Chapter 71 Military Doctor Hou Gossips, Welcomes New Year

Chapter 71: Military Doctor Hou’s New Year Gossip

Prince of Lingnan’s residence.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch, easy, easy, easy! Am I deeply poisoned or what…” Jiang Qingrong’s agonized wail was piercing, grating on the eardrums.

“Stop yelling! You’re not poisoned!” Military Doctor Hou impatiently pressed his temple. As he inserted a silver needle, Jiang Qingrong let out another scream:

“If I’m not poisoned, why are you stabbing me! I heard Qin Jiao say that’s how you bled him to detoxify!”

“You ate too much! It was too spicy! You ate too fast! Your spleen and stomach are irritated. How many times must I tell you that?” Military Doctor Hou was exasperated by Jiang Qingrong’s questioning.

“Sorry, Military Doctor Hou, I’ll shut him up.” Qin Jiao smiled apologetically as he stepped in to soothe the doctor.

“Jiang Qingrong, I really can’t believe you managed to get yourself sick from eating in the short time I was away.”

Qin Jiao was also at a loss for words. Earlier, Jiang Qingrong had screamed so miserably that he truly thought he was poisoned. But after the doctor took his pulse, he said it was just indigestion from overeating—he only needed to let a little blood from his fingertips to relieve the bloating and make a trip to the privy a few times; no medicine was required.

Upon asking, Qin Jiao learned that in the brief half-hour he had been pulled away by Xie Nai, Jiang Qingrong had devoured two bowls of dough drop soup, one bowl of frozen cheesecake, two skewers of spicy roasted lamb tendons, three pan-fried beef patties, and, oh, an extra plate of sour soup dumplings.

“But those snacks were free samples—it’d be a waste not to eat them,” Jiang Qingrong muttered. “It’s just that the last spicy lamb tendon stall ripped me off for five copper coins; he never said you could only try one!”

“You’re something else!” Qin Jiao rolled his eyes in barely concealed exasperation.

“Thanks for the compliment, First Young Master,” Jiang Qingrong said cheekily, winking at Qin Jiao.

“You’re welcome!” Just then, Military Doctor Hou withdrew the needles. Qin Jiao asked him, “Doctor Hou, is Qingrong okay otherwise?”

“He’s as strong as an ox—perfectly fine.” The doctor glanced at Xie Nai, who was sipping tea at the table, then said to Qin Jiao, “Come here. Let me re-examine you.”

“All right. Please wait a moment.”

Qin Jiao nodded to the doctor and walked over to Jiang Qingrong. “Qingrong, it’s almost midnight. You should head back to your residence first. Don’t miss welcoming the New Year with your family.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?” Jiang Qingrong asked knowingly.

Qin Jiao turned to look at Xie Nai. At that moment, Xie Nai was also looking at him. The young man’s eyes held a smile, sending a warm, strange flutter through the young master’s chest.

“Qin Jiao?”

“I’ll return a bit later. Don’t worry about me.”

Jiang Qingrong had noticed the exchange of glances between Qin Jiao and Xie Nai. He was about to tease Qin Jiao further when several armored soldiers entered the room.

“Show them out.” Without waiting for Xie Nai’s order, Military Doctor Hou took it upon himself to send the noisy Jiang Qingrong away.

“Don’t rush me, let’s chat a little more!” Jiang Qingrong put on a sycophantic smile.

“If you don’t leave, I’ll turn you into a sieve with my needles.” Military Doctor Hou had already lost two hairs from his beard when Jiang Qingrong grabbed them during the acupuncture, so the doctor was barely holding back his temper.

Afraid of actually being turned into a sieve and leaking whenever he drank, Jiang Qingrong knew when to quit. He said goodbye to Qin Jiao, said goodbye to Xie Nai, and left the Prince of Lingnan’s residence with the guards of the Hou residence.

After Jiang Qingrong left, Military Doctor Hou led Qin Jiao to sit beside Xie Nai and began his follow-up examination.

“Stretch out your hand.”

Qin Jiao obediently held out his left hand. The young master’s hand remained pale and slender, though it was slightly flushed, with a few distinct finger marks on the inside of his wrist.

Qin Jiao was startled. He hadn’t noticed in the dark earlier—that rascal Xie Nai had left marks on his wrist too.

Pretending not to notice Qin Jiao’s discomfort, Military Doctor Hou calmly felt his pulse. After a moment, he said, “Give me the other hand.”

Qin Jiao offered his right hand, looking like he was bracing for a heroic sacrifice.

Seeing the equally distinct finger marks on Qin Jiao’s right wrist, Military Doctor Hou looked up at Xie Nai.

