The young man’s clothes were tattered, and his filthy face was covered in fresh blood—streaked with dust and grime, making him look utterly pitiful.
The onlookers had all stepped far back, but their eyes secretly lingered on the youth, guessing whether he was dead or not.
The ones who had struck him were the city gate guards.
Earlier, there had been too many gawkers, and the guards, taking advantage of the fact that this little beggar had no one to back him up, had hit him to intimidate him—to scare him into not causing more trouble.
They hadn’t expected him to be so weak; he collapsed immediately.
The guard who dealt the blows swallowed hard and prodded him with his toe. The youth groaned in pain, and only then did the guard relax, his expression turning fierce.
“If you’re not dead, then get up quickly. Don’t block the road—don’t blame the officials for being ruthless.”
“Dai Fu, help him up.”
Fu Tian had been watching all this unfold and found it hard to ignore. His tone grew cooler as he spoke to the guards, “I’ll pay his city entry fee.”
He pulled out the exact fee for five people—not a coin more, not a coin less.
The guards, cowards who preyed on the weak, sized up the carriage behind Fu Tian and realized this was someone they truly shouldn’t mess with. They smiled obligingly and stepped aside.
Dai Fu and the coachman lifted the youth onto the carriage and gave him some water to drink. After Fu Tian got in, they drove into the city.
Because of this detour, they didn’t head straight to the Guesthouse but went to the clinic first.
The doctor was called out and, upon seeing a ragged figure resembling a beggar being lifted out of a luxurious carriage, glanced at Fu Tian in surprise. He said nothing further and followed them inside.
They cleaned the wounds and dressed them carefully. While the youth was still unconscious, the doctor took his pulse and gave Dai Fu a prescription.
“External wounds aren’t a big problem. Change the dressings regularly and keep them dry, and he’ll be fine. But his constitution is poor; he’ll need slow and steady care to recover.”
The doctor himself seemed doubtful. This beggar-like person was probably just someone rescued out of kindness.
As long as the wounds healed and he survived, that would be enough—there’d be little time or energy to properly nurture his health.
He hesitated, then said, “There’s a Shantang in the city. If the young master has no place to put him, you could send him there.”
Fu Tian thanked him and took the medicine before leaving the clinic and heading to the Guesthouse.
Since the youth was still unconscious, Dai Fu was assigned to watch over him in the same room. Fu Tian ate breakfast and rested for a while before dragging Chu Xiangtian out for a stroll around noon.
Perhaps because of the location, there were many outsiders passing through. Xingdong Commandery was much livelier than Nanmíng Commandery.
The streets and alleys were filled with all kinds of merchants, and numerous foreigners performed acrobatics and magic tricks—quite novel.
Among the bustling crowd, Fu Huo ran about like a little wild animal set free. Chu Xiangtian was often caught off guard, nearly losing him. He had to grab Fu Huo’s hand firmly to avoid losing him.
There were many fresh snacks by the roadside. Fu Tian held a pack of fried rice cakes wrapped in oiled paper.
Chu Xiangtian carried the rest. Fu Tian ate a piece himself and fed one to Chu Xiangtian. By the time they finished a street, their bellies were full and round, with no appetite left for dinner.
Fu Huo whimpered, reluctant to go back. Fu Tian’s eyes darted around until he heard someone nearby say that Hongyuan Temple was especially effective for praying for marriage luck.
He said, “Let’s go see for ourselves.”
Chu Xiangtian showed a helpless expression but, seeing the longing in Fu Tian’s eyes, couldn’t bear to refuse. He pinched his cheek gently and accompanied him.
Hongyuan Temple was crowded. It really seemed as effective as the rumors said. Fu Tian was eager and pulled Chu Xiangtian to draw a marriage fortune stick.
The bamboo stick had a warm yellowish-brown hue, showing signs of many years. Fu Tian’s eyes lit up when he saw the “Top-Top” (上上) fortune written on it.
“Let’s go get it explained.”
Not far away, a monk in robes was interpreting fortunes. The monk was an elderly man with a graying beard and kindly eyes, radiating a natural Buddhist aura.
Fu Tian handed over the bamboo stick. The monk slowly read the inscription and glanced between Fu Huo and Chu Xiangtian, then smiled knowingly.
“Fate’s blessing is no coincidence; meeting and union bring harmony. Ignore idle chatter, and grow old together as a couple.”
The monk said, “Meeting is destiny. I hope both of you cherish this bond and don’t let others’ gossip spoil your relationship.”
Fu Tian was momentarily stunned. “Master, you…”
The monk joined his palms in a respectful bow. “The fortune reading is five wen. Do you have other questions, young masters?”
