Chapter 94: Stealing the Master

In Taiping Medical Hall, old Man Yao was left alone, tallying accounts behind the counter. As he tallied, he suddenly paused, looking at the bustling crowd outside the door. In the past, he used to dislike the noisy commotion caused by a group of young rascals in the medical hall. Now that it was suddenly quiet, he felt an emptiness in his heart.

Old Man Yao took six copper coins from his sleeve and tossed them onto the counter. Interpreting the divination, he muttered, "Not coming back tonight? Heh, that saves me the trouble of preparing dinner for them."

A cat's meow came from the backyard. He slowly walked to the backyard and saw Wuyun sitting obediently on the wall eaves. Beside it were more than twenty tabby cats.

Old Man Yao smiled and said, "Just a moment, everyone." With that, he went inside to retrieve the pastry box from Zhengxinzai. He pulled open a drawer and held each pastry in his palm. The tabby cats lined up, jumping off the wall eaves one by one, and politely took a pastry in their mouths. When it was Wuyun's turn, Old Man Yao simply opened the box wide: "Pick whichever one you want."

Wuyun didn't eat; instead, it looked up at him. Old Man Yao chuckled. He petted Wuyun's head and said, "Still thinking about me eating first? I can't eat anymore." Wuyun looked puzzled. Old Man Yao explained with a smile, "Everyone goes through birth, aging, illness, and death. Once you can no longer eat, it's time to go. I used to resent it, but later I came to terms with it. Living to ninety-two years old, what more could I be dissatisfied with?"

Just then, a voice came from the main hall of the medical clinic: "Physician Yao?" Old Man Yao raised an eyebrow and, with his hands clasped behind his back, walked to the main hall. He saw the medical hall packed with people, led by Chen Liqin, who was dressed in blue official robes. Behind Chen Liqin, Chen Ji's servant carried eight boxes of gifts. Outside the door, neighbors gathered, craning their necks to watch the commotion.

As Old Man Yao emerged, a servant immediately announced loudly, "Today, the Chen Residence is presenting eight types of tuition payment for Chen Ji: two jars of fine wine, ten strips of cured meat, one pork leg, two lambs, one box of pastries, ten silver ingots, two bolts of silk, and one silver ruler."

Old Man Yao scoffed, "What are you shouting about? Do you want the neighbors to know how wealthy your Chen Residence is? Or do you want them to know you don't understand the rules, only sending tuition payment after two years of apprenticeship? Lord Chen has quite the official pomp. Coming to my small medical hall still dressed in official robes."

Chen Liqin's expression became somewhat awkward. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "I have to attend the autumn imperial examination's 'Entering the Curtain' banquet at noon, which is why I left the house in my official robes. Physician Yao, please forgive me. My visit today is truly to express my apologies and make up for my Chen Residence's lack of courtesy."

"Well said. Put the things down and leave then," Old Man Yao waved his hand.

Chen Liqin did not leave. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I heard my son has turned over a new leaf. How has he been behaving here with you?"

"How has he been behaving?" Old Man Yao thought for a moment and said, "Every morning he gets up early to carry water, sweep the floor, and wipe the tables, disturbing my old man's peace."

Chen Liqin then asked, "Has he continued gambling?" Old Man Yao stroked his beard and shook his head: "Some say he was once a compulsive gambler, but since he came to my medical hall, he hasn't gambled a single day."

Chen Liqin breathed a sigh of relief: "Actually, there's one more matter I wanted to discuss with you today at the medical hall."

"What is it?"

Chen Liqin said, "Chen Ji has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood. These past years, it's because I've been preoccupied with official duties and had no time to look after him that he went astray. Now that he has turned over a new leaf, I'm thinking of bringing him back to the residence and sending him to Donglin Academy to study for three years next spring."

"Study?"

"That's right. Chen Ji is only seventeen this year. Three years of study would still be enough time for him to participate in the imperial examinations."

