nucmednet Chapter 109 First meeting
Chapter 109 First meeting
All of this was caused by the Shangguan Chengfeng family! In the past, he was too soft-hearted and underestimated the wickedness of human nature. If he had resolutely kicked the Shangguan Chengfeng family out when his father passed away ten years ago, his wife and children wouldn't have been forced into exile by this family.
Shangguan Mufeng was lost in deep self-reproach when Zisu interrupted his thoughts: "Father, I've had someone heat up the bathwater. Go take a bath and relax!"
By this time, the old doctor and the others had already bathed and changed, leaving only Shangguan Mufeng, who was still covered in dust and grime while chatting with his daughter.
Shangguan Mufeng: "Alright, then Father will go and take a shower first."
Yu released her husband, only then realizing they were all watching. Her face flushed crimson, and she retreated to her bedroom, refusing to come out again. Zisu shook her head, sighing inwardly at the tragic situation of women in this era. Society imposed far too many restrictions and constraints on women.
The world of her dreams was so advanced, and men and women were so equal. She longed for such a world, filled with boundless yearning.
In the evening, Yu Zhe, Jiang Shichang, Jiang Shihua, Jiang Yong, and Jiang Chun returned. Upon hearing that someone was looking for the Princess, they rushed to the Princess's house without saying a word.
Upon seeing Shangguan Mufeng, Yu Zhe couldn't help but burst into tears. He tightly grasped Shangguan Mufeng's hand and said with great excitement, "Brother-in-law, you're still alive! That's wonderful!"
Upon hearing that Prince Duan was still alive, Jiang Shichang, Jiang Shihua, and Jiang Chun were overwhelmed with emotion, as if a thousand waves had been surging within them. Jiang Chun, in particular, felt as if countless lamps had been lit within her, illuminating her entire being.
As long as Prince Duan is alive, there is hope! Things are not so hopeless. Everyone has great confidence in Prince Duan's appeal and credibility among the people and court officials. As long as he is alive, as long as he raises his arm and calls, there will surely be many people responding enthusiastically, thus bringing down Prince Qi and Consort Mei.
However, a lack of trust existed among them. Therefore, neither side discussed the core issue: the divine physician's mission to the palace to treat the Emperor and Empress. Shangguan Mufeng had only discussed this matter with Zisu Shen, revealing nothing to the Jiang family or anyone else besides Zisu.
He instinctively trusted his intelligent and kind daughter implicitly, feeling he could tell her everything. He thought telling her the truth might be a great help. As for not telling his wife, it was because he didn't want her to worry, and besides, telling her wouldn't be of any help. His wife probably couldn't offer any constructive advice; it would be pointless and utterly useless.
Zisu said to him, "Father, you can rest assured about the Princess's character; she is a very good person. Jiang Shichang and Jiang Shihua can also be trusted. However, you absolutely must not reveal a single word to Jiang Shichang's wife; she is an extremely unreliable woman. Moreover, that woman is worried that I covet her son, Jiang Chun, and sees me as a thorn in her side. Therefore, I suggest that the Second Madam must not find out about Master and the others going to the palace to treat the Emperor. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire!"
Shangguan Mufeng: "Okay, I understand. I will have a good talk with the Princess about this issue and ask her to keep the Jiang family in check so that the Second Madam and the children don't find out."
It's impossible to keep it from the Jiang family. The Eldest Princess and the Jiang family have been operating in the capital for so many years; they must have their own network of connections and spheres of influence. And the people of Medicine King Valley rarely leave the valley; if their master were to fall, they would need a place to take refuge, wouldn't they?
Shangguan Mufeng then had a deep conversation with the Princess.
Three days later, the eldest princess and Shangguan Mufeng tested each other, exchanging glances...
After they had established a high degree of trust, they opened their hearts to discuss how to rescue the Emperor and Empress.
The conversation took place in Zisu's spacious backyard, with Jiang Shihua, Jiang Chun, Jiang Shichang, Yu Zhe, Shangguan Mufeng, Shen Laihui, and the old physician and his apprentices participating. Zisu, accompanied by Xiangli, personally stood guard for everyone, while Haitang and Yingtao guarded the front yard. Luo Jianming and Pan Kang patrolled the vicinity of the house to prevent anyone from rushing over or eavesdropping.
Of course, all of this was done very discreetly and naturally. Even Zisu's mother didn't suspect anything. She just assumed they were discussing some important matter and never considered the possibility of them going towards the palace.
Zisu had decided to have Shen Laihui protect the old physician and his apprentices on their journey to the capital, and Shen Laihui had agreed to go. Therefore, he was invited to participate in this secret meeting.
After discussion, everyone decided to set off for the capital tomorrow. The group going to the capital would consist of the old doctor, the eldest disciple, and Shen Laihui. The ninth disciple would stay in Xiaoxi Village to help Zisu with farming and firewood gathering.
The eldest princess wrote several letters overnight and handed them to the old physician: "These are my personal letters. If anyone around my father doesn't believe you, show them these letters! When my father wakes up, you can also show them to him to avoid him misunderstanding you. In addition, there are a few other letters to the heads of my undercover agents. If they encounter any difficulties, they can ask those agents for help. Once they see my personal letters, they will definitely lend a helping hand unconditionally!"
As the eldest princess and the emperor's favorite daughter, the princess's fate is far from simple, leaving her with no way out. The reason those hidden agents weren't used initially was because they were ineffective and a waste of their potential. Now, however, it's time to put them to use.
The old physician carefully placed the letters close to his body: "Alright, with these letters, I feel much more secure, and I feel much more at ease! Princess, don't worry, I will definitely complete the mission!"
