How? Are you afraid that I’ll force a marriage on you too?
Yu Jinnian passed through five stages and defeated six generals. Except for being like a blind man when it came to composing poetry and writing, he excelled in every other round. By the end, only he and another scholar remained on stage. He was in high spirits and, feeling a bit competitive, wanted to outshine the other person.
The final round was a fragrance blending competition. The host would give them a theme, and they were to choose from the dozens of aromatic ingredients provided, to create a fragrance that matched the theme. The host would then judge and decide the winner.
Yu Jinnian had little experience with making fragrances. During his studies, he had dabbled in it briefly during his free time, mostly learning about medicinal scents that had health benefits, such as boosting energy, calming the mind, or improving sleep. But now, having to blend a fragrance that aligned with the theme was not his strength. Still, since he had made it to the final, he wasn’t about to quit halfway—he would just treat it as a game.
After a moment, the theme was announced: “Endless Summer.”
Yu Jinnian thought for a moment, then smiled to himself as if he had thought of something amusing. Without waiting for his opponent to finish thinking, he quickly selected a few dishes of fragrant powders and some small bowls and tools for making the fragrance, starting to work in an orderly manner. He looked quite professional.
Su Ting hurriedly pushed through the crowd, squeezing to the front, making exaggerated faces at the stage.
Yu Jinnian gave him a curious look but continued working on the fragrance without saying much. He kept his head down, focusing, but couldn’t help commenting: “What happened to your eyes? Let me take a good look when I’m done and fix you up!”
“It’s not that!” Su Ting was sweating profusely, trying to grab Yu Jinnian’s sleeve. “Brother Nian, listen to me! This thing is—”
“Hey, hey, hey! If you’re not watching, step aside. What are you messing around for?”
The spectators were deeply engrossed, and Su Ting’s disruption soon earned him impatient shoves from the onlookers, forcing him to the side. He was so anxious he could only glare, the more he tried to speak, the more the crowd pushed him back, until he was squeezed right out of the throng. Surrounded by noise and chatter, he stomped his foot and shouted a few times, but Yu Jinnian, entirely focused on grinding his fragrant powders, didn’t react at all.
Behind the curtain, the host sent out a servant to circle the tables of both competitors. When the servant saw Yu Jinnian’s ingredients, he was momentarily shocked. After a brief pause, he hurried back to report to the elderly host, whispering in his ear. The host frowned heavily and snorted, “Nonsense! Clearly an amateur!”
“How is it?” came a soft, graceful voice from behind another screen, belonging to a woman.
The servant, puffed up with pride, replied, “That young man didn’t measure anything, just randomly scooped out some powders. He added at least three or four coins worth of mugwort! Mugwort is so pungent—such a small incense cake, and he added so much! Even bugs would take a detour around it!”
The woman laughed softly and asked in a gentle voice, “What does he look like? How old is he?”
The servant, starstruck and dazed, immediately replied without thinking: “He’s a young man, doesn’t look too old. Quite clever, and rather handsome too…” The old host coughed twice, fist to mouth, and the servant quickly stopped speaking.
As they were conversing, the two competitors, having finished their blends, were led forward by the attendants.
The host took the incense cakes from both and sniffed them. One of the fragrances was so strange it made him sneeze. He quickly held the incense cake further away but, out of courtesy, still asked calmly, “Young man, have you named your fragrance? Any meaning behind it?”
The other competitor hurriedly responded first: “My fragrance is named ‘Transcending the Mundane.’ It is elegant and fragrant, one that makes one forget worldly worries.”
It was just a fragrance, yet it had such a grand name. Yu Jinnian, having rubbed some of his own incense on his wrist, smelled it and couldn’t put on such airs. He simply said, “I don’t have any elegant name. It’s just a mosquito-repellent fragrance. As for the meaning… In the endless summer, when mosquitoes are rampant, just light this incense at dawn or dusk by the bedside or in the corners of the room, and it will keep you from being bitten all day. It works wonders!”
“You—” The host inexplicably became angry, slamming his hand on the armrest of his chair.
“Ha…” At an inopportune moment, a soft chuckle came from behind. “He’s right—there are plenty of mosquitoes in the endless summer. The young gentleman has a point. ‘Transcending the Mundane’ is elegant, but we are all just ordinary people, like ants coming and going. How can we truly transcend the mundane? But this mosquito-repellent fragrance is practical, thoughtful, and I find it quite nice.”
The old host was startled: “Xia’er?”
“Didn’t you promise to let Long Xia choose for herself?” The woman behind the screen, her voice both gentle and stubborn, huffed lightly. “Long Xia will choose her own husband, and I’ve chosen him! If I can’t marry him this year, then I won’t marry at all!”
