CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 198 THICK SKIN

Song Xian lifted his brows slightly, and the chill in his eyes melted away like meeting the morning sun. His lips curled up slightly as he stared brightly at Chang An.

"What did Miss Xie say?"

Chang An sighed inwardly. If Cai Rong saw the master like this, he wouldn’t easily settle things down.

Truly, the air of majesty had significantly reduced, while the sentiments between young men and women grew day by day.

Cai Rong regretted looking, and Miss Xie might again avoid the master.

Chang An smiled and said, "Quite a few village chiefs have gone to Chen Family Village asking Miss Xie about the finished medicine. Miss Xie said the finished medicine was to be handed over to the Official Medicine Bureau."

Chang Yue was guarding around Chen Family Village. Although he didn’t "monitor" Miss Xie’s family like before, he inevitably heard some news because he had to protect them diligently.

So, under Chang An’s request, Chang Yue dutifully reported all of this.

Chang An continued, "Those village chiefs don’t understand why Chen Family Village is doing this, and they suspect if the court is oppressing the people again."

Song Xian wasn’t angry upon hearing this. Before Daqi’s establishment, Zhenzhou had been fought over repeatedly, experiencing decades of chaos. The people had seen too much oppression, so naturally, they had no confidence in the court.

Everyone having such thoughts was within Song Xian’s expectations.

Song Xian said, "What did Miss Xie say?"

Chang An said, "Miss Xie said the finished medicine is effective and noted whose hands it should be in. If it weren’t for the master’s troops escorting the finished medicine, while patients took the medicine under strict control, countless mistakes would have occurred.

Such things can’t be done by others; the Official Medicine Bureau is most suitable. Although Miss Xie mentioned the Official Medicine Bureau, how many Official Medicine Bureaus are there in Daqi? And who is overseeing it?"

Song Xian’s eyes lit up slightly: "Is she praising me?"

Chang An laughed: "If Zhenzhou were guarded by Song Min, Song Yu, or the master, do you think Miss Xie would trustfully hand the medicine recipe to the Official Medicine Bureau?"

Song Xian put down the document in his hand and looked at Chang An seriously.

Chang An felt a shiver inside. He wondered if he praised too much. The master had sensitive skin; if he became angry out of embarrassment, his days would become difficult.

After a moment of silence, Song Xian opened his mouth: "If it were them, would there be an Official Medicine Bureau?"

Chang An said repeatedly: "No, there wouldn’t be."

Song Xian was pleased in his heart, but his expression remained neutral: "Repeat Miss Xie’s words again; I didn’t hear them clearly just now."

Tsk, Chang An sighed inwardly. Didn’t hear clearly? He just wants to hear them a few more times!

...

After returning to Yingzhou, Cai Rong constantly heard news related to Song Xian. If he came back ten days to half a month later, Yingzhou would become Song Xian’s domain.

Song Xian, Song Xian.

Murderous intent flashed in Cai Rong’s eyes. Knowing this today, it would have been better to eliminate Song Xian in the battlefield using the hands of the Liao people.

Cai Rong turned to the Yingzhou County Magistrate: "How is the Imperial Hospital doing?"

After the Imperial Hospital arrived in Yingzhou, they began investigating the epidemic. Song Xian knew in detail how to use the finished medicine and the conditions of the patients after using it.

At that time, Cai Rong knew that picking out faults would be difficult.

The Yingzhou County Magistrate said, "I have people keeping watch. The Imperial Hospital’s physicians regularly visit the epidemic prevention station. Only the Hospital Director and the Extraordinary Minister from the Ministry of Revenue remain discussing in the courtyard without coming out.

I will seek an audience again first thing tomorrow morning."

Cai Rong said sternly, "No need. They don’t intend to speak on our behalf. Going too often will leave a handle."

The Yingzhou County Magistrate asked in surprise: "Is it possible they’ve long been associated with Song Xian?"

Cai Rong found the Yingzhou County Magistrate stupid beyond measure, not matching up to Zhenzhou County Magistrate Qu Chengmei in the least.

Cai Rong said coldly: "They are people sent by the Emperor."

