Chapter 240: King Landu, Domineering (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 240. The Ruler of the Orchid Garden, Overbearing (Seeking Monthly Votes)

In the midst of the clamor, a middle-aged man clad in a dark green silk robe, his belly protruding, stumbled backward out of the Bai Caotang.

Two attendants flanked him—one shielding him from the rain with an umbrella, the other steadying him to prevent a fall.

Turning to Wang Ji, whose expression had shifted from the usual smile of days past to one of irritation, he gestured dismissively, as if to send the man packing.

“Boss Jia, the contract is settled, and the silver has already been delivered to your manor. Now you claim the herbs are gone, breach the agreement without offering compensation, daring to slight the humble affairs of the Bai Caotang?”

“Ruler Wang, I cannot speak thus. I never imagined the herbs, upon arrival at the eastern market warehouse, would be so swiftly consumed by fire.”

“Who set your herbs ablaze, then? I demand you find the culprit—the Bai Caotang seeks only payment and goods in return!”

“Ruler Wang, you must understand this is beyond my control.”

“The night before, it was a gang of barbarian brutes who set fire to the grain transport. The magistrate’s office has detained them—they cannot compensate your loss.”

“If you refuse, then you force my Jia family’s apothecary to the brink of ruin.”

“Do you know the significance of that batch of herbs to the Bai Caotang? Your loss is your loss, but ours is ours.”

Wang Ji’s voice dropped to a cold murmur as his gaze swept over the faces of Chen Yi and others, their expressions growing strained.

Just as he prepared to greet them, Chen Yi subtly shook his head, then signaled with his eyes—for Jia Boss to be led into the hall for further discussion.

Into the hall?

Wang Ji understood the gesture, letting out a bitter smile.

I’ve torn my sleeves and spoken till my lips bled—how could I possibly invite him back in?

Yet there was no choice. When the boss commands, one must obey.

Thus, the once-stern Wang Ji instantly softened into a smile.

“In matters of commerce, convenience given to others is convenience granted to oneself. I’ve reflected on this, and I realize I was too hasty in my words.”

The middle-aged man paused, his rehearsed retort catching in his throat. “Y-you… you…”

Wang Ji stepped forward, gently guiding him into the Bai Caotang.

“In my heat of anger, I spoke too harshly. Forgive an old fool’s haste.”

“Ruler Wang, you… ah, this time, it’s I who owe you an apology.”

“Unforeseen calamities—we both wished to avoid them, did we not?”

“Come, let us return and continue our discussion—perhaps we can mitigate the losses for both our establishments…”

The sudden reversal left those watching in stunned silence, even the Bai Caotang’s guards scratching their heads in confusion.

“The ruler’s changed his mind? Just moments ago, he instructed us to act cautiously.”

“What’s going on?”

“Perhaps he’s had a sudden realization?”

The onlookers could not fathom the cause of Wang Ji’s shift, yet they grasped the gravity of the situation—the prearranged herbs, now destroyed by fire, would disrupt the Bai Caotang’s operations. Patients relying on its formulas and patrons seeking tea would all suffer.

“Let’s move—other matters can wait, but the tea service must not falter.”

“My wife’s four daughters depend on that divine cow tea to restore their vitality—how can we manage without it?”

“The ladies need a bottle of rejuvenating tea every few days, and the elders require stockpiles of aged white gold tea…”

The Bai Caotang’s fortunes surged anew. Crowds poured in.

Seeing this, Chen Yunfan glanced at Chen Yi, musing, “Your teas truly possess remarkable effects?”

Chen Yi nodded with a smile. “Indeed, I’ve tasted them myself during our collaboration.”

His own formulations, naturally, were well aware of their merits.

Not merely for curing ailments, strengthening the body, or extending life—the teas held deeper virtues.

For he had infused each brew with a rare herb—an ingredient capable of drawing earthly and celestial energies into the body, harmonizing yin and yang.

Chen Yi had personally instructed Wang Ji to add this elixir before brewing.

If Wang Ji failed to stir it in, the formula would be ruined, rendering the Bai Caotang’s teas ineffective.

Cui Qingwu, overhearing their conversation, asked, “I hear these teas were created by the Bai Caotang’s master?”

Xiao Wan er hesitated. “Probably, though I’ve not inquired of Master Chen.”

Cui Qingwu nodded once, then led her away into the tavern.

There, Chen Yi turned to Chen Yunfan with a smile. “Brother, I’ll visit the Bai Caotang—we’ll meet again shortly.”

Chen Yunfan had already guessed he was that Master Chen.

