## Volume 4: Phoenix Crying in the Ninth Heaven
＞The medicinal fragrance from the General’s Mansion became the most valuable currency among the four nations, until the envoys from the “Wanyao League” blocked the door with a gift box bigger than a coffin.
"General Su, this is a monopoly agreement. If you sign it, you will become the spokesperson for the God of Medicine!"
>Dabao's abacus beads suddenly rebelled, spelling out a pop-up window on the contract saying "Fake drug rate 37.8%."
> Erbao put the pacifier into the other person's mouth: "Uncle, eat candy, don't fart."
>Just as the messenger was about to get angry, he discovered that the acupuncture points on his body were marked with mathematical formulas by the pacifier.
> "Warm reminder: Your liver meridian counterfeiting index exceeds the standard. You need to take three pounds of Chengxin Powder immediately."
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Life in the General's Mansion seemed to have been accelerated to a peaceful and tranquil life after the birth of Lingbao Su Ling. The warm room where Su Li recuperated after her postpartum confinement became the mansion's central energy field. The newborn Lingbao spent most of her time in deep sleep, but whenever she unconsciously waved her hands or smacked her lips, fleeting white-gold streaks of light would linger in the air, like miniature rivers of stars or delicate geometric puzzles. The eldest child, Su Chen, practically made his home in a corner of the warm room. The abacus of cause and effect hummed softly in his arms day and night, its beads pulsing with ever-so-slight steps, faithfully recording and analyzing every unconscious fluctuation of the "eternal number" emitted by his sister. The concentration on his face was comparable to that of someone comprehending the supreme truth.
Outside the palace, the fame of the "Medicine God System," accompanied by the tangible aroma of medicinal herbs, spread across the four kingdoms like a spring breeze. With the General's Mansion at its core, a network of "Medicine Fragrance Post Stations" has formed a vital network encompassing the four kingdoms' major cities and transportation hubs. The herbal symbol at the post station entrance, blessed by the "Strawberry Holy Light" of Sibao Su Qi, has become a reassuring totem for the people. Inside, a basic diagnostic device (the low-profile version of Qibao Holy Light) can quickly screen for common ailments; Saint A Luo offers "Basic Medicinal Gu" to treat headaches, fevers, and injuries; and high-quality medicinal herbs from the General's Mansion's medicinal fields (alternatively nourished by the Qibao Holy Light and the Three Treasures Dragon Horn Rainbow Energy) are available at fair prices, ensuring no deception.
The people of the four countries even spontaneously formed new units of measurement:
* "One Luo" = one standard medicinal Gu packet of Saint A'Luo (approximately 500 grams).
* "Yi Qi" = a holy light pill that can dispel the haze of epidemic (Qi Bao injects trace amounts of holy light in batches).
* “Yi Yu” = the amount of medicinal materials transported by the Rainbow Cloud Boat in one trip (approximately ten tons).
* "Yi Heng" = A piece of top-grade life-saving medicinal material blessed by the bank president's vitality (extremely rare and in short supply).
* "Yi Chen" = the maximum number of patients seen in a single day at Yaoshen Station (because Dabao's abacus has optimized the process, the efficiency is extremely high).
* As for "one zero"? The common people didn't dare to define it yet. They only knew that the general's mansion had a new little ancestor, and the pickle jars in the mansion had become inexplicably valuable recently. It was said that they were touched by "star energy".
Medicinal incense became the most sought-after "hard currency" in the four kingdoms. Caravans took pride in transporting medicinal herbs to the general's mansion, and "Medicine God's Special Offer" became a must-have item on the tribute lists of the various imperial courts. The gifts Su Li received during her confinement filled three warehouses, 70% of which were various rare herbs and medicinal-related treasures.
**Section 1: The Coffin Gift from the “Wanyao Alliance”**
It was a sunny afternoon. Su Li half-reclined on a soft couch covered in thick brocade. Lingbao slept soundly beside her, his little mouth slightly open, his breath carrying a faint, refreshing scent like first melting snow. Xiao Jue practiced swordplay in the courtyard, his Guihong ruler evoked a harmonious and flowing rhythm of Tai Chi, unobtrusive yet creating a tranquil world of its own. The faint sounds of the adorable children's playfulness drifted from the front hall: Second Bao Bao, Su Heng, was trying to bribe Third Bao Bao, Su Yu, with his golden pacifier for a ride on the newly improved "Rainbow Bumper Cloud Boat"; Fourth Bao Bao, Su Qi, under A Luo's guidance, was directing a group of guiding firefly insects in the sky to rehearse a "Welcome Lingbao's Full Moon" holy light fireworks display; and First Bao Bao, Su Chen, sat in the porch, clutching an abacus, distractedly monitoring his sister's fluctuations while remotely optimizing the routing algorithm for a certain post station's medicinal herb delivery.
Everything is peaceful and the years are quiet.
"Report!" The palace guard's hurried voice broke the silence. "There's a merchant named Pang outside the gate claiming to be a special envoy of the 'Wanyao League', requesting a meeting, and he's bringing... a valuable gift!"
"The Ten Thousand Medicine Alliance?" Su Li frowned slightly in the warm room. She had heard of the name before. It was the largest medicinal materials guild alliance in the four nations, with extensive connections and immense influence. They had previously been critical of the "Medicine God System"'s low-price, affordable policy, and had engaged in numerous underhanded maneuvers. Now, bearing a "significant gift"? A weasel wishing a happy New Year to a chicken.
"Have them wait in the front hall." Xiao Jue retracted his sword, and the Guihong Ruler disappeared into his sleeve. His expression returned to its usual calm and stern look. He walked into the warm room and nodded to Su Li, "I'll go take a look."
The atmosphere in the front hall became a little stagnant the moment Xiao Jue stepped in.
In the center of the hall, a massive object stood majestically! It was approximately ten feet long and nearly three feet wide, crafted entirely from precious red sandalwood, its edges and corners inlaid with gold and intricately carved with auspicious clouds and herbaceous patterns. The top was also inlaid with several enormous, clearly priceless night-shining pearls. Its shape and size made it resemble more a widened and lengthened coffin, inlaid with gold and jade, than a gift box!
A middle-aged man dressed in brocade, with a sturdy figure and a shiny mustache, was standing next to the "coffin", his face full of an overly enthusiastic, even somewhat fake, smile. Behind him were eight strong men, and it was obvious that they had put a lot of effort into carrying the "coffin".
"I am Pang Youfu, an honored official of the Western Continent of the Wanyao Alliance. I would like to pay my respects to General Xiao!" When Pang Youfu saw Xiao Jue, he immediately bowed very humbly and said in a loud voice, "Congratulations, General, on the birth of your daughter! It's just a small gift, not a token of respect. I hope you will accept it!" He patted the lid of the rosewood "coffin".
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