CHAPTER 87: CHAPTER 85: POISED AND READY

The Emperor ordered Li You to come to the Northern Border, the most important task being to find evidence of the Song Family colluding with the Liao people.

Now that the Liao people are making moves, even if Li You and his group are close to the Capital City, they will quickly turn back.

Song Xian had arranged everything properly, and there was no need to remind Cheng Yanzhao, everyone under his command would not be careless at times like this.

Song Xian said, "It’s just a bit of wool, not enough to serve as evidence of collusion; they will definitely leave more goods taken from the Liao people."

Once those goods pass through customs, they cannot be separated from the Song Family.

Cheng Yanzhao said, "This time, who will put the Liao people’s goods into Daqi? Song Yu or Song Min? With the Song Family’s internal conflict, regardless of who wins, the Northern foundation will be shaken, just allowing people to reap the benefits."

That’s how it was in the past. Although Song Xian made a stunning comeback and stabilized the North again, many people paid with their lives.

Cheng Yanzhao got angry thinking about this: "Song Yu and Song Min, those two brothers, are both incompetent and ruthless. Uncle wasn’t supposed to be this kind of person, but he was deceived by Mrs. Rong."

Song Xian said nothing; he didn’t care about Song Yu and Song Min. He wanted to know who was behind Song Min’s recent eagerness to act?

After finishing the business discussion, Cheng Yanzhao left to make arrangements without delay.

Glancing at the chef standing at the kitchen entrance, Cheng Yanzhao sighed. Had he known they were going to the Chen Family Village to eat rabbit meat, he would have gone with them.

Afterward, he heard from Chang An’s subordinates that even the dried radish they sun-dried was delicious.

Cheng Yanzhao rubbed his belly.

Alas, with such hard work, when will he be able to have a good meal? Should he use the Official Medicine Bureau’s matter as an excuse to visit the Chen Family Village once more?

Cheng Yanzhao was delighted by his own idea; instead of going without food, he might as well send someone to the mountains to hunt a wild boar first.

While contemplating this, Cheng Yanzhao’s legs suddenly moved much faster.

However, Mr. Cheng overlooked one thing, as Xie Liangchen was also extremely busy and couldn’t leave the Familiar Medicine Institute.

That wild boar would end up being a free gift.

...

Dingzhou Prefecture.

Song Qizheng was sitting in the government office listening to officials reporting on their duties.

After the officials left, Song Qizheng and Vice General Qiao went to the second hall to talk.

"Master," Vice General Qiao said in a low voice, "the development of the Official Medicine Bureau in Zhenzhou is going very smoothly. People from the Imperial Hospital in the Capital have gone to the Chen Family Village and seen the herbs processed there. If the price of the Chen Family Village’s herbs is the lowest and their quality is not an issue, when the Official Medicine Bureau selects herbs, there’s an eighty percent chance the Chen Family Village’s herbs will be chosen."

Song Qizheng did not speak.

Vice General Qiao continued, "Now, the villages in the North all want to emulate the Chen Family Village. A few days ago, the Chen Family Village even made woolen fabrics, and even in our Dingzhou area, some people went to the Chen Family Village to ask for the patterns of woolen fabrics. If things continue on like this... truly remarkable."

Song Qizheng heard the undertones in Vice General Qiao’s words: "What do you want to say?"

Vice General Qiao continued, "The lord guards Zhenzhou, and its current state is due to his excellent governance. I heard many people say they want the lord to take over the Military Governor’s position."

Although Song Qizheng knew these words were not credible, his expression changed slightly.

Vice General Qiao said, "It’s not that we’re guarding against the lord, but indeed, he has been too successful in recent years, which makes the brothers all afraid he might secretly scheme against you. If nothing happens in Zhenzhou this time, the court wouldn’t suppress you; perhaps you would have already been promoted to Military Governor."

Song Qizheng frowned: "The fault is not with Song Xian, but with Song Min and Song Yu."

Yet despite saying this, who was fanning the flames behind the scenes? Song Xian’s intentions are so obvious, who could miss them?

Vice General Qiao kept his head down, not daring to voice his thoughts.

Song Qizheng said, "As long as he didn’t violate Daqi’s laws and managed to govern the area well, it’s indeed his own ability."

Vice General Qiao listened and lowered his head even more, the entire demeanor showing a sense of unspoken words.

Song Qizheng raised his voice: "What exactly do you want to say?"

Vice General Qiao swallowed, "The lord’s men secretly went to the Juma River once and then had a merchant transport some goods to Zhenzhou.

Before I confirmed it, I didn’t dare tell you, fearing a mistake."

Song Qizheng said coldly, "What goods were transported?"

Vice General Qiao shook his head: "They discovered several warhorses; the rest are being investigated."

Song Qizheng’s face turned pale. He stood and paced a few steps: "Don’t make it public yet, investigate thoroughly before making any conclusions."

Vice General Qiao complied.

Song Qizheng waved to dismiss Vice General Qiao and sat back down after a while. He had heard more than once people around him mention that Song Xian had dealings with the Liao people.

Even when Daqi and Liao were at war, there were many times when the Liao army would retreat without a fight when they saw Song Xian, and when he was preparing for a surprise attack on the Liao, he found the Liao were already prepared, and wondered who leaked military secrets.

Song Qizheng always felt there was a Liao spy nearby, but he has yet to determine who it was.

Could it be Song Xian?

If evidence were truly discovered, he would personally bind Song Xian and send him to the court.

...

On the day when the Official Medicine Bureau in Zhenzhou started selecting medicines.

Before dawn, Xie Liangchen and Xu Tingzhen were already at the Familiar Medicine Institute, and only after being busy until around 7 a.m. did the master and apprentice come out with tired faces.

Chen Yongsheng and others stood in the courtyard, pairs of eyes filled with hope looking at Xie Liangchen.

Xie Liangchen nodded to everyone: "Alright. We can now present thirty-eight types of medicinal herbs, and we will send them all to the Official Medicine Bureau."

The villagers of Chen Family Village were very excited.

Both Chen Zigeng and Hei Dan picked up bamboo baskets. They had discussed earlier that they would accompany Sister Chen to deliver the herbs this time.

Old Mrs. Chen and several women carefully packed the herbs into the children’s bamboo baskets.

Xu Tingzhen stayed in Chen Family Village, while Xie Liangchen led everyone into the city.

As they just walked out of Chen Family Village, they saw the small path lined with people, villagers from nearby villages.

Grandpa Sun from Sun Family Village walked forward with a smile: "Come back safely, we’re waiting here for your good news."

Everyone was talking all at once, but their gazes were the same, filled with care and hope.

Chen Zigeng felt a heavy responsibility, and beside him, Hei Dan clutched his bamboo basket tightly, his palms sweaty for fear of making a mistake.

Sister Chen had worked so hard for this moment; they must deliver the medicinal herbs properly.

The group’s figures gradually disappeared from sight.

Snowflakes began to drift from the sky, marking the first snow of the year.

Xie Liangchen extended her hand, letting the snowflakes melt in her palm, feeling no coldness at all.

Xie Liangchen said, "After delivering the herbs to the Official Medicine Bureau, we’ll buy some good food and return to the village."

The children from Chen Family Village nodded: "We’ll do as Sister says."

Everyone walked with a light step, smiling broadly as they hurried along the road, but not far away a mule cart approached, with Wang Jian sitting at the front waving to them.

Wang Jian jumped off the cart, quickly approached them: "Miss Xie, riding my cart to the city would be faster."