So upon hearing his words, he rolled his eyes inwardly, saying nothing, and led Xiao Rong into the Cloud Qing Lou.

Feelings had long since cooled—this man remained a mystery.

White-eyed, he had once bled for this dog of a man in love with the Xiao family.

Thus, he resolved: all else could be forgiven, but his determination to beat Chen Yi remained unwavering.

Chen Yi, unaware of Chen Yunfan’s sentiments, calmly proceeded to the Bai Caotang after they departed.

Bypassing the bustling main hall, he approached Zhang Daobao stationed outside the inner chamber and bowed.

“Your servant, Xiao family apothecary Chen Yi, humbly pays respects to Ruler Wang.”

Zhang Daobao bowed silently, replying, “Master Xiao, please wait a moment.”

He quickly ascended the stairs, then descended with swift footsteps.

“Master Xiao, Ruler Wang awaits you upstairs.”

Chen Yi gestured for him to stay and walked up the stairs.

At that moment, Wang Ji had already brought Jia Boss and others to the stairwell. As Chen Yi emerged, both men bowed and smiled.

“Xiao family apothecary Chen Yi.”

“Jia family apothecary Jia Yu Zhi, honored to meet you, Ruler Wang.”

Chen Yi nodded politely, then said, “If you call me Ruler Chen, it would be more familiar.”

Though he knew this was unlikely.

After all, he’d long been renowned in Shu for his mastery of books, Dao, and poetry—though mostly known among scholars.

Yet since the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering, his “Water Drunken Song” had spread far and wide, making him a household name throughout Shu.

Especially among those who’d witnessed the “Paradise on Earth” at the Curling Pool—his fame had become almost legendary.

Jia Yu Zhi, like them, showed no hint of the worry he’d worn moments before.

After exchanging pleasantries, they proceeded to the quiet chamber within.

Chen Yi cast a keen eye, arched an eyebrow, and said, "Wang the shopkeeper, you're quite the benefactor."

The previous time he had been here, he had not noticed, but now, upon glancing once more at this quiet chamber, he found it had undergone a transformation.

Not that the arrangement had changed, but the timbers and bricks within had been replaced with materials offering superior soundproofing.

To speak of the wooden window embedded in the wall, carved from "willow wood," its value alone was worth a thousand taels of gold.

Far exceeding the quality of timber selected by the venerable patriarch in the Pure Home.

Wang Ji, upon hearing this, smiled faintly, his eyes brightening with a hint of pride, and said, "Not daring to praise your esteem, Sir. These were all ordered by my master, the proprietor."

This fellow had principles.

Chen Yi nodded to himself, took his seat first, and said, "I have the audacity to come here—have I disturbed you two?"

Wang Ji smiled and replied, "Not at all." He then introduced Jia Yu Zhi: "This gentleman is the owner of Jia's herbal shop, which has long supplied the herbs for the Bai Caotang."

"We were just discussing the arrival date of the next consignment of herbs."

Chen Yi nodded, and without hesitation asked Jia Yu Zhi, "I've just heard that your herbs have encountered some misfortune?"

Jia Yu Zhi's face darkened at the words.

"Not a bit of it, esteemed Sir. I dare not hide it from you—I've also incurred the wrath of some divine force, and my luck has been utterly ruined."

"On the previous day, a fire broke out in the eastern market's granary, and it consumed half the storehouse where I kept my herbs."

"Had it not been for Wang the shopkeeper's clemency, I would have been scolded, and I dare not return to Bai Caotang afterward."

Wang Ji rolled his eyes inwardly. If the elder had spoken, he would have demanded that the old Jia compensate for half his property.

After all, for the expansion of Bai Caotang, he had invested tens of thousands of silver strings in rebuilding workshops and recruiting staff.

Yet, just as all preparations were complete, the crucial herbs were lost—how could he not be furious?

Chen Yi understood these matters perfectly.

Still, to him, lost silver could be replenished, and lost herbs could be sourced from other merchants—though perhaps a few days' delay.

What truly concerned him was the state of the eastern market.

"They say several granaries in the eastern market have burned, haven't they?"

Jia Yu Zhi nodded, his expression tinged with irritation: "Roughly ten or twenty thousand sheng of grain, at least."

"Has the price of grain risen again?"

"You heard it too? Indeed, it has climbed sharply. The prices in both Xing and Shu markets now stand at two and a half coins per sheng."

Chen Yi nodded thoughtfully.

If he recalled correctly, the price of grain in Tonglin Town had been one and a half coins before.

In just a few days, it had risen another coin or two—a startling increase.