“Stop this nonsense!” The old host scolded but then softened, whispering to his daughter with concern, “This is the third year already. If you don’t marry soon, you’ll become an old maid, and people will laugh at you!”
“Let them laugh. Who in Dongchong Prefecture hasn’t used the fragrances I’ve made? Do you think I care about being laughed at?”
Yu Jinnian, distracted, thought to himself, “She’s quite the strong-willed woman,” but then realized something and quickly waved his hands. “Wait, wait… What did you say about marriage?”
The old host shook his head, gritted his teeth, and sighed, “Fine! Since my daughter has taken a liking to you and you have some skill… The Sheng family doesn’t ask for much—just a good temperament and that you make my daughter happy.” He gestured, and a few servants appeared, holding trays piled with crimson and gold items that hurt the eyes with their brilliance.
“Hey, hold on!” Yu Jinnian finally realized what was happening. Feeling things spiraling out of control, he stepped back repeatedly, trying to escape. But he was quickly blocked by a few agile servants. With no way out, he pleaded, “Sir, I didn’t know this fragrance contest was about choosing a husband!”
“Stop him!” The old host, no longer amiable, stood up and sternly commanded, “Since you’ve won the Sheng family’s flower-appreciation contest, you are now the Sheng family’s son-in-law. Do you think you can just walk away from this?”
The shockingly strong servants dragged him back behind the curtain, where they began dressing him in wedding robes and a wedding crown. The scene looked so much like a wedding, but to the uninformed, it might seem like they were kidnapping a bride! Who knew how desperate the Sheng family’s daughter was to get married, that they would go as far as grabbing someone off the street to wed!
At least check for compatible birthdates and set an auspicious time!
Master Sheng commanded, “Hurry up! If we miss the auspicious hour, you’ll be the ones to blame!”
“…”
Yu Jinnian struggled but couldn’t break free, so he tried reasoning with logic and emotions: “Master Sheng! I haven’t abandoned anyone—I haven’t even seen your daughter’s face. Besides, as the saying goes, a harmonious couple can last a lifetime. To be honest, I’m a carefree person with no lasting intentions, no talents, and I don’t have the slightest interest in your daughter. Even if I were to marry into your family, I wouldn’t be able to take good care of her! You should take a look at that other gentleman over there—I think he’s deeply in love with your daughter.”
The young lady said, “The Sheng family doesn’t need you to have talents.”
Was she implying he would live off her wealth?
After talking until his mouth was dry and seeing that the other party remained unmoved, Yu Jinnian realized they were determined to drag him back for the wedding. The worst part was that this Sheng family seemed like a group of bandits who had turned over a new leaf—they had prepared not only a bridal sedan chair but even a wedding veil, which they were now trying to place over his face.
They were really forcing a marriage!
Seeing that one plan failed, he quickly concocted another lie: “To be honest, I’m already married!”
Master Sheng’s beard flared as he shouted, “What did you say?!”
Yu Jinnian, standing at the door of the sedan chair, forced a grin and said, “It’s true! I’m already married, and my wife is far more beautiful than your daughter, not just by a little! She’s also educated, elegant, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she has a great sense of humor. If you don’t mind your daughter being a concubine, I wouldn’t mind having another lovely wife. But, I must warn you, my wife is extremely jealous, very cunning, and terribly particular. Your daughter would have to be very tolerant for the sake of family harmony. Haha…”
Master Sheng almost fainted from rage.
The other servants were so frightened they rushed to support Master Sheng, and Yu Jinnian, seeing the chance, kicked aside the servant blocking him. He finally managed to break through and ran off, lifting his robes as he sprinted away. Seven or eight servants chased after him, but Yu Jinnian didn’t know east from west; all he could do was run. As he jumped off the stage, someone suddenly grabbed his hand, startling him into raising his fist to strike—
“It’s me, Brother Nian! This way, hurry!”
“Su Ting?” Yu Jinnian sighed in relief and quickly followed him, complaining even as they fled. “This was a marriage contest! Why didn’t anyone warn me?”
Su Ting, annoyed, replied, “I tried to warn you! I was making faces at you, but you said I had an eye disease!”
Yu Jinnian recalled this and regretfully said, “I…”
Su Ting glanced behind them and urged, “Never mind that now, just run! I think I saw Young Master Ji’s men to the west. Head that way! I’ll hold them off for you.”
The wedding robes were a terrible fit, with sleeves and hems far too long for Yu Jinnian. As he ran, he tried to undo the belt but only succeeded in tying it tighter. After working up a sweat, he gave up, hoisting the robes and sprinting through the alleys.
