MSW Chapter66

104

The Mu family was a renowned family of physicians with a long and distinguished lineage. For generations, their descendants had served as medical officers in the Imperial Medical Bureau in the capital.

 

Duan Linzhou had heard Mu Peixuan mention this second young master of the Mu family before. Mu Ke was exceptionally intelligent, having read widely since childhood. His medical skills were outstanding, and Mu Peixuan held him in high regard. He hadn’t expected that someone who should be in Liangdu would appear in Ruizhou at this moment.

 

He and Mu Peixuan exchanged a look. A joyful expression appeared on Mu Peixuan’s face. “Mu Ke, I’ll go see him.”

 

The two of them personally welcomed the Mu family into the mansion. This was Duan Linzhou’s first time meeting Mu Ke. Mu Ke was very young, only in his early twenties, tall, with a pair of captivating and refined peach blossom eyes. He had a warm smile, and even travel-worn, his extraordinary Tianqian bearing couldn’t be concealed.

 

Rather than a physician, Mu Ke looked more like a noble young master from an aristocratic family.

 

Mu Ke said, “Forgive my presumptuous visit and intrusion.”

 

Mu Peixuan glanced at him and said, “Since when have you become so polite?”

 

The two exchanged a smile. Mu Ke sighed and said helplessly, “Xiao Junwang, this time we’ve come to seek refuge with you.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “You are most welcome.”

 

Mu Ke’s gaze fell on Duan Linzhou. The Zhongyong’s complexion had a sickly pallor, clearly someone who had been ill for a long time. He smiled and said, “This must be Junwang Fei. I’ve long admired your name.”

 

Duan Linzhou smiled gently and nodded. “Young Master Mu.”

 

As they spoke, the group walked into the Prince Mansion. Accompanying Mu Ke were several other members of the Mu family and three carriages, all filled with the medical books the Mu family had treasured over the years.

 

Mu Ke explained, “Qin Fengyuan and General Ye Butong were locked in a stalemate at Linguan for several months. Liangdu was in complete chaos. Some advocated for moving the capital south, while others vowed to resist to the death. You know my father goes in and out of the palace and hears some rumors. He felt that Ye Butong wouldn’t be able to hold Linguan. Just then, you sent me a letter, so my father sent me to Ruizhou.”

 

Mu Peixuan asked, “So Imperial Physician Mu is still in Liangdu?”

 

Mu Ke sighed softly. “My father holds an official position; how could he leave so easily? He’s also unwilling to go. He can’t bear to leave the Imperial Medical Bureau, nor can he abandon the young emperor.”

 

“Now that the young emperor has moved south, my father, as a medical official, should have gone to Yuzhou with him.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “You don’t need to worry too much. Imperial Physician Mu is the head of the Imperial Medical. Even King Xin wouldn’t make things difficult for a physician.”

 

Mu Ke smiled wryly. “That’s what my father told me as well. He said, Even the most vicious bandits don’t kill physicians, telling me not to worry about him.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “Settle down in Ruizhou first. I’ll have people go to Yuzhou to inquire about news.”

 

Mu Ke smiled. “Thank you.”

 

“There’s no need for thanks between us,” Mu Peixuan said, shaking his head. “Back in Liangdu, if it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I would have fallen into someone else’s trap already.”

 

Mu Peixuan glanced at Duan Linzhou who was beside him and began, “Mu Ke, in my letter, I mentioned to you—”

 

Mu Ke looked at Duan Linzhou, considering his words for a moment, and said, “I’ve searched through the medical records within the palace and the handwritten notes left by generations of my Mu family ancestors. I did indeed find records concerning the poison ‘Jian Huangquan’.” As soon as he said this, Mu Peixuan’s eyes lit up, and he sat up straight, staring intently at Mu Ke. Mu Ke continued slowly, “The reason this poison is called a rare and potent poison is precisely because it is extremely difficult to concoct and seldom seen in the world.”

