CH 11

The two returned to the courtyard where the hunter had thrown the pheasants earlier. The old man boiled hot water in the kitchen while Shi Hanhai went to the bedroom and sat at the table for a while. He couldn’t help but light a candle.

But before he could open a file, the “firecracker” in the courtyard raised his voice again and urged him to go to bed early. Even the chickens followed suit.

Shi Hanhai had no choice but to put out the candle and lean against the head of the bed with his clothes on, sleepless. Listening carefully to the movement outside, he heard a nearby door squeak shut and the chickens return to their nests. Then he went out into the kitchen and found a cold steamed bun in the bamboo steamer, adding chili and pickles to it to satisfy his hunger.

Liu Xian’an said: “My lord is tired, you should eat some fresh, warm, and easily digestible food, otherwise you might get a stomachache.”

Shi Hanhai had a lot of worries on his mind, and when he heard someone speak behind him, he didn’t realize that something was wrong for a moment, sighing: “People in the city are getting sick one after another, how can I —” As he spoke, he suddenly came to his senses and turned around to see a very handsome young man standing at the door. Dressed in thin white robes with the moon shining brightly upon him, he was like an immortal that had just walked out of a painting.

But Shi Hanhai was not so senseless as to believe that an immortal had really descended to earth in order to eliminate the plague. He took half a step back and asked in a heavy voice: “Who are you?”

“My surname is Liu, from Baihe Mountain Village —” Liu Xian’an couldn’t finish his sentence, because when Shi Hanhai heard the words “Baihe Mountain Village,” his eyes opened wide and his face changed color, vividly showing what it meant to be “wild with joy.” He threw the steamed bun into the pickle bowl and grabbed Liu Xian’an’s hand, his voice trembling with excitement: “Baihe Mountain Village, miracle doctor, miracle doctor, ah, consider this my invitation to you. Good, very good, now the people in my city can finally be saved.”

Liu Xian’an was gripped so hard that his finger bones were almost dislocated, and he couldn’t pull his hand back even after two or three shakes. Shi Hanhai talked endlessly: “Why is there only one miracle doctor? What about A-Qing, where did he go?” While speaking, he looked behind him and saw a dark shadow standing outside, so he reprimanded, “What are you standing there for? You invited a miracle doctor here and didn’t tell me in advance, go and tidy up the guest room!”

Liu Xian’an explained: “He is not A-Qing, and we were not invited. We just happened to pass by Chixia City.”

“Ah, it turns out to be the miracle doctor’s friend, please excuse me.” Shi Hanhai took two steps forward, wanting to welcome him in the door.

Liang Shu said coldly: “Shi-daren, please take your hand back.”

He walked out of the shadows dressed in all black, with a long sword and an austere chill all over his body, completely the opposite of Liu Xian’an’s moon fairy demeanor. Shi Hanhai’s hand froze in the air, and he was stunned for a long moment before there was a gong in his mind. Realizing the sort of person he was facing, he hurriedly knelt down to salute: “Subordinate Shi Hanhai, Governor of Chixia City, greets His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.”

Liang Shu was surprised: “You have seen this lord?”

“Yes.” Shi Hanhai said with an attitude of respect: “This subordinate passed by Caique City two years ago, and His Highness was also there at the time.

“Get up.” Liang Shu pointed to a chair. “Sit down and talk.”

Shi Hanhai said in a fluster: “How can this be done?”

“This lord asks you to sit down,” Liang Shu said. “Tell me, what is going on in Chixia City?”

“Plague, a plague for which there is no cause has been going on for a long time.” When mentioning this matter, Shi Hanhai couldn’t care less about etiquette. He said in shame: “A few months ago, a woman selling melons died suddenly in the city. At that time, some doctors said that her death was strange and that it was a disease they had never seen before, but I didn’t take it to heart.”

Immediately afterwards, the woman’s husband, son, and grandson fell ill one after another, and similar symptoms also appeared in neighbors. The government finally paid attention to it, and according to the general method of treating a plague, all the patients were transported to Dakan Mountain outside the city. Temporary houses were built, and doctors and helpers were sent there.

At the beginning, the plague was indeed brought under control, and some people began to recover. But soon, a new round of plague returned. This time, the symptoms were more and more serious, and even several doctors fell ill. Fortunately, at the critical moment, a doctor surnamed Du that Shi Hanhai met before happened to come to the city, and the situation changed for the better.

