Chapter 60: Chatting and Laughing
The dark clouds had thinned considerably, a cerulean blue spreading from the gaps between them, gradually saturating half the sky. The silvery edges of the clouds were rendered even more distinct by the twilight, as if someone had traced a faint silver edge across the sky with their fingertips.
The warm wind blew towards me with sweet fragrance.
From afar, Gan Tang Lane was bustling with people. Ladies in blue shirts and silk skirts rubbed shoulders with vendors in short brown clothes and tied hair. The shouts mixed with the aroma of roasted Hu pancakes filled the air.
As she entered the alley, Yun Yuan's eyes were immediately drawn to a sparkling sight—a candy vendor was using a wooden mold to mold a horse, drawing a crowd of children. The amber-colored candy horse shimmered in the sunlight. Yun Yuan tapped the ceramic table in front of the stall. "Keep this Di Lu for now. I'll buy it on my way back." Suddenly, remembering the man's childish demeanor, she smiled. "Let Master Xuan taste it and see if its sweetness has changed."
Feng Yanyuan was originally looking at the crooked mane of the sugar horse with a raised eyebrow, but when he heard the three words "Master Xuan", his eyes suddenly darkened: "What do you want to bring?" He fluttered his wide sleeves and suddenly stretched out his hand towards her.
Yun Yuan was stunned. She saw that his brows were furrowed, and he tapped his knuckles impatiently in the air twice. "Why do you still keep that broken jade token of his when I'm here?"
Only then did he understand why he was so concerned about this. Yun Yuan suppressed a smile and took the jade token from his sleeve. The blue-white jade pendant clicked in his palm. "Sir, when did you become so angry? I didn't intend to use it in the first place. I can't even spend the monthly allowance you gave me."
Feng Yanyuan couldn't suppress the smile on his lips when he heard her say this, but he still put the jade token into his sleeve with a stern face: "Today's expenses will be calculated separately."
Gan Tang Lane truly lives up to its reputation.
Vermilion-lacquered restaurants and green-cloth-covered stalls are lined up one after another. The aroma of roasted meat mixed with the sweetness of candied fruit floats in the air. Meatballs, skewers, crispy cheeses, and candied fruits are spread out in a dazzling array. Tofu from Bagong Mountain is piled up into small hills, and the oil in the pancake griddle is sizzling.
Yun Yuan's nose twitched slightly, and her brows furrowed imperceptibly - the thought of the strange ingredients ruined her appetite. Like a curious cat, she cautiously approached and sniffed twice, but was absolutely unwilling to taste it.
Feng Yanyuan couldn't help but chuckle when he saw her like this: "Second brother really doesn't know you well enough. You won't be able to stay here for long." He glanced around the alley and suddenly grabbed her wrist, "Come on, I'll take you to that nice place."
After passing three alleys with wine flags fluttering, I suddenly saw a faded apricot-yellow banner rustling in the wind - a long queue had already formed under the sign, and waiters in hemp shoes were carrying food trays and moving through the crowd.
Feng Yanyuan said: "Since he mentioned it specifically, it must be correct. This way." After saying that, he pulled her across the queue and walked to the stall. He took out the jade token from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
When the stall owner saw the jade token, he immediately smiled and shouted, "Our distinguished guests have arrived!" Then a young servant in blue bowed and led them up the wooden ladder.
The windows on the second floor are bright and clean, and outside the window is a pear tree that is about to bloom.
Feng Yanyuan pushed the gilded menu toward Yun Yuan. She grasped the edge of the wooden sign, her fingertips hesitantly flicking between "Honey-Pickled Begonia" and "Cheese-Creamed Cherry." Seeing her hesitation, he suddenly chuckled, "Serve one of each, freshly made in season."
The celadon plates and bowls soon covered the entire rosewood table.
Yun Yuan had barely bitten a crescent-shaped hole into a rose pastry when the second amber walnut pastry arrived, steaming hot. By the time she'd slowly devoured the pine nut cake, the entire table was already stacked high with twelve types of pastries. She ate more and more, growing discouraged, and glared resentfully across at Feng Yanyuan, who was casually tossing an almond pastry into his mouth, swallowing it with a lurch of his Adam's apple.
"Just taste a little of each." He suddenly leaned over and poked the half-piece of Poria cocos cake in front of her with a silver stick. "Who told you to eat it all?"
Yun Yuan wiped off the icing sugar from the corner of her lips: "To waste things like this, even to the person who gave it to her..." Halfway through her words, she felt a chill on her forehead - he flicked his fingers and flicked away the fallen osmanthus petals in her hair.
"Who else do you want to give it to?"
