Chapter 20: The Minister’s Son

"You!"

Ultimately, the Xiaoqi was a member of the Jinyiwei. Tu Jiuan had to consider the face of the Northern Chief Military Commission; he could not stand by and watch an outsider deal with a Jinyiwei in such a manner.

"Assistant Commander Tu, a traitor cannot be considered a member of the Jinyiwei, so you need not worry about whether Prince Zhao will hold this against you."

Although Lu Chenzhou felt that what Chi Han was doing was indeed somewhat cruel, he was curious to see how Tu Jiuan would respond. At this moment, Tu Jiuan’s face had turned ashen, and his eyes were wide with rage.

"Hiss..."

Everyone’s gaze turned to Chi Han and the blade that had appeared in his hand at some point; the steel was stained with blood.

The Xiaoqi was in such agony he could not even speak; he collapsed to the ground, his tendons severed by Chi Han. Chi Han then took a cloth and stuffed it into the man's mouth.

"You should thank me. After all, the interrogations I employ are far more swift than those of your Jinyiwei."

Chi Han's behavior was already shocking enough, but his words were chilling enough to make Shen Hua, standing outside the door, feel a shiver run down her spine.

Tu Jiuan glared fiercely at Chi Han, wishing he could kill him on the spot, but reason told him to hold back. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years; this debt could be settled slowly in the future. He turned away, not wishing to watch any longer.

"From this moment on, you have half an hour to decide whether or not to tell the truth. If you do not, I will break one of your legs every half hour. I will crush your bones, piece by piece, slowly. It might be a little painful."

At this, a member of the Dali Temple handed Chi Han a tiny hammer. He took it and waved it in front of the Xiaoqi.

"I have long heard that Assistant Minister Chi has a great talent for interrogating prisoners. Today, I have truly witnessed it."

Though Lu Chenzhou’s appearance was as calm as water, his eyes were as sharp as blades.

Chi Han replied with airy indifference: "You flatter me."

Lu Chenzhou wanted to say more but held his tongue, suppressing his inner fire.

Chi Han added, "It will take some time here. If you two trust me, you may go and have a meal. When you return later, I will certainly provide you with a satisfactory confession."

"Then we shall leave it to you."

Tu Jiuan had been wanting to leave for some time; Chi Han’s suggestion suited him perfectly. He ordered his subordinates to remain and watch—partly to see how Chi Han interrogated, and partly to ensure the Xiaoqi did not blurt out anything unrelated to the case. Lu Chenzhou also had his subordinates keep an eye on the Dali Temple men, as the Ministry of Justice was technically the primary agency in charge of this case.

"What kind of person is that Chi Han?" Shen Hua asked as soon as she stepped out of the Northern Chief Military Commission.

Lu Chenzhou looked at her with a strange expression, tinged with a hint of self-mockery. "For the Ghost Doctor Shen Hua, such a scene is merely a trivial matter, is it not?"

Shen Hua curled her lips without expression, as if she were indifferent to the cruelty Chi Han had just displayed; she was simply curious about the man himself, whose bone-crushing methods were entirely unbefitting of his position at the Dali Temple.

Seeing that Shen Hua did not reply, Lu Chenzhou continued, "Dr. Shen owes me a favor today. It wouldn't be too much to ask for a meal in return, would it?"

Shen Hua thought, so be it. She did not like owing people favors, especially not Lu Chenzhou, a man she still could not see through. She went back to the clothing shop to change, but as she stepped out, she accidentally bumped into someone.

"Miss, we meet again." Jin Zhaonan’s face was wreathed in smiles.

"Jin Zhaonan?"

Lu Chenzhou emerged from the changing area, having just bought himself some new clothes.

"You know each other?" Jin Zhaonan and Lu Chenzhou spoke almost at the same time, though Jin Zhaonan’s face held a glimmer of curiosity.

Shen Hua looked at Lu Chenzhou. She was never one for words, and she was too lazy to explain such things.

Lu Chenzhou quickly explained to Jin Zhaonan, "This is Dr. Shen Hua."

Jin Zhaonan excitedly stepped forward and grabbed Shen Hua’s arm, confirming, "You are a doctor? A female doctor at that? No wonder you have such a pleasant scent of herbs about you."

Shen Hua quickly pulled her arm away and used a finger to keep him at a distance. Jin Zhaonan realized his impropriety and hurriedly bowed in apology.

"Brother-in-law, you two..."

"Dr. Shen is someone I invited to conduct an autopsy. We have a tricky case on our hands recently, and the causes of death are quite peculiar, which is why I brought in the Ghost Doctor Shen Hua to assist me."

Hearing Jin Zhaonan call Lu Chenzhou "brother-in-law," Shen Hua asked in confusion, "Are you relatives?"

Jin Zhaonan nodded. "Dr. Shen, it’s like this: my mother’s sister is his mother-in-law."

