CHAPTER 190: CHAPTER 188: BRINGING WARMTH

Old Mrs. Chen had almost finished telling everything she knew.

Chen Zigeng stood up and went to pour a bowl of water for Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen.

Watching the bustling Chen Zigeng, Xie Liangchen smiled at her little brother.

Chen Zigeng’s voice rang clear: "Sister, don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear about those Liao people. Not only have they been driven beyond the Juma River by General Brother, but each and every one of the people they sent has fallen into the hands of the government office. When the North becomes stronger, they’ll have even fewer opportunities. By then, we can find a way to gather information and find the whereabouts of Aunt and Uncle."

Xie Liangchen held onto Chen Zigeng: "Little Brother is right. For now, all you need to do is study well, take good care of Grandma and the Chen Family Village. We’ll take care of these things slowly."

Old Mrs. Chen’s expression was as usual, kindly looking at her granddaughter and grandson.

Xie Liangchen, however, had another line of thought regarding her grandmother. Grandma said she didn’t know what was happening outside because she saw and experienced too much when she moved from the domain of Prince Guangyang to Zhenzhou. But if Grandma didn’t tell her stories, who would believe these past experiences?

Grandma was like a clear mirror inside, making herself a farmer’s wife, which in itself was a way to protect the Chen Family Village and everything around her. If she had shown any signs when her father and mother disappeared, there wouldn’t have been any later developments.

Xie Liangchen asked, "Did Uncle pass away also because he went to look for Father and Mother?"

Old Mrs. Chen shook her head: "When your father and mother disappeared, how could we not be anxious? But apart from the Chen Family Village, your mother took almost everyone useful with her.

Your uncle and I suspected that those people saw your father’s appearance but didn’t know his identity. Your mother left home at fourteen, and though her appearance changed somewhat over the years, encountering someone familiar with Prince Guangyang’s family would inevitably lead to suspicion.

That’s why your father and mother left together. As long as they didn’t appear in Zhenzhou, those people couldn’t take action. In a few years, when everything calmed down, they could return, and we panicked and searched everywhere, which would only ruin things.

The safest way was to stay in the village quietly and wait for news."

Old Mrs. Chen sighed again as she reached this point, as if reliving the emotions of the past: "Who knew we would later receive a letter saying your father and mother were missing, and your uncle and I were truly anxious. But what could we do? If the people by your mother’s side couldn’t find her, we, not knowing the internal affairs, wouldn’t have any clues even if we wanted to search.

At that time, the Liao people were attacking the northern cities, with wars ceaselessly raging, and the government office was conscripting soldiers everywhere. Even the Chen Family Village couldn’t avoid it. Your uncle led the village people to the military camp, also due to the situation’s pressure. However, your uncle also undoubtedly had the thought of trying to gather some information.

Ultimately, both your uncle’s and the Chen Family Village people’s deaths were caused by the war."

Xie Liangchen knew that Grandma wasn’t lying to her, but there was also a comforting undertone in her words.

Xie Liangchen didn’t want to worry Old Mrs. Chen either and nodded: "Granddaughter understands."

Unknowingly, an hour had already passed, and Old Mrs. Chen stood up: "Today, I talked about things as they came to mind. There must be more details. We’ll bring them up another time."

Xie Liangchen responded.

Old Mrs. Chen said: "I see there are still many things to do here, don’t overwork yourself."

Saying this, the three walked out of the room.

Old Mrs. Chen, having put her worries aside, looked here and there with her hands behind her back. The Official Medicine Bureau was indeed large, with many medical workers coming and going.

Old Mrs. Chen asked Xie Liangchen: "Are those medical workers really from the Imperial Hospital?"

Xie Liangchen smiled: "Yes, although they’re not Imperial Physicians, they are particularly familiar with herbal medicine, and some even know acupuncture."

"They’re all eating the official’s grain," Old Mrs. Chen muttered, "In our Zhenzhou, it isn’t easy to eat the official’s grain." If not for Song Xian holding the fort, it might have disbanded long ago.

Old Mrs. Chen had seen many officials and generals. Besides Prince Guangyang, her old patron, in her mind, General Song was the most young and promising.

Xie Liangchen was called by Xu Tingzhen to see some finished medicine, and Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng left the Official Medicine Bureau on their own.

Just stepping out of the Official Medicine Bureau’s gate, Old Mrs. Chen saw the very General Song she had just praised in her heart.

Song Xian was speaking with someone nearby and noticed Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng approaching: "You’re heading back now?"

Old Mrs. Chen bowed to Song Xian, but he was quicker to reach out and support her. Receiving such courtesy made Old Mrs. Chen feel a bit undeserving, considering her acquaintance with the Song Family was merely from accompanying Old Mrs. Song for a few conversations.

"Yes," Old Mrs. Chen said with a smile, "The Official Medicine Bureau is very busy, we won’t stay to add to the confusion."

Chang An glanced at the crumpled document in the master’s hand; the master’s stance here almost turned him into a clay sculpture worshiped in a temple.

All the officials and medical workers coming and going couldn’t stop wiping their sweat, afraid of doing something wrong.

Even their own household generals came to inquire with Chang An: "Is the master alright? Did we...?"

Chang An just wanted to roll his eyes and say outright: The master currently has no time to think about you all.

The master’s entire mind was on Miss Xie, worrying that she might have learned something uncomfortable.

Finally, seeing Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng come out, both looking relaxed, the master’s heart relaxed a little.

Old Mrs. Chen chatted cheerfully with Song Xian, warmly inviting him to visit the Chen Family Village.

Chen Zigeng also said: "Once the epidemic is over, the General must come."

Song Xian reached out and patted Chen Zigeng’s shoulder: "Alright, next time I visit, I’ll bring you a good saddle."

Chen Zigeng’s eyes lit up.

Old Mrs. Chen felt that perhaps General Song was pampering Zigeng a bit too much.

The grandmother and grandson walked all the way to the Chen Family Village, and Song Xian turned to look at the Official Medicine Bureau.

Chang An sighed deeply; there was still a long time before dark, and he wondered how the master would endure it.

...

By the time Xie Liangchen took another rest, it was already dark.

After having a meal, Xie Liangchen first attended to Xu Tingzhen’s rest before deciding to discuss her family background with Mr. Xu after returning to the Chen Family Village.

Coming out of Mr. Xu’s room, Xie Liangchen went to the backyard and called out to Chang Yue: "If the master is free, I would like to see him."

Chang Yue was not talkative: "There is a small courtyard next to the Official Medicine Bureau, and the master said that if you need anything, you can go there to wait."

Xie Liangchen nodded and followed Chang Yue out of the Official Medicine Bureau.

The courtyard was simply furnished, with a warming stove in the study. After Xie Liangchen went in, she instinctively stood by the stove to warm her hands, her thoughts drifting far away, as if thinking about many things or perhaps nothing at all.

"Is it cold inside the Official Medicine Bureau? Should I have someone send more charcoal in?"

Song Xian’s voice brought Xie Liangchen back to reality, and she noticed that two cups of tea were already prepared on the nearby desk.

"Not cold," Xie Liangchen said, "There’s more than enough charcoal."

Xie Liangchen bowed to Song Xian.

Song Xian said: "You’ve been tired all day, sit down and rest."

Xie Liangchen nodded and sat across from Song Xian, lowering her head to inhale the faint scent of tea. She hadn’t planned to hide anything from Song Xian: "Grandma told me everything."