The merchant Lin had already perished, and several granaries had been destroyed. What good was such a steep rise, anyway?

Did they even have grain to sell?

Chen Yi suddenly thought of Liu's second son, Liu Taofang, and guessed that his Chen family's grain and rice might be the source.

As he pondered this, Jia Yu Zhi continued, his voice tinged with sorrow: "If I may speak, I fear I am the most unfortunate of all."

"Lin the shopkeeper, head of Lin's granary, is the most wretched."

Chen Yi turned to him, asking, "How so? Was his loss the greatest?"

"Not merely that," Jia Yu Zhi said, leaning in with a conspiratorial air: "On the very night the eastern granary burned, Lin Xiang'an was also murdered."

"Oh? I've heard he was poisoned by his own wife."

"Had he not repented in his final moments and revealed the truth, the Lin family would likely have been plunged into chaos by now."

Jia Yu Zhi sighed: "He was a pitiable man."

"After all, he came from Jiuzhou alone, spending five years establishing such a vast enterprise—only to meet such a tragic end."

Wang Ji, unable to help but interjected, said, "Our Bai Caotang is equally unfortunate."

Jia Yu Zhi bowed his head twice, his expression apologetic: "Your lordship, please forgive me. I shall spare no effort to replenish your supplies."

"Hope so..."

After a few moments of conversation, Chen Yi also became aware that those bandages—those barbarian slaves—remained missing.

The marshal's office and local officials had scoured the area desperately, reportedly searching house to house.

"Have those meddling, treacherous barbarians gone to the magistrate's office to make complaints?"

"They have, haven't they? What use is it, though?"

Jia Yu Zhi said with a grim smile: "Our Wei state has long been at odds with those treacherous barbarians. Not long ago, when the left king of the barbarian tribe attacked Meng Shui Pass, their soldiers took the opportunity to raid the borders."

"In such circumstances, how could the prefect show any leniency toward their servants?"

"Moreover, Lin Xiang'an's younger brother, Lin Zhenghong, could not even attend the funeral before leading men to demand compensation from those barbarian servants for the granary's losses."

Wang Ji, unaware of the details, asked, "Did those barbarian servants agree?"

Jia Yu Zhi's round face showed regret: "If they had, I wouldn't have had to seek out your lordship today."

"Though those barbarians may appear formidable enough to traffic in bandage slaves, they are merely subordinates who follow orders blindly."

"The true decision-makers are not even in Shu province."

Chen Yi, seizing the moment, asked, "I've heard the barbarians have a formidable bandit leader named Lan Tu Wang—do you know him?"

Jia Yu Zhi paused at the name, then showed unease: "Esteemed Sir, you know Lan Tu Wang?"

"How? He's rarely spoken of."

"Not exactly. Those of us who trade regularly dare not openly refer to him by his 'bandit title'—we all call him the 'Bandit King.'"

Chen Yi arched an eyebrow slightly: "Why's that?"

"That Lan Tu Wang is a ruthless fellow—not only greedy and tyrannical, but also cruel in his methods."

"All merchants traveling the Tea and Horse Roads—whether from our Wei state, the Western Frontier's Buddhist kingdom, or even those barbarian lands—must part with half their goods to him. Those who flee are slaughtered; those who hide are killed off; any discrepancies in numbers result in the arbitrary killing of one person at his whim."

Wang Ji clearly knew nothing of this. "Such a man—how does our Wei state tolerate him?"

Jia Yu Zhi sighed: "Shopkeeper Wang, you are not fully informed."

Prince Lan was no mere bandit leader; he was also the younger brother of the King of Boluo Shuo, with nearly twenty thousand under his command.

Unless the Duke personally led an expedition to Boluo Shuo, their forces would never be vanquished.

Moreover, Prince Lan’s army had drawn soldiers from the Yu Long Kingdom under the Boluo Shuo monarch, men whose martial prowess had reached the level of masters. Ordinary warriors who ventured there would only meet their end.

Masters…

In martial arts, there are nine levels in total, divided into upper, middle, and lower three each. A Master is one who has ascended to the ninth and highest level. Those who reach this stage possess strength beyond the capacity of mere human effort.

Chen Yi unconsciously furrowed his brow, no wonder Prince Lan could command such respect from the Shadow Guard.

Having gathered all he needed to know, he signaled to Wang Ji to send Jiao Yu Zhi away.

Once the latter had departed, Chen Yi withdrew a letter penned by Lin Hua’an to Prince Lan, chatting idly with Wang Ji as he inscribed his response on the table.

[In the afternoon, ask someone who understands Boluo Shuo script to translate the contents of this letter for me.]