 

“Fifty years ago, a member of my Mu family, while traveling, once treated a patient in the southern regions who had been poisoned by ‘Jian Huangquan’,” Mu Ke said. “He was Xiong Mao, the chieftain of the Yisha tribe.”

 

Mu Peixuan exclaimed in surprise, “Xiong Mao?”

 

Mu Ke asked, “You’ve heard of him?”

 

Mu Peixuan nodded. Marquis Annan Mansion had guarded the southern borders for generations and had some level of understanding of the various southern tribes. Fifty years ago, the Yisha tribe was capable of contending with the Arles tribe. Their chieftain, Xiong Mao, was brave and skilled in battle and deeply respected by his people. He led the tribe to continuous growth, faintly showing signs of surpassing the Arles tribe. Mu Peixuan had once heard his father mention him. At that time, his father was still young, and it was his grandfather who was in charge of the military within the mansion.

 

Mu Peixuan recalled his father saying that his grandfather had originally intended to secretly support the Yisha tribe to break the dominance of a single tribe among the southern factions, hoping to create a situation where the two powerful tribes would contend with each other. However, no one had expected Xiong Mao to die. With Xiong Mao’s death, the Arles tribe had seized the opportunity to rise, and over the years, the Yisha tribe had been forced to relocate again and again under the Arles tribe’s oppression, nearly facing extinction.

 

Thinking of this, Mu Peixuan’s expression changed slightly. “Are you saying that Xiong Mao died from ‘Jian Huangquan’?”

 

Mu Ke gave a wry smile. “Exactly.”

 

“In the records of my ancestor, when he treated Xiong Mao, Xiong Mao had already been poisoned for over a year. This poison was extremely insidious. He stayed in the Yisha tribe for half a year, but in the end, Xiong Mao still—”

 

Mu Ke uttered four words: “Died without a cure.”

 

As soon as these four words were spoken, Mu Peixuan’s face paled slightly. Although Duan Linzhou had long expected this outcome, his expression still faltered for a moment before he subtly touched the back of Mu Peixuan’s hand. Mu Peixuan raised his eyes to look at Duan Linzhou, who offered him a little smile. A pang of pain shot through Mu Peixuan’s heart as he looked at Mu Ke and asked, “You can’t cure this poison either?”

 

Mu Ke hadn’t missed the sight of their hands touching. He looked at the expression in Mu Peixuan’s eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “I can only say that I will try my best.”

 

He continued, “I need to examine Junwang Fei. Only after a thorough examination can I make a proper assessment.”

 

“By the way, who was the physician who treated Junwang Fei before?”

 

Duan Linzhou replied, “Old Physician Ji from the Huichun Medical Hall. He will be coming to the mansion tomorrow to take my pulse.”

 

Mu Ke nodded and said, “Observing Junwang Fei’s complexion, this Old Physician Ji is truly remarkable. No wonder my father often said that the medical skills of folk physicians might not necessarily be inferior to those of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical. I’m truly curious to know how Old Physician Ji managed to control such a fierce and aggressive poison like ‘Jian Huangquan’ in Junwang Fei.”

 

As he spoke, a look of fascination appeared on his face, revealing his deep passion for the medical arts.

 

Duan Linzhou smiled gently and said, “When Old Physician Ji comes tomorrow, I’ll have someone invite you over, Young Master Mu.”

 

Mu Ke replied, “Alright.”

 

He laughed and said, “Junwang Fei, just call me Mu Ke. Don’t call ‘Young Master Mu, Young Master Mu,’ or ‘Second Mu’ is fine as well, it sounds less formal.”

 

Duan Linzhou chuckled and said, “Then Mu Ke, please don’t keep calling me ‘Junwang Fei’.” He raised his teacup in a mock toast towards Mu Ke. “Duan Linzhou.”