The evening light filtered through the carved lattice window, catching the corner of her lips, which were stained with pastry. Feng Yanyuan stared at her for a moment, then suddenly turned away. "She's definitely thinner than when we were in the East Sea."
A crow flew past the window, casting a dark shadow in his eyes. Feng Yanyuan pushed the celadon plate of almond pastries toward her. The glaze made the pastries appear even more golden.
"This isn't greasy. Eat more."
Yun Yuan stroked her cheek: "How can I lose weight? Master Xuan always likes to exaggerate..."
Before she finished her words, she saw a flash of silver chopsticks - he actually picked up the half-moon pine nut cake she had bitten off and put it directly into his mouth.
The twilight outside the window suddenly became sticky, wrapping around her suddenly red cheeks.
"Don't mention him." He chewed slowly, his Adam's apple drawing a sharp line as it rolled.
"Since you've been looking for Master Xuan for so long..." She hurriedly reached for the teacup to cover up, "Why don't you catch up on the past?"
"He's very comfortable." Feng Yanyuan suddenly picked up a piece of sugar cake with the tip of his chopsticks. The sugar thread stretched out golden threads in the afterglow of the setting sun. "This young master has been looking for him all over the world, but he's hiding at home enjoying his peace and quiet." The sugar cake fell "plop" onto the small plate in front of her. "Take a bite, I'll take care of the rest."
Yun Yuan's fingertips trembled, and the sweet honey suddenly burned her: "Sir, please be careful with your words. How dare this servant..."
She was interrupted by a servant coming forward to light the candles. Looking up, she saw candlesticks throughout the shop gradually lighting up. The orange flames blended with the lingering dusk, casting flickering shadows on the carved window frames.
Feng Yanyuan suddenly chuckled: "I should warm up another pot of peach blossom wine and ask you to drink a couple of cups."
Yun Yuan suddenly looked up, her gaze meeting his candlelit eyes—the flickering flame deep within them was the same as it had been that night. Absurd memories flooded back like a tide, and she hurriedly lowered her head, even the snowy skin at the back of her neck stained the color of a crabapple blossom.
Seeing her like that, Feng Yanyuan suddenly felt the pine nut cake he had just swallowed was a little bitter. He hastily cleared his throat: "I mean... you wouldn't be so formal when you're drunk... you shouldn't..." As soon as he said that, he pursed his lips in regret.
This explanation only made things more obvious. Yun Yuan stared at the silver-threaded winding branches embroidered on the hem of her skirt, her voice as soft as a mosquito's. "I...I didn't think much of it."
Feng Yanyuan's ears were still slightly red. When he heard her call herself that, his eyes suddenly darkened. "From now on, you don't have to call me a slave." He leaned forward, causing the tea to swirl slightly. "Since you've passed the Fengtie Trial, you're at least a guard by convention." He paused. "Besides, even the King of Huainan calls you 'Pharmacist.'"
Yun Yuan said softly, "I'm just borrowing your majesty."
"It's because of you." He suddenly interrupted, his eyes deep, looking straight into hers, "If it weren't for you, I, and even King Changshan would have..."
"That's a slave..." Yun Yuan raised her eyes, only to meet his scorching gaze. The word "slave" that she hadn't uttered turned between her lips and teeth, and she swallowed it down: "It's...Yuan'er's job."
"From now on, you'll be a proper pharmacist." Feng Yanyuan casually picked up a candied kumquat, the amber frosting crumbling between his teeth. "The document of release has been submitted to the Supreme Court, and the official record will be available before the beginning of summer at the latest."
Yun Yuan watched him chewing the honey carelessly, stunned for a while, "Sir, why..."
He suddenly smiled, wiping the sugar crumbs from his lips with his fingertips. The candlelight cast a soft glow between his brows. "This way, next time you want to leave..." He paused, "at least you won't have to bear the charge of being a runaway slave."
Yun Yuan's ears burned, blood scorching from her neck to the corners of her eyes. She'd rather he questioned her and punished her, but this subtle attack only made her feel completely uneasy. An explanation would only make the truth more obvious, and without an explanation, she'd have to admit she'd escaped that sunset. Finally, she forced a fake laugh, "Young Master, you're joking again..."
Feng Yanyuan leisurely admired her ever-changing expression, then suddenly leaned forward and asked, "Since you understand pharmacology, you must be familiar with the Mohist medical tradition."
The word "Mohist" made her heart tremble again. Her drooping eyelashes trembled slightly, and she nodded.
"You said..." His voice suddenly drifted away like an echo in a deep valley, "If there are still descendants of the Mohist school, can they understand the meaning of 'impermanence'?"
