Chapter 154: An Old Acquaintance

The Tongs and Lin Zhongsi led Lin Fang to take their leave, with the physician respectfully seeing them off. The young eunuch also went to the adjacent room to decoct the medicine, leaving only the old monk and Eunuch Zheng in the room.

The old monk, still seated, gazed at the doorway for a moment before turning his head and murmuring as if to himself, “Ah—such a clever child. She remembers everything she sees, full of ideas. Most of the family’s business success comes from her suggestions. It’s a pity… such a wonderful child, yet her life is not long.”

Eunuch Zheng asked in shock, “How can that be? She looks no more than ten years old. How could her life be short?”

The old monk sighed. “A congenital heart condition, and there is no cure.”

“Congenital heart disease? How could someone named Lin Fang have congenital heart disease?” Eunuch Zheng muttered, lost in thought.

“Her condition was originally mild, but unexpectedly, the poison that once triggered her heart ailment in her past life followed her soul into this life, worsening her condition. Her family sought out renowned detoxification experts of this dynasty, yet none could identify the poison. They can only watch her wait for death.”

“How… how could this be? How could poison from a past life follow her soul? Master, do you truly know of past and present lives?” Eunuch Zheng’s voice trembled with unease.

The old monk did not answer. Instead, he stood, clasped his hands together, and said to Eunuch Zheng, “This humble monk must now attend to his duties. I shall take my leave.”

Eunuch Zheng raised his hand to call out to the old monk, but he had already swiftly exited, leaving no time for further words.

After seeing off the Tongs and the others, the physician went to the adjacent room to take over the medicine decoction from the young eunuch, who then returned to attend to Eunuch Zheng. Seeing him staring blankly at the ceiling as if his soul had departed, the young eunuch panicked, fearing something had happened, and cried out, “Eunuch Zheng, wake up!”

Eunuch Zheng finally lowered his gaze and softly reassured, “No need for alarm. I’m not dead yet.”

“You… you looked so frightening just now,” the young eunuch stammered, still unsettled.

Eunuch Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly. “They say good people die young, while the wicked live a thousand years. I suppose I still have time.”

The young eunuch protested indignantly, “Eunuch Zheng is not wicked! Eunuch Zheng is good! Eunuch Zheng treats Xiao Xi the best.” His voice, still carrying the lisp of a child losing teeth, held a hint of a spoiled whine.

Patting Xiao Xi’s head, Eunuch Zheng sighed. “Only you think well of me. Everyone else in the palace wishes for my death.”

Xiao Xi retorted angrily, “They’re just jealous! Jealous that the Emperor favors you!”

“Child, matters in the palace cannot be judged simply by good or bad. You have much to learn in the years to come.” As he spoke, Eunuch Zheng forced himself to sit up and reached for his shoes.

“Eunuch Zheng, do you need to relieve yourself?” Xiao Xi bent down to help him into his shoes, then draped an outer robe over his shoulders before supporting him toward the screen where a chamber pot was placed. The monks in the temple, no matter how cold, never used chamber pots—they went to the communal latrine even at night. The pot was only for guests staying overnight.

Though standing, Eunuch Zheng did not move. He asked Xiao Xi to fetch his cloak. The young eunuch objected, “Are you going outside? No, it’s freezing, and you’re not fully recovered.”

“It’s fine. I just feel stifled and need some fresh air.” Eunuch Zheng slowly made his way to the coat rack himself.

Xiao Xi relented. “Alright, but even if you must go out, drink your medicine first. It’ll warm you up.”

“Very well, I’ll listen to you. Medicine first.”

“Wait here, Eunuch Zheng. I’ll check if the medicine is ready.”

Watching Xiao Xi scamper off excitedly, Eunuch Zheng shook his head with a sigh. A few more years, and the innocence of childhood would fade, disappearing entirely.

Before long, Xiao Xi returned carefully carrying the medicine, followed closely by the physician, who seemed ready to catch the bowl should the young eunuch stumble or spill it.

After drinking the medicine, Xiao Xi helped Eunuch Zheng dress warmly and supported him as they slowly made their way outside, the physician trailing behind. Eunuch Zheng said politely, “Physician Gao, you’ve been burdened by my condition, rising early and retiring late, barely sleeping last night. I’m feeling better now and only wish to walk briefly. Please take this time to rest—there’s no need to accompany me.”

Physician Gao replied, “You’re too kind, Eunuch Zheng. I’m not tired. But if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to seek out Physician Tong. To be honest, when you fell unconscious yesterday, I was at a loss. It was Physician Tong who revived you. I never expected such skill from a village woman in this remote place. I wish to consult her.”

Eunuch Zheng paused and looked at Physician Gao seriously. “You’re young, so you may not have heard of Physician Tong. When you return to the Imperial Hospital, ask your master—he’ll tell you she is no ordinary village woman. Once, a member of the royal family sought to make her their personal physician, offering boundless wealth, but she refused, disliking the constraints of court life.”

Xiao Xi couldn’t resist asking, “If you know her, why didn’t you speak with her earlier?”

