The Fang family was a true powerhouse of a household. Their ancestral hall’s incense should have burned perpetually with daily cleaning to match. Now, the black gates were locked, and the courtyard was filled with an air of desolation; only the bamboo planted by Fang Changru during his lifetime remained resilient and upright, rustling “sha-sha” at the long-unheard sound of footsteps and voices.
The courtyard of the hall was untended, and the solemn main hall was layered with dust. The plaque, passed down by the Fang ancestors a hundred years ago, was coated in gray grime, obscuring the four gilded characters: “Virtue Deep, Radiance Lasting.” Though the Fang family were tea merchants, each generation had placed tea above trade, upholding a noble character. Coming from a lineage of herbal farmers, Fu Shangyi truly lacked any claim to such “high virtue.” He had followed Old Master Cheng into the markets in his youth and most admired a learned, steady tea master like Fang Changru; every time he had the gall to ask Brother Changru for guidance, he benefited immensely.
“Ai.” Fu Shangyi let out a heavy breath before reaching out to wipe the jade tripod censer on the winged altar table. This censer had long been neglected; three unburned, broken incense sticks stood in the cold ash, seemingly recounting how the Fang family’s century of radiance had ended right here.
Wang Xiuhe pulled out a handkerchief and wept into it. Liu Ruyan supported her while offering low-voiced comforts and telling her to stay strong. Fu Jingye rarely saw Liu Ruyan show such care for others and assumed his mother truly shared a deep sisterly bond with Wang Xiuhe. Just as he was about to step forward to help comfort her, he saw his mother lightly patting Wang Xiuhe’s hand; while the other woman was buried in her grief, a flash of pure disdain crossed Liu Ruyan’s face.
As expected; calling her “Sister Xiu” was nothing more than casual lip service.
The mute uncle moved past the crowd to push Fang Zesheng to the altar. Seeing that the few sticks of agarwood on the table wouldn’t light, he gestured that he would go fetch some fresh incense. Fang Zesheng nodded, looking at the spirit tablets of the Fang ancestors standing before him, and remained silent for a long time.
Floating dust filled the hall, leaving no place to sit; the group could only stand in the main chamber, waiting quietly to pay their respects.
Suddenly, a dull thud rang out!
For some reason, Fang Zesheng’s wheelchair rolled backward several times, colliding with a central pillar. The man originally sitting in the chair tumbled off, collapsing to the ground while clutching a soot-covered spirit tablet.
“Nephew—!”
“Zesheng?!”
Fu Shangyi was closest to Fang Zesheng; seeing the situation, he rushed forward to check on him. The others gathered around hurriedly asked what had happened. Fu Shangyi said, “Brother Changru’s tablet had gathered some dust; Nephew must have been trying to wipe it clean and fell from his chair. Quick, quick; help him up first.”
Fu Jingxuan’s brow was deeply furrowed as he dragged Fu Jingye over to help lift the unconscious Fang Zesheng back into the wheelchair.
“Go fetch a physician first. This child is burning up; I fear he is gravely ill.” Fu Shangyi looked at Wang Xiuhe. Although her face was full of urgency, it didn’t reach her eyes. She was just about to call for Cui’er to find Chen Fu when Fu Jingye suddenly let out a loud shout. Fu Shangyi didn’t know what he was yelling about, and with the emergency at hand, he had no time for a lecture. “What are you standing there dazed for? Hurry and find a physician!”
Fu Jingye covered his backside with one hand and pointed at his own nose with the other. “I—where am I supposed to find ah…?”
“I know the way.” Fu Jingxuan grabbed his elder brother’s sleeve and walked up to Wang Xiuhe, asking, “Should we go fetch Physician Chen?”
Wang Xiuhe could discern a trace of worry on his face; a worry no different from the instinctive panic displayed by Fu Shangyi. After all, human hearts are made of flesh; in such a situation, complete indifference would seem too calculated and rouse suspicion. Wang Xiuhe nodded and gave the two brothers the location of Chen Fu’s medical hall.
The medical hall wasn’t far; it could be found just two main streets over after leaving the Fang residence.
Fu Jingye shouldn’t have been the one doing such errand-running; it wasn’t as if the Fang family lacked servants, so why make an honored guest from afar go searching for a physician? If Fu Jingxuan hadn’t kicked him just now, why would he have made a sound and drawn his father’s attention? This was looking for trouble for nothing! He intended to wait until they turned the corner out of the gates of the Fang residency to grab Fu Jingxuan by the collar and curse him out but he didn’t expect Fu Jingxuan to beat him to it and tell him to stop.
Fu Jingye didn’t hear him clearly. He halted and met Fu Jingxuan’s eyes; before he could break out into a tirade, he gave a sudden shudder and felt a chill run through him.
