Xiao Yao seemed somewhat frustrated that Rong Zhi was not scared, and did not trouble her upon returning. She continued to linger at the yamen, having Lu An help her search for people.
Rong Zhi quietly sought out Xia Yunting for several days, but found no clues. It was as if the person had vanished into thin air.
She could no longer afford to delay here. She needed to return to the Imperial City and check on the situation at the General's Mansion.
At this time, Chu Qingze and Zhang Yajing's financial aid had also been distributed. They happened to be packing their belongings to set off with Rong Zhi. Including Cui Xi, there were four of them. They did not alarm anyone, found a carriage, and quietly left Changping County.
As the scenery behind them receded, Rong Zhi felt a sense of melancholy. Coming here was initially an accident, and she never expected so many things to happen.
"Miss Lin, is the Imperial City very luxurious? Is everyone very rich, the kind of place where you can scatter money freely on the streets?"
On the road, Cui Xi's curiosity finally got the better of her, and Zhang Yajing also looked at her with questioning eyes.
Rong Zhi nodded. "It's true that there are many wealthy people, but officials and nobles have many troubles. It's easy to offend them if you're not careful. If your family is in government, sending you to jail or giving you a beating is an easy matter, so don't think too highly of it."
"Ah..." Cui Xi felt a little uneasy hearing this.
"Don't worry, we are going to study medicine. As long as we don't provoke others, they won't make things difficult for us." Compared to Cui Xi, Zhang Yajing was much calmer. Although she had never been to the Imperial City, her father had once been a county magistrate, and she was aware of some of the complexities of officialdom.
The carriage took the main road and traveled unimpeded. The four of them rested at an inn along the way and arrived at the Imperial City around noon the next day.
As soon as they entered the city, Cui Xi couldn't help but exclaim in awe, having never seen such a sight. She looked at the wide streets, the surging crowds, and the people in their opulent attire, which was impossible to see in the small county of Changping.
"Chu Qingze, what are your plans?"
Rong Zhi asked, turning her head.
"I will naturally return to my old profession, practicing medicine and treating illnesses," Chu Qingze said, his goal clear.
"Why don't you come with me to Baicao Pavilion? My master's medical skills aren't great, but he has a broad mind and is wealthy. He treats any truly capable doctor with respect. Wouldn't it be better than finding your own way?"
Rong Zhi offered her good intentions, but Chu Qingze politely declined. "I am accustomed to a free and unrestrained life. If I were to join a sect, I'm afraid I would anger my master to death. Why don't you give me the address of Baicaotang, and I'll visit once I'm settled?"
"That would be fine."
Rong Zhi looked around and found a scholar writing letters by the roadside. She walked over and said, "Young man, may I borrow your brush and ink?"
She then took out two copper coins from her purse. The scholar politely offered the paper and ink. Rong Zhi casually drew a map on the white paper. After drying the ink, she turned and handed it to Chu Qingze. "This is the address of Baicao Pavilion. If you need anything, just come find me."
Chu Qingze took it and was about to express his thanks when the scholar who wrote letters overheard their conversation and couldn't help but interject, "Why bother with Baicao Pavilion? It's practically a 'dead man's pavilion' now."
Rong Zhi paused and turned to the scholar. "What do you mean by that?"
"You must have just returned from out of town, right?" The scholar sized them up. "No wonder you don't know. The doctors at Baicao Pavilion gave a patient with a common cold an acupuncture treatment, and the patient died. They're in court now. I heard that person was powerful and influential. If this is seriously pursued, not only will that quack lose his head, but the pavilion master of Baicao Pavilion will also be held responsible."
"Died?" Rong Zhi was shocked. "Which doctor was it?"
"I heard it was a new doctor, I don't know his name. If you want to know, you can go to Baicao Pavilion and ask. The pavilion master is probably selling off his assets right now to quell the matter."
Hearing this, Rong Zhi became anxious. She turned to the three behind her. "You find an inn to stay first. I'll investigate and resolve this matter, and then I'll find you."
The three also realized the gravity of the situation and agreed.
After parting ways, Rong Zhi didn't waste a moment and went straight to Baicao Pavilion. Seeing the dilapidated entrance, Rong Zhi thought she had come to the wrong place.
Baicao Pavilion was where she had once apprenticed. A beggar girl suddenly possessing medical skills was bound to attract attention. She had only apprenticed there to conceal her identity. Although she had long mastered everything her master taught her, she still remembered his kindness. Therefore, after becoming independent, she would often visit and recommend good students to her master, Fang Tianhua.
In her memory, Baicao Pavilion was a large establishment, with shelves filled with various herbs and a constant stream of customers getting their medicine. But now, it was deserted, the shelves empty, as if it had been robbed.
Just as she was confirming if this was indeed Baicao Pavilion, a stern-faced, lean middle-aged man came out from inside. The man looked as if he hadn't slept well, with dark circles under his eyes and a vacant gaze. Seeing someone standing at the door, he instinctively waved his hand.
"If you're here to get medicine, please go back. We have no herbs, no doctors, and the shop is about to close. Go get your medicine elsewhere!"
"Master, it's me." Rong Zhi walked in and pointed to the empty room. "Who robbed the pharmacy? Tell me, and I'll help you snatch it back."
