Time Is Slow - Chapter 15
The smooth, white porcelain bottle traced a beautiful arc through the air before landing precisely in Chi Can’s hand.
Chi Can gripped the bottle tightly without saying a word and turned to go inside.
The carriage moved steadily along the official road. Inside, Qiao Zhao lay on a low couch, listening as the maid reported, “Miss, I have delivered the wound medicine to Young Master Zhu.”
Qiao Zhao nodded.
“That’s good,” she said with her hoarse voice.
Divine Doctor Li leaned in, shooing the maid aside.
“Quite bold of you, little girl, using my medicine to curry favor with others.”
He handed her a pill.
“Take this.”
Qiao Zhao accepted it without hesitation and swallowed it.
Satisfied with her prompt response, Divine Doctor Li pretended to complain, “You take whatever I give you without question. Aren’t you afraid it might be poison?”
“Grandpa Li has the heart of a healer,” Qiao Zhao replied with a smile.
As soon as she took the pill, relief spread through her body almost immediately.
Divine Doctor Li was startled.
“What did you just call me?”
Qiao Zhao tilted her head.
“Grandpa Li. Or should I call you Divine Doctor Li instead?”
Since childhood, she had spent more time with Divine Doctor Li than with her own family. His eccentric nature made it all the more unusual that he would be so concerned about a girl he had just met. It made her wonder.
Had he sensed something?
Did he think she resembled someone he had once carefully guided?
Divine Doctor Li chuckled.
“Grandpa Li it is, then. What is your name, little girl?”
It was improper for young ladies to reveal their personal names to outsiders, but this elderly man was an exception.
Qiao Zhao answered candidly, “My surname is Li, and my given name is Zhao.”
“Which ‘Zhao’?” Divine Doctor Li raised an eyebrow.
Qiao Zhao’s expression remained calm. “‘Zhao’ as in ‘a sage, by his clarity, enlightens others.’”
Divine Doctor Li froze. A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind…
A small girl sitting properly on a stone stool, massaging her grandfather’s legs. When asked about her name, she had looked up at him with a calm face and said, “My name is Qiao Zhao, ‘a sage, by his clarity, enlightens others.’”
He stared at Qiao Zhao for a long moment before sighing.
“That explanation is quite rare.”
Most people would say their ‘Zhao’ referred to the brightness of the sun and moon.
A strange feeling settled in his heart. Recalling the symptoms he had seen in her pulse, a condition akin to a wandering soul, an unthinkable idea flashed through his mind.
He quickly dismissed it with a shake of his head and a wry smile.
That girl should be far away in the northern lands. He must have spent too much time immersed in his studies, letting his imagination run wild.
“Rest well,” he said. “The medicine will make you sweat, expelling the trapped energy in your body.”
She was so young, yet it seemed she had endured some great sorrow that had nearly broken her. The girl was deep-minded indeed.
Divine Doctor Li glanced at Qiao Zhao’s pale face once more before moving aside and closing his eyes for a nap.
—
On a ship, a man sat alone by the window, sipping tea.
A white pigeon fluttered down onto the deck before hopping into someone’s outstretched palm.
The person quickly removed the message from the pigeon’s leg and strode into the cabin. “Master, there’s a letter from Tai Shui.”
The man took the note and scanned its contents. He then tore it to pieces and let them scatter out the window.
Murmuring to himself, he said, “At Tai Shui’s dock, that little girl boarded someone else’s carriage and parted ways with the others?”
She was supposed to be just an ordinary girl, so why was this situation becoming more intriguing?
His years in the Jin Lin Guards had sharpened his instincts. He habitually tapped his fingers lightly on the table before issuing a command.
“Send some men to follow that girl. Find out who those other people are.”
The man was none other than Jiang Shisan, whom Chi Can and the others had discussed. He was the adopted son of Commander Jiang, Jiang Yuanchao.
The Jin Lin Guards had outposts all over the empire, forming an extensive intelligence network that delivered critical information to the capital.
