Chapter Twenty-Two Three Words

  Yuwen Ji asked him if he had drunk the Hé Dǐng Hóng and was still alive?

  Jixiang said: "Fortunately, I found out early and made her vomit most of it. Then I invited the doctor from next door, who used burnt rice flour mixed with water to flush her stomach. Only then did she manage to hold on to a breath. But that doctor still said there was no hope, told me to prepare for the worst... The worst... Waaahhh, I can't even afford a coffin, do I have to wrap my poor sister in a straw mat and bury her?"

  He exaggerated as much as possible to gain Yuwen's sympathy.

  Yuwen Ji nodded and said: "Fortunately, the doctor you invited is really knowledgeable. He knows the technique of using Focused Moxibustion to wash his abdomen... Focused Moxibustion can absorb toxins. If it were a quack doctor, it would be over... Don't cry anymore, listening to you say that, nothing's wrong, he can be saved."

  "Did you promise to cure my sister?"

  Yuwen Ji nodded and said, "I won't go, I'll give you a bottle of medicine, take it and you'll be fine immediately, it's specifically for treating Swan Top Red."

  Although Ji Xiang didn't invite Yu Wen Ji, he still managed to cure the person and his merits are undeniable. However, he couldn't help but ask with some unease, "Is this really okay?"

  "A doctor's benevolence is not to be joked with." Yuwen Ji walked back into the mansion and after a while, took out a white bottle. The liquid inside was also transparent and colorless, but when shaken, it seemed slightly viscous. She handed it to Jixiang: "It's not that I'm hoarding divine medicine, it's just that this medicine is extremely difficult to refine, not something ordinary people can do, so unfortunately, it can't be used to save too many people."

  After receiving the medicine bottle, things were in hand, without even a thank you, tears disappeared instantly, carefully put into underwear, turned around and ran away quickly.

  Only the old man was left saying: "What if the medicine doesn't work, or something unexpected happens? You should go!"

  ……

  Good fortune is beyond his control, riding a horse like flying, completely disregarding the rules and regulations of Chang'an City, startling the small vendors along the way. He was overjoyed, not because he was happy that Meng Xiaoyu was saved, nor did it matter to him whether the girl lived or died... What made him joyful was Xue Chongxun's "record a merit".

  Xue Chongxun established a novel rule in the Xue household called the "bonus system". Servants not only had the opportunity to advance in their positions but also received promotions during their monthly salary payments. The difference between the amounts was what Xue Chongxun referred to as "bonuses", which were additional sums of money that could be earned on top of the fixed monthly salary; the amount of bonus depended on the number of merits, with one merit corresponding to a one-level promotion. Although the servants received different amounts of money, it was fair and reasonable, and no one had any complaints, and they also gained motivation to advance.

  "It's here! It's here!" In excitement, he rushed up to the Water Cloud Pavilion and started shouting loudly.

  Xue Chongxun heard the auspicious voice and glanced at Meng Xiaoyu who was lying on the bed. At this moment, he couldn't let other factors affect the treatment, so he said, "I'll step aside for now."

  Ji Xiang rushed into the room and said, "Lang Jun doesn't need to avoid it, Yu Wen Ji didn't come, but the medicine is here. She said that drinking it will be fine, specifically for treating crane's red crown."

  An old man beside him immediately asked, "Is this really a medicine prescribed by Yuwen, the divine doctor?"

  Ji Xiang said with a scowl: "You suspect me? In front of Lang Jun, I, Ji Xiang, have always acted with a clear conscience!"

  Xue Chongxun frowned and said, "Don't bother to smooth things over for now. Even if the person hasn't been invited yet, saving her life will still be considered a merit. Hurry up and have someone attend to her and give her medicine!"

  "Slow!" The old man's eyes lit up, staring at the bottle, stretching out his trembling withered hand, "The medicine that can cure crane-top redness! Give an old man a drop, just one drop! An old man wants to know what it is!"

  "Less nonsense, saving lives is urgent, hurry up and administer it, don't care about him." Xue Chongxun roughly refused the old doctor. He didn't even have time to think about the great merit this medicine would bring to people if it was researched and mass-produced.

  "What a feat!" Old Lang shouted loudly. Xue Chongxun didn't expect that Old Lang, because he didn't know Meng Xiaoyu, would be an onlooker with a clear mind, and he thought of this. This shout shook the dust on the ceiling to fall down, at his age, shouting out like this wasn't easy!

