Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Rong Tang returned to the study with Su Huaijing, still replaying their conversation with Mu Jingshu in his mind.

It was strange; despite knowing Mù Jǐngxù for so long, he had never heard him speak like that to anyone, shrouded in mystery and confusion.

Róng Táng even sensed a hint of admonition in Mù Jǐngxù's words to Sù Huáijǐng, resembling the gentle yet stern education of an elder to a younger.

But why would Mù Jǐngxù want to admonish Sù Huáijǐng?

Róng Táng's frown deepened, not relaxing even as he sat down, until Sù Huáijǐng smiled gently and asked, "What is Táng Táng thinking about?" Róng Táng then suddenly returned to the present, giving Sù Huáijǐng a complex look and shaking his head, "Nothing."

He picked up the teacup on the table and took a light sip, suppressing the rising doubts and asked Sù Huáijǐng, "Aren't you going out with the Second Prince today?"

Sù Huáijǐng's eyes lit up with a smile, "Today is Qīxì, of course, I should be accompanying Táng Táng."

Róng Táng paused for a moment, then lowered his head and murmured softly, "Oh."

In the long summer, the green shade shielded from the sun, a small bamboo grove planted by the outer wall of the study. The thrush chirped among them, blending with the gentle breeze. Inside the study, instead of burning incense, they only placed grapes and other seasonal fruits on the desk, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

Róng Táng calmed his mind, his gaze sweeping over the desk, picking up the report on the Jiangnan flood investigation from the second year of Qìngzhèng that Sù Huáijǐng had previously held under his arm, and began to read.

The thin volume was well-preserved, spotless and unblemished, only showing signs of age from years of handling.

The book detailed the flood in Jiangnan during the second year of Qìngzhèng, including its causes, the exact time and place the torrential rain started, duration, rise in river levels, affected prefectures, damage to farmlands and villages, total monetary losses, as well as records of when the floodgates were opened, where the floodwaters were diverted, post-disaster epidemic and reconstruction efforts, along with related analyses and preventive measures for future floods.

While the situations varied from this year's flood, some of the experiences and methods could still be adapted and applied to the present.

Engrossed in the book, Róng Táng admired the author's knowledge and expertise deeply.

It wasn't until he reached the last page that Róng Táng noticed a section in small print.

[In the summer of the second year of Qìngzhèng, I traveled through Jiangnan, passing through Lǚ Town in Huizhou. Encountering the sight of famine victims and exposed bones, I inquired with the elders and learned of the perilous flood. This book was written over three months, in the hope of serving as a caution for future generations. Natural disasters are unstoppable, but man-made calamities can be altered.]

Rong Tang’s gaze lingered on these lines for a long while before Su Huaijing casually asked, “What’s wrong?”

Rong Tang hesitated for a moment, closed the book, and asked Su Huaijing, "Where did you get this book from?"

Su Huaijing replied, "The Second Prince brought it from the capital. It was originally kept in the Imperial Cabinet's library."

Rong Tang asked, "Is this the original or a copy made later?"

Su Huaijing appeared slightly puzzled, picked up the book and flipped through it, saying, "It's the original. Why do you ask?"

Rong Tang fell silent. Su Huaijing, surprised, glanced at him, then lowered his head to flip through the book again. Initially, he found nothing unusual, but as he read further, his expression gradually darkened. Reaching the last page and seeing those words, he paused, his eyebrows slowly furrowing.

Rong Tang asked, "Where was Minister Mu in the second year of Qingzheng?"

At the Folding Flower Meeting, they had asked Lu Jiaxi, who said that Mu Jingshu only entered Lin Yuan Academy in the fifth year of Qingzheng and had been in the countryside before that.

Which specific countryside, Lu Jiaxi did not know, and Rong Tang had never asked.

But it certainly couldn't be Jiangnan, which was far away from Lin Yuan Academy.

Yet the handwriting in this investigative record was unmistakably identical to that in Mu Jingshu's dossiers.

Just as Rong Tang was about to voice his suspicion, Su Huaijing chuckled, closed the book, looked up, and said seemingly casually, "It's just a similarity in handwriting. It's not unusual. Tangtang, you're not thinking of taking this book to ask Minister Mu if he wrote it, are you?"

Rong Tang was stunned, looking at Su Huaijing in disbelief.

