Chapter 503: Prime Minister Yu and Constable Luo

Song You stayed here for ten days. Meanwhile, Lady Calico spent all ten days fishing.

Around the eighth day, a ghostly official arrived at Mount Beiqin. After paying his respects to the Snake Immortal with utmost reverence and stating his purpose, he escorted Doctor Cai to Fengzhou’s Ghost City.

Song You, however, stayed for another two days.

Originally, after the completion of

Doctor Cai’s Medical Canon

, Doctor Cai’s two most outstanding disciples had been tirelessly making copies. By the time Song You arrived, they were already transcribing the fourth copy.

Song You waited until they finished, then took with him one complete original manuscript, four transcribed copies, and the half-volume he had previously brought. After bidding farewell to the Snake Immortal, he descended the mountain.

By then, snow had begun falling on Mount Beiqin. The snow was still light, and they left footprints with each step.

The little girl kept looking back, reluctant to leave.

“Don’t look back, Lady Calico. There are many more rivers and streams ahead. Even below Yin-Yang Mountain, there’s a brook. If you like, we can even dig a pond in front of the Daoist temple.”

“Hmm!” The little girl turned to look at him, then glanced at the large bundle strapped to his back.

“Is it heavy?”

“It doesn’t feel heavy when carried.”

“When we return to Changjing, should we find a bookshop and have it printed for sale?” The little girl turned her head and asked, “Just like the travelogue I wrote?”

“Lady Calico, you’re getting smarter and smarter.”

It seemed that during these ten days, Lady Calico had not only been focused on fishing—she had also been paying attention to his affairs.

The reality was more or less the same.

Indeed,

Doctor Cai’s Medical Canon

needed to be printed and distributed widely across the land.

However, Lady Calico’s travelogue was merely an informal book, written by an obscure little cat. To have it published, they naturally had to seek the assistance of a bookshop, which required effort—it was essentially self-publishing.

But

Doctor Cai’s Medical Canon

was different.

Doctor Cai was renowned across the land; there was no one in Great Yan who did not know his name. To countless physicians, he was revered like a deity. His

Medical Canon

encapsulated a lifetime of wisdom and was, in itself, a masterpiece—an extraordinary book. If they were to take it to a bookshop for printing, it would be a dream come true for the publishers.

However, Song You had an even better option—official printing.

Great Yan was an economically advanced and culturally flourishing empire. The imperial court had its own publishing institutions, and many local government offices also operated their own printing facilities. These official printing houses were far more professional than private bookshops, producing books of superior quality.

Their only drawback was their selectiveness, but that selectiveness also conferred an air of authority.

And the most prestigious, most authoritative publishing institution of all was the central official publishing institution of the Imperial Academy[1].

Song You needed to find an acquaintance.

So, he spent another two days traveling from Mount Beiqin back to Changjing. Shortly after returning to his small residence, he penned a short letter in his own hand, rolled it into a scroll, and handed it to the swallow.

“It would be somewhat presumptuous to visit unannounced. Please take this letter to Cui Nanxi’s office in the Eastern District. Everything is written on the paper—you don’t need to say anything, just deliver it to him.”

“Understood!”

The swallow snatched up the scroll and immediately took off in flight.

The letter contained a brief greeting and clearly stated that Song You planned to visit the next afternoon. However, unexpectedly, early the next morning, Cui Nanxi arrived first—riding a donkey and carrying gifts.

“Mr. Cui, this is...”

“I have been busy compiling the great encyclopedia lately and was unaware that you had returned to the capital. That was my fault. How could I dare trouble you to visit me instead? Yesterday, I was covered in dust and grime and did not dare come to see you in such a state. After a proper bath, I could finally pay my respects this morning. I hope you can forgive me.”

Cui Nanxi bowed respectfully.

Song You had no choice but to welcome him inside and prepare tea for him.

“It has been a long time, Mr. Cui. I hope you have been well?” Song You said, handing Cui Nanxi a cup of tea.

“My health has remained good, though I have aged somewhat.” Cui Nanxi accepted the tea with both hands. “But you, sir, still look just as you did when we first met on Yunding Mountain.”

“The years just haven’t shown on my face yet, that’s all.”

