CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 255: APPROACHING

Chen Yongsheng understood the intention of deliberately hoarding some medicinal herbs for future needs, but this matter must not be known by others.

With so many herbs coming and going through the Familiar Medicine Institute of Chen Family Village, it wasn’t difficult to carry out this task. Apart from Chen Yongsheng and Xie Liangchen, who managed the accounts, it would be difficult for others to notice.

After discussing this matter, Xie Liangchen continued, "Several Official Medicine Bureaus have been set up, with the increased demand for herbs, it’s not easy to acquire good ones. We should be cautious when collecting herbs outside."

Chen Yongsheng nodded, "I’ve advised the people collecting herbs from several villages, it’s better to come back empty-handed than to be deceived and let people pass off inferior goods as the real thing."

Xie Liangchen said, "The people from Sun Family Village often travel far. The areas they visit, Mo State and Xiong State, are too close to the Juma River. There’s a risk they might be deceived while collecting herbs and be led away. The possible encounter with mountain bandits or villains is unimaginable; while everyone can eat now, they must not take risks. If something truly happened, leaving behind a family of young and old, no amount of silver coin would be worth it."

Selling thread tassels will bring in silver coins, and in their happiness, people might lower their guard. The fame of Zhenzhou Village might attract business, but it could also invite disaster.

Many would risk all for silver coins.

Chen Yongsheng said, "We should indeed remind everyone carefully. Tomorrow, I will gather with several village chiefs to discuss countermeasures and find some local merchants in remote places to collect the herbs."

During their conversation, Xu Tingzhen arrived. Chen Yongsheng saluted Mr. Xu and went to organize village affairs.

Xie Liangchen brewed hot tea for Xu Tingzhen.

"I can do it myself," Xu Tingzhen said, "You are busy from morning till night, take some time to rest when you can."

Xie Liangchen laughed, "I’m not tired."

How could she not be tired? Upon returning, she was immediately worried about the thread tassels’ matters. Just what could be discussed with outsiders felt like a mountain of pressure, let alone the unspeakable ones.

Xu Tingzhen sighed internally, after Liu Erniang returned and mentioned Cui He and others, she hadn’t slept well for several days, the thought of the people in her domain being used like this made her furious, thinking about it day and night led to nightmares. During this time, she often dreamt of those teenage girls being deceived and taken away.

These were the ones she knew about; how many more unknown matters were there?

Xu Tingzhen said, "Did General Song mention Princess Jiahui in the letter?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Princess Jiahui wanted to plead for mercy from the Emperor through Empress Xu. Empress Xu sent a Palace Attendant to punish Jiahui, and now Jiahui is confined in her manor. The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Justice are interrogating the servants in Jiahui Mansion."

Xu Tingzhen’s eyes showed a look of disgust, "It seems Jiahui is unwilling to confess her guilt. Those uninvestigated matters, she won’t speak of them no matter what, and the government office doesn’t care about those people Jiahui deceived from her domains. Even if Jiahui falls, those people will continue their operations in secret."

Xie Liangchen said, "General Song intends to plead for Cui He and others, asking the court for mercy as they were also deceived."

One of the reasons Song Xian stayed in the Capital was precisely this.

Cui He still had a glimmer of hope; those Death Warriors refused to eat or drink after being captured. The forced food made them vomit, and on their way to the Capital, two of them died. Xie Liangchen tried to treat them, but it was to no avail. The Death Warriors’ bodies were covered with scars, and those who trained them used extremely painful methods to ensure they only obeyed their masters’ commands.

Any disobedience would instinctively remind their bodies of the punishments, making life worse than death. Surviving capture was itself a form of defiance.

Cui He, after witnessing the Death Warriors die, continuously begged Song Xian to let him live, as his death served no purpose while living could allow him to make some amends for his sins.

Xu Tingzhen said, "You mentioned Cui He had been to the domain?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Cui He had interactions with Princess Jiahui’s people in the domain. Possibly through Cui He, we can learn about things within the eight states. Princess Jiahui had been planning for so many years, surely with other preparations in place. Understanding these will assist in future military actions in the eight states."

Additionally, Song Xian interrogated Nanny Liu, uncovering some clues. Even if the court is unwilling to investigate further, they will continue to search for those used by Jiahui.

Xie Liangchen said, "Sir, please be cautious when you’re outside. With Princess Jiahui’s scheme exposed, those behind her will set their sights on Chen Family Village."

"Understood," Xu Tingzhen said, "Isn’t there someone watching the Familiar Medicine Institute? When I leave the village, Chang Yue will have people follow me. Although Chang Yue is reticent, he is meticulous in his tasks."

Chang Yue is reticent? Xie Liangchen smiled without speaking.

After seeing Xu Tingzhen off, Xie Liangchen returned to her eastern chamber, took out the letter Song Xian wrote to her, and read it. Besides a stack of paper slips, a few pressed orchid petals fell out, imbuing the paper with a clear fragrance.

Because of this, she couldn’t show the letter to others. On the back of the letter, in tiny seal script, it said: The orchids in the Capital have bloomed, return north before the crape myrtle below the window blooms.

Xie Liangchen stood up, pushed open the window, and looked at the few crape myrtle bushes at the foot of the wall. The sunlight warmed her body, and she didn’t walk away immediately. Instead, she counted the leaves on the crape myrtle with her chin in her hand.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard Old Mrs. Chen’s voice, "Yu’yu, I don’t know what she’s thinking. When I saw her, she was staring at the ground, lost in thought. When I asked her what she was doing, guess what she said?"

Mrs. Gao said, "Elder sister, tell me quickly, don’t keep me in suspense."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Yu’yu said she was counting how many petals were on the wildflowers by her feet."

Mrs. Gao was speechless, "This child..."

The two walked into the courtyard and locked eyes with Xie Liangchen by the window.

Old Mrs. Chen habitually said, "Miss Chen, you’re at home, what are you doing?"

Xie Liangchen raised her head, momentarily unsure how to respond. She acted as if she hadn’t heard, turned away from the window, and sat down at the desk. After a while, she let out a sigh. Though she had done nothing, even saying anything seemed to make her feel guilty of something. She had unexpectedly left her grandmother and aunt behind.

How ill-mannered.

Old Mrs. Chen stood there, dazed, while Mrs. Gao hushed softly, "Liangchen must be lost in thought and didn’t see us. Let’s go outside to talk."

The two left the courtyard quietly and sneakily.

With no one else in the courtyard, Xie Liangchen carefully put away the letter in her hand, opened the accounts in front of her, closed her eyes, and tried to clear away the clutter in her mind.

A gentle breeze blew through, and she didn’t know where the light scent of orchids came from again.

...

In the prison of Dingzhou’s government office.

Song Qizheng looked at the person in front of him. He was aware that the Song Family still had Liao spies, but he never expected it to be Manager He. He Kuan was selected from the household generals as a guard and after being injured on the battlefield, he was left in Dingzhou to manage affairs.

Song Qizheng’s eyes darkened. How defeated must he be for his own trusted aides to betray him?

Since being brought back to Dingzhou, He Kuan had been under interrogation. Although he had not confessed yet, Song Qizheng was confident that he would uncover the truth he wished to know before He Kuan’s death.

"Master," a household general approached, "the second master has arrived and is waiting outside."

Song Qizheng frowned, "Didn’t I say? When I’m interrogating He Kuan, no one is allowed near."