Xie Bufeng didn’t know exactly when he fell asleep that night.
He had a dream where he wasn’t the Crown Prince of Taishu Palace, but an ordinary person in Shanyu Jian.
He had grown up there, childhood companions with Wen Qingci.
They gathered herbs on the mountain together and played in the water by the river.
The biggest difference from the previous night was that in the dream, Xie Bufeng was a few years older than Wen Qingci.
He was already a head taller than Wen Qingci, and whenever he stood by the river, he could shield all the stream water behind his back.
…
“Time to get up, Young Master Su.” Wen Qingci’s voice reached Xie Bufeng’s ears indistinctly.
It took the young man a moment to realize that the “Young Master Su” in the other’s mouth was himself.
“Today we’re returning to Songxiu, we need to get up early.” As he spoke, Wen Qingci had already walked to the bedside, bringing over the clothes that had been washed and dried the night before.
Realizing where he was, Xie Bufeng immediately sat up.
The next moment, still not fully extracted from his dream, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of regret…
“It’s almost the Hour of the Rabbit, we need to set off earlier today.”
Was it already the Hour of the Rabbit?
In Taishu Palace, he had always been cautious, waking immediately at the slightest movement around him.
But today, he only woke from his dream when Wen Qingci spoke.
This was his first time sleeping in.
“All right.”
The light beige thin quilt slid off Xie Bufeng as he moved.
Only then did the young man realize that the blanket covering him seemed to be Wen Qingci’s…
Seeing Xie Bufeng looking down at the blanket, Wen Qingci, who was about to leave the room, suddenly stopped: “Shanyu Jian is a bit cold in the early morning. I was worried you might catch cold, so I put my blanket over you.”
As he spoke, Wen Qingci was also a bit anxious.
Perhaps because they had such a good time last night, Wen Qingci had unconsciously started treating Xie Bufeng as one of his own.
Rising in the morning and feeling the chill in the air, he had very naturally folded his blanket over Xie Bufeng.
Only when Xie Bufeng looked down did he remember that the young man might mind this.
However, Xie Bufeng’s reaction was different from what Wen Qingci expected.
He paused for a moment, slowly took the clothes from yesterday, and said softly: “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me,” Wen Qingci paused, then smiled, “Hurry and change your clothes, then come out for breakfast.” After speaking, he turned and left the room, closing the door.
Xie Bufeng heard Wen Qingci’s footsteps gradually fade away.
The young man wasn’t in a hurry to get up, but instead lay back down in the bed.
The faint scent of soap bean mixed with the rose fragrance brought from Songxiu Prefecture, together enveloping Xie Bufeng.
It was strangely comforting and peaceful.
…
“Though Shanyu Jian isn’t far from Songxiu Prefecture, except for Father who went to sell medicinal herbs recently, Mother and Qingluo haven’t been to Songxiu Prefecture for over a year.” Wen Qingci said as he and Xie Bufeng loaded luggage onto the carriage.
The young man nodded slightly.
This lifestyle was very unfamiliar to him, having been born and raised in Yongdu.
Xie Bufeng normally had no interest in such trivial matters, but somehow now, he just wanted to hear Wen Qingci continue.
“Have you always lived alone in Songxiu Prefecture?” he asked while arranging the luggage.
“Yes,” Wen Qingci smiled, “When I was very young, I became an apprentice at a medical clinic in Songxiu Prefecture.” After speaking, he bent down to show how tall he was at that time.
“Alone?”
“Yes, I lived at my master’s home back then,” Wen Qingci’s voice was clear and unhurried, “He treated me like his own child.”
After speaking, he smiled gently again.
Xie Bufeng noticed that when Wen Qingci smiled, he would slightly narrow his eyes.
Like a cat basking in the sun, lazy and content.
Whenever Wen Qingci smiled, his own mood would also become relaxed.
For the first time, Xie Bufeng wanted to make conversation just for the sake of it, but before he could think of what to say, he heard footsteps approaching from not far away.
Wen Qingluo had changed into the light green gauze skirt her brother had given her, looking adorable: “Brother! Are we ready to go?” Having not been to Songxiu Prefecture for a long time, she was somewhat impatient.
“Yes,” Wen Qingci turned and patted his sister’s head, “Get in the carriage.”
“Okay!”
On the way back to Songxiu Prefecture, Wen Qingci and Xie Bufeng each drove a carriage, just as they had when coming.
As the carriage swayed out of Shanyu Jian, the young man couldn’t help but look back.
The sun climbed over the hillside, shining on the village houses.
The small courtyard in the distance was also gilded with a thin layer of gold by this light.
At this moment, Xie Bufeng suddenly felt reluctant to leave this place.
Like having a good dream and not wanting to wake up.
Wen Qingci’s father and Song Junran were sitting in the carriage driven by Xie Bufeng.
Their conversation in the carriage also intermittently reached the young man’s ears.
Most of the topics they discussed were related to the medicinal herb industry near Songxiu Prefecture, which was also one of the things Xie Bufeng wanted to learn about on this trip.
“…Please try to persuade Qingci again. Staying in Songxiu Prefecture all the time, treating minor ailments like injuries, colds, and fevers is not only uninteresting but also exhausting,” Song Junran still hadn’t given up on poaching, “Besides, you know that those physicians in Songxiu Prefecture are always causing trouble for no reason.”
Hearing this, Xie Bufeng slowly frowned.