Eunuch Zheng smiled. “Silly child, back then, I was just a lowly cleaning eunuch. I knew of her, but she didn’t know me.”

Physician Gao, now even more eager, hurried off to find Physician Tong after asking the monks for directions.

The three parted ways outside the courtyard. Eunuch Zheng and Xiao Xi strolled slowly along the path while Physician Gao rushed off in high spirits.

The wind outside was fierce. Though Xiao Xi had bundled Eunuch Zheng tightly, he soon began to shiver. Sensing this through the arm he supported, Xiao Xi urged him to return before he caught a chill and worsened his condition.

Just as they turned back, a voice called out, “Amitabha. Eunuch Zheng, the abbot requests your presence. Please follow this humble monk to his meditation chamber.”

Turning again, Xiao Xi protested, “But Eunuch Zheng is cold. Any delay might make him ill.”

The monk speaking was Yijing, the disciple who had accompanied the old monk in “seclusion.” He clasped his hands and said, “The abbot’s chamber is just ahead. He has prepared hot medicinal tea to ward off the cold. There’s no need for concern, young eunuch.”

Eunuch Zheng also clasped his hands. “Then we shall trouble you to lead the way.”

Hearing it was nearby and that there was hot tea, Xiao Xi said no more and helped Eunuch Zheng follow Yijing to the abbot’s quarters.

Upon arrival, Yijing did not enter but gestured for Eunuch Zheng to go in first. To Xiao Xi, he said, “Young eunuch, the abbot wishes to meditate privately with Eunuch Zheng. I shall take you elsewhere to rest.”

Xiao Xi hesitated, unwilling to leave Eunuch Zheng unattended. But sensing the abbot had private matters to discuss, Eunuch Zheng motioned for him to go with Yijing and entered the chamber alone.

Inside, the old monk was brewing tea over a small clay stove. A ceramic pot sat atop it, and two small bowls rested on the table. Seeing Eunuch Zheng enter, the old monk gestured for him to sit opposite and, using a cloth to shield his hand, poured tea into a bowl before returning the pot to the stove and sealing its vent.

“My medical skills may not match Physician Tong’s, but I can still prepare tea to ward off chills,” the old monk said with a smile. “If you don’t mind, Eunuch Zheng, please have some.”

Having inquired about Lin Town’s situation on his way, Eunuch Zheng knew the abbot was no ordinary healer. Without ceremony, he blew on the steaming tea and sipped slowly. The old monk refilled his bowl twice before he declined, fixing the monk with a silent gaze, waiting for him to speak his purpose.

After drinking several bowls himself, the old monk finally said, “I do not know whether to call this a cursed fate or destiny’s design. Fang’er was poisoned in her past life by her mother-in-law and husband, cutting her life short. Reborn in this era, she still carries the toxicity of that poison, waiting for the Buddha’s call at such a tender age. Now, her husband’s grandfather has also arrived in this time, mere steps away from her. Yet I do not know if he can help her.”

Eunuch Zheng was stunned. “You… you mean that Lin Fang from earlier is the reincarnation of my granddaughter-in-law, Lin Fang?”

The old monk nodded. “Indeed. She is the Lin Fang—Chairwoman Zhou—who was abused by your grandson and poisoned to death by your daughter-in-law.”

Eunuch Zheng laughed bitterly. “There is no more Chairwoman Zhou. Because of Lin Fang’s death and that worthless boy’s deeds, the Zhou family went bankrupt. He and his mother are dead. Truly, retribution. In their fight over the Zhou family’s last remaining asset—a mansion I gave Lin Fang before her marriage—my sons turned on each other. While they were busy tearing each other apart, their past misdeeds were exposed by the press. One by one, they were imprisoned, their wives divorced them, and their children abandoned them. The Zhou family fell apart.”

The old monk drank in silence as Eunuch Zheng collected himself and asked, “Does Lin Fang remember her past life?”

The old monk shook his head. “No. If she did, she would know the formula that killed her, and physicians could devise an antidote. Instead, she waits helplessly for death.”

Eunuch Zheng sighed. “Ah—that foolish child. Working in a hospital, her mother-in-law gave her a prescription, yet she never thought to ask a doctor about it. She dutifully brewed and drank it every day, poisoning herself to death.”

The old monk also sighed. “Fang’er was too kind—in her past life and this one. If you truly pity her, Eunuch Zheng, please reveal that prescription so an antidote can be made. Otherwise, she will not survive next year.”

“Yes, yes,” Eunuch Zheng said urgently. “I saw the formula in Lin Fang’s diary—over twenty ingredients. But I can’t recall them now. Give me a moment to think.”

“Take your time, Eunuch Zheng. Fang’er’s life depends on you.” The old monk poured him another bowl of tea.

Without regard for its heat, Eunuch Zheng drank it in one gulp—fortunately, the old monk had already removed the pot from the stove, so it was just warm enough.

Frowning in deep thought, he struggled to remember, beads of sweat forming on his brow.