Baozhilin (1)
Xie Sili looked at Xie Sinan and asked, "You said before that you knew Lian'er was a medicine person. Did you see a doctor afterward?" As she spoke, she made tea for Xie Sinan.
"I've seen doctors, but they all said..." Xie Sinan hesitated, not finishing her sentence, "My health is fine now. Since you know my stepmother wants you to marry in her place, why did my grandfather still send you back to Chang'an?"
Xie Sili saw through his thoughts and remained calm. "Returning to Chang'an is my own decision and has nothing to do with my grandfather. Besides, my grandfather and the others will also be returning to Chang'an in a few days to prepare for spending the New Year here this year."
She didn't give Xie Sinan a chance to speak, "Second Brother, the thing on your body isn't harmless, but you only have a maximum of six months to live, right?" She took a small sip from the cup in front of her, "Judging from your physical condition, it can be inferred that you have favored Lian'er for many years."
Not receiving a reply from Xie Sinan, she continued, "The doctors in Chang'an really can't figure out the cause of your illness. That Lian'er was originally a Yangzhou courtesan, and the things she carries are from the Zhao Kingdom. I really didn't expect the Huang family to go to such lengths to deal with you." Xie Sili smiled coldly, "Isn't it just because they're worried about hindering Xie Siyu's bright future?"
Noticing Xie Sinan's gaze, she glanced over and asked, "Isn't that right?"
"Yes," Xie Sinan replied in a muffled voice, "Xie Siyu is indeed an outstanding person, and the Huang family has sacrificed a lot for him, unlike me..."
"You were blind before. Don't wallow in self-pity here. You should think about how to become a top student in the big exam and surprise the Huang family." Xie Sili interrupted Xie Sinan expressionlessly.
She glanced at Xie Sinan and continued, "Xie Sinan, you must remember that you are the legitimate eldest son of the Prime Minister's Mansion, someone who has been listed in the family genealogy under the witness of your grandfather. Xie Siyu is far inferior to you."
Not receiving a reply from Xie Sinan, Xie Sili spoke again, "Get a good rest tonight, and I'll take you to Baozhilin first thing tomorrow morning."
Without giving Xie Sinan a chance to answer, she turned and disappeared from his room, as if everything that had just happened was a dream to him.
Upon hearing the words "Baozhilin," Xie Sinan knew that his younger sister definitely didn't know what kind of place it was.
Baozhilin is located in every prefecture and county of the kingdom. It is said that even the current emperor cannot find out who is behind Baozhilin, just like the suddenly emerging black market.
Po Chi Lam has three rules.
First, those who are high-ranking officials and nobles are not treated;
Second, those who are not satisfied will not be treated;
Third, do not seek medical treatment when you are in a bad mood;
Their residence happens to belong to high-ranking officials and nobles. Not only do high-ranking officials and nobles not seek medical treatment, but even the current emperor cannot persuade the doctors of Baozhilin to come.
But they provided free medical care to ordinary people in Chang'an every day, and they also regularly distributed porridge and medicine. This was the foundation for Baozhilin's ability to establish itself in Chang'an.
Xie Sili was unaware of Xie Sinan's thoughts. After returning to Liju, she sent Si Ze to deliver a letter.
Xie Sinan's symptoms are easy to treat, but because Lian'er is a medicine person who uses multiple medications, if his condition cannot be treated appropriately, the consequences will be unimaginable.
"Has the young lady reunited with the second young master?" Luo Mei stepped forward and said slowly, "That's good, so that Madam Huang won't use someone else to do her dirty work later."
“Brother isn’t that stupid. He already knows Huang’s purpose.” Xie Sili looked up at Luo Mei. “Even if Huang wants to deal with me, we’ll see if she can find an opportunity.” A nonchalant smile played on her lips. “After all, anyone who wants to kill me can probably be sent from Chang’an to Yuzhou City. See, I’m still alive and well, aren’t I?”
"I heard from Siyuan today that we can move in by the end of the year. If you are planning to move in, they will set up the underfloor heating. I heard that winters in Chang'an are much colder than in Yuzhou."
"The young lady is frail and cannot withstand this freezing weather," Luoju said, unable to suppress a laugh.
"Look at the charcoal the Prime Minister's residence gave us. Luckily, it's all silver-thread charcoal that we brought back from Yuzhou City." Luo Lan's expression remained calm, but her tone carried a hint of complaint.
"During your time at the Prime Minister's residence, has Madam Huang made things difficult for you?" Xie Sili asked, taking the hot tea that Luo Lan handed him.
This tea was a new tea sent from Lin'an in April this year. It tastes excellent and suits her palate perfectly.
“The Huang family would naturally disdain to lay a hand on us.” Luo Mei said respectfully. “We have always remembered what you said before in the Prime Minister’s residence: do not make enemies.”
Xie Sili's hand paused slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips. "The main problem is that Madam Huang doesn't take me seriously. Although she said she wanted me to come back to marry in her place, it would be detrimental to his career if word got out that I was being used as a substitute. Until they find a way to satisfy both sides, he and Madam Huang won't make things difficult for me."
"He was even worried that if I didn't agree to the substitute marriage, his precious daughter Xie Siyao would have to marry Prince Yan. Madam Huang was naturally reluctant to do so, and the best way right now was probably to sow discord between my brother and me and make him deal with me."
