Chapter 6 Longing
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Shen Qingmeng and her father set off from the capital. This shipment was to be delivered to Qiannan, a long journey with no return date in sight.
Shen Qingmeng walked out of the city gate and glanced at Lingtai Mountain in the distance. It was very high and very far away, but she couldn't see the Astrology Pavilion.
For longer escort missions, Shen Qingmeng would accompany her father, so she didn't actually stay in the capital for very long.
Traveling all over the country, she has parted ways with many people and met them again, or even met them only once and never saw them again. Or she may have encountered some accident on the road and be separated from them by life and death. These things have become commonplace for Shen Qingmeng. She never thought that she would change her plans because of Chu Wangshu, but she also never thought that the word "longing" would be more difficult to suppress than it could be when it was put into practice.
Seeing Shen Qingmeng's reluctant expression, Shen's father asked, "Meng'er, are you trying to fool your old man? Would the Imperial Preceptor really do something like that with you...?"
"Yes." Shen Qingmeng showed her father the hidden arrow in her sleeve: "He gave it to me."
[Chu Wangshu is still trying to cure my sore throat. Maybe one day I can loudly call out "Dad" at the entrance of the security escort agency.] The girl's expression was joyful, clearly full of hope for the future.
"Good! My daughter Shen Qingmeng is truly blessed!" Father Shen patted Shen Qingmeng on the shoulder. "Then let's hurry with the caravan so you can return to see your lover sooner, hahahahaha!"
Shen Qingmeng grinned, revealing a bright smile. "My lover," she thought, "that's a nice way to address him. I wonder if Chu Wangshu would blush with embarrassment if he heard that."
At this moment, Chu Wangshu was lying on the soft couch in the pavilion with her eyes closed, listening to Physician Li's rambling.
"I'm not kidding you, Wangshu, your health really isn't suitable for divination anymore," Physician Li said earnestly, putting away his silver needles.
Not long after Shen Qingmeng left last night, Chu Wangshu vomited blood and fainted as the effects of the medicine wore off. It was only at this moment that Physician Li came to his rescue and he just woke up.
His body simply couldn't withstand two consecutive divinations. The medicine only allowed him to pretend that nothing was wrong in front of Shen Qingmeng, but he stubbornly wanted to do his best to keep Shen Qingmeng safe.
Chu Wangshu didn't even bother to give a perfunctory reply to Physician Li, but instead asked, "How should Qingmeng's throat be treated?"
Seeing Chu Wangshu's state, Physician Li became even angrier: "What's the point of curing him? Can you cry louder at his grave?"
“Uncle Li, I don’t have much time left,” Chu Wangshu sighed, “but Qingmeng is different. I want her to be well.”
"What exactly did you see during the sacrificial ceremony?" Physician Li remembered that before this, when Chu Wangshu asked him what to give a girl as a New Year's gift, he wasn't like this.
That was the first time Physician Li had seen anticipation in Chu Wangshu's eyes. But Physician Li was unaware that his wife had passed away more than a decade ago, leaving behind no children. He was left with a widower and a young boy who had never left the astrology pavilion. After thinking for a long time, he could only search through ancient books, hoping to find inspiration.
Chu Wangshu seemed to value the gift, but felt that items like rouge, face powder, hairpins, and jewelry were too ordinary, while traditional tokens of love were too significant and seemed somewhat frivolous.
After much deliberation, I chose the hidden blade.
Chu Wangshu drew up the blueprints overnight and found craftsmen to rush the work, finally obtaining the hidden weapon that looked even more like jewelry at noon on New Year's Eve.
At that time, he was genuinely looking forward to his future with Shen Qingmeng.
Chu Wangshu slowly opened her eyes, but instead of looking at Physician Li, she stared blankly at the jade pendant in her hand: "It's nothing, just some, not very important things."
What counts as important?
"Qingmeng's voice."
After a moment of silence, Physician Li slowly said, "It can be cured, but there is one medicine that I have not yet found."
"Can I find it?" Chu Wangshu asked tentatively, seeing that Physician Li seemed to have left things unsaid. "Please tell me, Physician Li."
"Let me look again," Physician Li shook his head.
"Is...is it in my medicine?"
Chu Wangshu was simply too clever; before Physician Li could say anything, he had already guessed everything. However, since they were all royal poisons, it wasn't surprising that the antidotes contained the same ingredients.
