The servant led them into the complex. Hui wandered along behind him, looking around more closely this time. The grand manor’s roof was missing a tile or two, though it had been well hidden, and some of the paint chipped off the walls and pillars. The floor, though clean, showed signs of disrepair; in places, the cobbles rose and fell with unseen roots, or simply jolted up out of the earth with age. The servants wore old and worn clothes, some even cleverly patched. He raised a hand to his chin. It’s well hidden, but now that I’m looking, it’s clear the manor has fallen on hard times.
Of course, it remains that there’s a gap between what I’d expect and what the Fu Clan calls hard times, but at least I can tell that they’d faced some difficulties, now that I’m looking for it.
A little boy came hurtling out of one of the buildings straight toward Hui and Ying Lin. Chasing after him, a servant glanced at the visitors and fell back subtly. The boy raced ahead and slammed into Hui’s leg. He toppled backward and hit his head. For a second, he blinked at the sky in silence. Then tears welled up, his cheeks reddened, and he opened his mouth and wailed.
Hui glanced down. He looked at the boy, cast a wary look at the servant, then crouched and extended a hand to the wailing child. Startled, the child took his hand and climbed to his feet, his tears forgotten.
“Who are you?” he asked, looking up at Hui.
Hui smiled. “A passing physician.”
The servant rushed forward at last and took the child from Hui. Panicked, he checked over the boy. “Young Master! Are you hurt?”
Instantly, the child began to wail again.
Hui wrinkled his brows subtly, ears aching. He resisted the urge to cover them and looked at the child. Young Master? Huh, it is the same boy from yesterday. Fu… what was it? Eh… did Aunty Wen not say?
The boy nodded bravely, but tears still rolled down his cheeks. The servant glared at Hui. “You… how dare you injure our Young Master, Fu Yinfei!”
Hui blinked. Instinctively, he backed up and bowed deeply. “I apologize. I never meant to interrupt Young Master’s path.” Ah? Blaming me for this young child running into my leg? I did nothing, Elder Brother! I’m innocent!
“Fu Yinfei ran into Xie Hao, not the other way around!” Ying Lin snapped, stepping forward. She crossed her arms and looked down on Fu Yinfei and the crouching servant.
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“Ying Lin!” Hui straightened up and grabbed her back, stuffing her behind him. He grinned widely at the servant and Fu Yinfei, embarrassed. “Please forgive this servant’s poor manners.”
“How bold! You dare charge into our manor and treat our Young Master roughly?” the servant snapped, crossing his arms.
Ah, we’re back on script, then. Hui sighed internally. Externally, he waved his hands defensively and backed away, repeatedly bowing. “No, no. Please forgive us. We didn’t know what we did wrong.”
Ying Lin frowned at Hui. “Xie Hao, you aren’t in the wrong. You shouldn’t apologize…”
“Shhh! Survival comes first!” Hui hissed back. Who cares if I’m in the wrong? The most important thing is that I survive! If I can get out of this with a little apology, I’ll take it. Words are stronger than fists!
The servant glared at them. “You think mere words can solve this? Don’t tell jokes! You’d better be prepared to face justice!”
Hmm, someone really wants me dead. I wonder if it’s… Hui cowered before the servant, repeatedly and profusely apologizing. I wonder if I’ll have to get executed? In the worst case, I’ll suggest I take responsibility for myself and Ying Lin and get beheaded for both of us. It’s not as if that’ll kill me.
Ying Lin shook her head. “It’s not our fault! We did nothing!”
The servant’s face reddened, and he took a deep breath, readying another tirade.
“Ying Lin!” Hui admonished her sharply. Dammit, do you like getting lectured to? Let him have it! The faster you shut up and listen, the sooner we walk away.
Fu Yinfei glanced up and tugged the servant’s sleeve. “It’s okay. I’m not hurt.”
About to launch into another lecture, the servant suddenly deflated. “Are… are you sure, Young Master? These cretins—”
“Don’t hurt them! It’s my fault. I ran into him,” Fu Yinfei insisted.
Hui nodded, smiling at the child. What a good, honest kid. He’s better than a manorful of servants.
The servant frowned. “Still, they injured Young Master. They ought to be punished.”
Fu Yinfei glanced at Ying Lin and shook his head.
Ah… puppy love. How cute, Hui thought, shaking his head slightly.
Gritting his teeth, the servant backed away. “Mind yourselves. Next time won’t be so simple.”
Hui bowed. “Of course, of course. Many thanks for sir’s kind warning.”
What an obvious setup. The servant chased the boy toward me and deliberately didn’t stop him. Someone in this manor wants me gone, by any means necessary. He touched his shoulder, where the sword qi had been sealed into his arm. Was that… not a mistake, perhaps, but a deliberate attempt to sabotage my health? Does Han Qin want me dead? A fellow doctor… well, what if I found that seal in Fu Liyu’s body? If he’s the one who put it there, and did so maliciously, then…
Is Han Qin acting alone? Does the Fu Clan know about the seal? Or… is someone in her family conspiring against her?
But why? Are they jealous? Does her sister want that sleazy Mo Gonglu, too? Is she going to succeed some kind of technique or fortune?
Only one way to find out. Adjusting his robes, Hui followed their guide deeper into the manor. Time to descend into the belly of the beast.
I wonder how long it will take for the man himself to appear, now that his setup has failed…