After a moment of eye contact, Rong Tang looked away and sighed softly, "What a pity."

Su Huaijing asked, "Hmm?"

Rong Tang said, "I was thinking of asking Minister Mu to teach me calligraphy."

Su Huaijing was briefly taken aback, then smiled, "I can teach Tangtang as well."

Rong Tang gave him a shallow look. Su Huaijing turned to grind the ink as if he really intended to teach him calligraphy, while the book was casually placed aside, cover facing down.

Rong Tang glanced briefly and then looked away. In his mind, the system beeped twice and said, "[Something's fishy.]"

"Never mind it," Rong Tang replied.

He couldn't understand the meaning behind Mu Jingshu's and Su Huaijing's conversation, nor did he grasp why Su Huaijing was acting so evasively now, but he was certain of one thing: Su Huaijing would not harm him.

Unless it was something Rong Tang should not know about, Su Huaijing wouldn't be this cautious.

Rong Tang decided to act as if he had never seen that book and had never doubted the handwriting. Su Huaijing wanted to teach him calligraphy, so he pretended to practice on a page of paper, then feigned tiredness to put the pen down and calmly read half a book of stories before going to eat.

After lunch, they took a nap, enjoyed the cool evening, and then went to see the floating lanterns on the Lotus Lake in Suzhou City.

On the way back to the mansion, passing by the courtyard of Ke Hongxue and Mu Jingshu, Rong Tang suddenly remembered something and casually asked Su Huaijing, "Do you still have any of the ointment prescribed by the royal physician?"

Su Huaijing asked, "Yes, what does Tangtang want to do with it?"

Rong Tang replied, "This morning, I saw some scratches on Minister Mu's wrist, like he was scratched by someone. If you have extra, let Shuangshou send a couple of bottles over."

Su Huaijing's eyes darkened slightly, and he nodded, "Alright."

Under the eaves, the swan lanterns burned with candles, casting a warm yellow light. Su Huaijing walked Rong Tang to his room door and suddenly called out, "Tangtang."

Rong Tang turned back, puzzled, and the next moment, he felt a cool and soft touch on his lips.

The kiss was brief and fleeting. By the time Rong Tang reacted, Su Huaijing had already stepped back two paces, smiling like a cat, "Goodnight."

Rong Tang stood there with wide eyes, at a loss for words. Su Huaijing then feigned surprise, "Does Tangtang still feel pain tonight? Do you want me to sleep with you? Wait for me, I'll go take a bath."

Rong Tang was frustrated, glared at him fiercely, turned, and walked into the room, slamming the door shut. After two seconds, he opened it again, poking his head out, staring at Su Huaijing irritably and saying, "Goodnight!"

The door closed again, much quieter than before.

Su Huaijing paused for a moment, then shook his head, smiling. Rong Tang's cuteness left him at a loss for what to do. He stood in front of the house, gazing up at the intertwined necks of the swan lantern for a while before slowly heading into his own room.

He first took out two jars of ointment for treating scars, hesitated before leaving the room, and then took something else from the house with him.

Su Huaijing handed the medicine to Shuangshou, instructing, "Deliver this to Vice Minister Mu, say it's from the Crown Prince of Ningxuan. Apply the ointment three times a day externally, and take the pills internally, twice a day."

Shuangshou took the medicine and hurried out.

Once everyone had left, the smile on Su Huaijing's face slowly faded as he walked towards the study.

In the dimly lit study, Su Huaijing sat behind the desk, slowly flipping through the flood investigation record of Jiangnan from the second year of Qingzheng. Soon, someone climbed in through the window and handed him a thin piece of paper, "Master."

"Hmm," Su Huaijing responded softly, beginning to compare the handwriting.

Xingfeng didn't understand his intention and after waiting a moment, asked, "Master, is there something unusual?"

Su Huaijing didn't answer his question. He looked down again for a long time, put down the paper and the book, leaned back, and started to slowly rub something he held in his hand.

He asked softly, "When I taught Bixin medicine, I asked if you wanted to learn, and you refused. Why?"

Xingfeng shuddered, his throat tightened, and he clenched his fists at his sides, his voice hoarse as he replied, "I... lack the talent to learn profound medical skills."

"Huh," Su Huaijing chuckled lowly, his phoenix eyes lifting slightly as he glanced at him dismissively, "Lying."