“Sir, you are an immortal—how could you ever age?”

“...”

Song You simply waved a hand, avoiding the topic. Instead, he asked with concern, “How is the progress on the great encyclopedia that you are overseeing?”

“Thanks to the unwavering support of the court, the project has gone smoothly. The political situation in the capital has been chaotic these past few years, and though some have voiced opposition, they have been largely ignored. Thus, we have been able to continue without interference.” Cui Nanxi held his teacup and answered truthfully.

He continued, “However, compiling such a vast encyclopedia is no easy task. It requires the combined efforts of many learned scholars, extensive research, and a great deal of time. The cost of stipends and funding is a minor concern; the real issue is that so many scholars have dedicated themselves entirely to this work.

“At any moment, it could be called to a halt. Because of this, we have been working tirelessly these past years to gather and compile as much as we can, hoping to complete it as quickly as possible.”

“No wonder you look so worn out, Mr. Cui.”

“If we fail to complete it, that would be a true disappointment to you, sir.”

“I, too, look forward to seeing it completed.” Song You smiled and then got straight to the point. “I had planned to visit you this afternoon because I have a matter in which I hope you might assist me.”

“Hmm?” Cui Nanxi was momentarily taken aback. His eyes widened, and he cupped his hands in a respectful salute. “What might I do to be of service to you, sir?”

“Mr. Cui, are you familiar with Doctor Cai?”

“Doctor Cai possesses miraculous medical skills and has dedicated his life to saving people—who does not know of him? Over the past few years, while compiling the great encyclopedia, I have frequently organized and recorded many of his prescriptions,” Cui Nanxi said. “However, in recent years, I have not heard any news of him. I wonder where his practice has taken him.”

“For the past few years, Doctor Cai has been devoting himself to writing, pouring his life’s wisdom into a medical masterpiece—

Doctor Cai’s Medical Canon

.”

“A medical masterpiece?”

“This book does not focus on techniques but on principles. It delves into the essence of diseases and pharmacology, as well as the philosophy of a healer’s practice. If it can be published, it will greatly benefit the people.”

Song You paused for a moment before continuing, “However, it seems that the heavens envy this medical canon. Several times, it was nearly completed, only for unforeseen events to interrupt its progress. Now that it is finally finished, I wish for the imperial court to print and distribute it across the land to save lives.”

“I have heard that the world has become increasingly strange these days, with demonic plagues and malevolent forces emerging to harm the people. If this medical canon is published, who knows how many lives it will save?”

Cui Nanxi’s eyes widened in astonishment, and he immediately stood up and cupped his hands in a deep salute. “This is not a matter of you asking for my assistance—it is you and Doctor Cai offering aid to the entire world!”

“If you’re willing to help, I will need the imperial scribes to transcribe the manuscript here at my residence. If it is copied elsewhere, unforeseen incidents may occur.”

“Hmm?” Cui Nanxi was momentarily stunned.

He did not know why Song You insisted on this, but he did not press the matter. After briefly considering it, he assumed it was because supernatural forces causing plagues might seek to interfere with the canon’s publication. Without hesitation, he agreed.

The two then spent some time catching up, discussing both the current state of the court and the future of the empire. Only then did Cui Nanxi take his leave, riding off on his donkey.

Before leaving, he left behind a jug of wine and a pouch of red sugar.

Within a few days, the Imperial Academy's scribes began arriving at Song You’s small residence to transcribe the book.

They came early in the morning and did not leave until dusk. Each chapter they transcribed was promptly sent to the printing house to be engraved for publication.

The small residence quickly filled with desks and tables, all covered in the fragrance of ink.

The calico cat often roamed between the desks, sometimes inspecting one person’s calligraphy, sometimes observing another’s expression, or simply lying at the doorway, basking in the sun. At first, the scribes worried that the cat might damage the paper, but over time, they grew accustomed to her presence. Some even spoke to her occasionally.

The calico cat, however, pretended not to understand.

Yet, as soon as she returned upstairs, she would transform into her human form. She would whisper to Song You about everything she had observed downstairs—who copied quickly, who was slow, who spoke to her, and whose feet smelled terrible.