[Meet me tonight at the residence on Chuanxi Street.]

Wang Ji read the note, nodded, and carefully accepted the letter, writing back: [My lord, the medicines have not yet arrived, and the Bao Grass Hall workshop has suffered some delays; it may take a few more days.]

Chen Yi waved dismissively, telling him it was no matter. With a smile, he said, “I came only to inquire when Master Chen Yu is expected back in Shu Zhou.”

He flashed a three-fingered signal.

Wang Ji understood immediately. “The esteemed Master of Light Boat has departed. My master should return in about three months, perhaps around New Year’s time.”

Chen Yi smiled and replied a few words before rising and heading out, his heart a whirlwind of thoughts.

Having learned of Prince Lan’s condition, he grew ever more curious about the Shadow Guard’s intentions in linking up with him.

Surely the White Tiger Guard, sworn to uphold the stability of neighboring states, would not have turned traitor?

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yi shook his head. It could not be.

If even the White Tiger Guard had defected to the enemy, the entire Wei dynasty would collapse, its rulers swept away in one fell swoop.

“Let me see what these Shadow Guard agents truly intend.”

Without lingering, he made his way directly to Cloud Clear Tower, spotting the figure waiting by the second-floor window— Xiao Wan Er.

The two smiled at one another.

Xiao Wan Er waved, her features blooming like a flower even in the dim light of a rainy evening.

Chen Yi nodded in greeting, descending the stairs to the second floor and entering a spacious, luxurious chamber.

After scanning the room, he bowed respectfully. “Forgive the wait; I’ve kept you in suspense.”

Cui Qing Wu offered no reply.

Chen Yun Fan reclined in a chair, gesturing for her to serve. “Why so formal, younger brother?”

Chen Yi and Xiao Wan Er took their seats, their conversation flowing as freely as old times.

Xiao Wan Er tugged at Chen Yun Fan’s sleeve, signaling him to bring out the dishes:

“Still acting like children?”

Chen Yun Fan straightened his posture. “I’m not. But you, little brother, are?”

Chen Yi was about to retort, but Xiao Wan Er, beside him, gave him a gentle tug and asked curiously,

“Sister Qing Wu, did we really act like this when we were young?”

Cui Qing Wu glanced at their expressions, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She began recounting the brothers’ childhood quarrels at length.

Even as Chen Yun Fan’s gaze tried to hush her, she continued unabated.

Chen Yi paid it no heed; hearing such stories from others was rather refreshing.

“…In any case, Master of Light Boat is held in high regard. It was actually Yun Fan who’d been punished repeatedly.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan Er covered her mouth and laughed. “So the rumors from Jiangnan Prefecture were true after all. My husband really was clever from childhood.”

Chen Yun Fan flicked his sleeve. “Your brother-in-law has grown equally sharp.”

Indeed, he excelled in literature and martial arts alike, even mastering the art of medicine.

Compared to him, this elder brother of mine—aside from serving as a deputy governor in Shu Zhou—had nothing to compare with Chen Yi.

It was truly pitiful.

When the dishes arrived, Cui Qing Wu poured wine for Chen Yi and Chen Yun Fan, smiling. “Try it.”

Chen Yi bowed his head, clinked glasses with Chen Yun Fan, and drank in one go.

He was no connoisseur of alcohol—not in this life, nor the last. Thus, the wine touched his lips with only a hint of sweetness and smoothness, nothing more.

Chen Yun Fan slurped his drink, then wiped his mouth. “Not bad. There’s a certain sweetness.”

Cui Qing Wu chuckled. “My wine from Cloud Clear Tower is brewed with spring water from Mount Wumeng and the upper reaches of Chi Shui River. It’s naturally sweet, and the new batch is quite fine.”

Xiao Wan Er watched the three of them banter, feeling a pang of envy.

She too wished to taste it, but her body forbade it.

Chen Yi glanced at her, noticing her distress, and offered her a small bite. “It should be good to eat, too.”

Xiao Wan Er’s envy melted away, nodding gently and taking small sips.

By the third round of wine, Chen Yun Fan recalled something and asked,

“Will you be taking the imperial examination, Yi Jie?”

Chen Yi was surprised. “You’d ask me to join?”

“To persuade you?”

“I don’t wish to, but…”

Chen Yi glanced at Xiao Wan Er, whose expression turned scowly, and continued,

“…I have no choice but to.”

Chen Yun Fan paused, then spoke earnestly,

“You must take it.”

Something stirred within Chen Yi. “Why?”

“Because that scholar official…”

(End of Chapter)