c35 (1/2)
Yun Zhong Ge Chapter 35: The Albizia’s Tears
Late delay there, sorry about that. I'm heading back down under to graduate next week, so travel preparation and work are time suckers in general. I've got no time to polish up the text with chapter breaks, will do so tomorrow. So please bear with me as I edit and update this.
UPDATE: CHAPTER COMPLETE
Yu An accompanied the Emperor, disguised in simple robes to consult the common physicians and also carefully picked a few trusted Imperial physicians to treat his majesty. Everyone who diagnosed his majesty was all extremely sure it was thoracic obstruction. Yet they each differed in their explanations as to why acupuncture and medication weren’t taking effect: some concluded that it was because of some other undiagnosed illness, diminis.h.i.+ng the effectiveness of acupuncture; some concluded that it was because it was a type of heart ailment not found in medical books, so the treatment of their ancestors would thus naturally have no effect.
Physician Zhang privately suspected other reasons, but all the poisons that could lead to thoracic obstruction would have to be consumed through food, entering the organs, damaging the heart opening. Once the poison was circulated within the body, the victim dies immediately, but his majesty’s ailment was manifesting slowly. He had also meticulously gone through all of his majesty’s food but didn’t find anything suspicious. Furthermore, the most important point was, everything the Emperor ate would be tasted by eunuchs, none of the eunuchs showed signs of poisoning. Therefore Physician Zhang could only strike that thought out.
The common physicians weren’t aware of Liu Fu Ling’s ident.i.ty, and therefore spoke without restraint. Everything they said only made Yun Ge’s heart drop further. Finally, she could only place all her hopes on Physician Zhang.
Liu Fu Ling welcomed Physician Zhang’s treatment; on the surface he looked calm as per normal, and Yun Ge also acted like before. Both of them buried their worries deeply within their hearts, as if all was really normal. But as Liu Fu Ling’s heart pains started to increase in intensity, even his strong powers of restraint weren’t even able to conceal it. Sometimes when his illness flared, it was so painful that his whole body would shake. The changes in his body served as reminders to Yun Ge and Liu Fu Ling, telling them: No, everything isn’t normal.
One night, while the two of them sat side by side, gazing upon the stars, Yun Ge softly said “Ling Ge Ge, I wish to ask someone to take a look at your illness, is that possible?” “Of course.” He had already seen the best physicians in Han, not only one, but many. Therefore, he didn’t harbor any high hopes, but if this would ease Yun Ge’s heart, everything would be worth it.
“Meng Jue once mentioned that his adoptive father possessed great medical skills, even if Bian Que was reborn, he still wouldn’t be a match for him. Meng Jue never doles out praise so simply, I’m afraid even Physician Zhang’s skills in his eyes would only be a ‘can do.’” Yun Ge’s voice became more nervous “So, I’d like to ask him, to see whether or not he could persuade his adoptive father to take a look at your illness. Imperial physicians may be good, but they definitely aren’t the best in the world. There was once the common physician Bian Que managed to identify what was ailing Duke Huan of Cai, pointing out symptoms that other physicians couldn’t see. The best physicians must lie within the commoners, for a true physician wouldn’t just look after the ailments of the imperial family, they would never be willing to use their skills to trade for promise of honour and riches.”
Liu Fu Ling’s heart thudded, it was indeed as Yun Ge said.
Medicine skills, were different as compared to all other skills on earth. Above all, physicians must have an empathetic heart for the people. Only if they thought lightly of fame and glory, setting their hearts on understanding the toils of men, would they then truly become worthy physicians. None of the Imperial physicians, not even Physician Zhang could do that; therefore, of all the famous physicians of yore, not one came from the palace, but all from the common people.
But Meng Jue….
Yun Ge noticed Liu Fu Ling deep in thought. She said “I know you can’t let any news of your illness be leaked, and Meng Jue…” Yun Ge frowned. “Ling Ge Ge, I don’t trust him either, which is why I have never considered him- I didn’t want to put you in a spot. But Ling Ge Ge, take it as I’m begging you now, even if it is because of me. I have never once resented you for the things you have done for the state, but this time could you just consider this once, me and you, and not consider the country?”
