Chang He and Kou Zhong waited in the outer hall of the Ning Bi Pavilion. The former spoke in low voice, “This morning Huangshang is having an urgent meeting with Taizi Dianxia [His Highness the Crown Prince] and Qin Wang in the inner imperial court; otherwise, Huangshang would definitely personally come here.”

Rubbing his eyes for lack of sleep, Kou Zhong casually asked, “How come I did not see Qi Wang?”

Like an old friend who stick together through thick and thin, Chang He replied, “Qi Wang went to Guan Wai [outside the Pass, see also Book 30 Chapter 5] for an important matter; he has not returned yet.”

Zheng Gonggong came out; with smile across his face, he respectfully said, “Niangniang invites Mo Shen Yi in.”

Kou Zhong followed him into the inner chamber. This time, dressed neatly, Zhang Jieyu was sitting on a recliner. Although she was still far away from glowing with health and vigor, her sickly look has gone, her cheeks were showing a little bit of color. As long as one was not blind, anybody would be able to see that she was in the middle of recovery.

Zhang Jieyu was wearing phoenix crown on her head, her tastefully chosen dress was of beautiful deep blue-green color with pearl-colored trim. A brocade gown was draped on the outside, a white jade double-ornamented belt was tied around her waist. She appeared graceful, luxurious, dainty, and charming; no wonder she could become Li Yuan’s beloved pet.

Naturally she treated Kou Zhong with utmost courtesy. Revealing a cordial smile, she said, “This past half a month Aijia has never slept as well as I did last night; Mo Xiansheng did not bear the title Divine Doctor in vain.”

After greeting with raised cupped hands, Kou Zhong boldly sat on the chair prepared especially for him to examine her illness next to the couch, musing inwardly that you, beauty, had enough sleep, but I had just closed my eyes and already Sha Fu woke me up.

Zhang Jieyu obediently stretched out her jade hand from inside the gauzed sleeve to let Kou Zhong put his three fingers on her wrist. Unexpectedly she expressed her feeling, saying, “Why do, in life, we must suffer all kinds of suffering and torment, big and small from time to time?”

Naturally no one among the eunuchs and palace maids accompanying her was able to answer this question. Kou Zhong was examining the condition of the qi and blood within her tender body in full concentration; absent-mindedly he blurted out, “That depends on the reason of living. If it is for the sake of experiencing life, then we ought to taste a small amount of all kinds of experience. Hey! I was just babbling nonsense; Niangniang, please do not blame me.”

Zhang Jieyu looked at his ugly face in daze. She said, “Xiansheng’s remark is extremely novel, nobody has ever told Aijia such way of looking at things. Clearly Xiansheng is not one who confines himself to common propriety; your temperament is frank, you will say whatever you are thinking. How could Aijie blame Xiansheng? However, the torment of illness, I would rather not taste it.”

Originally Kou Zhong wanted to just be a yes-man and nodded his head in agreement and be done with it, yet he could not help saying, “Illness is not completely without any benefit either; at least it could remind us to watch our health. For example, a knife cut is painful, hence we know that we must avoid the knife. If it didn’t hurt, even if others cut our hands, we will not know it. Ha! Therefore, people who train martial art ought to be most afraid of pain.”

Zhang Jieyu was stunned. “What Xiansheng said is not unreasonable,” she remarked.

Kou Zhong thought the time has come not to use reckless move anymore, it was time to use the needles. Taking out Sha Zhijing’s nine-needle copper case, he said with a smile, “After this time, Xiaoren shouldn’t need to come again to treat Niangniang’s illness!”

Early in the morning, Hou Xibai’s Gong Chenchun came to Dong Lai Inn to look for Lei Jiuzhi and Xu Ziling. In order to hide from people’s eyes and ears, the latter was wearing the waxy-yellow-faced mask. Following Lei Jiuzhi’s direction, he used the name Yong Qin, a gambler cum traveling merchant from Shandong.

The three had their discussion inside the room. Hou Xibai said, “Last night Li Jiancheng sent his man to deliver five taels of