Very Comfortable
Yu Jinnian finally realized that something was wrong. He hurriedly placed the hangover soup on the table and climbed onto the bed to observe Ji Hong closely. He saw that Ji Hong’s eyes were closed, his breathing was shallow, and his brows were slightly furrowed unconsciously. His lips, though red, were completely dry, resembling sun-dried rouge paper.
He gently patted Ji Hong’s shoulder and softly called, “Ah Hong, Ah Hong?”
Ji Hong furrowed his brows tightly for a moment, and after a while, he slowly opened his eyes, dazed. Seeing a delicate young face in front of him, he faintly responded with an “Mm” and reached out to gently stroke the back of the young man’s hand. Then, as if exhausted, he closed his eyes again.
“Where do you feel uncomfortable?” Yu Jinnian held his hand with one hand while the other reached into Ji Hong’s collar to feel his body. At first touch, it felt burning hot, but upon further checking, it wasn’t too high, as if a small furnace inside was slowly roasting him, causing his skin to have a faint reddish hue. Yu Jinnian tidied the man’s collar and said, “Ah Hong, get up and drink some water before going back to sleep.”
Ji Hong felt utterly fatigued at this point. Even though his mouth was dry and bitter, he didn’t want to move. He shook his head slightly with his eyes closed.
“You’re sick, you need to listen to the doctor.” Yu Jinnian didn’t allow him to argue. He quickly went to the kitchen, poured a bowl of warm water, and mixed in two spoons of honey. The honey was locust honey, fresh and sweet, known for its ability to moisten dryness and clear heat, and it was also gentle on the stomach. He carried the honey water back to the room, helped Ji Hong sit up against him, and began to feed him the water spoon by spoon.
Seeing Ji Hong merely press his lips to the spoon, seemingly disliking the sweetness, Yu Jinnian coaxed him, “It’s locust honey water, drink some.”
Ji Hong resisted for a while, then reluctantly opened his mouth and slowly drank half the bowl, one sip at a time.
After drinking, he didn’t immediately lie down but leaned against the young man’s chest, resting his face on Yu Jinnian’s chest. He caught a faint scent of rice porridge, a smell he usually liked for its warmth and calmness. But today, it felt slightly cloying, making his stomach uncomfortable. Still, he clung to the warmth of the young man, even though the urge to retch in his throat grew stronger, refusing to let go.
Yu Jinnian held him, looking down. This man, who was usually so striking, now had a beautiful flush on his face due to the fever. Even his eyelids were tinged with a soft pink from the heat. The intense color reminded Yu Jinnian of a word that didn’t seem to match Ji Hong at all—”radiant.” Indeed, he seemed more radiant than flowers. But because of this, Yu Jinnian felt even more guilty.
Had he known this would happen, he wouldn’t have let him drink so much yesterday.
The liquor they had, “Pizhenchun,” was strong and easy to get drunk on, and in a moment of foolishness, Yu Jinnian had taken out a jar of spiced “Rouge Wine” to drink—Rouge Wine, the choice of those libertine sons of noble families who frequented pleasure houses. A jar of Rouge Wine would be nothing to them.
But Yu Jinnian had forgotten that the tonic herbs in that wine, which were supposed to strengthen the body, were too much for Ji Hong at this time. Combined with the strength of the Pizhenchun, and the fact that they had indulged during the day and again at night, it was no wonder that by the end of the night, all these factors had set Ji Hong ablaze with fever.
Thinking back to the chaos of the previous day, Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but feel his face heat up. Although he had touched others’ bodies many times in his years as a physician, touching Ji Hong somehow made him feel shy. Even now, his palms still felt hot. Looking at Ji Hong’s flushed face, he reached out to brush away the stray hair on Ji Hong’s face and whispered, “Do you feel very uncomfortable?”
Ji Hong felt his eyelids burning and didn’t want to worry him, so he shook his head again. Then, he tilted his head and pressed the young man’s palm under his head.
Feeling the man’s dry, hot breath against his hand, Yu Jinnian felt a shiver run through his entire body but couldn’t bear to pull his hand away. Instead, he nervously asked, “Could you get up and eat something?”
Ji Hong replied, “I don’t want to eat.”
“Then sleep for now, and eat when you wake up.” Yu Jinnian touched his forehead and added, “I’ll stay with you.”
At first, Ji Hong merely dozed against Yu Jinnian, worried that his weight might make the young man’s arms and legs go numb. But as the fever set in, with his head dizzy and his stomach nauseous, he soon fell into a deep, dark sleep.
