Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 380: Master

When Zhao Changhe emerged from the secret room, feeling refreshed, it was already noon.

He could not tell who was the actual attending physician of whom.

He had not made any real progress in treating Tang Wanzhuang’s condition. He had merely reversed the slight activation of her cultivation at the third layer of the Profound Mysteries, preventing any further damage. But otherwise, nothing had changed.

On the other hand, Tang Wanzhuang had treated his external injuries thoroughly; moreover, the gentle touch before he fell asleep had left him feeling especially rejuvenated today.

He took out a new set of clothes from his storage ring, changed, and stepped outside. When he left the room, he found that no one was around.

Zhao Changhe wandered around until he found Da Zhou sitting gloomily in the duck store, watching his workers work. His vacant expression suggested that his mind was elsewhere.

Zhao Changhe came to him and waved his palm in front of him. “Brother Zhou, making ducks?”[1]

Da Zhou replied absentmindedly, “Yeah, just like you.”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

Da Zhou suddenly seemed to snap back to reality, and immediately pulled Zhao Changhe aside. “Mister Zhao, you’re finally out...”

“What’s wrong?”

“Yesterday, after you killed Lu Shiheng, the army of Xiangyang nearly launched a mutiny. It was only thanks to First Seat Tang, together with the private soldiers of the Wang and Yang Clans, that the army could be suppressed and the situation could be temporarily stabilized.”

Zhao Changhe stared blankly at Da Zhou, struggling to process the information.

Why is he telling me this?

“Lu Shiheng has been operating in Xiangyang for many years, with many confidants in the army. The chaos yesterday was quelled temporarily due to them being leaderless. However, who can tell what will happen tomorrow? We need to make plans quickly.”

So that’s the situation... Zhao Changhe then asked, “Why are you telling me this?”

Da Zhou replied expressionlessly, “First Seat Tang told us that you are going to be taking charge of all of Xiangyang’s affairs.”

Zhao Changhe opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Acting cool might be fun for a moment, but the work that followed was hardly enjoyable, especially when it came to a type of work that he had never handled before.

It was easy to talk big and say, “Let me handle it,” but in reality, Zhao Changhe had never handled such affairs.

Zhao Changhe rubbed his head in frustration before finally saying, “Your secret agent department...”

Da Zhou knew what he was about to ask and interrupted him, “Our department doesn’t have that many people. Our department isn’t like that of the previous empire where there were agents everywhere who watched everyone. Expecting our secret agent department to manage everything is unrealistic.

“Currently, those of our department are mainly focused on observing those within the bureau—an example of this is how we were investigating the branch members of the Demon Suppression Bureau in Xiangyang. Sian is currently interrogating and investigating each one of them to determine who has defected.”

Oh, I almost forgot about that...

Zhao Changhe had no choice but to ask, “Where are Cult Leader Xue and the members of the Blood God Cult?”

“They’re still out there pursuing the fleeing soldiers of the Maitreya Cult,” Da Zhou said, a hint of sympathy in his voice. He had never seen a chase that lasted an entire day and night.

Don’t they need to rest? Well, apparently not. Whatever, they can handle themselves.

Zhao Changhe’s headache worsened. “Help me send them an order to return... If we’re worried about Xiangyang’s army causing trouble, we need our own forces nearby to maintain order and then gradually screen everyone.”

Da Zhou hesitated. “Are you sure? Can the Blood God Cult really be ordered around? To be honest, we’re worried that their presence in the city may cause even more trouble than Lu Shiheng’s troops.”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “They can. Just trust them this time.”

Da Zhou’s expression changed slightly as he scrutinized Zhao Changhe for a moment, thinking to himself that if the bureau chief’s hints were true, then this person might be the prince she intended to support. More importantly, it seemed that this prince now had his own loyal troops, which massively changed things.

But then again, didn’t the bureau chief dislike the idea of becoming the crown prince’s consort? What exactly is she planning now?

Da Zhou pondered for a moment before asking, “Xiangyang’s resources are running low. Do you have any ideas on how to resolve this?”

“How much do we have left?”

“We still need to take inventory to be certain. In any case, there isn’t much left. Lu Shiheng had already raised the entrance fee to the city to one tael of silver... Should we change that?”

“...”

“And about the delayed spring plowing, should we return the stored grain to the people?”

“...”

“There’s also the matter of the Xiangyang officials...”

“Stop, stop, stop...” Zhao Changhe felt his head splitting. “I, I’ll figure it all out slowly, just give me some time...”

Da Zhou gave him a sidelong glance and said, “No worries, we won’t overwhelm a novice too much... Oh, by the way, I’ve invited several renowned doctors. Would you like to see them?”

With his head spinning, Zhao Changhe headed to the guest hall. As soon as he walked in, his headache grew even worse.

Several renowned doctors were arguing in the hall, criticizing each other’s medical theories, their spittle flying and raised voices shaking the rafters.

Zhao Changhe looked helplessly at Da Zhou. Da Zhou, with his hands in his sleeves, explained, “We just posed a question to them about their vies on damage to the lung meridian. This has been going on for two hours now. They truly are renowned doctors. They are really full of energy.”

“Are they all renowned doctors?”

“Yes, all of them.”

