14 14. Road To The Crooked Path

The candlelight flickered in the study room. The study table was full of medicine books that it piled up like a mountain. On the desk, the beautiful young man was holding a book. Yet, his expression was getting ugly that he almost looked crumpled. Li Jie was crying with no tears as he looked up to the pile of books that Jiang Hua had given him, and he perished by just looking at it.

"I'm having a migraine already." Li Jie mumbled whilst rubbing his forehead. Luckily, he studied ancient Chinese characters back when he was fourteen. Or else, he'll come to this world empty-handed.

Li Jie sighed, thinking of how he ended up being here. Even if how many thoughts he tried to escape, but he just cannot escaped from his big brother. Jiang Hua is in the household's balcony, reading the books that he wanted to lecture Li Jie. At the same time, he was taking a glance at his room's door. He was wondering if the little brother of his was actually reading his book. Because one time, when he took a glimpse on his study table, he expected Li Jie was reading and studying. Until his perfect expectation shattered upon witnessing him snoring above his book. Not just that, he even drooled.

Who was this person? Li Jie was an obedient person and also a good, hardworking student! How come his younger brother loves slacking off lately?

'I forgot, he lost his memory.'

After that, Jiang Hua occasionally checked his study room to make sure his younger brother doesn't have time to slack off.

To be truth, when Jiang Hua heard Li Jie that he wanted to become a doctor, he couldn't help but to be rejoiced at the latter's decision. Because, for him he was Li Jie's role model. And he was proud for his younger brother that he chose this path. At the same time, he wasn't quite sure if his younger brother could achieve the same knowledge as him when he grows up to be a professional doctor like him.

For now, he will not assume something big that could make his mood disappointed. What's more important is that to make the younger brother's wish to come true.

Li Jie was right. There will be one day when they will separate because they will have their own family in the near future. If that happens, Li Jie can fight for himself and learn to survive on his own.

Jiang Hua then walked towards his room to see if his younger brother picked up his books. And to his surprise, Li Jie was reading his book now with seriousness, his heterochromia eyes sparkled just like an expanded space in the universe, full of curiosity. He just let his brother do what he wanted inside. After all, Jiang seemed satisfied after he saw his younger brother diligently reading and studying his books. That alone is enough.

On Li Jie's perspective, he was immersed by the book as he read it accidentally. He have studied ancient medicine before, but not as wide as the one that have written on this medicine book. There were many wide ranges, unlike in the modern world.

He was excited to learn all these medicine and will try making a pill, that may be a great advantage for him to sell the medicine in this era.

And he didn't forget his target mission,

Money.

If he have money, their family won't suffer any harm. And making a penicillin for the first time in the Qin era will be a huge benefit for him.

But, if he make penicillin, does that mean he was now going to replace the great scientist Alexander Fleming?

'Almighty Fleming, I didn't mean to make penicillin that is way ahead of your research but making a living is important!'

Thinking of how he could make these pills and sell these, right now the silly young man's mind was full of shiny, yellow gold and sparkling silver. This silly young man covet gold more than anything ah! The author is mad ba!

Behind the book that covered the young man's face, an evil smile existed on the latter's face. It seems like the devil coated in heavenly aura has finally made his way to the medicine path,in a crooked way.

If his innocent older brother ever found out his younger brother's evil thoughts, that big brother may be growing gloomy mushrooms above his head. Anyways, the evil head was thinking of ways to become rich that he was laughing sinisterly.

Jiang Hua was passing by his room and was taken aback when he heard an evil laugh. Because of his confusion, he took a sneak peek at the latter who was the culprit of such despicable laugh and to his big brother's surprise, Jiang Hua couldn't believe of what he had seen.

"HAHAHA! Money! Money! I'll become the richest person in this town and I will kill that damned General j****! HAHAHA!" Li Jie's laugh sent goosebumps to his big brother.

Who was this evil laughing just now? Who was this person that have badmouthed the General?

'I failed as a brother, why did my brother changed? My brother was an angel! Why did he become this evil?!'

Jiang Hua couldn't believe his eyes. Is he really that kind and shy boy whom they raised with love? Why has he becoming such a demon all of a sudden? Or was it because of the memory loss that it affected his mind? Jiang Hua's thoughts were scrambled inside his head that he started to have a migraine.

Seeing his brother walking down from the crooked path, Jiang Hua gloomily left the doorstep. His dark aura bloomed around him and he really wanted to punish the person responsible for neglecting his little brother.

He was sad and furious.