Upon recognizing Rong Zhi, Fang Tianhua's mouth twitched. "Why are you back? I thought you had found some influential noble and were living the high life."
"I'm not that fortunate." Seeing that there was no one else in the pharmacy, Rong Zhi casually found a place to sit and got straight to the point. "I heard the pharmacy is involved in a manslaughter case. What's going on?"
"It has nothing to do with you." Fang Tianhua sounded a bit irate and had no desire to talk with Rong Zhi. He lifted the curtain and prepared to walk to the back courtyard.
Rong Zhi's tone was unhurried. "You should know that telling me is the simplest way to resolve it. You might not care about this pharmacy or these herbs, but if any of our senior or junior disciples lose their heads because of this, the blame will fall on you, Master."
Fang Tianhua's footsteps halted. He turned and pointed at Rong Zhi, his face darkening. "So, the apprentice I regret taking the most is you. Are you the master or am I? Your medical talent is heaven-defying enough, and you're only 18, yet you act so mature. You're even more annoying than your old master."
Rong Zhi smiled. "Then tell me."
Fang Tianhua sighed helplessly and sat down opposite Rong Zhi.
"This whole thing is just bad luck."
It turned out that during Rong Zhi's absence, he had taken in a new apprentice named Han Ke, who was a wealthy merchant from the Imperial City. His family had some savings. He refused to be a young master and insisted on becoming a doctor. His family doted on him and, upon hearing his desire to study medicine, hired a tutor to teach him at home. Consequently, Han Ke only had a superficial understanding of medicine.
Unexpectedly, he wasn't content with fooling around at home and insisted on seeking a master. Having heard that Baicao Pavilion recruited disciples widely and that its graduates were all excellent, he came to apprentice there.
Fang Tianhua was initially unwilling to accept a scion of a powerful family, but he couldn't refuse the Han family's influence, so he reluctantly agreed.
"This Han Ke is truly fearless, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth. He had only learned a little before trying to treat people. The patient originally had a common cold, but after his acupuncture, the person's mouth became crooked, then they became crippled, and finally, they stopped breathing."
This was not a doctor saving lives, but a Yama king demanding lives.
Rong Zhi's anger surged as she heard this. "What was the background of the deceased's family?"
"They are also a wealthy family, surnamed Shi. The deceased was the young master of the Shi family, Shi Yushu. This happened three days ago, and the body has not yet been buried. However, the autopsy report is out, and it is Han Ke's fault. The government arrested Han Ke yesterday, and we are also responsible. It's either compensation or death." Fang Tianhua looked at Rong Zhi and thought for a moment before finally waving his hand. "I originally planned to ask you to return and share our hardships, but you went somewhere for a while. Since you're back, you can come with us to be beheaded tomorrow, to share life and death."
Even at this critical juncture, Fang Tianhua still had the inclination to joke.
Rong Zhi, however, caught the key point. "Who provided the autopsy report?"
"Naturally, the coroner."
"If the evidence is conclusive and it is indeed Han Ke's doing, we will not be able to escape responsibility. To resolve this matter, we must start with the body. I want to see if the deceased truly died because of Han Ke's acupuncture."
As she spoke, she prepared to get up and leave, but Fang Tianhua stopped her. "The deceased is paramount. How would they allow you to tamper with them? Moreover, if you find conclusive evidence, won't you be adding to your own guilt? I think it's better to avoid trouble. At worst, I'll go to be beheaded alone. Your senior and junior fellow disciples will be your responsibility. You take care of them. After all, your medical skills are better than mine."
He spoke a long string of words as if delivering his last will and testament. Rong Zhi heard them with one ear and let them out the other. "Master, don't worry. If it's really found to be related to you, I'll help you escape the execution ground, and we'll go to a deserted place to beg for food. In any case, we are master and apprentice, and I will not mistreat you."
After speaking, she patted her master's shoulder and walked out the door.
Fang Tianhua pondered Rong Zhi's words. Although they were well-intentioned, they sounded rather strange.
Not long after Rong Zhi left, she encountered Chu Qingze and the other two. It turned out that the three of them were worried about Rong Zhi. After finding an inn, they quickly followed the map to her location.
"What's going on?" Chu Qingze couldn't help but ask.
"Things are not looking good." Rong Zhi recounted what had just happened. "According to the law, Baicao Pavilion is not greatly responsible. However, those powerful and influential people will not give up so easily. Especially since Baicao Pavilion is a relatively large herb shop in the Imperial City, it's easy to attract envy. It's also possible that someone is deliberately exaggerating the facts to bring down Baicao Pavilion."
Hearing this, all three realized the seriousness of the situation.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I plan to go and examine the body first." She then looked at Zhang Yajing. "Yajing, with this happening now, the matter of apprenticeship will have to be put on hold for a while. If my master is beheaded because of this, and you try to apprentice now, you might have to go to the execution platform with me."
Zhang Yajing instinctively touched her neck, feeling a chill run down her spine. Then, realizing that her future master was in trouble, she asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"The most important thing now is to find out the truth. The Imperial City is not like Changping County, and you won't be able to get involved. Yajing, you should stay at the inn and rest well for these few days. I'll investigate first and then make a decision."