Zhao Changhe sniffed, then asked Da Zhou, “Where’s Wanzhuang? I need to see her.”

“The bureau chief is out shopping.” Da Zhou’s patience was wearing thin. “I agree, we should probably bring her back.”

“I’ll go check on her...” Zhao Changhe hastily left the duck store, almost as if he were fleeing.

The prince’s attempt at managing Xiangyang with an “I am here” attitude was looking quite unimpressive.

* * *

In fact, Tang Wanzhuang’s shopping trip was not much more successful.

With Xiangyang in chaos, all of the sensitive merchants and businesses had shut their doors. Hardly anyone was open for business, let alone street vendors. The streets were largely deserted, with few people out and about, and those who were out moved quickly. Xiangyang was utterly lacking the atmosphere of a famous and bustling city during this time.

In troubled times, there would always be more disturbances. Tang Wanzhuang encountered several idle ruffians who attempted to harass her. She did not need to do much, leaving the secret agents discreetly following her to handle them.

Listening to the screams and pleas for mercy behind her, Tang Wanzhuang sighed deeply.

Maintaining order in chaotic times was far more difficult than during times of peace. Even the capital and Gusu were not much better, let alone Xiangyang.

What was meant to be a leisurely walk only made Tang Wanzhuang more melancholy. Eventually, she could not continue and stopped by the lake within the city, sitting on a stone bench by the shore, lost in thought.

It was obviously spring, a time of renewal, yet it felt more desolate than late autumn.

In such a world, how can one find peace?

Her condition seemed unsolvable. As long as she could not bring herself to ignore the chaos, she could never leave the turmoil of military and administrative duties.

Someone sat down beside her.

Tang Wanzhuang did not even need to turn her head to know who it was. She sighed and asked, “Is this what you meant when you said you could handle everything here?”

Zhao Changhe said, “Well, I still need to get more familiar with tasks. It’s something I can learn...”

Tang Wanzhuang, despite her gloomy mood, could not help but smile a little at his words, “You want to learn everything, huh? But can you?”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “Honestly, this really isn’t something I want to learn.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes twinkled, “But I really want to teach you how to handle these things.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Is that the real reason why you came out shopping?”

Tang Wanzhuang squinted her eyes and smiled. “How about it? Holding power, deciding life and death, don’t you think it would be nice?”

“...It’s useless. The only good thing about power is having a large inner courtyard.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s smile faded.

Zhao Changhe turned his head away. “Stop trying to act like a teacher all the time, wanting to teach me this and that... I’m never going to call you master anyway.”

Tang Wanzhuang asked expressionlessly, “So, are you still going to study medicine?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “I feel that those so-called renowned doctors are unreliable. I’m considering looking for that Yan Wangdi, who’s on the Ranking of Earth?”

“Would he even bother with you?” Tang Wanzhuang rolled her eyes. “I doubt you’d even be able to find him.”

“Then what? If I were to really learn from those unreliable quacks, I’m afraid I’d just end up killing people instead.”

Tang Wanzhuang said confidently, “I’ll teach you.”

Zhao Changhe was stunned. “Can you?”

“Of course. Long-term illness makes a good doctor, and I’m smart.” Tang Wanzhuang wore a rare mischievous smile. “My medical skills are already better than those of most so-called renowned doctors.”

“Why didn’t you say so yesterday?”

“I thought you made a good point; I should take it easy... Besides, you’re supposed to be treating me, so does it even make sense for me to teach you how to do it?” Tang Wanzhuang sighed. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. Just answer, do you want to learn or not?”

Zhao Changhe hesitated for a while before answering, “I do.”

Tang Wanzhuang turned her head and gazed at the sky in the distance, “Call me master.”

“Fuck, I’m trying to save your life, and you’re using this to threaten me?”

“How is it a threat? You never called me master when learning martial arts, the guqin, or calligraphy from me. And now, with medicine added to all that, are you still not going to? Ask anyone if that makes any sense.”

Zhao Changhe glared at her for a while before finally saying, “Don’t regret it.”

“What would I regret it?” Tang Wanzhuang looked pleased, thinking, I’m not a fool who teaches so much just to not receive a respectful title and be teased.

I have to get this rascal to call me master honestly.

“Fine,” Zhao Changhe solemnly bowed. “Master.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes curved into crescent moons. “Good.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Master, your disciple has something important to report.”

Tang Wanzhuang cleared her throat, assuming a dignified pose, “Speak.”

“Your cultivation at the third layer of the Profound Mysteries is still not fully contained and continues to erode your lung meridian. It would be best to treat it daily to make sure that it’s suppressed for the time being. It’s noon, we should start the treatment.”

Tang Wanzhuang did not immediately understand but replied, “Ah... then let’s start...”

Halfway through, she suddenly realized what he meant. Wait, by “treatment” you mean another kiss? You call me master and you still think about this?

Splash!

The secret agents in the distance heard a scream, and then the sound of someone falling into the water.

The always elegant bureau chief stomped back angrily, holding up the hem of her skirt. “Don’t fish him out! I’ve never seen such a rebellious scoundrel, that bastard!”

1. The words used here were “做鸭,” which means making/cooking ducks, but it can also refer to being a gigolo or male prostitute. ☜