Hongzhi Year 18, Twenty-Fifth Day of the First Month.
The trail pointed to an alley in the east city.
The medicine merchant Zhou De confessed to was called "Henghe Hall," operating in the capital for over ten years, specializing in supplying the Imperial Hospital. Zhao Cheng's ledger recorded that batch of fake medicine came from this shop. Zhu Houzhao heard it, only said one word: "Investigate."
So I came.
Henghe Hall was located in a narrow alley in the east city, the storefront not big, the gold characters on the plaque had faded, but the threshold was polished shiny—business shouldn't be bad. Two shop assistants stood at the door, seeing us, smiled and welcomed.
"What are you two looking to buy?"
Zhu Houzhao didn't respond, walking straight in. I followed behind, gaze sweeping over the medicine cabinets on both sides. Cabinets wiped very clean, medicines neatly arranged, labels written neatly—Astragalus, Atractylodes, Codonopsis, Angelica. Looking at the surface, couldn't find fault.
But I knew, fakes often hide where they look most real.
A middle-aged man came out from the back room, lifting the curtain. Round face, short beard, wearing a silk robe, a green jade thumb ring on his finger. He sized us up, gaze lingering for an instant on Zhu Houzhao's black Jinyi clothes, smile deepening.
"Are you two here to stock up? Our shop's medicines are authentic, prices fair—"
"Where is your owner?" Zhu Houzhao cut him off.
The man paused. "This humble one is. Surname Chen, Chen Zhonghe."
Zhu Houzhao didn't respond, glanced at me.
I walked to the Astragalus cabinet, opened the lid, grabbed a handful out. Color slightly white, slices very thin, looking neat. Leaned close to smell—a little sweetness, but very faint, like washed by something. I broke off a small piece and put it in my mouth.
Chewed twice, spat out.
"This is used." I said.
Chen Zhonghe's smile froze for an instant. "Miss, where does this come from? Our shop's medicines are all from—"
"After Astragalus is used, medicinal properties are gone. Dried and sliced again, looks similar, but taste is faint, color also whiter." I threw the Astragalus in my hand back into the cabinet. "This batch of yours is dregs."
Chen Zhonghe's face changed. "You—you who are you? On what basis do you slander!"
"Look at this too." I ignored him, walked to the Atractylodes cabinet. "Atractylodes should have fresh scent, this batch has no smell. Like boiled." Walked to the Angelica cabinet. "Angelica should be sweet, with spicy qi. You smell—" I held a handful of Angelica close to his face, he subconsciously shrank back a step.
"This batch of yours, all dregs." I said.
Chen Zhonghe's face flushed red. "Nonsense! You yellow毛丫头 (little girl), what do you know about medicines? We Henghe Hall have been open over ten years, even the Imperial Hospital stocks from us—" He turned and shouted inside. "Men! Throw these two troublemakers out!"
Two shop assistants rolled up sleeves and charged up.
"Wait—" I was about to speak reason, wanted to tell him we could check ledgers, match batches, find witnesses—words not yet out, he already moved.
Zhu Houzhao didn't wait for anyone to finish.
One step forward.
Left hand gripped the first assistant's wrist, twisted. That person cried "Ah", arm twisted behind his back, whole body pressed onto the counter. Medicine jars on the counter clattered down in a heap.
The second assistant swung a fist. Zhu Houzhao sidestepped, right hand—that hand with the splint removed not long ago—caught the opponent's wrist, pulled forward. Assistant lost footing, face down smashed onto the ground, forehead hitting the table corner, muffled grunt, didn't get up.
Chen Zhonghe turned to run. Zhu Houzhao kicked over the stool in front, stool slid over hitting his calf, he stumbled, leaning on the wall didn't stand firm. Zhu Houzhao was already behind him, hand on his shoulder, pressed lightly.
"Didn't I say, don't make a move first?" Zhu Houzhao said.
Tone casual like chatting about the weather.
Chen Zhonghe pressed against the wall, face against the brick surface, lips trembling. "You—who are you people—"
The room was silent. Broken medicine jars still rolling on the ground, medicine dregs spilled everywhere, mixed with dust. Two assistants, one趴在 (趴) on the counter, one lying on the ground, didn't dare move.
Zhu Houzhao let go. Shook his right wrist—just now that move, used the arm with the splint recently removed.
"Would've been fine if you said so earlier." he said.
I looked at him. This person, finished fighting and still complained others didn't say earlier.
"Didn't you say don't make a move?" I asked.
He glanced at me. "I didn't say I wouldn't move."
"...You call this communication?"
He looked down at the two people趴 (趴) on the ground, then looked at Chen Zhonghe pressed against the wall, mouth corner slightly upturned. "Very effective."
