Chapter 66: Two Officials

The story always starts gently, then turns extreme, and the ending is always incomparably cruel. No matter how joyful the time is while playing, the beating afterward is always ruthless.

Early in the morning, inside the main hall of Taiping Medical Hall, She Dengke and Liu Quxing stood in a row in front of the counter.

Old Man Yao carried two bamboo strips from the backyard and beat the two until they cried like ghosts and wolves howling: "Learn to stay out all night drinking, huh? Your fathers and mothers dug up tuition money and sent you here just so you could drink and get inaccurate pulses? When will I be able to rely on you to diagnose patients?"

Liu Quxing howled: "Master, I can take accurate pulses! It's Yu Dengke who can't!"

She Dengke cried until he blew out snot bubbles: "Liu Quxing, you big grandpa!"

At this moment, Old Man Yao turned around fiercely and looked at Chen Ji, who was watching the show from a bamboo chair: "And you!"

Chen Ji rolled his eyes upwards: "Master, my wound is very painful."

Saying this, he pretended to faint.

However, Old Man Yao didn't care about this at all. A flurry of bamboo strips rained down on his head and face, beating Chen Ji until he woke up and howled chaotically: "Master, I have a wound, I have a wound!"

"Now you remember you have a wound, huh? Why didn't you think of it when you were out playing!"

Old Man Yao switched between beating the apprentices randomly, breaking one strip and then grabbing another. Only then did everyone understand why he had brought out two bamboo strips.

After beating the apprentices, Old Man Yao looked at the Shizi again: "The Shizi went to Donglin Academy to study for three years. He comes back and hangs around places of pleasure every day. It seems the teachers at Donglin weren't that great either."

The Shizi subconsciously agreed: "Indeed, not that great..."

He suddenly realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly smiled, trying to salvage the situation: "No, you don't misunderstand. Yesterday was just too much fun. We truly had a spiritual connection..."

Old Man Yao slowly raised his hand. The Shizi quickly shrank back and hid behind Bai Li, softly muttering: "Presumably, you were also this willful when you were young."

Bai Li stepped forward and supported Old Man Yao's arm: "Just don't be angry, don't lower yourself to their level."

Old Man Yao raised his eyebrows: "Weren't you there last night? Step back."

Bai Li, disheartened, lowered her head and retreated back to the line.

Old Man Yao looked at Liang Gouer again: "You eat and drink well living in my Taiping Medical Hall, and then you lead my apprentices astray."

Liang Gouer also lowered his head: "Don't worry, next time I definitely won't take them out all night."

Old Man Yao's eyes widened, and his beard bristled, "Still a next time!"

This white-haired old man was like everyone's elder, reprimanding everyone except Liang Maoer fairly. The Shizi, Bai Li, and Liang Gouer also hung their heads without rebuttal.

However, what was strange was that by rights, Old Man Yao was just an imperial physician of Jingwangfu, but when he reprimanded the Shizi and the Junzhu, even they felt it was reasonable and natural.

Taiyi Yao said in a cold voice: "All of you, stand here and reflect properly!"

Having said this, he turned and went back to the backyard. The crowd breathed a long sigh of relief.

Liu Quxing sobbed: "Master beats too hard."

Liang Gouer lazily leaned on the counter, propping his elbow on the surface: "You should be content. In this day and age, it's good to have someone willing to teach you. If someone had beaten me severely back then, I might not be drinking every day..."

Liang Gouer looked at the Shizi: "You and the Junzhu don't need to stand here in punishment, ah. The old man doesn't even manage you, why did you come and get reprimanded?"

The Shizi joked: "What are you saying? Good friends should share wealth and nobility, and also share adversity, ah!"

At this moment, a knocking sound came from outside the door: "Is Taiyi Yao in?"

Everyone inside the medical hall breathed a sigh of relief. An outsider had come to save them!

Taiyi Yao slowly returned to the main hall. He glanced at She Dengke: "Get out and open the door!"

She Dengke hurried towards the outside. In no time, he led the guest into the hall.