Yun Ge’s eyes glazed over with tears, Liu Fu Ling’s heart suddenly hurt greatly. His illness flared again, his hand pressed against his ribs, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Yun Ge was shocked, immediately going to support him. “Ling Ge Ge, Ling Ge Ge, I was wrong. I’m not going to force you, you can do whatever you wish….” Her heart was filled with sorrow but she didn’t dare to cry, for crying might only make his condition worse, so she could only suppress all her emotion, even as her eyes became red rimmed with unshed tears.
Only by holding Yun Ge’s hand was Liu Fu Ling able to forcibly stand firm. After a long while, the pain in his heart subsided. He said “Yun Ge, I promise you.” Yun Ge was so happy she hugged Liu Fu Ling. “Thank you, thank you, Ling Ge Ge!”
Seeing her like this, Liu Fu Ling felt only sadness. After some thought he added, “The Emperor already has the imperial physicians at his disposal, a privilege everyone else doesn’t have. Meng Jue’s adoptive father is hidden amongst the people, and might not be willing to treat the Emperor. Please tell him to tell his adoptive father, I’ll pay the price for treatment by reducing taxes by a tenth for three years. Based on his adoptive father’s character, I’m thinking he would accept this fee.”
Yun Ge nodded “Ling Ge Ge, rest a.s.sured. I will think of a way to make Meng Jue agree to keep this secret, so as to not add to your troubles.”
Liu Fu Ling’s smile held indifference. “Yun Ge, no need to trouble him, and above all, don’t trouble yourself. These things we can only do what we possibly can and leave the rest to the will of Heaven.”
Meng Jue just got off his carriage when the servant guarding his residence reported “My Lord, there was a lady who came to visit.” Meng Jue nodded coldly, indifferent. The servant added “Your servant heard Miss Nong Ying address her as Miss Yun.” Nong Ying was San Yue’s formal name, Meng Jue immediately asked “Where is she?” “In the study.”
Meng Jue couldn’t be bothered to change his court robes, sprinting straight towards the study. There was no one in the study, only San Yue in the courtyard sunning books.
He asked “Did Yun Ge come?” San Yue replied as she shook out the bamboo scroll in her hand “She came.” “Where is she?” “Gone.” Meng Jue hid his disappointment, only blandly asking “Why didn’t you try to make her stay? Did she say anything?”
San Yue smiled as she glanced at Meng Jue “Is master anxious?” When she caught his eye, she didn’t dare tease him anymore, quickly saying “Since Master was late in returning, I was afraid Yun Ge might leave out of boredom so I told her she could play in the gardens. She should be near the gardens.”
The trees formed a canopy hiding the sun, the leaves green and trunks st.u.r.dy. A small river meandered through the shrubbery. Although it was the height of summer, it was cool in the gardens. Meng Jue walked along the small path, searching as he walked. When he reached the greenhouse and spotted the door half open, he pushed it open. After pa.s.sing several blooms of k.u.mquats and a few shoots of bamboo, he saw Yun Ge lying on a fleeceflower vine, her head rest on an albizia tree as she slept soundly. The albizia flower was known to calm the organs, to take away all worries; while the fleeceflower vine was known to calm the senses, to treat anxiety and insomnia. As he often had nightmares at night, so he specially grew these two plants side by side, twining the fleeceflower vine into a bed, the curved tree as a pillow, using the effects of both to calm his mind and body.
Meng Jue lightly sat by the albizia tree, silently gazing at her. The albizia’s clean fragrance wafted across the air. The fleeceflower vines emitted a vague scent, but the person lying on the fleeceflower vine and albizia tree was neither calm nor happy, even as she slept her brows were still tightly knit.
In just a matter of two weeks, she lost an incredible amount of weight. Her chin was sharp, her collarbones protruded, the arm that hung beneath the fleeceflower stem was looked extremely fragile. Meng Jue held her wrist and measured it against his palm. She was already a whole ring tinier than last year.
Liu Fu Ling, is this how you care for the one you love?
After four hours, when sunset streamed into the greenhouse, Yun Ge woke up with a start. “Ling Ge Ge”, and grabbed hold of Meng Jue’s hand, as if she was terrified he’d disappear. When she saw who it was, she quickly let go, but Meng Jue refused to let her go.
