Тонкая нить привязанности

Глава 16

Han Xiao finished dressing Nie Chengyan, then paused upon hearing her younger brother's words. Turning to look at his expectant eyes, she felt troubled; how could she keep her master waiting? Sure enough, Nie Chengyan snorted, "You brat, even if you comb your hair into a flower, you're still a brat. What handsome looks are you?"

Han Le pouted unhappily. Han Xiao was about to say a few words of comfort when Nie Chengyan continued, "Hurry up, comb your hair and go downstairs." Han Le's tears turned into laughter, and he happily turned his back, showing Han Xiao his little back of his head. Han Xiao quickly combed his hair neatly as well. Han Le touched it, was happy, and said to Nie Chengyan, "I'm the same as the City Lord."

Nie Chengyan smirked, indicating he felt no joy whatsoever. He placed his hand on the carriage door, his expression hardening, and pushed it open. There was no scene of servants lining up to greet him as Han Xiao had imagined; only a steward-like figure and two guards stood outside. Even so, Han Xiao clearly sensed Nie Chengyan's change. The instant the door opened, he transformed from a master frolicking with a little boy into the imposing Lord of Baiqiao City.

"Master." The three men outside the carriage bowed their heads in greeting. Nie Chengyan gave a faint "hmm" in response. He nodded to Han Xiao, who understood and jumped out of the carriage first, pushing over the wheelchair next to the guard. The guard followed, offering his arm to Nie Chengyan, but Nie Chengyan didn't take it. The guard, clearly in sync with his master, immediately withdrew his arm, simply holding the wheelchair steady, his head bowed and eyes fixed straight ahead.

Han Xiao sighed inwardly, knowing that Nie Chengyan's pride prevented him from showing weakness in front of the servants. So he quickly moved closer, and Nie Chengyan leaned forward, one hand on the carriage floor and the other on Han Xiao's shoulder. Han Xiao helped him into the wheelchair. Once he was settled, the guard stepped back, and Han Xiao smoothed Nie Chengyan's clothes and straightened the hem before turning him towards the steward.

"Steward Chen, you've worked hard these past few days." Nie Chengyan hadn't been back to this home for a long time, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't excited to return. Steward Chen had served him for five years and had always been reliable. This time, he understood his intentions and dismissed all the servants, preventing him from being embarrassed in front of everyone, which was very good.

With tears in his eyes, Steward Chen looked up and carefully examined Nie Chengyan: "This old servant is not tired. It's good that Master is back. It's good that you're back."

Nie Chengyan clearly didn't want to stay outside any longer. He waved his hand, turned to Han Xiao, and said, "Take me back to my room." Han Xiao didn't know where his room was, but she still pushed the wheelchair up. She turned to look at Han Le, who was pouting and looking at her with the pitiful expression of an abandoned child.

"Qiyang, take that brat with you." Fortunately, Nie Chengyan hadn't forgotten Han Le. Han Xiao thought to herself, otherwise, it would seem that she was losing face for her master by advocating for her younger brother's rights in front of the master's steward and guards.

Steward Chen carefully led the way, while Han Xiao pushed Nie Chengyan along quietly. The group remained silent the whole way, except for Han Le, who looked around and finally got bored. He pinched Huo Qiyang's arm, which was holding him, and said, "Great hero, you're quite strong."

Han Xiao almost stumbled. She glanced back, gave Huo Qiyang an apologetic smile, and Huo Qiyang smiled back, tossing Han Le aside to indicate he didn't mind. Nie Chengyan coughed lightly, and Han Xiao quickly turned back to focus on pushing him forward.

Han Le paused for a moment, then said, "Great hero, you are much stronger than my father, and you are also more fleshy than the city lord." Han Xiao bit her lip, watching Nie Chengyan's hands grip the chair armrests tightly, knowing that he must be angry again. She pretended not to hear, hoping that the room would be reached soon.

