The game of chess in the small courtyard continued.
Xiahou Yuan craned his neck to look for a while, then quickly lost interest. He shook his head and began drifting toward the wall again.
This movement immediately made Zhang He alert. Holding a chess piece, he spoke earnestly.
"General Xiahou. Last time, it was I who had to shovel away the dung that the commoners threw in."
Xiahou Yuan instantly flushed.
"I am just walking around. Just walking."
Perhaps it was because Cao's troops had been somewhat arrogant when stationed in Chang'an before.
Perhaps it was because Xiahou Yuan cursed Liu Bei far too bluntly and harshly.
Perhaps it was because the commoners bore grudges due to kin and friends who had suffered under Cao's soldiers.
In any case, the people of Chang'an were truly merciless. When they found they could not out argue the quote-flinging General Xiahou, they simply hurled two lumps of filth into the courtyard.
After all, there were guards. The commoners could not enter, and Xiahou Yuan could not leave.
The only one who suffered was Zhang Junyi, who had to hold his nose and clean it up.
There was no helping it, because these two men were no ordinary figures.
One was the descendant of the Grand Minister of the Imperial Stables, brother-in-law of Chancellor Cao, a man who had once taken the blame for Cao and was as close as family.
The other was a famed scholar of Yingchuan, of the Du clan, who had served Chancellor Cao for nearly twenty years.
Who could Zhang He order around?
Thus, seeing Xiahou Yuan drift toward the wall again, Zhang He remained highly vigilant.
With his attempt to pass time now thwarted, Xiahou Yuan could only sit bored on a mat nearby and find a topic to talk about.
"Junyi, how did you lose at Jieting?"
Zhang He placed a piece on the board.
"General Xiahou, you have already asked that three times."
"Then how did Ma Mengqi pursue the enemy in retreat?"
"That has already been explained twice."
"Then how do Liu Bei's elite cavalry and Qiang cavalry compare to the Chancellor's horsemen?"
"If I answer that today, it will be the fifth time."
Xiahou Yuan sighed again, carrying a hint of the melancholy of a fading hero.
Fortunately, the sound of the courtyard gate opening interrupted his self-pity. A clear, cheerful laugh rang out.
"If General Xiahou is bored, tomorrow I can invite General Yide to visit and keep you company."
Xiahou Yuan's lips curled instinctively, but quickly drooped again. He cupped his hands slightly.
"Jian Xianhe."
Since rising in the north, Jian Yong had often served as Liu Bei's envoy. After being captured in battle, they had crossed paths before. Thanks to Jian Yong's social finesse, they were not strangers.
After exchanging pleasantries, Jian Yong stated his purpose. However, his words surprised the three former Cao officers.
Xiahou Yuan could not help blurting out,
"If we speak of those familiar with Five-Mineral Powder…"
Du Xi immediately saw Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He shift their gazes toward him. He felt resigned.
Jian Yong also turned to look, watching as General Du reluctantly pulled a small bundle from his robe and handed it over with a pained expression.
"This substance is best taken on Cold Food Day. Wash it down with cold water. Ice wine pairs best."
"No more than three qian per dose. No more than two doses a day. It cures a hundred ailments."
"Tell General Zuo that this is all I have left."
Jian Yong examined it carefully. What Du Xi handed him was a brocade pouch. Loosening the drawstring revealed a paper packet. Jian Yong recognized it.
"Zuo Bo Paper?"
Du Xi immediately put on a proud expression and nodded with restrained dignity.
"Donglai top-grade among Zuo Bo Paper. Worth ten thousand coins. Hard to obtain."
Jian Yong nodded perfunctorily, then carefully closed the pouch and returned it to Du Xi with both hands.
"In that case, General Du may simply accompany me."
This action actually relieved Du Xi. After all, who knew how long he would remain here. If he lost this substance, that clawing itch in his heart would be unbearable.
Still, he sensed a trace of disdain in Jian Yong's manner, which left a small knot of irritation in his heart.
What do you know?
But since this meant he could leave the courtyard, he chose not to dwell on it.
Xiahou Yuan grew anxious.
"Master Jian, I and Junyi also understand Five-Mineral Powder."
Seeing his eager expression, Jian Yong looked around the courtyard, pondered for a moment, recalled certain matters related to the drug, then nodded.
"In that case, come along as well."
Zhang He had no objection, though he glanced regretfully at the chessboard. The winning position had looked quite promising.
Stepping outside the courtyard, Xiahou Yuan felt that even the lukewarm sun in the sky seemed a little brighter.
On the distant city walls, banners representing the Han and Liu Bei fluttered in the wind.
Below the walls, stretching all the way to the street outside their residence, Xiahou Yuan saw nothing but people.
Old and young, strong and thin, round-faced and square-jawed, bare-chested laborers shouting in rhythm.
All kinds of people gathered like droplets of water, merging into a surging river roaring down the streets.
This was not like the Chang'an populace Xiahou Yuan had once seen.
They should have been hunched and bent, wearing smiles molded from hardship and humility.