"When did you return to Nanjing?"

"I arrived just yesterday."

Lu Chenzhou asked, "Did you come back on your own, or did your father drag you back from Beijing?"

Jin Zhaonan looked a bit embarrassed and could only chuckle.

"Dr. Shen and I are going to find a place to eat. Would you like to join us?"

"I would love to!"

***

Jin Zhaonan sent his attendants back to the estate. Shen Hua hesitated for a moment and looked at Lu Chenzhou, but he only offered a faint smile without responding.

"Dr. Shen, the two of us brothers shall not stand on ceremony then."

The restaurant Lu Chenzhou chose was one Shen Hua had never entered, but judging by the decor and the patrons, she could guess that the meal would not be cheap. However, having already agreed, she had to pay with a stiff upper lip.

"Shen Hua, you are so young and already have your own medical clinic. What kind of medical texts do you usually read?"

Jin Zhaonan was about the same age as Shen Hua, and the fact that someone had achieved something he hadn't—and a female doctor at that—made him incredibly envious.

Shen Hua did not speak, continuing to eat her meal.

"Where is your clinic? I shall visit you another day."

Seeing that Shen Hua still would not engage, Jin Zhaonan gave up. He whispered to Lu Chenzhou, "Brother-in-law, is Dr. Shen always like this?"

Lu Chenzhou placed a piece of meat in his bowl and said, "When will you ever change that habit of yours? You’ve been talkative since you were a child. If your father weren't the Minister of War, you probably wouldn't even be able to find a wife."

Jin Zhaonan popped the meat into his mouth, smiled happily at Lu Chenzhou, and glanced at Shen Hua. Seeing her still head-down, eating, he stopped talking.

"What did you say your name was?" Shen Hua suddenly put down her chopsticks.

Jin Zhaonan immediately replied, "Jin Zhaonan. We should be around the same age; just call me Zhaonan."

Lu Chenzhou’s expression from the side was rather intriguing.

"Jin Zhaonan, Dr. Shen Hua is a famous figure in the Ghost Market. Your family has strict discipline; if your father finds out, he might just break your legs."

"What, the Ghost Market?"

"Yes, that is not a place for the likes of you."

"Interesting, truly interesting! When I was in Beijing, I always heard there was a Ghost Market in Nanjing where one could buy things rare in this world."

Lu Chenzhou had only meant to scare Jin Zhaonan, but he hadn't expected his cousin to be fascinated rather than afraid.

"Do you study medicine too?" Shen Hua asked Jin Zhaonan.

"Does it not look like it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Zhaonan sat next to Shen Hua and, without waiting for her reaction, placed his hand on her left wrist. This time, Shen Hua did not pull away; instead, she turned her head slightly to look at him.

Suddenly, Jin Zhaonan withdrew his hand. His eyes were unfocused, looking at Shen Hua in disbelief.

"You... why do you have no pulse?"

Jin Zhaonan placed his hand back to check again, but his face remained filled with confusion. "Brother-in-law, she has no pulse."

Although Lu Chenzhou did not know medicine, he knew that a person could not live without a pulse. He assumed Shen Hua was just teasing Jin Zhaonan.

"Dr. Shen is not like others. Perhaps her pulse is hidden elsewhere."

"What?"

Jin Zhaonan was captivated by the strangeness of Shen Hua. He pulled his hand away and guessed, "Are you two conspiring to trick me?"

Seeing Jin Zhaonan’s naive behavior—so unlike a pampered young master from a Minister’s household—a rare smile blossomed on Shen Hua’s face.

"So Dr. Shen can actually smile." Lu Chenzhou remarked out of the blue.

Perhaps Shen Hua hadn't realized she was smiling; at his words, she reverted to her original state, and the smile vanished instantly.

"The meal is finished. Don't speak of me owing you any favors in the future." Shen Hua rose to leave.

"Shen Hua, you haven't told me how you did that just now." Jin Zhaonan followed her as she left.

Shen Hua had to stop. She knew that if she didn't explain it to this "leech," he would probably follow her all the way to the clinic.

"Briefly sealing the life gate can save one's life."

Jin Zhaonan did not understand. "What does that mean?"

"Young Master Jin, perhaps a career in the civil service exams would suit you better."

With that, Shen Hua strode away, fearing that Jin Zhaonan would follow her again.

"Brother-in-law, how did you meet Shen Hua? Tell me about it." Jin Zhaonan pestered Lu Chenzhou again.

Lu Chenzhou, full and satisfied, patted his stomach and laughed, "Cousin, you must know that Dr. Shen you just saw is not really Dr. Shen. What you saw is only one of her many faces. Perhaps the next time you see her, she will be someone else entirely."

Jin Zhaonan was left confused. How could he know that the person who had just had a meal with him would have a strange, unfamiliar face the next time they met?

