Chapter 16 "Don't come any closer!"...
The three-foot-wide paulownia wood plaque is painted with the brightly colored characters "Huichuntang" (Return to Spring Hall). The couplets pasted on both sides of the door are written in vigorous characters: "I only wish there were no illnesses or sufferings in the world, and I would rather the medicine on the shelves gather dust."
The floor is paved with neat blue bricks, and inside you can see three walls of floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Each compartment is labeled with mulberry bark paper, with the names of medicinal herbs such as angelica, astragalus, and bupleurum written in ink.
A slender pharmacy clerk was standing behind the counter inspecting the quality of the pills in his hands. With a smile, he spoke to a female customer in plain clothes in front of him: "Miss Yuan, how well are these Suhexiang pills made? The shopkeeper said he can give you an extra 10% commission. The price of the medicinal materials will still be the same as before."
The female customer nodded slightly: "Please thank the shopkeeper for me. Please weigh the medicine the same amount as last time."
The shop assistant responded and turned to get busy at the medicine cabinet.
The female customer's voice reached Feng Mian's ears as she stepped into the shop, and it sounded strangely familiar. She took two steps forward and peeked in, and sure enough, she saw a familiar face. She exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Yuan?"
The woman turned around at the sound of her voice, and it was Yuan Jixue. Today, she was dressed very simply, her plain dress without a single embroidery, and her hair was only adorned with an ebony hairpin. She looked even less like a young lady from a wealthy merchant family than she had yesterday. Only her appearance was exceptionally outstanding, clearly indicating that she was not from an ordinary family.
Perhaps not expecting to meet Feng Mian at this time and place, she paused for a moment before bowing and saying, "Greetings, Princess."
"No need for formalities." Feng Mian gently helped her up, smiling slightly. "What a coincidence! I was just telling the Princess that I wanted to thank you, and then I ran into you."
"Thank me?" Yuan Jixue was only confused for a moment before she realized something and said, "Princess, there is no need to thank me. I only gave you a superficial diagnosis and prescribed medicine. It is all thanks to the physicians who serve you. I really don't deserve this 'thank you'."
"I have to thank you for this, and there's something else I need to thank you for." Feng Mian tiptoed in front of Yuan Jixue, blinked, and prompted, "The medicine socks."
Yuan Jixue smiled and said, "It's nothing. It's just that the Princess Consort cares about the Princess. I was merely offering a suggestion. Why did the Princess Consort come here today?"
"I've come to take a look at the shop," Feng Mian said, looking at the shop assistant. "Where's your manager?"
The shop assistant, who was weighing the medicine, had been turning around frequently since he heard Yuan Jixue call for Princess Fengmian, eagerly looking at her. However, seeing that Fengmian was with Yuan Jixue, he hadn't stepped forward to greet her. Now that he saw Fengmian looking over, he quickly put down his scales, walked around the counter, bowed, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, the shopkeeper has gone out of the city to collect medicinal herbs. He instructed me that if Your Highness comes, please come to the back room for a short while. All the account books are ready and await Your Highness's review."
Yuan Jixue then realized that Huichuntang was actually part of the princess's dowry. No wonder Huichuntang opened so soon after the imperial decree of marriage was delivered. Not only did it quickly become the pharmacy with the most complete selection of medicinal herbs in the Northern Frontier, but it also stocked many rare and precious medicinal herbs. It seemed that the emperor was worried about the princess's health and specially added a pharmacy as part of her dowry, and all the medicinal herbs in the shop were prepared to serve the princess.
Yuan Jixue glanced at Feng Mian with mixed feelings. Princess Qingping was truly extremely lucky.
"Let's call it a day. I just came to check if there are any problems with the shop. As for the account books, when the manager returns, tell him to send someone to the Snow Moon Residence in the Prince's Mansion on the tenth of each month."
My first trip out in northern Xinjiang would be too boring if I just stayed in the shop looking at the accounts.
"Yes, sir, I will definitely pass on the message!" the waiter replied with unusual enthusiasm.
