Chapter 60 A Late-Night Patient (Revised)

Chapter 60: A Patient in the Dead of Night

When Su Su heard Wu Qiu ask this, he quickly pulled his sleeve, and the two stepped aside to talk: "I was once sold into Drunken Flower Pavilion—the courtyard where Rong Jun is—and worked there doing odd jobs. Rong Jun helped me a great deal. Actually, he isn't a wicked person; it's just that he has some unusual ideas, which makes him seem a bit odd. Since I escaped, I haven't gone back to see him. I didn't expect to run into him here today. I should have a word with him to thank him for his protection back then."

Su Su often came to the clinic to visit Wu Qiu, and the two had spoken of their pasts. Wu Qiu had a general idea that Su Su had been abducted from elsewhere and sold into a brothel. But at that time, he was only thirteen, too young to receive clients, so he first did odd jobs in the courtyard for a few years before being rescued by Li Gan through a twist of fate, and the two married. Now that he heard Rong Jun was an old acquaintance and remembered Ling Geer's situation, Wu Qiu quickly asked, "When we found out that Xue Hu had also been to Rong Jun's place, we planned to have Ling Geer testify as well. That way, his husband and mother-in-law would be dragged into this case, and later, when he seeks a divorce, he could use it as grounds to take Rong Geer away. Ling Geer is here today, as it happens. Why not call him over and see if we can learn anything about his husband from Rong Jun? It might help him further."

As the court session had just adjourned and people were coming and going, the two immediately split up. Wu Qiu informed Lei Ding and went to fetch Ling Geer, while Su Su searched the courtyard and finally caught Rong Jun just as he was about to leave. The four men sat down at a tea stall opposite the government office. Ling Geer felt somewhat uneasy upon seeing Rong Jun. Although he was already deeply disappointed in his husband, they were still nominally a family. At first, he was displeased to see Rong Jun, but then he thought: it was his husband who had shamelessly gone to the brothel. Even without Rong Jun, if it had been some other man, his husband would still have taken all the family's silver to lavish on them. Sighing at this thought, he happened to be holding the pot to pour tea for Wu Qiu and went ahead and poured a cup for Rong Jun.

Rong Jun looked at him and then smiled. No wonder he was the top courtesan at Drunken Flower Pavilion—this smile was truly enchanting, his eyes, soft as silk, were utterly captivating. With his makeup, he looked strikingly like a young woman at first glance, and his voice was soft and melodious, like the chirping of swallows and orioles. He had been talking to Su Su, but when he saw Ling Geer pour tea for him, he smiled and said, "You see things clearly, sir, truly admirable. That man of yours is worthless. Divorce him and live a good life with Rong Geer."

Ling Geer was somewhat surprised. "How do you know about my child?"

Rong Jun rested his chin in one hand on the table, using a small round fan in his other hand to fan himself. "The men who visit us usually don't volunteer that kind of information, but I make a point to ask. I quite like children."

Rong Jun hadn't always been this charmingly flirtatious and effortlessly graceful. When he first arrived at Drunken Flower Pavilion, he was only sixteen or seventeen. Not two years later, he met a man who swore eternal love to him. That man treated him with endless sweetness and affection, not only with sweet words but also giving him many gifts. Finally, he even promised to buy his freedom and marry him, letting him live honorably as his husband. Such stories weren't uncommon in brothels, but Rong Jun was still young then. Although some older brothers and sisters warned him not to fall in love to avoid getting hurt, the next day, swept off his feet by that man, he would forget all their advice. That year, Rong Jun refused all other clients, enduring the madam's scolding, waiting only for that man to visit every day.

Brothels had some contraceptive concoctions, but whether due to the medicine's weakness or Rong Jun's unique constitution, a year later, he actually became pregnant. Overjoyed, Rong Jun told the man, who was equally overjoyed, saying he would marry him soon. But like all faithless men who frequent brothels, the man never showed his face again. Rong Jun was frantic with worry, crying all day, sending people out to make inquiries everywhere, only to learn that the man was a merchant passing through Yongning City. Now that his business was done and Rong Jun was pregnant and unable to serve him, he left without a second thought.