Though Jiang Yuanchao was stationed in Jiafeng, he didn’t monitor just anyone, only high-ranking officials and families with lingering influence, like the Qiao family of Apricot Grove, who, though no longer in court, still wielded power.
He had found it suspicious when the Qiao family was completely wiped out in a fire. Lacking solid evidence, he could only keep a close watch, waiting for days until this group finally appeared. Naturally, he had placed them under surveillance.
With careful planning, he soon uncovered the old man’s identity.
“So it is the elusive Divine Doctor Li!” Even Jiang Yuanchao, who was usually calm, couldn’t help but be moved.
Who is Divine Doctor Li? He is a renowned physician whom even the current Emperor treats with respect. When he refused to join the Imperial Hospital, the Emperor did not force him and allowed him to leave freely.
He remembered that his adoptive father had said that Divine Doctor Li possessed a golden medallion of immunity from death.
“What about the others?” he asked.
The subordinate respectfully replied, “We couldn’t identify them. They appear to be highly skilled, likely bodyguards.”
Jiang Yuanchao tapped his long, slender fingers lightly against the table, the crisp knocking sound echoing rhythmically.
“It seems that someone of high status in the capital has discovered the whereabouts of this divine doctor and invited him back to treat an illness,” he speculated.
Setting his teacup down on the table, he rose to his feet.
He stood tall and straight, his imposing figure emphasized by his long legs.
Striding to the door, he took a deep breath of the river breeze before giving an order: “Arrange a carriage for me once we dock.”
Compared to the noble sons of the capital, the elusive Divine Doctor Li was clearly the more worthwhile person to follow.
After working in intelligence for so long, one’s habits naturally became ingrained. Jiang Yuanchao knew that this trip to the capital was unlikely to have any direct connection with the divine doctor, yet he still decided to personally follow up.
If he gained any unexpected information, his adoptive father would certainly be pleased.
—
With the arrival of early spring, everything was coming back to life. Even the official roads were busier than they had been in winter, bustling with travelers and carriages. The carriage carrying Qiao Zhao blended into the flow, drawing no special attention.
As spring deepened, they drew closer to the capital.
Qiao Zhao’s health improved with each passing day, but her heart remained unsettled.
In just a few days, she would meet Li Zhao’s parents and family. Even though she had Li Zhao’s memories, everything still felt too unfamiliar to her.
—
Suddenly, the carriage came to a stop.
The guard disguised as the coachman respectfully addressed Divine Doctor Li, “There’s a roadside tea stall ahead. Besides tea, they also have freshly steamed buns. Would you like to try some?”
The fatigue of travel was always wearisome. At the mention of steaming hot buns, the dozing Divine Doctor Li immediately opened his eyes. “Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll go buy some right away.”
Before he could go, Divine Doctor Li stopped him. “No need. We’ll sit down and eat.”
The guard’s face tensed with hesitation. “But—”
“Quit nagging. Staying in this carriage all day has nearly rattled my old bones apart,” Divine Doctor Li dismissed the concern and got out of the carriage without another word.
Seeing this, Qiao Zhao followed him.
Disguised as a traveling grandfather and granddaughter, they sat at an empty table under the protection of their guards and maid. Before long, the stall owner’s wife brought over a large plate of steaming buns and a pot of tea.
Divine Doctor Li took a bite of a bun and nodded approvingly.
“Not bad.”
Although he disliked coming to the capital, he had to admit that the official roads near the city were cleaner, and even the food from roadside stalls was better than elsewhere.
Qiao Zhao quietly picked up a bun and ate.
Divine Doctor Li, in no hurry to return to the carriage, leisurely sipped his tea while listening to the conversations of the other customers nearby.
One traveler remarked curiously, “The spring winds bring a lot of dust, yet this road seems much cleaner than I remember.”
His companion immediately laughed. “You must be from out of town and unaware—our Northern Expedition General is about to enter the capital. This road is swept and watered down every single day in preparation.”