He couldn’t help but hold his breath.
Wen Qingci’s father sighed slowly: “Of course I also want him to enter the valley with Young Master Song, but you know Qingci’s temperament.”
“He, compared to researching medical principles in the Valley of Divine Physicians, would rather treat patients and save lives.”
The Valley of Divine Physicians remained secluded from the world, and compared to physicians outside, they spent much less time actually diagnosing and treating patients.
This was also why Wen Qingci had refused Song Junran’s offer initially.
Song Junran couldn’t help but laugh: “That’s why we need you to persuade him.”
Upon hearing the words “Valley of Divine Physicians,” Xie Bufeng’s hand gripping the reins gradually tightened.
Though Xie Bufeng had always stayed in Yongdu, he was not unfamiliar with jianghu organizations like the Valley of Divine Physicians.
So the “valley” Song Junran mentioned was the Valley of Divine Physicians?
“But perhaps there’s no need to persuade him anymore,” Song Junran said with a cold laugh, “When I went to Songxiu Prefecture last time, I happened to meet the person who rented the place to Qingci.”
“You mean the previous owner of the medical clinic?”
“Yes, the one who was running it poorly and rented it to Qingci,” Song Junran’s tone was full of mockery, “Seeing that Qingci was gradually gaining reputation, he wants to take back the clinic. He’s asking for an extortionate amount-the rent has increased more than fivefold!”
Outsiders only knew that there was a divine physician surnamed Wen in the clinic in southern Songxiu Prefecture, but they didn’t know what he looked like.
…If the clinic were taken back, the former owner could easily impersonate him.
Wen Qingci’s father’s voice suddenly sounded older: “Qingci has always insisted on staying there because he’s worried that patients might be deceived and lose everything. But with the rent increasing fivefold, I’m afraid he can hardly afford it.”
Clearly, he was also worried about Wen Qingci’s situation.
The two chatted intermittently in the carriage.
After returning to Songxiu Prefecture, Xie Bufeng finally pieced together Wen Qingci’s current predicament from their conversation.
Wen Qingci’s name had already spread throughout the jianghu because of Song Junran.
Just like himself at that time, people often came from elsewhere, having heard of his reputation, to seek treatment.
And Wen Qingci not only never raised his prices, but even allowed people to run tabs.
This had greatly provoked the dissatisfaction of his peers in Songxiu Prefecture.
In Wei Dynasty, the number of taverns, teahouses, and medical clinics in a city was fixed.
If he were truly willing to heartlessly relocate from his current clinic, it would be difficult to find someone to take over the clinic on short notice.
Most importantly, the vast majority of clinics in the city had master-apprentice or father-son inheritance relationships.
They had vaguely united to force Wen Qingci out of Songxiu.
If it weren’t for Song Junran and the Valley of Divine Physicians’ clinic stirring things up in the background, Wen Qingci’s days would probably be even more difficult.
…
“We’re here, we’re here,” Song Junran’s voice came from the carriage again, “This carriage is too small, sitting in it makes my back ache.”
As he spoke, the carriage ahead had already come to a steady stop.
Wen Qingci walked over with a smile: “Next time, when I earn some money, I’ll definitely rent a bigger one.”
After speaking, he began to unload their belongings.
Hearing Wen Qingci mention money, Song Junran immediately seized the opportunity: “How much money can you earn here? You’d be better off coming to my place.”
“We’ll talk about it next time,” Wen Qingci evaded while changing the subject, “Alright, I need to return the carriage now, any later and there will be a fine. Qingluo, would you like to go with your brother-”
Before Wen Qingci could finish, Xie Bufeng interrupted: “No need to call her, I’ll go with you.”
As he spoke, he once again slowly wrapped the reins around his hand.
Wen Qingci saw from the corner of his eye that Wen Qingluo, who had gotten off the carriage, was already looking at the roses in the courtyard with her mother.
“Alright,” he didn’t refuse further, directly walking back to the front carriage, turning it around to head out of the alley, “This way, Young Master Su.”
There weren’t many residents around this alley in the south of the city.
It was dinner time, so the alley was even quieter than usual.
Xie Bufeng could only hear the soft creaking of wheels slowly rolling over the blue bricks, and the clip-clop of hooves.
But today’s tranquility didn’t last long.
Just as the carriage drove out of the alley, Wen Qingci suddenly stopped.
Xie Bufeng saw-six or seven men had appeared not far away.
Seeing Wen Qingci, the leader immediately smiled and said: “Well, well, if it isn’t Qingci! Perfect timing, now we don’t have to ask you to open the door.”
“Open the door?” Wen Qingci got down from the carriage, his voice turning cold, “What are you planning to do?”
“Hahaha, these gentlemen behind me want to take over the clinic. In half a month, won’t you be moving out? I just brought people to take a look in advance.”
The horse in front seemed startled, suddenly backing up and snorting several times.
Seeing this, Xie Bufeng suddenly released the reins in his hand and jumped down from the carriage.
Hearing the sound, everyone turned their gaze toward him.
In the quiet alley, footsteps sounded particularly harsh.
“-And who might this be?”
The young man was dressed in black, his gaze cold, clearly not someone to be trifled with.
As he spoke, the man in the lead couldn’t help but take half a step back.
Xie Bufeng stood beside Wen Qingci, soothingly patting the brown inferior horse, then slowly raised his head.
He asked in a measured tone: “Who says Qingci is moving out?”
##
