Chapter 103: Auspicious signs from the old people! Auspicious signs! Such great auspicious signs! ...
Shen Changfeng's plan to go south was almost aborted - his superiors refused to grant him leave, saying: "It will take at least five or six days to get back to Henan from Xuanfu. Do you think Xuanfu is a post station where you can go and come whenever you want?"
Shen Changfeng then changed his story. He heard that bandits in several places in Henan were restless recently and the court was considering sending soldiers to patrol and deter them, so he was willing to volunteer.
His superiors agreed and encouraged him a lot, telling him to make some achievements and not to let them down.
Qingsong and the others cursed along the way, saying things like "don't disappoint expectations, it's just like using people like cattle and horses." Shen Changfeng had worked year-round for two or three years, and now that the border was safe, he just wanted to apply for a half-month leave, but he refused to agree.
Qingsong said, "Last time I said I had a good sleep during my rest, and he said, 'I don't know what's so good about it that's worth bringing back to the barracks.' Damn old leper! If I could get more good sleep, would I still be so sentimental?"
Jiang Jin said with lingering fear, "He even asked me how long I'd be staying in the toilet! A bald head suddenly appeared on the door panel. It was so scary!"
Suozhu also cursed: "This bald scabby bastard always targets us in everything!"
The yellow sand was rolling, and even if I covered my face with a mask, I would still be choked by the sand when I opened my mouth to speak.
Despite this, many soldiers in the team couldn't hide their excitement. This was because Shen Changfeng had announced that the Fubo Army would be the vanguard, allowing them to reach Henan before the rest of the troops assembled. Soldiers from the local area could return home to visit their families and ancestors and return to their units within the allotted time.
Shen Changfeng could vaguely hear the whispers of people behind him, but he didn't say anything.
A coarse cloth covered most of his face, revealing only a pair of hawk-like eyes. He narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing out at the barren, sandy mountain road, lost in thought. The sun was blazing brightly, and the sand was covered with scorching dust, drifting indistinctly as if melted. Many travelers trudged along the road, crawling like ants, their burdens swaying. A few drops of water fell from their buckets, and the bearers immediately slowed down their pace.
Shen Changfeng dismounted and ordered his men and horses to set up camp to rest and make way for the people.
Apart from covering his face, he stood in the shade of the trees for a while holding the water bag, bowed and greeted an old man passing by, and asked if he knew where he could get some water.
The old man sighed and drove the donkey cart under the shade of a tree, letting Shen Changfeng drink water from the bucket behind his cart. Soon, several people also stopped to rest under the shade of the trees. When they saw the flag of Fubo Village, they were surprised and enthusiastically invited the soldiers to come and drink water.
When the Fu Bo Army was suppressing bandits in Henan, they stayed in Kaifeng for a period of time, and the people all have an impression of it.
After introducing each other's names, everyone started chatting about everything.
Upon asking, I learned that these people had come from villages within and outside the village to fetch water, and it would take them an hour to go back and forth.
Shen Changfeng asked, "Has it been a long time since it rained in that area?"
The old man said, "That's right. The spring has been unusually dry this year, and the wells in several nearby villages have run dry."
Shen Changfeng asked again: "Why didn't the local government order the well carpenter to survey the water source and dig a new well?"
Seeing how perceptive he was, the others couldn't help but look at each other, sighing in unison and saying, "That's a dragon vein, we can't dig it!"
Shen Changfeng understood and asked, "If that's the case, why are you traveling at this time?" He could have avoided the peak hours of the sun and carried water there.
The old man's face wrinkled up, and he wiped his sunburned face and said, "General, you don't know that we can't use the well over there whenever we want. We have to pay money, get a number, and wait for the number to be called before we can draw water. That's why we've been delayed until now."
Shen Changfeng's jaw tensed, then quickly relaxed. He asked, "Who are you paying for?"
No one dared to answer this question.
Shen Changfeng smiled and called out to his soldiers: "Remember how many bowls of water you drank just now. Make up for it to the villagers before you can leave."
The soldiers answered yes, picked up the buckets and asked the villagers to lead the way.
The old man and others quickly waved their hands and said no, and were shouted at by a group of soldiers who held their arms and carried them away.
Qingsong was happy again, because after helping out with the work, the villagers would usually warmly invite them to eat and drink. Although Shen Changfeng had ordered them not to accept favors from the villagers, if the villagers were so kind, they would secretly fill their saddlebags with fruits, fish and meat. Unaware of the situation, they would reluctantly accept the offer and improve their food after leaving. The border was cold and harsh, and they hadn't had a good meal in a long time.
Shen Changfeng looked at the people leaving, slowly stopped smiling, and said: "Go and bring the local well carver to dig a new well after determining the location of the water source."
Chen Yue did not immediately accept the order. He frowned, as if he was worried, and said, "This place is the fief of the King of Chu..."
