Chapter 114: A Chance Encounter

"At your service, Divine Physician," Li Jihe said respectfully. "Ever since you used your miraculous skills to save his life, our young master has never forgotten your kindness. He has sent me to find you time and again, but we always returned empty-handed. But now, it is settled! I shall send word to the young master at once, and he will surely come to visit you in person this evening."

"What?!" Liu Yitiao and Li Zhide both exclaimed in shock. The Crown Prince, Li Chengqian, was coming? What were they to do?

Liu Yitiao was preoccupied with how to avoid the encounter, while Li Zhide was busy calculating how to host such a distinguished guest.

At the same time, the way Li Zhide looked at Liu Yitiao changed. It changed to... well, it was exactly how a wealthy miser would look at a piece of flawless pure gold.

No wonder Wang Zhihong had valued Liu Yitiao so highly from the start, even making an exception to take his younger brother as a student. It turned out that Wang had long ago recognized the potential within Liu Yitiao.

"That really isn't necessary, is it?" Liu Yitiao tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop, pondering how to prevent Li Chengqian’s arrival. "What I did last time was merely a small favor, a minor effort on my part. If your young master wishes to offer thanks, he should thank Physician Wang of the 'Jihe Pharmacy.' The follow-up care and the diagnosis were entirely his achievement."

Liu Yitiao tried his best to minimize his own role and shift the credit elsewhere. It would be best to attribute everything to Wang Zhenghe, so that Li Chengqian would not be so persistent in pestering him.

Liu Yitiao’s intentions were sound, but he had underestimated Wang Zhenghe’s medical integrity and the depth of his admiration for him.

"The Divine Physician is too modest," Li Jihe said, looking at Liu Yitiao with unconcealed admiration. "Physician Wang has already told us everything that happened in that room. Physician Wang said he was merely assisting you, and that you were the only one who truly treated our young master’s wounds. Physician Wang is full of awe for your medical skills."

In Li Jihe’s eyes, Liu Yitiao’s attempt to defer credit had become a virtuous display of humility. At that moment, Liu Yitiao’s image in his mind grew even taller than it had been before.

"..." Liu Yitiao opened his mouth but could not utter a word. Looking at the eyes of Li Jihe—which were even more fervent than before—he realized that his words had backfired.

His fingers continued to tap the table. Liu Yitiao tried again: "Jihe, the main reason I helped last time was simply out of compassion; I never expected any reward. So, sigh, let it be." He stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Li Jihe was determined to summon Li Chengqian. Whether he spoke or not, the outcome would be the same.

"Jihe," Liu Yitiao stopped his tapping and spoke once more. "Don't let your young master come here. I will go with you myself. It will save your master the trouble of traveling back and forth. Besides, I have business in Chang'an anyway. My luggage is already prepared; if it is convenient for you, we can depart right now."

Since he could not refuse, he might as well be proactive. Liu Yitiao did not consider himself important enough to have the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Empire come all the way to visit him.

"Hmm," Li Jihe lowered his head and pondered for a moment. The Crown Prince coming here was not just to thank the Divine Physician for saving his life, but primarily to invite him back, wasn't it? Since the Divine Physician was being so cooperative, the Crown Prince surely would not blame him. He nodded and agreed, "That works as well, though it will mean some hardship for the Divine Physician on the journey."

"It is no matter!" Liu Yitiao waved his hand, stood up, and said, "Then I shall trouble you both to wait a moment while I inform my family. We shall depart immediately afterward."

Liu Yitiao decided that his younger brother, Liu Ertiao, could not go on this trip to Chang'an.

He was going to meet the Crown Prince, and he might even encounter major figures like the Empress Zhangsun or Li Shimin. On the surface, it seemed glorious, but in reality, it was fraught with endless risks. Whether he would return alive was uncertain, and he could not let his brother take such a risk.

"Yitiao, why the sudden rush? Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow?" Mother Liu seemed to sense that something was wrong and approached him, asking softly, "Has something happened?"

"Haha," Liu Yitiao hoisted his pack onto his shoulder and smiled easily to reassure her. "Mother, it’s nothing. Just an old friend inviting me to Chang'an. I’ll be back in a while. I’m afraid I can’t take Ertiao with me this time. When he returns from his studies, please tell him for me. If I have the time, I will pay my respects to his mentor on his behalf. Oh, and about my plot of land, I’ll have to trouble Father to keep an eye on it while I’m away."

