He capsized over a plate of stir-fried mushrooms.
He felt unwell for an entire night, completely unaware of it himself, but it scared Ji Hong so much that he barely slept. He wished he could grow a pair of eyes on Yu Jinnian, fearing he might wake up during the night, hungry or thirsty, with no one to serve him. Since the master didn’t rest, neither did Duan Ming and the others. They took turns standing watch outside the door until dawn.
Although it turned out to be a false alarm, by the time Yu Jinnian sobered up, the entire courtyard knew about his “illness.” He, who prided himself on being able to drink without getting drunk, had been knocked out by a pot of sake. Even Min Mao came by to mock him.
Holding his still slightly aching head, Yu Jinnian opened his eyes and immediately saw Min Mao’s mischievous face, observing him and laughing insincerely. “What kind of immortal wine did you drink that left you so dazed? Share a cup with me next time!” Annoyed, Yu Jinnian kicked at the young lord in mock rage.
Min Mao yelped, dodging the kick and calling out for his elder brothers in exaggerated panic. Then, a figure suddenly stepped between them, grabbed Yu Jinnian’s ankle firmly, and scolded, “You just woke up, and you’re already causing trouble. Does your head not hurt anymore?”
Yu Jinnian looked up and saw that it was Ji Hong. He immediately calmed down, like a bristly weed turning into a shy flower. Obediently, he tucked his feet away, tidied his undergarments under the blanket, and then got out of bed, saying, “I’m fine now, nothing serious. My head is just a little sore… Oh, by the way, is the doctor still here?”
Ji Hong handed him an outer robe. “He left last night.”
“Then never mind,” Yu Jinnian said. “I think I know what happened.”
In a hurry, he headed outside, eager to find that little lady to inspect a particular mushroom to confirm his suspicion. Last night, Yu Jinnian’s condition had indeed been frightening, and even though he seemed sober today, Ji Hong was still worried and followed him.
As the two reached the front door, they saw the people from the Lü family moving their luggage. Lü Yanjia, surrounded by both his wives, stepped out of the house with a graceful air. Clearly, he had slept well the previous night. Lü Yanjia spotted the two and, with no way to avoid them, approached for a brief exchange of pleasantries. “Good morning. I heard the young master got drunk last night. Are you feeling better now?”
Yu Jinnian thought to himself, how does everyone know about me getting drunk? But he smiled and said, “Thank you for your concern, Master Lü. I’m much better now.”
“That’s good to hear,” Lü Yanjia replied, only using the excuse to initiate conversation. He quickly added, “I just sent someone to scout the road ahead. From here, we’ll head east. Thanks to your care along the way, Wenjun is gradually recovering. It’s only half a day’s journey to the city of He Luo, where everything will be more convenient.”
They were parting ways.
Yu Jinnian had already delayed Lü Yanjia for quite some time and had no other excuse to keep them any longer. He and Qi Wenjun were not related, and escorting them this far was already going above and beyond. Asking them to stay further might arouse suspicion, so he simply followed the conversation and said, “If that’s the case, then we’ll bid farewell here. Take care on your journey, Master Lü.”
He glanced at Han Xiao and noticed her calm demeanor. Not only was she not anxious about the parting, but there was also a faint hint of anticipation in her expression.
How odd.
Master Lü was a rising star among young officials outside the capital. Elegant in demeanor, refined in speech. With the capital in need of talent, it wouldn’t be long before he became one of the court’s new favorites. With two beautiful wives in harmony, it was a picture-perfect scene of a prosperous family. Yet, who knew how much filth and grime lay hidden behind such a dazzling façade?
The Lü family was outside the old house, resting their horses and carriages. Han Xiao and Qi Wenjun were whispering beside the carriage.
Yu Jinnian wrote a prescription for Qi Wenjun’s prenatal care, had someone deliver it to Lü Yanjia, and emphasized that Qi Wenjun was physically weak. During pregnancy, she must not exert herself; otherwise, if she suffered another miscarriage, it could affect her future fertility.
After giving these instructions, he and Ji Hong went to the kitchen, where they found the lady of the house squatting by the well, washing vegetables and soaking rice. Yu Jinnian walked over to check, spotting a pile of discarded roots and leaves in a bamboo sieve beside her. He picked up a strangely shaped mushroom from the pile. It looked like an unopened umbrella, with a round head and a skirt edge turning from white to black, its outer layer curling upward in soft, scaly spikes.
Last night, he had a vague suspicion about the mushroom, but now that he saw it in person, everything became clear.
He patted the dust off his clothes and stood up. Ji Hong took the mushroom to examine it.
The lady of the house warned, “That one’s gone bad, you can’t eat it. You have to pick the plump, white ones.”
Ji Hong nodded to her, then turned to the young man beside him who was pacing back and forth, deep in thought. In a low voice, he asked, “Was it this poisonous mushroom that caused your reaction last night?”
