Chapter 564: The Trick Up One's Sleeve

It was clear that the fourth stone, which Yin Chong had barely managed to dodge, had been thrown by the paper bird, and it seemed intent on throwing a fifth.

The surrounding servants, lacking the keen eyesight of the Yin brothers, couldn't discern the paper bird on the distant eaves. They mistakenly believed that the second young master had frightened off some miscreant. Yin Chong, however, who clearly saw the situation, found it rather absurd. It was Yin Qing who reacted first.

"Mr. Ji! Mr. Ji is coming!"

Yin Qing recalled that Mr. Ji had a paper crane accompanying him. If any paper bird in the world possessed such remarkable sentience and appeared at the Yin manor, it was highly probable it was that very one.

"Mr. Ji?"

Yin Chong also reacted, glancing at his elder brother and then towards the eaves. However, in the brief moment the two brothers exchanged a look, the paper crane on the eaves had vanished when they looked up again. Only a small stone made a 'rumbling' sound on the eaves before dropping onto the bluestone slab below with a 'plink'.

"Uh, it ran off?"

Yin Chong asked with a puzzled expression. He then looked at his elder brother, who seemed lost in thought, and with a flick of his sleeve, held the bamboo slip behind his back.

"Come on, to the front courtyard! Mr. Ji is surely on his way!"

Having said this, Yin Qing also gave instructions to the nearby servants.

"You, go inform the Prime Minister that Mr. Ji might be arriving. And you two, inform my wife to bring the two children to the front courtyard; tell her Mr. Ji is coming!"

"Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir!"

Several servants acknowledged the orders and quickly departed. These newer servants, who had joined the Yin manor in recent years, might not have known who Mr. Ji was, but seeing Lord Yin's evident deference, they understood that a distinguished guest was arriving and dared not show the slightest neglect.

Traversing the small streets and alleys, Ji Yuan returned once again to Rong'an Street. From afar, the main gate of the Yin manor was already open. On this early spring morning after the rain, Rong'an Street appeared somewhat deserted, perhaps due to Yin Zhaoxian's aversion to excessive social calls and formalities.

Ji Yuan could state, without exaggeration, that in the entire capital city of Dazhen, Rong'an Street was the "cleanest" area. It surpassed even the vicinity of the City God Temple; not only would no malevolent spirits or demons dare to venture here, but there was also hardly any turbid energy present.

Noticing the sparse traffic and few pedestrians on the street, Ji Yuan strode directly towards the Yin manor. Before he even reached the entrance, an old, seemingly aged servant had already spotted him and stepped out of the gate in a few quick strides.

"Mr. Ji, it's truly you! Quickly, go inform Lord Yin!"

The old servant spoke the first half of his sentence to Ji Yuan with a touch of surprise, while the latter half was an instruction to the guard standing by the gate.

"Yes, sir!"

The guard acknowledged the order with a cupped-fist salute and hurried inside, while the old servant had already stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Ji Yuan.

"You're Ah Yuan, aren't you?"

Ji Yuan observed the powerful old servant. Although he still possessed robust vitality, moved his limbs with strength, and was protected by true martial energy, signs of age were now apparent, as he was well over sixty years old.

"Yes, yes, it's rare for you to remember me, esteemed sir. I have served the Prime Minister since before Lishun Prefecture in Wanzhou."

As the most senior and loyal servant of the Yin household, Ah Yuan's understanding of Ji Yuan naturally far exceeded that of the other staff. He knew deeply that Ji Yuan was a true immortal. While outsiders commonly spread rumors that his master was a reincarnation of the Star of Literature, many considered this mere flattery. Yet, Ah Yuan and a few other core older servants truly believed it; Mr. Ji's very existence was one of the strongest proofs.

While the two conversed briefly, Yin Qing and Yin Chong, along with their entourage, appeared at the doorway. Even Princess Changping was present, leading two children by the hand.

"Mr. Ji!"

Yin Qing first called out with joyful surprise, then led everyone forward, bowing to Ji Yuan as they approached, while the female family members performed a deep curtsy.