"What do you need me to do?" Chu Wangshu propped herself up, nervously grabbing Doctor Li's arm as if afraid he would run away.
“Wang Shu, you…” Physician Li shook his head helplessly.
Chu Wangshu was usually emotionless, but incredibly stubborn. Once he made up his mind about something, he would never yield, even if the emperor threatened him, let alone something like this.
"Grind your antidote into powder, quench it in rice wine for ten days, then add lime to the wine, and finally boil it..."
"I'll give you the medicine, okay?" Chu Wangshu's eyes suddenly lit up with anticipation.
Physician Li nodded; he truly couldn't go against Chu Wangshu's wishes.
"How much is needed? Qingmeng will return to the capital in six or seven months; perhaps she can produce the antidote then?"
The emperor sent someone to deliver the antidote every two weeks, never giving anything away. Using Chu Wangshu's medicine to extract the antidote meant he could only endure the poison taking effect, yet he seemed completely unconcerned, his mind preoccupied only with Shen Qingmeng regaining her voice.
"Fifteen pills." Physician Li helped him lie back down before slowly saying, "According to the dosage, twelve pills would be enough, but the medicine extracted using this method may not be pure, so more protection may be needed."
"Then it is, seven months." Chu Wangshu poured a pill from the porcelain bottle by the bedside and handed it to Physician Li.
"You..." This was clearly the antidote the emperor had sent this morning, yet he hadn't taken it.
"Thank you, Uncle Li."
Physician Li took the pills and sighed deeply.
Seven months. Hopefully, the emperor will not start any more wars during these seven months, and those restless princes will not cause any trouble. Otherwise, if Chu Wangshu refuses to take the antidote after the divination, the first thing Shen Qingmeng will say will probably be to mourn for the Grand Preceptor.
On the fifth day of the second lunar month, Physician Li brought Chu Wangshu a letter and a small bag of candy.
When Physician Li handed the letter to Chu Wangshu, he couldn't help but joke, "I just mentioned it casually back then, telling the girl that if she wanted to send you a letter, she could send it to Li's Pharmacy. Humph, who would have thought that this girl would be so impolite, treating me as their correspondent?"
Chu Wangshu was sitting by the window teasing the sparrows when he saw Shen Qingmeng's letter. He immediately closed the window as if he felt guilty.
The sparrows on the terrace scattered in a flurry, only to cautiously hop back a moment later. The grains of rice on the terrace, on the still chilly and unawakened earth, were indeed a great temptation.
Let me guess, is the Imperial Advisor sitting by the window again, playing with the birds?
Chu Wangshu's lips curled up slightly. "Yes, you guessed right."
[But considering you were relatively obedient a few days ago, and even wore a cloak, I'll praise you for your progress for now.]
Indeed, Chu Wangshu, wearing that black cloak, seemed to have been accurately described by Shen Qingmeng.
[I recently traveled to Luoyang, and it's just as impressive and bustling as the capital. The spicy soup and braised noodles here are delicious. I flattered the shopkeeper and bought her some jewelry before she taught me how to make them. I'll make them for you when we get back to the capital. But don't be too picky. The food at the Astrology Pavilion may be a bit bland and not very tasty, but it's all good for your health. You should eat some; it's much easier to swallow than those terribly bitter medicines, right?]
The food on the table had been sitting there for a long time and was almost cold, but it looked almost as if it had never been used.
Physician Li squinted at Shen Qingmeng's letter and snorted, "Anyway, you're not eating now, you'll just have to drink your medicine later."
Chu Wangshu lowered her eyes, making her expression unreadable.
"Then... let's heat it up."
“I should have advised the maid to stay and watch over you,” Physician Li immediately picked up the bowl and handed it to the maid guarding the door. “Quickly go and get a new bowl, and make something delicious.”
I also sent some pear syrup candy back with me. You and Uncle Li both have some; it's from a well-established brand in Luoyang. I tried it and thought it was delicious. I hope it won't spoil. Anyway, the shopkeeper told me that the taste wouldn't change when it's sent back to the capital. I hope he wasn't lying to me, but no one has ever lied to me except you.
When the letter arrived, the capital city was already somewhat warmer, but if the Grand Preceptor wanted to enjoy the same moon with Qingmeng at night, he should dress warmly.