 

Mu Ke also raised his teacup, smiling. “Boss Duan is straightforward.” He glanced at Mu Peixuan, a teasing smile on his face. “No wonder Xiao Junwang kept writing letters urging me to come to Ruizhou.”

 

Mu Peixuan was still concerned about Duan Linzhou’s condition. He took a sip of tea distractedly, then looked at Mu Ke and openly took Duan Linzhou’s hand.

 

Mu Ke: “……”

 

Duan Linzhou laughed.

 

The next day, Old Physician Ji came to take Duan Linzhou’s pulse, and Duan Linzhou introduced him to Mu Ke.

 

Old Physician Ji didn’t show any displeasure that Duan Linzhou was seeking another physician despite being under his care. He was broad-minded and had traveled extensively in his youth, even visiting Liangdu, so he had heard of the Mu family’s reputation. Upon meeting Mu Ke, the two immediately struck up a conversation about the “Jian Huangquan” poison and felt a strong connection, as if they had known each other for a long time.

 

Old Physician Ji’s medical skills were superb and his experience vast, while Mu Ke had read widely and, despite his noble background, was not rigid in his views. The two hit it off immediately.

 

Old Physician Ji adjusted a few ingredients in Duan Linzhou’s prescription and gave some instructions about the change of seasons between summer and autumn, cautioning against catching a cold. Because of the poison, Duan Linzhou’s health was poor, and he could easily fall ill during seasonal transitions with the slightest carelessness. Once he fell ill, it would give “Jian Huangquan” an opportunity to take hold.

 

Mu Peixuan and Liu Guang listened attentively.

 

Old Physician Ji didn’t keep the prescription to himself, handing it over to Mu Ke. Upon seeing it, Mu Ke couldn’t help but widen his eyes, feeling a sense of sudden clarity mixed with a bit of bewilderment.

 

That very day, Mu Ke went to the Huichun Medical Hall with Old Physician Ji and didn’t even return in the evening.

 

Mu Peixuan said to Duan Linzhou, “Mu Ke is a medical fanatic. There’s no need to worry about him.”

 

“Don’t let Mu Ke’s charming looks deceive you,” Mu Peixuan said as they snuggled together under the covers, expertly tucking Duan Linzhou’s cool feet between his legs. “In his eyes, tianqian and kunze are all the same. When he’s treating someone, he often forgets the distinction. If it weren’t for the Mu family backing him and his truly exceptional medical skills, he probably would have been beaten countless times already.”

 

Duan Linzhou nestled his feet against Mu Peixuan’s calves. The young man’s blood was vigorous, and his body was warm, like a comfortable stove.

 

Duan Linzhou asked, “What happened in Liangdu that you almost fell into a trap?”

 

He still remembered Mu Peixuan’s words from yesterday. Mu Peixuan couldn’t help but squeeze Duan Linzhou’s fingers and whispered, “That was shortly after I arrived in Liangdu. One of my personal attendants was bribed and gave me medicine, intending to ruin my reputation.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “It was Mu Ke who helped me.”

 

Duan Linzhou curled his fingers in Mu Peixuan’s palm and said, “Then thanks to Physician Mu.”

 

Mu Peixuan smiled and whispered, “Linzhou, don’t be afraid. Mu Ke didn’t say for certain that the poison is incurable, which means maybe it can be cured. With him and Old Physician Ji, there will definitely be a way.”

 

Duan Linzhou turned his head to look at Mu Peixuan. He thought, Mu Peixuan is telling him not to be afraid, but it’s clearly Mu Peixuan who is afraid.

 

A gentle warmth welled up in Duan Linzhou’s heart, and against all odds, a faint hope stirred, like a fresh green shoot breaking through the thick mire, swaying softly within him. Duan Linzhou couldn’t help but lean in and kiss Mu Peixuan’s lips, whispering, “I’m not afraid.”

 

Mu Peixuan kissed him with a smile, murmuring between soft touches, “I’ll be with you.”

 

Duan Linzhou said, “You’ll be with me.”