Seeing the multitude of Chen family members before him, Old Man Yao's expression gradually darkened: "You spoil your own children then throw them to my Taiping Medical Hall, and when they improve, you take them back? Is there such a good deal in this world? Your Chen family should stop teaching your descendants yourselves from now on; just send them all to me."

Chen Liqin said earnestly, "Physician Yao, you understand. Studying for the imperial examinations is the proper path. Before, I thought he was beyond help, but now that he has seen the error of his ways, as a father, I naturally must consider his future. If you care for him, you would naturally hope he achieves more in the future, wouldn't you?"

Old Man Yao scoffed, "I do not agree to this. Take back all the gifts you brought; I, an old man, have no use for them. I told you yesterday that from now on, your Chen Residence won't even need to pay tuition fees. I'll take him as my adopted apprentice, feed him, house him, and he will look after me in my old age and perform my final rites."

Chen Liqin's expression also became serious: "Physician Yao, why be so unreasonable? I did not agree to that yesterday. Learning from you, at most he can become a competent seventh-rank imperial physician. But if he participates in the imperial examinations, he could govern a region in the future and benefit more people."

"Where is Chen Ji? Why not let him decide for himself? I believe he knows what to choose."

Old Man Yao raised an eyebrow: "He's not at the medical hall."

Chen Liqin frowned: "Delaying like this is useless."

Old Man Yao scoffed, "He's at the kiln factory in Liujiatun. If you want to ask him, go there and ask. If he wants to return to the Chen Residence with you, I won't stop him."

Chen Liqin looked puzzled: "He's not studying here at the medical hall, but instead running off to that dirty, messy kiln factory, associating with filthy bricklayers? Physician Yao, why aren't you keeping him in line?"

Old Man Yao rolled his eyes: "My apprentice can do whatever he wants. What business is it of yours?"

Chen Liqin cupped his hands: "Now, I feel even more strongly that Chen Ji should return to my residence with me. Farewell. If he is willing to return to the Chen Residence with me, please do not obstruct him."

With that, Chen Liqin left and got into his carriage, heading towards Liujiatun in the south of the city.

Old Man Yao looked at the abandoned tuition gifts in the main hall, remaining silent for a long time. Wuyun lightly jumped onto the counter and rubbed its head against the back of his hand. Old Man Yao looked at Wuyun and slowly asked, "I've already taught him the official path. There's nothing more I can teach him. On one side, there's a worthless old man from the imperial medical academy, with the bitter, medicinal smell of this whole room. On the other side, there's the grand Chen family of the current Minister of Revenue. What do you think he'll choose?" Wuyun did not answer.

At the kiln factory.

Prince Jing stood with his hands clasped behind his back, as still as a mountain, quietly observing the developing downdraft kiln in front of him. Grand Eunuch Feng was by his side, gently reminding him, "Your Highness, today is the day of 'Entering the Curtain' for the autumn imperial examination. As per custom, Luocheng Prefecture will host a banquet at Yingxian Restaurant at noon for both the inner and outer examiners. You should depart for the banquet. On such an important day, your absence might make the officials uneasy."

According to custom, an "Entering the Curtain" and "Mounting the Horse" banquet is held before the autumn imperial examination begins. After the banquet, the autumn imperial examiners are divided into inner and outer examiners. Inner examiners are responsible for grading the papers. Outer examiners are responsible for supervising the examination halls. They do not see each other. The "Entering the Curtain" and "Mounting the Horse" banquet is usually presided over by the most prestigious person in the locality.

Prince Jing calmly said, "I will not attend the banquet today. The matters here are more important."

Grand Eunuch Feng wondered, "Your Highness, this morning you heard a few words from the Heir Apparent and immediately sent someone to the Ministry of Works to summon the most capable military craftsmen. Now you're even absenting yourself from the 'Entering the Curtain' banquet. It's just a kiln for firing ceramics. I've never seen you so concerned about ceramics before. If you like kilns, your humble servant can send someone to Jingdezhen to select one. Why bother firing one yourself?"

