Chapter 103 – Trouble Comes Again
Watching Murong Qinjian leave the big tent, Long Yu retracted his gaze.
His gaze swept over the people below, finally lingering on Xiao Cheng for a moment.
Years of campaigning had filled even the War King’s gaze with oppression.
Xiao Cheng felt his heart skip a beat under his gaze, hardening his scalp in nervousness.
Everyone knew that the War King Long Yu was temperamental and not very reasonable. This was not Xijing, the capital of Great Chu. If Long Yu were to give in to his anger and take Xiao Cheng’s life in this secluded location, far from the emperor’s reach, there would be no one with the power to intervene or prevent such an act. After making Xiao Cheng nervous for a moment, Long Yu finally spoke calmly, “According to my investigation, the Rongdi army has been active around Four Sisters Mountain recently, so I have decided to move the camp to Daxing Town in Xize County. Does anyone have any objections?”
“War King, if the camp moves to Daxing Town in Xize County, what will happen to this place?”
Xiao Cheng asked nervously.
Long Yu stared at him without any expression, and said, “General Zhao Duo, the vanguard, will guard this place, Xiao Cheng, there’s no need for you to worry. If you think my decision is inappropriate, you can go back to Xijing and report to the emperor.”
What sounded like a request for opinions was actually: I have already made the decision, now I am just informing you.
Xiao Cheng yearned to return to Xijing, but burdened by the weight of his own error that led to the death of Court Guard Zhang Ziwu, he lacked the courage to face Empress Dowager Wei upon his return.
“War King, you are wise. I have no objections.”
With Xiao Cheng stating his acceptance, Long Yu turned his gaze and looked at the others.
Except for Xiao Cheng, all the generals present had followed him through life and death, they supported him.
Seeing that everyone present was silent, Long Yu said, “Since no one has any objections, let’s arrange the move quickly.”
“Yes, War King.”
……
The scene shifts to Shaoyao Village in Dacing Town, Xize County. Yan Xiaosi had been to the Yan family mansion for three consecutive days to give acupuncture and massage treatments to Old Lady Jiang. On the first day after the treatment, Ms. Jiang’s appetite greatly improved, and she ate a full bowl of white rice for both lunch and dinner. On the second day, not only did her appetite improve, but she was also able to pick up food with her chopsticks. On the third day, she was able to get out of bed and slowly move around the yard with the help of a crutch.
Old Master Yan was completely convinced of Yan Xiaosi’s medical skills by the speed of Jiang’s recovery. He was even more determined to bring this promising grandson back to the Yan family mansion. Today at dinner, seeing the old lady eat a bowl of white rice and half a white bun, Old Master Yan was excited and instructed Ms. Li, “When you finish dinner, go to the broken grass temple at the end of the village.”
Ms. Li was very clear about why the old master asked her to go to the broken grass temple at the end of the village.
She was extremely unwilling, her eyebrows furrowed, but she didn’t dare say anything.
Yan Shuqing was eating a white bun. Hearing the old master’s instructions to Ms. Li, she immediately felt that the soft and fine bun in her hand lost its taste.
The third branch had three girls, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun. If the people of the third branch really returned to the mansion, there would be three more people to share her dowry.
One Yan Shuxiu was already enough to make her depressed…
Thinking about this, Yan Shuqing couldn’t help blaming the old master.
“Grandfather, these three days, cousin Xiaosi has been coming to treat grandmother every day. You should have seen his attitude. My mother may not be able to bring him and third aunt back.”
“They dare refuse.”
Before Yan Shuqing finished speaking, the old master glared at her and slapped the table in front of him.
“It’s his good fortune that I agreed to let him come back. If he dares not to return, you’ll see how I deal with him.”
Although Yan Shuqing was startled by the old master’s attitude, she was secretly pleased. She had gained a good understanding of Yan Xiaosi’s temperament over these three days. With the old master’s temperament, it would be strange if he could bring Yan Xiaosi back to the mansion. If Yan Xiaosi refused, Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun naturally would not agree to return to the mansion.
“Grandfather is right.”
She echoed the old master’s words and then said to Ms. Li, “Mother, later, I will go with you to the broken grass temple at the end of the village to pick up third aunt and Xiaosi.”
Shortly after, Ms. Li and Yan Shuqing arrived at the broken grass temple at the end of the village.
There happened to be a villager seeking medical treatment from Yan Xiaosi.
Having successfully treated Old Lady Jiang’s stroke, Yan Xiaosi’s reputation soared in Shaoyao Village. Over the past three days, villagers had been visiting the rundown grass temple at the end of the village for medical consultation and herbal remedies. Yan Xiaosi had set up her medical stall in front of the grass temple. Upon seeing the Li family, Yan Shuqing and Ms. Li approaching, Yan Xiaosi swiftly packed the well-cut medicinal herbs and handed them to a patient, “Uncle Tian, these three doses of medicine total six copper coins. After you take them home, decoct them in water and consume a bowl in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Once you’ve taken all three doses, your illness should be cured.”
Mr. Tian, a villager, gratefully took the medicine and handed over six copper coins.
“Xiaosi, your medicine is still the cheapest.” The medicinal herbs Yan Xiaosi provided for the villagers were all gathered from the Four Sisters Mountain. She was running a costless business, so naturally, the price of his medicine was low. Moreover, most villagers in Shaoyao Village didn’t have much spare money, so she didn’t want to set high prices and prevent the sick from getting treatment.
After Mr. Tian left with his medicine, Yan Xiaosi looked up and saw the approaching Li family, Yan Shuqing, and Ms. Li.
“Ms. Li, Miss Yan, did you come to my house so late to see a doctor and get medicine?”
Her opening words about illness and medicine annoyed both members of the Li family, darkening their faces.
Considering their motive for visiting the grass temple that day, which was to extend an invitation to Yan Xiaosi and Ms. Zhong to return to the Yan mansion, Ms. Li felt a sense of unease. Despite her inner turmoil, she didn’t dare to refuse the request.
“Phew!”
Ms. Li, looking upset, spat on the ground and angrily said, “Yan Xiaosi, can’t you speak properly to your elders?”
“Elders, elders, where are they? I don’t see them.”
Yan Xiaosi looked up at the sky, down at the ground, but not at Ms. Li.
The idea that a wicked woman like Ms. Li wanted to act as her elder was laughable.
Fuming, Ms. Li thought about the patriarch’s instruction, gritted her teeth, and suppressed her anger to ask, “Yan Xiaosi, where is your mother, Zhong Suxin?”
Upon hearing Ms. Li’s voice, Ms. Zhong, who was cleaning up in the kitchen, quickly wiped her hands on her apron and came out.
Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun also gathered in the open yard.
Seeing Ms. Li and Yan Shuqing, Ms. Zhong politely said, “Elder sister-in-law and Shuqing have come.”
“Third Aunt.”
Yan Shuqing smiled at Ms. Zhong, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Third Aunt, Sister Qin, Sister Xue, Sister Yun, Cousin Xiaosi. Grandfather said that these past years must have been hard on you living outside. Tonight, grandfather asked mother and me to bring you all back to live in the Yan mansion.”
Trouble had arrived. Yan Shuqing put it so nicely that Ms. Zhong was momentarily unsure of how to refuse.