Nie Chengyan's house was in the main courtyard behind the garden, also a three-courtyard complex. The outermost courtyard served as a study and reception area, the back courtyard contained the garden and training ground, and the very back was the bedroom. There were no other small courtyards or houses nearby. After entering the house, Nie Chengyan frowned for a long time before finally announcing with some reluctance that Han Le would temporarily stay in his room in the training courtyard. Han Le was overjoyed, clamoring that his older sister should also stay with him, but was silenced by Nie Chengyan's glare.

After settling his master and younger brother in, Han Xiao hurried to prepare the medicine. Both the adult and the child needed to take medicine daily, and even after leaving the mountain, they couldn't stop. Steward Chen took the medicine packet and prescription to make arrangements and also served them food. Because it was getting late, and seeing Han Le all alone and pitiful, Nie Chengyan softened and allowed him to eat at the same table with him and Han Xiao. However, Han Le almost got into a fight with Nie Chengyan over food. Nie Chengyan immediately regretted his actions, saying he would never be so kind again and would leave the brat to fend for himself.

But after the boy finished eating, he praised the city lord as a great person and earnestly declared that he liked him. Nie Chengyan, puffing up his cheeks, also earnestly declared that he didn't need his affection. Steward Chen, watching from the side, was moved and kept wiping away tears. He secretly said to Han Xiao, "I thought that after suffering such a great calamity, our master would be even more aloof and arrogant than before, but I didn't expect him to be so full of life."

Han Xiao smiled along with the kind old man, but in his heart he thought that his master was quite lively, but he also got angry quite often.

After finishing his meal and taking his medicine, Han Xiao thought that since they had been traveling all this way, he would have to wait until tomorrow to discuss matters with the young master of the Long family. However, Nie Chengyan had already sent someone to invite him, so Han Xiao had no choice but to push him to the study.

As soon as Long San entered, he looked Nie Chengyan up and down for a long time, then breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, thank goodness, you're not dead. It wasn't for nothing that I made this trip for you."

Nie Chengyan coldly replied, "I heard you didn't die either, how could I possibly go first?"

Han Xiao, listening from the side, was confused. She felt the two should be friends, so why were they talking at each other like this? Long San turned to meet her gaze, suddenly chuckled, and said to Nie Chengyan, "How well are you using my concubine?"

Nie Chengyan coldly said, "My servant is unmarried and only has a contract of indenture; I haven't seen a single marriage certificate. To be fair, she's actually quite good. At least she didn't kick or throw me." After he finished speaking, Long San subconsciously touched the back of his head. Han Xiao looked at her master in surprise; she hadn't told him that she had kicked or thrown the young master of the Long family.

Nie Chengyan didn't look at her, but instead told her to wait outside, saying he had something to discuss. Han Xiao bowed and went out, closing the door behind her; the sounds inside immediately became inaudible. Han Xiao politely took a couple of steps back to wait, but after a while, she couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer. This young master of the Long family must have come about his master's poisoning. What was the truth? Who was the murderer? What was their purpose? What clues were there? Did his master really intend to sell her off as a pawn? What dangers awaited her? What did his master plan to do after returning to the mountain?

The more she thought about it, the more questions arose, and she couldn't help but slowly move towards the door step by step. There seemed to be voices behind the door, but she couldn't hear them clearly. There was no one around, so Han Xiao finally gritted her teeth and pressed her ear against the door to eavesdrop.

"I've also heard some news about your old man." It was Long San's voice. Han Xiao pressed his ears together, trying hard to listen. "It's said that among your old man's generation, there was one named Peng Dong. His medical skills were miraculous, and his reputation spread far and wide. It's rumored that no one has ever died at his hands. Moreover, he was kind and amiable, saving many lives. He was the most prestigious young doctor in the martial arts world back then. Your old man disliked him and once made a huge bet to provoke him. The loser of the bet had to leave the Central Plains and never set foot in the martial arts world again."

Han Xiao heard Nie Chengyan sneer: "Judging from the current result, the old man has won. He drove out that good doctor and now he dominates the medical profession. Hmph, this is exactly the kind of thing that ruthless guy would do."

