CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 184: CLEAR SKIES AFTER THE RAIN

Chen Zigeng’s nose felt a bit sour, it seemed like Sister had been away from home for years, and he wished he could run over and throw himself into her arms immediately.

Sister’s smile was still the same, always making people feel at ease just by looking at her.

He had promised just to take a quick look at the door, but Chen Zigeng didn’t want to leave, and since they wouldn’t let him in the epidemic prevention station, he decided to stay here and keep Sister company as well.

Xie Liangchen first looked at Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng, then her gaze fell on Song Xian standing behind them.

Xie Liangchen slightly bowed to Song Xian, and then waved her hand towards Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng.

Standing too far to see clearly, otherwise Xie Liangchen would have noticed the slight fluctuation in Song Xian’s deep, complex emotions—there were worry, joy, and rare gentleness, enough to melt away his distant aloofness that pushed people away.

After standing for a while, it was Old Mrs. Chen who said, "Quickly, let your Sister go back!"

Chen Zigeng responded and waved to Xie Liangchen again.

There were still many things to be busy with at the epidemic prevention station, so Song Xian invited Old Mrs. Chen to sit inside the shed.

Though the shed was simple, Chen Zigeng suddenly felt envious of Song Xian, as General Song’s place was good; stepping outside, he could see Sister’s epidemic prevention station.

Song Xian said to Chen Zigeng, "Wait a little longer, Mr. Xu and Miss Xie will be coming out from the epidemic prevention station soon."

Chen Zigeng’s eyes brightened, "So Sister can go home?"

Song Xian shook his head, "Not yet, they need to go to the Official Medicine Bureau to help first. But once out of the epidemic prevention station, they can move around freely."

Chen Zigeng asked, "Then can I go and accompany Sister?"

Old Mrs. Chen pulled her grandson back, "That’s the Official Medicine Bureau, you can’t just go in there casually."

Chen Zigeng looked at Song Xian, he and many from the Chen Family Village knew how to choose medicinal herbs and prepare basic medicines, although he wasn’t sure if the Official Medicine Bureau needed more hands.

"You can go," Song Xian didn’t wait for Chen Zigeng to speak, "We can all go."

Song Xian realized he had misspoken after finishing his words; fortunately, Chen Zigeng was too happy to notice, only he understood the meaning behind "we."

Once Xie Liangchen came out from the epidemic prevention station, he wouldn’t have to gaze from afar, and he could be beside her.

No one else knew, but he secretly felt delighted.

This kind of feeling was slightly bittersweet, yet it brought more soothing sweetness, just like the pear syrup she personally prepared.

...

The Zhenzhou Song Family.

Mrs. Rong had been kneeling in the shrine for several days without leaving; since Song Qizheng, Song Yu, and Song Min went to the capital, Mrs. Rong started only eating vegetarian food, wearing a green dress, with just a green jade hairpin on her head, either kneeling before Buddha or copying Buddhist scriptures.

"Madam, there’s good news." The housekeeper smiled as she entered to report.

Mrs. Rong raised her head, a flash of expectation in her eyes.

The housekeeper said, "The shop outside has opened, showing the city is stable."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Rong’s gaze gradually sank.

The housekeeper still didn’t notice anything amiss and said, "This time we were lucky during the epidemic, everyone in the Prefecture was safe and sound, it’s because Madam ate vegetarian and prayed that brought Buddha’s protection."

The housekeeper originally intended to flatter Mrs. Rong, yet Mrs. Rong’s expression only grew uglier.

Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao quickly walked in, saw the situation, and instructed the housekeeper, "Can’t you see Madam is copying Buddhist scriptures? Leave now."

The housekeeper managed to leave hastily after replying.

Mrs. Zhao closed the shrine door, walking over to Mrs. Rong’s side.

"Madam," Mrs. Zhao said, "having stayed in the shrine for so long, you should stroll in the garden."

Mrs. Rong spoke in a dull voice, "Is the epidemic really over?"

