Chapter 340.1: Stabbing Once More

Li Hong Yuan opened the box. Inside, there were three things.

A letter, most likely written by the Pei clan leader, also a yellow and rough sheet of paper, clearly a sheet of ancient paper, and at the very bottom was a half a palm-sized jade pendant, having a openwork[1] design carved with dragons and phoenixes, the jade transparency very ample. Just this piece of jade’s value in itself was already out of the ordinary. Generally speaking, jade with designs of dragons and phoenixes all have the meaning of joining two surnames, and under normal circumstances, won’t be casually given away. Li Hong Yuan wouldn’t be unaware of this layer of meaning, and reasonably speaking, this thing, he wouldn’t be interested in either, yet at the moment, he was pensively playing with the jade pendant.

Jing Wan put down the clippers and walked to his side, “Is there anything special about this jade pendant?”

“The design patterns are very special.” Li Hong Yuan casually had the jade pendant handed to Jing Wan.

Jing Wan was confused inside. The patterns were special? Was the living Enma someone that would pay attention to these? She had the jade pendant looked over again and again. The dragon and phoenix designs were also varied and in thousands of poses, and regardless whether it was the sculpting or the carving, it was all as exquisite and refined as possible.

Jing Wan really couldn’t tell what was so special about this jade pendant.

Before Jing Wan could make sense of it, Li Hong Yuan had already handed her that letter, and conveniently had the jade pendant in Jing Wan’s hand taken back, throwing to one side. “There’s nothing special about the jade pendant itself. Wangfei should have a look at this.” Truthfully speaking, the contents of the letter made him somewhat want to laugh.

Jing Wan took it over and quickly swept through. Regardless whether it was her expression or gaze, all didn’t have any changes. Just, picking up that sheet of ancient paper, “Anti-aging pill? At most probably just having some effect on slowing down the aging process. Having such a name, isn’t it a bit exaggerated?” This prescription of medicine, according to the letter, was just a bit of the Pei clan leader’s kindly feelings. As for that jade pendant, this was the Pei clan’s token, passed down from their ancestors, and for the Pei clan, it was quite an important thing. Of course, the letter also promised, as long as Li Hong Yuan keeps the Pei clan daughters by his side, not only will there be a generous dowry, they will also a hundred percent assist him.

Don’t look at how the Pei clan right now seemingly have signs of collapsing, it was still far from this step. In this nearly a hundred years worth of time, what kept the Pei clan standing tall and not collapsing, aside from marriage connections, it was just those renowned great scholars. They have disciples all over the world, and under the great backdrop where the master and disciple relationship was equal to father and son, the disciples of these great scholars and renowned masters were precisely the Pei clan’s strong foundation. Among these people, the ones that served as officials absolutely weren’t in the minority. Just imagine, even Jing Wan’s great-uncle alone all possess quite a bit of influence, and the Pei clan currently have five great scholars and three renowned masters in existence. These people combined together absolutely possess a shocking force. This was also the reason why other influential families didn’t dare to make a reckless move.

Of course, these people, by nature, most likely won’t be the same as the Pei clan leader. At least, the Pei clan leader, when facing them, all needed to be polite and amicable, and moreover, even needed to have his dirty thoughts hidden well. It was also greatly fortunate that these people for the most part were a bit aloof from politics and material pursuits, very much cherishing their feathers, and their moral character actually weren’t lacking either. If all the same as the Pei clan leader, then the Pei clan can all blow up in a bloody storm. But, speaking from another angle, if their thoughts were all the same as the Pei clan leader, actively scheming for power and benefits, then how can they possibly become renowned throughout the world.

“Anti-aging pill?” Gong Jiu just happened to arrive. Hearing Jing Wan’s words, even he who came from the shadow guards was all somewhat moved, to the extent of somewhat rudely blurting out.

“Gong Jiu knows? First examine the old madam, then talk about this.” Jing Wan naturally won’t forget the main matter.

“Yes.” Gong Jiu took the Pei clan leader madam’s pulse, and then carefully looked over, “Replying to wangfei, the old madam’s body can’t be considered well, having quite a few ailments on the body, and also pent-up stress in the heart all year round. On normal days it’s not obvious, but when provoked, it will just burst out. And just now, it was also being overly stirred up, in addition to some negative emotions, thus momentarily unable to withstand. The heart even has signs of rapid decline appearing. If not treated in time, then will have to prepare the funeral arrangements.” Gong Jiu said without the slightest stirring.

Jing Wan slightly frowned. Truthfully speaking, this wasn’t the outcome that she wanted to see. Even if it’s dying, it should still be the Pei clan leader that old thing dying first. “Use medicine.”

