That evening, Qin Jiuye headed to the Medicine Hut.
She had set her sights on the place shortly after arriving at Chuanliu Courtyard, but she hadn't wanted her intentions to appear too obvious. It was only now, using a "waist injury" as a pretext, that she finally paid a visit.
Jiang Xin’er’s aura was far too sharp; her silent, sentinel-like presence tended to stifle conversation. Since this was not the time for intimidation, Qin Jiuye instructed her to keep an eye on Gongzi Yan’s movements instead. Auntie Xiong, seeing Qin Jiuye arrive alone, didn't ask many questions and welcomed her into the Medicine Hut with a cheerful smile.
The Medicine Hut was not large. Aside from the rooms used for compounding, refining, and decocting medicine, there was a courtyard for drying herbs and storing miscellaneous goods. Currently, about seven or eight people were bustling about inside.
Perhaps she was being overly sensitive, but the moment she stepped through the smoke-filled courtyard, the surroundings seemed to fall silent for a heartbeat. It was a sensation similar to the one she’d had before—the feeling of being watched from the shadows. When she looked up to investigate, the feeling vanished as quickly as it had come.
Qin Jiuye shook her head inwardly, reminding herself to focus on what was useful.
From the moment she entered the courtyard, her eyes never rested.
She took in everything: the raw herbs scattered about waiting to be processed, the various stages of production, and even the stack of medicine bowls by the water vat waiting to be washed. To an outsider, it might have looked like mere clutter, but to a seasoned pharmacy manager, it was a wealth of information.
First, among the ingredients used to suppress the courtyard's secret formulas, she recognized several herbs unique to the Juchao region. She had previously only seen them in medical texts, but after traveling deep into Juchao with Jiang Xin’er, she could now identify them at a glance. She quickly committed them to memory. Beyond that, she spotted several familiar analgesic and anesthetic herbs. Though they hadn't been finely processed yet, the sheer quantity was alarming. Combined with what she had observed of the "patients" during her rounds earlier that day, it wasn't hard to guess that the person prescribing these was using a reckless, scorched-earth approach. Judging by the number of medicine bowls, there were likely far more patients in Chuanliu Courtyard than she had discovered during the day.
The Medicine Hut was busy and the workload heavy, yet each person was only in charge of a single step in the process. There was no overlap or interaction; everyone worked in their own isolated, orderly fashion. Back at Guoran Hall, even Jinbao had to master basic pharmacology so he could move between the front hall and the back yard, handling half the pharmacy's tasks single-handedly.
In other words, despite the large staff, there wasn't a single true physician here.
The person who had actually written the prescriptions was not in this Medicine Hut.
Qin Jiuye reached this conclusion silently. Maintaining a calm expression, she accepted a jar of ointment and handed over a jar of wine she had prepared earlier.
"I came in a hurry and this was all I had on hand. Please accept it as a small token of thanks for the medicine, Auntie Xiong. Please, don't refuse."
She had swiped this jar of wine from Xu Qichi at the very last moment before leaving the ship. Initially, she’d taken it thinking she might use it to help Jiang Xin’er unwind, but she hadn't expected it to come in handy here.
Earlier, while following Auntie Xiong through the bamboo forest, she had caught a faint, lingering sour scent. It was the indelible smell of a heavy drinker, one that could not be masked even by daily immersion in a pharmacy. She used to smell it on Dou Wuniang all the time.
Recalling the past Auntie Xiong had mentioned in the bamboo forest, it wasn't hard to guess why she drank. Even if she appeared normal on the surface, deep-seated trauma was difficult to heal. For such a person, wine might not drown their sorrows; it might only make them heavier. Qin Jiuye felt a flicker of self-loathing for her ulterior motives, yet she had to use these methods to achieve her goal.
She knew the woman wouldn't refuse.
Sure enough, Auntie Xiong’s face flushed. With a mix of feigned hesitation and genuine delight, she took the jar and tucked it into the folds of her apron.