Yu Jinnian had already taken care of the shop earlier, and with Qing Huan looking after things outside, he wasn’t in a hurry about business. He stayed in the room with Ji Hong, adjusting the blankets whenever Ji Hong felt hot or cold. After more than half an hour, Ji Hong fell into a deep sleep. Yu Jinnian, thinking it wasn’t good for him to burn up like this, carefully laid him down on the bed. After taking his pulse and tucking him in, he quietly left the room.
As soon as he closed the door, he ran into Qing Huan, who had come looking for him.
“Brother Nian, you’re finally out.” Qing Huan curiously peeked into their room. “What’s going on, why hasn’t Master Ji gotten out of bed yet?”
Yu Jinnian, embarrassed to explain why Ji Hong was ill, vaguely said, “He drank too much yesterday and developed a fever. Let him sleep a bit longer.” He then asked Qing Huan, “Did you need something?”
Qing Huan quickly replied, “Oh, someone just came by, looking for work. He’s a sturdy fellow, I thought he looked pretty good, so I had him wait in the front and said I’d have the boss come take a look.” She grinned and added, “He really is good-looking, quite proper…”
Yu Jinnian nodded and followed Qing Huan to the front. Sure enough, there was a man waiting at the counter. He had a broad, rugged face, carried an old straw hat on his back, and was dressed in black, standing tall and straight. His height and the way he carried himself made him look like a towering poplar tree.
He looked like a hero, dignified and imposing, not at all like someone who would be a simple worker.
Seeing the man, Yu Jinnian glanced back at Qing Huan, who was standing behind him, then chuckled. “Looks like Sister Qing Huan has a little something going on in her heart!”
“Brother Nian, what are you saying!” Qing Huan, flustered, playfully hit him on the back but snuck another glance at the man, muttering, “But I’m not wrong, he is proper…”
Yu Jinnian shook his head with a smile and walked over. He found the man somewhat familiar, but couldn’t immediately recall where he had seen him. For now, he set the thought aside, took out some ink and paper from the counter, and neatly wrote down a few medicinal ingredients—bupleurum root, pinellia, codonopsis, along with scutellaria and licorice. It was the recipe for Xiaochaihu Decoction. Xiaochaihu Decoction was a famous remedy for Shaoyang syndrome, known for harmonizing Shaoyang, supporting the body’s defenses, and expelling pathogenic factors. It treated alternating chills and fever, discomfort in the chest and ribs, lack of appetite, irritability, and nausea. “Just seeing one of these symptoms is enough,” as they say—it was also a wonderful remedy for dispelling hangovers and soothing the liver. Whether before or after drinking, it worked like a charm.
He deliberated over the prescription for a moment before handing it to Qing Huan. “My dear Qing Huan, be meticulous when you fetch these herbs—they’re for Ah Hong.”
The man with the straw hat suddenly moved, a look of urgency flashing across his face.
Qing Huan glanced at the man a few times before leaving with the prescription. As she walked away, she brushed her sleeve lightly against the man. After Qing Huan had left, Yu Jinnian waved to the man, signaling him to follow him to the backyard.
At the well in the backyard, Yu Jinnian took out a piece of lean meat, drew some clean water from the well to wash it, and grabbed a handful each of Ophiopogon, lily bulbs, and dried lotus seeds, soaking them in a bowl. He was preparing to make a calming and heat-clearing soup for Ji Hong.
As he crouched there, washing the meat, he occasionally glanced up, carefully scrutinizing the man—his clothes, posture, and even his exposed muscular forearms. It looked less like he was hiring a worker and more like he was picking a son-in-law, being excessively picky.
To be honest, since Qing Huan liked him and the man appeared to be quite strong, Yu Jinnian figured he should probably keep him around. However, the man’s demeanor didn’t suggest he was poor, and Yu Jinnian doubted he had any real need to work. He seemed to have come with a purpose, and during the brief time Yu Jinnian had been washing the meat, the man had already glanced toward the room several times. The more Yu Jinnian thought about it, the more the man seemed like a thief scouting the place.
The man appeared uneasy, maintaining a subtle distance and giving Yu Jinnian peculiar looks. Whenever Yu Jinnian turned to face him, the man would quickly avert his gaze, as if dodging a flame, his eyes flickering with hesitation.
Yu Jinnian brought the meat into the kitchen and began preparing to cut it. Unable to hold back any longer, he asked with some irritation, “What exactly are you here for?”
The man abruptly spread his legs, as if ready to take action.
