Duan Wenjin
As the carriage approached the Xie residence, it changed course and headed towards Renji Hall.
"Do you remember our initial doubts?" Xie Chengnan asked.
"Renjitang. You mean... the person we met outside Mingdu Prefecture last time?"
"That's right."
"But this isn't the way to Renjitang." Even though Lin Yi didn't know the way, he knew that Renjitang's main hall was located in a market area lined with shops, a prime location where every inch of land was precious. It would definitely be bustling and noisy near noon, unlike now where it was getting quieter and quieter as they walked.
"Outskirts, branch hall."
With just these few words, Lin Yi suddenly understood what Xie Chengnan wanted to take him to investigate.
It was at the branch clinic outside the city that Master Liu learned about a method to abort a child using drugs with conflicting properties. And besides that, there might be other clues.
The branch clinic was indeed much quieter than the main clinic, but its uniform decor was still evident—dignified yet warm, befitting a national chain. No, I mean, a chain clinic. Its grandeur and scale were comparable to a top-tier hospital in a small town.
They originally intended to inquire at the counter about the details of Master Liu's visit that day, but unexpectedly encountered someone they didn't expect.
But it wasn't entirely unexpected, since, comparatively speaking, they were more like the uninvited guests.
"Young Master Xie?" The speaker had a clear and pleasant voice and a dignified appearance. "Oh, and Miss Qiu too."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Duan Wenjin, and I am the assistant manager of Renjitang."
It turned out to be him—Liu San's lover.
It's no wonder Lin Yi didn't recognize him; they had never crossed paths before, and the only time Lin Yi knew his name was when Xie Chengnan told him about him while Lin Yi was still in prison.
Xie Chengnan was not entirely unfamiliar with him. In the past few days, whether he was trying to get information from Wan Muchun or sending Cang Xie to keep an eye on him, he had already learned most of the man's life story.
Xie Chengnan was almost certain that the person he had brushed past outside Mingdu Prefecture in the heat of the moment when the case first broke out was this man.
Later, he instructed Cang Xie to pay close attention to this person, and they didn't find anything outrageous. The only suspicious point was that this person had had several contacts with the Liu family before. But this was not surprising; if they had no connection, how could he be involved with Madam Liu the Third?
This matter wasn't very important, and they hadn't figured it out yet, so Xie Chengnan didn't tell Qiu Qingye.
Lin Yiqi asked, "You know me?"
"Miss Qiu's father is the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, deeply trusted by His Majesty, and shoulders the heavy responsibility of ensuring the health and well-being of the royal family. His medical skills are so superb that I, Duan, admire him greatly. Although Miss Qiu is a woman, she is by no means inferior. Since its opening, Xinglin Medical Clinic has become a celebrated story in the medical world."
Lin Yi smiled somewhat embarrassedly upon hearing such straightforward praise, and said, "I really don't deserve it, you flatter me."
After a few pleasantries, Lin Yi did not forget the man's questionable identity.
He asked, seemingly casually, "Do you usually practice medicine here?"
Duan Wenjin smiled and said, "Not often. Since my father took over as the head of Renjitang, he has been busy traveling between various halls. When he is too busy, I help him out. Today I just happened to come here to take a look."
Lin nodded. His words were perfectly worded and aligned with the information they had, so there was nothing wrong with them for the time being.
Lin Yi couldn't think of anything else to ask for the moment, so she nudged Xie Chengnan with her elbow, signaling him to continue.
Xie Chengnan seemed oblivious.
Lin Yi felt helpless, but didn't want to miss such a good opportunity, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue the awkward conversation.
"So, do you usually spend most of your time at the Mingzhou headquarters?"
“Previously, I practiced medicine at the main clinic, but now as an assistant, I’m very busy with miscellaneous tasks.” Duan Wenjin smiled self-deprecatingly. “Not only is my practice time greatly reduced, but my medical skills are probably not as good as before. However, if Miss Qiu needs me, she can come to the main clinic to see me on the 18th of each month.”
This sounded like a polite remark, but Lin Yi nodded and agreed earnestly.
Duan Wenjin smiled again: "The Qiu family is a family of doctors. It is really a disservice to have you come to me for treatment."
Lin Yi waved his hand, "I'm not wronged, I'm not wronged."
Perhaps finally unable to bear this pointless conversation any longer, Duan Wenjin gave them the order to leave: "I have other matters to attend to. May I ask that you two leave?"
Xie Chengnan spoke up, "There are still quite a few days until the eighteenth of next month. It's a rare opportunity to meet, so why don't we—" He looked at Qiu Qingye, his eyes filled with affection, "and perhaps we could take a little longer and have him take your pulse today?"
Lin Yi was taken aback, because he had not expected to meet them here at all, and they had not discussed their strategy before coming.
But he only hesitated for a moment before readily agreeing, "That's right, is it convenient for you?"
"Then come with me." Duan Wenjin led them into the medical room in the back hall.
There were only two or three people in the clinic, and a faint smell of medicine filled the air.
Lin Yi extended her wrist and placed it on the pulse pillow. She knew that Xie Chengnan was doing this to test his medical skills, so she paid close attention to observe him.
Duan Wenjin gently closed his eyes, extended three fingers and placed them on his pulse, pressing down slightly with his fingers to feel the rhythm of the pulse under his skin.
Judging by the technique alone, it's quite professional.
"To be honest, A-Ye and I have been married for a long time, but she hasn't conceived yet." Xie Chengnan made a troubled, embarrassed, and somewhat regretful expression, glancing at Qiu Qingye's belly.
Lin Yi quickly turned her head and glared at him. She thought to herself that Xie Chengnan was too strange. He was talking nonsense without thinking, without blushing, and he spoke as if it were the truth.