"Oh, you shouldn't have. The medicine was already prepared, and besides, you are the Young Master's guest..."
However, before the wine could be hidden, it was "intercepted" by two people who seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"What good stuff is Auntie Xiong hiding now?"
"Eh, drinking interferes with work. Master Tang has never liked us drinking."
Though their words sounded reluctant, their hands showed no intention of letting go.
The workers in the courtyard all looked over at the sound, their eyes already mentally dividing the contents of the jar. In this desert of bamboo, daily life was indeed dull and dry; fine wine was like a spring rain that could nourish the soul.
Qin Jiuye cleared her throat and made a move to take the wine back.
"It was my mistake, I didn't know the rules. If it makes things difficult for everyone, perhaps I should..."
The workers' gazes landed on her, as if they had just discovered the solution to their dilemma. They immediately backtracked.
"It just happens to be time for the evening meal. If Miss Qin doesn't mind, why not sit down and eat with us?"
Qin Jiuye had finally achieved her goal.
By virtue of that single jar of wine, the Young Master’s "distinguished guest" naturally found herself squeezed into the center of the stone table in the courtyard.
Master Tang disliked them drinking, but he hadn't said they couldn't share a few small cups with a guest.
Especially since this guest was someone who piqued everyone's curiosity.
Word had it that it all started with a sunken ship upstream. One of the passengers happened to be the second son of Qiu Yan, the former head of Black Moon. The Young Master had sent people to investigate, but the other party had requested the use of a ship to search for someone. Not long after, the eldest son of the Qiu family, the Lord of Broken Jade himself, had arrived. After weighing the situation, the Young Master had sent aid, eventually bringing back a pair of women.
That wasn't all. It was said that the one sent to fetch them was the young man who lived in the most remote courtyard. To secure the chance to go out, he had even volunteered to test medicine for the Young Master.
And finally, even the Young Master himself had personally invited this Miss Qin, rescued from Juchao, to come to Chuanliu Courtyard for a talk.
People were constantly moving in and out of the front and back halls of Chuanliu Courtyard, but it had been a long time since they’d had a proper guest. The Young Master was not a hospitable man, and no one in the martial world knew where Chuanliu Courtyard was located, so naturally, no one ever thought to visit.
For a moment, everyone's curiosity was piqued to the extreme.
In this courtyard, which had built its reputation on information brokerage, what happened in the morning would be common knowledge by the afternoon. However, the staff had long grown weary of endless martial arts rumors and court secrets. They had finally found some local entertainment with such a thrilling backstory, and they all threw themselves into it.
On the day the woman entered the courtyard, countless eyes had watched from the shadows, and countless mouths had discussed her in hushed tones. Yet, no one had been able to make sense of her or reach a conclusion.
Now, the protagonist of this storm had delivered herself to their door, bolstered by wine. If they couldn't discern the truth from the rumors after tonight, it would be a stain on Chuanliu Courtyard’s reputation and an insult to their professional skills. And they, as elite members of Chuanliu Courtyard, were determined to give their all for this cause.
If Master Tang asked about the wine later, they would simply say it was for the sake of their work.
The jar was opened, and cups were filled.
On the surface, everyone was harmonious, but secretly, they were all bracing themselves. They claimed to be eating together, but in reality, they ate separately. A large platter of steamed mixed meat buns was placed on the table and instantly sliced into small pieces. Some, whose work wasn't finished, grabbed a bite and turned back to their tasks, each playing their part perfectly for fear of startling the guest at the stone table.
Following the host's lead, Qin Jiuye ate a few bites and then simply picked up a winnowing tray to help sort the herbs.
The skills she had honed over the years in Dingweng Village were now on full display. With the approachability she’d developed among country folk and her deep understanding of the messy realities of a pharmacy, she was soon chatting comfortably with those around her.
"I heard Miss Qin was a pharmacy manager. You certainly handle these tasks skillfully," Auntie Xiong led with a compliment.
Qin Jiuye played along. "It's just a way to make a living. By the way, does everyone in this courtyard take the same medicine? I noticed you've prepared quite a lot of freshly harvested Silkvine bark."
