After Xiao's father left with Xiao Liyan and Xiao Shida, Qin Jue also packed her things and left the inn that afternoon.
Qin Jue's money was on the road; he didn't know what to do with it.
Qin Jue touched the clay figurine Xiao Liyan had given him, and thought for a moment. He knew he had to return to that place, but if he went back without any backing... he would be at the mercy of others. So Qin Jue asked passersby where he could buy information.
The first person asked was somewhat confused and left without giving Qin Jue an answer. But Qin Jue didn't give up. After thinking for a moment, he took the money and went to a brothel to inquire with the madam.
After walking for two months, Qin Jue arrived in Mancheng.
"Sir, may I ask where the Yuansheng Hall is?"
After Qin Jue entered the city gate, he stopped an old man and asked him...
"Just walk straight along this road, and the third shop after you turn right at the second intersection is it."
"Thank you, sir," Qin Jue said to the old man after learning the exact location of the Yuansheng Hall, and then left.
——————
"Bang bang bang—"
A palace maid knocked on the door, but the door remained unopened. The maid shook her head when she saw the person approaching.
Seeing this, Lin Dan understood. He walked to the door and knocked twice.
"I know you're worried about your brother, but you must understand that it's foolish of you to degrade yourself in this way in order to bring him back."
After finishing speaking, Lin Dan looked at the door and continued, "Your elder brother is a man of great courage. You should believe that he is growing up somewhere, not acting like this, throwing a tantrum."
"Three months is nothing! As long as we haven't seen the body, everything is negotiable!!!"
After Lin Dan finished speaking, seeing that the people inside the house still didn't respond, he stopped talking.
"Zifen, just leave the food at the door. If he doesn't eat, then don't worry about it, and don't keep knocking."
"This is just a remote palace where no one comes. He is just an unfavored prince. What am I, an unfavored concubine, anyway?"
Upon hearing Lin Dan's words, Zi Fen put down the tray she was holding. It was clear that the tray contained only steamed buns, two side dishes, and a bowl of plain porridge.
After Zi Fen finished setting out the food, she quickly caught up with Lin Dan, who was walking ahead. Lin Dan said loudly, "Zi Fen, if the Fifth Prince doesn't eat, there's no need to cook for him next time. It'll save on food."
Inside the room, Qin Meng held a small wooden sword that Qin Jue had given him a long time ago.
"Brother, where are you? Are you alright?"
Qin Meng looked at the small wooden sword in his hand and spoke slowly, then thought of what Qin Jue had said before.
"If one day I don't return to the palace for an extended period, you must live well. I will recuperate outside the palace."
Qin Zheng recalled the expression on Qin Jue's face when he said those words, as if he had known this day would come.
"Yes, it's only been three months. There's still a long time ahead. I know my brother is growing up outside the palace, so I can't cause him any trouble while I'm here."
Thinking this, a moment later, the door opened, and the dining room that had been on the floor in front of the door was nowhere to be seen.
Upon seeing this from the shadows, Zi Fen immediately turned around to tell Lin Dan.
"No need to say anything, I saw it," Lin Dan said, then withdrew his gaze from the doorway.
"I wonder how Qin Jue is doing..."
"well…"
——————
original hall
"I told you, I don't understand what you're saying, you should just leave."
But no matter what the apprentice said, Qin Jue still wouldn't leave. Seeing his manager's expression, the apprentice stepped forward to try and push Qin Jue out of the pharmacy.
No matter how the medicine boy pushed, he couldn't move it.
"Sigh... why are you so stubborn, young master?"
"You should leave. We really don't have what you're talking about here."
Qin Jue remained unmoved by the young apprentice's words. Just as the two were at an impasse, a man walked in from outside.
"What happened?"
"This..." The apprentice medicine boy didn't know what to say, so he looked at the shopkeeper.
Upon seeing the newcomer, the shopkeeper quickly went to the man's side and whispered a few words. The man then looked at Qin Jue and said to her, "Come in with me."
Qin Jue glanced at the man who had spoken, then followed him into the backyard of the pharmacy.
After the man came in, he sat down on the stool, picked up his cup, and started drinking tea.
"How did you find out about the business behind Yuanshengtang?"
"I found out from the brothel madam," Qin Jue said without any concealment.
"You're certainly honest."
The man took a sip of tea. "I won't ask why you want to join Yuansheng Hall, but Yuansheng Hall doesn't accept just anyone."
"I know"
"You knew that, yet you still came?" The man put down his teacup, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Qin Jue's determined stance of not leaving until he joined in.
"I can give you a chance; whether you pass or not is up to you."
Before Qin Jue could react, he continued, "Someone, take him away."
After Qin Jue left, the shopkeeper who had spoken earlier came in. "Master, why did you agree with what he said?"
"The Original Hall needs more than just intelligence now; it needs something else."
After saying that, he left the pharmacy.
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