Duan Wenjin paused for a moment, then closed his eyes again, quietly feeling the pulse beating under his fingertips—gentle yet powerful, smooth and coordinated.
He chuckled lightly: "Young Marquis, you are joking. We've never shared a room, so how could there be any movement?"
Neither of them expected that he could even utter the words "I've never had sex before."
He couldn't help but feel a little regretful: this probing must have alerted the enemy.
Duan Wenjin withdrew his hand, his tone no longer as gentle as before: "Do you two wish to test my skills? Although I am far from being a doctor for generations and a favorite of His Majesty, I have traveled with my father to various places over the years and have seen many difficult and complicated diseases. My medical skills are quite well-known in Mingzhou City. You two need not worry about this."
Both of them remained silent, somewhat embarrassed.
“I was narrow-minded. Renjitang is indeed not just a name without substance,” Xie Chengnan said, turning to Qiu Qingye with a defeated expression. “It seems you still have a lot to learn.”
With just a few words, he transformed a deliberate probing into a friendly exchange of ideas among colleagues; his acting was superb. Lin Yi almost wanted to clap his hands in approval and award him an Oscar on the spot.
The steps have already been laid out; all she has to do is agree: "Yes, there are always people more capable than you, and mountains beyond mountains. Well then, we won't bother you any longer."
The two left Renjitang sheepishly, and Lin Yi practically fled to the waiting carriage.
After getting on the bus, Lin Yi was still feeling ashamed and angry that Xie Chengnan had made up such a lame excuse without consulting her, and that he had been exposed on the spot.
In short, they've made a huge fool of themselves.
"Neither of us expected to run into him, so how can we discuss it? I'm just acting according to the situation. He might forget about it as soon as he turns around, so what's there to care about?"
Lin Yi fell silent. What he said was true, and Lin Yi couldn't refute it.
However, seeing Xie Chengnan remain calm and composed like an old monk in meditation, while only he himself was easily frightened, he couldn't help but sigh: How can he be so shameless when he is so much younger than him?
Having encountered Duan Wenjin this time, the matter I originally wanted to investigate naturally came to nothing, and I can only look for another opportunity.
However, this also reminded them that given their conspicuous identities, any investigation would inevitably face numerous obstacles, so they needed to be extremely cautious and find another way.
The two men looked at each other in the carriage and simultaneously thought of the same person.
...
Feng Zhengxian swaggered into the Yong'an Marquis's residence, his folding fan fluttering incessantly.
"I'll stay here tonight. You can go back to your residence and wait for me. Come and pick me up in a few days." He said, tossing his hair with a smug look on his face.
This was Lin Yi's idea. If Xie Chengnan were to handle it, he would at most visit Xie's temporary residence, have a pot of tea, and then forcefully demand Xie's help.
Lin Yi immediately rejected the idea: "We were asking for a favor after all. We were able to get into the burial room because of his help. And you even injured him."
Xie Chengnan frowned upon hearing this: "Do I need to beg him?"
"Helping each other out, good brothers help each other out, okay?" Lin Yi rolled his eyes speechlessly. How come he never noticed before that Xie Chengnan liked to be so obsessed with these strange things?
"Wouldn't it be better to visit him at his residence?" Xie Chengnan asked, puzzled. Although he had single-handedly supported the Marquis's mansion for years and was not ignorant of social etiquette, it was mostly about scheming and flattery. He had no interest in such insincere interactions, which was why the Marquis's mansion had become increasingly desolate. This also precisely demonstrated that he was truly not very good at maintaining relationships.
Lin Yi explained, "Visiting someone's home is naturally a matter of sincerity, but it depends on the person. Being too polite can backfire. Aren't you two very close? Judging from his expression, he seems to really enjoy living with you."
This statement could easily lead to misunderstandings. Lin Yi realized this, so he added, "I had Cang Xie inquire, and his injuries have healed. He's currently staying at the Yue residence, so coming by carriage won't be a problem." After saying this, he felt a little guilty, realizing that he had assigned Cang Xie a task without his permission, and wondered if Cang Xie would be angry.
Xie Chengnan didn't notice this at all, and just shook his head and said, "He thinks this Marquis's mansion is too shabby, so he probably won't stay here. Didn't you see that the other day?"
Lin Yi retorted, "He might not have wanted to stay that day, but he might be willing today. Yue Mingzhang is very discerning; he probably already had this in mind."
Xie Chengnan thought what she said made sense, so he acquiesced.
So, when Feng was idly recuperating and feeling utterly bored, he received a letter from Xie Chengnan inviting him to stay at the Marquis's residence for a while.
He was overjoyed to see the note. Back at the manor, he stubbornly insisted, "Just to give the Marquis's family face, I'll go and see it." But once he arrived, he couldn't hide his smugness: "So you've finally met your match! What, have you had a change of heart and want to make up for that kick?"
"Let me tell you, Xie Chengnan, don't take advantage of our good relationship. If you don't treat me well, I won't forgive you."
Xie Chengnan rolled his eyes at him. "Are you going in or not?"
Feng Zhengxian wanted to stand up for himself, but he was also worried about Xie Chengnan's temper—if he didn't go in now, Xie Chengnan might actually turn around and lock him out, which would make him look even worse.
At this moment, Qiu Qing also stepped in to smooth things over, half scolding and half explaining, "How can you talk to your brother like that? Didn't you just say that you felt bad for hurting him?"
When did I say I felt bad about it?
"You're just being stubborn." No matter what he said, Lin Yi labeled him in front of Feng Zhengxian.
Seeing Xie Chengnan's resentful and unconvinced expression, Feng Zhengxian felt great.
His sister-in-law is actually a pretty good person, much better than the rumors say. He really needs someone to teach him a lesson.
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