After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 10

That night, the two of them had a delightful conversation. Earlier in the day, the Emperor had ordered that a side chamber be prepared for Zhou Xun to spend the night, and it was all set up. Zhou Xun would sleep in the side chamber, while the Emperor slept in the main hall.

 

However, to outsiders, it seemed as if the Emperor was once again staying overnight in Zhou Xun’s chambers.

 

In the middle of the night, there was a loud crash.

 

“Your Majesty,” the next morning, as they were having breakfast, Xiaodengzi reported, “they’ve delivered a list for the repairs at the Clock Essence Palace.”

 

“Clock Essence Palace?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty, it’s the palace where Consort Zhao resides.”

 

The Emperor was puzzled for a moment and put down his chopsticks. “What does he have the nerve to do… No, what does he want to repair? Are you sure it’s for repairs and not to demand antique jewels?”

 

Xiaodengzi said, “Your Majesty, it’s for repairing the pillars.”

 

“Pillars?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty, last night, Consort Zhao heard that you stayed at Master Zhou’s place and, when he returned, he was so angry that he broke one of the pillars.”

 

The Emperor: …

 

“I need to find a pretext,” Zhou Xun heard the Emperor’s drifting voice. “Let him vent his excess energy.”

 

He had a blank expression, looking as if he had been struck by lightning. Zhou Xun found his expression rather amusing.

 

“Just look at you, finding amusement in my misfortune,” the Emperor said to him.

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

“Really?”

 

The Emperor said, “I feel like you’re secretly laughing at me… A friend should be concerned when another is in trouble, not laugh. Is that what a true friend should do?”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

They both knew they were joking, so Zhou Xun took a sip of tea to hide the twitching corners of his mouth.

 

After breakfast, as usual, the Emperor went straight to his study, taking Zhou Xun with him. Xiaoli knew the Emperor’s diligence and wisely decided to postpone today’s scheduled palace play performances.

 

“Light the Mulan incense,” the Emperor instructed Xiaoli, and then had someone bring in a “couch.” “You sit.”

 

Zhou Xun didn’t refuse and took a seat.

 

As was customary, the desk was filled with various memorials. The Emperor personally reviewed every matter, big and small, in the court. He brought the memorials over, saying, “I still don’t know enough about the court. Once I find someone absolutely trustworthy and establish a supervision mechanism, I’ll have less work here.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded.

 

The Emperor marked the memorials, and Zhou Xun helped him categorize and provide brief comments on them. The Emperor seemed to trust Zhou Xun a great deal. He would ask for Zhou Xun’s input on every matter, big or small, before making decisions.

 

The Emperor had stamped “read” on several memorials in a row when he finally became restless and let out a yawn. Zhou Xun, seeing his impatience, said, “Since the comments are all the same, Your Majesty might try a simpler method.”

 

“What method?” the Emperor asked, puzzled, and there was a sparkle in his eyes when he looked at Zhou Xun. “Good idea!”

 

In the afternoon, Xiaoli brought four freshly carved seals. The Emperor held the seals and began to stamp them rapidly.

 

The four seals were inscribed with “Read,” “Transferred to Relevant Department for Handling,” “Very Good, Excellent, Excellent,” and one with a…

 

Mysterious face.

 

This face seemed to be smiling, but the smile was tinged with sarcasm and mockery. It conveyed a sense of disdain, coldness, arrogance, and world-weariness.

 

Zhou Xun watched in astonishment as the Emperor stamped this peculiar expression on a memorial filled with flattery and praise.

 

Zhou Xun: “What’s with this expression?”

 

Emperor: “A little bean’s smile.”

 

Regarding the memorials marked with “Transferred to Relevant Department for Handling,” the Emperor discussed them all with Zhou Xun. Zhou Xun seriously doubted if he was the “relevant department.”

 

He didn’t understand why the Emperor trusted him so much, but he had made up his mind.