She didn't ask who needed the medicine, and Auntie Xiong didn't volunteer the information, saying only softly, "It's all brewed in one pot; most of it is the same."
*Is that so?* She didn't believe for a second that the medicine Gongzi Yan took was the same as everyone else's.
Qin Jiuye kept her expression neutral and continued to ask without looking up, "Is that Xiao Sa who follows me also taking medicine? I haven't seen you send any to him."
Auntie Xiong’s hands paused for a moment, but she quickly resumed her rhythm. "His medicine is a bit special. The Young Master ordered it personally."
The key figure had finally been mentioned, acting like a trigger. Qin Jiuye stopped talking after a few more words, but the atmosphere around her began to stir.
"Ahem, Miss Qin seems very concerned about Xiao Sa?"
the first scout sounded the horn. It was like a stone dropped into water, sending out ripples, yet the woman at the center of the circle seemed not to notice. She simply nodded without raising her head.
"I was just asking in passing. After all, your Young Master still refuses to see me and has only sent him to stay by my side."
"Don't overthink it, Miss Qin. The Young Master has indeed been overwhelmed with business lately and his health has suffered. If he didn't value you, why would he send Xiao Sa to serve you?"
The other party revealed their first hidden move, luring the enemy in. As expected, the woman followed up with a question.
"What about Xiao Sa?"
"Xiao Sa... he's a good man..."
This was meant to be a simple opening for praise, but as soon as the words left the speaker's mouth, the winnowing tray in the woman's hands shook, and herbs spilled onto the ground.
She paused, gathered the scattered herbs, and sat back down to continue sorting. "His name is a bit casual, as if he were named by rank. I thought he was just someone of no importance."
"We aren't the First Manor Under Heaven; we don't have those strange rules. However, some people truly don't like to mention their past names, so the Young Master helps by bestowing a new one."
"I see," Qin Jiuye nodded. Her hands didn't stop as she continued, "Since he belongs to this courtyard, I never see him working with the rest of you. Does he have other assignments?"
Of course, Chuanliu Courtyard didn't keep idle people. During the busiest times, the "guests" in those courtyards were used as ten men each. After all, anyone could pick herbs, but not everyone could take a head.
Everyone remained smiling, each appearing to be a kind, hospitable neighbor.
"Right now, his assignment is you. Since you are the Young Master's guest, you must be properly looked after. Leave the rest to us."
Qin Jiuye smiled as well, continuing in a half-joking tone, "Hearing you talk about him, it seems you all got along well before. I don't know why, but he barely speaks a word to me. I'm starting to suspect I've made myself unwelcome."
As soon as she said this, the group's emotions were stirred. They began to talk more freely, clearly having endless impressions of Xiao Sa to share.
"Could he just be a bit shy around strangers? He's the easiest young man to get along with in the whole courtyard," the man with the small mustache drying herbs was the first to speak up.
An old woman busy washing and peeling herbs nodded in agreement. "The first time I saw him, he smiled at me. How could he be shy? Perhaps he's just unfamiliar with the task of being a guide and needs a few days to adjust."
"Nonsense, he's a quick study at everything. Since he arrived, the firewood in the pharmacy has always been stacked high. I hardly have to lift a finger to tidy up. I haven't seen him around much these past few days, though."
The chubby wood-splitter sounded increasingly regretful. Behind him, the older woman tending the furnace looked thoughtful.
"Perhaps his health isn't great. He just changed his medicine a while ago..."
The woman stopped mid-sentence, as if realizing she had let something slip. A pockmarked man nearby, responsible for delivering medicine, immediately took over.
"His courtyard is the quietest. No matter who goes to deliver medicine, he's always polite. Not like those ones in the west who are all bows and scrapes to the Young Master but take their anger out on us workers in private."
"Exactly. Once, when I was being given a hard time by someone from the back yard, he happened to pass by and helped me out."
"And another time..."