Or she would pick up her willow branch and practice the transposition technique with the swallow, gradually progressing from moving tiny grains of rice to pebbles, then to bowls and plates.

And so, the days passed, and winter deepened.

Winter’s chill brought desolation—not just to the landscape, but to the lives of the people in the city.

As the weather grew colder, making a living became even harder.

The streets seemed more chaotic.

There was a noticeable increase in strong-arm tactics by local bullies, petty thefts, and even robberies in secluded alleys. Once disorder took root, it spread like a chain reaction, leading to more unrelated disturbances.

Even an Imperial Academy scribe, carrying transcribed pages to the printing house, was eyed suspiciously due to his cautious demeanor. Some wandering martial artists assumed he was carrying a priceless treasure and even trailed him for a while. Fortunately, he was dressed in an official uniform, and for now, none dared to make a move.

Rumors spread wildly among the people.

Some claimed that Prince Shun’s rebellion had shattered the spirit of the capital. Others blamed the Crown Prince’s alleged forgery of the late Emperor’s decree, saying it had doomed the empire’s fate. Still others whispered that with the Emperor missing and the Crown Prince delaying his ascension, the uncertainty had shaken the people’s confidence.

Finally, on Winter Solstice, the scribes completed their transcription of

Doctor Cai’s Medical Canon

and gathered to bid farewell to Song You.

“We are leaving now.”

“Thank you, sir, for your hospitality and tea.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“The engraving of the printing plates[2] is also being handled by skilled craftsmen. So far, everything has gone smoothly. If all goes well, the first edition of

Doctor Cai’s Medical Canon

should be published before the end of the year.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Song You believed the chances of something going wrong were low. He still had multiple copies of the manuscript as backups, so even if there were issues with the engraving or printing, it would only cause minor delays.

“Changjing has been chaotic lately—please be careful on your way back.”

“We understand.”

“Farewell!”

“Sigh, I don’t know what’s wrong with Changjing this year...”

“But I heard that Prime Minister Yu has long been displeased with the disorder in the city. He has been wanting to take action but lacked capable subordinates. As the Prime Minister, he cannot personally oversee every matter. I heard a few days ago that he transferred a certain Constable Luo from Yizhou, where he once served. This Luo fellow is said to be highly competent. Perhaps he can restore order to the streets.”

“Transferring a constable from Yizhou? Will that really work?”

“There’s precedent for this...”

“Oh! You mean Prime Minister Yu is following the example of Prime Minister Gu Shou and Zhou Kangbo from two hundred years ago?”

“Exactly!”

A group of scholars—some young, some elderly, and all rather impoverished—chatted amongst themselves as they left together.

Song You had heard everything clearly and found himself intrigued.

This rumor had already spread widely across Great Yan.

In the late years of the founding emperor’s reign, Changjing had suffered from rampant lawlessness, with many bullies abusing their power. At the time, the Prime Minister, Gu Shou, had previously served as the prefect of Pingzhou.

Seeing that the capital’s constables were incompetent and unwilling to act, he recalled a particularly upright and unyielding head constable from Pingzhou—Zhou Kangbo—and appointed him to Changjing.

True to his reputation, Zhou Kangbo was righteous and fearless, enforcing the law without bowing to the powerful. He cracked down not only on corrupt aristocrats and local tyrants but also on supernatural threats—rogue monsters and demons lurking in the city. Under his relentless efforts, Changjing’s law and order were finally restored.

His achievements and integrity earned him deep respect among the people.

Thus, he later became known as the Chief Officer of the Thunder Division—Duke of Thunder Zhou!

And this Constable Luo... was an old acquaintance of his.

1. The Imperial Academy, sometimes translated as the Imperial College, Imperial Academy, Imperial University, National Academy, or National University, was the highest level academic and educational institution throughout most of imperial China's history. It was created under the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin (r. 265–289) and became the highest level academic institution in China over the next 200 years. After the demise of the Song dynasty (960–1279), it became synonymous with the previous highest level academic institution, the Taixue. The Imperial Academy was abolished in 1907 during the Qing dynasty. ☜

2. An engraved plate typically involves images and text meticulously carved onto a steel plate by an engraver. The steel plate is then hardened through tempering and subsequently duplicated into printing plates using a master mold. ☜