He had never seen Fu Jingxuan like this. His younger brother had a pair of pretty peach-blossom eyes and was always smiling regardless of the time or place; even when they bickered, he would laugh it off, leaving only Fu Jingye ranting and raving. Now, that smile was gone and was replaced by a dark, heavy stare. He said sternly, “I told you to stand right here.”
Fu Jingye didn’t react for a moment, intimidated into taking a half-step back by his expression. “Fine, I’ll stand! Do, do you think I’m actually afraid of you?”
Fu Jingxuan had no time to mock this cowardly display. He closed his eyes briefly, seemingly to steady his mind, then strode quickly into Chen Fu’s medical hall, telling him to pack his medical bag and rush to the Fang residence.
Upon hearing Fu Jingxuan’s purpose, Chen Fu hurriedly scribbled a prescription for his apprentice to fill while sighing repeatedly. “I told them it would come to this sooner or later, but Madam would not listen to my advice! Even if the Head Merchant’s legs are crippled, one cannot administer acupuncture three times a day. It is simply too reckless!”
Fu Jingxuan had come alone specifically to find out what was happening. Chen Fu was not Wang Xiuhe’s lackey but an ordinary physician who had truly wanted to heal Fang Zesheng’s legs for years. However, Wang Xiuhe had recently summoned him frequently to perform acupuncture on Fang Zesheng; his repeated warnings had gone unheeded, leaving him no choice but to follow her orders. After all, Wang Xiuhe had shown him kindness and helped attract many customers when he first opened his medical hall.
Fu Jingxuan asked, “Is his sudden fainting today related to the acupuncture from the past few days?”
Chen Fu shouldered his medical bag, took the herbs from the apprentice, and followed Fu Jingxuan out the door. “Naturally. It’s a blessing that the Head Merchant cannot feel pain; if he had even the slightest sensation, he wouldn’t have lasted until today.”
Fu Jingxuan suddenly recalled Fang Zesheng’s vacant eyes. He slowly unclenched his fists, revealing palms stained with blood from his own grip, and murmured, “Does he really… not feel pain?”
By the time Chen Fu reached the Fang residence, Fang Zesheng had already been moved to the bed in the main house. A crowd surrounded the bed: besides Fu Shangyi and Liu Ruyan, there was also Tao Xianzhi, who had just returned from an outing carrying a jug of fruit wine. Wang Xiuhe sat by the bedside, holding Fang Zesheng’s hand to wipe away his sweat. Seeing Chen Fu arrive, she quickly made way, asking with concern, “What exactly is wrong with Zesheng?”
Chen Fu had already told her there would be such consequences; now, he could only repeat himself in front of everyone. “Madam, in all things, too much is as bad as too little. The primary cure for the Head Merchant’s legs should have been psychological. Although the meridians were slightly blocked, that was not the root cause. If you continue with such frequent acupuncture, I fear even a pair of healthy legs would be pricked into a permanent limp. How could he ever be cured in the future?”
Wang Xiuhe immediately burst into tears, looking profoundly aggrieved. “I only had the best intentions; I wanted him to get well sooner.”
Chen Fu believed her to be kind-hearted and had always trusted her words implicitly. Fu Shangyi also felt her display did not seem feigned and offered a few patient words of comfort. Only Liu Ruyan, having played her own part in this farce all day, was exhausted; she took the chance to rest and did not crowd forward to join the commotion.
After some examination and treatment, it was clear there were no other major issues. Chen Fu handed the medicine he had brought to the mute uncle, gave a few instructions, and departed.
By now, it was late. Fu Shangyi sat for a short while before preparing to leave; for the past few days, they had been staying at Yunhe Inn. Wang Xiuhe, ever considerate, glanced at Fang Zesheng lying on the bed in the main house and said to Fu Jingxuan, “Second Young Master hasn’t seen your family in a long while. Why not stay at Yunhe Inn for these next two days to keep Master Fu company?”
Fu Jingxuan asked, “What about Tao Xianzhi?”
Wang Xiuhe said, “It just so happens that Old Master Tao finished his business these past few days. He called for Young Master Tao to return tonight, seemingly to discuss matters regarding the Tea Tasting Convention.”
Fu Jingxuan had no reason to refuse; he nodded and agreed. He left a bit later, waiting for San Bao to help him pack a few pieces of luggage.
Each Tea Tasting Convention lasted about half a month; during this period, he feared he might not be able to return.
Fang Zesheng had not yet woken up and was lying quietly on the bed without moving a muscle.
Fu Jingxuan only lingered by the bedside for a moment before walking out into the courtyard. The mute uncle has already finished brewing the medicine and carried it into the room; after a while, he also stepped out.
Unable to speak, he merely stood before Fu Jingxuan with reddened eyes while making several gestures before handing him a silver water flask.
Fu Jingxuan took the flask, his eyes stinging. He said softly, “I understand.”
“He acts better than I do.”