Everyone chattered about Xiao Sa’s virtues, but the laborer fanning the furnace fire looked displeased.
He prided himself on being the most clear-headed man in the courtyard, and his view was clearly different from the "rabble." He gave a cold snort.
"You lot can't read people, so you were easily fooled. He doesn't look old, but he's got plenty of schemes. He acts obedient to everyone—who is he trying to hook? Probably using that face of his to leave a trail of broken hearts. A while back, Old Mo went to deliver medicine and accidentally dirtied one of his robes. His face changed instantly. He's from the First Manor Under Heaven, after all; they've done plenty of dark deeds there. I heard they don't even spare cats, dogs, or children! And don't you doubt me—judging by his features, he has wolf eyes. Wolf eyes are the most vicious; they'll turn on you in a heartbeat..."
With a *clatter*, the winnowing tray hit the table. Miss Qin’s voice drifted over, unhurried.
"They are light brown."
The laborer froze, instinctively asking, "What?"
The woman rubbed the herb dust from her hands and looked over with a smile. "I said his eyes. They are light brown, not 'wolf eyes.'"
They had only met today, but the laborer already found this woman disagreeable. He didn't like how she had forced her way into their meal. However, since she was the Young Master's guest, he felt a bit guilty and didn't dare oppose her openly. Seeing her thin, scrawny appearance and noting that she hadn't even seen the Young Master yet, he figured she wasn't anyone special. He muttered sourly under his breath.
"Just making conversation, why get so worked up? The Young Master was kind enough to let you stay; don't go thinking you're the master of the house."
He hoped someone would back him up, but unfortunately, everyone else in the courtyard had already moved on to a different point of interest.
"Miss Qin has only seen him for a few days, yet she's noticed his eyes so clearly? Could it be you've taken a liking to our Xiao Sa?" the woman at the furnace launched the first offensive.
The pockmarked man immediately followed up. "Eh, but what about the Lord of Broken Jade? I heard he came south specifically for you. Where is he now?"
Another gust of wind stirred the bamboo forest, and the faint, strange sound from earlier that day rang out again.
Qin Jiuye looked up at the dark bamboo forest beyond the courtyard wall. The sound stopped instantly.
Her intention in visiting the Medicine Hut tonight hadn't been this, but everyone's attention seemed fixed on strange things. Was this another method of gathering information?
"I am but an obscure physician. How could I dare to aim for the Lord of Broken Jade? Previously, when I chased after him, he wouldn't even spare me a glance," Qin Jiuye said with a faint smile, her self-deprecating tone perfectly pitched.
The true purpose of Qiu Ling’s journey south could not be revealed. She intended to deflect the conversation toward trivial romantic matters, but her words only made the group more excited.
"So it's the Lord of Broken Jade the lady admires? That's hardly surprising. The Lord of Broken Jade is pure and noble, a celestial figure. He has no shortage of admirers in the martial world."
"Isn't that the truth? Back then, those female disciples from the Xuanjin Sect waited at the gates of Kunxu for three days and nights just to catch a glimpse of him."
The Qiu family was unpopular here, yet the Lord of Broken Jade’s reputation remained untarnished. Qin Jiuye found the contradiction absurd, but she followed their lead.
"The Lord of Broken Jade is like the bright moon, surrounded by clouds and stars. However, I have put all that behind me and moved on. Please, don't speculate further, lest others misunderstand."
*Understood.* The Lord of Broken Jade was ancient history; the newcomer had taken the lead.
The group quickly exchanged glances, their lowered voices becoming increasingly suggestive.
"Misunderstand? Who is Miss Qin afraid of offending?"
"And where exactly are you looking now that you've 'moved on'? Could it be Miss Qin already has another sweetheart?"
*A sweetheart? Does a heartless wolf count?*
"Rather than a sweetheart, it was more of a mutual affection," Qin Jiuye said, her face calm as water even as she crushed the herbs in her hand. "Sigh, it's embarrassing to say. Actually... we were together for a time."
