CHAPTER 268: CHAPTER 265: CLOUD AND MUD

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Old Mrs. Chen helped Xie Liangchen by patting her back.

"Well, as the saying goes, people sometimes slip up just like horses stumble," Mrs. Gao chimed in, "Miss Chen is usually so steady, yet she managed to choke on water."

Xie Liangchen wanted to cover her second aunt’s mouth; ever since the village’s clan school opened, her second aunt managed to say surprising things daily.

Xie Liangchen waved her hand: "I’m fine now."

Chen Zigeng went to fetch Chen Yongsheng and refilled everyone’s cups with hot tea, then sat on the side and observed everyone to ensure no one noticed the unease between the General and Sister.

Chen Zigeng suddenly felt a sense of loneliness.

Xie Liangchen said, "We’ll keep part of the silver coins exchanged for wool and silk to stockpile medicinal herbs and grains."

Chen Yongsheng nodded.

After the war will come a great plague; though the court will come to relieve the disaster, those who have experienced it know relief grain and medicines are simply insufficient. Perhaps Chen Family Village cannot do much, but lending a small hand is still beneficial.

Old Mrs. Chen agreed: "No matter what time it is, food is life-saving. Not to mention millet and coarse grains, even husk will be good at that time." At this mention, Old Mrs. Chen was full of things to say.

In summary, the village’s silver coins cannot be squandered this year.

Xie Liangchen said, "Once the battle situation settles down, we still need to make it clear to everyone that this silver coin was earned together by all and everyone must know where it goes."

Chen Yongsheng held back what he wanted to say; after all, the ancestors of Chen Family Village were saved by Prince Guangyang’s family, and whether or not they remember the Prince’s kindness, they should pass on this benevolence.

"It’s just silver coins, isn’t it?" said Chen Yongsheng, "Why should anyone be afraid of not earning money? The silver coins for everyone’s work will be distributed as usual, but it will just be using what is left by the village. We could enjoy such good days because of Miss Chen; anyone who dares to be heartless, I won’t allow them."

Xie Liangchen laughed and said, "We’ve been together so long, I know there is no one like that in the village, which is why I dare to make such decisions. Knowing is one thing, explaining clearly is another; setting this rule means no matter who may be the village chief managing everyone in the future, it remains the same."

"Everyone listens to Liangchen, and I’ll make sure the accounts are well kept too," said Chen Yongsheng.

After talking for quite a while, Chen Yongsheng and Xu Tingzhen then left.

As twilight approached, Xie Liangchen lit a lamp in the east room to look over the accounts, influenced somewhat by Mr. Xu’s emotions, it took her a while to calm down before she began fiddling with the counting rods.

After spinning the silk and linen, it would be time for the autumn harvest. If everything went as expected, Song Xian would then lead the troops to the eight states.

Even she felt rushed with preparations, let alone Song Xian.

With so many troops under his command, he needed to mobilize provisions and equipment, and discuss tactics with the deputy generals in the camps; he probably wouldn’t have time even to sleep.

"Collect the clothes, the wind is picking up, it might rain."

Xie Liangchen heard her grandmother’s voice in the yard, and suddenly remembered Song Xian’s shoulder injury. She still hadn’t given Song Xian any pig fat; how come it felt odd hiding away from such a normal thing as giving medicine?

Just as Xie Liangchen stood up to get the pig fat for Chang Yue to deliver, she heard two knocks on the east room door.

She hadn’t heard anybody coming.

If it were her grandmother or brother, they would have spoken up long before outside the door.

Could it be...

Xie Liangchen quickly walked a few steps and pulled open the two elm doors of the east room.

Song Xian stood outside, gazing steadily at her in the moonlight.

Xie Liangchen instinctively glanced towards the main house, feeling as if she were guilty of something.

"Zigeng is about to come out," Song Xian said softly.

Xie Liangchen quickly stepped aside, letting Song Xian enter the room, and realized she had been tricked when she saw him; she hadn’t seen any trace of her brother.

Song Xian walked to the desk, bent to find his small stool with familiarity.

"It’s behind the bookshelf," Xie Liangchen said.

Song Xian walked over, bent down, and picked up the small stool: "You put it away?"

Xie Liangchen replied frankly, "There are chairs in the room, it’s unnecessary."

Song Xian smiled but said nothing.

Once seated, Xie Liangchen asked, "Is there something the General didn’t get to explain?" Otherwise, why would he return?

Song Xian placed a porcelain bottle on the desk: "I heard from Zigeng that your hands were cut open recently from brewing medicine. Is it better now?"

No wonder Song Xian wouldn’t let her brew soup anymore. Xie Liangchen said, "It’s already healed, it’s not that the medicine is particularly harmful, it’s just during testing its dosage; going back and forth caused to much trouble."

Xie Liangchen lifted her hand near the lamp, only then she could faintly see the tiny marks on the back of her hand.

"This is White Jade Ointment from the Imperial Hospital given to my grandmother; luckily, there’s still a bottle unused, you should try it," Song Xian said.

Chen Family Village has the Familiar Medicine Institute, how could she be lacking such supplies?

She couldn’t reject Song Xian’s kind offer...

Under Song Xian’s gaze, Xie Liangchen took the White Jade Ointment in her hand and opened it, a faint floral scent wafted out. She dipped some of it and spread it carefully on the back of her hand.

Song Xian then nodded: "Remember to use it."

"Yes," Xie Liangchen replied.

"County Magistrate Qu is still waiting for me at the government office," Song Xian said.

"General should hurry then," Xie Liangchen said promptly. Song Xian had returned to Zhenzhou earlier, and County Magistrate Qu hadn’t yet seen even a shadow of him, surely he must be quite anxious by now.

Song Xian remained silent, still sitting under the lamp.

Xie Liangchen did not urge him again, instead sat with him for a while: "I’ll go get the newly made pig fat; when the General feels the old wounds ache, use it."

Xie Liangchen got up and went to the main house, shortly returning with the pig fat and handed it to Song Xian.

Taking the cloth package, Song Xian whispered: "I’ll be leaving then."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

"In these days, I fear I won’t be able to leave the government office, if you have the time..." Song Xian started.

"No time," Xie Liangchen declined, "I... There are also many matters in the village."

Song Xian smiled, "Alright then, I’ll come and see you after I’m done."

Watching his silhouette leaving the yard, Xie Liangchen felt something indescribable in her heart.

His coming back and forth entangle made her take a while to pick up the counting rods again.

...

Capital City.

Princess Jiahui knelt on the ground, even though it was already summer, she felt a penetrating cold.

Earlier, the eunuch read out the decree, the Emperor stripped her of the title of Princess Jiahui.

"Prin... Miss," Chun Shan said softly, "You should stand up first, kneeling too long will make you ill."

The Princess Manor was also going to be seized by the court; the Emperor ordered her to move to an outside residence within a few days.

That small residence was the place she and her father stayed when they first arrived in the Capital City; in the future, everyone would call her Miss Yang.

"Miss, there’s always hope, as long as there is life, there is hope," Chun Shan whispered.

"Miss Yang," a servant hurried over, "The Empress has sent palace attendants, saying they’re to escort you to the Nanshan Temple to study scriptures."

Miss Yang’s face was full of fury, wasn’t this enough? The Empress still wanted to step on her?

"Miss," Chun Shan grabbed Miss Yang’s arm, "Please bear it for now, the Prince will surely think of a way."