Chapter 97: Drink Wangji Tea for Cool Relief from Summer Heat

Chapter 97: Drinking Wang Ji Tea to Cool the Heat

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed since Li Huagu and Miss Yun Xiang were married.

The weather grew increasingly scorching, especially at high noon, when the sun could make the dockworkers and boat-pullers’ skin split and their flesh bloom.

Originally, the prefects’ offices in Shu Zhou, fearing the Chi Shui River might swell, had redirected their efforts—shifting from flood prevention to diverting water and constructing canals.

To prevent droughts in other regions.

Thankfully, the summer harvest was near, and vast fields outside the prefecture city began preparing for the season’s yield.

The three great military garrisons—Tie Bi, Cang Lang, and Xuan Jia—had already tilled the land, notifying their soldiers to ready themselves for the harvest, easing the financial strain on the distant army.

Within the city walls, however, time moved tranquilly.

North of the city, on Kangning Street, the usual haven for scholars and beauties remained, though their conversations had shifted.

Beyond their usual chatter of distant lands and court politics, they now spoke of the explorer scholar’s grand wedding and Mr. Xiao Ming’s defense of his stepson’s honor.

Some scholars, like the two talents Xin Nian and Gui Yun, praised him with gentle words: “He acted rightly, his virtue and learning in harmony. Punishing them by having them copy the academy’s texts was fair, though a thousand repetitions felt excessive.”

Others argued that Mr. Xiao Ming had done well, that his conduct merited both moral rectitude and scholarly acclaim, and that the punishment was reasonable, albeit tedious.

In the end, most concluded: “Xiao’s stepson was unruly, a true scoundrel.”

Yet no one spoke of the incident where Xiao’s stepson had forcibly abducted a maiden, as if it had never occurred.

Nor did they forget the poem that had shone brightly at their banquet, now widely praised:

“Discourage cherishing golden-thread garments, discourage valuing youth’s prime. If flowers bloom, pluck them at once—do not waste time on branches bare.”

Li Huagu, too, was remembered fondly for his devotion in marrying Miss Yun Xiang, a tale that flourished through Kangning Street.

Yet those scholars and beauties had forgotten the one who penned the verse—the very stepson they had derided.

Such is the nature of human judgment, laid bare.

But affairs, like all things, have two sides: some scorned, others praised.

In the southern district, the Smoke-Flower Lane taverns had already begun composing and setting the poem to music, spreading its fame.

For the dissipated scholars, it was irresistibly alluring, drawing many a patron.

In time, the names “Chen Yi” and “Chen Qingzhou” became known across the taverns.

Including the earlier birthday ode, they had earned money twice over through Chen Yi’s poetry.

Thus, several taverns that sold art, not bodies, announced that whenever Chen Sheng visited, even the most popular hostesses would rush to welcome him.

Some even sent a slip to the distant Marquis of Qingyuan’s mansion:

“Discourage cherishing golden-thread garments, discourage valuing youth’s prime.”

Below it, seals from Spring Rain Pavilion, Roaming Fire Chamber, and Mist Cloud Pavilion, along with the signatures of their respective hostesses:

“Bamboo Melody, Delicate Beauty, Ladyzhu…”

Not three, but ten hostesses in all.

Such allure, however, halted Xiao Wanyue in her tracks.

She had read the slip and, curious, asked Shen Huatang: “Would they not fear my lord’s wrath?”

Shen Huatang mused, “Wealth and treasures move hearts, I’d say… perhaps.”

Xiao Wanyue nodded, then ordered the attendants to bring ledgers and other items, and together they journeyed to the Spring Lotus Garden.

The reason, of course, was not the slip itself, but the sweltering heat, which made a brief rest in the garden’s pavilion a welcome respite.

Yet Xiao Wanyue…

She was not one to fear the heat.

Shen Huatang, who understood all too well, followed her to the garden.

From afar, they saw Chen Yi seated alone at a stone table, playing Go, while Xiao Wanyue fished by the water’s edge, his two hands pressed to his temples in thoughtless wonder.

A glance confirmed it: time had indeed stood still.

Xiao Wanyue’s pale, delicate face bore a faint, inscrutable undertone of resentment.

She had assumed Chen Yi, aware of the threat from the Linglan Pavilion, would have paid closer heed to the Pharmacy of Benevolence.

Yet since the explorer scholar’s wedding, he had not once ventured beyond the garden.