Long San continued, "That's right, it was your old man who won. This old story is nothing special, but what's interesting is that I've heard that there's a divine doctor in the desert who's been researching various deadly poisons and concocting antidotes. He doesn't go into the martial arts world, yet many martial artists travel great distances to seek his medicine. You know, if you know how to cure poison, you must know how to poison it."

Han Xiao's heart pounded. She heard Nie Chengyan say, "Green Snow has not yet entered the martial world. There are only three. One was used on me and Yun'er, and the other two are on the mountain."

"The strange thing is that, according to legend, someone in the desert died of poisoning, and the symptoms were very similar to yours."

Ambition to become a doctor

"Was he also hacked to pieces?" Nie Chengyan asked. Han Xiao felt a pang in his heart as he recalled his own tragic state.

"I haven't heard of that."

"Were your Achilles tendons or wrist tendons also severed?" Nie Chengyan continued to ask, while Han Xiao pressed his ear against the door and clenched his fist.

"It wasn't mentioned in the rumors either."

Nie Chengyan continued, "Many poisons in the world are similar, so it's important to look at the details of the corpse..." His voice was a little soft, and Han Xiao couldn't hear him clearly, so he had to press his ear against the door.

After waiting for a while, she heard Long San reply, "It's still a clue, but this matter is probably not that simple." Not simple? What is it? Han Xiao was listening intently, holding her breath, when she suddenly heard Nie Chengyan call out to her loudly, "Xiao Xiao."

Han Xiao was startled and almost cried out. She calmed herself down, took a breath, and pushed the door open. "Master, I'm here. What can I do for you?" She lowered her head nervously, hoping that Nie Chengyan hadn't discovered her eavesdropping.

"I'm a little hungry. Go to the kitchen and cook me a bowl of lotus seed soup."

"Yes, Master." Han Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, quickly agreed, and was about to leave when Long San called out from behind her that he wanted a bowl too. Han Xiao turned around, agreed, and ran away as if fleeing.

After walking a short distance, she finally came to her senses. Hadn't they just gotten rid of her? What did the young master of the Long family want to say? What countermeasures would the master discuss with him? But even if she wasn't allowed to go to the kitchen to cook lotus seed soup, she didn't dare to eavesdrop now. Getting rid of her at this moment meant the master was probably already aware of it.

Han Xiao was filled with trepidation. She went to the kitchen, asked the servant on duty where the ingredients were stored, and then began to cook for Nie Chengyan. Suddenly, she remembered that Nie Chengyan was prone to dryness from sitting for long periods and shouldn't eat lotus seeds. After thinking about it, she changed it to a white fungus and honey soup, and also cooked a bowl of lotus seed soup separately for Long San. This time, she learned her lesson and whiled away enough time in the kitchen before bringing the two bowls of midnight snack to Nie Chengyan.

Sure enough, the two gentlemen seemed to have finished their conversation and were chatting idly when they saw Han Xiao enter. Long San gave a half-smile, while Nie Chengyan remained expressionless. Han Xiao dared not guess their intentions and simply respectfully carried the two bowls over to them.

Long San looked at it and said, "Oh, is there only enough lotus seeds for one bowl? Then I'll have this white fungus soup." He reached out to take the bowl, but Han Xiao was quick and snatched the white fungus soup from his hand: "This soup is for the master. Young Master Long, please have the lotus seed soup."

Long San was taken aback, then laughed: "My dear concubine, how can I feel at ease letting you stay here like this? You'll be sent away sooner or later. Ayan clearly said he wanted lotus seed soup, why did you insist on making him white fungus soup?"

"A concubine my foot!" Han Xiao pursed his lips and remained silent, pretending to be deaf.

Nie Chengyan glanced at the white fungus soup, then at Han Xiao. His gaze made Han Xiao's face flush, and she quickly lowered her head and stood away. Nie Chengyan picked up a spoon and began to drink the soup, showing no remorse for her presumptuousness. Long San looked at this one, then at that one, and suddenly said, "Oh, so that's how it is."

Nie Chengyan rolled his eyes at him and continued drinking his soup. Long San, however, pressed for details: "What's wrong with your health that you can't eat lotus seeds? Tell me, and I'll be more mindful of it too."