 

“Here, this one,” the Emperor handed him one of the memorials. “Epidemic in the West Pavilion.”

 

The West Pavilion was situated on the border of the Jing Dynasty, adjacent to the Great Liang Dynasty. Its residents were mostly herders, making a living from animal husbandry. Animal husbandry was prosperous, while agriculture, trade, and handicrafts were less developed. The people of the West Pavilion often relied on local shamans, had lower cultural literacy, and limited education. Their way of life was somewhat unruly, and their sanitation habits were not ideal.

 

Information about the West Pavilion flashed through Zhou Xun’s mind as he took the memorial.

 

The handwriting on the memorial was familiar.

 

— It was Zhou Cai’s handwriting.

 

The West Pavilion had a hot and humid climate with numerous forests and swamps. Every spring and summer was the peak season for epidemics. Zhou Cai submitted this memorial to request the Emperor to send more doctors to the West Pavilion and establish clinics for medical treatment.

 

Zhou Xun vaguely remembered that the West Pavilion had experienced a similar situation a year ago. At that time, Zhou Cai had also submitted a request for the Emperor to dispatch doctors to the West Pavilion and had spent a substantial amount to set up clinics of all sizes.

 

He knew about this because the Prince had mentioned it. The Prince had marveled at Zhou Cai’s kind-heartedness, often getting emotional when discussing the people of the West Pavilion. In contrast, the royal physicians at the palace received a royal salary but made excuses when needed, refusing to go there.

 

Zhou Xun remembered it was in the autumn at the time, and he sneered, saying, “If Zhou Cai is truly compassionate, why doesn’t he lead a team to the West Pavilion himself?”

 

“You!”

 

“Just telling others to go, shedding a few crocodile tears, and speaking kindly are not acts of kindness. Anyone can do that.”

 

The Prince glared at Zhou Xun, who met his gaze without fear.

 

“What, are you going to give me a good beating again?”

 

“If you had half the kindness and gentleness of your brother, that would be enough.”

 

The Prince left in a huff, and Zhou Xun remembered that this incident had occurred shortly after he joined the mansion.

 

At that time, he had just tried to end his own life with a shard of porcelain, but the royal physician saved him from death. The Prince had come to see him, initially to reconcile.

 

However, since the starting point had been incorrect, there was no reason for reconciliation from Zhou Xun’s perspective.

 

… Since the palace dispatched physicians to the West Pavilion a year ago, why are they sending them again this year?

 

The Emperor appeared to be very satisfied with Zhou Cai’s memorial, and he stamped it with the “Very Good, Excellent, Excellent” seal.

 

“I remember that it was just a year ago that you established clinics and sent doctors using this method,” Zhou Xun said. “Why is the West Pavilion having problems again after only a year?”

 

“Uh?” The Emperor paused. “Isn’t this the time for the annual epidemic? If it’s happening again this year, we’ll just send more people, right?”

 

“Your Majesty, Physician He is here.”

 

Xiaoli entered from the outer chamber and reported to the Emperor.

 

Apparently, it was the daily visit from Physician He for the Emperor’s pulse examination.

 

“Physician He?” The Emperor was taken aback for a moment. “Wasn’t it Physician Yao yesterday?”

 

Physician Yao was an elderly man with gray-white hair. He was skilled in medicine, spoke slowly, and had a profound understanding of palace life. Xiao Lizhi reported, “Yesterday, when Physician Yao returned to his residence, he frightened his horse. He tripped inside the carriage and sprained his back. That’s why Physician He is here today for the pulse examination.”

 

“Your Majesty, Physician He joined the Imperial Medical Bureau two years ago. While he may be relatively young, his medical skills are quite exquisite.”

 

The Emperor waved his hand, “Let him come in.”

 

“Physician He is here—”

 

A man dressed in a dark indigo robe entered the study. He appeared to be in his early twenties, radiating youthful energy.

