Since ancient times, heroes have always found it hard to resist beauty.
“The *Ben Cao* clearly states the eighteen antagonisms: Ban Lou Bei Lian Ji attacks Wu.
Zao Ji Sui Yuan all fight herbs; various ginsengs, Xin and Shao, betray Li Lu…”
This inn regularly serves high-ranking officials and nobility, and it is well-versed in the needs of these esteemed guests. Besides the main kitchen that serves regular dishes, there are also a few smaller stoves available for preparing private meals.
Su Ting held a mortar in his hands, tossing dried lily petals into it to grind while mumbling to himself. After a long while, he looked up, blinking in confusion, and asked, “Brother Nian, I’ve memorized the words, but what do they mean?”
Yu Jinnian, who was sifting a basket of glutinous rice flour, couldn’t help but recall his own youth. He replied, “I was only seven or eight years old when I memorized these, and I had just learned a few words back then. I didn’t know what they meant either.”
Lost in the memory of his childhood, he smiled after a moment and explained earnestly, “Alright, let’s not dwell on the past. These eighteen antagonisms refer to the various contraindications in medicine. For instance, Aconitum-type medicines should not be used with Pinellia, Trichosanthes, Bai Lian, or Bai Ji, as they may cause toxicity or adverse reactions. However, this is not a hard rule. In the past, some practitioners deliberately paired opposing substances and occasionally achieved remarkable results. But since you’re just starting out in medicine, with limited experience, you should stick to these guidelines for now, ensuring safe practices. I’ll explain the specifics to you in more detail later.”
Su Ting nodded, half-understanding.
“Although everyone wants to become a famous doctor,” Yu Jinnian set down the basket and lifted the lid off a small medicine pot beside him, adding two qian of Yuan Zhi and half a liang of dried walnut kernels. He placed the pot on a small stove to simmer on low heat, then checked the polished rice that the innkeeper had ground overnight. Feeling reflective, he added, “Becoming a renowned physician is hard, but it’s easy to become a mediocre one. But Su Ting, even if you end up being a harmless mediocre doctor, you must never act recklessly—seeking wealth at the cost of harming lives.”
Su Ting nodded vigorously and said cheerfully, “I will remember that well, Master!”
“Pfft…” Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the word “Master.” The serious face of a teacher he had been trying to maintain crumbled, and in an instant, he was back to being a mischievous young man. “That title feels so strange! It makes me uncomfortable. Let’s just keep things the way they were!”
“How can that be? Respecting one’s teacher is important. You’ve taught me medicine, so you are my master.” Su Ting lowered his gaze as he quietly continued grinding the pestle in his hand, feeling a little dejected. “I learned medicine for Haitang. If there were more doctors who could accurately diagnose illnesses, maybe Haitang wouldn’t have died. I know… perhaps that illness couldn’t have been cured right away, but as long as someone’s still alive, there’s always hope, right?”
As he spoke, his eyes grew red. “If only Haitang were still alive, how happy he’d be to come with us to Xiajing! I should have taken him out for walks earlier. I shouldn’t have let him stay cooped up at home…”
Yu Jinnian squeezed his shoulder gently. “Haitang didn’t do a single bad thing in his life. Maybe he’s already been reincarnated into a noble family. You might even meet him again. Now, let me see your arm. Did you get hit when you stopped someone yesterday?”
Su Ting rolled up his sleeve, showing Yu Jinnian a faint bruise, which had turned greenish overnight. “Were you alright yesterday?”
“Me? I’m fine! A master once told me that after my hardships, I would live a blessed life, like the boundless East Sea!” Yu Jinnian patted his arm. “It’s just a surface bruise. Later, ask Qing Huan to get you some oil to rub on it.”
As they spoke, there was a rustling sound behind them. Yu Jinnian turned around and saw a small figure hiding in the corner, with the edge of a light yellow skirt peeking out. He tiptoed over, hiding beside her, then suddenly reached out and grabbed her, exclaiming, “Ah, isn’t this Sui Sui?”