Li Jie on the other hand, he was thinking of making penicillin to save people from illness. And of course, making money. After his brother would lecture him, he can make his experiment in Jiang Hua's clinic. But there was one thing he was lacking.

Where will he gather laboratory tools? This was an ancient era, where the hell will he grab those laboratory apparatuses?

He was not an artisan. So, he couldn't make beakers, petri dishes, or a flask.

"I could ask for an artisan to make me one, but, do we have enough money to pay for the fees?" Li Jie mumbled.

"Screw it! Too much work. I'll do the stitching instead." In one mere thought, he almost gave up the 'penicillin' idea.

"But making it was beneficial though."

Making penicillin was easy for someone like him whose brain was vast with unexplainable knowledge. However, lacking tools also make a big disadvantage. Howbeit money as a motivation, Li Jie can do everything.

"Right. I'll make it. For the sake of money!"

He then decided to seek an artisan to make those laboratory apparatuses, and also to make doctor tools such as tweezers and scissors. That way, surgery will be much easier.

********

Two days have passed and he read all the pile of books that his big brother tasked him. Because of his brain that was comparable with a person who has photographic memory, he memorized and absorbed all the information in the books in just one flip. And now, he was scribbling in a blank paper, he drew the illustration of the laboratory apparatuses and surgical instruments.

Jiang Hua was out in the house for a bit so Li Jie also wrote the surgery process. Thanks to his good memory, he could still remember the methods, practices, and processes of surgery.

He also bet, no one in this era could do surgery process because no one had explored it before. Thinking about this making Li Jie's blood boiled with excitement. For sure, he will become the greatest doctor ever existed in the Qin dynasty.

His head was becoming bigger and bigger every time that he almost wanted to marry himself. If it wasn't because of his brother who knocked on the room's door, his head may become big as a giant ball of watermelon.

"Brother, I bought osmanthus cake. You want one?" Jiang Hua said. Li Jie immediately cleared his throat and looked straight at his older brother. Jiang Hua already knew Li Jie's black bellied nature so he was already not surprised if his silly, adorable younger brother was plotting something inside his head. Of course, Jiang Hua only kept it to himself, he loved his little brother so much that no matter what he was planning, he couldn't bring himself to be angry at him.

"Sure Hua ge! I love you a lot!" Li Jie giggled adorably making Jiang Hua's heart attacked by the power of meng.

'I don't care if he's becoming black. As long as he is adorable then it is acceptable.'

Li Jie happily ate the osmanthus cake and smiled sweetly besides his older brother. Jiang also returned his smile and petted Li Jie's hair.

'Stay cute forever, A-jie.'

"Brother, I was wondering. Does any of your method only using herbs to cure diseases?"

Jiang Hua locked his gaze on Li Jie and casually nodded. "Yes, why did you ask?"

"I was thinking that we could add the surgery process for curing diseases."

'Surgery? What is that? I'd it a kind of herb healing?'

"Sur-what? What kind of method is that?"

"Well, we can open the patient's body and repair its system."

Jiang Hua choked on his osmanthus cake he ate and vigorously patted his chest. Li Jie hurriedly ran towards the kitchen and poured water on the glass. He then dashed forward to Jiang Hua's study room and handed him the water.

After he drank the water then he looked at Li Jie with a complicated gaze.

"A-jie! You cannot do that! That is dangerous and it could end the patients life!"

Jiang Hua was right. It could lead the patient's death if the surgery was unsuccessful. However, not in Li Jie's case. Out of ninety-eight percent of his patients survived the process. And the two percent was, well, didn't end well. Some go blind and some were permanently paralyzed. However, it only happened when the patient pissed him off. Other than that, he was a talented surgeon in such a young age.

"Yes, it is dangerous. But, it isn't if you know the process and if the body doesn't reject the cure."

Li Jie explained the surgery process to his brother and was quite shocked of Li Jie's vast knowledge.

'Where on Earth did he learned all these things?' Jiang Hua thought as he listened to Li Jie's explanation. Now he understood why he wanted to become a doctor. It seemed like he did have knowledge towards this profession. Yet, he couldn't help but to ponder where his younger brother get this knowledge.

Because if it is not because of this, he couldn't help but to suspect that this was not his younger brother, or he was just being paranoid.

'I'm being paranoid. He is Li Jie and always my younger brother. Idiot! He is not possessed! Is he?'

***********

Five days later and Feng Delun left the manor to see the Prime Minister. The General was on his way to the

Plum Blossom Pavilion.

