously wounded. The Empress Dowager is heartbroken, and the Emperor doesn’t want anything to happen to his younger brother. After seeing the Empress, they may send you to the west to meet Prince Qi. I’ll accompany you when the time comes!”

Zhang Jing Yun nodded. “It’s just injuries to muscles and bones, nothing serious. As long as the medics stop the bleeding and take good care of him, we can help as soon as we catch up!”

Ling Xu Zi suddenly remembered something, looked at Xu Jun Ying, and said, “Your young madam’s pulse is very good, but she has been bedridden for a long time and hasn’t been able to move. Her muscles

and bones are still weak, so she’s not fragile enough to be blown away by the wind. But if she falls, she might hurt herself. When I checked her pulse earlier, I noticed some scratches on the back of her hand, and there seems to be a slight accumulation of blood in her muscles. It looks like she’s had a hard fall. Normally, she wouldn’t need medicine and would recover on her own, but I see that she’s strong-willed and doesn’t take care of herself well. You should give her this bottle of Li Uhe Pills. One pill a day will help her regain her strength.”

Xu Jun Ying declined. “Li Uhe Pills are the result of your master’s lifelong work. They’re precious and invaluable. It’s better to keep them for an emergency. She’s already recovering well.”

Ling Xu Zi placed a jade bottle on the table. “Give it to her. She has the fortune to receive it. Before Master entered the capital, he had me memorize the formula for this pill and then burned it. I can make it myself how much do you need?”

Zhang Jing Yun glanced at Xu Jun Ying and teased, “Don’t you want your young madam to be healthy? You’re an expert in military strategy, but your eyesight is also sharp. You’ve married a beautiful and gentle wife, and you have a lovely child. This life must be fulfilling. As for me and Xia Xue Yuan, we’re far less fortunate. We may never find someone who truly understands us!”

Xu Jun Ying said nothing but took the small jade bottle in his hands, smiling on the outside while feeling bitter inside.