"What brings Miss Yuan here today? Are you done with your work?" Feng Mian looked at Yuan Jixue with some anticipation. Yesterday, she regretted not being able to keep Yuan Jixue for a longer chat and inquire about the situation at the Prince's residence, and today the opportunity had come knocking on her door.
When asked this question, Yuan Jixue hesitated and opened her mouth, seemingly reluctant to answer.
But the shop assistant beside her spoke up for her with great enthusiasm: "Miss Yuan is here to sell medicine. She will take the medicinal herbs from the shop at the bottom price, make them into pills, and we will sell them on her behalf and then share the profits."
Selling medicine?
Yesterday, Liu Ying deliberately inquired about the Yuan family's situation. Everyone in the Prince's mansion kept their mouths shut, and she only learned that the Yuan family was in the business of medicinal herbs.
Since your family is in the medicinal herb business, why do you need to buy medicine from outside pharmacies, make medicine, and then consign it for sale?
Yuan Jixue's slightly cold voice finally rang out: "My father is very strict and forbids anyone from touching the medicinal herbs in the house. I am also particularly interested in medicine, so I thought I would try my hand at it outside."
She raised her chin slightly, her shoulders and back exceptionally straight, her defensive posture seemingly a way of encouraging herself, conveying a sense of pride, refusing to reveal the slightest weakness.
Considering the Princess and the Crown Prince's reticence about the Yuan family, Feng Mian guessed that Yuan Jixue might not be in a good situation at home, perhaps being an unfavored child.
No one wants to expose their vulnerability to strangers.
Feng Mian didn't press further, but instead cast an admiring glance at Yuan Jixue with a smile, "Miss Yuan has a passion that allows her to make a living and also to help others. It's truly enviable."
"Your Highness flatters me." Yuan Jixue lowered her head slightly, her brows furrowed, and she smiled faintly before answering Feng Mian's question, "I've finished my work. Is there anything else, Your Highness?"
"That would be wonderful!" Feng Mian's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "Would you be willing to show me around the city?"
"Isn't the princess going to check on the shops?" Yuan Jixue thought that she had gone out specifically to inspect the dowry shops.
“I can visit the shop anytime, but meeting you today is truly a matter of fate. Besides the young master, the prince, and the princess, you are the only person I know who grew up in the northern frontier. I can only trouble you to accompany me on this trip. Would you be willing?” Feng Mian asked again with eager eyes.
“Of course.” Yuan Jixue agreed readily. “It is my honor to be a host for the Princess who has come from afar.”
As they were talking, the shop assistant handed over the wrapped medicinal herbs. Yuan Jixue was about to reach out to take them when Liuying snatched them away first, saying, "Miss Yuan, please enjoy your time with the princess. Please let me carry these things."
She was doing her part as a way of thanking Yuan Jixue for her kindness to the princess.
"Then thank you very much." Yuan Jixue did not argue with her, took the seal of sleep and left Huichun Hall.
The streets were bustling with people and noise. Liu Ying and Wu Liu flanked Feng Mian and Yuan Jixue, with two guards and a carriage following closely behind.
Feng Mian, observing the bustling streets, seemingly casually started a conversation: "I'm new here and don't know the customs of hospitality in the Northern Frontier. Since you live next to the Prince's Palace, could you tell me about the different rules when the Prince's Palace hosts banquets?"
Yuan Jixue thought for a moment and said, "That's alright. The Prince's mansion rarely receives guests. There are always unsettled places in the northern frontier, and the Prince and the Crown Prince spend six or seven days out quelling rebellions every ten days. The Princess Consort also doesn't like to socialize with the families of officials, and most of the time she stays at home and doesn't go out much."
Does that mean there aren't any familiar or friendly officials within the northern borders? It seems that the Prince of Dingbei hasn't shown any signs of forming factions yet. However, with hundreds of thousands of troops under his control, if he really rebels, he will have no choice but to form factions that he didn't form before.
This point cannot be used as a basis for judging whether there is already a rebellious intention.
Yuan Jixue continued, "The most recent banquet was for the young marquis. His Highness the Crown Prince personally accompanied him."