“Doctor Du?”

“His name is Du Jing,” Shi Hanhai said. “Like me, he is a foreigner from the Northwest but grew up in the Southwest, so our relationship is closer than others, and we often drink together. His family……also opened a medical clinic in Miaojiang.”

Speaking of this, Shi Hanhai was a little hesitant. The doctors in the Central Plains had always looked down on Miao doctors, denouncing them all as inferior users of witchcraft and sorcery, and some local governments would even expel them. Liu Xian’an sensed what was on his mind, and took the initiative to speak out and pacify him: “Regardless of the differences in medical practice, once one stands on the side of ‘curing the disease to save the patient,’ in terms of status, there is no difference in any way. Shi-daren does not need to worry. Please continue talking.”

“Yes. Doctor Du did help us a lot,” Shi Hanhai said. “He originally went north this time to learn the medical skills of the Central Plains, so he happened to bring many disciples with him. As soon as he heard that a plague was raging here, he immediately summoned everyone to make up for the lack of doctors in the city.”

Liu Xian’an recalled those doctors in the pharmacy just now. Some of them really didn’t look like they were from the Central Plains.

He happened to open a medical clinic, happened to bring many disciples, and happened to come just in time for the plague.

Liang Shu internally shook his head and continued to ask: “After he came, was the plague brought under control?”

“It is much better,” Shi Hanhai said. “Patients no longer immediately die as soon as they have symptoms, and decoctions are used to extend their lives. Although it cannot be completely cured, at least lives can be saved, and the speed of infection has also been reduced.”

“It sounds like their medical skills are not particularly high.” Liang Shu took out a fire pocket and lit the candle on the table. “Why didn’t you ask for help?”

“I asked, how could I not ask?” Shi Hanhai sighed deeply. “I knew that the doctors in Chixia City couldn’t cure the plague, so at the beginning, I sent A-Qing to Baihe Mountain Village to ask for help, and later wrote to the court, but –” In front of Liu Xian’an and Liang Shu, it was uncomfortable for him to go on, but whether he said it or not, the current situation of the city was right in front of them. Biahe Mountain Village had not sent any disciples, nor had the Imperial court sent any support.

Liu Xian’an frowned. This differed too greatly from the “truth” heard by everyone along the way. Moreover, it was absolutely impossible for Baihe Mountain Village to turn a blind eye to a plague. Since no disciples were sent, there was only one possibility – no request for help was received at all.

Liang Shu maintained his composure and continued to ask: “What did you say in the memorial to the emperor?”

“I gave the whole story of the disaster, the current situation in the city, how much food would be in short supply in the future, and what sorts of medicinal materials are urgently needed,” Shi Hanhai replied. “I also reported the closure of the city.”

He included everything that should be included, and also clarified the seriousness of the matter, but the Imperial court only received a bright and flowery memorial with the official seal of Chixia City.

“How many memorials like this have been sent out?” 

“Eighteen letters.” Shi Hanhai lowered his voice, “This subordinate knows that the treasury is empty, the surrounding lands are unstable, and the troops stationed everywhere are waiting for funds, so the emperor really shouldn’t be worried further. But even if some medicinal materials and food could be obtained, what about doctors? Although the Imperial court allocated a batch of grain at the beginning of the year, it was all old and damp. When it arrived, a lot of it was moldy. Many of the local farmlands were washed away by the heavy rain, and people were trapped here by the plague. They couldn’t even go to other places to make a living. This subordinate is incompetent, there was really no other way but to ask the court for help again and again.”

There was a slight sob in his voice as he spoke of this, and he raised his arm to wipe his face indiscriminately, then knelt down and said: “Asking the prince to help this subordinate and save the people in this city.”

Liang Shu nodded: “Tell me, how can this lord help you?”

Shi Hanhai was at a loss for words. He couldn’t just open his mouth and ask for money or rice. Besides, according to the rumors, even His Royal Highness Xiao Wang himself had trouble with the Imperial court all the time. But a doctor, there was a doctor! As if he had found a straw to clutch at, he hurriedly said, “Asking the prince to keep the miracle doctor here, at least three days. Three days will be enough.”

Liang Shu glanced at Liu Xian’an.

