- Chapter Start –
Everyone looks relieved and hopeful at XiFei's words except for the Drug Demon.
"It's an hour to midnight and we haven't even started," he frets. "The antidote takes at least four hours to brew and the last hour before dawn is useless as the moonlight will be too weak."
"In that case, let's not waste any more time." Madam He starts issuing orders, looking like she's in her element.
Zhan YunFei will work with the captain of the guards to have all the bronze sheets carried to the central courtyard of Tianji Hall. The head servant will gather whoever is off duty and bring water, bronze polish and buffing cloths while the Tianji Hall healers will assist Guan HeMeng and the Drug Demon in preparing the ingredients.
In a matter of minutes, the central courtyard is a hive of activity and noise.
Two large stoves are being set up in the courtyard while baskets of firewood are brought from the woodshed. Apprentices inside the medical hall have started to weigh and clean common medicinal herbs that might be required.
Minister Fang is in charge of sending messages to the other branches of Tianji Hall should they require anything else. He XiaoFeng has informed the cooks to start preparing a hot meal, tea and snacks to keep everyone's energy up and then she and Zhan YunFei set up a corner in the courtyard where one can have a quick meal or rest.
After a look around, Fang DuoBing decides to join the bronze polishing group. While he's adept at using his Qi, and has a basic grasp of herbs and medicines, he knows he can't compare to any of their junior healers, let alone noted physicians like Guan HeMeng or the Drug Demon.
Unfortunately, while his hands keep busy, his brain remains woefully distracted. He can't stop worrying about Li LianHua and has to resist the temptation to sneak off to see him. His mother would catch him in a heartbeat and-
The sudden slap on his shoulder makes him jump and the bronze sheet in his lap clatters to the ground, startling the others.
"Xiaoyee, you startled me!"
"Thinking about Li-shenyi?" He XiaoFeng has a knowing smirk on her face. "YunFei and I just went to look in on him. He's sleeping."
"Oh. Thanks." Fang DuoBing attempts to smile. "Does he need any Qi? I can-"
He XiaoFeng shakes her head.
"A-Fei has already given him as much as he can take. Your mother has also sent dinner to their room."
"What else? Maybe I can-"
"XiaoBao, instead of worrying over what you can't fix, just focus on what you can do. Every little bit helps, you know."
Fang DuoBing sighs before pasting a determined smile on his face.
"You're right, xiaoyee. Thanks for looking in on him."
No sooner does she leave then Yun BiQiu comes over.
"Fang DuoBing, has anyone thought of how these mirrors will be set up once they are polished? We need to calculate the exact angle-"
"Not to worry, Yun-yuanzhu, I have that covered!" Madam He bustles over. "I'm the brains behind Tianji Hall's defence mechanisms and arrays after all. Isn't that right, XiaoBao?"
Fang DuoBing catches the brief flash of disappointment in Yun BiQiu's eyes before he drops his gaze.
"Of course. I'll see if Guan-shenyi needs any help." Turning on his heel, Yun BiQiu walks away.
Fang DuoBing stands up and dusts off his hands, frowning.
"Did I say something wrong?" Madam He looks from him to the retreating figure of Yun BiQiu.
"No. I'll be right back, niang," Fang DuoBing tells her and goes after the other man. "Yun-yuanzhu, wait up!"
Yun BiQiu stops but doesn't turn around, forcing Fang DuoBing to walk around to face him.
"Yun-yuanzhu, you are Baichuan Academy's Defence Specialist. I'm sure you can contribute some ideas on setting up those mirrors."
Yun BiQiu attempts to smile, but it looks more like a grimace.
"You and I both know it's not my knowledge that He-tangzhu distrusts."
"You've already proven your loyalty," Fang DuoBing reminds him. "You succeeded in lowering Jiao LiQiao's guard so we were able to storm her hideout and rescue Li LianHua and Di FeiSheng."
"All I did was stab Li LianHua in the chest," Yun BiQiu says bitterly. "How difficult was that?"
- o -
"I daresay it was one of the hardest things you've ever had to do."
Yun BiQiu blinks and turns around to see Madam He standing there.
"My son is right. Between the two of us, I'm sure we can provide the brightest moonlight, don't you think?"
Yun BiQiu nods and gives a small smile.
"In that case, I would like to contact Baichuan Academy. Our craftsmen are on call day and night and capable of working swiftly."
"I'll send a message to Shi-jiejie right away," Fang DuoBing offers.
"Tell your father to do that. You get back to polishing those mirrors!" Madam He tells him.
- o –
"Yun-yuanzhu, you must have quite a collection of books to even have one on the Styx Flower," Madam He says as she brings Yun BiQiu to the library.
"My book doesn't say much." Yun BiQiu's tone is deprecating. "Full credit goes to Di-mengzhu who got back the flower from the Emperor and after it was stolen."
"Oh?" Madam He keeps her tone light. "ZhaoLing-gongzhu told me earlier that her maid overheard whispers about the royal treasury just this morning. It led to her finding the Styx Flower which started today's events."
