The next day, when Fan Jian woke up, she was slightly disappointed not to see Chen Xi. It should have been her helping him dress.
anwhile, Chen Lan held her wedding dress and phoenix crown, sighing in regret. If she had known Chen Xi would co to her room, she wouldn’t have removed them and gone straight to bed. But by the ti Chen Xi arrived, it was too late for that.
“Well, well, Zichuan, you’re up early today,” Lu Su remarked as he saw Chen Xi casually reviewing docunts in the administrative hall. “A mont of spring night is worth a thousand gold, yet I thought you wouldn’t show up at all today.”
Chen Xi glanced up at Lu Su. “If there were only one, I wouldn’t have co today. But, alas, there isn’t just one.”
Lu Su laughed heartily. “Well said, well said!”
“It’s a real hassle,” Chen Xi sighed. “So things look simple, but balancing them is really difficult.”
“A lot of things seem easy when others do them, but doing them yourself is another story. Congratulations, Zichuan, on your marriage,” Fa Zheng said as he poked his head in the door. Last night’s peaches and peach blossoms had kept him awake all night, and he rushed to the administrative hall this morning with dark circles under his eyes.
“Xiaozhi, you look more sleep-deprived than I am,” Chen Xi comnted, noticing Fa Zheng’s tired eyes.
“What was the deal with those peaches?” Fa Zheng asked directly.
Lu Su, also curious, looked at them with a grin. Fa Zheng had finally asked the question he wanted to know as well.
“Keep this to yourselves,” Chen Xi said, waving his hand. “Yes, it was my doing. Chen Qun, Ju Gongyu, and Chen Yuanlong are probably all suspicious, but they can’t explain the peaches they ate and the peach blossoms that fell. ‘Heaven grants authority to kings,’ after all. Why not use this power to stabilize the people and bring unity to our rule? That’s what matters most.”
“Alright, let’s leave it at that,” Fa Zheng wanted to probe further, but Lu Su swiftly ended the conversation. As long as it benefited their governance, why question more?
“You’ll understand later,” Chen Xi said with a smile, noticing Fa Zheng’s dissatisfaction. “So things just haven’t been summarized yet. But with this peach blossom incident, we’ve garnered significant public support, making future governance easier. Let’s each focus on our tasks and wait for Cao ngde to make his move.”
At these words, both Fa Zheng and Lu Su grew a bit solemn. Over ti, they had co to understand Cao Cao’s strength well, and defeating him with just seventy percent of Liu Bei’s forces seed incredibly difficult.
The most troubling part was that any attempt to inform Tao Qian of Cao Song’s impending fate might backfire, possibly even putting the bla on Qingzhou. Such a situation would only bring trouble, and Chen Xi had no desire to get involved in sothing so ssy.
This left Chen Xi and the others helplessly aware that while they had long confird Cao Song’s imminent demise and Cao Cao’s subsequent retaliation against Xuzhou, they could do nothing to prevent it. They simply lacked evidence to prove who was behind it. While families like the Chen, Zhao, and Cao clans in Xuzhou were highly suspect, there was no concrete proof.
Similarly, Chen Xi and the others knew that while Cao Cao could guess Tao Qian wasn’t behind the plot, he would still demand justice for his father’s death. Whether it was for vengeance or other reasons, Cao Cao would require Tao Qian to answer for it.
Chen Xi couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of the devastation Xuzhou would face in history—Cao ngde was truly ruthless!
“Congratulations, Zichuan,” Jia Xu said as he entered and bowed to Chen Xi.
“Wenhe, you’re early,” Chen Xi smiled. “Have a seat. Today, let’s handle the usual matters first. Once everyone’s here, we’ll discuss other things. The generals have been taken by Xuande Gong for training, so let’s focus on our work for now.”
Chen Xi gestured for Jia Xu to take a seat and start his tasks. Soon, all the civil officials of Taishan arrived, each offering their congratulations to Chen Xi, who graciously returned the greetings.
“Is everyone here?” Chen Xi scanned the room, from Lu Su to Wang Xiu, and then from Guo Jia to Chen Chi. “Alright, let’s all go see the physician. You’ve all been avoiding seeing a doctor despite my earlier advice to visit Physician Hua. Since none of you went on your own, I’ll take you all myself.”
Everyone’s faces darkened. Avoiding the doctor was sothing they all shared, only seeking dical help when absolutely necessary.
“I have Five-Stone Powder. Take a dose, and you’ll feel light as a feather, immune to all ailnts,” Guo Jia imdiately produced his mystical redy. “Besides, I just ate a celestial peach yesterday. Don’t I know if I’m healthy or not?”
“Guo Fengxiao…” Chen Xi’s eyelids twitched.
“I also have so alchemical pills,” Lu Su said, pulling out a porcelain bottle and shaking it. “One pill and you’re full of energy. Zichuan, want to try one?” He opened the bottle and offered a pill.
“Lu Zijing…” Chen Xi muttered in frustration.
“I’ve got so of that too,” Fa Zheng added, producing a similar porcelain bottle. “Though mine isn’t as flashy as yours.” He poured out a pill.
“Who else has these things?” Chen Xi’s voice grew cold.
“They’re quite popular, you know. Look…” Liu Yan chid in, pulling out a collection of small porcelain bottles. “This one is a premium Five-Stone Powder from Yanhe, this one’s a Golden Pill from Wenci, this one’s a treasured redy from Jiu Zhen, and this one’s a Flower Pill from Wencai…” Liu Yan listed them off, revealing a dozen different types of fad alchemical elixirs.
“I…” Chen Xi was at a loss for words. He distinctly rembered that such items didn’t beco widespread until the Wei and Jin periods. How was Liu Yan already able to produce so many varieties?
What Chen Xi didn’t know was that these substances had started circulating among the elite as early as the late Han period. By the Wei and Jin periods, they had spread beyond the intellectual circles to all levels of society. The fact that Liu Yan could produce so many types was simply a testant to his vast network of connections...
“You do realize these things are toxic, right? A little won’t hurt, but too much can be fatal!” Chen Xi snapped in anger. Now he understood why people like Guo Jia and Fa Zheng died young. At this rate, they were all destined for an early grave, while historically, figures like Liu Yan survived because Liu Bei’s early poverty didn’t allow them to indulge in such extravagant pastis!
Instantly, everyone’s expressions stiffened, including Jia Xu’s, who looked sowhat guilty. Clearly, he had also partaken.
“You’re all coming with
to see Physician Hua! Especially you, Fa Xiaozhi. If I catch you taking these things again, I’ll hang you from my rafters. Believe , I an it!” Chen Xi slamd the table in fury. If he let this continue, they’d all end up dead!
Reviews
All reviews (0)