Yu Jinnian picked up a few mushrooms from the basket that were still white, likely freshly harvested from the forest, with a bit of dirt still clinging to them. He tore one open to inspect it, then put it back, brushing the dust from his hands as he frowned. “The mushrooms themselves aren’t poisonous, but they shouldn’t be consumed with alcohol. Once the mushrooms open and develop black edges, they’re no longer edible.”
Ji Hong had never heard of such a thing before and found it quite curious.
Yu Jinnian recalled, “I don’t usually eat mushrooms often, so I didn’t have much of an impression. But once, I treated a patient who had a similar reaction, much worse than mine—he nearly passed out. It turned out he had picked some wild mushrooms, just like these, and drank alcohol with them.”
He pointed to the mushroom in Ji Hong’s hand, which had already opened its cap. “This mushroom is called ‘ghost umbrella,’ just as the doctor said yesterday—it’s supposed to aid with drinking. But in truth, it doesn’t aid drinking; it hinders it. After eating these mushrooms, alcohol can’t be processed by the liver and stomach, so even someone who can usually hold their liquor will get drunk with just a cup. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.”
Most people know that certain antibiotics shouldn’t be taken with alcohol because they can cause severe adverse reactions, even endangering one’s life. However, few know that this reaction is medically termed the ‘disulfiram-like reaction.’ The ghost umbrella contains a substance that works in a similar way. Since there are many varieties of ghost umbrellas, and the toxin levels vary, the reaction with alcohol can range from mild to severe.
From Yu Jinnian’s personal experience, the ghost umbrellas here were quite potent. Fortunately, he had a strong tolerance for alcohol and only suffered a night of dizziness. Otherwise, if he had passed out over a plate of stir-fried mushrooms, it would have been utterly embarrassing.
In Yu Jinnian’s past life, the ghost umbrella had long been domesticated into a variety known as the drumstick mushroom, with its toxins reduced to negligible levels. It became a common delicacy on household tables. But here and now, where no advanced cultivation methods existed, these wild mushrooms, freshly picked from the forest, were in their most natural state. The level of toxins within them was unpredictable.
This village was impoverished, and mushrooms were often used as a staple food. Perhaps they had been lucky not to encounter any problems, or when something did happen, it was simply mistaken for drunkenness and ignored. No one had ever taken the issue seriously. Even the barefoot doctor merely assumed the mushroom enhanced alcohol consumption, clearly unaware of its toxicity.
The ghost umbrella is an incredibly resilient mushroom, found throughout the north and south, especially after rain, sprouting in abundance in the damp forest shade. However, because of its frightening appearance once its cap opens, not everyone dares to enjoy this delicacy. In the south, though, people seem to have a particular boldness when it comes to eating mushrooms.
Having experienced it firsthand, Yu Jinnian now had a deep psychological aversion to this mushroom and would likely never dare eat it again.
As he set down the mushrooms in his hand, a servant entered the kitchen, cursing and grumbling. He was here to fetch something for Lü Yanjia. As soon as he entered, he shouted, “Is what my master ordered ready yet? Why is it taking so long?”
The lady of the house had long been annoyed with him and was about to start cursing him out. The young girl working in the kitchen quickly ran over, picked up the basket of mushrooms near Yu Jinnian, and handed it to the servant. Seeing the look of disdain on his face, she hurried to explain, “It’s ready. You see, once mushrooms are washed, they spoil easily and become soft, so it’s best to leave a bit of dirt on them.”
The servant grudgingly accepted the explanation, threw down some silver, and was about to leave when Yu Jinnian called him back.
“What now?” The servant had been on the receiving end of Yu Jinnian’s tricks more than once, so he took a step back in caution. “Don’t come any closer.”
Yu Jinnian laughed. “No need for that, brother. We’ve traveled together for some time; we’re practically friends now, right?”
The servant rolled his eyes. Who’s friends with you? But this boy was strange, always trying to be friendly, so the servant asked sarcastically, “What do you want to know? If you’re hoping to buy my master a drink later, I’ll tell you now, he’s not much of a drinker.”
“Exactly, I was wondering about that,” Yu Jinnian continued cheerfully, “In the future, if we meet again, I’d like to invite your master for a drink. Where might I find him?”
The servant, now thinking Yu Jinnian was trying to curry favor, puffed out his chest and replied, “My master doesn’t drink much, just a couple of cups here and there. If you want to impress him, you’d better invite him to Tianxing Teahouse in Dongjun Prefecture for a cup of Longzhi Yunwu tea.”
“Oh, of course, of course.” Yu Jinnian smiled, then slyly asked, “By the way, where are the two madams from? When we visit, it would be good to prepare suitable gifts.”