“This subordinate has a kind of heart-protecting pill, and at present, is the best medicine that can be use, temporarily having the condition stabilized so that one can slowly treat.”

“Do you have medicine that’s already made?”

“Yes.”

“Go bring it over then. As for using it or not, all depend on the old madam’s own wishes.”

“Understood.” Gong Jiu retreated out. The things at his place weren’t just ordinary medicine. There was also quite a few poison, and under normal circumstances, he won’t let others handle.

The Pei clan leader madam naturally wasn’t one that couldn’t distinguish good from bad. Her own great-granddaughter had acted as such, yet the person that originally didn’t have any relation with her instead had her life prioritized first, how was it just the heart turning cold? “Many thanks wangfei.” She originally just wanted to see her outer grandson. Now that she’s seen him, and although he didn’t acknowledge her, feeling regretful inside, this was also enough. In the future, she will no longer bother with the Pei clan’s stupid matters, no longer caring what that man that she’s been married to for several decades will do.

“Old madam is too polite. Ultimately, can’t let you meet with mishap here.” This was also half the reason.

Pei Xiu Ying slightly averted her gaze, her body faintly trembling. It was obvious, at this time, she also was unable to face her own great-grandmother.

Gong Jiu left quickly and also returned quickly, placing a porcelain bottle on the table.

Whether to take the medicine or not was the Pei clan leader madam’s own business, and at this time, the old madam naturally didn’t act stubborn, asking Gong Jiu the dosage, and just directly consuming, even though ever since marrying into the Pei clan, she has never taken medicine given by a doctor outside of the Pei clan.

The attention was turned back onto the anti-aging pill, “The matter of the anti-aging pill is real, but it’s also just as wangfei said, the medicine effect not that miraculous. However, in terms of maintaining one’s beauty, it should be considered a sacred item. In the Chu dynasty six hundred years ago, there was an imperial consort that frequently took the anti-aging pill all year round. At sixty some years old, on her deathbed, she still appeared to be less than forty years old.” Gong Jiu said.

“That rather legendary Xiang Consort[2]?” Jing Wan asked in reply.

“Yes. Afterwards, the prescription was lost. This subordinate once saw an incomplete recipe at one’s shifu’s place. Also, in the previous dynasty, it was said that the anti-aging pill had appeared again, just don’t know if it was real or fake, and this anti-aging pill seems to indeed have connections with the Pei clan. As such, for the Pei clan to have the anti-aging pill prescription perhaps isn’t all that surprising either.” Speaking of which, for Gong Jiu to know these things, it was also because of his shifu. Although he was also an orphan, he was still a little different from the others. Prior to getting trained into a shadow guard, his skills in medicine and poison were already very impressive.

“Then, why don’t you have a look.” Jing Wan had the prescription handed to him.

Gong Jiu deferentially went forward, taking it, quickly looking over, “The majority of the medicinal ingredients indeed match with what one had seen on the incomplete recipe.”

“This thing, wangfei wants?” Li Hong Yuan nonchalantly asked. “If wangfei wants it, just let Gong Jiu prepare it to try.”

[1] Openwork is a type of technique that produces decorations with patterns of openings and holes. It’s better to see the picture example below.

[2] 香妃 – The title translates to ‘fragrant consort’, and historically, it generally referred to the Qing dynasty Emperor Ganlong’s Rong Consort. However, in the unofficial history, or popular legend, Xiang Consort’s personality, and background were different from Rong Consort. Historians believe that Xiang Consort was just a literary character based off of Rong Consort, and not an actual historical person.

In the unofficial histories, she was said to be naturally born with a sweet fragrant like a rare perfume that was neither the fragrance of flowers nor powder, hence her title ‘Fragrant Consort’. In the legends, her name was 伊帕尔罕 (Yipaerhan), in the Uighur language it’s ?????????. She’s said to be from South Xinjiang, so of Uighur descent, which matches with Rong Consort’s origins. Rong Consort’s personal name was Xojam (?????) Fatimah (??????) however.

The funny thing about old historical text is there’s always the possibility that it might just be someone’s fanfiction and not at all historically factual, which is why unofficial history exists. It was also common for ancient poets and writers to change the names and dates in their writing because it was kinda illegal to write about the royalty and nobles currently in power. Take for example, Bai Juyi’s ‘Song of Everlasting Regret’, although it was about Yang Guifei and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty, the first line of the poem instead states ‘a certain emperor of the Han Dynasty’. By the way, I consider ‘The Song of Everlasting Regret’ Bai Juyi’s fanfiction.