  Unfortunately, the small bottle of medicine was completely poured into Meng Xiaoyu's mouth with just a light pour. The old doctor's hands were raised in mid-air, almost crying out in grief. He said sorrowfully: "The medicine that can cure the Crown of Red... if all doctors would prescribe it, how many people who shouldn't have died could still be alive?"

  There are still many kind-hearted people in the world, and Old Lang should be counted as one. Xue Chongxun was also slightly moved by his words, and he didn't suspect that Old Lang would secretly keep the formula at home to make a fortune, because he wasn't a businessman... unlike later generations, where many doctors were also businessmen. It should be said that many businessmen were also doctors, because profit sometimes became more important than virtue. People in different positions will handle things from different angles.

  Xue Chongxun picked up the bottle and handed it to Lao Lang, saying: "Take it, this thing is sticky, there's more than one drop on it. If you can't figure out what it is, go ask Yuwen Ji directly, she's not someone who would secretly hoard such things."

  The old man immediately held the bottle in his arms, like a treasure.

  "Wake up! Wake up!" "Is this the legendary elixir?" "Too incredible!" The prostitute and a group of courtesans from the brothel, as well as a crowd of onlookers at the door who didn't know what was going on, all exclaimed in surprise. The room suddenly became extremely lively.

  Xue Chongxun, who had made the greatest contribution among the people present, was instead squeezed into a corner and couldn't even take a glance at Meng Xiaoyu.

  Xue Chongxun squeezed for a while and couldn't squeeze in anymore. Everyone was very excited... Some were excited that they could finally get rid of the lawsuit, some were excited to see a glimpse of something divine, and perhaps amidst everyone's excitement, there was also a hint of joy that Meng Xiaoyu had survived, but who knows how much?

  The only person who is not happy but worried is probably the handsome Xiao Heng, who was firmly caught by Fang Yuzhong. He's quite depressed, and the reason is that the truth will come out of Meng Xiaoyu's mouth... This man has gone, even the lucky god can't save him, who knows that drinking hongzhen can still live? Now Xiao Heng even wants to die. He's puzzled, how should this matter be settled, and what kind of person is this guy who caught himself.

  Xue Chongxun couldn't squeeze in and gave up. Anyway, judging from the appearance, Meng Xiaoyu was definitely rescued, and there was nothing wrong with Xue Chongxun. Besides, after such a commotion, not to mention the mood for listening to opera had disappeared, people were also a bit tired.

  Xue Chongxun said to his attendants, "Let's go, we're going home."

  Fang Yu Zhong pointed at Jun Nan and said, "How are we going to deal with this guy?"

  "Send an official, Jingzhao Mansion is the best, I still trust Li Shouyi, can't spare this guy." Xue Chongxun said coldly.

  The handsome young man's mood was terrible. Once angry, he forgot the pain of his wounds and the fear of Xue Chongxun's cruelty. He blurted out: "I have someone in the court, Liu Youqiu, Prime Minister Liu, do you know? The capital governor is nothing."

  "Is it Liu Youqiu?" Xue Chongxun's eyes lit up instantly. "Was the official you bribed Liu Youqiu?"

  The handsome man looked somewhat embarrassed and equivocated, "Who said I gave money to Mr. Liu? Mr. Liu and I are old friends, our friendship is very deep."

  Xue Chongxun's mind suddenly flashed a conspiracy... Who is Liu Youqiu? The crown prince's party, during the "Tanglong Coup" when they were framing Empress Wei, he was by the crown prince's side, repeatedly coming up with brilliant strategies, achieving great merit, and was one of the most powerful members of the crown prince's think tank.

  Xue Chongxun smiled slyly and said, "So it's someone from Liu Gong's side. I apologize for the mistake, this is a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding..."

  The handsome man looked at the situation and immediately raised his head, shaking his arm to shake off Fang Yuzhong's grasp. However, he couldn't shake him off because Fang Yuzhong only listened to Xue Chongxun, who hadn't given any orders. The handsome man angrily said: "Haven't you seen that your master has been polite to me? Let go of my hand!"

  Chancellor Fang Yunzhong said: The prime minister is just a chicken's fart!

  He was usually very calm and would not speak when he didn't need to, so he said nothing, but also did not let go.

  At this time, Xue Chongxun spoke up: "Let go, what are you doing to Mr. Liu?" Fang Yuzhong let go, and Xue Chongxun walked forward, gently grasping the young man's wrist, looking at his swollen and broken finger: "Does it still hurt?"

  Handsome man: “......”