 

Physician He examined the Emperor’s pulse. Then, the Emperor said, “Examine his as well.”

 

Naturally, he was referring to Zhou Xun.

 

Zhou Xun’s right wrist still bore the scar from his suicide attempt. Although the scar had faded considerably and would likely disappear in a year or two, even this faint mark was probably noticeable to Physician He.

 

As Physician He examined Zhou Xun’s pulse, the Emperor was initially busy with a quill but halted when his eyes fell upon Zhou Xun’s scar.

 

Zhou Xun’s wrist was fair and cool, but it bore a light, fine, and easily breakable scar.

 

“Snap!”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“I’m fine, I’m fine…” the Emperor wiped away the ink smudge left on his cheek when he had accidentally hit himself with the pen, and quietly placed the pen back in its holder. 

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Your Majesty, there’s already a pen in that slot.”

 

He looked at the Emperor as if he had lost his mind, repeatedly trying to put the pen into a slot that already had one.

 

The Emperor muttered to himself, “This mark… could it be that I… drew it with a red pen before? But… to think that the mark I left would also be imprinted on his reincarnated self… Did I cause him harm…”

 

The Emperor: “…”

 

“Only you would be so talkative!”

 

Xiao Lizhi remained silent with his head down. He observed the Emperor going through this strange, pen-related episode, and then, all of a sudden, he knocked over the inkwell.

 

The Emperor: “…”

 

“Let’s change the subject.”

 

Xiao Lizhi cleared his throat and continued, “Would you like a cup of hot water?”

 

“Hot water?”

 

The Emperor nodded, “Put some red dates and goji berries in it. He doesn’t like bitterness, so add a bit more brown sugar.”

 

Zhou Xun: “…Your Majesty.”

 

The Emperor: “Oh, and bring a pair of chopsticks. After he finishes the health-restoring water, he can use them to pick out the red dates.”

 

Zhou Xun: “…”

 

Xiao Lizhi went to prepare the health-restoring hot water. Once the pulse examination was done, Zhou Xun hid his wrist with the pale sleeve.

 

As Physician He packed up his medical kit, Zhou Xun watched him, thinking…

 

Since Physician He had joined the Imperial Medical Bureau two years ago, he should be aware of what happened a year ago.

 

Zhou Xun asked, “Does Physician He have any knowledge of the epidemic in the West Pavilion last year?”

 

Physician He paused in his actions, and Zhou Xun clearly saw a momentary expression of anger and frustration on his face, like he was restraining himself.

 

Like he was suppressing anger.

 

“I have heard that last year, the Imperial Medical Bureau sent two highly respected physicians to the West Pavilion. I wonder if Physician He knows about them…”

 

“Last year, the two physicians were Zhang Shiyin, Imperial Physician Zhang, and Zou Mou, Imperial Physician Zou.”

 

“Does Physician He have any knowledge about these two physicians?”

 

“Imperial Physician Zhang was my mentor, highly skilled, and had a modest personality. Imperial Physician Zou couldn’t compare in terms of medical skills but was also steady and easygoing in character.”

 

“Given the resurgence of the epidemic in the West Pavilion, I wonder what happened to these two physicians?”

 

Physician He clenched his teeth: “Imperial Physician Zhang… he has already passed away?”

 

“Passed away?” The Emperor was puzzled. “Because of the epidemic?”

 

Physician He hesitated for a long time, unsure whether he should speak. But eventually, he opened up.

 

“If it’s due to the epidemic, it can be considered a noble sacrifice… The patients in the West Pavilion did not follow the doctor’s advice, refused to take their medicine, and instead drank the symbol water prepared by the shaman. As a result, they died. However, they turned the blame on Imperial Physician Zhang and a dispute arose…”

 

“And then?”

 

The Emperor looked at him.

 

“Then, during the argument, Imperial Physician Zhang had an accidental fall, and he hit his head… He passed away half a month later.”