Chapter 39: The Qin Family Has No Money

  Fang Yiai had just walked out of the Yanxi Gate when he was intercepted by Qin Hu. Fang Yiai asked with a puzzled face, "Uncle Tiger, why did you rush here? Is there something going on?"

  "Hehe, young master, this is what Sun Daochang asked me to give you. He wants you to figure out a way to get the medicinal herbs on top of it!" Qin Hu took a bow and respectfully pulled out a piece of paper from his waistband and handed it over to Fang Yiai.

  Fang Yiai was baffled by Sun Simiao's intentions, wondering why he had to find him for medicinal herbs. Was it really necessary? However, after reading the contents on the paper, Fang Yiai was stunned - the list included bear gall, cordyceps, pangolin scales, and musk, all of which were extremely precious and rare medicinal materials. It would be difficult to obtain them even in later generations, let alone during the Tang Dynasty.

  "Uncle Tiger, why not just spend a lot of money to buy it directly? It's useless to find me, I also can't get such expensive medicinal materials!" Qin Hu flipped his eyes and said, "Young master, you don't know, our Qin family doesn't have that much money. These things cost hundreds of taels of silver, buying a little is okay, but if we buy too much, our Qin family will have to beg for food."

  "Ah!" Fang Yi Ai's mouth was agape, damn it, really didn't expect that the prestigious General Fang's estate would be penniless. This is quite ironic, but thinking about it, his own family doesn't have much money either. Looks like he needs to think of ways to make some money.

  "Uncle Tiger, is it urgent?"

  "Master, Sun Daochang said that bear's gallbladder and pangolin scales can be delayed for a while, but Cordyceps sinensis and musk must be obtained as soon as possible!" Qin Hu raised an eyebrow and looked at Fang Yili with a hint of annoyance. To be honest, Qin Hu knew that the young master didn't have much money either, and he was really worried that this eccentric young master would come up with some crazy idea to rob someone on the road.

  "Alright, I'll take care of this. You wait here for a moment, I'll go get the medicine!" Fang Yiai also steeled himself, since they had no money, he could only cry poor. He thought it through, if he couldn't buy it with money, then he would have to find Empress Zhangsun and pretend to be pitiful.

  The guards at the Yanxi Gate were puzzled, what was Second Young Master Fang doing? Why did he just leave and then come back again?

  In the Baifu Hall, Empress Longsun was embroidering a phoenix pattern on a silk handkerchief when a palace maid rushed in and anxiously said: "Your Majesty, the second prince has arrived, it seems he has an urgent matter to discuss with you!"

  "Fang Jun? What is he doing here at this time, isn't it already after school hours?" Empress Changsun said as she put away her silk handkerchief and followed the maid with her slender figure to the main hall.

  Empress Zhangsun saw Fang Yili still hadn't spoken, and then she saw Fang Yili kneel down to the ground with a big bow, loudly saying: "Your Majesty Empress, please save me!"

  The Empress Dowager Changsun was taken aback, thinking that something big had happened, and hastily asked: "Jun'er, don't be like this, stand up first and talk, is it the Emperor troubling you again?"

  "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with you at all. It's just that I, Yu Ai, feel too useless!" Yu Ai continued to plead pitifully without lifting her head from the ground.

  "......" Empress Changsun was confused, what does it mean to think that one is too incompetent? Empress Changsun thought for a moment and smiled: "Jun'er, you must have something to ask of me?"

  "Ah, the Empress is indeed cleverer than others. It seems that Yu Ai has really run into trouble this time!" Now Yu Ai felt a bit embarrassed, and the eldest grandson's wife was perhaps too clever. At this moment, Fang Yu Ai also felt a bit awkward, as the play had been exposed, how humiliating!

  When Changsun Empress saw Fang Yuyao's bitter melon face, she knew she was right. Changsun Empress was also amused by Fang Yuyao's clumsy performance, not to mention the palace maids beside her, who were all covering their mouths and trying not to laugh.

  Fang Yi stood up with a sullen face and said, "Ladies, if you want to laugh, go ahead and laugh. Is it too hard for me to hold back?"

  "Hmm..." The palace maids all widened their beautiful eyes, staring at this mysterious Second Master Fang, what a thick-skinned person.

  The Empress Dowager Zhangsun also lost her temper and waved her sleeve in annoyance, saying: "Alright, you can all go down first!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty!" The palace maids bowed respectfully to Empress Zhangsun and left the main hall. As soon as they stepped out of the gate, Yizhen heard a burst of silvery laughter.

  One of the palace maids whispered: "You see, didn't the second young master used to be an opera singer?"

  "Shh, keep your voice down, don't let mom hear, hehe!"

  "... Fang Yi'ai heard this and wanted to curse, you group of gossiping women, sooner or later I'll let you know the power of my Second Master."

  "Alright, Jun'er, you can speak now?" Empress Changsun sat in the chair and gently stroked her forehead with a smile.

  "Your Majesty, I'd like to ask you for some medicinal herbs!"

  "Is that all?"

  "That's all!"

  "What medicine is needed?"

  "Cordyceps, pangolin scales, musk and bear bile!"

  "... Ah, Jun'er, these seem to be precious medicinal materials. Alright, I'll take charge and agree to your request. How many do you want?" Empress Changsun slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows, but still smiled and agreed.

  "Eh, Your Majesty, I don't know how much is needed either, but it should be enough to last for two or three years!" Fang Yiai said in a slightly guilty tone.

  "What? Two or three years? Jun'er, aren't you giving me a headache? Even the imperial pharmacy doesn't have that much stock!" Empress Changsun was indeed shocked by Fang Yi's words. This appetite is really big, are you taking bear gall for dog gall? Besides, winter worm grass isn't dog tail grass either!

  "This, Your Majesty the Queen, can actually be shipped in batches!"

  "Batch shipment? Juner, what are you talking about? What is batch shipment?"

  "It's very simple, just give some every month!"

  "....., Jun Er, you've come up with a good idea, I won't be able to make the decision on this matter, you'd better go find His Majesty!" Empress Changsun was speechless, he's actually thinking of emptying out the Imperial Pharmacy, or moving it once every month, if she agrees to Fang Yilove, those imperial physicians will surely go on strike collectively.

  Fang Yi Ai blinked her eyes, looking at the stunningly beautiful Empress Changsun with a pitiful expression. The empress was looked at by Fang Yi Ai for a while and also felt a bit embarrassed, wondering if she had been too inhumane.

  "Alright, stop pretending to be pitiful. I'll help you persuade the Emperor." Empress Changsun thought for a moment and asked with some hesitation.

  Fang Yu nodded, Empress Zhangsun, I love you to death, this is exactly what I wanted to hear from you.