Which one should I have believed in, exactly๏ผ
With war having just passed, this yearโs Spring Festival was bound to be a disappointing one. Managing only a pot of radish-stuffed dumplings hand-wrapped by Yu Jinnian, a few sips of hot wine, and a bowl of meaty bone soup, they made do as best they could to see the year out.
On the first day of the new year, Min Ji held a merit-rewarding ceremony before the yamen. The rewards were minor, just things snatched from Yue troopsโnaturally nothing compared to those bestowed by the court, but enough to comfort the menโs hearts. Though this battle was a great victory, the casualties were countless; only if the soldiers were well compensated could the anti-rebellion expedition proceed smoothly.
Ji Hong, after days of riding, wore out his muscles and tendons. The day he returned, he showed no sign, even frolicked with his little medicine immortal half the afternoon. But when he woke the next day, he felt sore all over. Yu Jinnian scolded him with his mouth but worried fiercely within, examining him inside and out over and over, afraid he might have strained something, leaving behind any lingering injury.
That day Yu Jinnian also attended the yamen rewards, not trusting others, personally trailing behind the inspector to serve tea and water. Watching squad after squad of soldiers file past under the yamen hall like a parade, shouting slogans to the sky, every man got some rewardโsome took it home, some bragged and joked with their comrades. The yamen bustled with rare excitement.
The Northern Army brought by He Lianzhi was the unruliest. As vanguard, they killed the mostโand died the most. Death was routine for them; if a comrade died in the tent, another picked up his blade and pressed on, lopping a few more heads for a rewardโrepaying loyalty and filial piety in their way.
By the end, Yu Jinnian leaned near Ji Hongโs big chair, head drooped in drowsiness. Suddenly, a thunderous shout of โLord Ji!โ jolted him wide awake. Rubbing his eyes, he looked up to see what major event had happened.
Below the yamen lay a grass mat, a corpse wrapped in burlap atop it, five or six soldiers standing beside, grinning to show a dazzling set of white teeth at Ji Hong. Each vied, saying, โThe head is mine!โ โThe legs are mine!โ
Yu Jinnian stared. A boy of about ten snuck in amid the chaos, pulled from his clothes a scrap of cloth torn from a corpseโinside, three human fingers, left too long, had gone black and purple. The boy nervously craned his neck and asked, โIโI picked these up. I heard you can trade these for a rewardโฆcould you give me a little food for my mother?โ
Ji Hong said nothing, turning to look at the youth. Yu Jinnian stepped down, snow stinging his vision. He bent and lifted the grass matโs cornerโa neck-broken head nearly rolled out. He caught a glimpse of a scar running down the face, and two hollowed-out sockets, before the mat tumbled back, closing over it.
He staggered two steps, brought up short by Ji Hongโs arm about his waist, drawn close before him, the inspectorโs hand pressed to the hilt of his sword, and said, โReward.โ
Yu Jinnian watched as they hauled away Yu Xuโs corpse, the mat rolled tight, who knew where it would be thrown. The anti-rebellion army did not care who it was; rebel corpses all met a rebelโs end. In the end, Yu Jinnian could not resist, taking a small silver ingot to quietly have them dig a pit outside the city and bury him.
He himself was no kin to the Yu family of Sifang Village, but after all was said and done, his predecessor had eaten their rice a few timesโhowever hard those years, heโd survived to adulthood. Now the burial of Yu Xuโs body repaid what little debt he owed for their kindness, and from this day forth, the Yu family of Sifang Village would have no more claim on himโnor would anyone else.
Ji Hong saw the youth standing before the yamen, lost in thought over the cart pulling the corpse, motionless for a long while. His heart sank, the sword at his waist suddenly burning-hot. That sword had tasted endless blood; he had given the order to kill Yu Xu. However detestable Yu Xu had been, he was after all the youthโs last remaining relative in this world.
Perhapsโฆit mattered much to him?
Yu Jinnian turned away, only to catch Ji Hong gazing at him with a strange look. Perplexed, he pondered until he worked out what plots the manโs mind was turning over, and could only squeeze his hand inside his sleeve and sigh: โWhat are you brooding about now? The living who do evil are punished by men, the hidden evil by spirits. Ah Hong, you and I have clear consciencesโthat alone is enough.โ
Clear conscienceโJi Hong rolled the words on his tongue.
The army continued south. Su Ting went with the medical camp, partly to practice medicine, partly for his own ambitionโto earn distinction for the sake of Haitangโs spirit.
