Chapter 319: Chapter 286: Visitors from the Lien Family
Xue was crippled by him.
Pei Jian was right. More than anyone else, he understood that sparing Xue’s life back then had practical considerations.
He was also worried about being too ruthless and the other party retaliating desperately. He could wander the world alone, life and death were inconsequential.
But what about Senior Sister?
He couldn’t ignore Senior Sister’s health at the time, but now if he encountered such a situation again, he wouldn’t hesitate.
Because now he has the capability to protect himself.
"Thank you, Mr. Pei, for informing me of these things, but I still have little interest in fame and fortune. As I said, if people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them. I just want to quietly study medicine, treating and saving people," Lin Miao still refused.
The bloody and brutal battles for the throne among princes have been a constant throughout thousands of years of history. Lin Miao was aware of this, and even if he were dragged into it passively, he didn’t want to get involved actively now.
At most, just be prepared.
To join proactively would make him a target; only a fool would do that.
And entering the fray now would mean being used as cannon fodder. Does he really look that foolish?
"It’s understandable for Mr. Lin to think this way. I didn’t come today to have Mr. Lin choose sides; I just don’t want him to become a sacrificial lamb unwittingly," Pei Jian said earnestly.
"Thank you, Mr. Pei, for the reminder. I will remember it," Lin Miao nodded.
...
"How did the conversation go?" Pei Jian took his leave and left Lin’s residence. As he got into the carriage, Zhuo Qingfeng, who hadn’t accompanied him earlier, was waiting inside.
"Cautious, stubborn, not someone easily persuaded," Pei Jian sighed.
Cautious and stubborn—those traits might be understandable in someone with much experience, but how did an eighteen-year-old manage to be like this?
"But there’s only so much help he can offer right now. It’s understandable he doesn’t want to get involved currently, but in the future, he might not have a choice," Pei Jian continued, "Have you tracked where Fahai went?"
"Fahai’s skills are too advanced; our people can’t follow him. If discovered, it would backfire, but we can confirm he’s headed northwest," Zhuo Qingfeng said.
"What have you found about Fahai’s relationship with Lin Miao?"
"Not yet, but a while ago, Lin Miao sent a child he adopted to Shanglin Temple to find Fahai. Afterward, Fahai left the temple for a short time, just a day or two. What he did, no one knows," Zhuo Qingfeng continued.
"It seems there is a relationship between them that we are unaware of. Otherwise, why would Fahai trust him with Rui’Er?"
"Mr. Dong, I think for a person like Lin Miao, we should just go with the flow. Once he feels threatened, he will naturally become our ally," Zhuo Qingfeng analyzed after some consideration.
"Hmm, let’s go back," Pei Jian nodded.
...
Eating, attending a small class.
Lien Yurou didn’t come tonight, and Xia Zhu arrived a bit late. It was Lin Miao’s first day back at Yongning Hall, and it was indeed a bit hectic.
"Xia Zhu, since the store is busy, recruit another pharmacist and focus more on the medical skills," Lin Miao advised.
"Understood, Master," Xia Zhu nodded.
Having Xia Zhu solely as a pharmacist would be a waste of her skills; her medical expertise can help many more people.
The content of the small class was to use today’s case of the pregnant woman as an example and explain through the medical case, which is the best way.
After all, Sun Youwei and Xia Zhu are not beginners anymore; they have reached the stage where they can diagnose and treat patients themselves. What they lack is experience.
...
Inside the bathhouse.
Lin Miao relaxed entirely in the bath; this could both relax muscles and allow him to contemplate issues, such as Pei Jian visiting him today and informing him that Xue entered the palace as an eunuch.
This might indeed give Mr. Xue a chance to turn the tables.
"Master, here’s the drink you wanted." Behind him came the soft footsteps of Lianxin, carrying a drink and walking over barefoot.
The so-called drink is a sweet alcoholic beverage, better chilled. Making ice is not difficult, and after mastering it, summers at home became more comfortable.
The iced drinks launched by Huaye Tower are very popular. During the trial opening, business was enviably good.
"Join me for a soak?" Lin Miao instructed.
"Yes." Lianxin shyly agreed, shedding her light robe and entering in just a pink undergarment.
The bath was large enough to accommodate two, or even ten or eight more.
"Master, shall Lianxin serve you?" Lianxin came into the water, leaning close, her lips slightly parted as she asked softly.
"Massage my shoulders for me," Lin Miao nodded.
"Yes, Master."
"Hmph, Sister said she was bringing a chilled drink for Master, but she actually wants to sneak a private taste..." Liansuo’s voice came from behind.
"Liansuo, what nonsense are you saying? I’m just massaging the Master’s shoulders," Lianxin retorted in embarrassment.
"Excuses, who needs to wear so little, and get into the water just to massage shoulders?"
"Master, say something..." Lianxin said, "It was you who asked me to come down."
Lin Miao was unmoved; he was well aware of the sisters’ intentions to bicker in front of him just for some favor.
As they spoke, Liansuo also entered the bath.
Before long, the room was filled with a spring-like atmosphere.
...
"Sister, the young master is too powerful. The two of us combined aren’t his match?" Liansuo, limp as a rag, leaned next to her sister Lianxin’s ear, her cheeks flushed, her face filled with residual delight.