The little girl looked terrified and coughed a few times, then fiercely shook off his hand.
Yu Jinnian had no idea why this girl disliked him so much. Every time he tried to coax her with gentle words and good food, he never even got a single “Brother Nian” out of her. Since she was the only one Aunt Xu cared about, he couldn’t scold or hit her. Instead, he tried to protect her, but she only rewarded him with cold stares. Now, frustrated, he grabbed the girl and said, “Sui Sui!”
Sui Sui struggled a bit, but her wrist turned red from Yu Jinnian’s grip. Enraged, she lowered her head and bit him.
This biting technique must have been the specialty of the noodle shop. Yu Jinnian had just bitten Boss Xia the day before, and now this girl was sinking her teeth into his hand, leaving a neat row of teeth marks. It seemed karma had come swiftly.
Ji Hong came downstairs looking for someone, while listening to Shi Xing’s report. Shi Xing said that in Dongchong Prefecture, there indeed was a tea merchant surnamed Xia. However, the Xia family had moved to Yue a couple of years ago and only occasionally returned to do business. They had few connections in Dongchong Prefecture, and no one really knew them. A few old tea house owners had some vague impressions of the merchant, but none of the descriptions matched the person they were looking for. Some suggested that it might be a descendant of the old Xia.
In short, they hadn’t found any useful information.
“Stop! What’s with this attitude?” Yu Jinnian abruptly let go of Sui Sui when he saw she was about to run. For the first time in his life, he lost his temper at her and shouted sternly.
Ji Hong, rarely witnessing Yu Jinnian’s anger, raised a hand to signal Shi Xing to hold off, frowning as he looked toward the young man.
Sui Sui stomped her foot, turned her head sharply, and with wide almond eyes, exclaimed, “You’re not my mother!”
Yu Jinnian immediately retorted, “But I am your brother!”
“No, you’re not! I don’t have a brother, I don’t have a father, and I don’t have a mother!” Sui Sui yelled at him, her face flushed with anger. She grabbed a half-grown bottle gourd from the basket nearby and flung it at him before turning and running off, disappearing from sight.
“Hey, Sui Sui, that little girl!” Su Ting rushed over but couldn’t stop her. He sighed, picking up the gourd from the ground. When he looked up and saw Brother Nian’s pale face, he panicked and said, “Brother Nian, she’s still young and doesn’t understand. Don’t… don’t take it to heart.” He didn’t know how to put it, but he felt that Sui Sui’s words had truly hurt.
Yu Jinnian looked dazed for a moment. Su Ting reached out to help, but another hand stretched out from the side, steadying him.
“Young Master Ji?”
“Jinnian,” Ji Hong called out. He glanced at Su Ting, “I’ll take care of this. You go ahead with your work.”
Su Ting let go of Yu Jinnian’s arm. He wanted to say something but, upon realizing that with Young Master Ji there, Brother Nian would surely listen, he felt his presence wasn’t needed. Reluctantly, he went to wash some vegetables, muttering the “Eighteen Incompatibilities and Nineteen Antagonisms” mnemonic to himself as he worked.
Ji Hong glanced at the silent Yu Jinnian and suddenly said, “Shall I catch that little girl and give her a beating?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he was met with a sharp “you wouldn’t dare” glare from the younger man. Seeing Ji Hong’s half-serious, half-joking expression, Yu Jinnian realized it was a joke. His stern look softened, and he sighed deeply, his voice low and helpless, “The harder I try to do things right, the more of a mess I make… It’s so hard.”
He went to lift the lid of the medicine pot, his mind drifting to his rebellious teenage years, wondering if he had ever broken his father’s heart in the same way. After pondering for a long time, he came to a faint realization: he had been too cautious growing up. He had been so afraid that Yu Heng would abandon him that he never dared to rebel. His adolescence had been as smooth as it could be—he never even threw a tantrum at his father.
—What a comforting conclusion.
Lost in thought, Yu Jinnian was suddenly startled as a flame from the stove leapt up and licked his hand.