Thinking of this, Xie Sili looked at them and gave them a mysterious smile.
The next day.
Xie Sinan went to pay his respects to Madam Huang as was customary.
He vaguely sensed from Huang's words that she wanted to sow discord between him and Xie Sili.
He feigned politeness towards Huang, but inwardly he was thinking about how to tell Xie Sili about it.
Huang wanted to use him to harm Xie Sili and reap the benefits.
Even if Xie Sili harbors resentment at that time, as the legal mother, she can only put on a show at most. It's a win-win situation for both Xie Siyu and Xie Siyao.
Instead, the brother and sister became stepping stones for Xie Siyu and his sister, a vicious scheme that killed two birds with one stone!
"Mother, don't worry. I've been raised by you since I was a child, so naturally I'm closer to you. If Xie Sili doesn't like you, I'll go and cause her trouble, warn her! Let her understand that this Prime Minister's residence is ruled by Mother." Xie Sinan spoke with the air of a spoiled young master, and the arrogance in his words made Madam Huang clap her hands in satisfaction.
"Nan-ge'er, don't say that. She's still my younger sister." Madam Huang's face showed a slight embarrassment, but her tone was cheerful. "Her Majesty the Empress's birthday is coming up in a few days. I'm thinking of taking them to Ci'en Temple to pray for blessings. What do you think, Nan-ge'er?"
"That's certainly a good thing," Xie Sinan quickly said with a smile. "The teacher said there would be a break before the big exam, so we can go during that break."
He was certain that the Huang family wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to deal with Xie Sili.
"That's good. Hurry up and go to the academy so as not to delay your studies." Madam Huang said, waving her hand at him.
After Xie Sinan turned and left, he saw Huang's face through the bronze mirror and immediately smiled.
After leaving Huang's courtyard, he followed Xie Sili's instructions to go to Baozhilin. When the carriage was about to arrive at Baozhilin, he got off the carriage and prepared to walk there.
Po Chi Lam is located in the most bustling part of the street.
There was also a clinic opposite it, but the two places were completely different. Baozhilin was frequented by ordinary people, while the clinic opposite was frequented by people dressed in fine silks and satins.
Before he even got close to Po Chi Lam, a young shop assistant chased him out with a broom. "Don't you know our Po Chi Lam's rules? We don't treat the rich and powerful. Don't tarnish our reputation with your money-grubbing. We're too small to accommodate someone as big as you."
Xie Sinan was standing there, about to speak, when she heard a voice.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Xie? You wouldn't be thinking of going to Baozhilin for treatment, would you?"
"Brother Qi, what are you saying? Everyone in Chang'an knows the rules of Baozhilin. As the eldest son of Prime Minister Xie, the Second Young Master Xie is considered a high-ranking official. Why would Baozhilin treat him?"
"Brother Xu, Brother Qi, isn't Prime Minister Xie's eldest son Brother Xie? What does he have to do with this fatso?"
"Yes, yes, yes, the son of Prime Minister Xie is Brother Si Yu, and has nothing to do with this fatso."
Xie Sinan looked in the direction of the voice and saw three familiar figures: Qi Yanwen, son of the Vice Minister of War; Xu Mingzhou, son of the Vice Minister of Revenue; and Ye Xuhuai, son of the Vice Minister of Rites. Their friend was Xie Siyu.
"What does my presence here have to do with you?" Xie Sinan said, opening the fan in his hand and waving it. "Whether Xie Siyu is the legitimate son or not is not for you to decide, but for my grandfather to decide."
"Young Master Xie, don't be ungrateful. I think you should see a doctor as soon as you're sick," Xu Mingzhou said without thinking.
"Xie Er, you're nowhere near as good as Brother Xie," Qi Yanwen continued, "Don't you even know who you are in front of Brother Xie? How dare you speak ill of him like this!"
"How dare you make such a racket at the entrance of Baozhilin?"
Xie Sinan looked up and saw a man dressed in blue walking out.
He had a smile on his face, and his every move exuded a gentle and refined air.
What's the argument about?
Noticing the gaze of the man in blue, Xie Sinan was about to speak when he heard Xu Mingzhou's gloating voice, "He just heard that Second Young Master Xie wanted to come to your esteemed clinic for treatment, so he's just here to watch the show."
“Everyone in Chang’an knows the rules of Baozhilin, except for ignorant people like this,” Ye Xuhuai continued, following Xu Mingzhou’s words.
"Manager Du, don't take it to heart with Young Master Xie. He's just like His Highness Prince Yan, often frequenting brothels, indulging in pleasure, and being obsessed with beautiful women. How could he possibly know the rules of Baozhilin?" Qi Yanwen looked at him respectfully.
"Young Master Xie's reputation is widespread, so Manager Du must already know about it. Wouldn't it be bad luck to get angry with such a person?"
Xie Sinan stood there listening to their every word, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, the bulging veins on his hands seemingly showing his displeasure.
Just as he was about to rush up and punch each of the three of them, Xie Sili's face inexplicably appeared in his mind.
That smiling face invited him to join her in overturning the Prime Minister's residence.
After he composed himself and was about to speak, he heard Manager Du's voice.
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