What the hell is going on?
None of the four suspects is the target?
Or is that ridiculously good-looking scholar actually the one?
Maybe that really is Leng Li’s true appearance. He never expected that looking like that in Great Jing would attract girls like bees to honey.
Or… the constables were short on time and simply didn’t find everyone.
Lu Zheng shot Qi Fengyun a meaningful glance. Qi Fengyun nodded, instantly understanding.
“No rush. We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Qi Fengyun said after a moment’s thought. There was no point panicking when they had no leads.
After a few more casual words, the group reached the Lin family compound.
“It’s nearly noon. Why not stay for a simple lunch?” Lin Zhijing invited again.
They were already here. Eating wouldn’t affect anything, and if they didn’t eat at the Lins’, they would just go to another restaurant anyway.
“Then we’ll trouble you,” Lu Zheng said.
“No trouble at all. It is our honour.”
Lin Zhijing sent the cart driver with the wine to the back courtyard, told the gatekeeper to quickly inform the family head Lin Kongzhu, then led Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun toward the main hall.
After only a couple of steps, Lu Zheng saw Lin Kongzhu hurrying out at the front, followed by his two wives, Lin Zhidong and Xiao Yuzhen, several servants, guards, and the family’s resident tutors.
“Patriarch Lin.” Lu Zheng cupped his hands.
“Young Master Lu, Old Sir, welcome!” Lin Kongzhu stepped forward, greeted them warmly, then gestured invitingly to one side. “This way, please!”
“Sorry to intrude.”
“No intrusion at all. This is our honour.” Lin Kongzhu repeated exactly what his eldest son had said.
“Greetings, Young Master Lu!” Xiao Yuzhen dragged a slightly reluctant Lin Zhidong forward to pay their respects.
“Hello to you both.” Lu Zheng nodded. Seeing Lin Zhidong behaving properly, he said nothing more and followed Lin Kongzhu into the main hall.
In the hall, Lin Kongzhu seated the guests of honour, then turned to Qi Fengyun. “How may I address you, sir? If there is anything the Lin family can do for you while you are in Wanfu County, please let me know.”
Qi Fengyun waved a hand. “No need, no need. This old man is surnamed Qi. I’m just passing through Wanfu County on my way to Yizhou to visit a friend. Nothing to trouble Patriarch Lin with.”
“Understood.” Lin Kongzhu nodded. “Since you are an elder of Young Master Lu’s family, you are one of us. If anything comes up, please do not stand on ceremony with me.”
Qi Fengyun smiled and accepted the courtesy.
He instructed the servants to prepare lunch, then introduced the three resident tutors to Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun.
“This is Master Zhao An, deeply versed in the Yuanzi Classics.”
“You flatter me.” The speaker was a very elderly gentleman with a long goatee hanging to his chest, exuding an airy, immortal aura.
“This is Master Sun Zhenyun, whose painting once took first place at the Lantern Festival in Yaozhou Prefecture.”
“A minor skill, nothing worth mentioning.”
Sun Zhenyun was a slightly plump middle-aged man with a constant smile, repeatedly cupping his hands in a friendly, prosperous manner.
“And this is Master Li Ling, whose knowledge of the Political Classics is profound.”
“The master of the house is too kind.”
The last tutor introduced was a squarely built man in his forties, with a thick black beard, strong brows, bright eyes, and a piercing gaze.
They chatted idly for a while. Then a maid came from the inner courtyard, curtsied where Lin Kongzhu could see, and withdrew.
“Lunch is ready. Shall we move to the Green Bamboo Pavilion and continue talking over food?” Lin Kongzhu suggested with a smile.
Lu Zheng had no objection, so everyone proceeded to the pavilion.
Lin Kongzhu took the host’s seat, placed Qi Fengyun and Lu Zheng at the places of honour, and had his two sons and the three tutors accompany them below. The ladies, along with Lin Zhijing’s wife and Xiao Yuzhen, went to a side hall to dine separately.
Before the meal began, a maid approached carrying a wooden tray with a covered porcelain bowl. Even through the lid, a strong medicinal smell wafted out.
She stopped beside Li Ling. He nodded thanks, took the bowl, lifted the lid, and drank the contents in one go.
Lin Kongzhu explained, “Master Li was unlucky. A few weeks ago, while travelling with one of our caravans, they were attacked by bandits. He escaped by chance but fell off a cliff, then spent a night in the rain. He caught a chill and damaged his vitality, so he takes a dose of medicine before every meal.”
“A few weeks ago?”
Bloody hell!
Lu Zheng felt like he had just been played.
They had run around all day, guessed and speculated for hours, been on high alert the whole time, only to find the target was not among the suspects. He was sitting right beside their acquaintances!
Are you kidding me?
Lu Zheng forced the corners of his mouth up, nodded to show he understood. With his medical knowledge, how could he miss the ginseng, astragalus, angelica, and Chinese yam in that decoction? All top-grade tonics for replenishing qi and blood. Not spiritual herbs, but still extremely effective.
“Exactly. One month ago, on my way back from Yuzhou with medicinal goods, I met Master Li by the roadside. After talking, I greatly admired his character and learning, so I repeatedly invited him to become our family tutor,” Lin Zhijing explained.
Lu Zheng was dumbfounded.
At this point, Lin Kongzhu thought for a moment and said to Li Ling, “Master Li, when you have time, you might visit Renxin Hall in Tonglin County, Yizhou. Young Master Lu’s wife runs it. Her medical skills are superb. She could surely cure you quickly.”
Li Ling waved a grateful hand. “Thank you for the kindness, Patriarch, but this is a chronic condition. It cannot be rushed.”
“Oh, Renxin Hall is different,” Lin Kongzhu enthusiastically continued, completely ignoring Lu Zheng’s desperate eye signals.
“Young Master Lu is a lay disciple of White Cloud Temple, a cultivator. His wife is related to the Huangfu family north of the city and also possesses cultivation. Opening a clinic in Tonglin County is an act of saving the world. It is a blessing for ordinary folk like us.”
“Indeed, indeed.” Lin Zhijing nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Oh? A disciple of White Cloud Temple?” Li Ling apparently had never heard of the temple. He blinked, then added, “The son-in-law of the northern Huangfu family?”
Lin Zhidong nodded. Though unhappy about it, he still said, “Doctor Liu is amazing. Back then when I was… very ill, it was Doctor Liu who saved me.”
“I see.” Li Ling quickly stood, cupped his hands toward Lu Zheng with genuine admiration, and said, “I never imagined Young Master Lu was an extraordinary person. My apologies for the discourtesy. In a few days, I will certainly visit to seek treatment.”
“Patriarch Lin flatters me. My wife does have some skill in medicine. I’m sure she can at least ease Master Li’s condition,” Lu Zheng replied with a warm, gentle smile.
“That would be wonderful.” Li Ling smiled, cupped his hands again, sat down, then turned to Qi Fengyun. “Is the old gentleman a senior from Young Master Lu’s sect?”
“No, no.” Qi Fengyun gave a wry smile. “This old man has no such fortune. I’m just an elder of the family, so I dragged little Lu out to keep me company on this trip.”
Everyone laughed at that. Then, at the urging of the Lin father and sons, they began the meal.
The lunch banquet was a thoroughly enjoyable affair for both hosts and guests.