"Don't you worry about things at home. With your father and me here, everything will be fine. But how long do you intend to be gone?" Mother Liu felt relieved by his casual tone, but immediately began to worry about his return. "Can you make it back before the spring plowing?"

Liu Yitiao said, "That is hard to say. I might be gone for two days, or perhaps half a month, but I will try my best to return before the spring plowing begins. Don't worry, Mother, I’m off."

In the courtyard, Li Zhide and Li Jihe were already waiting with the horses. Seeing Liu Yitiao emerge, Li Jihe carefully led a horse forward and offered the reins. "Divine Physician, please ride this horse. I shall share a mount with Magistrate Li."

"No need, thank you, Jihe." Liu Yitiao nodded and smiled, declining the reins. Instead, he walked straight to his donkey, Liu Wuhen, threw the pack over its back, and patted its head. "I shall ride this to Chang'an!"

"A donkey?" Li Zhide and Li Jihe exchanged glances. Li Zhide said softly, "Young Master Liu, you and Lord Li are going to Chang'an. Although it is not far, if you ride a donkey, you won't arrive even by tomorrow. I suggest you change your mount. There are some sturdy military horses at the county office; if you are not satisfied with these two, you may pick another one when we get there."

"No," Liu Yitiao bent down to untie the donkey's lead, saying, "This will suffice for me! Do not worry about me on the road; just ride as fast as you wish."

"This..." Li Zhide turned to look at Li Jihe, who was the senior of the two.

Li Jihe felt deep gratitude toward Liu Yitiao and did not wish to oppose his wishes over such trivial matters. He nodded and said, "As you wish, Divine Physician. We shall simply travel at a slower pace."

The three of them mounted their animals and headed toward Sanyuan County. On the way, Li Jihe and Li Zhide discovered that the white donkey Liu Yitiao was riding was no slower than their horses. Whether they rode fast or slow, Liu Yitiao kept pace steadily behind them. Seeing this, Li Jihe secretly marveled: a divine physician is truly divine; even the donkey he rides is extraordinary.

Li Zhide’s thought was: How strange, truly, like master, like donkey.

"Jihe, is that Chang'an City ahead?" After parting ways with Li Zhide and traveling for nearly two hours, Liu Yitiao finally saw a massive city wall, at least ten meters high, at the end of the imperial road. Having never been there before, he asked Li Jihe.

Li Jihe urged his horse forward until he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Liu Yitiao and replied, "Yes, Divine Physician. This is the North Gate of Chang'an City. Once we enter, you may stay at my residence for the time being. After I report to the Crown Prince at the palace, I will escort you to meet him."

"Very well." Liu Yitiao nodded, patted Liu Wuhen’s head, and they quickened their pace toward the North Gate. An hour earlier, Li Jihe had confessed his true identity to Liu Yitiao. Liu Yitiao had shown no surprise; when Li Jihe asked him about it, he had simply replied, "I met Wang Zhenghe this morning." Li Jihe had understood immediately.

At the city gate, both dismounted and walked into Chang'an, leading their animals.

"Divine Physician, having traveled all afternoon, you must be hungry, right?" Just as they entered the gate, Li Jihe walked up beside him and said, "I know of a decent restaurant ahead called the 'Light Breeze Pavilion.' It is quite famous in Chang'an. I would like to invite you there for a drink to relieve the fatigue of the journey. What do you think?"

Li Jihe spoke with earnestness, hoping to treat Liu Yitiao to a proper meal before he entered the palace, as a gesture of thanks for his help in Sanyuan. He feared that once Liu Yitiao entered the palace and met the Crown Prince, such an opportunity would be hard to come by.

"That sounds good." Liu Yitiao rubbed his stomach; after riding all afternoon, he was indeed hungry.

"Thank you for the honor, sir! Please, follow me!" Overjoyed, Li Jihe led the way, pulling his horse. After less than a hundred meters, they arrived before a tall, three-story restaurant. Li Jihe said, "Divine Physician, this is it."

"Light Breeze Pavilion?!" Liu Yitiao stood before the restaurant, looking at the golden plaque hanging above, and read the name aloud. He realized that the three characters were actually written in the Song typeface!

"Brother Yitiao! Brother Yitiao! Up here!" Just then, a voice filled with pleasant surprise called out from the second floor of the pavilion. Liu Yitiao looked up and saw an impossibly handsome young face.