"No! Let me go! Help!" Hehuan screamed sharply and piercingly for help.
But at that moment, the one abusing Hehuan was a notorious ruffian in the capital city, and no one dared to offend him.
While the crowd was only watching the spectacle, a drunken guest suddenly picked up a chair and smashed it into the back of the ruffian's head.
The chair broke, drawing fresh blood from the ruffian's head.
He paused for a moment, then slowly turned to look at Tan Yuezhi and spat before clutching the back of his head and yelling at his henchmen,
"Damn it! Get this bastard for me!"
Tan Yuezhi was not a martial artist, and being drunk, he was instantly beaten to the ground by four or five strong men and had no strength to fight back.
Just as he was seeing stars and spitting up alcohol, he heard someone in the crowd shout something, and then painful cries came from those ruffians. Soon, the strong men surrounding him scattered and fled.
Tan Yuezhi painfully raised his head to see a somewhat familiar-looking man half-squatting to support him, holding a broken bloody stick in the other hand.
Apparently, he had just driven off those ruffians.
With the man's help, Tan Yuezhi staggered to his feet.
"Take it slow, Mr. Tan."
"You recognize me?"
"I am an official named Liu Chong at the Observatory of Imperial Astronomical Bureau. I have met Mr. Tan a few times before."
Tan Yuezhi nodded slightly in acknowledgment. He was injured all over and it would be difficult to walk home alone, so when Liu Chong offered to send him home, he did not refuse.
As the two walked to Tianxiang Building, they suddenly heard a trembling female voice from behind them.
"Wait... wait."
They stopped and turned around to see Hehuan running towards them, holding up her skirt.
She handed a box of ointment to Tan Yuezhi, blushing as she said: "Thank you for saving me just now. This is the finest wound medicine. Take it with you."
Then she lowered her head shyly and murmured, "I remember you. When I was an entertainer, you gave me the most rewards, but we never spoke."
Tan Yuezhi treated it casually, accepted the ointment, and left with a wave of his sleeve.
On the way back home supported by Liu Chong, Tan Yuezhi had sobered up substantially and gradually recalled who this Liu Chong was.
When he first entered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau as the Deputy Director, many minor officials came to curry favor with him, hoping to become his subordinates.
After all, the most important thing for being a servant in the palace was to understand pandering and seizing opportunities for advancement, regardless of ability.
Otherwise, no matter how capable you were, if the superiors didn't see you, you'd be buried.
At that time, who in the palace didn't know that Tan Yuezhi was flourishing before the Emperor?
If you followed him, then there was hope for promotion in the future.
Liu Chong had also visited a few times before but, like others, was turned away by Tan Yuezhi.
But today was different.
No matter what, Liu Chong had saved Tan Yuezhi's life.
So Tan Yuezhi asked Liu Chong, "Who are you following now?"
Liu Chong quickly said, "Still at the Observatory. This minor official is dull-witted and unable to find a good mentor."
Tan Yuezhi glanced at him with a sarcastic smile: "I think you're clever enough. Come report to me in a few days."
Hearing this, Liu Chong was overjoyed, and he could hardly stop himself from kneeling down to kowtow earnestly.
"This minor official is so grateful for Mr. Tan's guidance!"
With this master-disciple relationship established, Tan Yuezhi became more attentive in caring for him as well.
Sending someone home wasn't considered much, but he also helped him undress and apply medicine, brewed tea, and took care of everything before leaving.
After leaving Tan's residence, Liu Chong didn't return home but met Xiao Jingyan drinking alcohol under the moonlight at a street corner.
He respectfully bowed to Xiao Jingyan and said:
"Reporting to Your Highness, the task is accomplished."
Xiao Jingyan took a gulp of the strong liquor, wiped the corners of his mouth casually, and then patted Liu Chong's shoulder as he said in a low voice:
"You've worked hard for this."
Liu Chong was fearful and bowed even lower. "Your Highness's words humble me. If it weren't for Your Highness, I would have frozen to death in the wilderness outside the capital five years ago. How could I have lived these five more years to see all the beautiful scenery in the world and bid farewell to my parents?"
Smiling brightly, he continued, "Now that my illness is incurable, being able to repay Your Highness's kindness with this life is a glorious demise without regrets!"
*
After that day, there were often some disturbances in the palace, such as the Snake Panic on the Spring Equinox, the Lotus Pond drying up, and well water reversing flow.
Although these weren't major events, Tan Yuezhi accurately predicted each one, increasing Xiao Jingyan's trust in him.
And since Tan Yuezhi rescued Hehuan the last time, their relationship had become closer.
However, Tan Yuezhi was thinking of his late wife and only saw Hehuan as a substitute for her.
He never did anything improper with Hehuan, and even when they were alone in private, he only listened to her sing and watched her dance.
In his heart, he was thinking of every expression and gesture of his late wife.
Gradually, after spending a long time together, Tan Yuezhi became accustomed to Hehuan being groped by 'patrons' in exchange for tips.
He felt pity for this worldly woman and gave her enough silver to redeem herself, allowing her to start a new life somewhere no one knew her after buying freedom.
Hehuan was very touched. Burying her face in Tan Yuezhi's shoulder, she murmured with tears in her eyes:
"Sir has treated this servant so well. This servant has nothing to repay your kindness except to serve you once."
"No need." Tan Yuezhi coldly pushed her away, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a dull pain in his lower back and waist, and his brows clearly twitched.
Since the previous beating, he seemed to have hidden injuries and often felt unwell.
Hehuan then said, "Sir seems to have too much internal dampness. Using acupuncture and cupping together can relieve the discomfort. This servant has accepted so much silver from you, so she must do something to be at peace. Please allow this servant to serve you this once."
Tan Yuezhi had long heard that Hehuan's acupuncture skills were unparalleled, so upon her suggestion, he let her give it a try.
During Hehuan's acupuncture and cupping, a few candles in the room were extinguished, and calming incense was lit.
Under Hehuan's soft massage, Tan Yuezhi felt relaxed all over and soon fell asleep.
When he woke up, Hehuan had changed his clothes.
"Sir, you're awake? Do you feel more comfortable?"
Tan Yuezhi stretched and moved his muscles and found that the back and waist pain had indeed eased considerably. He joked:
"With such skill, why did you fall into this state?"
Hehuan smiled sweetly, but there was a hint of hurt in her eyes.
She rushed into Tan Yuezhi's arms, holding him tightly.
"Sir, this servant is leaving and doesn't know when we'll meet again. I only wish for you to be well."