Young Marquis? Feng Mian paused for a moment before remembering, "Is it Chu Jingqi, the eldest son of Prince Qin?"
“Exactly.” Yuan Jixue nodded.
"His Highness doesn't seem like someone who would get close to a spoiled brat like the young marquis, so why is he personally accompanying him?" Feng Mian muttered in confusion. In the past, when they met during festivals, she couldn't stand her cousin's inexhaustible energy and would always leave early on the pretext of illness.
Then she thought of the King of Qin's official position and suddenly realized: "Could it be for military expenses and provisions?"
"I suppose so. I've heard the Princess complain twice that His Highness Prince Qin is so stingy. Judging by the speed at which he approves rations, the entire Dingbei Army would go hungry for over a month. We absolutely have to urge His Highness Prince Qin on."
Yuan Jixue spoke jokingly, but Feng Mian's heart began to pound. Everyone knew the importance of military funds and provisions; even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why the Crown Prince might rebel in the future.
She immediately adopted a naive and gossipy demeanor and asked curiously, "Is it almost here yet?"
“It seems…” Yuan Jixue frowned slightly, “I’m not quite sure either. Yesterday, His Highness the Heir Apparent rushed out to look for the young Marquis. His expression was frightening. I didn’t dare to ask too many questions, but it didn’t seem like everything was going well.”
Liu Ying perked up her alert little ears again: Where did His Highness the Crown Prince go yesterday? Even the Princess Consort didn't know. How did she know?
Feng Mian didn't notice this at all. She subconsciously felt that she had to go there, and immediately asked, "Where is His Highness now?"
"Didn't the young master return to the palace last night?"
Yuan Jixue's question left Feng Mian speechless. She was so focused on going out to check the shop today that she hadn't even thought to ask whether the young master had returned home.
She glanced at Wu Liu discreetly, and seeing Wu Liu shake her head, she said firmly, "She didn't reply."
Yuan Jixue said with difficulty, "Then I don't know. I haven't seen His Highness the Crown Prince today either. In any case, he should still be in Yunzhong County. If the Princess wants to find His Highness the Crown Prince, it would be faster to go back to the Prince's Mansion and wait."
"Oh, no rush." Feng Mian waved her hand with a smile, but she was thinking that if the young master couldn't find Chu Jingqi, he might also go and wait for him to come to him.
"I didn't even know that Brother Jingqi was also in Yunzhong County. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've seen him. Is he staying at the Prefect's Mansion?"
Yuan Jixue nodded. The prefect was the Prince of Qin's brother-in-law, and whenever the young marquis came to Yunzhong County, he would stay at the prefect's mansion.
Feng Mian apologized and asked Yuan Jixue to travel together again next time. After saying goodbye to her, he hurriedly got into the carriage and headed towards the Yunzhong County Prefectural Governor's Mansion.
Inside the prefectural governor's mansion, a picture of a mythical beast swallowing the sun was painted on a screen wall made of blue bricks. A figure screamed and ran past.
Chu Jingqi: "Don't come any closer!"
Bai Lixun, carrying a long spear, gave chase, shouting, "Stop! Why are you running?!"
Chu Jingqi circled the screen wall once: "Then why are you chasing after it! Stop right there!"
"If you don't run, why would I chase you?" Baili Xunzhou chased him around the screen wall, raising his spear and threatening him from behind: "If you don't stop, I won't be so polite!"
"You dare! Try it and see!" Chu Jingqi circled around the screen wall again, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the mansion gate open. He was immediately overjoyed, turned around, and ran towards the gate. "Haha, I'll go first!"
Seeing the man running towards the gate, Baili Xunzhou cursed inwardly at Shanyi for being such a gatekeeper. He then aimed at Chu Jingqi's flamboyant sleeves and threw the gun at him.
As the flowing sleeves that obscured his vision fell, Baili Xunzhou saw Feng Mian's figure appear in front of Chu Jingqi, and his expression immediately changed!
A note from the author:
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Feng Mian: Is Lu Mingzhu's bad luck contagious? [crying emoji]
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