Chapter 39 : Making the Most of Everything

Song Ying kept her word. As soon as Yue Shaozhi returned home, someone delivered the medicinal herbs.

The Imperial Physician Chen examined them and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, the quality of these herbs is excellent, but one is still missing…”

Yue Shaozhi said, “The last medicinal herb will be delivered in five days. I’ll trouble you again then, Imperial Physician Chen.”

Imperial Physician Chen: “I’ll begin preparing the medicine right away. This prescription needs to be taken for one full month.”

Rong Ruoer asked, “With the new prescription, can my mother’s illness be cured?”

Imperial Physician Chen: “It should be.”

Song Ruoer turned to Zhou with joy. “Mother, that’s wonderful you won’t have to suffer through the winters anymore.”

Zhou also looked relieved. “Thank you, Prince Regent, thank you, Imperial Physician Chen…”

But Yue Shaozhi ignored her and walked out of the room.

Song Ruoer noticed his sour mood and quickly followed him.

“Husband.”

“Hm?”

Song Ruoer held his hand and said, “Thank you. You went to see my sister because of my mother’s illness. Did she give you any trouble?”

Yue Shaozhi took her hand in his and replied, “No, it was just a normal business exchange.”

Even though he downplayed it, Song Ruoer was certain that Song Ying had made things difficult for him.

Since childhood, people had often compared the two of them. Most praised her, but when it came to Song Ying, they usually fell silent.

Her sister had never been particularly well-liked, either at home or outside.

Even though Song Ying appeared indifferent, Song Ruoer knew that deep down she was full of resentment.

Now that Yue Shaozhi knew about the matter, it was surely a chance for her sister to vent all that bitterness.

When she looked up again, Song Ruoer’s eyes sparkled with warmth. “Husband, I want to apologize on behalf of my sister. If she said anything unpleasant, please don’t take it to heart.”

She was always so understanding and considerate.

Yue Shaozhi hugged her. “My dear, you don’t need to do this. I have some things to take care of, go stay with your mother.”

“Okay.”

Song Ruoer didn’t return to Zhou’s room until Yue Shaozhi had left.

Inside were just Zhou and Yunchun.

Song Ruoer said, “You may go. I’ll stay with Mother.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Song Ruoer gently closed the door, then sat down beside Zhou. “Mother, the illness that’s plagued you for over ten years is finally going to be cured.”

Zhou was pleased as well. “All thanks to you marrying the Regent. If we were just an ordinary family, we wouldn’t have been able to hire an Imperial Physician Chen.”

Song Ruoer: “Mother, Shaozhi really treats me well. He was even willing to go see my sister for me.”

Zhou nodded. “He loves you. As long as it concerns you, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do. But remember, you can’t rely on him for everything. If you do, he’ll get bored over time. With a man like that, you have to keep him hooked.”

Song Ruoer nodded obediently. “I understand.”

Zhou let out a long sigh. “After all the hardships, we’ve finally found happiness. I’ve toiled for so many years, and now I’m the mistress of the Marquisate. You’ve married the Regent, and your brother is the future Marquis of Ningyuan… For me, this life has been worth it.”

Song Ruoer leaned her head on Zhou’s shoulder and said softly, “Mother, I was thinking, why don’t we open our own herbal medicine shop? People will always need medicine. Just this time, we had to ask Song Ying for medicinal herbs. I don’t want us to have to rely on her in the future.”

Zhou’s expression changed. “Why bother opening one? Just take Song Ying’s.”

Song Ruoer looked up in surprise. “C-Can we do that? She definitely wouldn’t agree. That was left to her by Han.”

Zhou replied, “Your grandfather and father are still alive. If they ask her, how could she refuse?”

Song Ruoer hesitated. “But… would Father and Grandfather really go ask her on our behalf?”

Zhou suddenly smiled with pride and confidence. “Have you forgotten? The shops I own now were also given to me by your father, originally from Han’s share.”

Song Ruoer knew very well how skillful her mother was, and that her father doted on Zhou deeply.

“Mother… I’m just afraid my sister won’t give in so easily.”

Zhou gently stroked Song Ruoer’s shoulder. “Don’t forget, besides your grandfather and your father, there’s also the Regent now.”

Song Ruoer was slightly surprised. “But you just told me not to rely on him…”

Zhou smiled. “Silly girl, this isn’t called dependence it’s called making the best use of what you have. Understand?”

Song Ruoer lowered her head, her eyes flickering. “Mom, isn’t this… not very proper?”

Zhou replied, “What’s wrong with it? It’s just making use of your resources as a last resort.”

Song Ruoer tried to persuade her again. “Why don’t we just open our own herbal medicine shop?”

“Start our own?” In Zhou’s eyes, her daughter was still too naive. “Ruoer, it’s not that your mother looks down on you, alright? But do you even know how Song Ying’s shop was built? What she had to go through?”

Song Ruoer was at a loss for words. She really didn’t know. She just thought that as long as you had money, you could just hire people to run it.

Zhou continued, “Look at what happened this time if Yue Shaozhi hadn’t stepped in, do you think she would’ve agreed? Especially when you were the one who ‘stole’ her man? Who knows how much effort it would’ve taken to make her give in.”

Song Ruoer didn’t like what she was hearing. She stood up angrily and said, “Mom! What are you talking about? What do you mean ‘stole’? Shaozhi and I love each other!”

Zhou realized she’d said too much and quickly slapped herself lightly twice. “I was wrong. Okay, don’t be angry. It’s my fault. You just focus on your pregnancy, I’ll handle the rest.”

Song Ruoer pouted. “Don’t trouble Shaozhi.”

Zhou replied, “Alright, alright. I won’t trouble him, I won’t.”

—

Meanwhile…

Song Ying was honest when it came to doing business, since she’d accepted the money, she would deliver the goods.

Yue Shaozhi had found that something had gone wrong with the procurement of the final medicinal ingredient, so she had to personally go and resolve the issue.

She arrived at a herbal farmer’s house. The herbalist, who had been waiting anxiously, quickly came out to greet her. “Miss, you’re finally here.”

“How’s the situation?”

The shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly. “It rained suddenly last night, and the herbs got damp. They can’t be used anymore.”

This particular herb had already been processed and needed to be kept dry if it absorbed moisture, it would lose its effectiveness.

Song Ying looked at the herbalist. “Do you have any extra?”

The herbalist looked regretful. He could’ve made a good deal of money, but due to his carelessness, the entire deal was ruined.

“No… there wasn’t much to begin with.”

Song Ying looked at the spoiled herbs, picked up a small handful, and sniffed them.

The medicinal aroma was gone, it truly was unusable.

There were only two days left until the deadline she’d promised Yue Shaozhi.

She looked around and asked, “Aside from your family, is there anyone else nearby who grows this herb?”

The herbalist shook his head again. “Very few people grow this. It doesn’t sell well, so I’m the only one in the village making it.”

No one yet knew that this herb could serve as a substitute for top-grade palace medicine so naturally, there wasn’t much demand for it.

Song Ying had seized the opportunity as a first mover.

The medicine shopkeeper, fully loyal to Song Ying, suggested, “How about I search elsewhere?”

Song Ying shook her head. “Too late. From harvesting to processing, it’ll take at least three days.”

The shopkeeper frowned in worry. “Then what should we do?”

Song Ying turned to the herbalist. “Take me up into the mountains to look around.”