Chapter 38

Last night, there was a light rain that stopped before dawn. Early in the morning, the spring orioles chirped melodiously on the branches.

Su Ci stretched lazily. The charcoal brazier had gradually gone out at night, and the house, which hadn’t been lived in for a while, was somewhat cold. Initially, she felt too warm, but as she slept, she rolled into Yang Yanzong’s arms, and they slept together until morning.

Yang Yanzong, always alert and never one to sleep in, found this to be a rare exception. Usually, he would have already finished his sword practice by this time. Now, he lay in bed, leisurely playing with two strands of Su Ci’s hair.

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Before long, Su Ci also woke up. She never slept deeply in a strange bed. Before she even opened her eyes, she was mumbling. Yang Yanzong raised an eyebrow and listened. What a racket early in the morning, chattering away. Su Ci rubbed her face and was fully awake.

The two had a passionate night, and after washing up in the middle of the night, they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Now, their nightclothes were neatly arranged, but their body heat was intertwined. In the lazy morning light, even Yang Yanzong seemed less indifferent and sharp than usual. His long, coarse black hair was spread over the new pillow, making his features look gentler.

With her restless hands, Su Ci poked and prodded, almost provoking him to start another round. She squealed and laughed, begging for mercy. This man had incredible stamina, showing no signs of fatigue after a night of intense activity. She felt a bit sore in some places, but it didn’t hinder her movements. Today was their first day as a married couple, and they had to serve tea and meet the Yang family so she couldn’t cause any more trouble.

Yang Yanzong knew there were matters to attend to this morning. Hearing her soft pleas, he snorted and finally relaxed, letting her go.

He rolled out of bed and splashed cold water on his face, and Su Ci winced at the thought of how cold the water must have been after sitting out all night.

The two had been very familiar with each other even before marriage, and they had already gone through the motions, so they were naturally different from ordinary semi-strangers. After they woke up, they playfully tussled for a while, and only when they heard voices outside the courtyard did they get up.

Yang Yanzong took off his nightclothes and changed into a tight-fitting inner garment. He glanced at Su Ci, who was propped up on the bed with her chin resting on her hand, her feet playfully moving behind her. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Come here.” He lifted his chin, indicating her to come over. In the past, he had often teased her, like when he placed a food box or handed her something, and she would always respond with, “But we aren’t married yet.” Well, now they were married, and serving her husband by helping him dress and groom himself was a woman’s duty. So, come on!

He pointed to the neatly hung clothes on the wooden beam, raising an eyebrow to signal Su Ci to hurry up and get to work instead of just watching.

If Su Ci were that obedient, she wouldn’t be herself. She cheerfully said, “But I don’t know how!”

She rolled her eyes, jumped off the bed, grabbed a belt, and smiled, “I’ll help you with your belt.”

Barefoot, she stepped onto the cold floor, and after saying that, she squealed and jumped back onto the bed.

Yang Yanzong put on his inner armor and outer robe, and she jumped off the bed again, slipped on her shoes, and helped him with his belt. But instead of tying it properly, she deliberately tightened it too much. Yang Yanzong pretended to be angry, grabbed her, threw her onto the bed, and pinned her down. Su Si screamed, rolled around, and laughed so hard that tears came out, her hair a mess like a madwoman.

Yang Yanzong looked at her with disdain, “No manners, so messy.”

He scolded her and sent her off the bed to wash up and get dressed.

The guards in the hallway were already waiting outside with hot water. Yang Yanzong glanced at Su Ci, who had retreated into the inner room. He called them to bring in the hot water, wash the basin, and replace it with fresh water. The guards, eyes downcast, dared not look up at the warm and fragrant room, quickly carrying the water buckets away.

Yang Yanzong thought to himself, it’s time to hire more servants for the household; it’s too inconvenient always to do it this way.

Su Ci finished changing and washing up and then sat at the dressing table to do her hair. To be honest, she wasn’t very skilled at traditional women’s hairstyles and didn’t like the round buns that looked too old-fashioned. She skillfully styled her hair into two buns, a cute and lively look suitable for both young girls and young women—perfect!

