Chapter 5

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Among all the palaces, the Songyang Palace, built at the beginning of the Sui Dynasty and located north of the Junji Peak, naturally had the most advantageous position. When Emperor Gaozong personally sacrificed to Mount Song, he once stayed at the Songyang Palace, which greatly enhanced its reputation. For generations, the abbots were all appointed by the imperial court, and the nobles and officials from Chang'an and Luoyang came and went continuously. The palace was renovated every year, becoming even more magnificent and grand.

On this day, there were not many visitors at the Songyang Palace. After the heavy rain, the guest rooms set aside for visitors were also deserted. Sima Heiyun was led by the guest master from the main gate. When they reached the guest room where his master lived, he saw a companion coming towards him. After a brief conversation, he thanked the guest master, took off his raincoat and hat, and followed his companion to the door of the central guest room. After being announced, he entered.

On the main seat, a man in a Taoist robe, with white hair and a few long whiskers on his chin, was sitting cross-legged. At first glance, he seemed to be in his fifties or sixties, but upon closer inspection, his face was clear and rosy, with few wrinkles, and his eyes sparkled with a clear and bright light, making him look like he was in his forties. Seeing Sima Heiyun bow, he smiled and asked, "Did you deliver them home?"

"Yes, Master. They live in a thatched cottage at the foot of Junji Peak, which is only a fifteen-minute walk from the Songyang Palace. However, the road was difficult to walk in the rain, so it took some time to go back and forth."

"On such a rainy day, the brother and sister lingered in front of the Songyang Palace. Did they have a quarrel?"

Seeing the old man's playful expression, the Taoist sitting on the left, who was about forty years old, coughed lightly and then asked thoughtfully, "Since they are from Jingzhao Duling, young, and a brother and sister, it's impossible for them to be hermits on Mount Song. Why are they living in a thatched cottage at the foot of Junji Peak? Could they be building a cottage to study?"

"Master, Daoist Sun, they came to the Songyang Palace seeking medical help. Today, the young Master Du is said to have a serious illness, once unable to speak or move. His sister brought him from Jingzhao to Mount Song for medical help, but Daoist Sun was not there, so the palace politely refused them. Today, his sister knelt and begged in front of the palace, and even when the rain continued, she refused to leave. Unexpectedly, the young Master Du miraculously recovered, so he had his servant lead the way to bring his sister back. That's why they borrowed rain gear earlier."

When Sima Heiyun said this, the two men on the seat immediately changed their expressions. The old man on the main seat smiled and said, "Such a heavy rain, leaving the young lady in the rain, people might say the Songyang Palace is indifferent to life and death. The Du family, though not one of the Five Great Clans, is still a prominent family in Guanzhong. If they are indeed from Jingzhao Duling, it must be so. Zifang, what do you think?"

The respected and famous senior, though often not very serious, was still cheerful and joking even when he suddenly fell ill on the way. Now that his condition had improved, he said, "What you said is exactly what I was thinking. Zifang, you should go with Heiyun to visit and treat them. I'll go back and prepare my medical kit now."

After Sun Zifang left, Sima Heiyun took two more steps forward and bowed respectfully, "Master, I was ordered to escort the brother and sister back. Unexpectedly, from their conversation, I learned that the young Master Du's miraculous recovery was due to his deceased father appearing in a dream. The Lord of the Underworld, moved by his sister's sincerity, made his father appear to extend his life. I observed that he is handsome and speaks elegantly. Though he only has one servant, she treats people with respect and does not show any contempt for me, so I don't think he is lying."

"The father of the young Master Du must have been very concerned about his son. With such a father's blessing, the young Master Du is indeed a fortunate person."

The old man, a master of Taoism, was not surprised by this supernatural story but instead stroked his beard thoughtfully.

Sima Heiyun, who had a good impression of Du Shiyi's politeness, continued, "Speaking of the brother and sister, the sister traveled a thousand miles to Mount Song to seek medical help for her brother, and the brother, despite his recent recovery, came to the Songyang Palace to bring her back. Their mutual support and assistance must have been what brought the ancestor's spirit to manifest."

The old man nodded thoughtfully, stroking his beard, and then smiled, "Zifang values his reputation the most. He must have already gone to see the abbot after my words. Since he asked you to lead the way, you should go with him. Though we Taoists do not believe in karma, since I have decided to be good, I will be good to the end!"

When Sun Zifang left the guest room, his face was clouded. He had used all his skills to bring this master, who was as famous as his teacher, to the Songyang Palace. They had discussed Daoism and literature on the way, and the Songyang Palace was where his teacher once lived, so he had a good chance of keeping him. But just as they reached the gate, such an incident occurred! Moreover, as the old man said, if the Du family is indeed from Duling, the Songyang Palace's actions would damage its reputation! He was not there, but there were other Taoists in the palace who knew medicine!