Zisu personally prepared a lot of dry food and gave the old doctor three thousand taels of silver notes: "Master, please be careful with your money, I don't have much left!"
The old doctor nodded approvingly: "You're quite something, girl. Even in exile, you have so much money. A thousand taels of silver is a fortune in the Northwest! Alright, I'll take your money and exchange it for gold! Gold is too conspicuous, and we won't encounter many big cities along the way. Money is more useful!"
As he spoke, he tossed a large money bag to Zisu. Zisu opened it and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, so much gold! I'm rich!"
The old doctor couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Look at you, such a money-grubber! No wonder you're exiled to this place and still have thousands of taels of silver notes on you! Take all the gold and use it. Your master doesn't lack gold, he only lacks silver!"
Not lacking in gold, only in silver? Could it be that the Valley of the Medicine King produces gold?
The thought flashed through Zisu's mind.
The old doctor nodded to her: "Yes, that's exactly what you think."
Zisu couldn't help but make a face at him: "You know what I'm thinking? Oh my, that's terrifying! The people of Medicine King Valley can see people's thoughts, do they have mind-reading abilities? Oh my, that's so scary!"
The old doctor shook his head: "I can't read minds, but I can guess, hehe. Girl, I'm not teasing you anymore. When I get back from the capital, I'll take you to Medicine King Valley to stay for a while!"
Zisu chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll be watching!"
After seeing off the old doctor and his companions, everyone was filled with anxiety, worried that their journey would not go smoothly. Jiang Shichang, Jiang Shihua, and Jiang Chun frequently visited Zisu's house to have secret talks with Shangguan Mufeng, the Princess, and Yu Zhe.
Madam Jiang felt that the atmosphere at home was a bit strange and seemed too tense. Both her husband and son seemed to be shrouded in mystery.
She always felt that her husband and eldest son were hiding something enormous from her. This secret must be related to the person who had come to see the princess before. However, she still had no idea who that person was.
Because she was too embarrassed to go to the Princess and Zisu's house, she knew nothing about it. Hua'er, on the other hand, knew very well that Zisu's father had come, but she had been told by everyone not to tell her mother.
Hua'er was a sensible child; she knew her mother was unreliable, so she always kept the secret. Whenever the Second Madam asked her, "Hua'er, who came to see your aunt?"
Hua'er always replied, "I'm not really sure either. I heard it was a friend of my uncle's who left that same day. I don't know who it was."
"Oh? You left that very day? Really? You're not lying to me?" The second wife was half-believing and half-doubting.
Hua'er spoke with absolute certainty, not even blushing as she lied: "Of course it's true, I'm not lying to you, what's there to lie about!"
Now, the whole family is used to lying to the second wife. If they don't lie to her one day, they feel uneasy, as if they've lost something. Not lying means that they might have inadvertently said something they shouldn't have.
Hua'er appeared self-righteous, but afterwards, she felt deeply saddened. If she could, she wouldn't want to lie to her mother. However, under these circumstances, if she didn't lie to her mother, everyone would surely suffer!
Hua'er had reason to believe that if her mother knew that Shangguan Mufeng was in Xiaoxi Village, she would definitely inform on him so that she could "redeem herself" and seek benefits for the Jiang family.
Putting aside the fact that her mother sees Zisu as an enemy, given her current mindset, she's capable of anything. To return to the capital, to reclaim her life of wealth and luxury, exposing and denouncing Shangguan Mufeng would be a decision she wouldn't feel any psychological pressure about.
This kind of mother terrified Hua'er.
The second wife also sensed that her daughter wasn't telling her the truth, and that her husband and son were probably hiding things from her as well. This feeling was awful, chilling her to the bone.
However, she also knew that she had only herself to blame.
In short, she was in a terrible mood. If Jiang Chun hadn't been willing to chat with her, and if she hadn't still had hope of returning to the capital, she would have given up long ago!
Every morning, I have to get up to make breakfast, and after seeing my husband and son off, I still have to do laundry and sweep the floor. Less than an hour after sweeping, I have to prepare lunch. When will this hectic, arduous life ever end?
She wanted to return to the capital and live a life of comfort and abundance with many servants, even though her husband no longer loved her. As long as she could live a life of wealth and luxury, she didn't care about losing him!
"Poverty-stricken couples face a hundred sorrows!" She hadn't fully understood this saying before, but now she understood it deeply. These days, she worried about every penny for basic necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. To save money for these items, she had to forage for wild vegetables, grow her own, and have her son sell the pheasants and rabbits he had painstakingly hunted. Only after selling the pheasants and rabbits could her family afford oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
Life is tough! Ever since the falling out, that wretched girl Zisu has stopped giving the Jiang family any money. She herself eats and drinks well every day, spending money like water, but she can't bear to see the Jiang family members neglected!
That wretched girl, what a vicious heart she has! If it weren't for the worry that her eldest son would scold her, and if it weren't for the worry that she would be laughed at as a shrew when she returned to the capital, she would definitely expose that wretched girl's vicious face in public!
The second wife was lost in thought, and no one knew what she was thinking. Hua'er couldn't help but roll her eyes, quickly grabbed a basket and a small hoe, and ran away as fast as she could.
If I don't run now, when will I? Am I supposed to stay here like an idiot and wait for her to come to her senses so she can give me a thorough dressing-down?
Upon seeing this, Jiang Yan quickly grabbed his slingshot and arrows, slung a basket over his shoulder, and also made a hasty retreat. However, before leaving home, he carefully closed the courtyard gate tightly, lest a wolf enter the house while his mother was still in a daze—that would be disastrous!