Mrs. Zhao said, "It’s over, no one has been sent to the epidemic prevention station for four days, the government office only has four big pots left boiling medicine, and the Official Medicine Bureau has sent many herbal medicines to other states."

Mrs. Rong frowned, her face filled with hatred, "Is everyone outside praising him?"

Needless to imagine, having quickly overcome the epidemic with little death in all of Zhenzhou, and even managing to help others.

The states and counties aided will remember his goodwill.

Mrs. Zhao didn’t respond, instead, she turned to brew tea for Mrs. Rong.

Mrs. Rong grabbed the teacup and smashed it onto the ground, gritting her teeth as she said, "Why? Why does heaven help him? Why does it deny me and my sons a way to live?

I came to the Song Family as a second wife and bore two legitimate sons for it. It was so difficult to manage the household, and before enjoying even a couple of days of peace, he’d begun to tighten the screws politically. Do you still see anyone in this household treating me as Madam? I’m not allowed to pay respects to the Old Mrs. Song, and before leaving, the master ordered me not to step outside the Song Family’s door.

Both my sons, one was about to lose his life, and I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t plan for him."

After taking a breath, Mrs. Rong continued, "On the contrary, Song Xian now wields military power, commanding the entire Song Family Army, both Zhenzhou and Zhaozhou are his. Even if the master doesn’t give Dingzhou to him, he’ll take Qi State sooner or later.

Once Song Xian takes control of the three states, he can petition the court to be appointed as a Military Governor. Across the North, besides these states, there’s only the Henghai Jiedu Envoy and the remnants of the previous dynasty.

Even if the master gave Dingzhou to Yu, how could Yu possibly contend with Song Xian using just one state?"

Mrs. Zhao stepped forward gently patting Mrs. Rong’s back, "Madam, don’t worry, the future is long..."

Mrs. Rong leaned back against the couch, her expression icy, "He won’t let us escape, he’ll eventually move against us, if I can’t beat him, death is the only path. Even if I beg on my knees, he’d never relent, you know that."

Mrs. Zhao nodded repeatedly, "Madam, calm down, there will be a way. So far ahead in the future, there will be chances..."

Mrs. Rong took a deep breath after a while, she looked at Mrs. Zhao, "There’s still no movement over there?"

Mrs. Zhao carefully glanced outside, "No, all the shops where we used to send messages have changed people, you know that the master captured many spies in the North, a few days ago... the master brought back several people held in the prison, apparently, belonging to the Third Young Master... under Zhao’s command."

"What?" Mrs. Rong opened her mouth in surprise.

Mrs. Zhao said, "So to be cautious, we shouldn’t make any moves now to avoid being caught by the master."

Mrs. Rong almost couldn’t breathe, the last glimmer of hope to save Min seemed lost?

Mrs. Zhao lowered her head, "You must make plans for Second Young Master as well, you can’t... lose him too in this entanglement, you must wait for the opportunity, leave some options open for when needed, you know how many years the master waited?

The master can wait, can’t you?"

Though Mrs. Rong knew Mrs. Zhao was right, her heart felt like it was being cut with a knife, she knocked the ink brushes, paper, and inkstone to the ground.

Mrs. Rong’s shout echoed from the shrine.

Old Mrs. Song glanced toward the shrine, and shook her head, "Eating vegetarian and worshipping Buddha daily, and still can’t change her mind."

Ultimately, it’s a matter of not being content; Old Mrs. Song began thinking of the Chen Family Village, appearing as though it lacks everything, but once inside, one sees it has everything.

"Send these items to the Chen Family Village, those to the Official Medicine Bureau for Miss Xie," Old Mrs. Song instructed, "Don’t mix them up by any means."

Only after the carriage left from the Song Family’s door did Old Mrs. Song return contentedly to her yard.

The housekeeper whispered, "Old Mrs. Song, it seems you didn’t prepare anything for the master."

It was only then Old Mrs. Song remembered, spent all day worrying about Liangchen, she had forgotten her grandson.