Chapter 138: Internal Heat
Xie Siquan waited at the gate for a long time but still saw no sign of Xie Jing.
He wanted to go in to look for him, but Xu Jun quickly stopped him, whispering, “Perhaps they have something to discuss privately. If you go in now, what would you even ask Jing’er?”
Xie Siquan snapped, “What’s there not to ask! I’ll ask him if Old Bai Jiu is taking advantage of him because he’s young and inexperienced. If he nods, I’ll immediately turn back and drive those northern Bai family people out—” He shoved a few times but could not push Xu Jun aside, which only made him angrier. “Let go of me! Why are you stopping me?!”
Xu Jun hesitated, a troubled look on his face.
Suddenly, Xie Siquan asked, “How… wait, did you already know? When did you find out?!”
Xu Jun spoke softly, “I only remembered this morning when I saw the white jade lion pendant. Let’s go back first. This can’t be rushed. It’s better to discuss it slowly.”
He applied some force, finally persuading Xie Siquan to return to his courtyard.
Outside, Xie Siquan could not vent his anger. Back in his room, he paced two rounds, finally losing his temper and kicking over a copper pot, spilling water everywhere. The servants outside heard the noise and tried to enter, but Xu Jun stopped them, gesturing for them to leave first. Seeing Xie Siquan angry, the servants quickly bowed their heads and retreated, closing the door behind them without daring to look.
Xie Siquan muttered, “Old Bai Jiu is taking advantage of our Jing’er’s youth and inexperience! How old was Jing’er when they first met? A child that age, what could he understand? Fine, let’s say Jing’er is older now, still by his side… he hasn’t been out to see the world, so why does he only recognize him?” Xie Siquan grew angrier by the minute. “I must take Jing’er away. He cannot continue contact with the Bai family!”
Xu Jun said, “That may not work. Their bond is very deep.”
Xie Siquan: “……”
Xie Siquan roared, “Which side are you on? Who are you speaking for?!”
Xu Jun wanted to help him, but thinking of what had happened on the carriage earlier, he sighed and explained everything he had learned. It wasn’t just that Bai Jiu and Xie Jing were close; even in terms of family background, they couldn’t be separated.
The Xie family could dominate in Sichuan, but outside, it would be impossible.
He Dongting and the political sphere might lend some support, but the rest of the Xie family only had wealth. In this world, wealth and status alone are not enough—you need guns as well.
The northern Bai family had all three—wealth, power, and military strength. If a fight broke out, they would almost certainly lose.
“Old Bai Jiu is clever, picking a good one and raising him early!” Xie Siquan paced the room, fuming, and said to Xu Jun, “When we dealt with the Huang family last time, I realized it! I wondered why Jing’er knew so much—it was all because of him! All those news articles and rumors… all tricks of the Central Plains scholars!”
Speaking of the Huang family, Xu Jun asked casually, “What about Huang Wanxing?”
Xie Siquan: “What else could happen? He’s under detention too.”
Xu Jun frowned. “Did he really make a deal with the mountain bandits?”
“Eighty to ninety percent true. The main examiner lacked courage and dared not offend anyone. Nothing would have come out normally, but now it’s different—those stationed here aren’t under Luo Nianqiu anymore. General Luo sent a few people to Sichuan. That same night, from Huang family steward Li Chunlin, we got the details.” Xie Siquan sneered, “Huang Wanxing even had the face to claim he could redeem himself. Li Chunlin revealed that the Huang family was willing to pay a hundred gold for my head. Hard to believe he’d spend so recklessly!”
Xu Jun’s expression changed. “I’ll handle this matter. You stay home, don’t go out for a few days.”
Xie Siquan didn’t care about Huang Wanxing. That man was at his end; he could no longer make any moves. The Huang family’s gate was sealed, soon to be finished. His full focus was on his nephew. Hearing Xu Jun, he slammed the table, raising an eyebrow: “What nonsense are you talking? Old Bai Jiu is staying at our house for several days. Of course I’m not going anywhere!”
Xie Siquan was furious—this was practically inviting a wolf into his home. And today, he himself had opened the main gate. The thought alone made him see red.
Even late into the night, Xie Jing had not appeared.
Xie Siquan grew anxious and sent people twice to fetch him.
The returnees stammered, only saying he had gone to sleep.
Xie Siquan asked, “Did the young master sleep in his own courtyard?”
The messenger shook his head. “No. He went to the guest room. Said he wanted to talk late into the night with Mr. Bai by candlelight. They even brought a chessboard and warmed a bottle of yellow wine.”
Xie Siquan closed his eyes, suppressing his anger. “Go fetch him again!”