Not like this. Heads held high, sweat shining on smiling faces so brightly it almost stung his eyes.
His excitement quickly faded. It reminded him of the night he was captured, when his soldiers drank Liu Bei's medicinal soup and slept soundly by the brazier. When they saw him again, they treated him with polite distance.
Soon, following behind Jian Yong, they encountered a familiar face.
"Zhong Shili." Jian Yong greeted warmly with a cupped-hand salute.
Zhong Yao, who nearly passed them by, slowed and returned the salute politely.
"Inspector Jian."
Jian Yong was currently acting as Inspector of Yong Province, so the title was appropriate.
They exchanged brief pleasantries. After confirming where Zhang Zhongjing was and whether he was available, they parted courteously.
As they brushed past, Du Xi and Zhang He both stared at Zhong Yao as if expecting something.
Xiahou Yuan even called out,
"Zhong Shili."
But his tone lacked any trace of casual ease.
Zhong Yao inclined slightly, his expression unchanged, his voice flat as if discussing food.
"General Xiahou."
He ignored Xiahou Yuan afterward, nodded lightly to Zhang He and Du Xi, and walked away without breaking stride.
Xiahou Yuan felt dispirited. After that night, even his soldiers had treated him with the same calm distance Zhong Yao now displayed.
Jian Yong eventually led them to another residence. Even at the entrance, the fragrance of medicinal herbs filled the air.
Entering through the main gate, they saw two rows of women processing herbs under the guidance of a medical assistant, while two youths washed medicine furnaces.
What seemed odd was a row of cages in the corner, holding chickens, ducks, rabbits, and geese. The sight even made Xiahou Yuan's stomach growl.
Du Xi once again lifted his chin with reserved pride.
"Does Liu Bei intend to produce Five-Mineral Powder?"
Jian Yong held back a laugh and did not reply. He called loudly inside.
"Divine Physician Zhang. I have brought the person you requested."
Du Xi had never imagined that the famed Zhang Zhongjing, whom he had once heard of while living in seclusion in Changsha, would meet him under such circumstances.
Zhang Zhongjing poured Du Xi's Five-Mineral Powder onto a sheet of paper, pinched a small amount between his fingers, sniffed it, then took out a handled transparent glass lens and examined the powder closely.
From Du Xi's angle, through the glass, the powder appeared magnified many times over. Every tiny detail was visible, almost miraculous.
"What is that object?" Du Xi asked.
Zhang Zhongjing did not bother answering. Holding the lens in his left hand, he used a small spoon in his right to stir and inspect the powder. Finally, he said to a nearby child,
"Record this. Toxicity category B-2."
"Toxic?" Du Xi frowned deeply.
Zhang Zhongjing nodded, then, under Du Xi's pained gaze, casually wrapped the powder in paper and handed it to the child.
"Mix it into the duck feed. Do not confuse it with the others."
"Wait!" Du Xi shouted. "This was purchased at great expense. It cures all poisons and all ailments. It is divine medicine. Why feed it to ducks?"
As soon as he shouted, Du Xi sensed the atmosphere in the hall shift.
The divine physician produced a small notebook from somewhere and began writing with a hard pen. From time to time, he lifted his head to observe Du Xi closely, making Du Xi increasingly uneasy.
The child widened his eyes, as though hearing something astonishing, and edged closer to Zhang Zhongjing, treating Du Xi as though he were dangerous.
Jian Yong sighed.
"General Du, this is not divine medicine. It is better described as the king of poisons. Long-term consumption leads to death."
Du Xi shook his head furiously.
"Do you covet my divine medicine? Take a dose and you will know its wondrous effect."
Before Jian Yong or Zhang Zhongjing could respond, the child spoke with faint disdain.
"Who would covet that? Its toxicity is only B-2."
"If you took the divine physician's A-1 toxin, you would die smiling without even noticing."
Zhang Zhongjing, still observing Du Xi's complexion and recording notes, tapped the child's head lightly.
"Do not speak nonsense."
Du Xi ignored the child entirely, shaking his head harder.
"I have taken it for three years. My mind is clear and my body feels light. Where is this poison?"
Zhang Zhongjing pressed the child's head again to silence him, then looked seriously at Du Xi.
"After one year of use, did you feel dizziness after exertion or heavy labor?"
"After two years, you should have lost appetite and grown thin. That false sense of lightness comes naturally."
"And now, do you not feel skin itching every few days?"
"If you continue for several more years, dizziness will worsen and tinnitus will follow. Loss of appetite will lead to vomiting. The itching will cause sores that rupture when scratched and take a hundred days to heal."
"By then, even if Hua Tuo were reborn, he could not save you."
"This…" Du Xi hesitated, because Zhang Zhongjing's words were frighteningly accurate.
A thought quickly surfaced in his mind.
"Divine Physician Zhang has taken secret Five-Mineral Powder himself?"
Jian Yong covered his face. Zhang He almost spoke, but Xiahou Yuan stopped him.
Zhang Zhongjing did not waste words. He slipped the notebook back into his sleeve and said simply,
"Come with me."