“Lord Cao, I would like to know how much opium was traded in previous years? Do you know? Or which official is in charge of this matter?” Hong Xiaoduo asked Minister Cao.
It was at this moment that Hong Xiaoduo realized that she didn't even know which department ancient medicine belonged to.
Everyone was staring at him, so he didn't feel comfortable going into his space to check on the computer right now.
Even if you search for it, you might not find the correct answer.
Many things were different in each dynasty, and in the current dynasty, there is simply no way to trace them.
Hearing her ask again, Minister Cao also felt strange, thinking to himself, "Why are you asking this? You just need to help us translate; the quantity and price are things we can discuss and decide on."
"Lord Cao, please answer." The emperor, who was standing directly in front, spoke up, looking anxious.
When the emperor spoke, Minister Cao quickly replied, "The amount of opium traded in previous years has been registered." With that, he turned and asked a eunuch next to him to go outside the hall and call Wen Sinan from the Department of Medicine.
Soon, the person was brought in. Wen Sinan first paid his respects to the emperor, and Minister Cao then told the visitor the question that Hong Xiaoduo had just wanted to know, and then asked the visitor to explain it to Hong Xiaoduo.
"How many pharmacies sell this amount of opium? Is it available all over the country, or what?" Hong Xiaoduo was also unsure about the dosage of the medicine and continued to ask.
Wen Sinan didn't understand why this person was asking these questions, but since the Minister had ordered him to enter the palace and the Emperor was also present, he could only answer truthfully: "The amount supplied by the Poppy Kingdom each year is not large, so it is simply not enough to distribute to pharmacies everywhere. Only the three large pharmacies in the capital have it."
Hearing him say that, Hong Xiaoduo breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Based on Minister Cao's previous explanation, it seemed that this substance was merely a pain-relieving medicine in this context, which had absolutely nothing to do with the atrocious image of the Qing Dynasty that had plagued the people.
If that's really the case, then I'm overthinking it. Luckily, I didn't rashly say on the spot that I couldn't buy this thing anymore, because that would be a bad thing.
However, even though she breathed a sigh of relief, Hong Xiaoduo still felt a little uneasy.
"One more question, are the opium sold in this pharmacy usually bought by the injured or those who are sick? Do they need to register at the pharmacy when they buy it?" She wanted to confirm one last time.
"This is a really bizarre question. Arsenic, which can kill people, can be bought and sold in pharmacies without anyone having to register. So why would this kind of pain reliever and antidiarrheal medicine need to be registered?" Tan Jijiu couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up.
He discovered that the officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue dared not offend her, but he himself was not afraid.
Hong Xiaoduo didn't have time to pay attention to Tan Jijiu's hostile words, but Kaiyang tightened his little face, leaned forward, and glared at him unhappily.
"What the chief priest said is not wrong. People who go to the pharmacy to buy opium do not need to register. However, not all of them are injured or sick. Opium also has a nice-sounding nickname: forget-me-not."
It is said that if a person who is heartbroken and distressed inhales the smoke from this substance, they will temporarily be relieved of the torment of sorrow and pain. Wen Sinan told him everything he knew.
Upon hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo was shocked. Oh no, someone had discovered another use for this thing!
"Lord Cao, could we put the matter of opium aside for now? I'd like to discuss it with you all in more detail later," Hong Xiaoduo said in a tone of consultation with the Minister of Revenue.
If she were to tell them right now that opium would become a poison that brings disaster to the country and its people, without even a second thought, probably no one present would believe her and would think she was exaggerating.
Therefore, she needs to investigate further and learn more about the purposes of people who buy opium.
"Young Lady Hong, is it? As far as I know, you are here as a temporary interpreter. So, all you need to do is translate. As for the specific details of trade between the two countries, that's not something you can interfere with. It would only make the foreign delegation think that the men of Fengliang are useless," Tan Jijiu said again.
The officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites dared not offend her, so let him, the chief minister, speak if he wanted to offend anyone!
Upon hearing Tan Jijiu's words, the officials present were all taken aback. They all looked at Hong Xiaoduo first, seeing her ambiguous smile. Then they looked at the emperor, whose expression was not very pleasant.
Meanwhile, the foreign delegation members opposite them mostly drank tea and ate pastries, looking on with an air of watching the spectacle.
Kaiyang couldn't stand it any longer and stood up abruptly, shouting at Tan Jijiu: "Jijiu, as far as I know, the reason you are here is because you want to broaden your horizons. Then just sit quietly and watch. His Majesty hasn't said anything, so it's not up to you to tell me what to do, is it?"
The reason my mother asked these questions must be because she had a reason to find out. If you, the chief minister, are afraid that the delegation will think that the men of my Fengliang Kingdom are useless, then why don't you be the interpreter?
Everyone says that Tan Jijiu of Qishan Academy is a man of great learning, talent, and erudition. So how could he, on such an important occasion, in front of a foreign delegation, ridicule and maliciously belittle his own people?
"I truly don't understand how someone of your character could have become the Chancellor of the most prestigious academy in Fengliang Kingdom. Humph."
After saying that, she sat down angrily, her little face turning bright red with anger.
Pfft, Hong Xiaoduo, who was initially a little angry, was amused by Kaiyang's retort and his cute little face.
Wow, that's quite a show of self-defense!
Kaiyang's face turned red, while Tan Jijiu's face was flushed red and then pale, a mixture of anger, annoyance, shame, and guilt.
The nearly 60-year-old Chancellor of Qishan Academy was publicly reprimanded by a six or seven-year-old child. He lost all face today, especially in front of a foreign delegation.
Tan Jijiu, trembling with rage, rose and walked to the center of the court, where he knelt before the emperor with a thud: "Your Majesty, this brat from the Wei family has publicly insulted me. Please..."
"Alright, you may leave now." The emperor showed no pity whatsoever, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust. He barely managed to refrain from telling the emperor to get out and stop making a fool of himself.
He's really getting senile. He doesn't even consider the occasion when he's picking a fight. He deserves to be scolded by Xiao Kaiyang!
The emperor's attitude startled Tan Jijiu, bringing him to his senses. What had he done? Shame and indignation, he rose and walked out unsteadily.
The ministers of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites turned their gazes away from the palace gates and looked at each other in bewilderment. How did things turn out this way?
“Miss Hong, it’s not that I’m questioning you, but what exactly is wrong with this opium? You said you’d stop here today, but you should at least give the delegation a reasonable explanation, right?” Minister Cao said. He also felt that Hong Xiaoduo’s actions were quite inappropriate.
Translator, all you need to do is translate...
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