The Crown Prince Ascends the Entertainment Throne - Chapter 3

The pulse diagnosis confirmed a condition of stagnation, and the elderly doctor prescribed medication. He handed the bill to Xiang Ji.

Xiang Ji scanned rapidly through the list: “Bupleurum 15g, Curcuma aromatica 12g.” She scanned that long string of medicine names quickly, her eyes locking directly on the total at the bottom.

“7 doses, decoct in water, twice a day. Medicine cost: 192.70.”

192.7!

Xiang Ji tapped her fingers on the glass counter. “Can it be cheaper if I decoct it myself?”

The old doctor hissed. “Look at this place; I do not offer a decoction service here anyway. This bill does not include any service fees.”

After he said this, the old doctor waited for a long time, but still did not hear her respond.

Finally, she pressed the prescription onto the table and let out a long, weary sigh.

“I will pay the consultation fee via WeChat and the medicine fee via Alipay. Have the medicine prepared for me right now. If my younger brother does not get better after drinking this, I am coming back to hold you accountable!”

The old doctor turned around to dispense the herbs. Xiang Ji took out her phone, muttering to herself, “269 minus 30, then minus 193.”

Xiang Xu finally understood what his Royal Sister had been calculating all along.

He had no concept of the currency here, but seeing her struggle, he realized his medicine must be very expensive. Between the place they lived and the way his sister kept haggling, it was clear that the two of them were dead broke.

The old doctor finished wrapping the seven doses. Xiang Ji counted the paper bags inside the plastic bag three times before she separated the codes to scan and pay.

She stared at her remaining balance for a full three seconds before locking her phone and putting it in her pocket. “Xiao Xu, let us go.”

As Xiang Ji lifted the plastic bag from the glass counter, a thin arm reached out in front of her.

Xiang Ji paused, and Xiang Xu had already taken the bag, carrying it in his hand.

Seeing his sister’s inquisitive gaze, Xiang Xu immediately turned his head away, his eyes glancing slightly at the bag in his hand.

Did I do something strange again?

Should I just give the bag back?

While he hesitated and struggled internally, the old doctor’s voice came through. “Actually, your brother is quite sensible.”

Xiang Xu frowned beneath his bangs.

This is considered sensible?

However, remembering the poor relationship he had with his Royal Sister, Xiang Xu felt hesitant.

Should I just give the bag back?

The plastic bag shifted slightly in the air. Xiang Ji gave a dull “Mm.” “Let us go.”

Xiang Xu had no choice but to grip the plastic bag tightly and follow Xiang Ji out of the clinic.

On the way back, apart from sighing, his sister said nothing. Xiang Xu secretly observed her expression, fearing she might discover something unusual about him. Fortunately, she did not think too much into it, remaining immersed in the sorrow of her dwindling balance.

Climbing to the seventh floor in one breath left Xiang Xu exhausted.

Sitting on the dilapidated sofa in the living room, he looked at his thin, trembling legs, and his vision went dark.

No, this will not do. This broken body. Does this “Xiang Xu” not eat at all?

Although he really wanted to return to his room to investigate immediately, it was late at night, and it would not be safe for his sister to go out alone to decoct his medicine.

Xiang Xu hammered his sore legs as he stood up, sneaking along behind Xiang Ji.

His sister walked softly through the dark, narrow hallway, eventually turning a corner into a small room and flipping the switch.

The light was dim, not even as bright as a candle in the Yin Dynasty, but it was enough to reveal the unspeakable state of the room.

The kitchen was shared by five families. The walls and stove were covered in layers of grease. Utensils from various households were scattered everywhere, some still containing leftover food residue from days ago.

The smell of decay was intermittent, but cockroaches crawling across the floor, now so dirty its original color was unrecognizable, were clearly visible.

Seeing those pests, Xiang Xu almost wanted to charge in and fight for his sister, but he watched her walk in as if nothing were wrong. She accidentally stepped on one, the sound a crisp “crack.”

