Chương 16: Chapter 14 (R)

Lying in my bed, I contemplate the mass of Qi specks surrounding me. Despite all my attempts to improve, the only specks I can see clearly are the ones closest to me, roughly a meter from my body. The rest are only vaguely visible, the farther away, the harder to distinguish. Among the mass of colorless specks around me, I suddenly spot one of the specks that give me strange sensations and try to grasp it with one of what I've taken to calling my mental hands, but as usual I'm unable to take hold of it.

Which frustrates me: neutral specks I can grab without trouble, but if a speck gives me any kind of sensation, it's as though it doesn't exist for me, I'm incapable of interacting with it no matter what I try. I stop trying to grab the strange speck and begin the exercises I've been doing ever since I first saw the Qi. I quickly grasp a neutral Qi speck. I start trying to move it, first attempting to shift it sideways, but as always I'm unable to.

The only motion I can make with them is to draw them toward my body, which I have no intention of doing. But holding them in place so they don't drift with the current, which is what I've named their natural movement, is something I'm perfectly capable of, and it forms the basis of my exercise. While I keep the speck I'm holding stationary, I concentrate and grasp a second speck to hold still. I feel the mental strain of it but manage it easily. Then I concentrate and try to grasp a third speck.

It costs me considerably more effort and I begin to feel a faint headache, but I'm able to do it with a bit of exertion. Now let's see if I can push past my limit. With a great effort and feeling my headache intensify, I try to grab a fourth speck while keeping the ones I already hold in place. I nearly manage it, but the headache becomes so intense that my concentration breaks and I release the three specks I was already holding.

I open my eyes, leaving the Qi vision behind, and lie still while I wait for the headache to subside, reflecting on my exercises. Today I nearly got the fourth speck, but the level of multitasking required is growing more and more difficult. The second speck was easy, the third took effort but I managed it in the end. But the fourth is proving much harder than I expected.

I could ask whether there's an easier way, but given the reactions my confession of having seen and manipulated Qi on my first attempt provoked, I'm sure that grasping multiple specks in the three months I've been doing these exercises isn't normal either. I don't want to draw any more attention; the attention I already have is more than enough.

I sigh at the self-imposed limitations, which I have no way of knowing are correct or not until their consequences catch up with me, and I look at my legs, not for the first time in recent months. It's time I did something about them. They're clearly showing signs of muscular atrophy. Fortunately, by having people move me from place to place many times a day, I've managed to avoid many of the other problems that can arise, but this one needs something more aggressive. I'm going to have to ask my mother.

I decide to bring it up later at dinner, and closing my eyes, I dive back into my training. I come out of my trance when I feel someone touch my shoulder and see Lianhua beside the bed.

"Zhāohuán Wen, it's time for dinner", she tells me. I look at her pointedly "I've told you several times to call me Wen when we're alone, Lianhua."

"I cannot do that, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies.

"It would be far too inappropriate." There's nothing I can do about her stubbornness on this matter, so I let her lift me from the bed without another word and carry me to the dining hall where I usually have dinner with my mother, unless she's busy. When I reach the hall my mother is already there with Fei Yi Lingxi, so Lianhua sets me in my chair and the handmaidens begin serving dinner.

During the meal my mother and I talk about how our days went, avoiding any thorny topics since there are too many people in the room. When we finish eating and the handmaidens are clearing the table, I say "Mother, we need to talk." My mother looks at me "Oh, this time you waited for dinner and didn't have Lianhua rush you to wherever I happened to be at that moment?" I look at her with a trace of embarrassment and reply "This time it's not urgent. It's just something related to my health and my legs."

She looks alarmed at my words and quickly asks "Are you all right? Has something happened?"

"No, Mother", I reassure her.

"But there's something I need to ask you about." After those words she seems to calm down, though she's clearly still uneasy. After a moment she replies "All right, but let's talk in my study." She rises and leaves the hall with Fei Yi Lingxi. Lianhua picks me up and follows. When we reach her study they sit down while Lianhua sets me in a chair.

"Well, what is it you need to ask me?" she inquires once we're settled. My mother looks at me with concern, her furrowed brow barely concealing her worry.

"Lianhua, please help me lift the hem of my dress", I ask softly. Lianhua nods and gently begins gathering the layers of my dress, exposing my legs. My mother's expression changes when she sees them, her eyes filling with sadness.

