Physician Li and his two companions arrived at Lingshan Town on the fourth day of the seventh lunar month. On the morning of the fifth, they hired an herb gatherer familiar with the mountains, prepared their dry rations, and set off.
There were small villages scattered throughout Lingshan. Physician Li's group could search for Solomon's seal during the day and ask for lodging at the villagers' homes at night.
On the ninth, the sky was overcast from early morning, and it wasn't long before a torrential rain began to pour.
Unable to bask in the sun, Prince Hui sat in the main room reading a book. Yao Huang did not share this elegant mood; holding an umbrella in one hand and carrying Jinbao in the other, she went to the west courtyard.
Only Madam Gao lived in the backyard of the west courtyard. The east wing had been converted into a water room, where bathing water for the residents of both houses was boiled. The west wing had been changed into a laundry room to wash the silk clothes and quilt covers of the Prince and Princess Consort. Several rows of drying racks were set up inside, as precious silks could not be exposed to the scorching sun.
When Yao Huang arrived, Madam Gao and Aji were sitting on small wooden stools, washing clothes in the west wing.
Yao Huang stood at the door and first set Jinbao down. The little fellow immediately ran a joyful lap inside.
Madam Gao looked up at the Princess Consort, who was lowering her head to close her umbrella.
The Princess Consort was wearing an ordinary cloth blouse and skirt, with a pair of wooden clogs bought at the market on her feet. The rain outside was heavy, and she had jogged all the way over, leaving her feet soaked. As Madam Gao watched, the Princess Consort held onto the doorframe and stretched her left foot outside. The pouring rain instantly washed over her foot, washing away a few specks of mud and leaving only a tender, onion-white instep. Her five toes were painted with bright red polish, as tempting as red berries.
Thinking of something, Madam Gao asked with concern, Madam, your monthly courses are coming soon, aren't they? I'll go boil a basin of hot water for you to soak your feet, lest you catch a chill.
Yao Huang smiled and said, No need to boil water, I'm not that delicate. Aji knows, I wade through water countless times every summer.
After rinsing her feet, Aji laid a piece of coarse cloth on the threshold. Yao Huang sat there, chatting with the two of them while watching them wash clothes.
The rain actually made the place seem quieter. Suddenly, an angry woman's shout erupted from the neighboring Qi family: On what grounds? Why can Dalang, Erlang, and Sanlang all go to Lingshan Academy to study, but Silang can't and has to make do with the private school in town?
It was Madam Lü's voice!
Yao Huang and the other two exchanged glances and simultaneously pricked up their ears. The increasingly bold Jinbao even ran over, ready to bark a couple of times at the outside.
Yao Huang pressed down on Jinbao's head and continued to listen to the voices from the Qi family.
The voice of the person responding to Madam Lü was very low and completely inaudible. Then, Madam Lü angrily said again, Don't you try to fool me! Last year, Sanlang clearly didn't pass the academy's exam either. It was all because Dalang used his connections there, and you even gave him five taels of silver to give as a gift. This year, Silang and Sanlang scored about the same, so give Dalang another five taels of silver and let him go smooth things over! You were the one who said it: even though they don't share the same biological grandmother, they are still brothers. Why does he only help his full brother and not his cousin?
Squire Qi still made no sound. The old man didn't seem to have the temper to shout and confront others anyway. However, because Madam Lü mentioned the eldest son's children, Qi's eldest daughter-in-law spoke up, her voice high and loud: Mother, what kind of talk is that? They are all brothers, and Dalang certainly hopes his younger brothers will all be successful. Sanlang didn't do well in the exam last year because he caught a cold. Dalang specifically took him over to answer new questions set by the teacher, and because he answered well, the academy made an exception and accepted Sanlang. As for Silang, Mother, tell me honestly, how is Silang's schoolwork usually? Even if we took him for a makeup exam, could he pass? If he tests too poorly, the academy won't bend the rules for five or ten taels of silver. Why should our family waste that money?
Madam Lü: Shut your mouth! It is not your place to interrupt when I am speaking to your father!
Qi's eldest daughter-in-law: I don't care about other things, but Mother, you cannot falsely accuse Dalang of disregarding brotherly affection.