She held her hair in place, but the hairpin was a bit far. She saw Yang Yanzong standing by the treasure cabinet in the copper mirror, seemingly lost in thought. She called him for help, asking him to hand her the hairpin.

She called twice, and Yang Yanzong, slightly annoyed, glanced at her, picked up the hairpin, and tossed it to her. Then he picked up the fire starter by the candlestick, lit it, and set a long strip of paper on fire.

—It was the note from yesterday. Because Su Ci had interrupted him last night, he hadn’t burned it then, so he was doing it now.

Impressive. Last night, even after undressing Su Ci, she hadn’t noticed where he had hidden the note. His skill was remarkable.

With her sharp eyes, Su Ci quickly pinned her hair and stood up, leaning on his arm to peek, “What did it say?”

The small note was already burning, but Su Ci still saw the content. There was no signature or heading, just a simple sentence: “Everything is ready.”

She didn’t know if it was written by the old emperor himself—probably not—but it didn’t matter. The old emperor’s message was clear: everything was ready, and it was time to act.

Su Ci pouted and whispered, “So what do we do now? Do we need to act immediately?”

The old emperor was quite old and had just recovered from a severe illness. Given his urgency and the decision to accept Yang Yanzong as his weapon, the results needed to be immediate.

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What will Yang Yanzong use to create this breakthrough? What will he offer the old emperor as a satisfactory answer?

Yang Yanzong smiled and glanced at Su Ci, saying softly, “The heir.”

The two words from his mouth were completely different from the warmth and playfulness of the young couple earlier. His sharp and handsome face displayed the familiar cold indifference and a hint of ruthlessness.

—Don’t think he didn’t know. Yang Yanzong had people around the Sixth Prince, and the heir had been spreading rumors during his time in the palace. Fortunately, the Sixth Prince wasn’t one to follow the crowd, and with his people speaking behind the scenes, there hadn’t been any impact yet. But this couldn’t continue indefinitely. For both public and private reasons, with new and old grudges combined, Yang Yanzong naturally chose the heir, Ji Yan, as his target!

Yang Yanzong smiled again, but the smile lacked warmth. He said calmly, “Do you know why His Majesty was summoned by Huang Shilong that day?”

Huang Shilong? Su Ci knew this person. He was the imperial envoy sent by the old emperor to the northeast for disaster relief, and he was said to be very capable.

Su Ci felt uneasy, “Did something go wrong in the disaster area again?”

“Yes and no.”

Yang Yanzong released his hand, and the burnt paper ash fell to the ground. He flicked his fingers, “Do you remember the Wuchuan silver mine discovered by Liu Ying’s brothers?”

Su Ci nodded vigorously. How could she forget that!

Yang Yanzong’s expression darkened, “Twelve days ago, on the thirteenth day of the first month, seventeen silver transport ships bound for Annam and other countries encountered a huge storm and sank about 130 miles from the estuary.”

The Liu Ying brothers’ case had concluded with the three princes destroying evidence together, and the old emperor had to endure it silently. However, the aftermath of the case—the super large silver mine discovered by Liu Ying—was truly remarkable. The mountain’s silver reserves amounted to eighty million taels of silver! Eighty million, more than a year’s worth of taxes for the entire Da Qing dynasty, and that was in good years. In the past two years, the treasury had been running deficits due to drought and war. Such a large sum of silver could only be confiscated into the national treasury. But with the ongoing wars and droughts, especially the latter, which was a bottomless pit, the treasury was extremely tight. Huang Shilong’s disaster relief efforts required a lot of money, food, and medicine. As soon as he heard about the Wuchuan silver mine, he urgently requested funds, sending three memorials a day, every day.

“Additionally, it’s said that malaria outbreaks have been discovered in Anzhou, Pingzhou, and Luomazhou.” Yang Yanzong’s voice was calm, but Su Ci gasped.