—
Guest Room
Xie Jing and Lord Bai Jiu sat side by side playing chess. Nearby were two plates of fresh fruit, a plate of snacks, and a small pot of warmed yellow wine.
Xie Jing’s hand wound had originally scabbed, but that night, he had torn it open in a nightmare. The doctor applied medicine powder and re-bandaged it. To prevent it from reopening, it was now suspended around his neck. Xie Jing felt fine, though the bandage looked pitiful; it didn’t hurt much.
He arranged the chess pieces according to the book, playing with one hand. The dim lamp cast a soft glow on his face, his hair partially draping over his shoulders—he looked very pretty.
Lord Bai Jiu fed him a piece of green plum cake. “It tasted good just now, so I brought it back for you. Try it.”
Xie Jing ate it from his hand, swallowed, and looked up. “Did you bring it back yourself?”
Lord Bai Jiu smiled. “Yes. What’s wrong? You can’t take pastries from Sichuan?”
Xie Jing shook his head. “No… just didn’t expect it.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Didn’t you say on the road that coming here, it’s like your own home?”
Xie Jing’s eyes curved slightly. Hair falling over his shoulders, he lowered his head and smiled. “Yes, like home.”
Xie Jing focused on chess; Lord Bai Jiu focused only on him.
He had heard that watching a beauty under lamp light was truly captivating, and indeed, he found most of his attention on the young man opposite him, not the chessboard.
After waiting a while and seeing Lord Bai Jiu not make a move, Xie Jing looked up in confusion.
Lord Bai Jiu twirled a black piece on his fingertip and suddenly smiled. “This chessboard… should be sent to Mr. Huang as well.”
Xie Jing asked, “Does Mr. Huang still play chess? With the Second Young Master… for so long?”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded. “Yes. Good players meet worthy opponents.”
They both smiled as the piece was placed.
Xie Jing thought of Mr. Huang’s chess skill and got a headache. Thanks to Bai Mingyu, only Bai Mingyu in the eastern courtyard could truly compete with Mr. Huang.
Someone knocked at the door outside. Already the third time. Xie Jing didn’t rise but called out, “Who is it?”
The knocking paused, and Xu Jun’s voice came: “It’s me, Second Master.”
Xie Jing put down the chess piece, donned his jacket, and went to open the door. “Second Master, why come at midnight? Has something happened?”
Xu Jun: “Your uncle asked me to find you.”
Xie Jing thought they were worried about his health. “I’m better. Nothing wrong now.”
Xu Jun: “…cough… Your uncle is unwell. He wants you to come see him.”
Xu Jun stood at the door, completely helpless.
Xie Jing sensed something but said nothing, went to change clothes, informed Lord Bai Jiu, and followed Xu Jun.
Xu Jun carried the lantern in front; Xie Jing followed a step behind, whispering, “Uncle knows?”
Xu Jun replied softly, “He’s unhappy. Later, give him space.”
Xie Jing asked, “Why?”
Xu Jun mumbled, “He just got you back, wants more time with you. He’s reluctant. Also, Lord Bai Jiu’s identity is different. Your uncle worries he might… maybe only temporarily… but he fears he’d take advantage of you.”
Xie Jing corrected him, “Lord Bai Jiu treats me the best. He’s as good as grandma.”
Xu Jun thought it wasn’t good.
If Xie Siquan were here, that statement alone would cause a fight.
Xie Siquan always saw himself second to Grandma Kou, never third—he would never accept it.
—
Inside the room
Xie Siquan sat cross-legged on the bed, wearing a cloud-patterned outer robe, one hand supporting his chin. Seeing Xie Jing enter, staring all the way, he said nothing.
Xie Jing approached and touched his forehead. “Uncle, are you sick?”
Xie Siquan raised a hand, holding him, raising an eyebrow. “Who said… Xu Jun told you?”
Xie Jing nodded. “Uncle, what’s wrong?”
Xie Siquan’s eyes shifted. “My whole body aches, heart races, mouth feels unpleasant.”
Xie Jing: “Probably internal heat. I’ll ask the doctor for two prescriptions to clear heat. I’ll brew them with Huanglian [1], honeysuckle, and winter honeysuckle—it should help.”
Xie Siquan: “Different. This is an old problem…”
Xie Jing: “Same. Drink a few more doses; you’ll be fine.”
Xie Siquan: “…”
Footnotes:
[1] Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) is a bitter, cold Chinese herb from the roots of Coptis chinensis, widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for clearing heat, dampness, and toxins, treating conditions like diarrhea, diabetes, jaundice, and inflammation, and is studied for its anti-cancer properties due to compounds like berberine that affect cell cycles.