"Mr. Ji, please come in quickly!" "Yes, Mr. Ji, please come in! The kitchen is already preparing, and my father misses you dearly!"

The Yin brothers were very excited, while Yin Qing's two sons were a bit reserved. Princess Changping patted the children and prompted them.

"Quickly, greet Mr. Ji and bow to him."

The two children, one around eight or nine and the other four or five, were, after all, descendants of the Yin family, for whom being well-educated and polite was a fundamental expectation. They exchanged a glance, then meticulously bowed to Ji Yuan.

"Greetings, Mr. Ji!"

Ji Yuan nodded to everyone and the two children. Then, glancing at Princess Changping's slightly bulging belly, he chuckled.

"The Yin family is certainly flourishing with its descendants."

He then entered the manor with the Yin family members, not heading to the reception hall or arranging lodging first, but proceeding directly with the group to Yin Zhaoxian's residence in the back courtyard.

In the back courtyard of the Yin manor, imperial physicians from the palace were constantly on duty. Unless under special circumstances, these doctors would remain at the Yin manor, residing there permanently. Along with their disciples, they personally oversaw the herbal stove used for Yin Zhaoxian's medicine and managed all aspects of his diet.

At that moment, in a corner of the courtyard, the old imperial physician was engrossed in medical texts, while his apprentice attended to the herbs simmering on the stove. From a distance, the apprentice saw a group from the Yin manor pass through an archway and approach their part of the back courtyard along the corridor. Surprised, he quickly leaned towards the old imperial physician and reported.

"Master, Lord Yin and Her Royal Highness the Princess have arrived."

"Hmm?"

The old imperial physician looked in that direction, instinctively rising from his wicker chair. However, the Yin family members merely glanced at their corner, gave a nod, and passed by without any intention of calling them over, heading directly to Yin Zhaoxian's bedroom.

After they had passed, the apprentice tending to the herbal stove finally spoke.

"Master, that person in front, he isn't another renowned physician summoned from elsewhere, is he?"

"Well, that's not entirely impossible... You keep an eye on the herbal stove; I'll go see!"

"Alright!"

The old imperial physician still quickly walked towards Yin Zhaoxian's bedroom. It wasn't out of jealousy that an external physician might cure Yin Zhaoxian and claim the praise; rather, it was his duty. He feared these external healers might misuse medication, recalling that a mishap had nearly occurred before.

If Prime Minister Yin were indeed to suffer any misfortune for such a reason, not only would the external doctors be ruined, but the imperial physicians stationed there would also surely be held accountable.

When Ji Yuan arrived in Yin Zhaoxian's room, Madam Yin, who had aged considerably, had already performed a shallow curtsy.

"Mr. Ji is here? It's been many years since we last saw you!"

Madam Yin now bore no trace of the small county woman she once was; she exuded the dignified bearing of a Prime Minister's wife, possessing a natural aura of gravitas.

"Greetings, Madam Yin!"

Ji Yuan formally returned the greeting, then his respectful posture shifted as his gaze turned towards his old friend on the bed. Yin Zhaoxian was already propped up against the bedding, cupping his hands in salute towards him.

"Mr. Ji, it's been a long time!"

"Indeed, it has been a long time, Master Yin!"

Ji Yuan finished his polite gesture and quickly walked to Yin Zhaoxian's bedside. A servant promptly brought a chair, allowing him to sit comfortably beside Yin Zhaoxian. As soon as he entered, Ji Yuan discerned that Yin Zhaoxian was not displaying his true appearance but was wearing a mask—specifically, the red fox mask Hu Yun had originally given to Yin Qing. This, he surmised, was how they had deceived numerous imperial and renowned physicians.

It was at this moment that the old imperial physician also rushed in. Upon entering the room, he saw the Yin family members gathered around the perimeter and Ji Yuan seated by the head of the bed, leading him to assume Ji Yuan was taking the patient's pulse.

"Lord Yin, is this a newly arrived physician? If so, I have a few words of caution for him."

