Meng Anci rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight Meng Anzhi to the death, but half an hour later, he hadn't even touched the hem of his sister's clothes.
Meng Anci stood dejectedly in the courtyard, thinking to himself, "How can a person live such a miserable life?!"
Just as he was about to burst into tears, Qing He's voice came, "Young Master, what would you like to eat for lunch?"
Meng Anci choked on his saliva and coughed repeatedly. He looked at Qing He in disbelief. What time was it? She was still asking him what he wanted to eat. How could he possibly eat?
That's right, the whole family works, but he's the only one who pays for his education; he's just a freeloader...
Meng Anci pouted, looking like she was about to cry again.
Meng Anzhi, "Make some mushroom soup and stir-fry some vegetables; my brother needs to replenish his fluids."
Qing He sighed and went back to the kitchen.
Meng Anci stared blankly at Meng Anzhi.
Meng Anzhi, "Why aren't you crying? It sounds quite nice, crisp and husky... It's not the same tune as others."
Meng Anci forced back her tears, wiped her eyes hard, and stormed into the kitchen.
" Qing He, my sister wants to eat stir-fried red chili peppers with green chili peppers. Remember to add plenty of chili powder."
After saying that, he ignored Qing He's strange look and ran into the study in a flash.
My heart was pounding with fear...
Turning her head, she saw Lu Chi sitting at his desk, holding letters he exchanged with the Empress in his hand, and official documents on the desk.
This was a temporary identity the Empress had given him: the Capital Pharmacy Assistant of the Capital, an official position responsible for purchasing medicinal herbs for the palace.
The Empress issued a special decree that if Jin Shanyao discovered any more rare and precious treasures, he should purchase them at a high price and send them to the palace, especially rare antidotes like ginkgo.
Because of this bottle of ginkgo, the Empress not only gave Lu Chi Lu Chi thousand taels of silver to redeem him from his servitude, but also gave him her private guard token to facilitate his actions.
Seeing Meng Anci enter, Lu Chi put away the letter and smiled, "Want to go horseback riding this afternoon?"
"No, I want to read."
Meng Anci sat down angrily and casually opened a book to start reading.
Lu Chi said "Oh," and then added, "I'll take Anzhi with me."
Meng Anci and Meng Anzhi now have an irreconcilable feud. Upon hearing that Lu Chi was going to take his sister horseback riding, he immediately stood up and said, "Then I'll go too."
Lu Chi said "oh" again and went out of the study.
They went out... Meng Anci was stunned. Weren't they going to say anything to comfort him?
Meng Anci blankly at the book, not knowing how much time had passed. Qing Yang came to call him for dinner, but didn't comfort him. Just when he thought his family didn't care about him anymore...
One dish after another was served. Looking at the table full of food, he hesitated to speak.
Is this a celebration of my failure to pass the imperial examination?
Jin Shanyao and said, "Nothing in life matters except death. As long as you're alive, you can turn things around. If you fail this year, try again next year."
If one starves to death or cries to death, then one truly will die without ever passing the imperial examination.
Meng Anci suddenly realized... his aunt was right, if he died, wouldn't he be forever a white-robed figure?
Meng Anzhi ladled out a bowl of soup and thoughtfully placed it beside Meng Anci. "Drink up. This afternoon I want to hear a faint, hoarse sobbing sound, like the sound of a kettle boiling water, you know?"
Meng Anci held the bowl and glared at her.
Meng Anzhi, "It's okay if you don't know. I'll boil water in a bit, and you stand next to me. Learn to cry for me."
Meng Anci... I'm so annoyed!
Failing the exam seems like nothing has changed, yet everything has changed.
Meng Anci stopped being impatient for quick results in his studies and instead became more steady and methodical.
My aunt said that some things can be done again, while others cannot. People should cherish every opportunity and try their best. Even if they don't succeed, it's not their fault.
When the academy opened, Meng Anci learned that Zhao Zhiyuan had passed the preliminary examination and had been sent by his family to study in the prefectural city.