*As expected.* Out with the old, in with the new; only fresh tea can rival old wine.
Though it was only a few words, it offered infinite possibilities for interpretation. Before the first song had ended, a thrilling drama involving two men and one woman was about to begin. The group grew even more spirited, their work slowing as they leaned in closer.
"Truly? When was this?"
"If it was mutual affection, why did you part ways? Did someone have a change of heart?"
"Setting the Lord of Broken Jade aside, what about the second young master of the Qiu family? Was he the third party?"
"Then wouldn't Xiao Sa be the fourth..."
Increasingly outrageous speculations were piled in front of Qin Jiuye. For a moment, she felt she wasn't in a clandestine martial arts stronghold, but under the big locust tree in Dingweng Village. Even the most gossipy aunts and uncles of the village couldn't compare to this lot. Did Gongzi Yan keep such a group around just so he could cough up blood and shorten his life?
But once the initial annoyance passed, a suppressed emotion uncontrollably bubbled up. Lately, she had thrown herself entirely into the matter of the secret formula. Partly, it was because of her father's situation, which fueled her resolve to end everything; partly, it was to use busyness to suppress her various sorrows. Being caught off guard and questioned about these private matters today was frustrating, but bantering with these strangers was, in its own way, a chance to vent.
She pushed the full winnowing tray aside and grabbed the cup of wine on the table that she hadn't touched, draining it in one gulp.
"Because he was from the First Manor Under Heaven."
These words were like a sudden thunderclap. A moment of silence followed, and then the place erupted.
If there was anyone in the world who knew the disciples of that manor better than the disciples themselves, it was Chuanliu Courtyard. Those five words—"First Manor Under Heaven"—seemed to instantly explain all hardships, loves, and hates. The group looked ready to pen this lingering, resentful debt of love into a novel and deliver it to their Young Master’s bedside that very night.
"How could he be from the First Manor Under Heaven? Is the lady from the Qingzhong Mountain Academy?"
"It must be a story of a loyal servant falling for his master. Could you tell us more?"
"I don't think so. Isn't Miss Qin a pharmacy manager? Perhaps it's a story of accidental mutual salvation?"
"Eh, but with the First Manor Under Heaven, I think a story of the farmer and the snake is more likely. Looking at Miss Qin now, that man must have been ungrateful and simply walked away."
Chuanliu Courtyard was indeed an information hub cultivated by Gongzi Yan; everyone seemed possessed by the spirit of Tang Shenyan, piecing together eighty or ninety percent of her story with the youth in just a few strokes.
Or perhaps all the love stories in the world were much the same. To those in the play, it was everything; to those watching, it was merely a cliché.
Qin Jiuye gave a self-deprecating smile. Auntie Xiong, who had already downed seven or eight cups of wine, could no longer contain herself and asked indignantly, "There are so many good men in the world, why did it have to be him?"
Qin Jiuye thought seriously for a long time before speaking the truth.
"He was handsome."
The others hadn't expected such a "shallow" answer, and their expressions turned strange.
"How handsome? Aside from his looks, did he have no other virtues?"
The woman opened her mouth as if to describe him in detail and praise him properly, but the next moment, she retreated. She raised her hand for another drink and summarized flatly, "It's all in the past. There's no point in mentioning it."
With their interest in gathering information at its peak and the wine only half-finished, the group naturally couldn't accept such an ending.
Perhaps because the woman seemed so candid when talking about it all, or perhaps because she looked thoroughly steady and practical—not the type to provoke an assassin from the First Manor Under Heaven and fall into such a bizarre experience—someone finally asked hesitantly, "Is what Miss Qin said true? You aren't just making up a story to fool us, are you?"
*Making up a story?* She wasn't Old Tang; she wouldn't make up a story like that. She would only make up a story about how the Goddess of Wealth was actually her long-lost grandmother.
Perhaps the wine was going to her head. After a moment of silence, Qin Jiuye reached into her waist.
"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, look—this is our token of love."
As she spoke, she pulled a small copper mirror from her person. She breathed on it and slowly wiped it with the hem of her robe.
