CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 133: THE FOCUS OF ALL HEARTS

Zhenzhou, Song Family.

Mrs. Zhao sat by the ornate bed, carefully wiping the cold sweat from Madam Rong’s head and neck with a soft towel.

Ever since Madam Rong returned from the government office prison in Zhenzhou, she has been bedridden.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the desperate and resentful gaze of Song Min.

"Is there anything happening at home?" Madam Rong asked, forcing herself to focus.

Mrs. Zhao replied, "Master is not at home, the eldest son has not returned, and the second son left early for outside. Before he left, he came to see Madam and said he was going to visit the elderly parents of an Imperial Censor."

Song Yu is trying to use the words of the Imperial Censor to save his brother.

Sadness welled up in Madam Rong’s heart; Song Yu was willing to go to such lengths for Song Min, yet the Master insisted on sending his son to the gates of hell himself.

Song Xian must be very proud now; having made great contributions, the court will grant him another prefecture, one bought with his own brother’s life.

Mrs. Zhao continued, "Old Mrs. Song was also in a good mood today. After eating, she took a stroll in the garden for half an hour. It was Miss Xie from Chen Family Village who made the medicinal meal for her."

Madam Rong furrowed her brow: "It’s the second time." She then asked, how could Chen Family Village have nothing to do with Song Xian? If there was really no connection, how would Old Mrs. Song eat the food made by a village woman?

Old Mrs. Song was clearly helping Song Xian win over those villagers.

Madam Rong instructed the housekeeper, "Keep an eye on things." Perhaps one day she could catch them by surprise.

Mrs. Zhao pursed her lips, "The eldest son has arranged people in Old Mrs. Song’s courtyard. We maids can only watch from a distance and cannot get close."

Madam Rong gritted her teeth; well, Song Xian is really something.

After pondering for a while, Madam Rong asked, "What about him? Hasn’t he sent someone yet?"

Mrs. Zhao shook her head, "No, probably because the court has been arresting people everywhere these last two days. Zhenzhou has been searched several times. I heard more personnel have been deployed at the checkpoints of Juma River, making it hard to avoid them. This time, he probably suffered quite some losses too."

In the past, such words would leave Madam Rong’s feelings all mixed up, not knowing whom to side with. But now, she actually hoped his people could escape, not be caught by the Daqi court.

She admitted she wanted to use that man to deal with Song Xian, but it was not her fault, because that man had feelings for her.

Back then, if not for Song Yu and Song Min, that man would not have been captured by the Liao people.

Anyway, it’s their mother and son who owe him, so she might as well continue to owe him forever.

Madam Rong looked defeated, reaching to grasp her clothes tightly at the chest, resolving to wait patiently for the right moment.

In another place.

Old Mrs. Song’s eyes crinkled with laughter; there was something about seeing Miss Xie that made her happy.

Moreover, whenever Miss Xie mentioned Chen Family Village, Old Mrs. Song felt a temptation to go see it for herself. She quietly decided that once Xian finished his tasks and returned home, she would have him take her to visit it.

Xie Liangchen, seeing Old Mrs. Song in good spirits and having enjoyed a bowl of custard, finally felt at ease to take her leave: "I will come to see Old Mrs. Song again in a few days."

Old Mrs. Song nodded, contemplating that perhaps her next visit would be to Chen Family Village.

After Xie Liangchen left, Old Mrs. Song looked at the housekeeper beside her, "What do you think about me buying mountain land to grow medicinal herbs?"

The housekeeper laughed: "If you wish to plant it, it’s just a matter of saying the word."

Old Mrs. Song said, "Another day I will ask Liangchen about it."

It’s been a long time since Old Mrs. Song felt such an urge, curious about those lands and the growing of medicinal herbs, wanting to try her hand at something.

...

Xie Liangchen, all the way back to Chen Family Village, walked into the courtyard and saw something resembling a wind box had already been made. Chen Yongyi was holding a piece of paper, admiring his craftsmanship.

This was the most delicate item Chen Yongyi had crafted since he started woodworking, mainly because of those carpentry tools.

Xie Liangchen hurried forward to grasp the wind box, pushing and pulling it a few times. Something felt right about it, but the amount of wind it generated was not much.

Chen Yongyi looked expectantly at Xie Liangchen. Watching Xie Liangchen’s raised eyebrows gradually fall, then revealing a contemplative expression, his smile also gradually disappeared.

Chen Yongyi asked, "Is it wrong?"

Xie Liangchen picked up the drawing she had made, saying, "It looks correct on the outside; maybe there’s something wrong inside. Let me think about it again."

Old Mrs. Chen looked at the serious pair, both big and small, advising, "Don’t worry, take your time. It seems like a difficult thing to make, hardly possible to get it right in one go."

Though Old Mrs. Chen did not understand what it was, the wooden box had an extra handle, the table lacked legs, and the bucket had two holes.

These items that seemed like nothing, if they couldn’t be made well, she thought to keep them till the weather warmed up, then move them to the courtyard to sit and sunbathe.

"Liangchen," Chen Yongyi finally couldn’t help but ask, "can this thing be used in the blacksmith shop?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "It can."

Chen Yongyi could not imagine how this item would be used.

Not only could it be used in the ironworks, but it also had its place in their Familiar Medicine Institute.

Xie Liangchen said, "If we can forge some farm tools at the smithy by next spring, we will save a lot of effort." Planning to forge farm implements before spring and buy two large Yellow Oxen to plow the land, maybe by next spring, Zhenzhou would have a whole new look.

...

While at the government office, Lin Xu noticed the place was busier than usual, with people coming and going, which aroused his suspicions. Presently, because of his association with Song Min, someone was watching him at all times. But he knew that with the Song Family in front, he could remain safe and sound. Yet today, for some reason, he couldn’t shake a feeling of anxious unrest.

The people he sent to kill Mrs. Song had not yet returned; was the mission successful?

He hoped his sister wouldn’t blame him. He was left with no choice; all the efforts in the North were for the Henghai Jiedu Envoy to win the people’s hearts.

If everything were to fail now, not only Song Xian, but even the Henghai Jiedu Envoy wouldn’t spare him.

His sister also failed to accomplish tasks well, being unable to compete with the small Chen Family Village, though he had paved so many roads for her. If the Su Family could open a pharmacy in the North, then the transportation of medicinal herbs would become much more convenient in the future. The Su Family caravan could also transport goods, with everyone earning silver coins.

With silver coins, there would be no fear of lacking soldiers and horses, and officials would naturally pledge their loyalty.

Once the time was right and everyone wanted the same thing, the North would naturally belong to the Henghai Jiedu Envoy.

Song Xian bowing his head to fight outside, no matter how many military merits he achieved, would be of no use.

Unexpectedly, the outcome wasn’t what they had imagined.

Song Min was caught, and this disaster was about to reach him.

"Master."

Lin Xu was preparing to leave the office when his confidant approached and said, "Master, the Deputy General guarding Qi State was summoned out of the city. It’s been two hours, and he hasn’t returned yet."

Lin Xu frowned; was it Song Qizheng or did the court issue any directives? Why hadn’t he, as the county magistrate, received any information?

"Not just the Deputy General," the confidant continued, "even the soldiers we know in the army have all been summoned."

Lin Xu was startled; could this be just a coincidence? It seemed trouble was brewing.

The image of Song Xian appeared in Lin Xu’s mind.