Madam Lü: Heavens! How was I deceived by your fake, honest appearance back then? If I had known you were a shrew, I would never have let you marry into this family!
Qi's eldest daughter-in-law laughed: I have given birth to three scholars for the Qi family. Mother, you should be happy that you have a good eye.
Madam Lü: Go, the two of you, attack her together! If I don't tear her mouth apart today, I...
Qi's eldest daughter-in-law: Come on then! Let me see who dares to lay a hand on me!
Yao Huang was dumbfounded.
Aji whispered, Qi's eldest daughter-in-law has very sturdy arms. I bet Madam Lü and her two daughters-in-law combined are no match for her.
Madam Gao: Indeed. With that build and that look in her eyes, you can tell at a glance she's not to be trifled with. She must have been very good at playing dumb back then, otherwise Madam Lü wouldn't have been foolish enough to find such a formidable step-daughter-in-law for herself.
The argument in the Qi family continued, but from beginning to end, Squire Qi's voice was not heard.
Yao Huang stayed in the west courtyard until Madam Gao had to go cook, and only then did she return to the east courtyard to see Prince Hui.
In the north of the main room, Zhao Sui sat in his wheelchair, watching the Princess Consort first set Jinbao down, then close her umbrella and rinse her feet. As the Princess Consort was about to enter, he withdrew his gaze in advance.
Yao Huang: The Qi family was arguing fiercely just now, did Second Master hear?
Zhao Sui shook his head. He had supported himself on the handrails in the west room for half an hour, then rested, bathed, and changed clothes, having only sat here not long ago.
Yao Huang assumed he had been reading the whole time. She walked over, snatched the Buddhist scripture, placed it on the long table, and then pushed the wheelchair to the front of the main room, facing the courtyard: All you know is reading. Aren't you afraid of ruining your eyes?
After saying this, she pulled a chair over, placed it next to Prince Hui, sat close to him, and told him about the messy affairs of the Qi family.
For the first time, Prince Hui interrupted the Princess Consort's casual chatter, looking at her soaking wet feet and saying, Go dry them first.
Yao Huang smiled and said, Why do you worry as much as Auntie? I just like this kind of coolness.
Saying that, she slipped her feet out of the wooden clogs, turned around, and laid her legs across Prince Hui's knees, deliberately wiggling her feet.
Zhao Sui watched for a while, then suddenly grasped the Princess Consort's left foot. It felt cool to the touch.
He took a handkerchief from his sleeve and covered the Princess Consort's instep.
Yao Huang: ...Will Second Master continue to use this handkerchief to wipe his face?
Zhao Sui: No, I'm giving it to you.
Yao Huang glared at him: I don't want a foot-wiping handkerchief. Give me a fragrant one.
Zhao Sui: ...
By the time he had dried both of the Princess Consort's feet, the handkerchief was completely wet. Seeing that he didn't know where to put the handkerchief, Yao Huang smilingly snatched it away, put on her wooden clogs, walked under the eaves, and stretched her hands out to wash the handkerchief in the rain. The dripping rain once again soaked her feet.
Zhao Sui thought, the Princess Consort must have done it on purpose.
Sitting down again, Yao Huang thought of Physician Li and his two companions who were still in the mountains, and inevitably felt a bit worried: With such heavy rain, I wonder if they are taking shelter in a villager's home or if they are trapped on the mountain.
Zhao Sui: It was cloudy this morning, so they probably wouldn't have gone out.
On the fourteenth of the seventh month, Physician Li's group returned. Physician Li first washed up and changed his clothes, then went through the moon gate in the front courtyard to pay his respects to the Prince.
Yao Huang also wanted to know the progress of the matter, so she sat beside Prince Hui to listen together.
To prevent anyone passing by the main gate from peeking through the cracks, Feiquan closed the door of the main room from the outside.
Physician Li bowed to the Prince and Princess Consort, and said in a low voice, "The huangjing herbs on the outskirts of Mount Ling are indeed scarce now. Only some one- or two-year-old seedlings remain. Over the past few days, we have inspected the huangjing seedlings across seven peaks. They mostly grow on the edges of forests in damp, shaded areas. The surrounding soil is moist and rich in leaf litter, providing enough shade while still allowing light to filter through the branches."