***

Lu Chenzhou patted his shoulder. "I have to go to the Northern Chief Military Commission. You should head home early as well."

Jin Zhaonan remained immersed in the last thing Lu Chenzhou had said. He could not understand what "the next time you see her, she will be someone else" meant. Therefore, he decided not to go home yet, but to go to the Ghost Market to find out for himself, and incidentally, to see Shen Hua’s clinic.

As he stepped out, two servants were already waiting outside the restaurant.

"Young Master."

Jin Zhaonan clicked his tongue impatiently. "I’m going to the Ghost Market. Which of you knows the way?"

"The Ghost Market!"

The two servants exchanged a glance; one of them clearly looked terrified. Jin Zhaonan had only brought one study companion to Nanjing, and the other was sent by the housekeeper, so he did know the way to the Ghost Market.

"Young Master, that is not a place for you to go."

The servant tried to stop him, but it was impossible. Jin Zhaonan was already walking, saying as he went, "Even if you don't tell me, I can just spend a bit of silver to find out. But when I go back and tell Uncle Jin that you didn't guide me well and let my purse get stolen, do you think he’ll believe you or me?"

In the eyes of the Jin household, Jin Zhaonan was a kind and easygoing master, so his words were naturally credible. The servant had no choice but to reply indignantly, "My Young Master, I will lead the way, but please, do not tell Steward Jin about this."

Jin Zhaonan snapped his fingers at the servant to indicate he should lead the way quickly.

"Young Master, now is not the right time."

"Why?"

"The Ghost Market doesn't open until the Xu hour at night. There won't be anyone there now."

Jin Zhaonan paused, as if suddenly thinking of something, and asked his servants to lend him all the silver they had, promising to return double the amount later.

After Shen Hua left the restaurant and walked for several streets, she was blocked by two men as she passed through a small alley. She did not want trouble, so she turned to head back, but the men blocked the path, forcing her to deal with these ants.

A moment later, before the thugs could even display their street-bully skills, the knife in Shen Hua’s hand was already stained with blood, and four fingers belonging to human hands had fallen to the ground.

The four men huddled together, clutching their fingers. Shen Hua treated them exactly as they had treated her, cornering them against the wall with an eerie smile on her face.

"If I ever see you again, beware that the index finger of your other hand might not be spared."

The four brutes, who had intended to bully Shen Hua, fell to their knees begging for mercy, as if their very lifeblood had been seized.

"Get lost!"

As she spoke, Shen Hua wiped the blood from the tip of her blade. The four men on the ground scrambled to flee.

"Senior Sister, you are being far too lenient with them."

A familiar voice came from the rooftop.

Shen Hua did not look up; she knew from the voice that it was Jiang Huaiyu, and she guessed that her Master had sent her to find her.

"Where is this?"

Jiang Huaiyu led Shen Hua to an open space where two nameless tombstones stood.

"Why are you dressed like this?"

Seeing her Master appear behind her, Shen Hua hurried to pay her respects.

"I encountered some trouble, but it has been resolved."

"Oh?"

Her Master’s single word of doubt made Shen Hua’s heart tighten. Every time this happened, it meant her Master was not satisfied with her answer.

"Master, I want to know about Wei Shiqi..."

"It was not him."

Her Master seemed to know every step Shen Hua took, and even what she was thinking, so he gave her the answer before she could even ask.

"Then what about Zhou Zheng? Why choose to strike in the residence? Even if we didn't do it, he wouldn't have lived for many more days."

Her Master looked at Shen Hua, his eyes seemingly filled with something unspeakable. He asked, "Hua'er, sometimes what you see is not necessarily the truth. Some people appear easygoing or weak on the surface, perhaps only to make you lower your guard."

Shen Hua was a clever person; her Master’s reminder made her realize in an instant that Zhou Zheng’s death might not be so simple.

"Master, did Zhou Zheng not die at the hands of our own people?"

"We are not so heartless as to choose that place to strike, and as you said, he wouldn't have lived more than a few days anyway; it was unnecessary. As for what he told Lu Chenzhou, that is not important. He would not have revealed the Ghost Pavilion."

Her Master slowly took Shen Hua’s hand in his and said softly, "Once a person has a soft spot, it is very easy to be manipulated."

Shen Hua heard two layers of meaning in her Master’s words: first, a warning to her; and second, a revelation that he knew of her meeting with Ya Sang.

"Those were merely worldly possessions; I just gave them to her."

Shen Hua let go of her Master’s hand and wanted to kneel, but her Master stopped her.

"Master, your disciple acted on her own and gave the items to Ya Sang; I deserve to be punished."

"It does not matter. If you gave them, you gave them. But whether she has the life to use them is another matter."

Shen Hua lowered her head, her heart tightening. She knew full well what her Master meant.