So fierce and cool!

Xiang Xu nodded to himself. His sister skillfully turned on the gas and set the herbal medicine to decoct.

Suddenly, voices drifted from the hallway. Xiang Xu quickly hid himself in the shadows as a middle-aged woman with a somewhat prosperous appearance walked in, carrying a large basin full of bowls.

“Oh my, Xiao Ji, why are you here alone decocting medicine so late? Who is sick?” Her voice was booming. She placed the basin of bowls into the sink and turned on the tap.

Amidst the sound of splashing water, Xiang Ji raised her voice slightly.

“No, I have not been sleeping well lately, so I asked a doctor to prescribe some herbal medicine.” Her subconscious evasion colored Xiang Xu’s gaze with a touch of depth. “Auntie Zhou, why are you washing dishes so late?”

“Ugh, that old loser at home invited his drinking buddies over. They have been at it until now, and now he is sleeping like a dead pig. If I do not wash them, who will?” Auntie Zhou spread her hands, her face wearing a feigned look of dissatisfaction. Her eyes swept over the clay pot Xiang Ji was using to boil the medicine, and she finally could not help but continue.

“Xiao Ji, let me tell you, most of a woman’s physical problems are related to hormones; you have to adjust slowly. Many traditional Chinese medicine clinics are just ripping people off. Why do you not buy some good moxa sticks and smoke them at home? I can recommend a place.”

She took out her phone as she spoke.

“Thank you, Auntie Zhou, but I will pass for now. I will try the medicine the doctor prescribed first,” Xiang Ji replied with a dry, polite smile.

“You young people do not pay enough attention to your health. What will you do when you get old?”

Seeing the sink was full, she turned off the tap, put on gloves, and began scrubbing, rambling as she worked.

“But I cannot blame you either. It is not easy for you to support two people alone. Sigh, why is it that in this world, good people never get rewarded? That young man who jumped off the building earlier even helped me carry groceries before. He had such a sunny smile; he did not look like he had any mental problems at all.”

Xiang Ji’s gaze dimmed. Auntie Zhou let out a sigh. “Xiao Ji, do not take offense at what I am saying; I am doing this for your own good. Your brother is in his twenties; you should make him go out and find work. Otherwise, he will only drag you down. You will have to get married eventually, and no one is going to marry a girl who has to support a brother. Your parents are gone now; you have to learn to think for yourself.”

Xiang Ji pressed her lips together and did not speak. After a long time, she gave a muffled “Mm” and took the initiative to change the subject.

Outside the door, Xiang Xu hung his head.

He understood it all now. Xiang Xu, a healthy, able-bodied man, was actually a “soft-rice eater” living off his sister!

No, was this Xiang Xu not ashamed? And given his usual attitude toward his sister, he was probably even entitled about it.

If he had all his limbs, could he not work properly? If his mind was normal, could he not treat his family well? If he was a man, could he not stand up for himself? What was he doing with his life?

Internally, he felt a mix of frustration and disappointment, so urgent that he wanted to run to his sister and tell her to kick this freeloading wretch out of the house!

Wait. No.

Xiang Xu suddenly realized that he was the one currently occupying this body!

If his sister threw him out now, in a world where he was a total stranger, not having food would be the least of his problems; he would probably be locked up as a lunatic and spend his whole life behind bars!

This world was too dangerous; he had to return to the Yin Dynasty!

Confirming there was no danger around, Xiang Xu slipped back home. The moment he opened the bedroom door, the stench hit him like a biological weapon, almost sending him straight to the underworld!

To his left was a single bed piled high with wrinkled clothes. Beside the bed, the wardrobe and nightstand were half-open, vomiting out unknown debris.

In front of the window was his black computer desk; the screen was off, and the table was covered in empty beverage bottles and snack crumbs.

Furthermore, under the bed, under the table, and beside the wardrobe were piles of items that were either junk or trash—takeout containers that had not been thrown away in who-knows-how-long, bowls from instant noodles that had not been washed, and half-eaten snacks.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the room. The stench was overwhelming, very much like the smell of a rotting corpse, causing him to retch repeatedly.