Chen Ji raised his head and saw Yuan Zhanggui from Bailu Ge smilingly carrying two bags of things, with fruits and pastries, and even a string of fresh lamb leg meat.

At this moment, all thoughts of dreams, singing girls, and sweet wine vanished into thin air because of Yuan Zhanggui's visit. Everything from last night seemed just a good dream.

Since being injured, Chen Ji felt as if he was far from strife, learning killing skills on the green mountain on one hand, and being led by the Shizi to fool around on the other.

He lived a substantial and steady life, as if those past shadows had all gone far away and would never return.

But he knew that what was meant to come would always come.

Old Man Yao asked: "My Taiping Medical Hall just restocked medicinal materials a few days ago. Why has Yuan Zhanggui come again personally? Don't you need to do business anymore?"

Yuan Zhanggui laughed and replied: "A clerk from Bailu Ge said that they saw Chen Ji being carried on the street yesterday, so he must be injured. I thought I'd come and see him."

Chen Ji knew it must be because he had shown off with the Shizi and the Junzhu yesterday, attracting the attention of the Jingchao Military Intelligence Department.

He knew the other person might come, but he hadn't expected them to come so quickly.

Old Man Yao glanced at Yuan Zhanggui and said indifferently: "Yuan Zhanggui is a busy person, to actually come to my Taiping Medical Hall to visit a small apprentice."

Yuan Zhanggui didn't care about Old Man Yao's sarcasm: "Earlier, Xiao Chen doctor often came to my Bailu Ge to buy medicinal materials. We hit it off at first sight, so I brought some things to visit. You go ahead and be busy, I'll chat with my Xiao Chen doctor."

Old Man Yao nodded: "Alright, then you two chat. She Dengke, get out and fetch water. Liu Quxing, get out and mop the floor. Liang Maoer, get out and cook. Liang Gouer, go sleep."

Liang Gouer said awkwardly: "I live here in Taiping Medical Hall for free, eating and living. It's fine if you tell me to get out, no need to be polite with me."

"Okay, then get out and chop firewood!"

"Good!"

The Shizi quickly said flatteringly: "We'll also go and do some work then leave. Bai Li, you go find a rag and wipe the surface of the main hall..."

Bai Li laughed: "Okay!"

Yuan Zhanggui took advantage of everyone going to be busy and asked in a low voice: "Did you find that escaped spy the night before last?"

Chen Ji shook his head and said seriously: "That night, I was seriously injured and fainted. I don't know anything about what happened afterward. But since the Military Intelligence Department hasn't come to arrest me, I presume they didn't catch him."

Yuan Zhanggui stood in the main hall with his hands behind his back, deep in thought. The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly solidified like ice.

The door of Taiping Medical Hall was still closed. The morning light outside shone through the white paper on the window, into this dim room.

Chen Ji silently observed the other person's expression, not saying a word.

A moment later, Yuan Zhanggui asked: "Have any Military Intelligence Department people come looking for you these two days?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No."

Yuan Zhanggui stared at Chen Ji: "Really no?"

Chen Ji looked back calmly: "Really no."

Yuan Zhanggui no longer lingered on this topic. He changed the subject: "The previous batch of goods has already been transported to the north. I'll give you one day to find a way to inform that important figure in the Wangfu that the next batch of goods should be handed over. As long as this batch of goods is in place, Si Master will immediately set off south."

Chen Ji said with difficulty: "But, Lord Si Cao, as you can see, I'm all injured like this. How can I contact that important figure? Can we wait until my injury is healed?"

Yuan Zhanggui's face sank. He actually bent down and reached out to press the wound on Chen Ji's thigh.

Chen Ji felt as if struck by lightning. Large drops of sweat fell from his forehead. In a few short breaths, the back of his clothes was soaked with sweat, but he dared not make a sound.

Liang Gouer was just in the backyard. Chen Ji could be heard if he shouted, but what would happen after being heard? Let everyone know he was a spy for the Military Intelligence Department?

No, he couldn't expose himself.

