Chapter 1

Fang Jifan rubbed his eyes and looked blankly at the red curtains and furniture in front of him, such as the zither stand and the purple sandalwood round stool in the distance.

In front of the curtain stood a man in a green robe and a small hat, staring intently at him. Then this man showed a grin that seemed to invite a beating, with a fawning and sycophantic smile, "Young Master is awake..."

Fang Jifan's heart skipped a beat. This... is... a穿越 (穿越 means '穿越' in Chinese, which can be translated as '穿越' in English, but in this context, it means 'time travel')... time travel, because he clearly recognized that the man in the green robe and small hat was speaking in the official language of Fengyang. As an expert in Ming history, Fang Jifan was 100% certain that the setting here, along with this inexplicable man, could not have been replicated in his time, even with a large-scale film investment.

Without fear or shock, Fang Jifan felt a hint of excitement. After doing academic research for so many years, he never expected to be able to glimpse the ancients today!

Ancients... Looking at this man with a somewhat despicable smile, Fang Jifan couldn't help but think, this... is an ancient person?

"Is this the Hongzhi era?" Fang Jifan saw a calligraphy on the wall, and the inscription was by a calligrapher from the Zhengtong era of the Ming dynasty.

Leaning against the bed, the style of the zither stand also caught Fang Jifan's attention. This was the style of the mid-Ming dynasty, which became less popular after the Hongzhi era. The zither stand seemed newly made, so it must be the Hongzhi era.

The man in the green robe and small hat nodded but continued to stare at Fang Jifan.

With confirmation, Fang Jifan suddenly sat up from the bed, slapped his thigh, and said excitedly, "Is Prince Ning still around? There's still a rebellion in the north, and the textile industry in the south has already started to flourish..." Fang Jifan's face was animated, "The current emperor is a wise ruler, there's much to be done..."

Fang Jifan was very excited. This was a good era. As a man, to study and research history, there were always too many regrets. In his previous life, he didn't achieve much, but he never thought he would finally find a place to use his talents.

Fang Jifan couldn't help but laugh. Because he worked in a library and specialized in Ming history, he not only knew Ming history very well but also had a thorough understanding of the local gazetteers of this era. To put it bluntly, even the number of thieves in a certain county on a certain date left a deep impression on his remarkable memory.

In his previous life, he was lonely and destitute. Coming to this era didn't seem so bad.

Fang Jifan admired his own heart... it was quite large.

The man in the green robe and small hat, however, changed his expression and hesitated, "Young Master... You... You said... there's much to be done?"

"Yes." Fang Jifan gathered his spirit. Since he was a young master, this person must be either a book boy or a servant. His excitement hadn't subsided, and he said with enthusiasm, "As a man, one should strive for success and achieve great things..."

At this point, the man in the green robe and small hat's expression changed from confusion to sorrow, and he shouted, "Young Master... Young Master... has fallen ill again... Come... Come, someone..."

Fang Jifan was startled. What... is happening?

Bang...

The door was suddenly burst open by several strong men, who looked like fierce wolves.

The sunlight from outside also poured in, but these burly figures blocked most of the light.

Then, a man in a scholar's robe with a goatee, carrying a medicine box, rushed in and said excitedly, "Young Master, Young Master's illness... has flared up again... Quickly, quickly, acupuncture!"

With a command, the strong men pounced on Fang Jifan and immediately restrained him.

Fang Jifan's pupils contracted. NMGD (a Chinese internet slang for "f**k"), he cursed in his heart, because he saw the old man take out a silver needle from the box, with a pained expression, and said to Fang Jifan, "Young Master's illness is a brain disease, and one must not hide it. Come, come, don't be afraid, don't be afraid... one needle will do the trick..."

Fang Jifan was so frightened that his jaw almost dropped, "I... I'm not sick..."

The doctor, while administering the acupuncture, shook his head and said, "That's right, these symptoms always appear when the illness flares up. Young Master, bear with it. This acupuncture technique has been passed down from my ancestors. It can treat illness and strengthen the body. Young Master, lie still!"

Ah...

With a pig-like scream, after a while, Fang Jifan fell silent.

His limbs were restrained, and the old man directly inserted the silver needle into the back of his head. Fang Jifan stopped screaming, but he clenched his teeth in fear, afraid that any movement would cause the old man to insert the needle incorrectly.

Most importantly, he had always been afraid of needles!

Such a long needle, piercing into the head, this wasn't treatment, it was murder, damn it!

The needle was still in, and the old man pinched his beard, shook his head, and sighed, "There is no medicine for a brain-dead person. I can only temporarily control the illness according to the ancient prescription. Whether it can be cured depends entirely on Young Master's luck."

