Chapter 2388: Chapter 2363: Magpie
Bai Shan obviously couldn’t go in, but after handing over the package to the guards, he didn’t leave. Instead, he took out a book and sat in the carriage to read.
Manbao had just wandered around the imperial estate and hadn’t had time to visit the cowshed when she received a letter. She opened it, blinked, and turned back to her room, immediately taking out a pen and ink to reply to Bai Shan.
After writing, she handed it to Xi Bing, "Have the guards pass this to Bai Shan."
Xi Bing took the letter out and returned with another letter in less than a quarter of an hour...
When the guard received Zhou Man’s letter, he stood for a moment before saying to Xi Bing, "Miss, isn’t Lord Zhou busy right now?"
Xi Bing replied, "Although busy, there’s always time to read letters."
The guard remained silent. Seeing Xi Bing’s hopeful eyes, he relented and took the letter out.
Another guard standing by immediately stepped forward to chat with Xi Bing, "Miss Xi Bing, have you had breakfast? I have some candy here for you."
Xi Bing smiled lightly, "Thank you, guard brother."
She accepted the candy, and then, when delivering the letter again, brought some pastries to share with the two guards.
The two guards: ...
They silently accepted the letter, then smiled and took Xi Bing’s pastries, turning to send one of them to deliver the letter to Bai Shan.
Finally, Imperial Doctor Lu couldn’t stand it and said to Zhou Man, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, if you don’t go to the cowshed now, we won’t finish today’s work by tomorrow morning."
Manbao could only say to Xi Bing, "Okay, this is the last letter. Tell Bai Shan there’s no need to reply today."
Imperial Doctor Lu frowned and said, "No need to reply tomorrow either, everyone’s busy."
Manbao promised, "I will complete the work on time."
At worst, do more today and less tomorrow.
Imperial Doctor Lu stopped speaking as Zhou Man’s speed was indeed impressive.
In the afternoon, when Director Xiao came, Manbao wandered over and asked, "Director Xiao, are you okay?"
Director Xiao had heard from the guards about this morning’s bridge-making between Zhou Man and Bai Shan when he had entered, and upon hearing her question, he glanced at her and said, "Are you aware of what happened outside?"
Manbao nodded.
Sitting and resting nearby, Imperial Doctor Lu raised his head and asked, "What happened outside?"
Director Xiao replied, "Nothing major, it’s almost taken care of."
Upon hearing this, Manbao, who had been planning to give up this business, was taken aback and then excitedly asked, "Director Xiao, did you take care of them all at once?"
"No," Director Xiao didn’t go into detail, just said, "Is Bai Shan coming tomorrow? If he does, tell him to inform your Fifth Brother to come to the imperial estate the day after tomorrow, someone will discuss the purchasing arrangements with him."
Seeing Manbao’s hesitation, Director Xiao stared at her, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, I’ve paved the way for you, surely you’re not telling me this business isn’t happening now?"
Hearing this, Manbao smiled, "Of course not, you’ve done so much, it would be ungrateful if I were to refuse."
Director Xiao was satisfied with this nod.
The Zhou family, after all, had shallow roots. If she was afraid and didn’t accept, there was nothing he could do, but it would make him look bad.
At this moment, he had no idea where to find a suitable person for purchasing.
Director Xiao was satisfied with Zhou Man’s courage, so he thought for a moment and asked, "I heard your Fifth Brother has always been involved in purchasing?"
Manbao, with a flash of insight, nodded, "Yes, we have a restaurant at home, and he buys all the chicken, duck, fish, meat, rice, flour, and vegetables used there."
Director Xiao nodded, "Let him come to the imperial estate the day after tomorrow."
Imperial Doctor Lu watched as the two of them negotiated a private transaction right in front of him.
Indeed, as Imperial Doctor Lu saw it, Director Xiao entrusting such a big buying task to Zhou Wulang wasn’t because of Zhou Wulang’s capabilities, but because of Zhou Man!
If this wasn’t a private transaction, what was it?
After discussing business with Zhou Man, Director Xiao turned to express concern for his subordinates’ personal matters, "You’ve been here for two days, are you used to it?"
He asked again, "Do you need to send a letter home for any necessities to be sent over?"
Of course, this was addressed to Imperial Doctor Lu, Zhou Man didn’t need it.
Judging by today’s events, he probably wanted her relatives and friends to visit the imperial estate less.
Imperial Doctor Lu couldn’t wrap his head around it, so he put the matter aside and seriously answered Director Xiao’s question, "Everything is well-provided here, there’s nothing for home to send over, and there are so many attendants, it’s much better than when we were in Xiazhou, so there’s nothing to get used to."
Sitting nearby, Manbao immediately raised her hand, "I do, I do. When I came in, I only brought some notes, and forgot to bring the manuscript paper and books for the medical book I’m compiling. Sometimes it’s quite boring when I’m free, and I want to continue compiling."
Manbao wasn’t called the Compiler of Fourth Rank for nothing; no matter where she was, she never gave up on compiling medical books, just with more or less writing.
Director Xiao: "...Didn’t the Deputy Magistrate Bai come today? Didn’t you have people pass messages back and forth several times?"
"Hehe, I forgot to write it this morning. Could you send someone to deliver a letter home for me, asking Bai Shan to bring it tomorrow?"
Imperial Doctor Lu: "You took the manuscript paper and medical book home?"
Manbao paused for a moment and replied, "Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince agreed to it. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the Crown Prince."
Imperial Doctor Lu was at a loss for words, as he clearly couldn’t ask the Crown Prince.
Oh well, she was Compiler of the Chongwen Pavilion, which meant that as an imperial doctor, she was the Emperor’s person, but as a compiler of the Chongwen Pavilion, she was the Crown Prince’s person.
And regardless of whether it was the Emperor or the Crown Prince, they obviously liked her more than him, so arguing over these trivial matters was pointless.
Seeing Imperial Doctor Lu silent, Manbao assumed she had convinced him, so she turned her head again and focused on awaiting Director Xiao’s reply.
What could Director Xiao do?
He could only agree.
Director Xiao handed the letter for his subordinate to take to Bai Shan.
Bai Shan was not at the Zhou Residence, but at the Liu Residence. However, since the letter came from the imperial estate, the people at home, fearing it involved a matter with Manbao, immediately arranged for the letter to be sent to the Liu Residence.
Bai Shan was studying with Liu Huan at the Liu family. In recent times, he had collected some test questions from previous Ming Classic exams for Liu Huan. After returning home in the morning and tidying up, he went with Bai Erlang to visit Liu Huan.
The Liu Residence welcomed Bai Shan’s arrival, especially Old Madam Liu, who directly instructed people to prepare lots of delicious food and drinks for them and even sent someone to invite Yin Huo from a couple of doors away.
Facing Bai Shan, she beamed and said softly, "You all are here for studying, so I won’t disturb you, but Huan’er is a dull child, and I hope you friends can guide him more."
Bai Shan quickly declared he wouldn’t dare.
As soon as Grandmother left, Liu Huan hugged the two of them, sobbing and crying, "You have no idea what kind of days I’ve been through these days. For nearly half a month, I’ve been studying when I open my eyes in the morning, and before I close my eyes at night. Look at my left hand."
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