The pavilion was covered with Plum Blossoms, which was why it was called the Plum Blossom pavilion. The General was dressed with common clothes but his striking features highlighted every beauty of men inside. Lots of women wanted to cling on the General's thighs but the General did not give a damn and went straight to the second floor of the pavilion.

On the second floor near the window, a handsome man was sitting while sipping his tea. After the General saw the handsome man, he walked towards him and also pulled the chair and sat in front of him.

"Da ge." Feng Delun called, his brother smiled and casually sipping his tea. He then put it on the table and wiped his lips with a handkerchief.

"Delun. How are you this days?" Feng Qing Yuan, the Prime Minister of Qin dynasty greeted his younger brother. Unlike Feng Delun's stoic face, Feng Qing Yuan was like a ball of sunshine. He was always smiling that his dimples always shown.

"I'm fine brother." Delun pursed his lips and smiled, it has been a while since he saw his brother personally. Seeing his brother's sunny face, no one could tell that he was the respected Prime Minister in the state of Qin.

"Brother, what about that concubine? Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Qing Yuan asked. He thought that his brother's decision was not good. Witnessing his brother's attitude before until now, he can't help but to worry for his brother's situation. Also, he was worried about the concubine's condition if his younger brother would marry him.

"About that, he was the one who was sent into the manor to be my concubine. He was sent by Minister Steward Liu in place of his daughter. But actually, he got escaped after he woke up from his sleep due to drugs that he consumed." Delun said with deliberation as his brother frowned deeply.

Still, he cannot read his brother's mind. However, he still wanted to disagree with his brother's decision. He cannot even counted his fingers on how many concubines' heart he have broken.

"Are you sure about this?" His brother asked him once more, hoping that he would change his mind. But the younger brother was determined and bobbed his head, leaving the older sighed. This concubine is a man. It was obvious that this path will not end we'll and it could ruin the image of his brother. As his only family, Qing Yuan couldn't bear that responsibility.

"But both of you are men, and this is a bad picture towards the citizen. Some will not agree to this and you will be discriminated. And, do you even love him?" Delun paused, he was conflicted by the question.

"No, brother. I don't love him."

"And if he loves you, what would you do?"

"He will not. He doesn't like me."

"Then why pursuing him to be your concubine?" Qing Yuan asked his brother and raised his brows. Even then, he doesn't like this kind of idea. Why would he do this way? Does he have something in mind? He will not treat that commoner the same as his concubines before, right? Of course, Qing Yuan could only asked that question inside his head.

"He was involved in Minister's schemes and he was innocent. As the General of the Qin, he will not allow his citizen in danger."

"You are not the emperor. But you can find another way to save him." Qing Yuan pleaded him to change his plans. However, Delun could not change his mind. He only shook his head, telling his older brother that this was what he choose.

"He was a commoner, unlike those concubines you had before. Even so, he was innocent and as a Prime Minister, I also care about the people the same as His Majesty. However, you cannot hurt this man's feelings because of that person right?"

Hearing the familiar person, Delun narrowed his eyes and his brows arched. That person again. The person that could make his entire body trembled, the person that he was once treasured. Until now, that person was still precious to him. And he too also wanted to asked why he wanted to keep that concubine into his arms. Maybe, it was because that concubine resembled that person a lot. And he knew he was selfish but maybe it was indeed the reason why he wanted that concubine so much.

He sees another person in him.

He remained silent making his brother shook his head.

"Fine. I will not disagree with your decision. But if the case is finished, then it is finished, including everything. If you don't love him, let him go. But if you do, then do what you want. Don't use that person to forget or pretend it was Wei Haoxuan, just like what you did to your concubines before."

Delun lowered his head. Somehow, his chest felt heavy. Hearing the name "Haoxuan" held a serious impact deep inside his heart and he felt, broken.

"I will help you get rid of that Minister. But, it will take a lot of time. For now, stay with your plan. Get that man as soon as possible and make him your temporary concubine. For now, I will investigate that Minister along with Chen Guang."

"But brother, I don't trust that Chief Censor." Delun hesistated, he was reluctant of the Chief Censor. He was still suspecting if that person cooperated in Minister Liu's evil plans.

"Don't worry. I know that old man very much. He may seem like a suspicious person but he was fairly doing his job. He handled his job in a different way." Qing Yuan reassured his brother about the Chief Censor. After that, he succeeded persuading his younger about this and smiled faintly.

There was only one thing that Qing Yuan had in mind...

He wished that his brother will change, and will be happy the way he was before.