FID – Chapter 922

Chapter 922: The Value of Medicine

On the day they left the manor, the carriage headed straight to the suburban dock, where the Liu family boarded the passenger ship.

This time, Liu Dalin finally didn’t embarrass himself. He didn’t break down crying at the dock. Instead, he kept reminding everyone to make sure they returned home during the New Year festival and to bring the two little ones back with them.

The one most reluctant to part was Grandma Liu—not because of Liu Yusheng, nor the two children, but because of the Empress Dowager.

As the ship was about to set sail, she stood at the bow repeatedly saying, “Remember, come to my house during the festival. I’ll cook you all the best food, I guarantee you won’t want to go back to the capital. You must come! I’ll be waiting, and you can pick as many vegetables as you want from the whole village’s gardens!”

The Empress Dowager snorted lightly at the overly enthusiastic old woman standing at the bow. “Hmph, what a boorish woman.”

Alright then, next time when going to Xinghua Village, she would bring along her little golden scissors. That way, her hands would not get dirty while picking vegetables.

As the ship pulled away from shore, Liu Yusheng waved vigorously at the people on board and could still hear her father’s voice from afar, “…Whether Axiu comes back or not doesn’t matter, but you and the two little beans must come back, remember that—”

Suddenly, Liu Yusheng felt a sting in her nose. She was increasingly able to understand the feelings of her family seeing her off every time she left home.

It was all reluctance to part.

Her shoulder was embraced, pulled into a familiar embrace. “There won’t be too many more goodbyes like this.”

“Mm,” she replied.

Once the matters in the capital were settled, they would return to Xinghua Village.

In the future, just like their grandparents and parents, they would live simply and peacefully—watching the clouds roll by and living a slow and steady life.

To avoid being questioned by the Liu family elders, Xue Qinglian returned ahead of them to the King’s Manor and immediately checked on the items he had lost.

By the time Feng Qingbai and the others returned, he was already waiting in the main hall.

Knowing he must have something to discuss with Feng Qingbai, Liu Yusheng did not avoid the situation this time, and Feng Qingbai didn’t send her away either.

Because the matter involved the woman’s medicine, letting her know would help her better guard against it.

He called Wei Zi over and had him take out the items they found and lay them out on the table. Feng Qingbai asked, “How is it?”

Xue Qinglian glanced at the bottles and jars and immediately confirmed, “No mistake, these are the ones.”

He knew his own things best. There was no need to examine them closely.

“On the way back, I heard Feng Qingbai explain the situation, but I’m puzzled. If these really belonged to your uncle’s people, why would they want these medicines?” Liu Yusheng frowned in confusion. “Wasn’t his ambition about gaining power in various countries?”

“You should know how effective your medicine is,” Xue Qinglian rolled his eyes. “If  such a powerful medicine is possessed or replicated, it could be used for so many things. My uncle used to be a doctor, and he understands the value of such medicines better than most.”

Feng Qingbai also said, “The regenerative power, the extremely strong wound healing and blood-stopping ability; just these two points alone, if used on the battlefield, could increase a nation’s soldiers’ survival rate several times over. And on the battlefield, a soldier’s survival rate can turn the tide of war!”

“So, not to mention my uncle, even emperors who already rule the world would find it hard to resist such a temptation.”

Liu Yusheng pursed her lips. “If your uncle holds this medicine, doesn’t that mean he holds a bargaining chip to negotiate with a ruler of a country?”

“Yes, and it would inevitably cause chaos among the nations.”

“If others find out this medicine appeared in Nanling and is in the hands of the Consort,” Feng Qingbai’s voice lowered and slowed as he looked at Liu Yusheng, “Just imagine how other countries would react.”

Liu Yusheng’s breath caught.

The nations would panic, become wary, and then try to sabotage or seize it. Nanling would have no peace.

No matter how strong Nanling is, it couldn’t stand against the alliance of other nations. That was why Xue Zhong sent people to investigate.

“This time he didn’t get the medicine, so he surely won’t give up,” Liu Yusheng guessed. “He’ll come again.”

Feng Qingbai shook his head. “It’s not that he must get the medicine; once he’s confirmed what’s going on, he only needs to spread the news to disturb Nanling endlessly.”

“What can we do then?”

“For now, we can only take it one step at a time.”

The hall fell silent. The situation was difficult to handle.

With a heavy heart, Liu Yusheng couldn’t relax her brow for the next several days.

Fortunately, the days that followed were calm and peaceful, with no further bad incidents. News from Wei Hong in Xinghua Village also arrived, reporting everything was safe, and the Liu family elders had returned to the village safely.

Time quietly reached the end of July.

Badou and Hongdou had just passed their hundredth day, growing rapidly and changing almost daily.

The Empress Dowager’s affection for the two little ones grew stronger with each passing day. She couldn’t stand going a day without seeing them, and her appetite suffered if she missed a meal with them.

Because of this, Liu Yusheng visited the palace even more frequently than before.

She had no choice. If she didn’t visit, the Empress Dowager would throw a tantrum, retreating to her chamber to sulk.

Before, it was just ignoring people after going to bed. Now, it escalated to a full-blown hunger strike.  She knew that Liu Yusheng would worry and come to soothe her, carrying the two babies.

Sometimes if she was late, someone who cared deeply for the Empress Dowager would come to personally escort Liu Yusheng and the two little ones to her.

On this day, Liu Yusheng arrived at the Yangxin Hall just before noon. Feng Qingbai had already instructed that he couldn’t return for lunch because of other matters, so they would dine together in the palace later.

Without needing to wait at home, Liu Yusheng came earlier than usual.

At the palace entrance, she unexpectedly ran into Shan Lai, who was waiting there.

Wearing a light and thin dress, her lower belly was beginning to show a slight curve, but the woman’s complexion wasn’t very good. She was rather pale. While standing, she still needed the support of her attendant.

“Greetings, Princess,” seeing the woman, Shan Lai turned around and smiled as she greeted her.

“Is Your Highness here to pay respects to Her Majesty?” Liu Yusheng handed Hongdou in her arms to Zisu, signaling her and Chenxiang to take the children inside first.

This person was always extremely cautious whenever she saw her. She dared not leave the two little ones in her presence.

Shan Lai glanced at the two babies and replied to Liu Yusheng, “I did indeed come to pay respects. My health has been poor lately, so I haven’t been able to visit the Empress Dowager. I was worried she might misunderstand, so as soon as I felt somewhat better today, I hurried over to make amends. But… I have yet to be summoned.”

“Please inform Her Majesty that my Mistress has already been waiting here for over an hour. Could Your Highness kindly ask Her Majesty if she might grant permission for my Mistress to return and rest, as her health isn’t very good?”

“Ling Xiang, don’t be disrespectful!” Shan Lai quickly scolded the young maid.

Liu Yusheng glanced at them both and stepped inside. “There’s no need to ask further. The Empress Dowager has always preferred peace and quiet. When concubines come to pay respects, she usually doesn’t see them. Since there’s no summons from inside, it seems she doesn’t want to be disturbed. Your Highness might as well return for now and come again another day.”

“Princess, please wait.” The woman behind called out to her. As Liu Yusheng turned, she quietly said, “Since Her Majesty dislikes disturbances, I will take my leave. This Consort kindly asks, when you see Her Majesty, please convey my regards. I will come again another day to pay respects.”

“Very well.”