The dust-free mirror shimmered, faintly reflecting the swaying shadows of the bamboo outside the courtyard gate—half hidden in the night, half bathed in moonlight.
Qin Jiuye tilted the mirror, pretending not to see anything. She continued to wipe it as she spoke.
"There was originally a pair of these mirrors. But now that the people can't be a pair, there's no need to keep the object. If any of you like it, take it."
With that, fueled by a hint of drunkenness, she slapped the mirror onto the table with a *thwack*.
It was a small copper mirror with an ancient pattern carved on the back. Though it wasn't particularly exquisite or valuable, it was a novelty to these people who were constantly trapped deep in the bamboo sea.
The older woman nearby immediately reached out to examine it. "In that case, I'll just..."
Before she could touch the mirror, a voice suddenly rang out from behind everyone.
"Miss Qin, it is late. You should rest."
No one knew when Xiao Sa, who walked without a sound, had appeared in the courtyard. Everyone jumped, except for the woman sitting in the center.
She rested her chin on one hand. After a long moment, she looked up, her eyes appearing somewhat misty. When she spoke, it was unclear if it was the wine talking.
"What took you so long? I've been waiting for you."
The youth’s figure froze as if he had been struck by a binding spell. It took a long moment before he regained his composure and stepped forward.
"Drink less wine and go to rest early."
Qin Jiuye withdrew her gaze and huddled closer to the table, saying unhurriedly, "I'm not sleepy yet. You go back first."
The youth didn't move, remaining where he stood.
"The Young Master personally instructed me to take good care of the lady. Please do not make things difficult for me."
The people of Chuanliu Courtyard were in the middle of a lively chat, and having received the favor of Miss Qin’s wine, they spoke up softly.
"Ahem, Xiao Sa, we aren't bad people. Auntie Xiong can walk her back later."
"Exactly, and Miss Qin said so herself..."
The pockmarked man’s words cut off abruptly. He instinctively rubbed the back of his neck. For some reason, he felt a sudden cold wind blow past, making his hair stand on end.
Unconsciously, everyone fell silent. Their gazes shifted back and forth between the youth and the woman.
Miss Qin hadn't looked that drunk just now; why did she seem like she was going to refuse to leave? And this Xiao Sa hadn't looked like this before; why did he look like he wanted to kill someone today?
It was easier to invite a guest than to see one off. Seeing the woman slumped motionless on the table, the group read the room and finally spoke up to persuade her.
"Miss Qin still has work to do tomorrow. Why don't we end our chat here for today..."
Qin Jiuye finally moved. She reached for the wine cup on the table, but it was empty. She then reached for the wine jar, but with a roll, the jar landed firmly in the youth’s hand.
The woman leaning on the table lazily opened one eye. Deep within her dark, bright eyes, a glint of cunning shone through.
"So, you're a lefty."
The youth’s left hand paused. He raised his hand and placed the remaining half-jar of wine on the medicine shelf behind him.
"I can use both hands."
The wind gently stirred his veil. He lowered his head even further, as if he didn't want anyone to see the expression on his face.
Seeing that there was no more wine to be had, Qin Jiuye gave him a resentful glare. After a long moment, she finally compromised.
"Fine. I'll come back tomorrow."
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief and rose to see her off. The older woman who had wanted the copper mirror still looked longingly at the table.
"This mirror..."
Qin Jiuye blinked. After a moment of thought, she tucked the copper mirror back into her robes.
"I've been carrying this mirror close to me, and it's a bit scratched. I'll bring some other trinkets for everyone another day."
The group couldn't hide their disappointment. They shook their heads and dispersed, leaving only Xiao Sa standing there. His voice sounded much clearer now.
"I will help the lady back."
He took another step toward her. The next moment, he saw her open her arms to him.
The youth froze. Even though he had been by her side constantly these past few days, she had never let him get this close. Even when he occasionally tried to offer a hand for support, her hand would only brush against him lightly, like a tuft of fluffy foxtail grass—leaving a faint itch before quickly pulling away.
