The Fu Jing Jia Yuan residential area in Yu Kang Park, aside from several ordinary apartment buildings, boasts specially constructed private villa estates and mansions adjacent to Yu Kang Park.
One such mansion, covering an area of over ten mu, is an old residence rumored to have once belonged to an official. Based on current property prices in the capital, it would be worth at least over a billion yuan.
A plaque above the mansion's gate reads "Gu Mansion." This grand residence was purchased at great expense by Gu Yuanming, the youngest son of Gu Shiren, as a place for his father to spend his retirement years.
Gu Shiren is considered a towering figure in the traditional Chinese medicine circles of the capital. Alongside Xue Dongshan, Li Tiangui, and Liu Pingyi, he is referred to as one of the Grand Masters of Chinese Medicine. Although Gu Shiren has long retired and lives a secluded life, he is often invited to preside over significant matters within major Chinese medicine associations.
The last time Gu Yuanbai established the Lingnan Chinese Medicine Association, Gu Shiren was specifically invited out of retirement to travel to Hua Du City, intending to reprimand Gu Yuanbai. Unexpectedly, he encountered Wan Yunting, the direct disciple of the Ghost Hand Medical Sage Gongsun Xiuliang!
Gu Shiren and Gongsun Xiuliang shared a relationship that was both mentor and friend.
The experience of Gu Shiren accompanying Gongsun Xiuliang to impoverished areas in Xi’an to treat villagers for free was a formative one. At that time, Gongsun Xiuliang was already renowned for his miraculous healing abilities that could bring people back from the brink of death. Gu Shiren, however, was merely an unknown country doctor. He followed Gongsun Xiuliang for over a year, learning a great deal about medical techniques and principles of life.
In Hua Du City, Gu Shiren met Wan Yunting, learned of Gongsun Xiuliang's passing, and discovered that the person who had framed him years ago might have been Sima Boyong!
This was because Gongsun Xiuliang had established the Renyi Medical Hall in the capital, becoming the most famous traditional Chinese medicine doctor there. He had also united many other TCM practitioners in the capital, forming an association, which later became the Beijing Chinese Medicine Association.
At that time, Gongsun Xiuliang was at the zenith of his fame in the capital.
However, just a few years later, a junior disciple of Gongsun Xiuliang, Sima Boyong, suddenly emerged!
Though they belonged to the same sect and their medical skills originated from the Benevolent Daoist of the Boundless Taoist Monastery, Sima Boyong, despite his exceptional medical skills, could not compare to Gongsun Xiuliang!
This was because their master, Uncle-Master Ren, had only passed down the Thirteen Ghost Needles technique to Gongsun Xiuliang, and not to Sima Boyong.
Therefore, even though Sima Boyong had defeated everyone in the capital's traditional Chinese medicine scene, he was unable to defeat Gongsun Xiuliang!
However, Sima Boyong was adept at social networking and building relationships. At that time, he had connections with the prominent five great families of the capital, such as the Fang and Chen families. Consequently, the network he developed in the capital was arguably even stronger than Gongsun Xiuliang's.
After all, Gongsun Xiuliang's sole focus was on treating illnesses and saving lives; he never engaged in sycophancy or curried favor with officials and the powerful. Thus, his fame was confined to the traditional Chinese medicine community. Sima Boyong, on the other hand, not only excelled in TCM but also cultivated relationships that paved the way for the Sima family's future standing in the capital.
Today, many pharmaceutical groups in the capital have investments from the Sima family. In particular, Sima Pharmaceutical Group, founded by Sima Boyong years ago, has become one of the leading pharmaceutical groups in the country.
Consequently, even though Sima Boyong lost to Gongsun Xiuliang in medical skill, his status in the capital had surpassed that of Gongsun Xiuliang.
But Sima Boyong desired even more. He not only craved power and status but also aimed to be the preeminent figure in the traditional Chinese medicine world!
This is why, later, he resorted to despicable means to frame Gongsun Xiuliang, causing him to be ruined and disgraced overnight.
Gu Zichen, driving his car, was taking Wan Yunting and Lu Hongzheng to his grandfather's house. He also pointed out the scenery along the way, as Wan Yunting had never been to the capital and was quite unfamiliar with it.
Gu Zichen is the son of Gu Shiren's eldest son, Gu Minghai, and is considered the future successor to the Gu family's traditional Chinese medicine legacy.
Gu Shiren had long retired, and the family's Gu Ren Tang TCM clinic is now managed by Gu Minghai. Gu Zichen also works as a physician at the clinic.
The car slowly stopped at the grand entrance of the Gu Mansion. A light snow was falling in the capital, and residual snow could be seen in the corners by the gate. A peach branch, extending from behind the red wall, created a scene reminiscent of a plum blossom against a red wall, allowing Wan Yunting to feel the ancient capital's rustic charm and its passage of time.
The capital remained an imperial city, with many places preserving traditional culture intact. As Gu Zichen and Lu Hong led Wan Yunting across the high threshold of the Gu Mansion's main gate, they passed through the front courtyard, then the central courtyard. The eaves of the houses on the east, west, and north sides were adorned with red lanterns, and decorative plants were cultivated in the corners. In the center of the courtyard stood a large water vat, also known as a "door sea."