“—Which way is west?!”
Su Ting had told him to head west, but he hadn’t mentioned which direction that was. Yu Jinnian’s sense of direction was already poor; the only reason he knew his way around Xin’an County was through sheer familiarity. But here in Dongchong Prefecture, where every house looked the same to him, he couldn’t tell east from west!
Recently, he’d been lounging in carriages, pampered by a certain someone, and hadn’t moved much. Naturally, he was soon out of breath and dizzy, while the Sheng family servants were relentlessly chasing him, no longer with the intention of dragging him back for a wedding. Now, they seemed determined to capture him for revenge.
In a nearby teahouse.
“My lord, I’ve gathered some information. That young man entered the city with a group claiming to be wealthy merchants.”
The man in purple replied, “Oh? Claiming to be.”
The servant nodded and whispered, “They didn’t hide themselves, so it wasn’t hard to find out. The leader is the second son of the Prime Minister’s family, and there’s another person with him…”
Yan Chang’s expression darkened slightly, and the jade walnut he was rolling between his fingers gradually came to a stop. He let out a quiet chuckle and said, “If he’s with Min Xuefei, then who else could it be but someone from the Ji family? Seems he’s quite lucky.”
Zhou Feng remained silent.
Yan Chang leaned back in his chair, resumed rolling the walnut between his fingers, and said with interest, “So by that logic, his sister should call me ‘uncle.’ In a way, we’re… family, aren’t we? That young man must be the so-called miracle doctor from Xin’an County. Those two make a good pair—two brothers in hardship.”
Zhou Feng: “…”
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Zhou Feng stepped to the window and peered out, seeing a young man in red running by like the wind, with several fierce-looking servants holding clubs nearby.
“My lord.” Zhou Feng called softly.
Yan Chang stood up, clenched his right hand briefly, then let it go and raised his left arm instead, resting it on the window frame. “What a coincidence.”
Yu Jinnian gasped for breath, leaning against the wall, completely exhausted. Just as he was about to give up, a window next to him suddenly opened from the inside. He hesitated for a moment before a hand shot out, covering his mouth and yanking him inside.
The person gripping Yu Jinnian was surprisingly strong. Startled, Yu reflexively jabbed his elbow back, hitting his captor hard. The man grunted in pain, and Yu took the opportunity to bite down on his hand. Thinking it was one of the Sheng family’s men, Yu didn’t hold back, sinking his teeth in with such force that he tasted a faint metallic tang of blood. Even if he hadn’t taken a chunk of flesh, he was certain he had left a deep set of teeth marks.
“Impudent!” A cold sword was immediately pressed against his neck.
Yu Jinnian, regaining his senses, recognized the man in front of him. It was the same one from the antique shop—the man with the injured right shoulder. He was now bent over from Yu’s elbow strike.
Not understanding why he had crossed paths with this man again, Yu Jinnian felt awkward. Perhaps the man was here to repay a favor for the time Yu had caught a falling amber cup in the shop? Feeling embarrassed, Yu said, “Sorry, I panicked and acted without thinking… Are you alright?”
Yan Chang waved his hand, signaling Zhou Feng to withdraw. Slowly, he straightened his back, his eyes scanning Yu Jinnian’s disheveled red collar before settling on his forehead. After a long pause, he finally responded, “No harm done. It’s worth it.”
Yu Jinnian blinked, unsure what he meant by that.
“Little rascal, we meet again.” Yan Chang suddenly raised his hand. Instinctively, Yu Jinnian flinched away. Yan Chang’s left hand hovered awkwardly in mid-air for a moment, his fingers twitching slightly before he lowered his arm, forcing a smile. “Your hairpin is crooked… What, are you afraid I’ll force you into marriage too?”
This joke wasn’t funny at all, especially coming from him.
Yu Jinnian adjusted his hairpin, saying, “No, no, we’re not that familiar. I can handle this myself.” Then he suddenly remembered that the hairpin was something the Sheng family had forced onto him. Irritated, he yanked it off and tossed it onto the ground before searching himself thoroughly.
As he pulled off the hairpin, a few strands of hair snapped off, falling messily across his chest. He gathered them into a bundle and threw them behind his shoulder. Sunlight streamed through a crack in the window, casting a narrow beam of light across his face, gently highlighting the contrast of light and shadow, with a soft glow brushing his neck.
“What are you looking for?” Yan Chang asked.
“My hair tie, the one that’s duck-egg green, just this narrow.” Yu Jinnian made a gesture to show its width.
“I didn’t see it,” Yan Chang replied.