In times of disaster, the most feared thing was an epidemic! Malaria was one of them.

“Is it serious?”

Yang Yanzong said, “Several towns have been temporarily sealed off.” It’s not too serious yet, but the future is uncertain.

Therefore, many medicinal materials need to be prepared. Malaria is still an incurable disease, meaning there is no specific medicine for it. Generally, remedies like “Jie Nuo San” and “Da Yuan Yin,” made from Bupleurum, Areca, Black Plum, Cinnamon Twig, and Dried Ginger, are used to expel evil and stop vomiting and diarrhea.

Previously, the cabinet approved the emperor’s bulk purchase of silver. Two-thirds of this silver was shipped to countries like Annam and Tega, which have abundant medicinal materials, to exchange for food and medicine to continue disaster relief efforts in the coming spring and summer. However, due to a storm, the silver transport ships sank to the bottom of the river, and the local authorities couldn’t salvage them, so they reported the situation to the court.

Because of this major incident, his matter was resolved in just a few days. Yang Yanzong sat down and adjusted his sleeves. Being very attentive, Su Ci poured him a cup of tea from the warm teapot. Yang Yanzong took a sip, but it was cold. He glanced at her, and Su Ci playfully shook his arm, “Husband, dear husband, tell me, what else?”

Yang Yanzong, slightly annoyed, put down the cold tea and glanced at her, saying, “At the end of last year, His Majesty personally led the army and was injured in a fall from his horse. He suspects someone colluding with the enemy.”

It was clear there was something fishy. The old emperor was quite old, and even if he had been brave in his youth, now leading the army was mostly for show. But it seemed someone had conspired with the enemy that day, causing the central army to collapse and the emperor to be injured and fall from his horse.

Su Ci, very clever, connected the dots, “Seventeen large ships all encountered a storm and sank. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?”

“I don’t know.” Yang Yanzong smiled. These were just his vague guesses, with no evidence at the moment.

“Now the court is sending people to Luozhou to salvage the sunken silver, and various factions are involved.”

In these times, nothing can be done without money, especially when vying for the throne. When the eighty million taels of silver fell into the emperor’s hands, all factions were very unhappy. After all, some factions had discovered the silver mine and silver treasury before the emperor. The exact situation of the river sinking is still unclear, but from the emperor’s previous acceptance of Yang Yanzong, it was evident that the emperor, being very old and severely weakened, deeply understood the urgency of his situation. He was likely more desperate than they imagined.

Yang Yanzong sensed something unusual in this river sinking incident.

It’s not about whether it really happened or who was involved—enemy spies, the emperor, or the princes and the Kun faction unwilling to see such a large sum of silver slip away without getting a share.

It’s unknown, and it’s unclear if anyone really tampered with it, but the Third Prince’s faction was indeed very unhappy. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so eager to salvage the sunken silver.

“I’m afraid Huang Shilong will be disappointed.” Yang Yanzong said calmly. Huang Shilong was a rare official who genuinely cared for the people, but unfortunately, even his emperor master didn’t entirely focus on the disaster victims.

Yang Yanzong couldn’t interfere with the above matters and couldn’t gauge their depth, but he had already decided to eliminate Ji Yan in this river sinking incident!

Su Ci thought for a moment and understood. With so much money at stake, wanting to seize the opportunity was normal. “But Ji Yan must know it could be dangerous, right? What if he doesn’t want to go?”

Yang Yanzong sneered. If Ji Yan didn’t want to go, he would make him want to!

Yang Yanzong smirked, “Ji Yan has private soldiers in Taiping Prefecture.”

Yang Yanzong said it casually, and Su Ci was surprised. She blinked, “Did he tell you that before?”

Yang Yanzong laughed. How could that be possible?

Su Ci pouted, seeing his smile and understanding his meaning, “What else?”

Yang Yanzong’s mocking smile faded, and his expression became sharp again. He said coldly, “Reciprocity. Letting him die so easily, where’s the fun in that?”