The war hero and Prince of Lingnan, who had survived countless battles, now looked slightly guilty, picked up his tea cup.

“Untie the silk scarf around your neck as well. Let me have a look.”

“Ah, my neck is fine, not injured. Don’t trouble yourself, Doctor Hou.” Qin Jiao smiled awkwardly and shot a glare at Xie Nai, who was drinking tea.

Military Doctor Hou stroked his white beard, looked at the two young men, and after a long while, gave a resigned look as if to say, “You young people…”

“The young master is in good health. Just continue resting and recuperating.” As he spoke, he pulled a small medicine box from his kit and pressed it into Xie Nai’s hands. “Use this for his bruises. Getting injured like that during New Year, what will people think?”

“All right.” Xie Nai replied in a low voice.

Military Doctor Hou opened his mouth as if to offer some advice based on his experience, but considering Qin Jiao was thin-skinned, he held his tongue.

“I’ll be on my way, then.”

“Take care.”

Qin Jiao wanted to see him out, but the doctor gestured for him to stay seated, saying, “Stay put.”

Xie Nai rose to see the doctor off. At the door, the old military doctor advised him, “I had Luo Bei divert the hot spring water into the residence. Remember to soak in it, Your Highness, when you have time. It will do your injuries good.”

“All right.”

With that, the doctor slung his medicine box over his shoulder and left. When Xie Nai re-entered the room, he saw Qin Jiao examining the blue-glazed octagonal ewer with plum blossoms on the grid shelf.

“Like it?” Xie Nai approached Qin Jiao. “I’ll have someone wrap it up for you to take home if you like.”

Qin Jiao covered his mouth with a light chuckle. “No need. I just smelled a hint of wine from the plum-blossom ewer.”

“That was brought by Shen Fuqing last time.” Xie Nai glanced at the ewer. “Seems like the famous Lingbei wine, Drunken Lychee.”

“Seems?” Qin Jiao found it amusing. “How could Your Highness forget the name of the wine after drinking with Lord Shen?”

“I never drink.” Xie Nai said it so seriously that Qin Jiao felt a playful urge. “Not even once? I don’t believe you.”

Xie Nai pondered for a moment. “There was once. After that, I never drank again.”

“Why stop drinking? On festive occasions like this, isn’t it perfect to have a drink and celebrate?” Qin Jiao’s curiosity was piqued.

“If you want to drink, I’ll have someone prepare some.” Xie Nai evaded the question, which only made Qin Jiao more curious. “Come on, tell me. Did you get rowdy when drunk? Or is the Prince of Lingnan a lightweight?”

“Don’t ask too much. Too much curiosity won’t do you any good.”

Xie Nai picked up the plum-blossom ewer and walked out, signaling Qin Jiao to follow. “Come. I’ll show you something.”

“Come on, tell me. Weren’t you telling me everything today?”

Qin Jiao refused to give up and chased after Xie Nai. Suddenly, Xie Nai stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at Qin Jiao with a gleam in his eyes.

“What is it?” Qin Jiao asked, puzzled.

A smile played at the corners of Xie Nai’s lips. “Qin Jiao, Happy New Year.” As he spoke, the deep, resonant New Year bell toll echoed through the entire imperial city.

"Xie Nai, happy New Year!" Qin Jiao smiled at Xie Nai joyfully.

"Happy New Year! Come get your red envelopes!" Luo Bei and Luo Yue popped up out of nowhere, clutching a thick stack of red envelopes.

"Happy New Year!" The servants in the mansion beamed as they exchanged New Year greetings.

Just outside the mansion wall, the townspeople still away from home were also laughing and cheering. Fireworks shot up, lighting up the world with endless joy, year after year.

"Your Highness, Young Master, happy New Year!" Luo Yue ran over and pressed a thick red envelope into each of their hands.

"Thank you, Luo Yue. Happy New Year to you too." Qin Jiao accepted with a smile. Luo Yue ran off, saying, "No problem, it's His Highness's money anyway."

"And thanks to you too, Your Highness." Qin Jiao looked at Xie Nai while holding the red envelope.

"You're welcome," Xie Nai also smiled. "It's a new day now."

"Yes, it's New Year's Day."

"Right, the day I promised to hold nothing back is already behind us."

So, that question about why I don't drink—I'm not answering it.

Qin Jiao blinked in confusion.

Well played! So he'd planned this, waiting for me to fall into his trap.

Xie Nai took Qin Jiao's hand and walked forward. The young master, stunned for a second, finally gave in.

"Alright, alright, I won't ask."

Anyways, I'll find out sooner or later.

Qin Jiao thought to himself.

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