Chapter Eighty-Six: A Night Meeting

The dishes on the table were sumptuous, gleaming with rich color and fragrant warmth.

The juices dripping from the roast chicken alone, thick with aroma, were enough to stir anyone’s appetite.

The fresh fish sashimi, paired with its dipping sauce, released its tenderness and sweetness across the tongue the instant it touched the lips.

Wang Yun ate these delicacies with deep satisfaction. When one’s heart was burdened with worry, nothing had any taste.

In those days, after the realm had concluded that he had submitted to Dong Zhuo, the Han officials in Chang’an had assailed him day and night with sharp tongues.

Not a single night had brought him sleep.

But now there was a way to resolve the matter, and naturally everything he ate tasted wonderful.

And the price of that solution was merely to have his adopted daughter make a slight sacrifice of her beauty once more.

In Wang Yun’s eyes, since Diao Chan had once been willing to use her beauty against Dong Zhuo in a honey trap, there was no reason she should not do so again. Besides, it was only what she ought to do. He was her adoptive father; she should repay his kindness.

Diao Chan had eaten only a few crisp slices of radish. She sat alone to one side, watching this adoptive father of hers.

Outside Fragrant Haven Inn.

Diao Chan took leave of Wang Yun and did not allow him to escort her back to the residence. The sky remained overcast, and the season had already reached late spring.

“Elder Sister, this is the place. Last time I had an amazingly delicious sweet-and-sour fish here!”

“You told me you had something important, and this is it? Sweet-and-sour fish? Father has been so grieved over the Chancellor’s death he can barely eat and grows thinner by the day. Yet you spend your time running about carefree, playing everywhere!”

“Eating and sleeping are matters as great as heaven! Father has endless things to worry about. Besides, we can bring him next time. Perhaps it would cheer him up!”

“And anyway, now that the Chancellor is dead, your marriage to Sun Quan has been delayed. You may not say it aloud, Sister, but deep down you must be pleased!”

The two beauties were just about to step into the inn when Diao Chan’s lovely eyes shifted, and she stepped forward to ask, “Do you two young ladies know Young Master Sun Zhongmou, the Chancellor’s son?”

Little Qiao was startled by the sudden voice. Turning back and seeing a woman in a veiled hat, she jumped in fright, her delicate body tensing at once. She hurried behind Great Qiao, peeking out with her petite head to look at Diao Chan.

Great Qiao burst into laughter, amused by her younger sister’s reaction. She bowed to the woman before them. “I am Great Qiao, and this is my younger sister, Little Qiao. May I ask who you are, miss?”

“I am Diao Chan. My respects to you both,” Diao Chan said, inclining her body in greeting.

“You stopped us sisters to ask whether we know Young Master Zhongmou. Do you have some important matter?”

“There is something I wish to inform Young Master Bofu of. But with my status, I fear I cannot meet him. Since you two ladies know Young Master Zhongmou, I wonder whether you might introduce me.”

“Diao Chan...” Little Qiao turned the name over in her mind. It sounded so familiar.

Great Qiao said gently, “Young Master Zhongmou has not yet returned. So even if you have business, I fear it may come to nothing.”

Diao Chan’s dark brows knit slightly, and concern showed in her charming eyes. “Forgive my presumption, but might I ask you to tell me where the residence is?”

“That would be no trouble...”

The gates of Xiangyang stood lofty and magnificent, the dark gleaming walls hard as iron.

Jiang Wen climbed down from his horse unsteadily, staggered over to a thicket at the roadside, braced himself against a tree, and vomited. After riding so long, this was the first time he had ever become sick from horseback travel.

The soldiers guarding the gate wore solemn expressions. Jiang Wen showed them his official seal.

The soldier examined the token with grave attention, then looked at Jiang Wen’s face and saluted. “Please wait a moment, sir.”

Jiang Wen nodded and watched as the soldier hurried over to a commander, showed him the seal, and reported something.

Li Le walked toward Jiang Wen. He had a fierce face and a heavy, broad frame.

Looking the refined scholar before him up and down, Li Le said, “This is a county magistrate’s seal. Magistrate of which city are you?”

“I am the newly appointed magistrate of Fuchun. However, my home is in Xiangyang. Before taking up my post, I must first inform my family. May I ask whether the general has some matter in detaining me here?”

“Nothing much. Just saying hello. The Chancellor has only recently died, and to guard against the lords in various regions, the General of the Guards has ordered strict inspections of officials from every place,” Li Le said.

“Since the general has already verified my identity, may I enter the city?”

“Certainly. Let him pass!”

Jiang Wen saluted, led his horse into the city, then glanced back at the officers on guard and left, deep in thought.

At Dong Cheng’s residence.

“My lord, the general and I waited at the main gate of Xiangyang for a long time, but we never saw Jiang Wen.”

“The relay station is not far from Xiangyang. Judging by the journey, he must have entered the city today. It is impossible that you did not see him. Did you overlook him?”

“There has been fighting outside these past days, so there are not many people passing through the gates. As the general ordered, I carefully searched every one of them. But I saw no one carrying the official seal of a Libationer.”

“You may go.”

“Yes, sir!”

Dong Cheng stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Could it be that Jiang Wen has some close friend near Xiangyang, and went to pay him a visit?”

At the Jiang residence.

Tao’er’s cheeks were flushed, and a trace of spring tenderness lingered on her face as she leaned in Jiang Wen’s arms. “My lord did not send word home that he would return today.”

Jiang Wen gently rubbed her cheek. “Go tell the servants. We are moving to Fuchun County.”

“What are we going to Fuchun for?”

“I have been demoted to magistrate of Fuchun County.”

Tao’er said, “Did my lord do something wrong?”

“Nothing of the sort. It is only a pity that we must leave Xiangyang for a time.”

“It does not matter. As long as I have my lord, anywhere is fine.” Tao’er grinned. “Oh, right. Today, one of Elder Sister’s old acquaintances came to visit. Since she has already become my lord’s concubine, perhaps her old acquaintance might also be received into the residence?”

“An old acquaintance of Diao Chan’s? What acquaintance could she possibly have?” Jiang Wen asked.

“The gate boy said it was an old man.”

Jiang Wen rose to his feet. “Has she returned yet?”

“Elder Sister has already been back for an hour.”

In a side chamber of the western courtyard, Diao Chan had finished bathing. Her skin was fair and fragrant, her gauze dress wrapping softly around her body. Beneath the moonlight, she was exquisitely beautiful as she read by lamplight through the various medical texts left behind by Zhang Zhongjing.

At her side, Little Shu kept yawning. “Miss, it is already the Hour of Hai. It is late into the night. For the sake of your health, you should sleep earlier.”

“The physician my lord invited truly is a godlike man. The medicine recorded in these books is extraordinary. If you are sleepy, then go rest first.” Diao Chan smiled as she spoke.

“You may withdraw, Little Shu. It so happens that I have something to say to Diao Chan.”

Jiang Wen had walked beneath the pavilion. Both Little Shu and Diao Chan started in surprise. Diao Chan hurriedly rose and bowed. “This concubine Diao Chan greets my lord.”

“Little Shu greets my lord.”

“You may go.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Wen walked to Diao Chan’s side. Her whole body carried a delicate orchid fragrance. Her pointed oval face stirred the heart, and her alluring eyes held the soul fast.

With Jiang Wen standing so close, Diao Chan grew somewhat unnatural and turned her gaze aside. Her jade-like hands clenched uneasily, her heart in slight turmoil.

“Master Zhongjing’s medicine is without equal in this age. If you wish to study medicine, it will be of great benefit to you.”