Chapter 1376: Power is Bewitching [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Miao was incredulous, and even her breathing became intermittent.

She didn't even know when she broke out in a cold sweat; all she knew was that her heart was pounding like a wild horse galloping wildly. It took her a long time to exhale a heavy breath. Madam Miao loosened her grip on the armrest of the table, her expression strange: "Although I am a woman confined to the inner quarters, I patiently read a couple of books when I was young and know that 'our bodies, hair, and skin are given to us by our parents, and we dare not damage them.'"

What shocked Miao was not that the contents of the wooden box actually came from Shen Tang, but that Shen Tang was willing to go to such lengths to resolve Luan Gongyi's inner conflict. If her late husband Qiu Cheng had faced the same situation, he would probably have wiped away a couple of tears and "painfully" given up on Luan Xin.

They could either completely blacklist the person or send them an empty food box.

The one who will be sacrificed and forced to yield will not be the ruler.

After the initial shock came an overwhelming excitement, a dense tremor that almost spread to her heart—because she had glimpsed Luan Xin's value and his importance in Shen Youli's heart!

On one side of the scales were [the title of Qiu Cheng's son], [the lord's concession], and [a tactful request for peace], and on the other side was [Luan Gongyi]. The scales were still tilted without any suspense.

This lord couldn't bear to be estranged from Luan Xin, nor could he bear any discord between ruler and subject, and he didn't even want Luan Xin to bear any guilt because of it. The more he did this, the greater the chance that the chips on the scales would be cashed out, and the more benefits Qiu Cheng's offspring would gain. The air was eerily quiet, but Miao felt the world was excessively lively, congratulating herself on the wealth that was about to be obtained.

Ji Moqiu simply said, "There are always degrees of importance."

Madam Miao said, "I will do my best!"

If Qiu Cheng had just died, she definitely wouldn't have agreed—a living husband was her only means of survival in this chaotic world. Without her husband and without her family, how could a woman like her make a living?

Shen Tang is the murderer who tried to kill her!

Putting all that aside, she and Qiu Cheng were still a young couple who supported each other, and they had a foundation of affection for each other! Even if Qiu Cheng had many concubines, what powerful and influential man in this world doesn't have concubines? The existence of concubines does not prove that the couple's relationship is bad.

Whether it's a wife or a concubine, they are all possessions used to demonstrate status.

It's like the powerful and wealthy displaying treasures in a curio cabinet.

But Qiu Cheng had been dead for over a decade, and in those years, she had gradually come to appreciate the allure of flaunting her wealth through her display cabinet. Qiu Cheng had beautiful concubines, and she had a charming and gentle courtesan. How could the faded memories of the past compare to new love?

She simply looked at Qiu Cheng's memorial tablet placed in the ancestral hall.

It wasn't until her eldest son came that she heard her mother say in a calm tone, "Wenyan, Wenyan, you were such a good husband and father. Even more than ten years after your death, you were still able to protect your orphan and widow."

Qiu Cheng was defeated and lost most of his wealth.

Afterwards, the coffin was carried back to the ancestral home for burial. If it weren't for the loyal old subordinates accompanying and escorting them, and the care of the eldest son's family, Qiu Cheng's wives, concubines, children, and remaining wealth would have been devoured by vultures that smelled the meat. The eldest son's family took good care of the orphans and widows, but Miao still felt a sense of unease, as if she were living under someone else's roof and being inferior to them, though she never dared to show it openly in the past.

She thought this was all there was to her life.

The children were filial but unambitious, and the hope of revitalizing the family fortune rested solely on the grandchildren, who might never see that day of prosperity. Unexpectedly, a turning point came so suddenly!

The eldest son whispered, "Is it safe?"

"It's too certain. Unless the Kang Kingdom is destroyed, no one can shake the outcome." Madam Miao's tone was strange, a mix of sourness and jealousy. "Your father probably never imagined that back then, he only softened his heart because of the relationship between our two families and the generous gifts, agreeing to help Lady Luan who came to rescue her brother. In return, he gained Luan Gongyi's unwavering loyalty for over twenty years, and my son's title of Duke. It's truly..."

Live when you should live, die when you should die.

There will never be another husband as considerate as him in this world.

The eldest son nearly lost his composure: "The...the Duke of the Prefecture?"

He anticipated the benefits would be substantial, but he hadn't expected them to be this great. The falling meat pie nearly killed him: "This... this can work? Kang State only has two dukes now. One is a descendant of Gu Ren. It's only reasonable for the duke to prioritize his reputation and appease Gu Ren's former subordinates, so he should treat his descendant well. As for Wu Xian, needless to say, the 'deep affection between brothers' has been passed down for so many years. But how many sons are there?"

The Duke of a State is of the first rank, and the Duke of a Prefecture is of the second rank.

How much hostility will this hot potato attract?

She laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? You're not enough, but Luan Gongyi is."