Ji Hong grabbed his hand, pulling it closer to inspect the burn. He shot Yu Jinnian a reproachful look, silently scolding him for not taking care of himself. Frowning, he carefully examined the singed fingers and said in a restrained voice, “There’s no one else around, so why are you so distracted?”
Yu Jinnian glanced at him, and then his hand slowly rested against Ji Hong’s chest. His eyes lowered as he said, “If there’s no one else, then comfort me. Yesterday I was chased all over the city, exhausted until my legs nearly broke, and when I got back, you scolded me and left me to dry out all night. I only just woke up, and my back still hurts. And now you’re being harsh with me again…”
“Your back hurts?” Ji Hong was startled. He slid his arm around Yu Jinnian’s waist, his hand hovering over the slender back for a while, afraid to touch it and cause more pain. “Why does your back hurt? Were you injured yesterday? Turn around and let me take a look.”
“It does hurt.” Yu Jinnian wasn’t lying—he had indeed been ignored by Ji Hong all night and had nightmares of being chased. When he woke up this morning, his back ached as if it had been run over by a cart. Lifting his chin slightly, he waited for Ji Hong to comfort him.
Ji Hong gently wrapped his arms around Yu Jinnian’s waist, staying silent for a long time. Yu Jinnian knew that asking Ji Hong to “comfort” him was perhaps too sentimental. Though Ji Hong often said romantic things without realizing how captivating his words could be, when it came to intentionally expressing tenderness, it was a real struggle for him.
After a moment of hesitation, Ji Hong finally acted. Unexpectedly, he reached out, hooked his arm around the back of Yu Jinnian’s neck, and brushed aside the stray hair on his forehead, placing a light kiss there. The kiss was dry and crisp, landing on Yu Jinnian’s tired eyelids that hadn’t had a good night’s rest. Yu Jinnian shivered, quietly closing his eyes.
After kissing his eyelids, Ji Hong slowly leaned down, brushing his lips across Yu Jinnian’s mouth and whispered, “I honestly don’t know how to comfort you when you make things difficult for me like this.”
Yu Jinnian’s eyes felt too hot to open. He let himself go limp, gazing through lowered lids at Ji Hong’s long, cool fingers resting against his cheek. Slowly, the warmth from his own blushing face spread to those fingers, making him murmur softly, “Nonsense, you’re clearly skilled in this.”
The corners of Ji Hong’s mouth lifted slightly, drawing a small smile from Yu Jinnian as well, both of them sharing an unspoken understanding.
“Don’t worry about Sui Sui. She’s still young and doesn’t understand certain things yet.” Ji Hong said, and Yu Jinnian gave him a sidelong glance, thinking of something but not daring to say it. To his surprise, Ji Hong addressed it openly, saying in a calm and detached tone, “When my second brother passed away, I… I didn’t have anyone to hate. So, in the end, I could only hate myself… Now, what do we do with this lily powder?”
With a swift change of topic, Ji Hong smoothly shifted the conversation. Yu Jinnian immediately refocused his attention. “Hmm, give it to me.”
He poured the lily powder into the sifted glutinous rice flour. Gradually adding water, he gently rocked the sieve back and forth. Repeating the process several times, the fine powder slowly began to bind together, forming small white balls about the size of beans.
When Yu Jinnian had ample time, he was never stingy with ingredients nor did he mind complex cooking procedures. Rather than focusing on the final dish, he enjoyed the process of cooking itself, savoring the moment when diners would taste his creations with satisfied expressions. Because of this, Ji Hong liked watching him bustle around in the kitchen. Compared to the seriousness Yu Jinnian displayed when practicing medicine, he seemed even more full of life in front of the stove, as though worries were a foreign concept to him.
With no one else in the kitchen, Ji Hong helped boil some milk. Just as it began to bubble, Yu Jinnian eagerly scooped a spoonful to taste. Though it wasn’t as rich as the buffalo milk sold in the streets of Xinan County, it was still full of a strong, creamy aroma. Yu Jinnian licked his lips, leaving a faint ring of milky residue on the fine hairs of his lips without even realizing it.