Liu Xian’an nodded: “I can give it a try.”

Before Shi Hanhai had time to celebrate, Liang Shu warned: “This city is a den of tigers and wolves. You had best think clearly and work alone. If one day you are swallowed up by someone with ulterior motives, this lord will not be able to come back and save you.”

For someone who had been rolling about in officialdom all year long, how could he fail to understand the meaning of these words? Shi Hanhai was slightly startled, and then asked cautiously: “What does my lord mean?”

“What this lord means is that someone exchanged your food, intercepted your memorials, and spread rumors outside. Most of the merchants who came and went made detours, cutting off all connections between Chixia City and the outside world. But you were unaware, and are still here begging for a doctor.” Liang Shu lifted him up from the ground. “Stand up straight!”

Shi Hanhai was stupefied, as if he was listening to heavenly scriptures. He barely caught himself with one hand on the stove to avoid falling over again.

Liang Shu asked: “Where is the official seal of Chixia City?”

Shi Hanhai’s ears were ringing, and he still hadn’t come back to his senses. He whispered after a moment: “The government office, the government office study.”

“Apart from you, who else has access to the official seal?”

“The secretarial assistant and Du Jing.” Shi Hanhai paled. “I was ill a while ago, and couldn’t get up from bed. Many things were done by the secretarial assistant, and because Du Jing wanted to control the plague, they often spent time together.”

“Only these two?”

“Only these two.” After this reminder, Shi Hanhai realized that something was wrong. “Furthermore, the memorials sent to the court and the letters sent to Baihe Mountain Village were all handed over to the secretarial assistant in the end. He is an old man who has been with me for many years, and has always been loyal and righteous. Is he actually unscrupulous enough to go so far?”

“Before the matter is settled, don’t act rashly and alert the enemy,” Liang Shu ordered. “The top priority is to cure the plague in the city first, and address the shortage of food and medicinal materials. This lord will think of a way.”

“Yes, yes.” Shi Hanhai nodded again and again. Perhaps it was due to his physical fatigue, or because the secrets behind the plague angered and terrified him, but for a moment there was an unbearable soreness in his stomach. Liu Xian’an poured him a cup of warm water, and Shi Hanhai took a few slow sips before regaining his strength: “It is an old problem, it doesn’t matter. I have medicine in my room.”

“Then my lord should take his medicine and rest early tonight,” Liu Xian’an said. “On our way here, we happened to encounter someone throwing pheasants into the back courtyard. The people are of one heart. My lord must stew and eat the meat, so that he can have the strength to continue working.”

“It’s probably Li Hu again, he is the city’s hunter,” Shi Hanhai said. “All right, I’ll ask Fourth Aunt to make soup tomorrow morning.”

He wanted to say something more, but his body was truly uncomfortable and he was sweating all over, so he didn’t persist.

. . . . . .

Liang Shu took Liu Xian’an with him out of the city.

Xuan Jiao was still slowly gnawing grass on the mountainside. It was almost dawn at this time. A pale line was faintly exposed in the east sky, and the dampness in the air became increasingly obvious. Liu Xian’an was dressed thinly and without a cloak, so he couldn’t help but sneeze a few times when enveloped in the cold air.

Liang Shu lifted him on the horse’s back, and the two of their bodies were pressed together. Liu Xian’an immediately felt much warmer, so he leaned back unconsciously. This time, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang had no objections. There should be no serious doctors in Chixia City at present, so he must take care of the Sleeping Immortal of Baihe Mountain Village.

Xuan Jiao walked briskly, traveling back along the mountain road.

Liu Xian’an didn’t speak the entire time, simply clasping his left and right hands together as usual as his thoughts went elsewhere. He didn’t come back to his senses until the person behind him spoke: “En?”

Liang Shu repeated again: “Are you sure you can bring the plague under control?”

“I must go to the mountain and see the patients in order to know,” Liu Xian’an replied. “However, judging from Shi-daren’s description, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Do you think everything he said is true?”

“Shi-daren’s physical foundation is very good, but he has been very weak and fatigued recently, and hasn’t put much good food in his stomach,” Liu Xian’an said. “Although I don’t know him well, if a head official can exhaust himself to the brink of death, what corruption can there be? So I believe he is a good man, and I do not believe he is lying.”