  He saw Xue Chongxun's behavior and was convinced that Xue Chongxun was afraid of Liu Youqiu. He snorted and gritted his teeth, saying: "You wait for me." After speaking, he turned around and left... He didn't plan to go back and ask the big boss to come out and make a scene, but wanted to quickly slip away from this place of trouble, otherwise, if officials came and things got out of hand, he really wouldn't know what to do.

  How come Meng Xiaoyu didn't die?

  "Fang Yu Zhong looked at the back of the handsome man and said, 'Lang Jun, are you just going to let him go like that?'"

  Xue Chongxun sneered: "He's telling lies, I haven't even fulfilled my own words yet. Let him go first, if something happens, it won't be on my head, and even if someone suspects me after seeing some clues, do they need to send an imperial edict to investigate again?"

  Xue Chongxun was not willing to do bad things when it was not necessary; but when he really needed to do bad things, he could do anything. He planned to take action against the handsome man Xiao Heng, not because of what he said, but because implementing his conspiracy required him to do so, and this was one step in that process.

  Fang Yu Zhong said again: "Should we send someone to follow him?"

  Xue Chongxun nodded and said, "Don't let him find out, even if he gets lost, it's no big deal. He passed the imperial examination through Liu Youqiu and has a name, it's just a bit of trouble to investigate."

  After Dai Fangyu arranged for someone to take care of things, Xue Chongxun turned around and took a look at the crowd surrounding the bed, saying, "Let's go."

  Just as he was about to leave, the procuress spotted Xue Chongxun and hastily called out to him, asking, "Hey there, young master, thanks to you today, are you leaving already?"

  Xue Chongxun smiled and said, "Du Jie can also see that I'm not a person who lacks money, nor do I seek reward... Let Xiaoyu take good care of herself, and I'll come again another day to listen to her sing 'Chang Xiang Si'."

  The girl's gratitude was heartfelt, and at this time she felt that she had wronged Xue Chongxun, who had helped her avoid great trouble. She opened her mouth but couldn't think of any words of thanks to say - after all, it wasn't necessary to say thank you for a great kindness. After thinking for a moment, she asked: "I haven't yet asked your name, sir - we should get to know each other better in the future."

  Xue Chongxun said calmly, "It's just a small effort, and Du Jie won't have to remember me anymore. However, Xiaoyu asked you, can you say three words."

  "What three words?" Du Jie asked curiously.

  Dà Qín Sì (Temple of Great Qin)

  "What's Ta Qin Temple?" Du Jie'er repeated, clearly puzzled.

  Xue Chongxun said, "Oh, right, can you help me tell Xiaoyu something? Some people have a very hard and difficult time just to survive, so as long as they're alive, that's good enough."

  The parrot nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll tell Xiaoyu exactly what you said."

  "Alright." Xue Chongxun bowed with his fist and turned around to leave.

  ……

  It wasn't long before the excitement in the house finally died down a bit. The madam said, "Well, that was a close call! Everyone can go back to what they were doing."

  After the crowd dispersed, the madam walked to the bed and grabbed Meng Xiaoyu's hand, almost crying: "Oh my god, my heart is dead, you scared me to death! Fortunately, there was a gentleman with many connections who came to the rescue and avoided disaster! He must be a noble person sent by the Buddha. Alas, from now on, I'll accumulate some good karma and burn more incense..."

  Meng Xiaoyu stared blankly upwards, her face pale and expressionless. After hearing what the madam said, she merely muttered to herself: "I didn't ask him to save me, why is he making such a fuss? It's better if I just die."

  "Oh no, my daughter, you can't say that. If you die, how would I be able to get out of this situation?" The madam suddenly remembered something and said hastily, "Right, the young man asked me to tell you three words and also bring a message to you."

  The procuress thought to herself that the words might have some effect and prevent Meng Xiaoyu from having any suicidal thoughts... at least not on this windy night after the accident. For now, she had to be coaxed, but later it would depend on her own will. The procuress then said: "I asked him what his name was, he only told me to tell you three words: Daqin Temple."

  "Da Qin Temple?" Meng Xiaoyu's originally dull and expressionless eyes suddenly flickered, but her tone remained unenthusiastic, "It's him... He actually came to listen to the music."

  He also asked me to tell you something, saying that some people have a very difficult and hard time living, so as long as they are alive, it's good.

  A warm feeling flowed through Meng Xiaoyu's heart, a kind of inexplicable subtle resonance.

  The following three chapters have some heavy content; if you prefer lighter fare, it's suggested that you skip chapters 23, 24 and 25.