"I went to ask the herb-gathering families in the mountains. The perennial huangjing they find deep in the mountains also grows on the edges of damp forests. This is probably why herb gatherers cannot grow huangjing well in their own homes."
"According to the methods tried by the herb gatherers, huangjing can be planted by cutting the roots or by harvesting and sowing the seeds. I would like to first choose a piece of woodland in the mountains to clear and experiment. We can bury the roots and sow the seeds now, and imitate the places where wild huangjing grows by scattering a layer of leaf litter over the medicinal field. We will observe it for another year next year. If the huangjing in the field can sprout and grow normally, the Second Master can then spread this method."
Zhao Sui said, "Hmm. Clear four-tenths of an acre of land first and build a house next to it. You take some people to look after it. Before returning to the capital, I will find someone to take over."
Physician Li complied. Seeing that the Prince had no other orders, he took his leave.
Yao Huang asked curiously, "Who is the Second Master planning to have take over?"
Zhao Sui replied, "The magistrate of Lingshan County."
Yao Huang thought of the many nearby mountain peaks, and then thought of the price of huangjing. She speculated, "If this matter is really accomplished, it should be a great political achievement, right?"
Zhao Sui tacitly agreed.
Yao Huang said, "The Second Master came up with the idea, so why don't you continue to take charge of it yourself? This is a great merit that will benefit generations of Lingshan people, even for generations to come. Letting the magistrate do it means everyone will praise the magistrate in the future. I can't stand that. I want the common people to know that this was the Second Master's idea and remember the Second Master's kindness."
Zhao Sui replied, "This area is under the jurisdiction of Lingshan County. Even though I am a prince, I have no right to directly bypass the magistrate to clear land and plant medicine."
Yao Huang only had a martial artist father who earned his official title through fighting; she didn't understand the affairs of civil officials. But she knew that Prince Hui had an emperor father who ruled the world.
Leaning close to Prince Hui, Yao Huang whispered, "If you want to manage things, isn't it simple? The Prince can just go tell Imperial Father. Doesn't the imperial court send out imperial envoys every year? So many magistrates of Lingshan County have never thought of planting huangjing on the mountains. Only the Prince has both the heart and the wisdom to enrich the people. If Imperial Father knew, he would definitely be willing to let you continue to preside over this matter."
Zhao Sui lowered his eyes and said, "Once this matter begins, it will take at least five years. I do not have that kind of energy. It is most suitable for the magistrate to take it over."
Yao Huang lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.
Zhao Sui looked at the Princess Consort's fingers and said, "Imperial Father does not know that you and I came to Mount Ling to escape the summer heat, and I have no intention of letting him know. I will instruct the magistrate to submit a memorial to the imperial court himself, concealing my involvement. After returning to the capital, do not let it slip. It is best not to mention it to your father and mother either."
The Princess Consort raised her head, her eyes full of the feeling of suffering a loss.
Zhao Sui held her hand and explained, "Don't just think about the benefits of success. First of all, Li Dechun's farming method may not be feasible. Even if it is, convincing the people to believe it and encouraging them to clear land will take months to succeed. After clearing the land, it is necessary to teach the people the farming methods and constantly monitor the growth of the medicinal seedlings, which will be mentally and physically exhausting for five years. I only had a sudden idea; the one truly implementing it is the magistrate. If the magistrate dares to take it on, the political achievements he earns should be his."
The Princess Consort still pouted.
Zhao Sui added, "Furthermore, the magistrate needs political achievements to be promoted. I am already a prince. Why would I need this icing on the cake?"
At eighteen, he had volunteered to go to the battlefield to show his abilities and serve the country, not to prove anything to his Imperial Father.
Before his legs were crippled, Zhao Sui had never thought of fighting for that throne. Now, he wouldn't even consider it.
He only needed someone to take over this matter and truly implement it. He didn't need any good reputation or credit.
Yao Huang could not refute Prince Hui.
But she was just unhappy. So many people in the capital treated Prince Hui as a cripple. The truth was that Prince Hui was not a cripple at all; he was incredibly, incredibly, incredibly amazing!