Ji Hong took the opportunity to lean in and kiss him deeply, sharing the taste in a passionate exchange of milk and saliva. The scene was an intimate mix of white milk and red tongues intertwining, creating a sticky, entangled mess. When Su Ting came back with freshly washed vegetables, he turned bright red from his chest all the way to his ears. Stammering, he dropped the vegetables, then awkwardly fled, even stopping Qing Huan halfway to keep her from entering the kitchen.
This was the most captivating side of the young man, when his usual playful banter and sharp pride were completely shed. Since his heart was already stirred, he no longer bothered with pretense, simply yielding and allowing himself to be gentle and submissive. And this submissiveness was something he reserved only for Ji Hong—no one else had the privilege of experiencing it.
The more Ji Hong felt this, the more he found himself losing control, wishing he could keep Yu Jinnian by his side forever, not letting him out of his sight for even a moment. After all, what was Xiajing without a cook, or Daxia without a famous doctor? Recent events had only solidified his resolve, especially after yesterday, when this little one had nearly scared him out of his wits.
If Yu Jinnian had only offended some rowdy noblemen, that would have been manageable. But if it had been like yesterday, where he was almost dragged off and forced into marriage…
Yu Jinnian had no idea how close he was to being “grounded.” Once he had been sufficiently comforted, he pulled away from Ji Hong’s embrace and went back to work. He divided the milk into two portions—one mixed with rice starch and the other with a decoction of polygala and walnut. Each was brought to a boil, and into both he dropped a handful of small lily and glutinous rice balls. The rice starch version was for Ji Hong, to strengthen his spleen and replenish his energy, while the polygala version was for Sui Sui, to help clear phlegm and nourish her lungs.
“Try it.” Yu Jinnian handed Ji Hong a bowl. The white glutinous rice balls floated perfectly in the green porcelain spoon. “This dish is called ‘Pearl and Jade Dew.’ It’s a bit cool this time of year, but when summer comes and the heat gets intense, you can add crushed ice to it. You could easily eat ten bowls a day and still crave more! What are you waiting for? Try it!”
Ji Hong looked down at him, thinking to himself that this was when Yu Jinnian was at his most charming. He still had hopes and dreams. He was tireless in his work, brimming with vitality, and had a future entirely different from Ji Hong’s own.
After feeding Ji Hong a couple of bites, Yu Jinnian was reminded of something important. “This afternoon I’m going to treat Boss Xia. Don’t forget to have Duan Ming handle that task at the silver shop for me. I already drew the design for those silver needles. They’re important, so make sure he’s careful. The needles need to be smooth and fine, with no mistakes.”
As Yu Jinnian rambled on, Ji Hong couldn’t help but look at him with growing affection. Well, what could he do? His heart had been captured by a single bowl of osmanthus tea.
—
By the afternoon, the sugar water vendors in Dongchong Prefecture had come out to shout their wares under the warming sun—red bean soup, longan water, soft, tender snow fungus sweet soup. Their calls rang through the streets, with each bucket and small wooden cart sustaining the livelihood of a family. As they passed through the streets of Xiahefang, more customers with money to spare began to gather, eager to sample the sweet soups.
After lunch, Yu Jinnian found himself idly leaning by the window, gazing at the shimmering waters of Xiahefang’s inner lake. The pleasure boats swayed gently, and the scent of incense mixed with the breeze. Having caused trouble the day before, Yu Jinnian didn’t dare go down and wander around again. Instead, he waved at one of the vendors, ordering a bowl of snow fungus sweet soup.
The soup was simple—boiled silver fungus mashed into a paste and sweetened with sugar, then chilled with cold water. Though the flavor was mild and even a bit boring, it was still a small comfort.
The vendor, having grown tired from walking all day, sat down to chat with Yu Jinnian. The two of them chatted casually at the back door of the inn, and Yu Jinnian slowly finished his bowl of soup. Meanwhile, on the distant lake, another brightly decorated pleasure boat sailed out.