The man in the green robe and small hat, meanwhile, was sobbing softly at the side of the bed, "Young Master, Young Master, Doctor Fang is a renowned physician invited by the Marquis. Don't be afraid, a few months of acupuncture will cure you. The Marquis has written home, instructing that Young Master's illness must be treated, no matter what method is used... Young Master, bear with it... bear with it..."

Fang Jifan's face was pale, and he was trembling with fear.

...

...

Noon.

The scenery outside the window was pleasant, but Fang Jifan had no mood to appreciate it!

This was the twenty-seventh day since Fang Jifan came to this world. Of course, he didn't know how many needles he had already been given. Each time he was needled, it felt like he was walking through the gates of hell.

An ancient 'famous doctor' inserting a silver needle into the back of his head and stirring it slightly, Fang Jifan still shuddered when he thought about it.

Twenty-seven days were enough for Fang Jifan to understand everything.

The original owner of this body was the only son of Fang Jinglong, the Marquis of Nanhe in the Ming dynasty.

The Fang family's hereditary marquisate was earned during the Jingnan Campaign, when their ancestors followed the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, from Beiping to Nanjing. Zhu Di was generous and gave them a secure position.

And the original owner of this body...

Well, no wonder he was considered a brain-dead person for just saying that a man should strive for success and serve the country. This person was a complete scoundrel and the worst of the wastrels in the capital, a thoroughly evil and corrupt individual!

A few days ago, this person fell ill, and a famous doctor was invited to treat him. It seemed that his mental state was problematic, and treatment was never abandoned. After Fang Jifan's time travel, he was mistaken for still being ill because his personality was vastly different from the previous wastrel, so... the treatment continued...

Too stupid.

Fang Jifan reflected on himself. He was still too young. When he first arrived, he actually talked about achieving great things and serving the country, which was asking for trouble.

A thoroughly evil and corrupt wastrel, behaving so abnormally, what else could it be but a mental illness in others' eyes?

Well, to stop the treatment, he had to be even more like the original Fang Jifan.

At this moment, the door to the bedroom opened, and a pretty little maid came in, followed by Fang Jifan's servant, the man in the green robe and small hat, named Deng Jian.

A new day... had begun.

Fang Jifan took a deep breath. In these twenty days, he had figured out the pattern and roughly understood the background of this family. Naturally, he had already thoroughly understood the original Fang Jifan.

The little maid came to the bed and bowed, "Young Master, it's time to get up."

Fang Jifan opened his eyes and showed an impatient look. He encouraged himself, "Wastrel, wastrel, I'm a wastrel, I mustn't show any signs of being different."

Fang Jifan said fiercely, "What time is it? So early in the morning, what are you yelling for?"

The little maid was slightly unnerved, "It... It's already past the third watch."

"Only the third watch..." Fang Jifan bared his teeth, "Is Young Master the type to get up at the third watch? Sleep for another watch!"

Deng Jian hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and scraping, "Young Master, it is early, but I'm afraid Young Master will be hungry..."

"Alright, alright..." Fang Jifan had no choice but to get up and change clothes with the help of the little maid.

Of course, Fang Jifan had to show a lecherous look, staring at the little maid's chest, and said with a grin, "Xiaoxiang, you've grown up, come, come, let Young Master check."

Fang Jifan's hand smoothly pinched Xiaoxiang's chest, making her tremble and her eyes well up with tears.

Fang Jifan sighed inwardly, feeling a bit guilty, but seeing Deng Jian, he quickly said, "Hahaha... The little girl is still shy, don't be afraid, Young Master cares for you."

Xiaoxiang hurriedly tried to hide, and Fang Jifan used this as an excuse to stop harassing her. Deng Jian, with a despicable smile, said, "Young Master is wise, Young Master is mighty, Young Master's true nature hasn't changed, I am deeply impressed, I am utterly convinced."

"Go to hell!" Fang Jifan kicked Deng Jian, who fell to the ground, and said angrily, "Young Master is only handsome and suave, what do you mean by wise and mighty? Can wisdom and might be eaten? You dog."

Deng Jian rolled on the ground and burst into tears.

Fang Jifan was startled. What, did he kick too hard? Sin, sin, I'm very sorry, but... well, I'm in a difficult situation. If I act refined and gentle, how can I stop the treatment?

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Deng Jian rolled up and looked up, excitedly saying, "Young Master's illness has finally improved, I... I... am so happy for Young Master, I am overwhelmed with joy, overwhelmed with joy."

Hmm?

Fang Jifan was stunned. This... works?

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