I have so much to tell you, but I'm afraid you'll get tired of reading too much, so I'll just write this much for now.
There were also some notes in the envelope, which I had jotted down as I came up with whatever came to mind, and they were mostly incoherent.
If I could talk, would you find it noisy? I seem to have written a lot of strange things, and I don't even have the courage to open them now. But if you're bored, it's not bad to open one a day to pass the time.
But don't tear it down too quickly, I didn't write that much.
Oh dear, I always feel like there's so much more I want to write... Hmm... never mind, I'll leave you in suspense for the next time.
Chu Wangshu resisted the urge to tear open the notes, folded the letter neatly, and put it back into the envelope.
Let's see what's going on in Shen Qingmeng's little head tomorrow.
He opened the candy wrapper, picked up a piece of pear syrup candy, and put it in his mouth.
Yes, it's delicious. Qingmeng wasn't fooled.
Chu Wangshu took out another piece and handed it to Physician Li: "Thank you, Uncle Li."
“Oh, no need, the maid also sent me a portion,” Doctor Li said, but still took the candy. It really tasted good. “She also bought a set of silver needles in Luoyang for me to use to prick you.”
Chu Wangshu chuckled: "She means, 'Go easy on me,' right?"
"Hmm, if I go any lighter, you'll just die from the pain, and that will be the end of it all." Doctor Li said this through gritted teeth.
For a month and a half without the antidote, it was far more unbearable than Chu Wangshu had imagined. Although the painkillers made by Shen Qingmeng provided some relief, he still suffered terribly every time the poison flared up. He would either faint from the pain or have Doctor Li use acupuncture to numb a segment of his nerves.
Chu Wangshu's life over the years had been mostly dull and monotonous. Apart from occasionally looking at the flowers and plants in the courtyard, he almost always stayed in the attic. He disliked people getting close to him. At most, the maids or servants would just bring his meals to the door. Only Physician Li was allowed to enter the attic. The two men didn't have much to say to each other. It was just that Physician Li was saving Chu Wangshu's life, or one of them would read a medical book, while the other would casually flip through an ancient book or be lost in thought.
Shen Qingmeng is the only variable over the years.
Passionate, vibrant, persistent, and always full of novel ideas.
The maid brought over a steaming bowl of soup, which was white fungus and lotus seed soup.
Chu Wangshu scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and took a small sip.
It's not as good as Shen Qingmeng's.
But once Shen Qingmeng returns to the capital, Uncle Li will definitely file a complaint.
Chu Wangshu opened the window a crack and quietly watched the sparrows outside still pecking at grains of rice.
He took a few sips of the rather bland soup, then opened the envelope, took out a slip of paper, and carefully tore it open.
Hehe, I can't help but open this whenever I think of you, so I wrote a lot of nonsense, but this isn't.
Chu Wangshu, I miss you. Could you become the Moon Goddess and appear in my dreams? If so, I'd be willing to make the Moon Goddess my third deity!
Chu Wangshu looked at the note, a smile spreading across his face. Was it as important as the Kitchen God and the God of Wealth? In Shen Qingmeng's heart, it was indeed very important.
Indeed, it is hard for both humans and sparrows to resist the allure of happiness.
Chu Wangshu then pulled out a small, somewhat messy square and unfolded it:
Actually, my cooking skills aren't that great; I just occasionally help out in Wanwan's kitchen. My dad says it's delicious because he says everything I cook is good. Since you say it's delicious too, does that mean you like me too?
Chu Wangshu hurriedly folded the note and stuffed it back into the envelope. He didn't open another one, but quickly finished the soup in his bowl. After a while, he took out another piece of paper with some lines already drawn on it and started tracing something.
Through the cracks in the window, you could see several round little creatures. They had eaten their fill but didn't fly away. Instead, they tilted their little heads and looked at the person inside the house who had scattered rice grains.
Will people still have a sumptuous meal tomorrow?
Author's Note:
Chu Wangshu only has a will to live because of Shen Qingmeng... What a bitter gourd! [cracked face]
To be honest, my chemistry spirit has awakened! Organic experiments are truly captivating—grinding, extraction, drying, distillation… la la la, and then my dream-clearing medicine is ready! [heart eyes] I even considered the yield. This is what a meticulous chemist is like! [hands clasped]
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