Volume 1, Chapter 63: Brocade

Upon Xue Wu's command, an imperial guard escorted Jiang Jinzhi to Xue Nian's chambers in no time at all.

The moment he laid eyes on the man, Xue Nian felt a subtle brightness wash over him.

It was not so much that the man possessed extraordinary physical beauty, but rather that his brows and eyes radiated a natural uprightness, making him look very much like a thoroughly trustworthy gentleman of integrity.

Jiang Jinzhi knelt and paid his respects to Xue Wu. "This humble subject greets the Empress."

Xue Wu replied, "No need for such formalities. Rise, please."

With that, he introduced Xue Nian and Jiang Jinzhi to each other.

Jiang Jinzhi bowed deeply to Xue Nian. "Young General."

Xue Nian smiled and returned the bow. "Imperial Physician Jiang is too courteous."

Since Xue Wu was present, the two exchanged a few polite pleasantries before Jiang Jinzhi put down his medicine box. He first went into the inner chamber to inspect the wound on Xue Nian's shoulder, and then came back out to take his pulse.

As soon as the pulse-taking was finished, Xue Wu immediately asked, "Imperial Physician Jiang, how is my brother's injury?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty the Empress."

Jiang Jinzhi smiled and said, "The Young General has always possessed a robust constitution, and the wound was treated quite properly and promptly. Although there will be some fever over the next two days, I will prescribe a formula for him shortly. As long as the Young General takes his medicine on time and changes his dressings regularly, there should be no major complications."

"However, he must pay strict attention to his recuperation. For a short time, his right arm must not undergo any strenuous movement, his diet must avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and until the wound is fully healed, he must not touch a single drop of strong liquor."

He went on to give a meticulous and lengthy list of instructions. Because there was so much to remember, Xue Wu even had someone fetch brush and paper to note them down one by one, promising to inform Xue Yuandao and have him send people to supervise Xue Nian.

Xue Nian listened attentively at first, but soon could not help laughing. "Imperial Physician Jiang is being overly thorough. Look at me—am I not bouncing around just fine?"

"One cannot speak thus."

Jiang Jinzhi's expression turned serious. "Though the Young General's injury is not critical, neither is it trivial. You are currently relying on your youth and solid foundation, ignoring even a persistent low-grade fever, running about in the dead of winter, and drinking wine whenever you please. But have you ever considered the consequences of doing so?"

"At best, your wound will ache when it rains or snows, impairing your ability to draw a bow and shoot an arrow; at worst, it could lead to wound infection, which might very well endanger your life."

"Firstly, I eat the sovereign's emolument and must share the sovereign's concerns. Since I have received the Emperor's stipend and orders to treat the Young General, I must do everything in my power to restore you to your original health. Secondly, a physician has the heart of a parent. Since the Young General is my patient, I naturally hope that your injuries will heal as quickly as possible so that you may suffer less pain."

"Therefore, until the Young General is fully recovered, you must act according to my prescriptions and follow my instructions. How can you take your own injury so lightly and care only for momentary pleasure? If the Young General is unable to do as I say, I shall go to the Emperor right now to plead guilty, for when it comes to the Young General's wound, I am truly helpless."

Hearing that Xue Nian had been running a fever all this time, Xue Wu cast a reproachful glance at his own headstrong older brother and said to Jiang Jinzhi once more, "Imperial Physician Jiang, rest easy. I will definitely have someone keep a close eye on him."

Xue Nian: "..."

Never had he expected that a casual remark of his would provoke such a long-winded lecture from Jiang Jinzhi. Stunned for a moment, Xue Nian then smiled and said, "What Imperial Physician Jiang says is true. It was I who thought too simply of the matter. From now on, I shall naturally recuperate properly according to your instructions."

His tone was exceptionally earnest.

Only then did Jiang Jinzhi's expression soften once more.

He said, "It truly is not that I am deliberately making things difficult for the Young General. Injuries from blades and swords are never trivial matters. Since the Young General is well-versed in military treatises, you should naturally know how many heroes and valiant figures throughout history have lost their lives to such things."

As he spoke, he opened his medicine box and took out a small porcelain vial. "This is a specialized healing powder I concocted myself. I must ask the Young General to apply it and change the dressing once a day."

Xue Nian reached out and took it. "Very well, thank you."

Jiang Jinzhi lifted his brush to write out a prescription. "The medicine must also be taken on time. If the Young General's fever refuses to break, it could become dangerous."

Anxious about Xue Nian's injury, Xue Wu immediately took the prescription and said, "Then I shall have someone go and brew the medicine right away."

Jiang Jinzhi replied, "I have troubled Your Majesty."

Xue Wu hurried off to arrange for the medicine to be brewed, leaving only Xue Nian and Jiang Jinzhi in the room.

Now that the conversation had moved away from matters of medicine, Jiang Jinzhi's demeanor grew much warmer. The two chatted idly for a moment, and upon hearing that Jiang Jinzhi met with Zhao Yuanzhuo on a daily basis, Xue Nian naturally inquired about how the other was doing lately.

At the mention of this, Jiang Jinzhi fell silent for a brief moment before speaking. "He asked me to pass along a couple of messages to the Young General."

Jiang Jinzhi continued, "He said he is doing very well in the palace and asks the Young General not to worry about him. And then there is..."

Here, Jiang Jinzhi paused. "He said he has always remembered the Young General's teachings and will absolutely not disgrace the Young General."

Xue Nian smiled and nodded. "I have always believed in him."

Jiang Jinzhi was slightly taken aback.

Had he not held deep affection for Xue Nian, Zhao Yuanzhuo would not have gone out of his way to have these messages delivered.

Yet, compared to Xue Wu's fervent concern for the youth, Xue Nian appeared somewhat indifferent.

Hesitantly, Jiang Jinzhi asked, "Does the Young General truly have nothing else he wishes to say to him?"

A fifteen-year-old boy, struggling all alone within the imperial palace, surrounded by suspicious gazes and skeptical voices—even to look upon him felt difficult.

"Since he entrusted Imperial Physician Jiang to tell me these words, it shows he has his own plans."

Xue Nian said calmly, "Just as a person drinking water knows for themselves whether it is cold or warm, apart from a wish for him to take care, I have nothing to instruct him on. However, should he encounter any difficult trials within the palace, I would ask Imperial Physician Jiang, should the opportunity arise, to have someone send word to me."

From this day forward, he was the boy's older brother.

Whoever dared to look down on his younger brother or subject him to grief would first have to answer to the blade in the hand of Xue Ziqi.