“Oh,” Yu Jinnian muttered dejectedly. He figured it had probably been ripped off by the Sheng family when they put the hairpin on him. The hair tie wasn’t valuable, but it had been a gift from Ji Hong. When he thought about it, everything Ji Hong had given him, aside from the sword at his waist, had mysteriously gone missing. Frustrated, he kicked the discarded hairpin.
Yan Chang observed his outburst and then his subsequent dejection, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Mistaking Yu’s distress for fear of the pursuers outside, Yan Chang offered, “No one will come in here. You can hide here for a while. Sit wherever you like. Zhou… Xiaosi, serve some tea.” He then turned to Yu Jinnian and asked, “Would you like some tea? This teahouse serves some fine fresh brews.”
“No need, I don’t drink tea,” Yu Jinnian mumbled.
Yan Chang, seemingly ignoring him, gave the order anyway: “Bring some Bamboo Leaf Green tea.”
Zhou Feng, being addressed by the incorrect name “Xiaosi,” shot a glance at Yu Jinnian and silently pursed his lips before stepping out to get the tea.
When the tea was finally served, Yu Jinnian, out of politeness, brought the cup to his lips and took a small sip.
Yan Chang asked, “This Bamboo Leaf Green tea from Shu is one of the finest. Does it go down smoothly?”
Slowly putting down the tea cup, Yu Jinnian replied, “I don’t know much about tea… I can only tell that it smells fragrant.” After a brief hesitation, he asked, “I don’t believe we’ve met before, have we?”
Instead of answering, Yan Chang called out, “Xiaosi, prepare some raw tea leaves.”
Yu Jinnian thought to himself that this man was either deaf or dense—he seemed to do whatever he pleased without bothering to listen to anyone else.
Sitting across from each other, Yu Jinnian stared at the clear tea in his cup for a while, then sneakily glanced at Yan Chang. He noticed that the man’s right shoulder must have been injured since he had been keeping it hidden under the table the whole time, awkwardly using his left hand for everything.
The man appeared to be in his thirties, judging by the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, though he didn’t seem old. Age hadn’t left him looking haggard; rather, it had polished him into someone with a commanding presence.
Unlike Ji Hong, who also had a depth that was difficult to gauge, Ji Hong exuded a cold, clear danger—like an icy pool that made its peril obvious. Yan Chang, on the other hand, was like a cup of leftover tea, rich and murky, with an opaque depth that no amount of stirring could reveal. Though imposing, he lacked the icy hostility.
Yan Chang suddenly lifted his gaze, catching Yu Jinnian in the act of sneaking a glance. Rather than embarrassing him, he simply asked, “Young sir, do you know medicine?”
Pulled back from his thoughts, Yu Jinnian answered, “Ah, I have a basic understanding, nothing more.”
“You’re being modest,” Yan Chang said as he stood up slightly. “Are you surnamed Yu, from Xin’an County?”
“Ah, yes…” Yu Jinnian was surprised. “You know me?”
“You’re somewhat different from what I expected,” Yan Chang said with a teasing smile. He raised his right hand, spreading his fingers before curling them again. Before Yu Jinnian could express his confusion, Yan Chang sighed and lowered his gaze. “I’ve heard much about your miraculous healing skills, but when I arrived in Xin’an County, I learned you had already left for the north. I was quite disappointed to have missed you. Fate seems to have brought us together today, wouldn’t you agree?”
He smiled gently and added, “To be honest, I’ve suffered from a chronic illness for many years that has yet to be cured. I originally went to Xin’an County to seek your treatment, but now, by chance, we meet here… If you would be willing to help, I would be eternally grateful.”
The man spoke of “deep regret,” yet his face remained completely serene.
Yu Jinnian thought about it for a moment. Regardless of who this person was, given the current situation, there was no harm in checking his condition since it didn’t seem like he could leave any time soon. However, he made it clear: “I don’t have my medical tools with me today. Even if I examine you, I can only prescribe some herbal remedies. Curing this illness entirely might not be possible.”
He straightened up and placed his hands on the man’s shoulder and neck, pressing here and there with his thumb as he traced along the meridians. His fingers found a few small nodules nestled between the muscles. Yu Jinnian frowned and withdrew his hands. “It seems like you’ve developed *bi syndrome* from an old injury. It’s been lingering for quite some time… but if treated properly, there should be some improvement.”
Zhou Feng’s eyes lit up. “Master—”
Yan Chang’s eyes darkened, and he spoke with a deep voice, “It can be treated?”