The stakes also revealed that Shen Youli expected Luan Xin to be granted at least a Duke title in the future. Her eldest son's Duke title was practically inherited from Luan Gongyi. She offered incense to her late husband, then took her eldest son's hand and walked out of the ancestral hall: "If this matter can be resolved smoothly, you should get closer to your Uncle Luan in the future. If the time is right, it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to have him as your godfather..."

The eldest son said awkwardly, "My son is only a few years younger than him."

Is it inappropriate to shamelessly call someone "godfather"?

Looking at the patch of blue sky separated by the four walls, Miao felt that the sky was more beautiful than usual today: "What's wrong with this? Back then, forty-eight-year-old Zhaluoshan could recognize thirty-two-year-old Taizhen as his godmother. Zhaluoshan, an old man with one foot in the grave, could wear a small braid and a bellyband and hold a baby's third-day celebration at his age. People could call her that. Why can't you?"

eldest son:"……"

Can the two be compared like that?

Luan Gongyi wasn't too genuine, nor was he that fat guy from Yahun Mountain. He couldn't imagine himself wearing a small braid and a bellyband for his third-day celebration, calling Luan Gongyi his godfather... That image was too surreal.

The eldest son pursed his lips: "I will do my best."

Madam Miao instructed her maid to pack her bags, as she was going out for a while.

The eldest son asked, "Should we bring the ones from the backyard too?"

None of Qiu Cheng's children were particularly talented. Their comfortable lives with their stepmother were largely due to their mother, Miao,'s years of maneuvering with the outside world. Having a silver tongue has its advantages; at least they aren't easily bullied—snakes have teeth and venom glands, and even a non-venomous python can constrict its prey to death. This is why Qiu Cheng's children are filial to Miao; she has indeed worked hard and made significant contributions.

As for why it was given to a beautiful courtesan...

Even the living need to make a living.

After her younger sister got married, she returned to visit her mother and shared a room with her. She accidentally saw her mother hiding a shaman in the room. The sensible younger sister was shocked and embarrassed, then overwhelmed with shame.

As children, they failed to fulfill their responsibilities of understanding and respecting their elders!

So she cried to her brother.

The eldest son hurriedly asked her why she was crying, wondering if her husband had mistreated her. She sobbed, "Brother, I was just thinking that when Father was alive, he had several beautiful concubines, while Mother has been widowed ever since, with no one to care for her. We, her children, have failed to understand this, and we are truly unfilial."

The eldest son felt awkward for a moment, then he reflected on his actions.

Regardless of gender, everyone has desires. Just because a mother is old enough to be a grandmother doesn't mean she's lost her desires. Her father's body has been cold for ages; he might have taken in a few beautiful ghosts in the underworld. It's normal for a mother to have new lovers.

As long as it's not about remarrying him and getting a new father, nothing else matters. Actors or gigolos are just playthings. The biggest difference between them and Mr. Horn lying in the wooden box is that they have warmth and can speak sweet words.

Miao said calmly, "Business is more important."

Who would take "Mr. Living Corner" with them on a business trip?

The eldest son thought that his mother valued his future and important matters, so he did not bring the beautiful actress he had recently acquired. He was happy, but he still said a few words: "I was just worried that the journey was long and boring, and that I would not have a close friend to talk to and relieve my boredom."

"The thought of my son's future makes me feel less depressed."

The carriages and horses were quickly prepared.

Miao's activities had been limited in recent years. As she sat once more in the carriage that had taken her far away, feeling the swaying of the carriage, her memories uncontrollably drifted back more than ten years. This time, she didn't think of her husband, but of a very young and beautiful, yet somewhat blurry, face. She could almost hear that person calling her "Aunt." She remembered who it was: "It's Shuniang."

Previously, she was jealous of Miao Shu's talent for cultivation, her ability to converse eloquently with her husband as a scholar, and the way she attracted his infatuated and conquering gaze. However, she overlooked the resentment and bitterness in Miao Shu's eyes. Miao Shi had often secretly tormented and belittled Miao Shu, resenting her for being so ungrateful despite her divine favor. She thought Miao Shu could attract men with her innate beauty and figure, yet she insisted on clinging to a power that other women could never attain in their entire lives…

Miao was no longer young, so when her husband was attracted to a younger and prettier woman, she would admit defeat, because no one can escape the passage of time. It wasn't her fault that she was no longer young, nor was it because she was less attractive than others. She wasn't younger than Miao Shu, but she was the legal wife.

She wouldn't be jealous of women who would eventually grow old and lose their beauty.

But Miao Shu happens to have a talent for cultivation and is very talented.

This drove her to madness with jealousy, to the point of losing her mind, to the point where the venomous snake within her burst forth, wanting nothing more than to pounce and bite Miao Shu's neck off! Beauty may fade with time, and even the whitest pearls may turn yellow and dull, but talent will always remain, until the moment Miao Shu breathes her last, when it will bid farewell to this world…

Jealousy can make people lose their minds.

She did many things that she herself is now ashamed of.