"If I tell you today, you'll forget about it as soon as you turn around, so why bother asking?"

Upon hearing this, Long San chuckled, his suggestive gaze lingering on Han Xiao. "That's right, I don't have anyone to take care of things for me." Han Xiao felt uneasy under his gaze and instinctively hid behind Nie Chengyan. Seeing this, Long San's smile deepened.

That night, when Han Xiao was helping Nie Chengyan to bed, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, does the wedding ceremony I had with that rooster count?" She hadn't taken it seriously before, but now that people were calling her "beloved concubine" and looking at her with those kinds of eyes, she felt very uneasy. She was young and didn't understand things yet. What if they were so polite and insisted that she was a member of the Long family?

Nie Chengyan said, "What's the rush? Of course it doesn't count. Without a matchmaker, betrothal gifts, or proper etiquette, it's not a real marriage."

"That's good, that's good." Han Xiao calmed down, tucked him in, and lowered the bed curtains. She then heard him say, "You were helpless in the past, but from now on, I'll take care of everything. Don't panic, I'll take care of everything."

Han Xiao felt a warmth in her heart. Knowing he couldn't see her through the veil, she still bowed respectfully. She walked back to the bed in the corner of the room, the one Nie Chengyan had instructed Steward Chen to prepare for her. It was longer and wider than the one on Cloud Mist Mountain, and the bedding was thicker and softer. Han Xiao lay down, her heart overflowing with tenderness. She quietly thought, "You have me too, Mistress. You have me, and I will be the best servant."

If Nie Chengyan's words that night moved Han Xiao, then the arrangements made for her in the following days truly made her feel that no one would ever treat her so well again. He even had Steward Chen find a doctor surnamed Li to teach her from the very basics of medicine. He said, "Your notes are a mess, completely disorganized, and most of the questions you don't understand stem from a lack of understanding of medical principles. Carrying your medicine box for so long won't help; rote memorization won't make you anything special. You should start by studying the very basics. Only when you truly understand them can you comprehend the actions of doctors, and only through comprehensive understanding can you develop real skills."

Upon hearing this, Han Xiao remained silent for a long time. Then, in front of Steward Chen, he knelt down and kowtowed earnestly to Nie Chengyan. Seeing this, Steward Chen knew that his master intended to cultivate him. He turned around and carefully instructed Doctor Li to teach him patiently and diligently.

Every morning, Han Xiao would help Nie Chengyan get up, eat breakfast, and take his medicine before he went to study medicine. She would return at noon and then serve him lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, she would accompany him in the study, where he would read documents or discuss matters with Long San, while she read books by herself. Sometimes, when Han Le was in good spirits, she would act like a little adult and hold a book next to Nie Chengyan.

Five days later, Long San took his leave. Han Xiao was a little reluctant to part with him, not because she was reluctant to see him go, but because she wondered if her master would take her back to Cloud Mist Mountain after he left. She was currently enjoying her medical studies and feared that she might not have such an opportunity again if she returned. On the other hand, she also worried about whether her master and Han Le's health would hold up if they were away for a long time, and whether the Cloud Mist Elder's medicine chest would still be available for her to carry upon her return.

Nie Chengyan solved all of this for her. He told her not to rush up the mountain, and that she could go back after she had mastered the basics. He assured her that she would continue to carry the medicine chest of the Cloud Mist Elder. As for his and Han Le's illness, Xue Song visited on the sixth day after they went down the mountain. After examining their pulses, he said that the prescriptions and medicines could remain unchanged. He would come every three days thereafter until Nie Chengyan and the others returned to the mountain.

Han Xiao felt as if she had entered a carefree world. She studied diligently every day. Much of the knowledge she had accumulated over the past few years, which she only had a vague understanding of, was now being learned from the very basics. She understood it all at once. Doctor Li was also deeply surprised by her comprehension and talent. Although he did not understand why a young woman would study medicine, he could not say much out of respect for the city lord. He simply taught her with all his heart.