I took a deep breath. Reasoning with him, indeed not as fast as letting him fight a round. But this approach was wrong. I was here to investigate, not to smash the shop. Now it was done, people beaten, shop smashed, how to question next?
Forget it. Anyway he is the Crown Prince. Cleanup is his business.
I was about to squat to pick up scattered medicines, gaze suddenly stopped.
Zhu Houzhao's right hand—sleeve area, had a tear. Not deep, but bleeding. Probably scratched by something on the counter when twisting the first assistant. He didn't make a sound, didn't even look at that wound, like completely didn't feel it.
I frowned.
"Don't move."
He looked down at his hand. "It's fine."
"I said don't move." I grabbed his wrist, turned over to check. Wound on the side of the hand back, about an inch long, not deep, but edges covered in dust. Dust from the medicine cabinet, who knows how many years accumulated.
He obviously paused. Wrist in my palm slightly stiffened, like didn't expect me to have this move.
I didn't look up, took a handkerchief from my sleeve, pressed on the wound to stop bleeding. Blood seeped through the handkerchief, sticking to my fingertips, warm. His fingers were very long, knuckles distinct, nails neatly trimmed—Crown Prince's hands, shouldn't be in this kind of place.
I wiped away dust on wound edges, checked again for debris embedded inside. None. Just a superficial wound, clean and bandage and it's fine. I rummaged a small porcelain bottle from the medicine box, poured some wine on the wound to disinfect.
His fingers curled slightly. Didn't make a sound.
I looked up at him. He was looking down at me, didn't speak. Gaze very quiet, like looking at something he didn't quite understand.
I lowered my head, continued bandaging. Gauze wrapped two rounds, tied a knot.
"You were very fierce just now." he said.
I didn't look up. "You were fiercer."
"I was beating people."
I tucked the gauze end in to secure it, looked up at him. "I was saving you."
He paused. Then laughed, very light, mouth corner twitched up, like wind rippling water.
I didn't laugh. Gently put his hand down, turned to look at Chen Zhonghe. That person still趴在 (趴) on the wall, shoulders shaking.
"Where is the ledger?" I asked.
He didn't speak.
"Ledger." Zhu Houzhao's voice came from behind me, neither high nor low. Chen Zhonghe's shoulders shook more severely.
"Back... back room... under the counter..."
I lifted the curtain into the back room. Space not big, one table, one chair, one bookshelf, corner piled with boxes of medicines. Under the counter was a hidden compartment, pulled open, inside was a stack of ledgers.
I flipped through. The newest one, recording last month's purchases—Astragalus three hundred jin, Atractylodes two hundred jin, Angelica one hundred fifty jin. Purchase price thirty percent lower than market price. Supplier name written "Liu Ji," no address, no seal, only a name.
I tucked the ledger into my bosom.
Lifting the curtain out, Zhu Houzhao was leaning against the counter, right hand hanging by his side, gauze white and glaring. Two assistants still趴 (趴) ing, didn't dare move. Chen Zhonghe huddled in the corner, face still white.
"Let's go." he said.
I followed him out. Walking to the door, he suddenly stopped, turned to look at Chen Zhonghe.
"Today's matter," he said. "You know how to speak."
Chen Zhonghe nodded repeatedly. "Know, know, the small one saw nothing, knows nothing—"
Zhu Houzhao didn't listen to the end, turned and walked away.
I followed behind. Alley very narrow, sunlight couldn't shine in, his back in front, black and deep, that circle of white gauze on the right hand exceptionally conspicuous in the dark.
Walking to the alley entrance, he slowed his pace, waiting for me to walk abreast.
"You just now," he said. "Said you were saving me."
"Mm."
"That was a small wound."
"Small wound is also a wound."
He didn't speak. Walked a stretch, spoke again.
"No one managed it before."
I paused. Turned head to look at him. He looked forward, face no expression, like talking about something very ordinary.
"What about your mother?" I asked.
"Mother managed. But she said 'don't get hurt'." He paused. "You manage 'what to do if hurt'."
I didn't respond. Alley entrance wind blew over, carrying early spring chill. His sleeve blown up a bit, revealing a corner of gauze.
"From now on this kind of thing," he suddenly said. "You don't go up."
I looked up at him. "Then what about you?"
He looked at me. Sunlight shone in from the alley entrance, falling on his face, his eyes had light.
"I go up." he said.
Finished speaking, turned and continued walking.
I stood in place, watching his back. Black clothes fluttering slightly in the wind, gauze on right hand white and glaring. He walked in front, pace neither fast nor slow, like someone who already figured out the path.
He is responsible for fighting.
I am responsible for fixing him.
Seems okay too.
I followed. Walking to his side, he said a sentence, very light, so light almost blown away by wind.
"Thank you."
I didn't answer. Just switched the medicine box to the other hand, convenient to open anytime.
(End of Chapter 14)