Chapter 166: Chapter 84 Sunken Boat_1
At the entrance to the Fan Mansion, Qi Chuan stood a step away from Lu Tong, startled as he spoke.
"Why is Doctor Lu here?"
A female doctor from Renxin Medical Hall had made several house calls to treat Zhao Feiyan, and even Fan Zhenglian had taken a fancy to her beauty, thinking to take her for himself after some time. Little did he know that before his lustful desires could be fulfilled, the Fan Family was embroiled in a calamity.
It had also been quite some time since Qi Chuan last saw this female doctor.
Lu Tong paused for a moment before saying, "I was buying things in the nearby market, and as I passed by, I remembered the medicinal tea I was asked to prepare for Lady Fan previously, so I came to check on it."
Qi Chuan’s gaze swept over the large and small packages cradled in Yin Zheng’s arms, "I see."
"I’ve heard a bit about the Fan Family’s affairs," Lu Tong’s tone was somewhat melancholic, then she looked up at him, "How is Record Keeper Qi doing?"
Qi Chuan was taken aback for a moment.
Seemingly afraid he didn’t understand, the woman before him rephrased, "With Lord Fan having encountered trouble, I heard that all his relatives were implicated... Has Record Keeper Qi not been affected?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Chuan’s eyes darkened.
That was probably the most ironic thing.
As one of Fan Zhenglian’s trusted subordinates, while Fan Zhenglian’s relatives and confidantes were being imprisoned one after another, he, who had served Fan Zhenglian for many years, remained unscathed. The reason was simple, for all these years, he had dealt with public affairs on behalf of Fan Zhenglian, had toiled in different places for him, but when it came to Fan Zhenglian’s career secrets, he had not been involved in the slightest.
Even his annual collusion with the Ministry of Rites was only running errands, delivering registers and spreading messages; he took no part in anything else.
Fan Zhenglian never truly trusted him.
Perhaps fearing that if he became too involved, one day he might become uncontrollable and not remain the sharpest tool in his hand, Fan Zhenglian was wary of him in many confidential matters, guarding against him and not allowing him to know even a hint of the secrets.
He could be the county commander of Yuan’an County, relieving Fan Zhenglian of his worries; he could be the nominal, powerless Record Keeper in the Trial Court of Shengjing, but in Fan Zhenglian’s heart, he would always be that humble servant who copied homework for him in the clan school and was ever at his beck and call.
The entire Trial Court was investigated by the Department of Criminal & Justice, and he too was scrutinized. However, in the end, they found nothing. The official conducting the investigation regarded him as an insignificant figure. After all, the most he did every day since arriving in Shengjing was to buy rouge for the Fan family, repair rooftops, reserve seats at restaurants...and the like—menial tasks.
Like a true laborer.
The sound of children’s laughter pulled him back from his thoughts.
Not far away, two children in grey clothes were playing at the entrance of the Fan Mansion. The stone lion by the gate was shattered, and the children picked up broken roof tiles filled with rainwater, placed a neatly folded paper boat inside, caught two ants as "crew members," and happily let them float on the "sea."
Qi Chuan withdrew his gaze, saying, "I’m fine."
Lu Tong nodded as if relieved for him.
"That’s good to hear."
She fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Qi Chuan again, "However, will Record Keeper Qi be promoted?"
Qi Chuan was surprised, "What?"
The woman looked at him, her face showing undisguised curiosity.
"I heard from Miss Cui’er that Record Keeper Qi has not been promoted for many years. Now that Lord Fan has encountered trouble, isn’t Record Keeper Qi naturally going to move up?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Chuan was stunned.
He had previously heard Zhao Feiyan’s personal maid, Cui’er, jokingly say that Doctor Lu who visited the medical hall to provide treatment might have a fondness for him. Qi Chuan did not take it seriously. He already had a wife and children, and was struggling with making a living every day, with no time to think about romance. He felt a sigh of pity for the low-born Lu Tong because of Fan Zhenglian’s lecherous intentions towards her.
Now, hearing Lu Tong’s concern for his affairs, Qi Chuan suddenly thought that perhaps what Cui’er had said might not be entirely false.
But...
Qi Chuan shook his head, "I come from a humble background, just a minor Record Keeper. I am content with my current status and dare not expect more."
Lu Tong looked at him, "Why not?"
Qi Chuan was stunned.
"The high ones are not necessarily wise, and the lowly are not necessarily foolish. During the days I’ve been visiting Lady Fan to administer treatment, I’ve seen Record Keeper Qi diligent and decisive in handling affairs, no less capable than anyone else."
She spoke gently, with a naïveté in her expression that made her seem charmingly oblivious to worldly matters, to the point of being laughable.
"By what Record Keeper Qi says, if everyone is content with their status, wouldn’t it mean that the master’s descendants will always be masters, and the servant’s descendants will always be servants, leaving no aspiration for the living?"
Such seditiously rebellious words instinctively made Qi Chuan want to silence them, but for some reason, when the words reached his lips, he could not utter them.