The old imperial physician did not immediately intervene but approached Yin Qing and whispered his question. Yin Qing looked at him and smiled.

"No, this is an old friend of our Yin family, whom we haven't seen in many years. He must have heard about my father's condition and came specifically to visit him."

"Oh!"

Upon hearing this, half of the old imperial physician's worries dissipated. This was for the best, saving him trouble.

Ji Yuan had not yet spoken to Yin Zhaoxian. Seeing the imperial physician arrive, and fully aware that Yin Zhaoxian was not gravely ill, he played along completely, turning back with feigned concern to ask.

"Doctor, how is Master Yin's health? When might he recover?"

The old imperial physician glanced left and right, then stepped forward with a sigh.

"Prime Minister Yin has toiled for many years, and his body is utterly exhausted. This was not originally a severe illness, but his body, overwhelmed by its burdens, developed various ailments. Now, despite all our methods, we can only use gentle medications combined with medicinal diets to nourish his body, maintaining a delicate balance. He cannot withstand significant upheavals..."

This matter was already an open secret, so the imperial physician spoke freely, even in Yin Zhaoxian's presence. He then added a flattering remark, subtly mixed with reassurance.

"Fortunately, the Prime Minister maintains an optimistic and cheerful mindset, which is truly precious. May Heaven bless our great Dazhen; surely, nothing untoward will happen to the Prime Minister!"

Ji Yuan sighed inwardly, realizing that being an imperial physician was no easy task.

"Alright, you may leave now. Allow Mr. Ji and my father to catch up properly."

"Yes, sir. Should anything arise, Lord Yin, please do not hesitate to call."

"Understood."

After the imperial physician withdrew, Ji Yuan resumed his smile, looking at Yin Qing, then at Yin Zhaoxian.

"Master Yin, what exactly is going on here?"

Princess Changping quickly motioned to the servants nearby, instructing them to take the two children to play. She then ordered Ah Yuan to go outside and keep watch. Only after all unnecessary personnel had departed did Yin Zhaoxian, still in bed, finally burst into laughter.

"Heh heh, there's no hiding anything from Mr. Ji, is there?"

After his laughter subsided, Yin Zhaoxian's expression grew serious.

"Dazhen may appear to be a realm of peace, prosperous people, and national strength, but in truth, it remains riddled with hidden ailments. Like a physician extracting poison, one must both recuperate and eliminate the toxins. However, some deep-seated poisons, if disturbed rashly, can cause severe harm, requiring a slow and gradual approach. Our Yin family's governance operates similarly; for years, we have proceeded unhurriedly, steadily solidifying the foundation of Dazhen... Yet, no matter how cautious our actions, conflicts with certain individuals are ultimately inevitable and will surely escalate."

Ji Yuan understood this perfectly. Although the Yin family belonged to the feudal scholar-official class, they were, in a sense, reformers. While they seemingly coexisted harmoniously with officials from various strata, in reality, they were uncompromising and would sooner or later gradually eradicate old corruptions and stubborn practices. There were certainly many in both the court and the wider society who could discern this.

However, Yin Zhaoxian's explanation hadn't quite reached the core issue yet, and Ji Yuan, after all, was not privy to court affairs, so Yin Qing concisely added a crucial point.

"The Emperor's attitude nowadays is no longer what it once was; it has become somewhat subtle."

Ji Yuan's eyebrow twitched as he looked from Yin Qing to Yin Zhaoxian. The latter nodded, then shook his head.

"People grow old eventually, and even many sagacious rulers are not immune to muddled thinking in their later years. Our Yin family's power is too immense, and our prestige among the populace is equally vast. To leverage these two points is an overt scheme, one that is truly difficult to counter!"

Yin Qing also interjected.

"As Father said, though I strive to guide public opinion and ensure the populace recognizes the Emperor's sagacity when my father is mentioned, the royal mind is truly inscrutable. But it is for the best; after this incident, especially once they became convinced of Father's 'incurable severe illness,' nearly all of them have revealed themselves!"

Yin Qing showed no trace of nervousness or distress, speaking with a slight smile.