The men and women in brothels most feared accidental pregnancy. The madam was unwilling to spend money taking them to a clinic for a proper doctor, using only the brothel's crude abortion remedies, which were violently potent. Rong Jun knelt on the ground, kowtowing until his forehead bled, swearing he would never seek freedom again, begging only to keep the child. But pregnancy, especially childbirth and the postpartum month, meant a long time unable to receive clients. The madam wanted them receiving clients from morning till night to earn silver; how could she allow him to rest? Without another word, she forced a bowl of medicine down his throat. Rong Jun was four months pregnant then. Aborting such a large fetus nearly cost Rong Jun his life. He bled incessantly below, lying there all night, barely breathing, more gasps out than in. Everyone said he wouldn't survive; the madam was already having someone prepare a coffin. Two men who were close to him pooled their savings to get him some proper medicine, saying they'd try to save him as a last attempt. Unexpectedly, Rong Jun pulled through, surviving a brush with death.

But from then on, he was no longer the shy, timid youth of before. He became flirtatious and wanton, skilled at coaxing men to spend money. Later, he became the city's most sought-after male courtesan, even the madam had to give him some respect. He also had silver now. If he wanted to buy his own freedom, he had more than enough. But he never again considered leaving, only coaxing men to buy his freedom, taking their money and then cutting ties heartlessly. Without silver, no matter how many years a client had been with him, it was difficult to see him again. Many husbands and wives in the city hated him bitterly for this, but he paid no mind. With silver, he bought cosmetics and jewelry, dressing as splendidly as a palace consort.

When Su Su first arrived at Drunken Flower Pavilion, he didn't much like Rong Jun either, finding him less kind than the other brothers and sisters. But later, he discovered Rong Jun wasn't actually a bad person. Soon after Su Su arrived, a client took a liking to his youth and wanted him to serve. Rong Jun immediately flew into a rage, accusing Su Su of seducing his client and trying to steal his silver, sending him off on the spot to wash clothes. After that, he never allowed Su Su to come to the front during client hours, either making him wash clothes and chop wood in the courtyard, or sending him far away to buy fabric. Su Su didn't understand at first and was terribly wronged, but he was clever and soon realized this was Rong Jun protecting him, preventing his young, undeveloped body from being ruined. He began to feel grateful.

When Xiao Shiliu was born, someone sent a package containing a silver longevity lock. No one recognized the messenger, but Su Su knew it was from Rong Jun.

Su Su knew that despite this past, Rong Jun still loved children dearly and loved his own child. That child had once been Rong Jun's only family, bearing all the hopes eighteen-year-old Rong Jun had for the future and the love he hadn't yet locked away. His inquiries about Rong Geer were probably still an attempt to help them. Seizing the opportunity, Su Su asked, "Do you have any ideas? If Ling Geer divorces now, he'll have nowhere to go after leaving home. He can work, but Rong Geer is so young. If he could have a place to settle, that would be best."

Rong Jun thought for a moment. "I do know of a place. North of the city, there's a family named Wu. They run a fabric shop not far from their home. They're not extremely wealthy, but they live comfortably. They want to hire someone to care for two elderly family members and can provide lodging. You might try there. I often buy fabric from them and can put in a good word for you. If you can work there for a couple of years, save some silver, and wait for the child to grow a bit older, you'll have more freedom to stay or leave then. As for your husband, I don't know much else. But don't worry, with Wu Peng's case intervening, if you give the prefect's clerk twenty or thirty taels of silver, I guarantee you'll be able to divorce him and take the child."

Ling Geer stood up to bow to him. "If this truly happens, you will be my benefactor, saving my child from this worthless father. In the future, if there's any way I can help, I will do my utmost."

Rong Jun stood, helping him sit back down with one hand while casually tossing out a few coins with the other to pay for the pot of tea and plate of snacks. "No need for thanks. Consider it my apology to you. Just live well with your child in the future. It's getting late; I must return. If I'm late, I'll get another scolding from Mother."

Hearing this, they couldn't detain him further and so bid him farewell. Rong Jun walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back and smiled at Ling Geer. "Change the child's name later."

He had come by sedan chair. After speaking, he got in and left. Wu Qiu and the others continued chatting idly. Su Su briefly told them about Rong Jun's past. Ling Geer and Wu Qiu, being soft-hearted, felt sad for him. They hadn't intended to linger too long anyway. Now that they had arranged the meeting between Rong Jun and Ling Geer and clarified what they wanted to ask, they each dispersed. Lei Ding and Yu Yuan were sitting at a nearby table. Seeing Wu Qiu walking quickly toward him, Lei Ding reached out, took his hand, and seated him beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and letting him lean against him. "Qiu Er, are you tired after this half day?" He looked closely at Wu Qiu's eyes, noticing what seemed like tear tracks, and quickly asked, "What's wrong? Are you unwell?"

