Chapter Twenty-One: Master Tong and Grand Master Guo

“Hehe, sorry about that. I originally meant to knock, but I didn’t realize I used a bit too much force,” Jia Ping’an said with a slightly embarrassed tone after his eyes swept over the three men.

This wasn’t a lie. Having trained his strength diligently every night in his spatial realm, and with his body continually cleansed by the spiritual spring water, his power had indeed increased significantly.

Just now, he hadn’t gauged his strength properly, and with the Tong residence’s door already slightly ajar, it opened with little effort.

“Oh, so it’s young friend who’s come! We were just speaking of you a moment ago. Please, come in,” Master Tong said with a joyful expression, ignoring Jia Ping’an’s explanation upon recognizing him.

Tong Gui’s health had improved much, and just as he had planned to send someone to inquire about Jia Ping’an’s identity, the young man had arrived unexpectedly.

Tong Gui’s face lit up with a smile upon seeing Jia Ping’an, and upon hearing his master’s invitation, he quickly stepped forward. “Benefactor, please come in.”

“Hehe, thank you,” Jia Ping’an smiled and strode confidently into the courtyard, with Chang Chao following closely behind, dutifully fulfilling his role as servant.

Only a short time apart, yet the youth now had a servant by his side. To Master Tong, this was perfectly natural.

With such demeanor, generosity, and medical skill, it was only fitting that he had a servant attending him.

“Come, young friend, let me introduce you. This is Guo Tongfang, former Grand Equerry, responsible for all equine affairs in Xuan Kingdom. Now, he remains a disgraced official, exiled here to Ningguta,” Master Tong said.

“Tongfang, this is the capable young doctor I mentioned earlier. By the way, his generosity saved me in a dire moment,” Master Tong chuckled, introducing them to one another.

Previously, Master Tong had spoken highly of Jia Ping’an to Guo Tongfang, which stirred a bit of resentment in Guo.

Just a mere youth—how could he possibly be as impressive as Tong claimed?

Although skeptical before, seeing the boy in person—so young, no more than fifteen or sixteen—Guo Tongfang couldn’t help but tease with a hint of envy, “Oh? Whose noble son might you be? We Tong and Wei Xing are both disgraced officials. Be careful not to be dragged down by us.”

Wei Xing, or Tong Wei Xing, was the first time Jia Ping’an learned his full name.

Guo’s mention of their disgraced official status was ostensibly a warning but also revealed his dissatisfaction with his fate.

Master Tong’s thoughts were less complicated; upon hearing the reminder from an old friend, he understood.

Though once officials in the Xuan Kingdom, they were now branded criminals in the eyes of the powerful, shunned and avoided even by their own descendants.

Jia Ping’an’s extraordinary bearing, his maturity beyond years, and his kindness toward Master Tong made him unwilling to see the boy suffer due to their association; that would trouble him deeply.

Tong Wei Xing and Guo Tongfang both fixed their gazes on Jia Ping’an—one concerned, the other amused, eager to see how he would respond.

“Hehe,” Jia Ping’an remained calm and collected, spreading his hands naturally as he said, “In that case, we truly are connected. I, too, am a disgraced official’s son—afterwards.”

He deliberately elongated the word “afterwards,” catching Tong and Guo by surprise.

Especially Tong Wei Xing, who had pondered Jia Ping’an’s identity.

He was certain he had been in Ningguta for two years, and though he wandered about when idle, he had never once seen Jia Ping’an, not even from afar.

Such composure and ease would leave a lasting impression at first sight.

If Jia Ping’an hadn’t appeared until now, it was likely he had just arrived in Ningguta.

Judging by his confident demeanor, he was probably the scion of some influential figure here.

Yet no one expected he too was a disgraced official’s son, so close in status to them.

“You’re a disgraced official’s son? Who is your father? I might even know him,” Guo Tongfang said with surprise, then began questioning him, skeptical of Jia Ping’an’s claim.

This boy appeared far from destitute and carried himself with such poise despite adversity—how could he be a disgraced official’s son?