When the Crown Prince committed evil, Li Jieyi rushed back to the capital to support the Li family. Without removing her armor, she rushed straight in to pay her respects to the Crown Prince. She shouted to the empty hall behind her, "Since you are here before the Crown Prince, why don't you kneel?!"
Before the leader could ask, Li Jieyi suddenly uttered a soft "Ah!", leaving a trail of blood with every step she took. A sinister smile played on her face as she leaned over to the Crown Prince's ear and whispered, "They say... the ghost soldiers won't kneel before the dead."
Li Jieyi's Fengling Guards were undefeated, and rumors circulated that she could command spirits to battle. Crown Prince Li, already harboring remorse, was so frightened by these deceptive words before he could bring Li Jieyi to justice that he suddenly died a few days later. As the late emperor's only son, Crown Prince Li's influence was swiftly eliminated following his death. Relieved, the ministers began to discuss selecting an heir to the throne from among the sons of the princes.
The old Prince of Chu was the first candidate to be ruled out by the ministers. He had once drunkenly murdered a Phoenix Feather Guard, and Concubine Li would hound him to death. Whenever she had a chance, she would submit memorials impeaching him for his bad behavior, at one point submitting sixteen in a single day. The ministers all felt that he was so bad that the children he would raise would surely be no better.
It can be said that the feud between the King of Chu and the Shen family dates back to the previous generation. Moreover, when Shen Changfeng was investigating the collusion between officials and bandits, he also attracted the attention of the King of Chu and others, and was secretly retaliated against.
Chen Yue's concerns were not unfounded. Local officials were clearly exploiting the well water for profit and protecting the so-called dragon veins to please the King of Chu. Shen Changfeng would have to pay his respects to the King of Chu in two days, and those people would certainly not let him go.
Shen Changfeng stood up and looked at the villagers whose skin was chapped by the scorching sun. His eyes became serious and long. He said, "Go ahead. I'll take care of anything that happens."
Just as Chen Yue thought, after learning that Shen Changfeng had taken the initiative to lead people to dig ten new wells, the King of Chu and others were furious.
Before Shen Changfeng even entered the main hall, he heard a loud shout from afar: "You dog...!"
Shen Changfeng, beaming with joy, interrupted his chanting loudly, "Auspicious! Auspicious! Great auspiciousness, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
The King of Chu, who was about to lose his temper, heard this and, as expected, waved his hand to silence his followers. He then asked, "What auspicious sign?"
Shen Changfeng's eyebrows danced with joy. He excitedly clasped his fists towards the leader and said, "Your Majesty! I recently ordered someone to oversee the digging of a new well for Your Majesty. When we dug deep, we unexpectedly discovered a thousand-year-old black tortoise! Your Majesty, tell me, is this a great omen?"
The Book of Rites says that the turtle is one of the four spirits, and that it can observe human culture. Finding a turtle in a well, especially a black turtle, is even more magical. The appearance of a black turtle often indicates that one has received inspiration from heaven and that the country will prosper.
The King of Chu's face lit up red, and he quickly stood up and asked, "Where is the black tortoise? Bring it up to me quickly!"
Shen Changfeng agreed and ordered his men to bring in a black-glazed pottery jar with a deep belly. Everyone gathered around and looked in. At the same time, they smelled a pungent smell of urine, but they didn't dare to show their discomfort. They suppressed their nausea and continued to look. They saw a black turtle lying underneath, which almost filled the two-foot-wide bottom of the jar. Looking at it more closely, they found that there was a faint star pattern on the back of the black turtle, which looked like the pattern of the Big Dipper!
Shen Changfeng added at the right moment, "Your Majesty, this auspicious sign can only appear because you are willing to accept advice, love your people, and move the heavens!"
In an instant, compliments were heard everywhere and the hall was filled with noise.
Shen Changfeng turned around with a smile, looked at one of the men, and said, "Master Zhang, you seemed to have something to say to me just now?"
Zhang Yixin's smile froze as he said, "I just wanted to say hello to General Shen. General Shen, you've been traveling all the way and worked hard."
Before he could finish, Shen Changfeng approached the King of Chu. Seeing someone reaching near the bottom of the jar, he pointed his spear and sternly rebuked, "How can the divine tortoise be desecrated by you!"
The King of Chu scolded the minister, then protected the mouth of the jar and ordered his attendants, "Quick, go to the back garden and prepare a pond to raise the divine tortoise!"
The King of Chu, in a good mood, patted Shen Changfeng on the shoulder and said, "Go prepare a banquet. I want to give a good welcome to Mr. Shen!"
Shen Changfeng walked out of the hall and followed everyone towards the banquet. He whispered a few words to Chen Yue when he passed by him.
Suo Zhu, who was carrying the pottery jar, was very surprised and puzzled when he received the order to release the turtle into the river during the chaos.
Qingsong, who was carrying the urn, couldn't help laughing. "You believe more than 30% of what the general said outside. This is a big ass."