“It’s already Shen Hour!” The vendor stood up and dusted off his clothes. “That boat sails out of the lake every day at this time. I should be on my way.”
Yu Jinnian looked up just as someone came to report, “Young master, Boss Xia’s sedan chair has arrived at the door.”
Right on time. Yu Jinnian got up and called out to Ji Hong, preparing to head out. Ji Hong saw him to the door and softly reminded him to return immediately after the consultation and not to linger too long. Yu Jinnian, knowing full well that he had been reckless the day before, nodded earnestly, promising not to be so rash in the future.
Ji Hong scrutinized the sedan chair closely, as if he were examining evidence of a crime. However, no matter how many times he searched, he found nothing wrong—not even the scratches on the side of the sedan seemed out of place. In the end, he had no choice but to let Yu Jinnian leave. Once Yu Jinnian was in the chair, Ji Hong exchanged a glance with the servant who had come to fetch him.
Zhou Feng, dressed as a simple commoner, respectfully bid farewell to Ji Hong. Even Yu Jinnian, who had met Zhou Feng before, barely recognized him after a few glances, let alone Ji Hong, who had never encountered him.
The sedan left Xiahefang and headed east towards Dongchong Prefecture.
Ji Hong waved, and Duan Ming and the others discreetly followed the sedan. They tracked it all the way to the docks outside the city, where the sedan finally stopped. Yu Jinnian climbed out and was immediately stunned. In front of him was a massive passenger ship, towering like a two- or three-story building. He stared dumbfounded at the enormous vessel, unsure of what to think.
“Young Master Yu, this way, please.” Zhou Feng led the way. “My master is a merchant and is used to traveling by boat, so he eats and lives aboard.”
Yu Jinnian followed him onto the ship, puzzled. “Boss Xia deals in tea, doesn’t he? Shouldn’t he be heading southwest? The southwest is full of mountains and fog—difficult to traverse. If your master had a hundred fine horses from beyond the borders, I wouldn’t be surprised, but this ship…”
Zhou Feng replied calmly, “My master does not only conduct business in the southwest but also frequently deals with trade on the sea. The people of the foreign lands over there are quite fond of our Daxia’s tea and dairy products. So, having one or two ships for overseas trade is not surprising. You mentioned silver needles last time, and coincidentally, the doctor we consulted before left a set behind. I’m not sure if they meet your standards, though.”
Still puzzled, Yu Jinnian boarded the deck. Looking out over the vast canal stretching to the horizon, he saw that it rivaled a large river. The gentle waves rippled as fishing boats passed by, hauling up fish, shrimp, and clams. Such a grand scene left him wondering how many generations of effort it had taken to accomplish this marvel.
Zhou Feng knocked twice, and a low voice from within said, “Come in.”
Yu Jinnian blinked, pushing the door open cautiously. Before stepping inside, he was greeted by the fresh, elegant scent of incense. He entered carefully and saw a man slightly bowing over a desk, using a silver dagger to lift some scented clay from a tortoiseshell box and place it into a three-legged incense burner with golden phoenix carvings. From the delicate openings, thin wisps of smoke curled out, showcasing the burner’s fine craftsmanship.
The man came around the desk and said, “This incense is something I bought yesterday from Sheng Xiangfang. It’s called ‘Reunion,’ a unique name. Apparently, it was crafted by the young heir of the Sheng family… Oh, yes, the same Sheng Changxia who tried to force a marriage with you yesterday.” He chuckled softly. “She’s truly a talented woman. Marrying into her family wouldn’t be a bad match for you. But I’ve heard you already have a family? That’s quite unfortunate. I wonder who the lucky girl is who has earned the favor of the Little Divine Doctor.”
Yu Jinnian hurriedly responded, “Boss Xia, please stop mentioning that! You’re making me feel so embarrassed!”
“Please, sit,” the man said, cutting the subject short as he adjusted his sleeves. He gave instructions to someone outside, “Zhou Si, serve the dishes and warm up a pot of Bai’e Chun.”
