Cao Jin looked at him.
What if it goes wrong?
"Then insult me."
Gu Moran answered quickly, pushing the teacup half an inch towards Cao Jin.
" Prince Yi is acting recklessly, squandering money. The Jingzhao Prefecture and Chang'an County have suffered because of him. I can bear this reputation."
Cao Jin looked at Yuan Shen.
Yuan Shen was also looking at the map, his gaze lingering between Shun'an Lane and Bitter Water Lane for a long time.
Cao Jin picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The tea was scalding hot, and his brows furrowed even deeper, but he didn't let them relax.
"I have conditions."
Gu Moran his hand.
"Explain."
Cao Jin said, " Chang'an County will send people to register the apprentices, and the martial arts academy will hold daily roll call. Apprentices are not allowed to go out at night, carry knives, or accept people of unknown origin from other academies."
Yuan Shen continued, " The Jingzhao Prefecture will send clerks to audit the accounts. Once the silver is deposited into the accounts, the Prince's Mansion is not allowed to privately transfer personnel, nor can it issue orders beyond the authority of the government."
Gu Moran nodded.
"Can."
Cao Jin added, "If they accept medicinal herbs at the free clinic tent, they must register them. We can't let itinerant doctors use the tent to show off."
Gu Moran glanced at him.
Chu Tianxing's smug face popped into my head.
A pulse diagnosis for five coins can make someone so angry they want to overturn the stall.
He put down his teacup.
"That's fine too."
Cao Jin then finished his tea.
Yuan Shen picked up the silver note and pressed his fingertip against the seal of the Prince's mansion, applying more pressure than before.
Gu Moran up and placed the map in front of Yuan Shen.
"Remember to write the report tonight."
Yuan Shen looked up.
Gu Moran smiled and said, "Tomorrow morning at the court session, the people from the Crown Prince's Residence will be waiting to see me impeached."
"Then you should demonstrate it to them."
The sound of rain downstairs subsided, and only the sound of the waiter turning his abacus remained in the teahouse.
"Alright, it's getting late, I'll take my leave now."
Uncle Fu stepped forward to hold the umbrella over him.
Gu Moran walked out of the private room and looked back one last time.
"My lords, if tomorrow's memorial is well-written, a few more people in the south of the city can survive."
He paused.
"If it's not well written, the three of us will get scolded together."
The door closed.
Only Yuan Shen and Cao Jin remained in the private room.
Yuan Shen picked up the silver note and pressed his finger on the seal.
Cao Jin looked at the map and said in a low voice.
"How could this be considered a ridiculous prince?"
Yuan Shen unfolded the paper left by Cui Yan and then looked at the map left by Gu Moran.
Water was still dripping from the eaves outside the window.
Yuan Shen threw Cui Yan's paper into the flames.
"Hey, stop overthinking it, get back to writing the report."
Cao Jin looked up.
Yuan Shen picked up his brush and dipped it in ink.
"First, I consult with Prince Yi."
The rain hadn't stopped when I left the teahouse.
Uncle Fu held an umbrella and followed beside Gu Moran. The raindrops hit the umbrella and made a soft, pattering sound.
"Your Highness, will Yuan Shen and Cao Jin betray you?"
Gu Moran stepped through a puddle, and the soles of her boots got muddy.
"It's possible."
"They can sell me out, but once the South City Redevelopment Project is launched, it will become their own political achievement."
" Yuan Shen has been in the Jingzhao Prefecture for eight years, Cao Jin has been stuck in Chang'an County for five years. The Crown Prince and the Second Prince didn't care about them before, but now they want to use them."
Gu Moran glanced back at the lit window of the teahouse.
"What we're offering isn't money, but an opportunity to do something truly helpful for them."
Uncle Fu said in a low voice, "If they truly cared about the people, they wouldn't be willing to let go."
Gu Moran nodded.
"Old ginger is spicier; Uncle Fu played this open scheme well."
Uncle Fu paused for a moment while holding the umbrella. "This old servant didn't think that far ahead."
Gu Moran said, " Uncle Fu, please stop hiding your true abilities."
Uncle Fu lowered his head and smiled.
"Your Highness, after tonight, the Crown Prince's Residence will likely be in dire straits."
Gu Moran chuckled.
"It's good to feel uncomfortable."
He stepped into the rain.
"Lately, I can't stand hearing anyone living comfortably."
The lights were still on in Shun'an Courtyard.
Ye Qingyun leaned against the bedside, her left arm hanging at her side.