Ji Hong set off on inspection circuits, with Yu Jinnian accompanying him all over Jiangnan. The lord performed his duties while Yu Jinnian treated the wounded, a curved blade at his waist jingling away. Clever officials soon deduced their relationship, and knowing there was no getting through Ji Hong, tried finding favor with Yu Jinnian instead, asking after his taste in wine and sending lavish gifts without care for cost.
Spring Crane wine from Southern Yue, Pine Snow Brew from Guannorth, Red Flower Dew from Southwest Hucheng, Rose Fragrance from Xiaotan Township in Jiangbeiโeach worthy of a thousand gold; their fragrance filled the air. Yu Jinnian drooled so much it nearly soaked his collar, but he gritted his teeth and ordered barrel after barrel smashed on the doorstep, cursing the messengers as โgood-for-nothings.โ
Why send wine, and not something else? Wasnโt this torment?
Ji Hong returned to the scent of wine wafting eight zhang from the gate. Seeing Yu Jinnian sit sulking over old wine, and hearing from a servant how heโd smashed jars and scolded the givers, Ji Hong laughed at him twice. Incensed, Yu Jinnian forced him to drink three bowls of strong wine, then tossed about with him all nightโleaving a vivid bite mark on Ji Hongโs neck the next morning.
โPetty,โ Ji Hong said, rubbing it and hiding it with his fur collar.
Later, an attendant sorting through his things found the old physicianโs bell Yu Xu had brought at their reunion, and brought it to Yu Jinnian curiously. โYour family were doctors too, sir?โ
Yu Jinnian could barely recall his own past, but dimly remembered his elders in the herbal trade. He accepted the bell, absentmindedly hung it on his medicine chest, then went out for a routine house call. He hadnโt gone far when a horse whinnied behind; Yu Jinnian turned to see Ji Hong leading his black horse, radiant as ever, approaching by sunset glow.
Ripples of golden light shimmered in the youthโs eyes.
He still dared not ride, especially Ji Hongโs horseโso tall, so fierce. Yet admiring Ji Hong as he did, even the manโs horse seemed a celestial steed, incomparable.
โNo business todayโlet me accompany you.โ Ji Hong reached out his palm. โCome up, Iโll lead you.โ
The imperial inspector leads his horse while the ducal heir holds the reins: Yu Jinnian sat in the saddle bathed in golden brilliance, prouder than if heโd taken the top degree. The doctorโs bell jingled with the horseโs gaitโthe bellโs special design carried far, so all the neighborhoods poked their heads out to look.
Bouncing in the saddle, Yu Jinnian thought: Being a bell doctor, isnโt this the grandest there is!
After a half-cityโs ride, they arrived at a Qian familyโs house as the sunlight faded. A shadowy figure loomed outside the wall in the gathering dusk, making the drowsy gatekeeperโs back go cold. Only after a moment did he realize it was the little miracle doctor. He hastened to welcome him inside.
The patient was a manโs elderly motherโone of the cityโs petty officialsโwho sought care for his old mother. Yu Jinnian, assisted by Ji Hong, dismounted. The doctorโs bell buzzed in the yard. The official, โMaster Qian,โ emerged, only to see Hell King Ji standing stern in the courtyard, scaring him so much he nearly fell over, almost kneeling then and there.
Master Qian, though so addressed, held minimal rank and was inconspicuous even in Rongzhou Prefecture. He attended to his daily office, never skipping, but after some years had made little impact; his superiors barely remembered what he looked like.
He had once witnessed Ji Hongโs executionsโtruly a hell king, ashen-faced and blood-scented, feared by half the gentry of Jiangnan, never partial in judgment. His own lowly status should never bring him face to face with such a manโyet here he was in his own gate!
Yu Jinnian hurriedly pulled him up before he could kneel and ushered him to the back courtyard. The remaining maids and servants, nervous, waited on the icy-looking lord and his black-faced horse.
The patient was the Qian familyโs grandmother, who recently lost her appetite, felt mild fevers, and generally ailingโthe usual for the old and frail. A local doctor had prescribed mild diuretics but to no effect.
In recent days, sheโd started complaining of lower back pain and looked paler; Master Qian, filial and devoted, was careful not to neglect her. His parents had died early, leaving only his grandmother, and he himself had failed the examinations, mild-tempered and without family influence, winding up with only a humble post in Rongzhou.