Yuan Zhanggui said in a low voice: "I don't like people bargaining with me. How to contact is your duty, not mine. You should be grateful for being left alive, don't interfere with my plan."

At this moment, Bai Li wrung out a rag and walked back from the backyard. She was in a good mood and was humming a little tune.

Yuan Zhanggui looked up at her, and said softly to Chen Ji: "No matter what method you use, I'm only giving you one day."

"Understood."

Yuan Zhanggui turned to leave. He pushed open the door, but stopped at the doorway, seemingly blocked.

Chen Ji looked to his side and saw a person outside the door wearing a bamboo hat, with patched clothes, straw shoes on his feet, and a short knife in his hand. He stood in the thin morning mist with his head lowered, unable to see his face.

The other person and Yuan Zhanggui faced off, neither speaking a word, yet killing intent permeated the air.

Wait, this was another Si Cao of the Military Intelligence Department!

Chen Ji's heart suddenly understood: Just like the Secret Spy Department has the twelve zodiac signs, the Military Intelligence Department also has more than one Si Cao. There were two in Luocheng alone: one was the fat man pretending to be Yuan Zhanggui, and the other was the thin man who had once worn a mask with a green face and fierce teeth, and who seemed to use a short knife.

Chen Ji sensed danger and turned to Bai Li, who was just wiping the table: "Junzhu, can you help me pour a cup of water to drink?"

Bai Li, unaware of what was happening, smiled and replied: "Okay, I'll go and pour you some water now."

After Bai Li left, they heard Yuan Zhanggui calmly say to the other Si Cao: "What are you doing here?"

The Si Cao opposite him laughed coldly: "What are you doing here again?"

"Luocheng is under my management now. You need to get your position right, Xiu Zhu."

Having said this, Yuan Zhanggui got into the carriage and left in a hurry.

The Si Cao wearing the hat quietly stared at Chen Ji for a long time before leaving.

Chen Ji was confused. Why would two Si Cao meet at the door of Taiping Medical Hall?

At this moment, Bai Li brought a cup of boiled water: "Here, it's just the right temperature."

Chen Ji didn't take the water but lifted his head and examined Bai Li Junzhu: "Junzhu, can I trust you?"

Bai Li laughed: "Of course you can. I'm very reliable."

Chen Ji suddenly stood up from the bamboo chair, limped and struggled towards the outside. When he reached the door, he turned back and looked at Bai Li Junzhu: "Close the door properly after I leave, and please keep my secret. Thank you..."

Chen Ji took advantage of the few people still on the street and quickly came to the outside of the wall in the cloth shop's backyard.

As soon as he turned into the small alley, he was stunned to see Wu Yun squatting on the white wall and gray tiles, with more than ten flower cats bowing their heads behind him, listening to orders.

Opposite Wu Yun, a one-eyed flower cat squatted on the gray tiles, also followed by more than ten cats, including fat orange cats and tuxedo cats.

A great war was about to break out.

Chen Ji had no time to think about what was happening and immediately waved at Wu Yun: "Wu Yun!"

Wu Yun meowed: "You retreat first. Don't let blood splash on you in a while."

Chen Ji: ... There was killing intent. He said: "Don't fight first. I have something very important to entrust to you."

When Wu Yun heard this, it immediately withdrew its killing intent and looked at Chen Ji: "What happened?"

Chen Ji said: "Just now, a man wearing a hat left from Taiping Medical Hall and went south. His clothes are patched, and he's wearing a pair of straw shoes. If you chase him now, you can definitely catch up. You must help me quietly follow him. I want to know his real identity!"

Wu Yun meowed and no longer cared about the group of cats confronting it. It turned around and led more than ten flower cats to disperse into each alley, chasing towards the south.

At the same time, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the medical hall door.

Jin Zhu lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage, smiling as he came to the door of Taiping Medical Hall and knocked.

Bai Li came to the door and asked carefully: "Who is it?"

Jin Zhu was also startled to hear the Junzhu's voice: "Hello, I am Chen Ji's friend. I heard he was injured and came to visit him."