Wu Qiu shook his head softly. "It's just... hearing about Rong Jun's story made me sad for him. I'll tell you in detail later when we go back. It's nothing."

Yu Yuan watched Lei Ding leaning close to Wu Qiu and couldn't help but purse his lips. "Look at this. If I weren't still sitting here, who knows how affectionate you'd be. I'm just in the way."

Wu Qiu's face flushed instantly. He tugged at Lei Ding's clothes, turning his face behind Lei Ding to hide himself. Lei Ding made a playful gesture of throwing a punch at Yu Yuan, and all three laughed. The laughter dispelled Wu Qiu's earlier slight unhappiness. Remembering he wanted to ask about Wu Peng, he took Lei Ding's cup and drank the tea in one gulp. "So, this matter is settled? Wu Peng and Xue Hu are truly to be executed?"

Lei Ding nodded. "Yes, within the next couple of days. Once the notice is posted at the city gates, the execution will be carried out. Qiu Er, your constitution is weak. That ominous, bloody aura could affect you. You mustn't go watch."

Wu Qiu smiled. "I know. I wouldn't dare watch such a thing. It's just... I feel so reflective. We planned this for so long, yet when it actually happened, it was over in a single night, life and death decided. But I still don't understand: how were you so certain he would set fire to the clinic?"

Lei Ding also smiled. "How could I be certain what mischief they'd try? I was just being cautious and trying to guide them in that direction as much as possible. Think about it, Qiu Er: we wanted to force them to act quickly and also make them use their ultimate move. If it were you, wanting to wipe out a whole family at once, what methods could you use? Although Wu Peng and Xue Hu relied on the Liu family, they didn't have extraordinary means—nothing but poisoning, arson, or hiring bandits to ambush us on the road."

Yu Yuan continued, "Exactly. So, on one hand, we said we were leaving, piled things in the courtyard to lure them into setting the fire. At the same time, for those few days, Big Brother personally checked every bit of food and drink at the clinic, being extremely careful. We also asked Lord Li for help, requesting his master's assistance. His master is the manager of a security escort agency and has some formidable men under him. If Wu Peng and the others had actually set an ambush outside the city, we could have handled it properly."

Wu Qiu's eyes widened in surprise. "I only knew we had agreed to lure them into acting. I didn't know there was so much reasoning behind it. This... you've worked too hard."

Lei Ding pinched his earlobe. "We're husband and husband; no need for formalities. Shall we go home?"

Yu Yuan exclaimed from the side. "Hey! Brother Qiu Geer was thanking me! Are you going to take all the credit for that too?"

Lei Ding laughed. "How about, besides the meal at Guiyun Tower, I add a piece of old ginseng? Shangdang Zituan Mountain ginseng, the finest quality."

Yu Yuan was instantly bought off and had no further complaints.

Lei Ding and Wu Qiu stayed at Yu Yuan's home for one more day before moving back to the clinic. That night, lying once again in the bed in the east wing, Wu Qiu finally felt that everything was truly over. He snuggled against Lei Ding, nuzzling and acting coy, asking for a kiss. "Now I feel truly at peace. Look, Ai Geer was also calm today and didn't cry again. That first day, both of us were terrified."

He rested his face against Lei Ding's chest. "Everyone is safe; that's the best outcome. Something like this... if it had happened in the past, I really wouldn't have known what to do. But now, with you by my side, we came through safely after all."

He was getting sleepy, his voice carrying a soft, husky quality. Lei Ding, hearing him call "brother," felt his heart stir. He kissed his forehead. "Qiu Er also protected my safety. In the future, with us here, we'll definitely keep the clinic safe and peaceful. You must be exhausted these past couple of days. Sleep now. No need to get up early tomorrow; rest well."

Wu Qiu was indeed tired, and his heart was settled in Lei Ding's embrace. Before long, he fell into a deep sleep. Until deep into the night, when he was startled awake by commotion in the courtyard.

He wasn't awakened by urgent knocking at the gate, nor did he hear Madam Liu opening the door. Instead, it was the sound of someone's heart-wrenching, desperate wailing piercing through the courtyard, stabbing into his ears. "Please, I beg you, save my child!"

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Author's Note: What's going on? Is it my internet, my computer, or the website that's gone crazy... Why is it so hard to post these last two days? It just won't send. Clicking submit clears the whole chapter. How infuriating...

This chapter counts as the update for the 24th! It was so laggy that I've been stuck until now just to get it posted...