Chapter 127 Night Talk
Emperor Wu only glanced at the information on the last dozen or so people in the secret report before putting it aside.
"Keep a close eye on Du Qinghui. His information is classified as top priority. If anything unusual happens, be sure to inform me immediately. Continue to monitor the Xing family businessman. Also, report back to me if there are any movements from the dozen or so people under observation."
"promise."
"What news has the secret agent gotten about Prince Xiang recently?"
"Your Majesty, we are here..."
Late at night, in Changshoufang, at the Li family's residence.
Brother Li scalded his feet, dried them, and said to Sister-in-law Li, who was still mending under the lamp, "That's enough, be careful not to hurt your eyes."
Li Ersao didn't argue. She obediently put down the clothes she was making for Xiao Wulang, fastened the needle and thread, put them away, and then went to pour water for Li Erxiong to wash his feet.
"Lie down quickly, I'll go by myself."
Li Ersao didn't argue, but simply trimmed the candlesticks by the bed to make them brighter.
After the two blew out the candles and lay down, they could no longer hear the cicadas chirping in the courtyard, but they could hear the sounds of other insects.
"Erlang? Erlang, are you asleep?"
Li Erxiong had been out all day with his father and Li Sanniang. He had just soaked his feet and lay down in the warm bed that Li Ersao had made. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard Li Ersao calling him.
"Hmm? Lan Niang, do you need to relieve yourself?"
Li Ersao reached to her right and felt that Xiao Wulang was still covered by a blanket and hadn't kicked it off. She then moved closer to Li Erxiong on her left and whispered to him, "No. Erlang... are you feeling resentful?"
This question immediately snapped Li Erxiong, who had been feeling drowsy, out of his drowsiness.
He opened his eyes, and in the moonlight streaming into the room from outside the window, he took Li Ersao's hand, looked into her eyes, and said, "Lanniang, why do you say that?"
Li Ersao squeezed Li Erxiong's hand back, rested her face on his shoulder, and said softly, "Eldest brother is not Father's biological son, but he was raised and supported by Father. However, after he came of age, he still followed the path of a warrior. Judging from eldest brother and sister-in-law's plans, they want Tiger Head to follow the path of a warrior as well."
Brother Li gently stroked the calluses on Sister-in-law Li's hands, which she had developed from working since she was young, and listened attentively to her story.
“You and Third Sister are siblings born of the same father and mother. Today, I am happy for you, Aunt. I am a woman with no real ability, but Aunt is different. She is a capable person with great compassion.”
Hearing this, Brother Li understood what Sister-in-law Li wanted to say, but he didn't interrupt her and listened attentively to what she had to say.
“I know you’re genuinely happy for your aunt, but, Erlang, Father and Mother are so incredibly good to her. I’m even jealous. You’re Father’s own son, you studied medicine with him, and you passed the Alliance’s exam on your first try…”
"Lan Niang, I know, I know everything," Brother Li patted Sister-in-law Li's hand to comfort her, interrupting her increasingly loud voice.
Although they weren't in the same courtyard, it was quiet late at night, so it was fine to speak in hushed tones. However, as Li Ersao's emotions dictated her voice, her voice became much louder. Li Erxiong was worried that Li Daxiong, who practiced martial arts in the next courtyard and had excellent hearing, might hear something.
Realizing that her voice was a bit loud, Li Ersao quickly shut her mouth. She wasn't really jealous of Li Sanniang, but rather felt indignant on behalf of Li Erxiong.
Born to the same parents, Li San Niang was a daughter born late in life and was highly talented. Her parents doted on her from a young age. Li's mother was a good judge of character and appeared fair on the surface.
But today, because Li San Niang passed the test and became the first female doctor in Chang'an, Li's father drank wine during dinner for the first time ever and talked a lot about Li San Niang's childhood.
Mr. Li was filled with joy and happiness that he had a successor; his smile stretched from ear to ear.
It should be noted that Li's father was a doctor himself, very health-conscious. He believed that alcohol was a bad thing, as it could corrupt people's minds. He would only have a drink or two when the family gathered on special occasions, such as major happy events or holidays.
Li Ersao has been married into the Li family for more than ten years, and he has seen Li's father drink no more than five times.
The year after Li Ersao married into the family, on the day Li Erxiong successfully passed the assessment, Li's father did not drink alcohol.
People are all made of flesh and blood. Li Ersao didn't think Li Sanniang was bad. She just felt sorry for her husband who didn't receive the favoritism of his parents. That's why she asked Li Erxiong this question in the middle of the night.
“I… naturally resented it. Back then, before I came of age, my talent was not as good as Third Sister’s. Once, Father praised Third Sister by comparing me to her. I couldn’t hold back and got angry, so I yelled at Third Sister on the spot. Third Sister, who was only eight years old at the time, was so frightened by me that she cried. Afterwards, it was Mother who comforted me, and I even hugged Mother and cried for a while.”
Li Ersao never expected that Li Erxiong would also get angry and even cry.
"The next day, Father must have listened to Mother's advice, because he came to me and recounted all the good things I had done since I was a child. Lanniang, my father told me that I was able to roll over when I was only three months old, which is really amazing."
Li Ersao had given birth to three children, so she knew that the youngest child should not roll over until four months old. She never expected that her usually serious father would remember such a thing.
"So, Lanniang, I've stopped complaining a long time ago. Talent is something that's predetermined. Although I don't have the same high talent in medicine as Sanniang, I'm very content. I enjoy going into the mountains to collect herbs, interacting with people to gather medicinal herbs, and processing medicinal materials. I like my current life at the medicine cabinet. Sanniang even told me before that I could try planting medicinal herbs in the future. Who knows, I might actually have a good talent in this area."
Brother Li turned his head, looked into Sister-in-law Li's eyes and said earnestly, "Therefore, Lanniang, you don't need to feel sorry for me. I am very happy. Father and Mother are somewhat biased towards Third Sister, but they are not bad to me either. Now I have you and my children, and I no longer ask for Father and Mother's favoritism."
Li Ersao nodded, agreeing with what Li Erxiong said. Then she heard Li Erxiong say, "Lanniang, one must have a conscience. If it weren't for Sanniang, we wouldn't have gotten that thousand taels. Since we have so many sons, we must save up more money. If Sanniang's plan to plant medicinal herbs succeeds, then a lot of money will come into our home."
With wonderful dreams in their hearts, Brother Li and Sister-in-law Li drifted off to sleep.
The British Duchy, Qingjing Garden.
Xu Jingzhen sat cross-legged on the bed, but his mind was not at peace.
Since receiving the letter from Wudang Mountain telling him to let things take their course, he has never used the copper coins inside the tortoise shell for divination again.
Today is an auspicious day, suitable for divination, so he just cast a divination.
However, the divination result was not auspicious; it remained the same as before, indicating a predestined but ultimately unfulfilled connection.
Xu Jingzhen was filled with turmoil and didn't know what to do.
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