“My father is Jia Fanghao, formerly a chief physician at the Imperial Medical Institute. This time, he offended a noble and was exiled to Ningguta,” Jia Ping’an said openly, fully aware of their doubts but completely unashamed.

“Chief Physician Jia? You’re the son of Chief Physician Jia?” Guo Tongfang had expected a joke, planning to expose a false name, but to his astonishment, it was true—and he really did know the man.

Everyone eats grains and vegetables; no one is immune to illness.

The chief physicians at the Imperial Medical Institute were highly sought after acquaintances.

Guo Tongfang knew some chief physicians, and Jia Fanghao was among them.

Hearing the full name so clearly, he couldn’t help but believe it; such a claim was easily verifiable and not to be fabricated.

“I’ve heard of Chief Physician Jia before; his medical skills are excellent. So you’re his son—ha ha ha!” Tong Wei Xing laughed heartily.

Though not as familiar with Jia Fanghao as Guo Tongfang, while serving in Changdu, he had heard the name.

Previously worried their identities might complicate things, now he had no such concerns.

After revealing his father’s identity, Jia Ping’an felt the bond among the three men deepen.

He clasped his hands respectfully and formally introduced himself, “I am Jia Ping’an, greetings to both uncles.”

Since they knew his father, calling them uncles was fitting.

“Ha ha ha, Ping’an, a good name,” Guo Tongfang said happily on hearing the respectful address.

Tong Wei Xing was equally pleased and said, “Peace and safety—that’s how life should be.”

With their identities out in the open, especially sharing similar experiences, the barriers between them melted away, making their conversation naturally warmer and livelier.

Tong Wei Xing and Guo Tongfang then learned from Jia Ping’an about Jia Fanghao’s story: while treating the noble Consort De in the palace, a senior chief physician named Jin made a misdiagnosis causing the noble’s severe vomiting and diarrhea. The emperor, enraged, blamed Jia Fanghao, who was responsible for dispensing the medicine, resulting in his exile to Ningguta.

“Why was that? Didn’t your father appeal?” Tong Wei Xing asked, angered.

“Uncle, please don’t be angry. It was because the retiring old director of the Imperial Medical Institute wanted to return home. Jin, the chief physician, was the favored candidate to replace him and could not afford any mistakes. So my father took the blame for him,” Jia Ping’an explained, having inherited this knowledge from the original owner. He felt his father had been unjustly treated.

On the other hand, if not for this incident, perhaps he wouldn’t have come here at all—it was hard to say if this was blessing or curse.

After Jia Ping’an finished, he also learned the truth behind their exiles.

Tong Wei Xing was somewhat deserving; his memorial to the throne violated taboos and was “well deserved,” though connected to his outspoken nature.

Guo Tongfang’s exile was a result of misplaced flattery. When the crown prince was practicing horsemanship, a spirited horse threw him off, and Guo, who attended him, was blamed and sent here.

In truth, none of their offenses were serious, which is why they lived relatively well after being exiled to Ningguta.

Had they been truly heinous criminals, they would have been beheaded back in Changdu or, if sent to Ningguta, would have been stripped of their rights and reduced to slavery, unable to live freely as they did now.

Especially Guo Tongfang, a rare talent in equine affairs, rumored to be reinstated by the emperor one day, enjoying elevated status even in exile and spared mistreatment.

A few days ago, after gathering ginseng in the mountains, Guo learned of Tong Wei Xing’s plight and came to offer help. Unexpectedly, Jia Ping’an arrived simultaneously, and the three met, sitting together to discuss matters of the realm.

Previously at the Jia estate in Changdu, Jia Ping’an had kept to himself, ignorant of much outside.

Master Tong was not much different, but Guo, adept at navigating all circles, knew every major and minor affair in Changdu, many factions as if by heart.

From Guo’s words, Jia Ping’an learned many secrets unknown to outsiders.

For example, his inquiry about the Zhou family was answered during their conversation.

Zhou Wenbing was the cousin of Consort Xian, one of Emperor Xuanwenzong’s favorite consorts.

Consort Xian bore two sons—the third and fourth princes.

Although the Xuan Kingdom already had a crown prince, until he ascended, any other prince could still hold hope for the throne.