Though powerless, his family was content in peace. He heard of the little miracle doctor whoโd suppressed the epidemics in Chunan and Zhongling, and finally managed to invite him.
Miracle Doctor Yu proved easier invited than expectedโif there was a difficult case, he accepted at once, appearing on the doorstep by next morning, every bit as kind-hearted as legend. The only worry was the terrifying Hell King Jiโno one knew what his link to the doctor was, yet here he was.
Yu Jinnian entered the old ladyโs room, medicine chest on his back. The brazier blazed, a myna bird cackled in its cage, the old lady groaned โaiyo aiyo,โ and the granddaughter-in-law fussed, not knowing what to comfort.
โGrandma was just fine until a recent trip outside the city to pray; after returning, she felt unwell, couldnโt eat, slept poorly, and now aches so badly she canโt sleep.โ She whispered, โCould it be something unclean picked up on the road in this troubled yearโฆ?โ
Master Qian immediately rebuked, โNonsense! โThe son does not speak of strange forces!โโ
The woman fell silent.
Yu Jinnian took her pulse at the bed and inquired in detail. โMaster is rightโthe supernatural is not to be spoken of. Sickness is treated as sickness; there is no cure in gods or prayers. With her age, these aches are commonโshe only needs proper care.โ
โYes, doctor, yes!โ
โShe has a strong temper,โ the daughter-in-law added, โquarreled with the kitchen maid just before this, kept it to herself. If not for the pain, we wouldnโt have known.โ
Yu Jinnian leafed through the old prescriptions. The old lady was feeble and ailing, yet had no obvious infection, with lower back pain and poor sleepโcooling or tonic medicines having failed. Her pulse was wiry and slipperyโฆ On hearing of her bad temper, a thought struck, and he rose to check the area of pain before settling on a diagnosis.
Master Qian asked anxiously, โDoctor, what is happening with my grandmother?โ
Yu Jinnian replied, โItโs belt fire boils.โ Sitting down to write, he explained, โIn her state, some blood and qi deficiency is normal. Likely, during her trip out, crowds and malaise made her susceptible to illness. With her fiery temper, the liver fire built up moisture and toxin, blocking the meridians and causing the pain.โ
โNo rash has broken out yetโonly slight red marks. Treat it with medicine first to swiftly relieve pain. If a gross rash appears these daysโstartling as it may look, itโs a normal phase. Iโll continue daily acupuncture and treatment.โ
โGoodness, that sounds alarming!โ The woman flapped, โPlease, doctor, do everything you can! We can afford the best medicines.โ
As Yu Jinnian wrote the prescription, the woman, anxious, leaned inโaccidentally bumping the medicine chest. The doctorโs bell hanging on it tumbled down, striking the floor with a piercing ding!
The thingโs echo was sharpโstartling even Yu Jinnian, making his writing stray. Outside, Ji Hong heard the noise and stepped quickly to the door: โJinnian?โ
The bell rolled to the bed. Master Qian hurried to pick it up. The old lady, whether startled by the sound or the shock, stared hard at the bell, then suddenly spoke: โBring it hereโฆlet me see.โ
She clasped the bell, turning it and gazing at it like a treasure, tears welling up. Master Qian whirled helplessly. The old lady strained her dim eyes, studying the doctor by candlelight, even trying to sit up: โIsโฆis this yours?โ
Yu Jinnian hurried over: โIt belonged to my parents.โ
The old lady squeezed his hands tightly, excited: โYour parents? Truly?! Your mother is here in Rongzhou?โ
โโฆYes, of course itโs true. Only my parents both died during my childhood, more than ten years ago now.โ Yu Jinnian, confused, was caught in her grip, unable to break free. โMadam, is there something about the bell? Did you know them?โ
On hearing that his parents were long departed, she blanked, then, clutching the bell, limped to the window, shaking her head and weeping, โMengxian, Mengxian! So you did escapeโฆgood, your son has your same healing touchโXie family medicine is not lost!โ
Yu Jinnian stared, half-understanding. Before he could recover, the old lady called her son in a panic: โQuick, kneel and kowtow to the doctor! Mengxian is goneโbowing to her son is owed. If not for her, our whole family would have died of plague back then!โ
When the capital epidemic broke out, Master Qian had been just a boy, vaguely recalling the chaosโhis father gravely ill, his grandmother grieving. How he recovered, he could not recall, but hearing this, he surmised the miracle doctorโs mother had saved them. Without another word, he knelt formally and bowed several times.