So, he never considered assassinating Ji Yan. Firstly, it wasn’t easy, and everyone knew about the enmity between him and Ji Yan. He didn’t plan to make himself a target. Secondly, the old emperor didn’t want the mere assassination of the Sixth Prince’s heir.

Lastly, dying so easily—how could it be that simple?!

Yang Yanzong’s eyes gleamed with a chilling intent. He smiled coldly, “If the Sixth Prince has to kill his own son, that would repay Ji Yan’s previous schemes!”

Forcing the Sixth Prince to kill his own son, making him wield the knife himself! Ji Yan must taste the endless fear and terror and die in agony in the depths of despair. Only then would the previous debts be settled!

Su Ci shivered. Wow, Yang Yanzong was indeed ruthless. Being his enemy must be painful. Fortunately, she never was and never planned to be.

The couple whispered for a while, and the sky outside was fully bright. Seeing this, Yang Yanzong didn’t delay any longer and got up to take Su Ci to the front hall to meet his parents.

“Wait, wait!” Su Ci tugged at his sleeve, thought for a moment, and then ran to the small desk in the bedroom. She ground a bit of ink, spread out a piece of paper, and quickly wrote a prescription.

—”A handful of Artemisia annua, soaked in two liters of water, and squeezed out the juice. It can cure malaria.”

This was from Ge Hong’s “Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up One’s Sleeve” from the Jin Dynasty. It was a rare book, and it was from this that Tu Youyou discovered and successfully extracted artemisinin in the 1970s, leading to the eventual eradication of malaria in China. What she wrote was the original prescription from “Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up One’s Sleeve.” Compared to “Jie Nuo San” and “Da Yuan Yin,” it could be considered a specific remedy. Given the current turbulent situation, she couldn’t do much, but contributing a prescription was within her ability.

“This prescription is quite effective, but it’s not the best. I’ll think about whether I can come up with a cold extraction method.”

Given the current conditions, scientific extraction of artemisinin was impossible. However, she remembered reading about some traditional cold extraction methods in her grandfather’s books on this historical period. She couldn’t recall them clearly and needed to think more.

Su Ci handed the paper to Yang Yanzong, scratching her chin as she spoke.

Yang Yanzong glanced at the paper, then looked at her, his expression deepening. “Do you know how much this prescription is worth?”

Su Ci chuckled and sweetly flattered him, “Isn’t that why I have you? I don’t need money to spend, right?”

You’ll take care of me.

“That’s true.”

She clung to his arm, acting coquettishly, her big eyes bright and charming. She had hurriedly ground the ink earlier, getting some on her fingers and chin, looking adorably silly. Yang Yanzong gazed at her for a moment, then used his thumb to wipe the ink off her chin.

She looked down, saw the black ink, and rushed to the mirror, exclaiming.

Yang Yanzong looked at the light yet weighty paper in his hand. He called A Zhao over and instructed, “Find a suitable rural doctor, give him the prescription, and have him present it to Huang Shilong as an ancient family remedy.”

It was a sunny day, with birds chirping and a golden ray of sunlight falling on the reddish-brown veranda and Yang Yanzong.

This man stood at the steps, hands behind his back, tall and straight like a spear, ready to strike. Even his silhouette was impressive. Su Ci admired him for a moment, thinking she had made a good choice.

A Zhao carefully folded the paper, put it in his pocket, and left quickly.

Yang Yanzong turned back, and Su Ci stood at the door, smiling brightly. He beckoned, “Come on, it’s getting late.”

Su Ci jumped down the steps, took his arm, and walked out. But once they left the courtyard, she let go, knowing it wasn’t fashionable to walk like that anymore. Overall, meeting the in-laws after the wedding wasn’t extraordinary. Yang Chongying and Mrs. Yan were already waiting in the main hall. Yang Yanxin and Yang Yanzhen were also present, the latter looking very happy and greeting Su Ci with a wink.

Yang Chongying stroked his beard, pleased to see his eldest son and daughter-in-law enter, smiling broadly.