Therefore, he casually called a servant and said sternly, "Go tell the abbot that I am coming to pay my respects!"

"Yes."

A moment later, Sun Zifang appeared in front of the Feixing Pavilion where the abbot lived. He nodded slightly to the two young Taoists who came out to greet him, then stepped over the threshold and bowed to the elderly Taoist sitting in the middle before sitting down on a mat on his left.

"The task you entrusted me with was almost accomplished today. However, because of the brother and sister we encountered in the rain in front of the Songyang Palace, Mr. Sima, out of compassion, had his followers escort them back, and then he learned something unbelievable. They came here for medical help, but the palace refused them with words. Today, they even let the sister kneel and beg in the rain without any care! If the brother had not suddenly recovered and come to take her back, there might have been a tragedy. Abbot, the Songyang Palace's reputation is hard-won. How can we tarnish it like this, especially in front of Mr. Sima!"

The elderly Taoist, Song Fuzhen, who was now in charge of the Songyang Palace by imperial decree, frowned at Sun Zifang's words and immediately ordered his disciple Daofang, who managed the palace affairs, to be summoned. When a middle-aged Taoist hurriedly entered and bowed, he asked, "Today, the rain came suddenly. What was the matter with the young lady kneeling and begging in front of the palace?"

Hearing his master's question, Daofang glanced at Sun Zifang and then stammered, "Master, the young lady Du was not here to worship but to seek medical help. Mr. Sun was not in the palace, and though there were a few other seniors and Taoists who knew medicine, the illness of her brother was too serious. Even the best doctors in the palace would find it difficult to treat a condition where one cannot speak or move. So..."

Song Fuzhen's face turned stern, "So you turned them away?"

"No, no, no!" Daofang, intimidated by Song Fuzhen's stern words, hurriedly explained, "I was thinking of the palace's reputation. Nowadays, some patients, if there is the slightest mistake, blame the doctors for being incompetent. The young lady Du, when she begged for help, revealed that her brother was once a talented young man, but after a serious illness, he could no longer write poetry and was like a living dead person. Such a strange illness, if we had taken it on and something went wrong, wouldn't the palace's reputation be damaged? I had them turned away because Mr. Sun was not here, but the young lady was very persistent. Today, she knelt and begged in front of the palace, and since there were no visitors outside, I made a mistake and had the door closed..."

Before he finished, both Song Fuzhen and Sun Zifang were stunned by the story of Du Shiyi's illness. Then Sun Zifang scolded, "Ridiculous! The Songyang Palace's reputation as the first palace on Mount Song is hard-won. If outsiders spread this, not only will the Chongtang Palace, which is a rising star, be watching, but even the Taishan Palace, which has a longer history than the Songyang Palace, would not stand idly by. The Du family of Duling is a prominent family. If the palace had truly done its best, even if something went wrong, would they sue the palace?"

Seeing his master also angry, Daofang was drenched in sweat and could not defend himself. After a while, he heard Song Fuzhen's cold voice, "I focused on cultivation, so I entrusted the palace affairs to you. Now it seems you are not up to the task. Go down and let your junior brother Wei take over the secular affairs. Go and sweep the front of the palace for three years to cultivate a clear mind, and then come back to cultivate!"

Suddenly, he took away his disciple's authority and sent him to do menial work. When the middle-aged Taoist left dejectedly, Song Fuzhen bowed slightly to Sun Zifang, "If it weren't for your return, I might still be in the dark. Please go and visit the brother and sister. Walking in such heavy rain, catching a cold is no small matter. Since there is a patient, prepare some medicine and tonics. The Chongshan Cottage on Junji Peak is very quiet. You can lend it to them to recover. This way, we can show our sincerity, and the Chongshan Cottage is part of the Songyang Palace, so there will be no disturbance from outsiders."

"I have already promised to treat them, as Mr. Sima requested. I understand what you mean."

The word "outsiders" had a double meaning, and Sun Zifang naturally understood. He nodded and stood up, "Mr. Sima's followers should be ready. I will go now. We should not delay. Abbot, you should also go and see Mr. Sima. If we explain this clearly, Mr. Sima will be reassured. His departure from Mount Tiantai to Mount Zhong is hard to keep secret. The emperor has always favored Daoism and even rumored to be setting up a Daoist examination. In terms of Daoist studies, if Mr. Sima claims second place, no one dares to claim first! Moreover, because of the illness of the Taishang Emperor, the emperor frequently asks about the whereabouts of Mr. Sima, who was once summoned by Empress Wu and the Taishang Emperor. Once the news is reported, it will surely please the emperor. Otherwise, if the Chongtang Palace gets the news, things will be unpredictable."