The servant, thinking this was reasonable, replied, “Our first madam is from Dongjun Prefecture. The second madam, though… she was brought from Changdu Prefecture. I heard from her maid that she’s from the north.”
A northern woman?
Yu Jinnian thought for a moment, then quickly flashed a smile and saw the servant out.
——
Both families’ horses and carriages were ready, waiting for departure.
Yu Jinnian had been gifted many local specialties by the family, and after some farewells, he finally boarded the carriage. The little child he had played with still hadn’t had enough and waved at him, clearly reluctant to part. Seeing the child cry bitterly, Yu Jinnian rummaged through his belongings and found a pristine yew wood pen, unused and untouched by ink, which he tossed to the child’s mother through the window.
Leaning on the window with one arm, he coaxed, “Don’t cry now. Didn’t you say you love writing? Here’s a pen for you! Study well, and when you become a top scholar, come find me in the capital.”
The little child, still sniffling, muttered something about “definitely becoming a top scholar,” while the child’s mother, taken aback, said, “Such an expensive pen, we really can’t accept this…”
“It’s just a pen. I can see this child has the potential to become a top scholar!” Yu Jinnian waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, time to go!”
The Lü family had already moved far ahead. Yu Jinnian lowered the carriage curtain and slouched back into the compartment, draping himself lazily over someone’s lap, legs crossed. Ji Hong shifted his position to make Yu Jinnian more comfortable, then gently knocked on the wall of the carriage.
And so, they set off.
After traveling four or five miles out of the village, they reached a crossroads. One path led north, while the other veered southeast, eventually connecting to the main road heading toward He Luo City in the east.
The Ji and Lü groups parted ways here, each heading in their own direction.
Yu Jinnian lifted the carriage curtain and glanced eastward, watching until the last of the Lü family’s servants disappeared into the dense forest path. Only then did he pull his gaze back and let out a soft sigh.
Ji Hong touched his forehead, asking, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”
Yu Jinnian shook his head. “I just hope it’s not what I think it is.”
…
After parting with Lü Yanjia and his group, their journey remained peaceful. Passing through the mountain pass and heading north, they were met with vast plains stretching as far as the eye could see. The crisscrossing official roads and the densely packed towns presented a stark contrast to the gentle landscapes of the southern lands. The majesty and vitality of the north carried a different kind of crisp, invigorating air. The vibrant festivities of Summer Capital, as it extended to this place, morphed into an overwhelming sense of grandeur and prosperity.
The Min brothers, having grown tired of the carriage, had long since switched to riding on horseback. One rode a horse named “Gale,” the other “Amber,” and the sight of the two handsome young lords, clad in riding gear, was truly striking. The sight made Yu Jinnian gaze enviously, thinking that riding freely on horseback was the true essence of manhood.
In the capital, no noble sons were without excellent archery skills. Raised in such households, Ji Hong naturally knew how to ride, but due to his frail health in his younger years, no one had dared let him ride unless absolutely necessary. Moreover, he himself took little joy in riding and only occasionally went out for leisure rides with Min Xuefei.
Seeing Yu Jinnian practically drooling with envy, Ji Hong asked, “Want to ride?”
Yu Jinnian nodded eagerly. “But I don’t know how.”
Ji Hong smiled. “That’s easy enough.”
So, they stopped halfway, and Ji Hong selected a gentle horse from the group. He mounted it first, then bent down from the saddle, grabbing Yu Jinnian’s hand. “Step on the stirrup firmly,” he instructed as he hoisted Yu Jinnian up. In a spin, Yu Jinnian found himself seated on the horse, firmly secured in front of Ji Hong.
Ji Hong raised the whip. “Hold on tight.”
Those left behind in the carriage soon heard Yu Jinnian’s shrill scream, carried by the wind.
When they arrived at the city gates, the dashing young lords on their horses, including the Min brothers, were quite the sight, effortlessly exuding grace and charm. The Min brothers no longer concealed their identities, with Min Xuefei openly revealing his status, making their journey smooth and unhindered. Their presence attracted a lot of attention from passersby. Yu Jinnian, full of curiosity, took in the bustling city with wide-eyed wonder, marveling at the lively scene that was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
The bustling atmosphere here was different from the prosperity he had seen in his previous life and also distinct from the serene tranquility of Xinan County. This city had a certain indescribable charm—the clamor of voices, the swirl of dust, and even the lively hawking under the clear sky all carried a unique vitality.
Momentarily forgetting the soreness from riding, Yu Jinnian asked excitedly, “What’s Summer Capital like?”
Ji Hong dismounted and helped Yu Jinnian down from the horse. “It’s several times more prosperous than here.”
Before Yu Jinnian could respond in awe, a sudden commotion broke out behind them. Amid the noise and clattering of plates, a voice rang out, full of fury, “You quack! I’d recognize you even if you turned to ashes! You can’t escape—give me back my son’s life! Give me back my son’s life!”