Childhood Friend or Destined Encounter? - Chapter 15

Feng Ya was set to leave Jiangzhou City in a matter of days. Before her departure, she needed to see one last person—Divine Physician Sun.

This man had practiced medicine for twenty years. His skill was so legendary that any incurable disease or bizarre ailment seemed to resolve itself in his hands, though these days he rarely accepted patients or made house calls.

Had it not been for the friendship Feng Ya struck up with him years ago, she wouldn’t have known that he was now living as a hermit in the heart of the city, residing alone in a small alley in northern Jiangzhou.

During their time together, Feng Ya had noticed that Ye Zi’s health was unlike that of a normal person. She seemed exceptionally frail, requiring daily medication and acupuncture to keep her strength up. To Feng Ya, this was a ticking time bomb.

Ye Zi was unwilling to elaborate on the reasons behind her condition, and Feng Ya didn’t feel it was her place to pry. Instead, she had secretly collected some of the residue from Ye Zi’s brewed medicine and brought it to Divine Physician Sun to investigate.

The physician hadn’t seen Feng Ya in several years. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Feng Ya produced the medicinal residue and asked, “Divine Physician, I have a friend who must take this medicine every day. Could you help me see what might be wrong with her body?”

“Does your friend exhibit any specific symptoms?” In medicine, the four methods of diagnosis—observing, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse—are paramount. Since Feng Ya hadn’t brought the person in question, the physician had to rely on her description.

“I only know that she was imprisoned for several months a few years ago. They cut her wrists to drain a great deal of her blood. I suspect that’s when the root of the illness took hold, and now she requires these drugs daily,” Feng Ya recalled, her heart aching once again at the memory of what she knew.

Divine Physician Sun took the residue and inspected it. “Wait here for a while. I need to break down and analyze the components of these herbs.”

Feng Ya found a medical text in the room and flipped through it, though she couldn’t make much sense of it. Two hours passed before the physician returned to the main hall with the residue. Feng Ya hurriedly put down the book and stood up.

“The composition of this medicine is quite complex, which is why it took me some time. Based on the analysis, your friend’s condition has persisted for at least a decade, it isn’t a simple case of weakness caused by blood loss.”

“Ten years? But she’s only in her teens now,” Feng Ya said, pressing down the turmoil in her heart as she sought confirmation.

“Then that settles it. Unless the ailment was brought on in early childhood, one wouldn’t use such a potent formula. Judging by the medicine alone, she likely suffered a severe internal injury as a child. As for what long-term risks this injury poses, it’s impossible to tell for now.”

“Is there any way to cure it completely?” Feng Ya asked urgently.

“Though the world honors me with the title of ‘Divine Physician,’ I cannot formulate a treatment for such complex symptoms just by looking at a bag of residue without even seeing the patient’s face.”

“Then I will bring her to you. Please, you must save her,” Feng Ya said, her tone becoming instinctively more formal and pleading.

“Go on then. I, too, look forward to such a challenge.”

Feng Ya was gone for quite some time. When Xuan Ying arrived at the post house, he found only Ye Zi in the courtyard, fiddling with a wooden bird in her hands.

“Is the Commander looking for Feng Ya? She isn’t here right now,” Ye Zi said, looking up at the unexpected visitor.

“I came today specifically to find you, Miss Ye.” As soon as Xuan Ying spoke, several members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in white “flying fish” uniforms entered the courtyard, carrying heavy chests.

“I heard that it was Miss Ye who saved the Princess’s life and assisted greatly in the fight against the Baqi Tower. Since you will be traveling south with the Princess, travel expenses are a necessity. Please accept these gifts of gratitude.” Xuan Ying ordered the chests opened, revealing an abundance of jewelry, banknotes, silks, and jade.

Ye Zi glanced at the chests. In all her years, she had never seen such wealth. She pursed her lips and remained silent.

“How could I be left out when it comes to thanking the Princess’s savior?” Another uninvited guest, Han Lei, stepped forward, holding a delicate small box.

Over the past two days, he had scoured antique and jade shops for novelties, originally intending to present them to Feng Ya to win her favor. Hearing Xuan Ying’s words, his mind began to race.

“The Princess’s savior is my, Han Lei’s, savior as well. Please do not despise these little trinkets.” Han Lei opened the box, which was filled with the most sought-after jewelry in Jiangzhou City.

Ye Zi’s gaze swept over the box. They were beautiful things, so beautiful they seemed to sting the eyes.

Seeing that Ye Zi remained unmoved, Han Lei pulled a token from his pocket. “This is a token of the Han family. Only those who are extremely important to us may possess it. Our family’s connections and business span the entire country. If you show this token to our people, they will provide you with every convenience.”

Ye Zi gave Han Lei a single look before walking over to one of the chests. On the very top layer, a stack of banknotes was neatly arranged.