Yu Jinnian gripped the knife, only to see the man’s sleeves flutter as he suddenly dropped to one knee, lowering his head. In a firm voice, he declared, “I am Duan Ming, reporting to the young master.”
Startled, Yu Jinnian nearly dropped the kitchen knife. Regaining his composure, he saw Duan Ming step forward, catching the falling knife and holding it steadily in front of him.
“You…” Yu Jinnian was dumbfounded. “Who exactly are you?”
Duan Ming held the knife respectfully and said, “I am the young master’s… protector.”
He paused strangely, leaving Yu Jinnian puzzled. “The young master… Ah Hong?”
Upon hearing this, Duan Ming’s brow twitched slightly. He quickly responded, “Exactly.”
Yu Jinnian stared at him for a while, and suddenly, recognizing the familiar straw hat, he remembered where he had seen him before. Wasn’t this the man who had silently followed them out during the commotion with the ship merchant yesterday? Piecing everything together, it became clear—had Ji Hong known Duan Ming would come even then?
“What did you do to that customer?” Yu Jinnian asked, curious.
Just as he spoke, Qing Huan came rushing back with several packets of herbs in hand. Before even reaching the backyard, her voice rang out from the front, “Justice has been served! Brother Nian, that filthy-mouthed scoundrel from yesterday—guess where he is now?”
Yu Jinnian shot Duan Ming a glance, signaling him to stand up quickly before he went out to meet Qing Huan. With a smile, he asked, “Where?”
Qing Huan, beaming with excitement, said, “He’s at the medicine shop, getting treated! I don’t know which righteous hero, or maybe even a god, dislocated his jaw! Now, he’s lying there all bruised and swollen, dripping from the mouth, looking like a pig’s head! Serves him right!”
Yu Jinnian coughed twice—this righteous hero was standing right in front of her!
Qing Huan, peeking over Yu Jinnian’s shoulder, noticed Duan Ming behind him. Instantly, the bold, brash woman transformed into a bashful young lady. Twisting her hands in front of her, she quietly asked Yu Jinnian, “Brother Nian, so, is he suitable?”
Feigning ignorance, Yu Jinnian replied, “Suitable for what?”
“Just…” Qing Huan stomped her foot impatiently, reluctant to speak too plainly in front of Duan Ming. “Just him—can he work here?”
Yu Jinnian teased her, “You don’t even know his name.”
“I’m about to find out!” Qing Huan pouted, then quickly skipped over to Duan Ming, leaned in closer, and batted her eyes at him before mustering up some courage. “Hey, what’s… your name?”
She thought she had kept a respectable distance, two fists’ width apart at least. After all, she had been closer to others back at the Yicui Pavilion and hadn’t minded. But Duan Ming clearly thought otherwise. This robust man suddenly blushed crimson and bowed his head so low it nearly touched the ground. After a moment, he stepped back and muttered, “I am… Duan Ming.”
Seeing his reaction, Qing Huan giggled, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. She playfully said, “I’m Qing Huan.”
Duan Ming, staring at the ground, stammered, “G-good day, Miss Qing Huan.”
Qing Huan, amused, lightly tugged at Duan Ming’s sleeve, startling him so much that he quickly pulled his sleeve back. The two went back and forth in this tug-of-war until Qing Huan suddenly let go, causing Duan Ming to stumble backward awkwardly. She turned back to the kitchen, pouting at Yu Jinnian, “Brother Nian, look! He’s like a block of wood!”
Yu Jinnian was placing the herbs into the medicine pot to brew, then added the cut lean meat, soaked lily bulbs, lotus seeds, and Ophiopogon into a clean small clay pot. He added some water and a pinch of salt, allowing it to simmer. As he busied himself, he teased Qing Huan, “A blockhead is good—at least they’re honest!”
He didn’t say whether they should keep the man or not, but since the man was one of Ji Hong’s, he thought it best to wait until Ji Hong woke up before making any decisions.
Seeing that Yu Jinnian didn’t object, Qing Huan took it as silent approval. She cheerfully led Duan Ming off to work, soft-spokenly explaining some things to him, but then suddenly reached for the straw hat on his back. “Why are you still wearing this?”
“Miss Qing Huan!” Duan Ming jumped in surprise, stumbling back with a flushed face. “I-I’ll take it off myself… myself…”
Qing Huan smiled sweetly at him and then, after a moment, reached into the cabinet, pulling out a piece of candy and stuffing it into his hand. “Here, eat this. Brother Nian made it himself.”