Yu Jinnian tried to evade, but finally accepted a few bows in consternation. Even the old lady wanted to kneel, but Ji Hong entered and quickly supported her, standing by the youth: โSoโthe bell belonged to Lady Physician Xie Mengjun?โ
The old lady, leaning on the bed, nodded over the bell, her face sorrowful: โThis bell I could never forgetโthe pattern is unique to the Xie family. Our family and the Xies go back generationsโXie family used to serve as imperial physicians, but were exiled after falling from favor. The old master decreed their descendants should never practice, but in the end, Xieโs daughter defied her clan and revived her forebearsโ skills. Unwelcome at home, she wandered the interior as a bell doctor.โ
Master Qian offered tea. The old lady sipped and continued, โMengxian was immensely kind, never refusing sufferers. Regardless of gender, rich or poor, she endured heat and cold, enduring peopleโs gossip, never complaining. Nobody knew it was her kindness that caused disaster.โ
โThere was illness at the Prince Rongโsโafter much trouble, they found her, and she did not refuse. Later, I sought her out for my son, and only after he recovered did I see wanted posters in the street, realizing that, due to some misunderstanding at Prince Rongโs, she had nearly died escaping. If not for coming to my family, she might have made it out safely.โ
Yu Jinnian listened a while before piecing together that this lady physician Xie was his own motherโor rather, his predecessorโs mother. It felt as if he was listening to someone elseโs story. โAnd afterward?โ
The old lady shook her head and sighed, โMy family failed Mengxianโฆโ
She neednโt say moreโthe Qians, fearing Prince Rongโs power, dared not help. Xie Mengjun escaped the capital, living anonymously, perhaps still practicing, perhaps married and having childrenโbut never returned to the capital. The old lady had asked everywhere, learning nothing, and assumed all these years that Xie Mengjun had been killed. Who could imagine sheโd survived and borne such a remarkable son?
The Xie familyโs sonโstill a miracle doctor! The old lady gazed at Yu Jinnian in excitement, her own pain forgotten, her heart’s burden at last dispelled.
Departing Qianโs house, Yu Jinnian was still in a daze. He looked disbelievingly at Ji Hong, pointing at himself: โโฆmy mother?โ
He bowed his head, suddenly distressed: The stories I used to make up, did I invent them about my own mother? Could fate really work such tricks? The bell doctor the Emperor once spoke ofโit was her. All these circles, and it turned out everything was tied together.
Ji Hong, meanwhile, looked calm as everโa perfect โlike mother, like sonโ expression on his face, nodding: โEn, our mother.โ
The miracle doctor Mengxian, like a night-blooming cereus, briefly shone over Daxia before vanishing, leaving only whispers of legend, as if she really had descended from the heavens to work miracles. But though Mengxian was gone, she left Yu Jinnian behind. Ji Hongโs gaze lingered on himโhe too was a little miracle doctor who could cure with a touch, the treasure Ji would cherish all his life.
Though Yu Jinnian recalled little of his former self or his miracle doctor mother, blood relishes its ownโhe felt a natural curiosity and affection. So he made the most of his daily calls to the Qian family, listening cheerfully to stories of Mengxian of varying truth. The old lady enjoyed their chats tooโher spirit lifted, her illness improved, and they fell into a happy rhythm like grandmother and grandson.
Ji Hong no longer joined but watched him go happy and return happy, as if visiting kin.
The old womanโs rash finally broke out, but with Yu Jinnianโs acupuncture and herbs, it passed tolerably. After several doses of gentian-liver-clearing decoction to cool the liver fire, a few painful nights and repeated cupping, the pain eased. Tonifying herbs shored up her energyโjust a rash mark left to recede slowly.
Ji Hongโs inspection tour neared its end. On the day of departure, the whole Qian family came to send him off. The old lady, finally recovering, gripped Yu Jinnianโs hand with blurred eyes, reluctant as if about to adopt him as god-grandson. This much liberty Ji Hong permitted; but if the youth had publicly adopted her as grandmother, Ji would object. He hurried him into the carriage before he could be persuaded.
Farewell, Jiangnan.
The carriage headed north, rolling through town after town. Couriers brought rapid-fire reports from the south, each a banner of โGreat Victoryโโhorsesโ hoofbeats raised the stirring hopes of Daxiaโs new spring. Min Xuefeiโs letters burned with prideful laughter, while Lianzhiโs posts added complaints: his noble general was always injured, never recovering, and should be scolded hard by Yu Jinnian.