Perhaps because she had held them up too long and her arms were aching, Qin Jiuye looked up at him, her eyes filled with a resentful questioning.
The youth silently stepped forward. She naturally looped her arms around his neck, and her entire weight fell into his embrace, light as a leaf.
The scent of wine mixed with the long-absent fragrance of mint instantly surrounded him. The person he had missed for so long had suddenly fallen into his arms. His entire body couldn't help but tremble, and his legs felt weak. He quickly steadied himself before walking out of the courtyard.
Just a few steps away from the Medicine Hut, he suddenly heard the woman buried against his chest murmur softly, "Li Qiao..."
Li Qiao’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He stood frozen on the bamboo path, unable to move an inch.
He used every ounce of strength he possessed not to respond to her call. But then, the arms wrapped around his spine seemed to tighten, closing the distance between them until it was gone. Her face was buried in the hollow of his neck, her every breath stirring his soul.
He remembered the night everyone had gathered at Listening Wind Hall. She had finished half a jar of Great Hut Brew alone and, fueled by the wine, had leaned against him and made a fuss.
Back then, he had also struggled to endure, but that struggle was nothing like this one.
Her lips were stained a moist, tempting color by the wine. Her body was light and soft, carrying a hint of the outdoor chill, yet she pressed so close to him. The heat from her skin slowly transferred to him, and her hair brushed against his ear as she moved. He could almost hear his own increasingly heavy breathing.
"Why are you breathing so hard? Are you sick?" Her voice sounded concerned in his ear, and she seemed to want to take his hand to check his pulse. "Have you forgotten? I am the manager of Guoran Hall. There is no illness in this world I cannot cure."
She truly seemed a bit drunk, starting to boast in a way she never would when sober.
And right now, his body was burning with a restless discomfort; he felt he had a different, urgent need for her cure.
As if sensing his urgency, she caught his left hand which was draped over her shoulder. Her fingertips slipped into the gap between them, tracing from his palm to his wrist, kneading without any rhythm. His pulse jumped faster and faster under her touch, every beat governed by her. His veil fluttered with his uneven breath.
Just as he was about to lose control and lean down to do something, her hand stopped.
The woman shook her head and pulled away from him, though strands of her hair remained tangled in his chest and shoulder.
"My apologies. I drank a few extra cups today and almost mistook you for him."
Almost instinctively, he tightened his arms, trying to hold onto that embrace. But she had already nimbly slipped away, backing up three or four paces.
"I just remembered there are still things to be done. My courtyard isn't far from here; you don't need to follow me. I'll head back once I've cleared my head."
His fingers, longing for her warmth, curled one by one. He clenched his fist and suddenly spoke.
"...You can treat me as him."
"Who? Who do you want me to treat you as?"
The woman's eyes were deeper than the night. The moment she looked over, it was like an arrow piercing his heart.
He struggled for a moment before whispering, "The person... you spoke of in the Medicine Hut."
Qin Jiuye laughed, but her voice turned cold.
"The game I've hated most since I was a child is playing house. Besides, I have nothing to say to him, and I imagine he feels the same."
The woman stood there for a moment. Seeing the youth remain silent, she turned and walked away along the path without looking back.
In the bamboo forest, the youth slowly removed his narrow hat with its hanging black veil, allowing himself to be exposed to the night. The cold wind blew through him, yet it could not calm his burning heart.
*No, everything is wrong. It shouldn't be like this.*
A series of dull pains throbbed in his chest. A sense of suffocation made him feel as if he would cough up blood in the next moment. He couldn't tell if it was a premonition of his illness flaring up or a surge of overwhelming emotion.
Not far away, a curious and anxious Auntie Xiong poked her head out from the courtyard.
She had the intuition of someone who had lived through much, sensing that something was bound to happen between the two who had left. However, when she squinted into the distance, she could no longer see a single soul in the empty bamboo forest—only the hazy moonlight shimmering across the ground.
***