A month passed quickly. Steward Chen took Han Xiao to the market and to a crafts shop, where he asked the craftsmen to make her a set of knives and needles, and to customize a medicine box. Han Xiao hadn't expected such a good thing and was so excited that she trembled. The craftsmen were somewhat surprised, but since a customer was a customer, they didn't ask any questions. They measured Han Xiao's hand length, width, and height, and had her weigh herself in their arms to test her strength, before accepting the job.

Han Xiao was so excited that day that she kept spinning around, constantly trying to confirm if she would soon have a medicine box, which annoyed Nie Chengyan, who ordered her to stand in the corner of the garden as punishment. Han Le, though small in stature, was very loyal and insisted on begging Huo Qiyang to move a chair so he could go and keep his sister company. The two siblings huddled in that corner, chattering away incessantly.

Steward Chen stood beside Nie Chengyan, serving him with writing brush and ink. Looking at the two excited children in the garden from afar, he was genuinely worried: "Master, Miss Han is young and a girl. Is it appropriate for her to learn medicine like this? Although she has talent, she will ultimately not be able to become a doctor."

“She is my servant, how could she become a doctor?” Nie Chengyan replied without looking up from his letter.

"Then..." Steward Chen was puzzled. Wasn't this kind of setup just training doctors?

After finishing the last stroke, Nie Chengyan glanced up at the garden, where Han Xiao was happily telling Han Le about the interesting contents of the medical book. Nie Chengyan stared, unable to look away. After a while, he came to his senses, grasped the small bag containing the red bean earring on the table, and whispered, "Consider this compensation for putting her in danger."

Five days later, just as Han Xiao was about to go with Steward Chen to retrieve her medicine box, a servant came to report that a guest had arrived, looking for Miss Han Xiao. Han Xiao went out and saw that the person looking for her was in the carriage. Han Xiao walked over and was surprised: "Young General Mu."

It was Mu Yuan who arrived. He looked alright and was much more energetic than when he had been seen on the mountain that day. Upon seeing Han Xiao, he smiled slightly and said that he had been thinking of Han Xiao ever since she encouraged him to survive that near-death experience, and he hoped to have a chance to properly thank her.

Han Xiao waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, it's General Mu's extraordinary will that deserves credit." Mu Yuan laughed heartily, asked about Han Xiao's recent condition, and seeing that Han Xiao kept looking at his wrist, he generously handed it over, "Future Doctor Han, would you like to take my pulse? My poison and injuries are completely healed, I just need to rest and recuperate."

Han Xiao laughed and honestly took his pulse. Compared to before, it was indeed very different. Han Xiao then asked about the prescription given to her by the old man in the clouds and carefully wrote it down. Mu Yuan looked at her and smiled: "With such hard work, Miss Han will surely achieve great things in the future."

Han Xiao shook her head: "Although my master is so good to me and gives me the opportunity to study, I am a girl and a servant. It is absolutely impossible for me to become a doctor."

“Miss Han, there’s a saying in our army: a soldier who can kill the enemy is a good soldier. If one also possesses medical skills, a compassionate heart, and the ability to heal and save lives, isn’t that what makes a doctor? What does this have to do with whether one is a woman or a servant?”

Han Xiao was somewhat stunned, and then Mu Yuan said, "You said you would save my life that day, so how about we make a pact today?"

What agreement?

Mu Yuan raised his severed arm and said, "In the future, I will fight the enemy and defend the country with my one arm and one body, and show my might to the world as a general with one arm. When we meet again, I hope that Miss Han will also overcome all difficulties, achieve the name of a divine doctor, and cure all kinds of difficult diseases in the world."

Han Xiao looked into his eyes, and the boundless passion there stirred her heart. She nodded vigorously without realizing it: "Yes, I will definitely try my best, General Mu, I will definitely try my best."

Mu Yuan extended his left arm and gave her a high five as a pledge. The two smiled at each other. Mu Yuan took out a piece of paper and a jade pendant engraved with the words "Mu Yuan": "This is my token, and also the address of my Mu residence. If you need any help in the future, you can come to me." Han Xiao took it, and Mu Yuan shook her hand, hesitated, and finally took his leave.