She pulled out two notes from the stack and said to Xuan Ying, “When I saved your Princess, she owed me two hundred taels of silver. Now, I am taking back the two hundred taels that belong to me. I’ll trouble you to take the rest back, Commander.” She then turned to Han Lei. “As for Master Han’s kindness, I appreciate the thought, but these exquisite things are surely better suited for the Princess.”

Her reaction caught everyone off guard, but given her firm stance, they couldn’t force the matter.

Seeing that Feng Ya had yet to return and the others were clearly not interested in socializing, Han Lei didn’t want to overstay his welcome and took his leave.

Xuan Ying was also about to depart when Ye Zi called out to him.

“Commander, please wait. When Feng Ya returns, I’ll trouble you to hand this to her.” Ye Zi handed the wooden bird to Xuan Ying and quickly added a few lines to a letter she had already prepared.

“Miss Ye won’t give it to the Princess in person?” Xuan Ying asked, confused.

“No. I’ll be leaving shortly. Please say goodbye to Feng Ya for me. As for the rest, she will understand once she reads the letter.” Ye Zi gave him a slight bow and returned to her room. She realized she didn’t have the courage to say goodbye to Feng Ya face-to-face.

Xuan Ying watched her determined back, wanting to tell her to at least wait for Feng Ya, but he had no standing to interfere with her decision.

**

By the time Feng Ya returned to the post house, it was already dusk.

She went straight to Ye Zi’s room, only to find it neatly tidied and empty. A surge of unease rose in her chest.

Returning to the courtyard, she searched the area, finding no one but Xuan Ying standing by the stone table.

“It’s this late, and you’re the only one here?” Feng Ya looked at him, puzzled.

“Miss Ye departed earlier today. She asked me to hand this to the Princess.” Xuan Ying handed her the letter and the wooden bird.

He had noticed the moment Feng Ya returned and knew exactly who she was looking for. He felt an inexplicable sense of trepidation, not daring to step forward and disturb her until now.

“She left on her own?” Feng Ya opened the letter in disbelief, hungrily reading the contents.

Feng Ya,

By the time you see this letter, I should already be on the road. I’m sorry I cannot continue the journey with you. You have your duties to attend to, and I have my own path to walk.

I am very happy to have spent this time with you. You told me before that ever since we met, you have been the one benefiting from me and asking things of me, but that isn’t true.

Your heroic spirit, your fearlessness when saving others, and the gentleness you show toward those girls in distress have allowed me to see the light again and walk out of my past nightmares.

Though I have helped you, it was you who took care of me more in our daily lives. You are of noble birth, you didn’t have to do any of that.

You are a very kind and gentle person, and you never acted the part of a princess with me. Because of your cousin, and because you were grateful to me, you always treated me with genuine sincerity. It made me grow a greed I shouldn’t have had, but in my heart, I know that it wasn’t right.

I have already taken the two hundred taels of silver you owed me. From now on, we owe each other nothing.

I’ve spent some idle time recently making a little toy, consider it a parting gift. This mechanical wooden bird has a built-in compass and was made using a special algorithm. If you ever find yourself trapped in a formation or a maze again, just press the switch, and it will lead you out. I’ve written the instructions at the end of this letter. Use it well, so you won’t have to fear getting lost when you’re alone.

Forgive me for not saying goodbye in person. I hope you achieve all your desires in the future. May you be happy and healthy.

“Why would you just leave like that, without even a word in person? In your condition, where could you possibly go alone?” Feng Ya read the letter several times. She recognized every character, yet when put together, they felt like a language she didn’t understand.

A panic she had never felt before welled up in her heart. That long-lost sense of losing control made her feel helpless, a feeling she hadn’t experienced since the departure of her mother over a decade ago. A voice deep inside was screaming: Follow her! Go after her now!

“Xuan Ying, did anything else happen when she said she was leaving?” Feng Ya clutched the letter, her beautiful brows knit tight.

“It was like this… during the day, I brought gifts to thank Miss Ye, and it happened that Master Han was there as well…” Xuan Ying recounted the day’s events in detail. Seeing Feng Ya’s expression grow increasingly grim, he worried he might have done something wrong.

“How long ago did she leave? Which road did she take?”

“Reporting to the Princess, Miss Ye has been gone for about four hours. She took a fast horse and headed south along the official highway.” Xuan Ying had anticipated this question and had already sent his subordinates to find out.

“Prepare a fast horse for me. I’m leaving Jiangzhou tonight.” Feng Ya began packing her things while firing off instructions to Xuan Ying. “Regarding the matter of the Jiangzhou travel permits, continue following the leads. If there’s any news, contact me by letter. You can also keep an eye on the Han family’s influence. As for that boy Han Lei, I sent a memorial to my Imperial Father suggesting he be sent to a military camp for training. Tell him to stay in Jiangzhou for the next few days and wait for his orders. Finally, say goodbye to Divine Physician Sun for me. I’m leaving in a hurry this time, so I’ll have to trouble him another time if the opportunity arises.”

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