Fu Tian swallowed the rest of his words, took out a silver ingot, and placed it in the offering box. He joined his palms in return. “Thank you, Master.”
Having drawn a top-tier fortune, Fu Tian was clearly in high spirits, walking with a particularly light step.
After a few paces, Fu Tian turned and walked backward, watching Chu Xiangtian’s smiling face with a mischievous glint.
“My mother has a set of gold-inlaid jade jewelry saved for my future wife. When I return, I’ll get it for you.”
At these words, the dimples on his cheeks deepened. The evening glow and Chu Xiangtian’s shadow reflected in his eyes, making everything around him shine.
“All right.” Chu Xiangtian’s unexpected lack of reaction surprised Fu Tian.
Seeing him nearly lean against a tree by the roadside, he simply pulled him back and hugged him close, whispering in his ear, “Then when are you coming back to the capital with me? The Prince Consort’s Residence is finished and just waiting for the prince’s wife to move in.”
Fu Tian’s face flushed from ear to neck, breaking free from the embrace and pretending to be serious, “Out here. Be careful. Don’t always be so clingy.”
Chu Xiangtian smirked, took his hand, and said with a helpless yet indulgent tone, “We’re going back.”
Fu Tian whined, unwilling but didn’t let go of his hand in the end.
The fortune said, “Ignore idle chatter,” so why care about unrelated people?
On their way back, the youth they had picked up was awake, though still weak. Dai Fu was holding a bowl of medicine, feeding him.
Hearing Dai Fu mention who had saved him, the youth struggled to sit up and coughed a few times before catching his breath and cupping his hands. “Thank you, Young Master Fu.”
His manner and speech didn’t seem like a real beggar’s. Rather, there was a scholarly air about him.
Fu Tian studied him; if not for the wounds on his face and the bandages on his head, he would have been quite a handsome young man.
Recalling the commotion at the city gate, Fu Tian couldn’t help but ask, “What’s your name? You mentioned having family here. If you don’t mind, I could send someone to inform them.”
The youth’s eyes lit up immediately.
He hastened, “My surname is Rao—Rao Qu Nian, from the Rao family of Qu Lin. Our Rao Family Residence is in Dong San Alley. Please help me send a message; there will be a generous reward in the future.”
He spoke so fast and urgently that after finishing, he coughed twice, his cheeks flushed with a sickly red.
Rao family… Fu Tian and Chu Xiangtian exchanged a glance. The land they had their eyes on belonged to the Rao family. They hadn’t expected to meet someone from the Rao family under such circumstances.
But now was clearly not the time for business. Seeing the youth’s weak condition, they let him write a letter and had the coachman deliver it to the Rao family.
They had expected to wait some time for a reply, but to their surprise, within less than half an incense stick’s time, the coachman returned with someone from the Rao family.
The visitor was a young man dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, about the same height as Chu Xiangtian but extremely thin, with sunken cheeks.
Fu Tian thought he didn’t look any better than the weak youth on the bed.
Upon entering and seeing the youth, the man stood frozen at the door. Fu Huo greeted him with a bow, but the man didn’t respond.
After a moment, his eyes reddened. Carefully, he approached the bedside and gently embraced the unconscious youth, his voice trembling, “Cousin, you’re not dead… you’re not dead…”
The youth stirred lightly from his shallow sleep. Seeing the one he least wanted to face, but then realizing he was about to cry, he thought of how he had left on a trip to clear his mind and gotten into trouble.
***
Nearly two months had passed; his family must have been worried sick. He forced a smile and patted the other on the back.
“I’ll take you home.”
The young man’s lapse lasted only a moment. He straightened, composed his expression, and turned to Fu Tian.
“Thank you, Young Master, for saving him. But my cousin’s health is poor. I need to take him home to rest properly. If you don’t mind, please stay at the Rao family residence for a while. Once I’ve settled him, I will properly thank you for saving his life.”
Fu Tian had already set his sights on the Rao family’s land, so he naturally agreed.
Seeing his agreement, the young man—named Liu Qing—left the steward to host Fu Tian and his group and carefully carried the frail Rao Qu Nian away.
Rao Family Steward noticed Fu Tian’s curious gaze and explained, “About two months ago, Young Master Nian had a falling out with Young Master Qing and went out to clear his mind.”
“On the way, they were ambushed by bandits. Only one servant escaped and said Young Master Nian… had an accident.”
“The master was so distressed he fell ill, and Young Master Qing blamed himself deeply. So seeing him alive now, he lost control. Please don’t mind, Young Master Fu.”
Fu Tian shook his head. It was understandable for someone who thought their relative was dead to lose their composure.
The steward chatted casually, sharing much about Xingdong Commandery’s customs and landscapes. After Dai Fu finished packing, the group followed the steward to the Rao family residence.