Passing through the central courtyard, they entered a scenic garden on the east side, resembling a Suzhou-style garden with rockeries made of Taihu stones and water features. However, due to the winter season and the cold snow in the capital, the water in the pond had frozen over. Yet, the shapes of some ornamental fish could still be seen swimming within. The branches of the planted trees were covered with snow, displaying a Northern-style snowscape.
Within the scenic area, pavilions were nestled within buildings. In the garden, the plants had shed their blossoms and withered. The gourds on the trellises by the wall had long since dried, leaving only empty frames adorned with a dusting of snow. However, several plum trees planted in the garden were already budding…
"A few branches of plum by the corner, blooming alone in the cold. If you know not it's snow, it's because of the hidden fragrance."
Upon seeing this scene, Wan Yunting was moved to recite Wang Anshi's poem about plum blossoms, finding it perfectly fitting.
Gu Zichen glanced back and smiled, then continued leading him through the garden to a pavilion hidden within. The pavilion was surrounded by wind-blocking curtains, and a round table was set up inside. Below the table, a small brazier burned with flickering flames, keeping the pavilion warm.
Gu Shiren, a small man dressed in a thick cotton coat, and Gu Yuanbai, also in a thick cotton robe, were seated at the table, their feet close to the small stove beneath. Sitting beside them was a woman in a blue cotton robe, her long, dark, silky hair elegantly cascading over the fluffy collar of her robe.
She possessed a naturally beautiful face, with fair skin like congealed fat. Her large eyes were covered with similarly long eyelashes, and her pair of eyes, as clear as black jade, were filled with spirit. Her nose was straight, and her ruby-red lips were as captivating as cherries. Her slender, white jade-like fingers were steeping a pot of tea, and every movement she made exuded an elegant and refined demeanor, giving one the impression of a quiet and dignified beauty of a well-bred young lady.
Her name was Gu Sinou, the daughter of Gu Shiren's youngest son.
"Grandfather, Elder Gu, I've brought Dr. Wan back…"
Gu Zichen called out to the two elders in the pavilion from a distance. Gu Shiren and Gu Yuanbai immediately turned their heads. Gu Sinou, sitting between them, also turned around upon hearing his voice. Her bright, spirited eyes curiously fixed on Wan Yunting as he approached, subtly sizing him up.
Wan Yunting followed Gu Zichen quickly. As he looked at Gu Shiren and Gu Yuanbai, he also glanced at Gu Sinou, naturally unaware of who she was. He cupped his hands in greeting to the two elders respectfully: "Mr. Gu, Elder Gu…"
"Little Wan is here, come quickly and sit. Are you cold?"
Gu Yuanbai smiled and welcomed Wan Yunting, pulling him over to sit. Wan Yunting shook his head and replied with a smile, "I'm alright, just a little cold."
Gu Shiren chuckled, "The New Year is almost here, and it's snowing in the capital. The weather is very cold. Why didn't you wear more clothes?"
Wan Yunting looked down at his own thin jacket, with only a shirt underneath. He was currently relying entirely on his profound internal energy to keep warm; an ordinary person would have been freezing to death by now.
"It's alright, Mr. Gu. I am a martial artist, I don't fear the cold," Wan Yunting said with a smile.
Gu Sinou, sitting opposite, remained silent. She quietly washed a teacup and placed it before Wan Yunting, then filled it with tea. Wan Yunting quickly smiled and said, "Thank you."
He picked up the hot tea and drank it in one gulp. Seeing this, Gu Sinou picked up the teapot again and refilled his cup. Gu Shiren then smiled and introduced, "Little Wan, let me introduce you. This is my granddaughter, Gu Sinou. And this is Gu Zichen, whom you met in Hua Du City last time."
"Mm, I remember."
Wan Yunting glanced at Gu Zichen and nodded with a smile, then politely smiled and nodded at Gu Sinou sitting in front of him: "Hello."
Gu Sinou, serene and elegant, glanced at him briefly and nodded, acknowledging the greeting.
"Little Wan, are you hungry? Should I ask Sinou to get you some snacks?" Gu Shiren asked.
Wan Yunting patted his stomach and nodded with a smile, "I am indeed a bit hungry."
Seeing this, Gu Sinou stood up and went out. Shortly after, she returned with two plates of local specialty pastries. Wan Yunting did not stand on ceremony, taking a piece and putting it directly into his mouth without any pretense of decorum. This made Gu Sinou unable to resist raising an eyebrow slightly, as if thinking: Is this person a starving ghost?
However, Gu Shiren and Gu Yuanbai did not find it unusual at all. Wan Yunting drank a cup of tea and swallowed, then asked, "Elder Gu, the patient you mentioned with the 'rotten fish syndrome,' should we invite them over to see us, or should we go to them?"
Gu Yuanbai replied, "Let's go to them. The girl's rotten fish syndrome is quite severe, and it's not convenient for her to travel."
Gu Zichen, sitting next to Gu Sinou, was also eating pastries and said, "Elder Gu, the one you mentioned with rotten fish syndrome, is it Ouyang Fanmeng from the Ouyang family?"
"Yes, it's from the Ouyang family, one of the five great families in your capital," Gu Yuanbai nodded.
He had only been in the capital for a short time before the Ouyang family sent someone to invite him.
"The Ouyang family?"
However, Wan Yunting, who was eating a piece of pastry, suddenly widened his eyes, looking at Gu Yuanbai in surprise. He hadn't expected the patient he was referring to to be from the Ouyang family!