"Oh, my child", she whispers.

"Your legs… they're getting so thin." I nod "Yes, Mother. I've been watching how my legs aren't growing in volume the way the rest of my body is. I'm worried that if this continues, I could face bigger problems in the future."

"It's normal given your condition", my mother acknowledges, her expression a mixture of understanding and concern as she tells me gently.

"Your legs don't receive the necessary stimulus to stay strong."

"I know", I reply, looking at my legs with determination.

"But I've been thinking about a possible solution. While I can't completely reverse my condition, I believe I could prevent it from getting worse." My mother regards me with renewed interest "What do you have in mind, Wen?"

"Well", I begin, taking a deep breath.

"My idea involves a two-part treatment. First, a physician with knowledge of acupuncture should treat my legs. Acupuncture could help improve blood circulation and perhaps alleviate some of the negative effects of my condition." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. My mother nods slowly, processing my words "And the second part?" she asks with curiosity.

"The second part involves exercises", I continue.

"I would need someone who knows exercises for the lower torso and legs. This person would help me perform the movements, assisting when I can do them myself and carrying them out manually when I can't. It's a type of exercise that could keep my muscles active even though I can't move my legs on my own." My mother reflects on what I've said, her fingers drumming softly on the table.

"It's an… innovative idea", she admits at last.

"I've never heard of anything like it, but it makes sense."

"Think of it as a kind of assisted exercise", I explain.

"The important thing is that my muscles move so they don't waste away any further." My mother nods, her eyes full of determination "I'll speak with the court's Shangshu about your idea. He'll pass the proposal to the court, since they are the ones who must decide whether to carry it out and which people to send. But I don't think there'll be a problem."

"Thank you, Mother", I say with gratitude.

"This could make a great difference for me." She smiles at me tenderly "We'll do everything we can to improve your situation, my child. I promise. But while we're here, I have two things to tell you." I look at my mother with curiosity "About what? Is it something serious?"

"Not at all", she replies.

"The first is that I've been informed you'll be resuming your studies next week. Your tutor is available again after the matters that had kept him away." I groan inwardly at the news that my absurd classes are coming back, but I don't let it show on my face as I reply "That's good news, Mother. And the second matter?"

"You're now old enough to have a Fei Yi to manage your affairs, so in the coming days they'll be introducing you to, " she begins, but halfway through I interrupt her.

"It will be Lianhua", I say, turning to look at her.

"If she's willing, of course." My mother, surprised by the interruption and by my words, also looks at Lianhua, as does Fei Yi Lingxi. Lianhua seems slightly self-conscious under the sudden attention but answers clearly.

"I would be delighted, Zhāohuán Wen. But the position requires training and knowledge I don't have."

"She's right, Wen. The role of Fei Yi requires specific training that RuNu Lianhua does not possess", my mother tells me, placing emphasis on Lianhua's title.

"I don't see any problem that can't be easily solved there", I reply.

"But I see plenty of problems in having someone new take charge of my affairs. A new person would have to learn from scratch how to handle my needs and keep my secrets, as well as learn my habits and preferences all over again. And not only that, we can't know if someone is behind that person or how loyal they'll be." I let my last words hang in the air for a moment so they can reflect on them, then continue "Lianhua, on the other hand, has none of those problems.

Her loyalty is more than proven and she knows everything there is to know about me. As for the lack of training, that's easily remedied. While I'm at my lessons in the library she has nothing to do and just waits for me to finish. She could use that time to undergo the necessary training. And to attend to the few needs I might have while I'm in the library, any handmaiden will do."

I pause again while those present continue pondering what I'm saying, then deliver the final stroke "After all, I'm still a child, and in the coming years the duties of whatever Fei Yi is assigned to me will primarily be the ones Lianhua is already performing. And if something complicated arises, since she'll be undergoing her training, she can always ask her instructor." I finish my speech and look at everyone in the room. For a while no one says anything until my mother breaks the silence.

"Once again, it's something I believe has never been done before, but it really is a feasible plan", she tells me.

"But like your previous request, it's something I need to communicate to the court's Shangshu and let them decide."

"Thank you, Mother", I reply.

"Just presenting my proposal is enough." After all, knowing my father, any proposal my mother puts forward, as long as it isn't something utterly irrational, will be automatically accepted by whoever is in charge, if they still want to keep their position or their head.