Since the incident with the poisonous mushrooms, Yu Jinnian hadn’t dared to touch alcohol carelessly. He quickly waved his hand, declining the offer, “No need, Boss Xia. You’ve come to seek treatment, and I’m sure you’re anxious. As a doctor, my priority should be to cure illness and solve problems. Anything else would be putting the cart before the horse. Besides, I had some bad food recently, and just a sip of alcohol makes me feel awful. I really can’t drink.”
Xia Yan pondered for a moment before agreeing, “You’re right. But the dishes will take some time to prepare. After your diagnosis, you should still have a meal—can’t let you leave on an empty stomach. The river’s seafood is delicious, and it would be a shame to miss out. But since you can’t drink, how about we replace the wine with tea as a gesture of my appreciation?”
By this point, it would be rude to refuse again, so Yu Jinnian hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement.
Soon, Zhou Feng brought out some medical tools. After inspecting them, Yu Jinnian found them satisfactory, though not perfect. He was even more surprised that Boss Xia had remembered to bring moxa wool, a small detail Yu Jinnian had casually mentioned the day before.
Although Yu Jinnian had briefly examined Xia Yan’s condition the previous day, he needed to do a more thorough assessment before administering treatment. After taking a moment to focus, he sat upright at the table, requesting Xia Yan’s left hand to take his pulse.
Leaning back against the couch, Xia Yan let his gaze drift from his outstretched hand to Yu Jinnian’s ivory-hued face. This boy didn’t quite resemble the carefree, confident figure from the fighting platform. Now, with his brows furrowed in concentration, his expression was more composed, with a hint of quiet restraint. His eyelashes fluttered gently with each deep thought, and there was even a faint scent of milk lingering on him.
Curing his illness?
Xia Yan had no real hope that a 16- or 17-year-old boy could cure his long-standing condition. Despite the boy’s reputation in Changdu and the praise he had received, Xia Yan had seen too many “miracle doctors” over the years. His arm had gone bad, then healed, only to worsen again, as if fate itself was tormenting him, never giving him any peace.
What Xia Yan truly wanted to know was what kind of person could draw out Ji Hong—the usually aloof and detached third young master of the Ji family. This man, who kept to himself and stayed away from court, always had a hidden hand in politics. A person who had survived countless dangers. Xia Yan wondered what kind of person could bring him out of his long-held seclusion.
Seeing Yu Jinnian today, Xia Yan couldn’t help but find it amusing. Since ancient times, even heroes have struggled to resist the allure of beauty. Even someone as seemingly indifferent as Ji Shuluan couldn’t escape that fate.
Though Yu Jinnian wasn’t exactly a “beauty,” his lively spirit was undeniable. Xia Yan found himself thinking that while many feared him, respected him, or outright loathed him, he was still a man who had endured endless bloodshed. Over the years, he had grown accustomed to sleeping with a blade under his pillow, having little room left for romance.
But even he was human. He, too, grew tired. He, too, longed for a companion.
Lost in thought, Xia Yan furrowed his brow, snapping out of his reverie when he heard Yu Jinnian calling, “Boss Xia, Boss Xia,” asking him to switch hands for the pulse examination. Complying, Xia Yan observed Yu Jinnian closely and suddenly asked, “Where are you from, Little Doctor Yu? Do you have any family left?”
Yu Jinnian answered, “I’m originally from a small village in the southern mountains. Later, something happened to my family, and… well, they’re all gone now. I eventually ended up in Xin’an County in Changdu, where I’ve settled down.” His memories before arriving at the noodle shop were blurry, and since most of them weren’t pleasant, he kept his response brief.
Xia Yan shared a memory of his own, “It’s nothing. It’s just that your features remind me of someone. But that hermit has been in hiding for decades, and I’ve never heard of him having such a clever, charming descendant as yourself.”
“There are millions of people in the world. Even if the gods themselves created us, there would inevitably be some similar faces. I just happen to be quite ordinary.” Yu Jinnian replied.
Xia Yan smiled faintly, taking a closer look at him before letting the topic drop. “Perhaps you’re right.”