Occasionally, in the dead of night, I dream not of a battlefield strewn with corpses, but of a hideous, twisted, and gloomy face reflected in a bronze mirror.

She watched the scenery slowly receding outside the car window.

But in her heart, she wondered if she would have the chance to meet the person who held the highest power on this trip. She wanted to see just how alluring power could be. Then, she couldn't help but smile. No matter how alluring it was, it couldn't compare to the charm of Luan Gongyi.

Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.

How could the person at the center of the incident know that his departure would cause such a huge uproar? Luan Xin was currently troubled by his frequent throat irritation. He looked at his reflection in the water and saw that his face was swollen like a steamed bun, and his skin was covered with red rashes.

It's a little itchy, and the more I scratch, the itchier it gets.

Luo San, a man of wide experience and knowledge, said, "It looks a bit like rubella."

This is an invasion of evil wind.

Luan Xin said, "Rashes?"

Luo San said seriously, "It looks like an external wind-evil combined with internal damp heat, with the symptoms stagnating on the skin. It should be urticaria."

"Can Luo Hou prescribe medicine?"

"I will give it my best."

This strange symptom caused Luan Xin considerable suffering, with a slow and intermittent recovery. He couldn't help but speculate that it was due to acclimatization issues. This guess actually made sense. Luan Xin's previous activities were concentrated in the northwest and southwest. Oranges grown south of the Huai River are sweet, while those grown north of it are bitter. Some special plants only grow in the central regions, and plants wouldn't grow legs to travel to Luan Xin's area…

In short, Luan Xin had an allergic reaction, and it was quite severe.

They had no idea that Luo San's prescription was for treating oxen.

People won't die from eating it, but they won't get better either.

"Quack doctors! Quack doctors are harming people!"

Gongyang Yongye was not one to sit idly by and wait for death, nor would he sit and wait for others to do the work. He had more faith in himself and would personally rescue Xiang Zhao! So, upon receiving the news, he rushed over to meet up with Luan Xin.

You can tell what's in the herbal medicine just by smelling it.

Upon seeing that the person taking the medicine was Luan Xin, who was pale and spoke with a weak voice, his medical instincts kicked in. He performed the four diagnostic methods of observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, only to hear these words that broke his guard. He pointed at the two men and scolded, "You two blockheads! One of you dares to prescribe medicine haphazardly, and the other dares to drink it haphazardly. Aren't you afraid of poisoning someone to death with a bowl of medicine?!"

Luo San scoffed, "If I can't, then you can?"

Gongyang Yongye specializes in treating men's ailments, which are not the same as Luan Xin's rubella. Why does he call himself a quack? Although Luo San's prescription is for treating oxen, the symptoms of the sick oxen are similar to those of Luan Xin. Why doesn't it work?

Gongyang Yongye was so angry his teeth were itching!

Luan Xin also spoke up for Luo San.

The accompanying physician also saw Luo San's prescription and confirmed that it was safe to drink.

Gongyang Yongye was so angry he wanted to slap them both. He wrote a new prescription, and Luo San, unconvinced, went over to take a look. He found that many of the herbs were similar to those in his own prescription, so he replaced a few herbs and adjusted the dosage accordingly: "Is there a difference?"

Gongyang Yongye said quietly, "His symptoms are caused by this medicine. If he weren't a scholar with a literary mind, he would have been poisoned to death long ago."

It's a miracle I didn't suffocate from throat swelling.

Luo San: "..."

Luan Xin: "..."

Gongyang Yongye rolled his eyes and said, "In my early years, I traveled all over the country practicing medicine and saw many people with similar symptoms. At first, I thought it was rubella, but after checking them one by one, I found that their symptoms only appeared repeatedly in certain specific areas and at certain times."

It's not some kind of evil wind, it's a plant.

Luan Xin: "..."

So, I guess I really am lucky to be alive.

After using Gongyang Yongye's prescription, the symptoms were indeed brought under control, and with the nourishment of Wen Qi, the patient was almost fully recovered by the same day. Before the negotiating delegation even entered Yuanfu County, a force intervened to intercept them, and both sides completed the official procedures.

The direction they went was not Yuanfu County.

Under the watchful eyes of enemy troops, their destination was a military camp nestled deep in the mountains. Judging from its size, the camp garrisoned at least 30,000 men. From afar, the banners stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling fiery clouds, a truly magnificent sight. Judging from the appearance and bearing of the soldiers Luan Xin had seen, the garrison was mostly elite troops. The banners were so numerous that it was impossible to discern which unit they belonged to; there were more than a dozen surnames listed on them.

"Please wait here for a moment."

"Thank you for your trouble."

From the moment they entered the area, Luan Xin sensed that he was being watched in the shadows. The atmosphere above the camp was a chaotic mix of colors, and everywhere he looked, there was a source that made him very uncomfortable…

(*▽*)

A water pipe burst in our neighborhood, causing a 36-hour water outage. When the water came back on, the newly replaced filter turned brownish-black within seconds of being turned on the tap…