Yun Yuan's heart trembled slightly, and she simply shook her head, "Slave...Yuan'er doesn't know." She continued, "But impermanence..." Her throat felt as if ice was choking her. "It is indeed a strange poison."
This poison of "impermanence" is like a decree from the underworld, summoning a person. Once the poison takes effect, there's no return. Even her father, hailed as the "God of Medicine," who debated with Feng Xiaoming for seven days, could only sigh and throw down his pen. The only antidote to this poison is to poison the will. No matter how skilled a doctor may be, even if they devise a thousand "cures," they ultimately serve only to turn people into puppets, becoming accomplices of the poison's creator.
"What about you..." Feng Yanyuan tapped the edge of the table with his fingertips and asked casually, "Have you found any clues about the antidote?"
Yun Yuan paused with her silver skewer, a crescent-shaped crack appearing in the almond pastry. She lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, "Some progress..."
"Really?" Feng Yanyuan's body suddenly collapsed.
The candle flame crackled, reflecting the panic in her eyes.
What progress was there? Even if she concocted a so-called antidote, it would be nothing more than another kind of puppet thread. But now, locked in his blazing gaze, she could only bite the bullet and say, "It's not a cure yet..." The silver skewer scratched messy lines on the pastry, "but at least... I can create a recipe to alleviate the effects of the poison."
After all, she didn't take Wuchang, and there is no need for her to provide antidote to others now. In this way... will the disaster come slower?
Feng Yanyuan was stunned for a long time, his Adam's apple rolling: "So... you don't need to take the Feng family's antidote for the time being?"
The tip of Yun Yuan's silver skewer was hanging above the almond pastry. Suddenly, it stabbed down hard, and the golden pastry cracked into spider-web-like patterns.
"Only two have been used."
Crumbs rustled onto the celadon plate, like the dark brown pills she had ground up that night in the Xinglin Garden. She had split two antidotes, divided them into twelve doses, and tested each ingredient to the sound of the night watch.
"The rest are in the bag... Would you like to see them?" she added.
Feng Yanyuan nodded dazedly, "Okay...Okay."
He didn't know whether it was good or bad, but compared to Feng Xiaoming's heart-eroding and will-corrupting antidotes, her homemade recipe might be better?
The unpleasant conversation in the afternoon came to mind again.
"About two or three months, after taking four or five antidotes..." Feng Yanxuan's voice was so low it was barely audible, but every word cut like a knife. "By then, Feng Xiaoming only needs to say a few words, and they'll be seared into that person's soul—like a thorn piercing the bone, impossible to remove, impossible to forget. The most hateful thing is, until the time comes, that person will continue to talk and laugh as usual, unaware even of the slightest change."
Feng Yanyuan's throat tightened: "So, what father meant was..."
Feng Yanxuan sighed, "If my father really wanted her to die immediately, he wouldn't have sent me here to deliver the message." He paused, then continued softly, "He said... he understands your struggle, but you have to be prepared."
Feng Yanyuan looked at Yun Yuan quietly.
She was pinching the almond biscuit that she had punctured into pieces, and stuffed it into her mouth. Crumbs fell down and stained her lips. She lowered her head, her cheeks puffed up, and her eyelashes cast a small shadow in the candlelight, as if she was deliberately avoiding his sight.
Outside the window, the night is getting darker.
The long street was brightly lit like day, with a bustling crowd. In the distance, the cheerful tunes of stringed instruments could be faintly heard, reflecting the colorful lanterns hanging between the pavilions, making it seem like a flashy dream.
He imagined his father saying, "I understand your struggle."
It was not until today that he fully understood what his mother had experienced.
"Yuan'er, let's go to Lei Ting Manor tomorrow."
Yun Yuan's fingertips trembled, and almond crisp crumbs fell from between her fingers. Lei Ting Manor? That place was remote and deserted, and You Xiao's spies couldn't reach it at all. If she went there, how could she track Feng Xiaoming's movements?
"Why?"
"Go see Senior Yue." He paused, his eyes falling on her cuffs stained with pastry crumbs. "You should also calm down and work hard on developing the antidote."
An antidote? Of course she wanted to develop one, but Xuanhetang had all the herbs, and in Shouchun, there was Youxiao secretly passing on information...
"But there are no medicinal herbs in Lei Ting Manor." She said anxiously, her voice unconsciously rising, "Here in Xuanhe Hall—"
"Before you leave tomorrow, go to Xuanhe Hall and take a good look." Feng Yanyuan interrupted her, speaking gently, "You can buy as much as you want."
Yun Yuan's throat choked.
The candle flame crackled and burst into sparks.
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