That arm, from shoulder to fingertips, was completely out of control, as heavy as if it were being crushed by a stone slab.
My fingertips twitch occasionally, the pain shooting up my wrist, down to my neck and shoulders, and then getting stuck in my throat.
Sweat slid from his forehead to his chin.
He didn't wipe it.
The room smelled strongly of medicine, and the window paper was damp from the rain.
The lamp on the table was short-burning, the flame flickering close to the wick.
Shuhe brought in the medicine, carefully avoiding the threshold.
"Young Master, the medicine sent by the Second Prince's Residence is ready."
Ye Qingyun looked at the bowl of dark brown medicine.
The steam rose upwards, and the bitter smell entered my nasal cavity.
His stomach churned, and the metallic taste in his throat rose again.
Shuhe said anxiously, "Young Master, are you feeling unwell again? Take your medicine quickly. If you delay any longer, you won't even be able to wear clothes tomorrow."
Ye Qingyun didn't move.
He looked at the bowl of medicine, and the image resurfaced in his mind.
Chu Tianxing, munching on a steamed bun, asked Shuhe, "Your young master isn't crippled yet?"
That sentence sounded jarring to Shuhe when he came back and tried to repeat it.
Thinking about it now, it's even more hateful.
Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the window.
The two men were talking across the courtyard wall, their voices low, but it was so quiet at night that every word seemed to penetrate into the house.
"Have you heard? The Second Prince's Residence sent three cartloads of medicinal herbs to Divine Physician Chu."
"I heard about it, and I even inquired about Young Master Ye's injury."
Why ask about Young Master Ye's injury?
"Who knows? The Second Prince also sent medicine to Young Master Ye."
"They really care about Young Master Ye."
"Well, it's hard to say. In this world, you can't see into someone's heart. Whether it's concern or scheming, who can tell?"
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Shuhe's hand wobbled, and the medicine splashed onto the back of his hand, scalding him and making him gasp.
"Young master, don't listen to their nonsense."
Ye Qingyun stared at the doorway.
The sounds from outside the courtyard wall have ceased, but those words still echo in my mind.
The second prince delivered the medicine.
Chu Tianxing collected the medicinal herbs and also learned about his injuries.
The medicine bowl was placed in front of him, and the steam made his nasal passages feel dry.
These past few days.
He had taken the second prince's medicine.
But instead of getting better, my left arm seems to be really going to be useless.
Could it be that Chu Tianxing knew there was something wrong with the medicine, but deliberately kept quiet?
Or perhaps the Second Prince had long thought Ye Qingyun was useless and turned to win over that five-cash miracle doctor, deliberately sending the wrong medicine.
To avenge the doctor's broken nose?
Ye Qingyun gripped the edge of the bed with his right hand.
The wooden edge is pressed into the palm.
The poetry competition has already been lost.
If even martial arts are ruined in the capital, how will he recover?
What can make the Su Clan regret their actions?
What can he do to shut up those who laughed at him?
What's even worse is that the Second Prince and Chu Tianxing are trying to harm him!
"Pour out the medicine."
Shuhe's expression changed.
"Young Master?!"
Ye Qingyun looked up at him.
I said, pour it out.
Shuhe gritted his teeth, carried the medicine to the door, and splashed it into the corner of the yard.
The medicinal liquid spilled into the wet mud, turning the area black.
Ye Qingyun took the bamboo tube out from under his pillow.
When the bamboo tube is placed against the palm, the bamboo slips inside become warm.
The heat climbed up my wrist, and just as it reached my forearm, my left shoulder started to ache and go numb.
His shoulders were hunched, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead one after another.
Shuhe turned around and saw it; his face turned pale.
"Young master, please stop. Instructor Liu said you're wrong."
Ye Qingyun smiled but didn't reply, his eyes filled with hatred.
"Am I wrong? Are they right?"
He slowly stood up, holding onto the edge of the bed.
His left arm was draped over his side, and his right hand gripped the bamboo tube tightly.
When his foot landed, his knee buckled, but he braced himself, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.
Shuhe blocked the doorway.
"Young master, why did you get up?"
"I want to go to the free clinic booth."
What are we going to do now?
Ye Qingyun walked past him, her shoulder hitting the door frame, her face turning pale with pain.
He paused for a moment, raised his hand and pressed it against the door frame, waiting for the pain to subside.
The night outside the courtyard was dark, and the ground was still wet.
Shuhe chased after him.
"Young master, have you finally come to your senses and decided to seek treatment from Physician Chu?"