Yun Ge explained as she tried to wrest her hand from his grasp “I’m sorry, I thought that the fleeceflower vines resembled a tiny pallet, so I sat on it, I don’t know why I even fell asleep.” “You haven’t been sleeping well at all these days, if you’re tired, naturally, you will sleep.”
Yun Ge felt extremely awkward, she was the one who came to find him, but ended up sleeping so soundly in his house, and it wasn’t even a short nap either. “How long have you been here?” Meng Jue lightly replied “I just got here. Why are you looking for me?” Yun Ge’s eyes were full of despair “Meng Jue, let go of me, would you?” Meng Jue stared at her, not letting go “Tell me what is wrong.” Yun Ge didn’t have the energy to compete with Meng Jue to see who could be more stubborn, so she let him be.
She leaned against the alizia tree, and tried her best to remain calm. “His majesty is ill. It is a very strange illness, rendering even the best Imperial physician, Physician Zhang helpless. I was hoping you could ask your adoptive father to treat his majesty.”
“My adoptive father can’t come.” Yun Ge’s gaze was pleading. “His majesty is willing to lower the taxes for three years as a fee for treatment. Furthermore, his majesty isn’t a ruthless Emperor, he is a good Emperor, I believe your adoptive father would be willing to treat him.” Meng Jue wasn’t moved by her speech. “I said, it is impossible for my adoptive father to treat his majesty, even lowering taxes for the next decade wouldn’t help.” “You….” Yun Ge was so angry her face grew pale. “I’ll go home to find my daddy, doesn’t he know your adoptive father?” Meng Jue scoffed “Your father? Do you really believe your father can do everything? He and your mother have searched for my adoptive father for more than a decade, but still haven’t found him.”
Yun Ge was stunned, the anger in her heart turning into helpless despair. Her eyes filled with tears, each drop rolling down her face, landing pitter patter on the petals of albizias.
Meng Jue only looked on coldly. She sat up on the fleeceflower vines, calmly and coldly saying “I have to go, let go of me.” Meng Jue asked “How serious is his majesty’s illness?” Yun Ge shot him a cold look “It isn’t as bad as you wish, you needn’t be so anxious.” Meng Jue let go of her hand, making a ‘please’ gesture, sending her off.
Yun Ge walked to the door of the greenhouse and was about to pull open the door when she heard a voice behind her “I am my adoptive father’s only disciple. I would be overly humble if I said I only learnt up to thirty, forty percent, but saying I learnt everything would be lying, but I’ve learnt at least seventy to eighty percent, and might even be better in some areas than my adoptive father.”
Yun Ge’s hand paused on the door handle “Which areas?” “For example- using poisons and antidotes for poisons. My adoptive father wasn’t interested in these matters, he cared more about how to treat illnesses, but I went deeper in my research for these aspects.”
Yun Ge coldly repeated “Your skills are only a seventh or eighth of your adoptive father’s.”
“If I were to liken all the other physician’s skills to water, Physician Zhang’s skills would probably be like a river, the other common physicians would be like the Yellow River’s water, but my adoptive father’s skills were like the wide ocean, so what if it only seventy to eight percent?”
Yun Ge’s heart thumped wildly and suddenly turned back. Meng Jue’s lips formed a smile, as if everything was within his expectations. She walked to him and knelt, asking sincerely “What do you want?” Meng Jue smiled at Yun Ge, the darkness in his eyes covering all emotion. “First, I’d like to understand the situation before deciding.” “What do you want to know?” “His majesty and her majesty are acting for the world to see, the grandson Huo Guang is longing for will never exist.” Meng Jue spoke confidently; it wasn’t a question but a statement. Yun Ge nodded her head.
“His majesty knew he was sick from the beginning of the year, which was why he made a series of inexplicable moves.”
It wasn’t like that, the beginning of the year was because…. Yun Ge lowered her head “I don’t know, I only found out recently.” Meng Jue lightly mocked “You are always late to realize things. You only found out the night after his majesty and her majesty’s consummation night.”
Yun Ge looked at the albizia flowers by her knee, remaining silent. Meng Jue remained silent for a long while before asking “Yun Ge, lift up your head and look at me in the eye. Is your one year promise to his majesty still valid? Will you or will you not leave after half a year?”