Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: So That’s How It Is_1 (1/2)
Chapter 57: Chapter 57: So That’s How It Is_1
Translator: 549690339
Lady Wen finished the prefix and then began to teach medical knowledge.
Yingbao listened carefully, cross-referencing with the book.
This book had never been seen in the market, probably a treasure of the Wen family.
Lady Wen explained the first section, then guided the two children through it, followed by asking them to copy it word by word and sentence by sentence to deepen their impressions.
After the lesson, Lady Wen asked her daughter, Wen Shu, and Yingbao to quiz each other as follow-up exercise.
She went straight back to her room afterwards.
Walking into the inner room, she met her husband’s gaze, Wen Yanmin. She turned her head, not wanting to deal with him.
Wen Yanmin stepped forward and held onto his wife’s sleeve, whispering, “Zhenniang, are you still angry?”
Xiu Zhenniang shoved his hand away, coolly saying, “What do I have to be angry about? We’re already here. We can’t go back, can we?”
Wen Yanmin sighed, “Coming here isn’t all bad.”
Xiu Zhenniang sneered: “It sounds nice, but the so-called advantage you’re talking about is the apothecary in Luzhou that your great-nephew gave you, right?”
Wen Yanmin rubbed his nose and cleared his throat, “The pharmacy in Luzhou is quite good, it can make quite a bit of silver each year, and it’s close to here so we can manage it easily. It was a gesture of kindness from our father, not a gift from Hengchuan.”
Xiu Zhenniang closed her eyes, sat down on the bed, and picked up a medical book.
“Zhenniang, when Father arranged for us to come here, it wasn’t like you thought …” Wen Yanmin tried to explain.
His second and third brothers refused to come, and the old father had no choice but to let him, the fourth son, bear the burden.
But he didn’t think it was a burden; he liked the peaceful life in this little mountain village.
Xiu Zhenniang did not look at her husband, simply said with indifference: “I know, he wants us to look for some secret medicine, a remedy for lung disease, to save the only child of the Central Palace.”
The present Emperor’s offspring were fragile, with only the Empress bearing a son and a daughter. Unfortunately, the royal son is poorly and at a tender age of nine; his disease was beyond cure.
Furthermore, the Emperor’s wife is jealous, while the imperial in-laws are dominant. As the Emperor is facing the threat of having no heir, the Vassal Kings seem to be ready to make a move at any moment.
“Hush, lower your voice.” Wen Yanmin looked to the outside, “If you know it, that’s good. This matter concerns the rise and fall of the Wen family, the old man is also out of options.”
Xiu Zhenniang sneered, “Only now you realize there are no options? Were it not for your eldest brother’s bootlicking, promising whatever he could, how could the Wen family be dragged into this?”
Wen Yanmin’s oldest brother worked at the Imperial Medical Bureau, he used to treat nobility exclusively. Somehow, he managed to establish a connection with the Empress’s family and promised to cure the Empress’s only son. As a result, he’s entangled in a tricky situation.
Wen Yanmin kept silent for a moment and then apologized to his wife, “There’s no point in complaining any more. Zhenniang, we are one with the Wen family, in glory and disgrace. Father had us settle here with the intention to preserve us. As for seeking the secret formula, it was nothing but an excuse.”
In such a desolate little mountain village, sporting a glance, he did not believe there could exist a recluse or an expert.
Let alone the secret prescription, he didn’t even see a decent village doctor.
And the Jiang family — none of the three brothers stood out, and old Mr. Jiang was completely illiterate.
He would never believe that such a family could possess any rare prescription.
Xiu Zhenniang turned her face away, pulled out her handkerchief to gently wipe her eyes, and said through her sniffles.
“I’m not so much complaining as worried about Shushu and Baobao. Should they live their entire life in this small mountain village?”
Shushu was almost ten years old and soon it would be the right time to arrange her marriage. However, they currently resided in a small village. How could they find a match for Shushu from an equivalent background now?
Wen Yanmin massaged his brow while soothing his wife, “If the situation in Beijing calms down and there’s no major incident, we may be able to go back.
Shushu and Hengyin are still young – it wouldn’t matter if we waited a few more years before returning home.”
Xiu Zhenniang sighed faintly, “One can only hope.”
After class, Yingbao sincerely invited Miss Wen to her home.
Wen Shu happily agreed, leading her younger brother to visit the Jiang family and to see the golden ear mushroom in her bamboo shed.
“These are the golden ears we grow at home. They haven’t matured yet.” Yingbao pointed to the mulberry rack, “When they come of age, I will give you some.”
Wen Shu was curious, crouching down to get a closer look at the golden item. She exclaimed, “This is the first time I’ve seen fresh golden ears. They’re really beautiful.