Only then did the Yingzhou County Magistrate understand: "Are you saying this is the Emperor’s intention?" If this is the Emperor’s intention, the Emperor wants to support Song Xian, or at least have Song Qizheng, Song Xian, and the Military Governor counterbalance each other.

Previously, it was Song Qizheng and the Military Governor counterbalancing each other. Now another neck being added in Song Xian?

Cai Rong didn’t want to praise Song Xian, but Song Xian was indeed clever, knowing what the court needed now. At this time, offering the "finished medicine" to the Emperor, "finished medicine" was exactly what Daqi urgently needed.

The court had wanted to establish the Official Medicine Bureau for quite some time but never had a plan, not knowing how to distinguish between the Official Medicine Bureau and local drugstores. If the Official Medicine Bureau could make "finished medicine" in the future, it would be beneficial for both citizens and the country.

That’s why the Emperor wants to know the real situation in Yingzhou. Anyone moving behind his back now would not be tolerated by the Emperor.

That’s why Song Xian was fearless.

The Yingzhou County Magistrate said: "The Emperor is deceived by Song Xian. With such a good thing as finished medicine in hand, one doesn’t know how much silver coin can be earned. Song Xian offered these to the court without hesitation, which shows he has bigger plans, something unlikely purely for the citizens."

Cai Rong frowned deeply: "Even so, Song Xian is now someone with achievements. At such a critical juncture, the Emperor will not only protect him but also praise him. I deem it won’t be long before Song Xian becomes the youngest Military Governor since the founding of Daqi."

The Yingzhou County Magistrate probed: "So we do nothing?"

Cai Rong didn’t speak; Yingzhou was his place, yet relying on Song Xian to quell the epidemic was an open humiliation.

However, he still bore guilt and couldn’t anger the Emperor any further. Otherwise, his position as Military Governor would truly become untenable.

He could only swallow this hard feeling.

Cai Rong closed his eyes, realizing everything had been prearranged by Song Xian. Last year, the Official Medicine Bureau was established in Zhenzhou, and this year an epidemic hit the North...

It seemed even the heavens were on Song Xian’s side, allowing him to progress steadily.

Cai Rong said: "Is there no gossip about Chen Family Village, the makers of finished medicine? Are those villagers willingly offering the formula? It’s not forced by Song Xian?"

The Yingzhou County Magistrate replied: "No, Chen Family Village is busy with spring plowing, and when asked about Song Xian, they all praised him.

It’s not just Chen Family Village; it’s the same throughout Zhenzhou. The government office bought many Yellow Oxen to make plows. It seems they want to plant crops and medicinal herbs on farmlands and mountain lands alike."

Zhenzhou was as solid as an iron barrel, water could not enter, and Yingzhou was like a pile of loose sand, ready to collapse with a gentle push.

Cai Rong waved to dismiss the Yingzhou County Magistrate and his men.

The study quieted down, and the steward whispered: "Mr. Qin is still outside waiting to apologize to you."

Cai Rong looked displeased. He left Qin Maoxing to watch over his jurisdiction, but not only had Qin Maoxing failed to stop Song Xian, he also opened the city gates for Song Xian’s troops.

This nephew of his surely wasn’t conspiring with Song Xian secretly, right?

"Just two hours, no hurry," Cai Rong said coolly, "Let him stand there and calm down while the weather is still cold."

...

Zhenzhou.

As the weather grew warmer, Zhenzhou City became increasingly lively.

Xie Liangchen and Tian HuiZhen rode horses galloping down the main road.

These past few days, from the hills to Chen Family Village, going back and forth countless times, Xie Liangchen didn’t feel exhausted.

Listening to Chang Yue, the officials sent by the court to Yingzhou would soon come to Zhenzhou. The court would praise Chen Family Village.

Of course, Xie Liangchen desired rewards, but she was more concerned whether the court could allow the Official Medicine Bureau to manufacture and sell finished medicine. It seemed everything was progressing well.

She no longer had any worries.

Away from Chen Family Village, Xie Liangchen saw not far off a troop coming towards her direction.

Tian HuiZhen said first: "Liangchen, hold on, let’s step aside and see who’s coming?"