How curious, this whole groupโnobles and notables, every one; unbending, shrewd, ungovernable, even the Emperor could only sigh and shake his head at themโyet all terrified to let Yu Jinnian catch them hurt. Min Xuefei had suffered at his hands too many timesโindescribable pain, needles and draughts and endless scolding.
With the ever-watchful Lianzhi as censor over him, General Min truly feared for his life.
โฆโฆ
When they finally returned to the capital, the weather was warm again, grasses bursting into green, swallows making new nests, and soft rain nourishing the earth. For ages, no one had lived in Jinyoutingโs Moon-Watching Pavilion; a few swallowโs nests had appeared under the eaves, and no one dared disturb them except the cats, who ran wild.
The houseboys, bored, watched the swallows build, until a sudden commotion at the gate brought excitement.
Theyโd been searched by the authorities before, startling everyone, but now they leapt up to rush inside and fetch the young ladyโonly to hear the doorkeepers belatedly shout, โMaster and young master are home!โ
Little Sui, just fallen asleep, bounded up, flinging on clothes and racing out. Qing Huan, clutching tiny embroidered shoes, chased after, only to see a white flash dart out the door, followed by an โawooโ from the fat cat, big and small scampering wildly. Qing Huan, shoes still in hand, stamped her feet at the gaping boys: โWhat are you gawking atโgo catch them!โ
The carriage finally unloaded its soft, languid youth, who peeked out, looking up at the brilliant golden โJinyoutingโ plaque shining as ever. Lamplight dotted the yard crimson, the summer faded to spring, half a year gone byโYu Jinnian opened his arms and laughed loudly: โHome at last!โ
Thunk! The fat cat crashed from above, plopping on his head with supreme self-regard: โMeow!โ
He lifted Little Dingdang down, barely had a look when he heard a soft โmewโ at his feet.
Yu Jinnian glanced down. A fluffy pure-white kitten sat on the steps, lazily licking its paw. Its jade-green eyes were as clear as the sea. Servants bustled past, but it was unafraid, sitting like a lord on the threshold, making everyone take care not to step on it. Yu Jinnian marveled, โWhere did this green-eyed cat come from?โ
Green-eyed white cats werenโt ordinaryโthey were prized breeds, precious even in Daxia, not everyone could afford them, not even the princess.
The catboy rushed out, scooping up the kitten: โIt was brought back by your cat, young master! We asked all around in the capital, but no one claimed it, so weโre just caring for it best we canโno one dares slack, in case its real owner comes for itโฆโ
Yu Jinnian said in wonder, โYou mean Little Dingdang brought it home?โ
The boy nodded earnestly: โYes! Your cat fought all the other cats over it and got its leg bitten before winning and bringing it home. The wound took ages to heal, it limped for so long I feared itโd be broken for life!โ
Yu Jinnian hugged Little Dingdang and gave it a thorough rub, laughing: โLike cat, like owner! I snatched the worldโs most beautiful person home, so you snatched the worldโs prettiest cat? You sly thing, learned to play the hero, eh?โ
Ji Hong brushed past his shoulder. The white-green-eyed cat hopped down, rubbing his leg before trailing nobly alongside. Its snowy coat shone silver, and, glancing coldly back, it fixed Little Dingdang with an icy stare.
Yu Jinnian, rolling and tumbling with his dusted-up cat, laughed so hard he doubled over.
โLook, Little Dingdang, donโt they look alike? Oneโs Beauty Ji, oneโs a white beautyโmarvelous!โ
The boy dared not say so aloud but thought, โYou two are alike yourselves!โโfearless, bold, able to carry off the worldโs best as their own, such lunatic courage perfectly matched.
Yu Jinnian called โbeauty,โ and both turned at once, leaving him sleepless for the night.
Ji Hong tossed the orange cat off the bed, then cuddled up with the white beauty, grooming its fur. Watching the dazedly smiling youth, he drawled, โI just remembered: when we first met, you said your father adopted you, and the Yu family were doctors for generations, so you had to inherit their craft; afterwards, you said your skills came from a mysterious master in the mountains; now, you say itโs your mother who was the truly miraculous healerโฆJinnian, tell me, which am I to believe?โ
Yu Jinnian froze, smile fading.
A deadly questionโwhy did this come to mind now?