And today, Young Master, after receiving guidance from a descendant of Li Chunfeng, heard that he might encounter a great master within Zhongnan Mountain. He immediately gathered his trusted servants and charged into the mountain at lightning speed. Everyone originally thought of it as a fun outing, just going along with his antics. Who would have thought that as soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, they would run into “Master Bolton”!

Compared to the swindlers that Young Master of the House had previously spent large sums to bring home, the current Peter Bolton master, muddled by phlegm, seemed to lack some of that immortal aura, and was a bit too young. However, just as the scar-faced man and others had discussed earlier, Master Bolton’s attire was something none of them had ever seen in their lives, or even heard of.

Although Master Bolton modestly claimed that the trousers he wore were made from sailcloth, as a senior retainer of the Ren household, William Brooks had traveled far and wide with the family’s caravans, yet had never seen any sail made from such material. What’s more, the stitching on those trousers was so fine, it far surpassed anything even the most skilled tailor could achieve! (Of course, it was sewn by a sewing machine.)

In fact, when it came to observing Peter Bolton closely, William Brooks surpassed everyone present, including Young Master of the HouseBrian Brooks, who was single-mindedly searching for a master to learn from! Otherwise, he wouldn’t have almost been mistaken by Peter Bolton for a “dead chicken”!

“William Brooks, which other medicinal ingredients do you need? Hurry up and tell Owen Brooks!” Seeing that the retainer William Brooks had been silent for quite a while and wasn’t carrying out his orders, Brian Brooks’s young master temper flared up immediately. He frowned and urged in a low voice.

“Yes, Young Master!” William Brooks, with his blue round cap, snapped out of his thoughts. “I didn’t mean to delay, I just thought of another secret remedy!”

After quickly glancing a few more times at Peter Bolton’s oddly styled but clean and smooth undergarment (shirt) and the rare-material belt (made of artificial leather), he steeled himself, took two quick steps forward, and lowered his voice to whisper in Brian Brooks’s ear: “Young Master, although cinnabar is effective, going in and out of the city takes time, and it might even bring trouble to the household. I remember another folk remedy that’s also effective for phlegm-induced confusion, and might even cure it instantly!”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!” Brian Brooks glared at him in annoyance and urged in a low voice, “Hurry up! Brother Bolton is definitely not an ordinary person. Those other swindlers would always boast as soon as they met me, afraid I wouldn’t believe them. Only Brother Bolton actually wishes I’d treat him as a regular person!”

“This remedy only works if Young Master does it yourself!” William Brooks turned to glance again at Peter Bolton, who was clutching his head in agony, and lowered his voice even further. “The folk remedy says that for phlegm-induced confusion, if you catch it early and have someone give a hard slap to the face, it works wonders. Master Bolton just started showing symptoms, so if Young Master of the House acts now, it’s not too late!”

Chapter Six: Master, Are You Testing Me?

“Really?” Brian Brooks listened half-believing, half-doubting, and repeatedly examined both his hands in front of his eyes.

“Really, absolutely true!” The retainer William Brooks nodded vigorously without hesitation. “Two years ago, the fifth young master of the Zuo family village was muddled by phlegm, running around like a monkey, and it was his uncle, Clerk Bolton, who slapped him twice and woke him up. Since then, it’s said he never had another episode!”

“Hmm—” Brian Brooks murmured, hesitating.

He vaguely remembered hearing about the Zuo family’s fifth son. He did indeed suffer from phlegm-induced confusion, and it was true that his uncle, the county’s Clerk Bolton, had slapped him hard twice to bring him back. However, there was always another version of the story circulating in the countryside.

According to rumor, that Zuo fifth son had taken a liking to the Niu family’s second daughter, and, emboldened by lust, snuck into her boudoir at midnight. Unfortunately, he was caught red-handed by the Niu family’s servants, who wanted to hand him over to the authorities. Luckily, his uncle Clerk Bolton intervened and settled the matter with ten acres of prime land.

The so-called phlegm-induced confusion was just an excuse his uncle made up to get him off the hook. The two slaps were to vent his parents’ anger and to teach that prodigal son a lesson.

“Young Master, this can’t be delayed!” Seeing Brian Brooks still unable to make up his mind, the retainer William Brooks reminded him decisively. “Phlegm illness only gets harder to treat the longer it drags on. If Master loses his mind for good, Young Master will have missed a great opportunity!”

“That’s right, Young Master, if you’re going to act, act now!”

“Young Master, saving a life is most important, don’t worry about anything else!”

Scar-faced Jacob Brooks and bearded Chad Brooks exchanged glances, then both stepped forward to urge him in low voices.

In their view, whether slapping really cured phlegm-induced confusion didn’t matter. After all, it wouldn’t kill anyone. If one slap didn’t work, just slap a few more times, keep going until the city gates closed at dusk. But if they didn’t slap Master Bolton, then Owen Brooks and Ethan Brooks would have to break the city’s curfew tonight and risk climbing over Chang’an’s city walls!

Although Chang’an’s Guo Erlang was famous for his connections and had smuggled people in and out at night more than once, that was then, and this is now. Back then, the crown prince still lived in the Eastern Palace, and he and the empress were a model of filial piety and maternal kindness. But now, the crown prince had been forced by the empress to commit suicide, and all officials connected to the Eastern Palace had their homes raided and heads chopped off—none were spared.