Prince Jing pointed at the kiln under construction in the distance and asked with a smile, "Ceramics? Ceramics wouldn't make me rush here like this."

Grand Eunuch Feng became even more puzzled: "Is Your Highness perhaps here for what young Physician Chen mentioned – something that can replace glutinous rice mortar?"

"Yes, and no." Prince Jing slowly said, "Currently, the court's annual official iron production is barely enough. If more is allocated to the border army, even iron pots in the civilian market will skyrocket in price. But if the border army receives too many weekly allocations, they will suffer hardships, and which general returning from the border garrisons doesn't complain about equipment shortages?" He continued, "Grand Eunuch Feng, do you know what it would mean if this downdraft kiln could increase its temperature by another twenty percent?"

Grand Eunuch Feng cupped his hands and lowered his gaze: "Your humble servant is merely an eunuch; I only know how to serve and protect Your Highness well. I do not need to know anything else; knowing too much would only confuse my mind."

Prince Jing smiled: "Grand Eunuch Feng, still so cautious."

Grand Eunuch Feng also smiled: "Please enlighten me, Your Highness. Why are you so concerned about this kiln firing?"

Prince Jing slowly explained, "If this downdraft kiln can increase its temperature by twenty percent, it means that iron ore can be directly smelted into molten iron. At that time, my Ning Dynasty's border army will no longer have to repair and mend broken military equipment, and can even look forward to the splendor of heavy cavalry."

Grand Eunuch Feng looked enlightened: "This is a matter of state policy; compared to it, the Luocheng autumn examination is indeed insignificant. However, Your Highness has always handled matters prudently. Why place such a heavy bet on a young man? What if he's merely boasting?"

Prince Jing smiled: "Do you believe in divination?"

"Hmm?" Grand Eunuch Feng didn't understand. Prince Jing did not explain further.

Prince Jing changed the subject and joked, "Chen Ji, this young man is intelligent, but still inexperienced in the ways of the world. He only wants to create something to replace glutinous rice mortar, but he hasn't thought that the kiln modification technique is the true pearl."

Grand Eunuch Feng looked puzzled: "Does Your Highness intend to buy this kiln modification technique?"

Prince Jing chuckled, "Buy? First, let's teach this inexperienced young man a lesson."

At the entrance of the kiln factory, Chen Ji was driving an ox cart back from outside, the cart laden with neatly stacked green bricks. Liang Mao'er and the Heir Apparent were pushing the cart from behind.

A man approached: "Young Physician Chen, I have a question. Could you clarify something for me?"

Chen Ji called She Dengke to lead the ox, then clapped the dust from his hands and said with a smile, "Yes, we can talk by the kiln. What do you want to ask?"

Chen Ji then stood still in front of the kiln, casually pointing to various parts as he explained to the man.

"Young Physician Chen, why should the main flue be buried directly beneath the kiln? Shouldn't a chimney be erected at the back?"

"The fire intake holes must be buried directly underneath for the flame to create a downdraft inside the kiln."

"Young Physician Chen, why must the size of the fire nozzles be twenty percent of the grate's size?"

"Because any larger, and it would burn out the grate."

Chen Ji and a man stood side-by-side in front of the kiln. Behind the two, another man quietly took a small notebook from his pocket and used a charcoal pencil to write down Chen Ji's explanations. After Chen Ji finished explaining, the man casually put the notebook back in his pocket and continued working.

Bai Li silently watched Chen Ji's straight, slender back, feeling that he didn't resemble a medical apprentice at all at that moment. No matter how disheveled he looked with his dusty face and messy hair, simply brushing off the dust transformed him into a gentle and composed teacher, instructing and clarifying doubts. This gentle young man and the killer with the broken blade from that night seemed like two distinct individuals, alternating as naturally as day and night. But she suddenly noticed the military craftsman's subtle movement, as he lifted his foot and started walking towards Chen Ji, seemingly to inform on him.