Is this really a place where a person can live?

If he were not Xiang Xu himself, he would suspect the original Xiang Xu had died right there!

Finding a way back is the priority.

Before he passed out, Xiang Xu was right here.

Xiang Xu avoided the trash on the floor and sat down at the computer desk. His gaze trailed from the knocked-over beverage bottles to the corner of the table, and finally to the floor.

If I were sitting here, my hand would have been…

He closed his eyes, and his hand rested naturally on something.

As if his body had been awakened by memory, many fragmented scenes flashed through his mind—him sitting there, manipulating this black, hemispherical device.

The feeling was right. But when he opened his eyes, he was still startled by the sudden light of the computer screen.

But it was only a brief shock; he now understood that this thing could light up.

Memory fragments flashed by.

Xiang Xu could be certain that before he lost consciousness, he was looking at this thing.

His eyes adjusted to the light. He saw that the screen background was pure black. On the right were rows of software icons, and in the middle was a blue box containing rows of text.

Xiang Xu squinted to look at the words. His eyesight was actually very good, but these characters were difficult to recognize, and the order was strange.

However, these characters were likely related to how he arrived here, so he had to figure them out.

“Beep, beep, beep, beep!”

The black machine suddenly made a sound, and the text on the screen jumped upward, startling him so much he leaned back, only steadying himself by grabbing the desk.

He watched as the text moved up a line and stopped, the sound ceasing as well.

However, the part he had just been looking at was gone, “eaten” by the top edge of the box.

What a bizarre thing!

But Xiang Xu did not get stuck there for long. He searched around for something to record with, eventually finding paper and a pen in the drawer.

Fortunately, he had observed how to use a pen in the hospital. Even though his grip was a bit awkward and he was not used to writing these characters, he copied them quickly.

He raced to transcribe the text from the computer, choosing to follow the order and layout of the screen—aligning some to the left and some to the right.

After he finished, he folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket, then let out a long breath.

This was surely the key to how he came here; he had to understand what these words meant, but he could not let his sister find out.

Perhaps he could find a bookstore to see if there were any reference books comparing Yin Dynasty script with the current script. If not, he would have to find a way to ask about the meaning of these characters without raising suspicion.

With this plan in mind, the chaotic emotions in Xiang Xu’s heart became slightly more organized.

But as soon as he relaxed, the smell in the room made him feel dizzy and faint.

He endured the nausea as he fled the room, slamming the door shut. He sat on the sofa, his face alternating between pale and blue, panting heavily to keep from vomiting.

This will not do. This body is too weak; even a little smell makes me want to pass out. Before I find a way back to the Yin Dynasty, I must train this body to be robust—at least until I get back!

Beyond that, he had to learn how to express himself and write in this world. Training his expression was the most urgent task; as soon as dawn broke tomorrow, he had to take action.

Relaxing, he looked at the pitch-black sky outside the window. He suddenly felt like a newborn baby who had just been thrown into the world, having to start from zero.

But at least babies have parents to guide them, and they are allowed to grow through their mistakes.

He, on the other hand, was likely a castaway, having to learn how to crawl all by himself.

But as long as there is life, there is hope. This was a truth he had always understood.

“Xiao Xu, come and drink your medicine.”

Xiang Ji came in, holding the medicine with a cloth. She poured the dark brown liquid into a white porcelain bowl.

“Thank you.”

These three words were how he had heard Xiang Ji thank Auntie Zhou earlier. He borrowed them exactly as they were, which would not be a problem.

However, hearing his thanks, Xiang Ji paused slightly, pressed her lips together, and lowered her head.

You have worked hard all this time, Royal Sister whether it was for the former Xiang Xu or the current one.

Xiang Xu expressed his gratitude in his heart and silently added: Until I find a way to settle down, please continue to shelter this freeloading wretch for a while longer.