Yang Yanzong led Su Ci forward, and a maid brought two brocade cushions and a tray. After bowing, Yang Yanzong offered a cup of tea, “Father.”

Su Ci followed suit, offering tea with a smile, “Father.”

“Good, good!” Yang Chongying couldn’t stop smiling. He took a sip of tea from Yang Yanzong and then from Su Ci and gave the couple a gift. He took a box from Aunt Ping and handed it to Yang Yanzong and Su Ci.

Then, it was Mrs. Yan’s turn.

Mrs. Yan’s smile wasn’t as bright. She wasn’t thrilled about having both Su sisters as daughters-in-law, but with Yang Chongying and Yang Yanzong present, she didn’t dare show her displeasure too much. She forced a smile, took the tea, and gave a gift. “Good, you may rise.”

Once the tea ceremony was completed, Yang Chongying immediately asked the couple to rise.

Next, they met the other family members, all of whom were familiar. Yang Yanxin and Yang Yanzhen cupped their hands and called her “sister-in-law.” The age difference made Yang Yanxin a bit awkward, but Yang Yanzhen was much more cheerful, calling her “sister-in-law” loudly and clearly. Su Ci smiled and gave them each a jade pendant as a meeting gift. These were all familiar faces, so there was no need to be overly formal. However, there were two unfamiliar faces: Aunt Ping and Aunt Min. One was gentle and proper, while the other was younger and more beautiful. They were Yang Chongying’s concubines, whom Su Ci hadn’t met before. These two didn’t need Su Ci to greet them; instead, they had to greet her. They stepped forward from behind Yang Chongying and Mrs. Yan, bowing deeply and addressing her as “Young Madam.”

Su Ci sidestepped slightly, as it was improper for a junior to receive such a bow from concubines. She returned the bow.

Su Ci glanced at Yang Yanzong and noticed he didn’t even look at the two concubines, treating them as invisible—not out of displeasure, but complete indifference.

After the greetings, Su Ci sat beside Yang Yanzong, with Yang Yanxin and Yang Yanzhen opposite her. The two concubines returned to their original positions, standing.

Yang Chongying casually dismissed them, as they were of no use after the greetings. The family chatted about their stay and sleep, then moved to the dining room for breakfast. Mrs. Yan had just wiped her lips when Yang Yanzong said, “Pack up, we’re going back today.”

She paused and quickly asked, “Eldest son, um,” she looked around, “can’t we stay here?”

Yang Yanzong patiently explained, “Let’s go back, Mother. This place by the water isn’t suitable for Father’s health.”

The real reason wasn’t that. It was an unfamiliar residence, and he didn’t know if there were any secret passages or hidden doors. Until he thoroughly inspected the place, he wouldn’t move in. Of course, the reason given to others was the one mentioned earlier, and filial piety came first, making it quite reasonable.

Mrs. Yan was very disappointed, hesitating several times. Yang Yanzong stood up and supported her, whispering a few words in her ear, then gently reassured her, “Mother, don’t worry. I will ensure you live in a grand house in the future.”

“Alright, then.”

Mrs. Yan finally agreed. With Su Ci present, Mrs. Yan saw her smiling brightly, her lively eyes always shining. Not wanting to appear inferior, she nodded gracefully and instructed the maids to pack.

There wasn’t much to pack, as they hadn’t planned to stay long. Apart from Mrs. Yan’s luggage, there were just some clothes. Mrs. Yan’s luggage had yet to be unpacked, so they were ready. Before lunch, the group escorted Yang Chongying back to the Yang family home in the camp.

They had lunch together as a family. Yang Yanzong was very busy, and this was the longest he could afford to stay. After lunch, without even resting, he took Yang Yanxin and Yang Yanzhen out.

Before leaving, Su Ci glanced at Mrs. Yan and said with a smile, “Father, Mother, the medical camp is very busy, so I need to go there.”

Before Yang Chongying could speak, Yang Yanzong nodded, “Go ahead.”

And so, Su Ci happily went on her way.

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