“Do you know anything about Miao medicine?”

“Yes, I have read a lot about it in books.”

The book collection in Baihe Mountain Village was extremely diverse, including the so-called orthodox and unorthodox, the upper class and the lower class. Traveling doctors, witch doctors, Mongolian medicine, Tibetan medicine, and even how to make corpse puppets and dig out the heart and soul. It was likely that they could fill more than ten large bookshelves reaching the sky.

Liu Xian’an said: “Baihe Mountain Village does not underestimate any school of medicine, and Miaojiang has many good medicines. If there is a problem with Du Jing, it is not a problem with all Miao doctors, but solely with him.”

“If this plague is not a natural disaster, but a well-designed man-made disaster, can you find out?”

“I can try my best. There is a ninety percent certainty.”

“Just because you read it in a book, you are ninety percent sure?”

“En, I read it twice.”

Other books didn’t receive this kind of treatment. It was mainly because Miaojiang witchcraft was so bizarre and frightening, and Second Young Master Liu read it as a leisure book to relieve boredom. So after he read it one more time, it left a particularly deep impression.

Liang Shu was speechless at this emphasis on “twice,” and asked: “So you only read the rest of the books once?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “Just about.”

“Since you are able to remember them all, why has Master Liu never mentioned this matter?”

“Because I never told my dad.”

Liu Xian’an retracted his hands into his sleeves and sighed in distress: “There was no time to explain, I was very busy when I was a child.”

Tens of thousands of books were like the sea being tossed by a strong wind, and there were huge waves in his mind, smashing Little Young Master Liu dizzy. So he spent seven or eight hours a day arranging one world after another, so as not to let the avenues collide with one another.

Sometimes he also played, but he didn’t tussle or play with crickets, and only imitated the people in the books. For example, sitting upright on the wall and gazing into the distance for a whole afternoon. Liu Fushu felt that his son might be wrong in the head, but Little Young Master Liu was actually imitating Shun, facing due south with respect and self-discipline. What did the man do? He governed by doing nothing. When night fell, Liu Xian’an patted his buttocks and jumped off the wall. He patrolled around Baihe Mountain Village and saw that everything was in order, feeling very satisfied with the results of his “inaction.”

Liu Xian’an continued: “And it seems that few people can understand what I say, nor do they want to listen.”

When he was young, Little Young Master Liu was more talkative than now. He often wore a large robe and stood barefoot in the depths of the bamboo forest, raising his head to look at his friends in another world and listening to them talk about the dao of heaven. In order to get her son out of the bamboo forest, Liu-furen bought him a lot of gaudy baubles. The other children cried with envy, but Little Young Master Liu was not willing. He taught his mother seriously before going to bed: “I’m not a child anymore.”

Liu-furen took his white and tender little feet out of the basin and dried them carefully with a towel: “How old are you this year?”

“About forty-eight thousand years old,” Little Young Master Liu answered, counting on his fingers. “Like the sun and the moon, lasting as long as the earth and sky.”

Liu-furen was so worried when she heard this nonsense that she couldn’t fall asleep for several nights, and even grew two more gray hairs.

Liang Shu couldn’t help but laugh, and could probably guess where the invisible barrier covering the other party came from. Tens of thousands of books piled up into a tall, cold white tower, sending him to a place beyond the sight of others. The empty and silent world above thousands of clouds should be very different from the loud and chaotic world of mortals.

“It is only you, one person?” he asked suddenly.

Liu Xian’an didn’t understand: “En?”

“In that world, are you alone?” Liang Shu repeated.

Liu Xian’an turned to look at him, as if extremely surprised.

Liang Shu swung his whip to urge the horse.

The surrounding wind suddenly turned cold, and Liu Xian’ans cheeks were like ice, so he retracted into the other’s arms again. He had never before thought that there would be someone who discovered his secret so quickly. After a long time, he turned around with his hair blown into a mess. “There are many ancient sages,” he expressed with the zeal of a master of the world. “Next time, I will introduce His Royal Highness Xiao Wang to them.”

Liang Shu’s eyebrows twitched. He felt that the words “ancient sages” did not sound like living people.

“No need.”

“Oh.”

In the distance, a ring of morning sun rose up.

The sea of clouds churned, and the sun’s rays dyed the entire green mountain.