Xingfeng immediately knelt down, "I would never dare to deceive you, Master!"

Su Huaijing said, "Stand up. I'm not blaming you."

Hesitantly, Xingfeng looked up, only to see Su Huaijing's gaze aimlessly falling on the desk, not focusing on anything, as if he didn't care at all.

He hesitated for a moment before standing up.

Su Huaijing said indifferently, "It's because you've seen me change bones, right?"

Xingfeng bit his lip tightly, not daring to respond.

Su Huaijing didn't actually want his answer; he was just speaking his thoughts, carelessly and dismissively.

"My mother once said, a thousand people have a thousand pulses. A skilled doctor who felt someone's pulse ten years ago can still recognize them based on their pulse after ten years," Su Huaijing said, "Similarly, bone structure is the same."

"Disguising is the most basic method. To completely conceal one's identity, making it impossible for anyone in this world, even the closest family, to recognize oneself, the best way is to change bones."

Deep into the night, a breeze stirred outside the courtyard. Frogs croaked their songs while inside, the sound of fingertips brushing against fabric echoed, creating a melody as if in response to each other.

Su Huaijing spoke intermittently, pausing now and then. Xingfeng listened in silence, his hands almost bleeding from his own grip, his eyes swelling painfully.

"Flesh clings to the skeleton, and tendons also weave through the bones. Any alteration on the surface is not secure. The only way is to break most of the bones in the body one by one, applying external force and medication to make them heal in a predetermined direction. Gradually, this changes the bone structure and then alter the facial features, thus achieving the goal of transforming the flesh, tendons, voice, and appearance entirely into another person."

"After that, by changing the way of speaking, handwriting, and walking posture, even biological parents standing in front wouldn’t recognize their child."

As Su Huaijing spoke, he let out a soft laugh. Xingfeng stared at the floor, his vision blurring. He felt as if he was back to when he first arrived in Shu, witnessing his young master writhing in pain.

"Changing bones cannot be done overnight, and it's impossible to break all the bones at once. It takes a minimum of three years, and up to five years. A slight mistake can lead to immediate death, and failure to treat in time can cause lifelong illnesses, making one unable to face wind, endure cold, ride horses, get rained on, or overwork..."

"My mother said if one were to change bones, it couldn't be during infancy or after reaching adulthood. The best age is between eight and eighteen years old, and it should not be later than twenty-three," Su Huaijing murmured softly, as if trying to recall, then lifted his head to ask Xingfeng, "How old was my third brother when he went south?"

Xingfeng's voice was hoarse, "Eighteen."

"Eighteen..." Su Huaijing murmured lowly, "By the fifth year of Qingzheng, he would have been exactly twenty-three."

"What a coincidence," he sighed softly, closing his eyes and leaning back, changing the subject, "Do you know what I asked Shen Feiyi when I met him in Jingji?"

Xingfeng replied, "I do not know, Master."

Su Huaijing said, "I asked him, 'He's alive, so why did he let my third brother die?' Guess how he answered me?"

"He said, 'The Third Prince had guessed early on that there were traitors in the southern army, fearing the entire army's demise. He secretly formed a small squad led by me, taking back routes to the south. If we heard bad news on the way, we were to return to the capital at full speed to protect His Majesty.'"

Su Huaijing's voice was soft, deep and pleasant as usual, lacking the playful tone he unconsciously adopted when speaking with Rong Tang. What emanated instead was a cold indifference that was extreme.

Yet beneath this indifference, there was a tremor he himself could not detect.

He opened his eyes, glanced at the letter on the table, then slowly shifted his gaze down to the peace amulet he was continuously rubbing in his hand.

After Rong Tang obtained it for him, he had kept it in a brocade box until today, when he, as if by some supernatural force, took it out.

Su Huaijing asked softly, yet his body was tense, "Do you think, my third brother might still be alive?"

Xingfeng shuddered, speechless for a long while. Just as he was about to speak, Su Huaijing shook his head, his tone heavy with a tinge of loss, "But I don't want it to be him."

"It hurts a lot," he said.

Having every bone in the body broken and then reshaped, it really hurts a lot.

He didn't want his brother to suffer the same pain...

Author's note:

Changing bones is purely a figment of the author's imagination, with no scientific basis. Kids, don't try this at home!