His deskmate became Shiyan, Xiao Pang immediately came over to him the moment he saw him.
"I thought you could make it," she said, pulling a book out of her bag.
"I didn't pass either. My mother said the prefectural exam is held every year, so there's no rush."
Seeing Shiyan Meng Anci didn't speak, Shiyan leaned closer and asked, "What's wrong? Did your family scold you?"
"Without."
"Oh, my mom didn't scold me. She even praised me for being promising and said I'd definitely be better off next year."
Meng Anci glanced at him indifferently, "My aunt cooked a whole table of dishes."
Shiyan nodded, "It's time to celebrate..."
Life is back on track.
It was raining that day, Anzhi Hall closed its doors a little early. Just as the door was about to close, there was a loud, violent knocking.
"Coming, coming, stop knocking, you're practically breaking the door!"
Jin Shanyao the door latch, opened the door, and saw an old man standing under the eaves, holding an umbrella and soaking wet.
He looked anxious and spoke very quickly, "Dr. Jin, my wife went to the temple to burn incense today, and she accidentally fell on her way back."
He's currently delirious and spouting incomprehensible nonsense!
We consulted all the doctors in the city, including Doctor Qin from the Benevolence Hall, who all said it was an evil wind entering the body and that medicine was ineffective!
Doctor Qin said your medical skills are extraordinary, and perhaps you can find a solution, which is why I have taken the liberty of coming here.
"Dr. Jin, I bow to you," the old man said, about to perform the ceremony, but was stopped by Jin Shanyao.
"Can the patient be admitted?"
The old man wiped the water from his face. "The young master at home doesn't allow you to travel back and forth, for fear of accidents. But don't worry, we're willing to pay three times the consultation fee, so you won't have made a wasted trip."
The old man smelled of rotting flesh, which could still be detected even though the rain had covered him.
The familiar taste made Jin Shanyao suddenly laugh.
She stared intently at the old man, a playful look in her eyes, "Have you thought this through? Do you really want to invite me over?"
The old man's eyes were unfocused, but he immediately replied, "Dr. Jin, you're the one I invited. Please come with me to take a look."
With Jin Shanyao smiled at the old man, "One hundred taels for a house call."
"What?" The old man was stunned. Who charges such a high price for house calls? Jin Shanyao noticed his hesitation and reached out to close the door.
The old man hurriedly grabbed the door, gritting his teeth, "I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you, okay...?"
He took out one hundred taels of silver, closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and smashed it directly into the palm of the Jin Shanyao hand.
Jin Shanyao the silver notes into her bosom and called out to the backyard, " Dahuang Xiaoli, keep an eye on the two cubs, I'm going out for a bit."
When the old man saw that Jin Shanyao had agreed, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he quickly opened his umbrella and held it over her head.
"Dr. Jin, watch your step."
Jin Shanyao at him, said nothing, and followed the directions to get into the carriage.
The carriage was covered with a black cloth, with no windows. The curtains were drawn, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. Jin Shanyao sat in the carriage, resting with his eyes closed.
The torrential rain pounded on the roof of the carport, making a crackling sound. The wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs and onto the dirt road, and every sound clearly reached Jin Shanyao's ears.
The carriage came to a sudden stop... The surrounding silence was terrifying.
The carriage curtain was suddenly flung open, and the old man seemed like a completely different person, his eyes sinister and his smile ferocious.
"Miss Jin, we've arrived!"
Jin Shanyao slowly opened her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "I've never had a good impression of animals, especially when they're eating plants; I kill them without hesitation."
Xuanxin let out a hoarse laugh, "Miss Jin, you're really joking. Even at a time like this, you still have the mood to talk about animals and plants."
Before he finished speaking, the black cloth was suddenly ripped off, revealing the solid iron walls inside. Xuanxin had actually turned the original carriage into a square iron box.
With a thud, the car door slammed shut, Jin Shanyao firmly inside the metal box.
Xuanxin circled the iron box twice, then greedily peered through the crack in the door, inhaling the Spiritual Qi emanating from within. It smelled so good...