"Just one last thing, now that we're alone. Are you doing what I told you about not absorbing Qi?" my mother asks suddenly. I look at her in surprise at the sudden question but answer quickly "Of course, Mother. I'm not foolish enough to do that knowing the possible consequences." My mother sighs with relief and gives me a complicated look "Very well. As I told you at the time, as long as you don't do that, you can do whatever you like. Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

"No, Mother", I reply. My mother rises "Then we're done. Tomorrow at dawn I'll pass your requests to the Shangshu, and when they communicate their decision, I'll let you know." Lianhua picks me up from the chair and we leave the study, after which she carries me to my room and sets me on the bed. I ask her to resume her watch outside and close my eyes to immerse myself in the Qi vision. After all, my fourth mental hand isn't going to create itself.

I regard the physician filling my legs with needles with a complicated expression, thinking that once again I've underestimated my father. That, or my title and position make everything move at an accelerated pace for me. One day. It took them one damned day to accept my requests. It was only yesterday that my mother sent the petition to the Shangshu, and this morning this physician was already at the Pavilion's gate requesting entry to treat me.

And he is none other than the physician responsible for my father's health. And that's not all. It seems that once he finishes, one of the Nei Wei's trainers will come to perform the exercises I requested, and Lianhua will begin her training when my lessons resume next week. I watch in silence and with considerable boredom as the physician finishes turning my legs into a pincushion, then turns to look at me "Zhāohuán Wen, I will be honest with you. I have never treated anyone with your condition.

The treatment I'm giving you today I believe will be beneficial, but I'll need to experiment and adjust it as your legs respond. Eventually I'll find something truly effective, but I don't know how long it will take. For now, and for this treatment, you'll need to remain still for the time it takes one incense stick to burn." I look at the physician and reply "Thank you very much, Taiyi Yulin."

I watch the physician light the incense stick and leave the room, presumably to speak with my mother or Lianhua about my condition. With nothing else to do I start getting bored and decide to visualize the Qi to pass the time, so I close my eyes and begin to concentrate. Before long I see the familiar landscape of Qi, but when I look around, what I see surprises me.

I survey my surroundings as usual, but to my shock I notice the Qi in the vicinity is being drawn toward my legs, specifically to the needles stuck in them. I'm alarmed when I see the needles appear to absorb the Qi and inject it into my body, so I instinctively try to grab them, but there are too many to stop them all. I open my eyes, terrified at not knowing whether this is normal or yet another attempt to kill me through cultivation, and grab the cord to summon Lianhua, pulling it hard.

Lianhua, who must have been in the adjoining room, quickly opens the door and enters, kneeling beside my bed.

"Are you all right, Zhāohuán Wen?" she asks, her face full of concern. I check that no one else has entered the room and tell her what I saw with the Qi and the needles, along with my suspicions. I see Lianhua sigh with relief as she begins to explain "Don't worry, Zhāohuán Wen. Everyone knows that Taiyi Yulin possesses the Celestial Restoration Needles, needles capable of using Qi to help heal his patients."

"So he's not injecting Qi into me?" I ask Lianhua, that being my greatest fear.

"No, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua replies.

"Artifacts like these only use Qi to activate or amplify their effects. They aren't actually injecting Qi into you." I relax at hearing that, and looking at Lianhua with relief I say "Thank you so much, Lianhua. I was truly frightened when I saw what was happening. But how do they use Qi to do what they're supposed to do?" Lianhua puts on an apologetic face "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything about that without your mother's permission."

"Is my mother really so afraid I'll be impulsive enough to start cultivating before I turn eight?" I reply. Lianhua simply looks at me without answering, which I take as a yes. I wave my hand to dismiss her.

"Then I'll take my leave, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua says, rising and bowing before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind her. I look at the incense stick and notice more than half of it remains before the physician returns. After that, the leg exercises still await me. I imagine I'll have to discreetly guide whatever trainer they've sent, modifying the exercises so they resemble the rehabilitation exercises I remember from my previous life as closely as possible.

But for now, I have magical needles stuck in my legs that are capable of using Qi to do something, and it would be foolish not to use the time I have to observe them and try to understand how they work. So I close my eyes and begin watching the Qi and the needles.