After a period of diligent practice, Situ Yan's calligraphy had become much neater, but it still fell far short of Emperor Changwu's requirements.
Gu Li picked up the large characters he had written nearby. "My lord, your calligraphy merely mimics the form, lacking spirit and a certain refined elegance."
The mention of "refined elegance" gave Situ Yan a headache. He genuinely didn't understand, nor did he want to, such matters that scholars prided themselves on. As long as the characters were legible, what was the problem? He wasn't aiming to be a master calligrapher. Yet, his second uncle was exceptionally insistent on this point, lecturing him about it frequently, as if hearing it more often would lead him to enlightenment.
Alas, another day of listening to gibberish.
He had already prepared himself to let it go in one ear and out the other when Xiao Wuzi suddenly knocked on the door from outside. "My lord, something's happened."
Something happening was good. This interruption had come at the perfect time. Situ Yan immediately put down his brush and paper. "Second Uncle, I'll go and see."
"Go. Remember to make up the calligraphy you missed today this evening."
Situ Yan: ...
Damn these calligraphy practice sheets.
Still, being able to evade his second uncle's nagging for now was a relief. He bowed and strode away. Xiao Wuzi, waiting outside, had fine beads of sweat on his forehead even in the dead of winter. Xiao Wuzi was already quite composed, so this appearance made Situ Yan's heart jump. "What could be so urgent? Could it be the Princess Consort?"
"No, no." Xiao Wuzi waved his hands repeatedly. "My sweat is from running. It's Imperial Physician Ji who's in trouble."
The breath Situ Yan had just let out was drawn back up, and his legs felt weak. "Could it be that the 'affair of the eastern window' has been exposed?"
Xiao Wuzi: "What eastern window?"
Situ Yan snapped, "Can't you just say it all at once?"
"Then wait until I've finished before you interrupt," Xiao Wuzi muttered softly. Seeing Situ Yan raise his hand as if to strike him, he quickly shrunk his head, acting like a quail, and said rapidly, "The Emperor, in his anger towards Prince Ning, has taken it out on the Imperial Hospital. All the imperial physicians have been beaten and carried back."
"How many strokes did they receive?"
"Thirty strokes. I heard many imperial physicians fainted on the spot. Imperial Physician Ji is young, so he's doing alright. But I figured he has no one at home, so I came to ask if you wanted to dispatch a couple of people from the mansion to help."
"Is that even a question? Go back to the mansion and ask the Princess Consort for people. I'll go and see first." Ji Jin was devoted to medicine, and his physique was no different from that of a frail scholar. Thirty strokes could strip a layer of skin.
Before the master and servant could leave the Imperial Hospital, someone announced, "My lord, the young duke is here."
He's definitely here about Ji Jin's situation.
"I'll meet him outside."
The three then met at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy. Situ Yan instructed, "Xiao Wuzi, you can return to the mansion first."
"Yes."
However, Ouyang Wen grabbed him. "What are you going back for?"
Situ Yan said, "Ah Jin is injured. I'm asking Xiao Wuzi to find some people to attend to him. You're going to see him too, aren't you? We can go together."
"You're being too meddlesome."
"Huh?"
Ouyang Wen tugged him and whispered, "Think about who Ah Jin suffered this punishment for. The hero helped the beauty, so now it should be the beauty's turn to repay the kindness, shouldn't it?"
Situ Yan immediately understood. "Xiao Wuzi, go to Pinglan Street and find two storytellers. Have them recount the day's events at the Imperial Hospital in detail, making sure the story reaches Deyilou. Understand?"
Xiao Wuzi didn't understand, but that didn't stop him from obeying obediently.
He said "Aye" and ran off quite quickly.
"You're really on the ball, brother. You said that girl was the daughter of an old friend, didn't you? Are you not feeling guilty pushing her towards Old Ji like this?"
Situ Yan said, "It's only because Prefect Feng is no longer around. If he were still here, knowing Ah Jin fancied his daughter, he'd probably be overjoyed."
This way, he helped his brother win the beauty's hand and also helped Feng Xinyao solve her lifelong matter. It was killing two birds with one stone. How good was that?
Ouyang Wen gave him a thumbs-up. "Then are we still going to see Old Ji?"
"Ah, my schedule is too busy, and my news is behind."
"In that case, shall we go to Zuixiang Tower for a meal?"
"Let's."
The two walked away arm in arm and ordered a table full of good wine and dishes at Zuixiang Tower. As for Ji Jin...
As brothers, this was all they could do for him.