Han Xiao watched his carriage disappear into the distance, thinking that they were now so far apart that they might never see each other again. Not long after, Han Xiao followed Steward Chen to the craftsman's shop, where she picked up the finished knives, needles, and a brand-new medicine box. Touching the box, Han Xiao burst into tears in front of everyone. She thanked the craftsman and Steward Chen, telling herself that General Mu was right; those who could heal and save lives were doctors. She was a girl, a servant girl—what did it matter?

Han Xiao studied medicine

Han Xiao, carrying her medicine chest, returned to the Nie residence with her head held high and her chest puffed out, looking radiant. She finally had her own medicine chest—a mark of becoming a doctor!

After Nie Chengyan finished his lunch break and took his medicine, it was time for his herbal fumigation. But Han Xiao was clinging to her newly acquired medicine box and wouldn't put it down. Han Le sat on the table, admiring it with her sister, touching and feeling everything, and even planning what medicines to put in the box.

"Let's also add some licorice plums, honey dumplings, ginkgo nut steamed cakes, and two bottles of Taihe soup," Han Lexing suggested excitedly.

"Lele, you're only talking about snacks, not medicine."

Han Le opened her eyes wide, looking completely innocent: "Every single one of them is medicine, both filling and nourishing. Sister, I think the enthusiasm you have for snacks is similar to your dedication to studying herbs, you've reached a similar level. You even thought about making some Taihe soup, otherwise you'd get thirsty. How thoughtful of you. You're usually busy, you don't need the medicine box, so I'll keep it for you."

Han Le pounced on him, hugging the medicine box tightly. Han Xiao usually doted on her younger brother and was never stingy with her desires, but this medicine box was her treasure. It was probably the only one she would ever have in her life, and she absolutely couldn't let her brother use it to store his cravings. She hurriedly shouted, "No, no, this is my medicine box!" and reached out to snatch it away. The two siblings were rarely seen wrestling together, oblivious to everyone else, which greatly displeased Nie Chengyan, who was sitting to the side waiting for Han Xiao to serve him.

"Xiaoxiao, if you don't take care of me, I'm going to get angry."

Han Xiao was anxious, but she couldn't leave the medicine box behind. She cried out for help, "Master, Lele is trying to take my medicine box!" She sounded like a daughter whining to her parents, complaining that her younger brother was bullying her. Nie Chengyan's forehead twitched as he listened.

Unexpectedly, Han Le also got excited: "Lord City Lord, look at my sister, she doesn't need it right now, let me keep it for her, it would be a waste if she didn't use it."

“Who says I don’t need it? This medicine box was given to me by my master. I learn very quickly and will be able to use it soon. You can have everything else, but not this.” Han Xiao argued firmly, and it was hard to persuade his younger brother when he got stubborn.

Nie Chengyan was furious. These two kids really thought he was at home, fighting over things right in front of him. "Qiyang," he called out, and Huo Qiyang quickly came in, suppressing a laugh. He had obviously been watching the show for a long time.

"Get this brat out of here." Nie Chengyan ordered, and Huo Qiyang immediately carried out the order, grabbing Han Le and pulling him into his arms. Han Le, restrained, cried out incessantly, "The city lord is biased! The city lord is biased! The city lord only dotes on my sister and not me! I want a box too!"

Huo Qiyang almost burst out laughing, but Nie Chengyan shouted, "Get out!" Han Le was carried out with tears in his eyes.

Han Xiao's heart softened again when she saw her younger brother's pitiful appearance. She wanted to chase after him, but then she heard Nie Chengyan call out to her, "Come here." Han Xiao stopped in her tracks and suddenly realized that she had been too complacent after taking the medicine box and had really neglected her master.

Han Xiao lowered his head and stood in front of Nie Chengyan, realizing his mistake.

"Who am I?" Nie Chengyan asked unhappily.

"Yes, Master."

"Who gave you the medicine box?"

"Yes, Master."