Lianxin closed her eyes slightly, her chest gently rising and falling, sweat dripping down the white nape of her neck.
"And isn’t it because of you, insisting on competing, and now look, you’re suffering for it?"
"Actually, sis, I wanted to know the young master’s limits. Tell me, how many can the young master handle at once..."
"You’re unbelievable! How can you say something so embarrassing?" Lianxin spat, scolding. Can this sister speak properly?
"Sis, aren’t we Da Yue people like this, just saying whatever comes to mind without being shy."
"This is Da Li, the rules are different from Da Yue. You need to watch your words. We’re the young master’s people now; don’t embarrass him," Lianxin reminded her sister not to speak frivolously outside and cause trouble for Lin Miao.
"Sis, I’m not stupid. I only say this at home." Liansuo chuckled, "Sis, when do you think we can bear the young master’s children?"
"That’s not something you or I can decide, stop overthinking it."
"Sis, the young master is so amazing, his seed must be the best. I must bear his child!" Liansuo declared.
...
Moderate exercise benefits health. Didn’t the Yellow Emperor do the same? He’s much stronger than Lin Miao, whom Lin Miao admitted he couldn’t compare with.
But dual cultivation truly is a profound practice, aligning with the natural way of yin and yang.
Late at night, Lin Miao meditated, cultivating.
The news from Mr. Xue brought by Pei Jian brought considerable pressure; external help is just an embellishment, one’s own strength is fundamental.
Sorting through what one has learned, integrating it requires quite a long time, cultivation can increase in a short time.
Yet insight and experience can’t be gained overnight, they’re reliant on time accumulation.
...
Early the next morning, a carriage carried Guan Biyun and Lien Yurou away.
Lien Yurou didn’t even have time to bid farewell to Lin Miao and Sun Youwei.
The consultation point remained open, but Ling Yu’Er and Yuzhu replaced them in handing out appointment numbers, with Lianxin and Liansuo occasionally helping.
The herbal processing workshop in the back courtyard was entrusted to Sun Youwei.
She also enjoyed researching herbal processing, making her the most suitable choice.
When Lin Miao didn’t have patients, she would busily work on herbal processing in the back, with Ling Yu’Er and Yuzhu assisting.
After signing in, Pei Rui followed Lin Mao to train in martial arts, soon realizing just how daunting training with Lin Mao could be.
The training time and intensity Lin Mao maintained every day was more terrifying than at Shanglin Temple, but fortunately, training with Lin Miao allowed not only eating meat but also herbal baths.
After daily training, soaking in a herbal bath for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Pei Rui felt transformed.
Yet even with his efforts, his progress couldn’t match Lin Mao’s, not to mention the orphaned kids Lin Miao adopted, who were advancing rapidly, leaving him numb.
Three days later.
The second batch of goods heading to the Great Yue Country was officially loaded and ready to depart.
Su Chen came by to say goodbye to Lin Miao. This trip to Great Yue might mean he wouldn’t return until the year’s end, with this shipment double the last.
Besides glazed items, there was also "xuan paper," intended for initial sales in Great Yue. With the literary culture in Great Yue, items like the Four Treasures of the Study were popular.
Of course, the Su Family would also begin selling "xuan paper" in Li Jing, pinning great hopes on gaining recognition. If successful, the Su Family would have a foundational industry.
"Dear brother, I know you love beauties. This time, I’ll definitely bring you back ten or eight from Jiangnan."
"No way, Mr. Su, don’t joke like that, I can’t handle it." Lin Miao was startled, fearing Su Chen might misunderstand him as a "lecherous" person.
"Hahaha, I’m off; when I return, let’s drink three cups together!" Su Chen laughed heartily, mounted his horse, and left.
...
Soon after Su Chen departed, people from the Lien Family in the capital arrived.
The visitor was the Lien Family’s seventh, from Lien’s generation there were three, with Lien ranking second, and Lien Yurou was his grandniece.
If Lien’s generation is counted as one, the second generation of males in the Lien Family counts eleven, and even more girls, totaling twenty-five.
Lian Yurou’s father was Lien’s brother, the third master’s fourth illegitimate child.
Although they had many children, a third died young, and slightly over half reached adulthood.
Every family’s children faced mortality, especially among common people, where these rates were higher, with over half dying young.
The reasons were varied, including sanitation, congenital defects, and significantly, early marriage and childbirth.
The mortality rate for children of young parents was extremely high, often exceeding half.
Girls marrying and having children at fifteen or sixteen weren’t fully developed, so how could their children be robust?
If the soil is poor and the seeds aren’t mature, how can the crops grow?
Lian Yurou’s father was short-lived; her beautiful mother became a concubine, and when Lian Yurou was seven, her father died of an untreated cold.
She was illegitimate; after her father’s death, her mother was also neglected until apprenticing under Guan Biyun improved their conditions, at least enough to avoid bullying in the Lien mansion.
Often, her "snobbery" and willfulness were self-protective masks, a rebellious reaction born of insecurity.
The Lien Family wasn’t the top wealthy family in the capital but nearly so.
So their carriage was quite luxurious, even for the third house’s son, with only a minor official post.
Two or three two-horse carriages lined up, exuding grandeur.
