Ji Xuan was also aware of this problem.
However, the temptation before him was too great, and he found it difficult to resist.
"I'll think of another way."
"This old minister takes his leave!"
After General Wang left, Ji Xuan pondered for a long time. Finally, he summoned his personal eunuch, "Xiao Quanzi, pack your things. I'm going out of the palace."
"Is His Majesty leaving the palace?"
Xiao Quanzi was almost in tears.
He wasn't a powerful eunuch like Qi Yong, who wouldn't dare contradict his master.
But the risks of leaving the palace were so great that a mere palace servant like him simply could not bear them.
"Okay, go and get ready."
“But,” Xiao Quanzi asked tentatively, “what about tomorrow’s morning court session?”
"Just say that I am feeling unwell."
"This servant understands."
No matter how bitter or difficult things were in her heart, Xiao Quanzi dared not refuse her master, so she could only obediently roll away to pack her bags.
Jiang Nuan was unaware of Ji Xuan's urgency. Early in the morning, she was disturbed by Liu An and Huang Xiaosan's noise, which made her ears hurt.
"Mother, Doctor Gu is being so unreasonable. He's treating us like medicine people. Could he go any further?"
"Exactly, why would they go crazy for no reason?"
"You're trying to ruin someone's reputation," Jiang Nuan couldn't help but click her tongue, "You're putting such a big accusation on yourself, wouldn't you be angry?"
Of course not.
"Are you sure?" Jiang Nuan looked at the stubborn Liu An with a half-smile. "If the world knew that Grand Secretary Liu was selling aphrodisiacs, wouldn't it become a laughing stock?"
“I did not,” Liu An’s expression changed, and he firmly denied it. “Madam, you can’t say things like that. Don’t try to pin the things that the Third Prince did on me.”
If people really found out that he was so shameless in order to make money, they would be drowning in their spittle.
“It has nothing to do with me,” Huang Xiaosan smiled ingratiatingly. “Don’t worry, Mother. Doctor Gu refuses to give the pills, so Uncle Liu can’t sell them even if he wants to.”
He paused, a look of doubt in his eyes, and said, "Strange, how did he know what we were saying?"
Given Doctor Gu's personality—oblivious to everything else and solely focused on studying medical books—it would have been impossible for him to know how... in less than a year or two.
“Oh, you mean this?” Jiang Nuan raised her eyebrows. “I had An San repeat what you two said to Doctor Gu. He seemed… a little agitated. He’s an old man, so he’s a bit hot-tempered. Who told you to provoke him?”
His words were brimming with schadenfreude.
Huang Xiaosan: ...
Liu An: ...
Revenge, blatant revenge.
The two looked at each other and saw the regret and remorse in each other's eyes.
"Mother," Huang Xiaosan accused indignantly, "don't you want us to sell medicine anymore?"
"That's right!"
Why didn't you say so sooner?
"I thought I made it obvious enough!"
"Just because it's embarrassing?"
Jiang Nuan didn't say anything, but gave him a knowing look that said, "You'll figure it out yourself."
“Madam,” Liu An still refused to give up, “this is a major event that benefits the country and its people.”
"Benefit the country and the people?" Jiang Nuanqi laughed. "I think you're all so greedy for money that you'll do anything to make money."
“It’s nothing,” Liu An said, feeling wronged. “We don’t steal, rob, cheat, or swindle; we even benefit the people. Why can’t we do that?”
“If you insist on selling, fine,” Jiang Nuan crossed her arms and looked at the two of them coolly, “but don’t use other people’s names. Just use your own to avoid implicating innocent people.”
Upon hearing this, Liu An turned his head and looked at Huang Xiaosan hopefully, "Xiaosan, how about using yours?"
"Why? Why not you?"
"You are the son of a banished immortal."
"You're still a Grand Secretary of the current government."
Faced with the prospect of personal gain, their relationship completely soured, and they glared angrily at each other, wishing they could fight.
Seeing this, Jiang Nuan scoffed and couldn't help but mock, "You two, have you forgotten about Doctor Gu? Are you sure you can get the pills?"
After saying this, he shook his head and left.
It was only after she left that the two of them realized what had happened.
"Uncle Liu, didn't we come here to ask Mother to help persuade Doctor Gu?"
"yes."
"How did it become like this?"
"I don't know either."
"What do we do now?"
"How would I know?" Liu An felt annoyed at the thought. "It's all your fault, you brat! Why won't you back down?"
Why don't you return it?
"I am a Grand Secretary, this is beneath my dignity."
"Me too. If I dared to agree, my mother would definitely kick me out and clean up the house."
"Why!"
The two exchanged a glance, sighed dejectedly, and left with their heads hanging low.
In the end, even though they were unwilling, the two had no choice but to give up.
After dismissing the two, Jiang Nuan returned to the backyard and continued to set up the formation.
A short while later, Xie came over excitedly, "Mother, it's ready, I can learn formations now."
"Huh?" Jiang Nuan asked in surprise, "Is the energy enough?"
"Yes, that's right."
“Not bad,” Jiang Nuan smiled, “You’ll learn with me from now on.”
She was genuinely happy.
As originally planned, the formation would become the foundation of the Huang family's existence, but few people truly took it to heart.
Everyone has different talents, and that can't be forced. But the Huang family has been elevated to such a high position; if they don't even have any means of self-defense, they won't be able to fight back when they're being exploited.
Although I've already thought of preventative measures, ultimately, it's best to have your own abilities.
“I don’t know why,” Xie said with great enthusiasm, “my daughter-in-law seems to have been enlightened recently, and her progress is advancing by leaps and bounds. I find it unbelievable and still can’t figure it out.”
Could she really be a genius?
It wasn't like this before!
Perhaps, because this is a place with auspicious feng shui?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan immediately realized the reason.
He immediately smiled, realizing that the good stuff hadn't been wasted.
"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it," Jiang Nuan shook her head. "Come here, I'll teach you."
He picked up a stone, placed it on the table, and then demonstrated, "Slowly control the flow of energy into your dantian, and don't let it explode."
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law took turns teaching and learning, and they were quite content.
On the other side, Grand Secretary An finally received the news from the capital, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
When the imperial examination system was reformed, the emperor wanted to eliminate preferential treatment for aristocratic families and abolish the recommendation and patronage systems. The aristocratic families refused to accept this and united to obstruct the reform in every way, causing turmoil in the court.
To make matters worse, both powerful families and the Emperor have their eyes on the An family.
The powerful families visited the An family every day, hoping that the An family would lead them to resist the imperial power and dissuade the emperor from his idea of reforming the system.
Meanwhile, the Emperor had been plotting to have the An family turn against the powerful clans and deliver a heavy blow to them.
The two sides were locked in a fierce battle.
The emperor held absolute power, constantly demoting members of aristocratic families and installing his own people in their place.
The powerful families, backed by scholars from all over the country, constantly create public opinion to criticize the various absurdities and incompetence of the present day.
Anfu, caught between the two sides, was walking on thin ice.
Even though he had experienced all sorts of great storms, he was helpless in this difficult situation and could not find a way to satisfy both sides.
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