Yun BiQiu stops walking at once and gives her a wary look.
"Yes, I am well aware that Baichuan Academy has spies everywhere," Madam He continues. "If I'm not mistaken, it was your action in informing them that eventually brought the Styx Flower back to Li LianHua."
She finds the dawning realisation on Yun BiQiu's face oddly… precious. For a court master of Baichuan Academy, he doesn't hide his emotions well even though he'd succeeded in fooling that Jiao LiQiao.
Smiling, Madam He reaches out to clasp his shoulder.
"Yun-yuanzhu, Li LianHua isn't just your menzhu and XiaoBao's best friend. He's also a good friend of mine and we will cure him."
- o –
"Fang DuoBing, there you are!"
Fang DuoBing looks up to see Shi Shui marching over with a face like a thundercloud. He scrambles to his feet at once.
"As requested, I've brought half a dozen of our best craftsmen for He-tangzhu."
"That's quick of you, Shi-jiejie. Thank you!"
"Oh?" Shi Shui raises an eyebrow, still annoyed. "Not as quick as Yun BiQiu since he's already here and designing arrays with your mother."
Fang DuoBing's smile falters.
"Why wasn't I informed first? Were you not intending to even tell me if you didn't need my help?!"
"Shi-jiejie, please," Fang DuoBing mumbles, all too aware of the others listening in.
"Good thing XiaoYong sent me a message or we wouldn't know either." Qiao WanMian walks up with Xiao ZiJin. "How can we help?"
- o –
An hour later, the designs are completed to both Madam He and Yun BiQiu's satisfaction.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I have learned a thing or two from Baichuan Academy," Madam He admits freely.
"And I have learned from you as well, He-tangzhu." Yun BiQiu gives a polite nod.
"Now, I will explain the design to your craftsmen while you take a break and eat something. You look like a stiff breeze might blow you away."
"But-" Yun BiQiu begins only for Madam He to shake her head.
"Off you go now. You can bring me a cup of tea in half an hour."
Feeling somewhat dismissed, Yun BiQiu leaves the library. Instead of helping himself to the refreshments, he heads for the medical hall. It's bustling inside with healers and apprentices busy measuring and grinding herbs.
At once, Yun BiQiu's gaze zeroes in on a figure in light blue robes over in the far corner. Despite the gravity of the situation, he feels his heart lighten a little.
- o –
"…anything I can help with? Guan-shenyi?"
Startled from his thoughts, Guan HeMeng looks up to see Yun BiQiu standing there.
"Is anything wrong?"
Guan HeMeng shakes his head, lips tightly pressed together and then he sighs.
"When I first met Li LianHua, I tested his knowledge using a hypothetical patient and scolded him for daring to suggest a risky cure that he himself admitted he's not sure would work. At that time, I didn't know he was Li XiangYi who'd had to learn to doctor himself. I didn't know he'd had to use his Yangzhouman to keep the Bicha poison suppressed for the past-"
Guan HeMeng breaks off when Yun BiQiu looks stricken.
"I didn't say that to remind you of the past," he adds, "but because – despite my words to him then – I'm now doing the exact same thing. Working on a cure I can't even guarantee will succeed. And instead of a hypothetical patient, this risk is for him."
He looks away, hands curling into fists by his sides. For a healer of his calibre, feeling this… helpless… is unacceptable.
"Which do you fear more – that your reputation will suffer further or that you won't be able to save him?"
Guan HeMeng's gaze snaps to Yun BiQiu at once, feeling an unexpected pang in his chest.
"Forgive me. I didn't mean to question you," Yun BiQiu says quickly, taking a step closer. "Old habits die hard, I guess."
Guan HeMeng nods, unable to meet Yun BiQiu's now steady gaze. He's worked hard to build a solid reputation despite his young age, but-
"My reputation is already ruined thanks to Li LianHua. I just want this cure to work. I can't lose a…"
"A good friend?" A hand, cool and trembling slightly, covers one of his, and his eyes snap up at once.
"We won't lose him, Guan-shenyi," Yun BiQiu says simply. "I believe in you."
The warm trust in those eyes strikes Guan HeMeng with another pang, only this one is softer. Sweeter. Taking a deep breath, he pushes down his doubts and nods.
"You're right. We will save him."
"And we can only do that if you two will stop making cow eyes at each other," a very dry voice says. "First, I had to contend with XunMing and Wu Yan, and then zunshang and Li LianHua. Now you two as well?"
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, the Drug Demon brushes past them and grabs a jar of dried leaves.
- Chapter End –
A/N: Thank you for reading! In Episode 17 min 22, Guan HeMeng tests Li LianHua's medical knowledge on a hypothetical patient and reprimands him for suggesting a treatment using tiger palms that he can't guarantee will heal the patient instead of killing them.
jiejie = older sister (informal)
mengzhu = alliance leader
menzhu = sect leader
niang = mother/mom
shenyi = doctor
tangzhu = hall master
xiaoyee = youngest sister of mother
yuanzhu = court master
zunshang = my lord