In the back, Yu Jinnian, busy cooking, paid no mind to their playful exchange. He couldn’t help but feel bittersweet, thinking to himself that Qing Huan was certainly growing up. But who would have thought that Duan Ming, a man so sturdy, was still so naïve? He wondered how much of Duan Ming would be left after Qing Huan, who had her ways, was through with him.
Once the medicine was brewed, Yu Jinnian cooled it with water from the well and then brought a bowl of it, along with some honey water, into the room for Ji Hong.
At this point, Ji Hong was just waking up. After a good sleep, he had regained some strength. He opened his eyes, saw Yu Jinnian, and slowly propped himself up to sit, taking the bowl of medicine that Yu Jinnian handed him.
“Still tired?” Yu Jinnian asked.
Ji Hong shook his head. “I’ve slept too much, feeling a bit worn out.”
Yu Jinnian took off his shoes and leaned against the bed beside him, their feet lightly touching. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize you’d never gone through anything like this before. Your body isn’t in the best shape, and I made you drink strong wine… I won’t do that again. Health is more important.”
Ji Hong drank the entire bowl of medicine in one gulp. He reached past the young man to place the empty bowl on the small table beside the bed. When he turned back, he paused for a moment, looking closely at Yu Jinnian. “So, does this count as going through something now?” His hand slid down, gently holding Yu Jinnian’s fingers, rubbing them tenderly, as if savoring the memory of the chaos from the previous day. “Going through it with you… Jinnian, you made me feel very comfortable.”
Yu Jinnian immediately understood what Ji Hong meant by “going through something,” recalling the playful question about “doing it” from yesterday. The words were already ambiguous, and hearing them from Ji Hong made them sound even more provocative. Yu Jinnian’s face flushed red, and he instinctively tried to push Ji Hong away. “Do you really have to bring this up again…”
Ji Hong chuckled, letting himself be pushed back against the pillow, but he didn’t let go of Yu Jinnian’s hand, still holding it tightly. He said softly, “It’s never happened before.”
Yu Jinnian was stunned for a moment before realizing what Ji Hong meant. Stammering, he asked, “Not even by yourself, all this time?”
Ji Hong smiled and shook his head. “Never had the thought. I was always satisfied with books and writing. Later, I became ambitious and started focusing on outside matters, but I still stayed in my room, only meeting people or writing letters. When I got tired, I would sleep. I never had the time or the opportunity to think about such things.” He turned to look at Yu Jinnian, resisting the urge to kiss the young man’s lips, fearing he might pass his illness to him. Instead, he kissed Yu Jinnian’s temple gently, saying, “But now, I do.”
“Stop saying things like that…” Yu Jinnian laughed, covering his face with his hands. “Have some decency! It’s broad daylight—who talks like this in front of others? Don’t you love reading? There are some books out there, you know, with these kinds of stories. They’re quite… educational.”
His words were a bit cryptic, hinting that Ji Hong could secretly buy those kinds of books and read them as a way to alleviate his urges.
To Yu Jinnian’s surprise, Ji Hong pulled his hands down, clasping them together, and said with an earnest expression, “Then next time, buy a few of those books you’re talking about. I’ve heard they’re all stories about men and women, very interesting. I’ve never read them before—we can read them together?”
Seeing Ji Hong’s serious face, Yu Jinnian was reminded of how Ji Hong once struggled to tell a bedtime story involving a scholar and a lady. He realized that Ji Hong probably didn’t even know what kind of books he was referring to. He likely thought they were simple romantic tales, full of flowery language about love between scholars and ladies.
Oh well, it’s better left unspoken.
Suddenly remembering the new arrival, Duan Ming, Yu Jinnian quickly changed the topic. “Ah Hong, today someone claiming to be your guard came looking for you. He insisted on staying to help around the shop. I didn’t know how to handle it, so I waited for you to wake up and ask you.”
Ji Hong furrowed his brow slightly. “My guard?”
He didn’t have any guards. He had lived alone in his residence for years and had no need for guards. His father had never assigned anyone to him either. The only people around him were a few trusted aides who helped with paperwork and advice. As for guards or any form of muscle, they were all bookish types who posed little physical threat.
“Yes.” Yu Jinnian nodded. “He said his name is Duan Ming.”
Ji Hong’s eyes widened in surprise, his grip on Yu Jinnian’s hand tightening. “Duan Ming? Duan Ming, really?”
Yu Jinnian was puzzled—did Ji Hong not know that the man yesterday was Duan Ming?