Suo Zhu was surprised. Afraid that the guide ahead would notice something, he quickly covered his mouth and said, "What! Isn't that a black tortoise?"
Qingsong laughed until tears welled up in his eyes. "That's painted with squid ink. If it soaks for a while longer, it'll be exposed."
Ah, then the Big Dipper must be fake too.
Suozhu recalled the scene at that time. The light in the room was not as bright as outside, the floor was pitch black, and the water was fishy and smelly, and the stench of urine was so strong that they could not open their eyes. Those people were attracted by the pattern on the turtle's back and did not notice the skirt of the tortoise underneath. They were busy congratulating the King of Chu and asking for rewards, so they did not notice the difference.
Whether it is a turtle or a tortoise, even a three-year-old child in the countryside can tell the difference.
Yet, Shen Changfeng could still solemnly refer to a tortoise as a divine tortoise, fooling everyone in the room. Suozhu found it amusing to think of his boastful behavior, and he and Qingsong couldn't help but chuckle a few times. Suozhu then whispered, "What if someone finds out? Won't the King of Chu and the others be very annoyed by being teased?"
Chen Yue smiled faintly and said, "That's why the general ordered the brothers to set out soon. We move fast and they can't catch up with us."
Suo Zhu nodded. That was true. When they returned to Xuanfu, even if the King of Chu discovered them, he wouldn't be able to do anything to them. Besides, they had no chance of discovering.
Such auspicious signs are rare, and if they weren't, it would have been a bad omen, so they certainly wouldn't have publicized it. To be safe, Chen Yue didn't delay any further and quickly went to the back garden with Suozhu Qingsong.
There was a lot of noise in the back garden. When Lin Meiju passed by the corridor, she saw several ladies who could not hide their excitement and walked hurriedly, as if they were going to see some magical turtle.
She looked over and saw the girl in the small courtyard still quietly playing with a small ball of fur, so she felt at ease and followed the person into the room.
After the pharmacy's business stabilized, Lin Meizhu took her entourage to visit famous doctors. During this period, she also traveled among the people, providing free medical services as a traveling doctor. Her medical skills improved greatly, and her mood became much more open and calm than before.
Chuqi would come to visit her during festivals, or she would go to Xiangyang to find him. The two of them had different areas of expertise: Chuqi excelled at treating emergencies and difficult and complicated diseases, while Lin Meizhu specialized in women's diseases. When they were together, Lin Meizhu would show Chuqi the pulse diagnosis cases she had written, or she would tell her about some strange and bizarre anecdotes she had recently encountered: a man-faced sore, a dying squire who, after hearing that his nephew was trying to embezzle his family property, cursed him and then recovered without treatment, or a scoundrel who disguised himself as a widow to seduce a young lady, but was exposed by his employer's attempted assault. They would often chat by candlelight into the night, not even noticing the dawn.
When the two of them were chattering together, Chen Huisheng would blow his nose and glare at them, annoyed that they were making noise all day long and not doing their work.
Whenever this happened, the two would always look at each other tacitly, then go back to their rooms to rest, yawning, and then laugh at the same time behind the door, feeling lucky to have escaped.
Chen Huisheng is good at playing tricks on children. Every time he asks who will inherit his mantle, the two of them avoid looking at each other. Chen Huisheng has complained a lot about this, but he can't do anything about the two little ghosts. When they are mentioned, they cover for each other and deceive him!
This time, Lin Meiju brought Xiaoman with her.
Xiaoman is no longer afraid of strangers and is much calmer than before. Lin Meizhu took her with her, teaching her to identify simple herbs and some medical skills, thinking that letting her travel around and interact with more people and things might benefit her condition. Lin Meizhu's idea proved to be correct. Xiaoman had a great time out there, and over the past few months, she no longer resisted reminiscing and was slowly beginning to recall some of the past.
The door closed gently, blocking out the clinking of glasses outside.
The light in the room was dimmed by the strong smell of medicine. After adjusting for a while and being able to see the road clearly, Lin Meiju walked towards the inner room.
The intermediary who had asked her to treat him had some connections with Chen Huisheng, so Lin Meizhu readily agreed. Since most women seeking her treatment preferred to remain private, she didn't inquire about the patient's identity beforehand.
Now, seeing the pavilions, towers, and deep courtyards, she knew she was most likely a woman from a wealthy official family. However, she had no interest in prying into these matters. After sitting down beside the bed, she placed two fingers on the patient's wrist and listened attentively to the pulse.
The person leaning on the bed moved slightly, as if she wanted to retract her hand, but it was only for two moments, and she slowly released her strength.
Lin Meizhu heard a weak, sharp voice: "Are you here to laugh at me?"
Lin Meiju didn't understand what she meant. She looked at the eyes staring at her from under the veil. She looked again and again, and finally saw a vague shadow from her thin and almost shapeless outline.
It turned out to be Su Qinxue.
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