Yu Jinnian nodded seriously, “Of course, but it will take some effort. Judging from the affected area, it’s likely an old injury to your shoulder and arm that was never properly treated. Over time, it left behind hidden ailments between the fascia and muscles. Later on, when exposed to damp or cold, and without proper rest and care, the pain may not have been noticeable in your youth. But as you age, the pain becomes more pronounced, and over the years, it has developed into this *bi syndrome*. New illnesses are easy to treat; chronic ones are much harder, especially old conditions like this.”
Zhou Feng eagerly nodded in agreement, unable to hold back his frustration. “The young doctor is truly remarkable! That’s exactly what it is! People may think our master lives in luxury, but they have no idea how much he has endured—always riding, fighting, never resting for a day! Constantly—”
“—Zhou Si! Step back,” Yan Chang interrupted him.
“…” Zhou Feng realized his mistake and quickly slapped himself, retreating quietly with his new nickname “Zhou Si.”
Yu Jinnian watched them, puzzled.
Yan Chang tapped his finger on the tea cup and kindly explained, “I meant to say I’m always traveling. I’m just a tea merchant.” As he spoke, he remembered he hadn’t introduced himself. “My name is Xia Yue. I’ve lived in the south for many years and often travel to Shu. As you know, we in this business rarely get to rest. Even when ill, it’s hard to find time for proper care… It’s just the pressures of life.”
It sounded reasonable, though Yu Jinnian thought the man didn’t quite smell like a tea merchant. Instead, there was a faint river-like scent.
Yan Chang continued, “So, about the treatment, young sir…”
Yu Jinnian replied, “To be honest, I was out today looking to buy some medical tools and herbs, but after this mishap, I suppose I’ll have to lay low for the next few days. I won’t be able to gather everything I need. Plus, I’m only passing through this place and will be staying for just a few days. However, Dongchong Prefecture has many talented doctors. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a good one.”
“If you’re staying for a few days, rather than being cooped up in an inn, how about letting me treat you to a meal?” Yan Chang suggested without giving Yu Jinnian much of a choice. “Afterward, if you have time, we can see about this troublesome arm of mine. I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
Yu Jinnian: “…”
He really didn’t leave any room for refusal.
Hearing familiar voices from outside, including Duan Ming’s, Yu Jinnian jumped up, his face lighting up with joy. He took a few steps toward the door, ready to leave, but suddenly remembered something. He quickly ran back to Zhou Feng, borrowed his sword, and cut through the knot in his belt, shedding the cumbersome wedding attire on the floor. “I’ll be off now.”
Yan Chang walked him to the door. Peering through the window, he saw a familiar figure in the distance—dressed in blue, with black hair, standing tall and graceful like a crane among chickens. Yan Chang squinted slightly and asked Yu Jinnian, “Is that your family?”
Yu Jinnian also saw Ji Hong from afar, and his heart soared with happiness. His soul seemed to fly toward him before his body even moved. Distracted, he answered absentmindedly, “Um, something like that…”
Yan Chang remained silent, watching as the young man darted away, throwing himself into the other man’s arms.
Stepping back a few paces, Yan Chang bent down to pick up the discarded red wedding robe. He wiped his bitten hand on it and chuckled softly to himself, “Family, huh? Blood may be thicker than water, but even brothers turn on each other. How much more so with unrelated people?”
Ji Hong caught Yu Jinnian as he collided with him, but there was no warmth in his actions. He pulled Yu Jinnian out of his embrace by the collar, his face filled with cold fury. “Where did you go?”
Yu Jinnian swallowed nervously and stammered, “I was just… wandering around.”
“Wandering around? You wandered around and caused such a ruckus that they had to search the entire city for you? And now you’ve got a reputation for abandoning a marriage—well done.”
Normally, Ji Hong was a man of few words, but when it came to scolding Yu Jinnian, his words flew out like rapid-fire bullets. Yu Jinnian tilted his head and put on his most remorseful expression, his face practically saying, “I know I was wrong.”
Ji Hong, standing over him, glared down at his disheveled appearance, his hair loose around his shoulders, looking both pitiful and guilty. It was obvious that Ji Hong didn’t have the heart to scold him any further. “Straighten up. Where were you hiding just now?”
Yu Jinnian, eager to explain, opened up and told him the whole story from beginning to end. Seeing Ji Hong frown, he thought Ji didn’t believe him, so he quickly pointed to the nearby teahouse. “It was there, that place! The shopkeeper inside is named Xia. He has a chronic illness and asked me to come treat him tomorrow… Oh no, I forgot to thank him for helping me.”
Ji Hong looked over to where Yu Jinnian pointed. The window was open, but only the lingering steam from the tea remained on the table—there was no sign of anyone inside.