Day after day, he played Go and sipped tea with Marshal Zhang and Mr. Sun the Elder, his days flowing smoothly.

Xiao Wanyue, in turn, drifted to thoughts of the Pharmacy of Benevolence’s recent struggles.

First, their medicinal herbs had been stolen—still no leads from the prefecture’s magistrates, who suspected the culprits had floated downstream along the Chi Shui River.

Then, purchasing herbs became difficult—though not entirely impossible, they had managed to acquire herbs worth a thousand taels.

With their few pharmacies, this would sustain them until next month.

The greatest challenge, however, was the Linglan Pavilion.

Some in the prefecture urged closing their doors, but Xiao Wanyue refused.

They operated openly, their physicians and formulas surpassing even her family’s pharmacy in quality.

After all, they served the people of Shu Province—how could she resort to underhanded means to stop them?

Still, she delayed, as if doubting even the Marquis’s trust.

After some casual talk, Chen Yi gathered his Go pieces and stones, curiously watching Xiao Wanyue and her party bustling about the stone table.

The attendants’ calculations were impressive—one tallying, the other recording, their speed swift.

Two stacks of ledgers, in a blink, were completed for three pages.

Little Butterfly watched, eyes wide with envy, yearning to learn bookkeeping himself.

Yet at such a moment, he could not utter a word.

Especially not when Xiao Wanyue occasionally asked a question or two.

Shen Huatang, meanwhile, presented a note she had obtained, saying: “Besides the Linglan Pavilion, there’s recently a shop called the Hundred Herbs, whose influence is rising sharply.”

Xiao Wanyue asked, “Are they also from Jingzhou?”

Shen Huatang hesitated, “They say the owner of the Hundred Herbs is… the former proprietor of the Pharmacy of Benevolence, Wang Ji.”

“Oh?”

Xiao Wanyue frowned, her gaze drifting to the calm Chen Yi, who now wore a smile, before turning away without a trace.

“Anything else?”

“Temporarily, only that they’ve allied with several pharmacies, specializing in low-cost herbs.

And I’ve heard they offer every customer a cup of tea.”

Xiao Wanyue raised an eyebrow: “Tea?”

Shen Huatang nodded, reading the note aloud: “Drinking Wang Ji tea, cooling the heat, yes… and fortifying the weak.”

“Is it truly that magical?”

"Probably..."

Chen Yi listened from the side, turning his head toward the pond, his lips curling up involuntarily.

The prescriptions he had previously given to Wang Ji included not only the "Wangji Tea," but also the fatigue-relieving "Shenniu Tea" and the "Laobaijin Tea" meant for nourishing the elderly.

These names held a bit of his own wicked humor.

And just as expected.

The ones reserving that batch of medicinal ingredients were none other than Wang Ji and Yan Hai of the Baicao Hall.

Although those medicine merchants had indeed hoarded a large amount of ingredients, it could not withstand the sheer volume needed by Baicao Hall.

Nearly twenty thousand taels of silver worth of medicinal ingredients, categorized and sorted, had nearly drained them dry.

Chen Yi knew this full well in his heart, but it was not the time to say it aloud, so he could only let Xiao Wan'er suffer a temporary grievance.

With these thoughts in mind, he brought out his small teapot and sipped noisily, contemplating the subsequent matters of Baicao Hall and Linglan Pavilion.

Baicao Hall had opened its doors in a low-profile manner, and the effects and fame of the various tea beverages had not yet manifested; it still needed some time to brew and await the right opportunity.

As for the matter of Linglan Pavilion, it was currently just a strange anomaly; the orchestrators behind it, as well as their tracks, had not yet been revealed.

They, too, should still be setting up their pieces.

Regarding that batch of plundered medicinal ingredients, with a market value of twenty thousand taels, he did not believe those people would be willing to just throw them away.

In any case, this matter was far from settled...

At this moment, Juan'er, having finished calculating the ledgers, said, "Miss, the medicine hall in the east of the city is the least affected. Physician Fang deserves the credit."

Xiao Wan'er nodded slightly, "Cui'er, remember to draw five taels of silver from the storehouse later and send it to him."

"Yes."

"The one with the least income and the greatest impact..."

Juan'er glanced at Chen Yi's back and said hesitantly, "Is the Jishi Medicine Hall managed by the Second Brother-in-law. Yesterday's income was only two taels..."

Xiao Wan'er turned her head to look at Chen Yi, and seeing that he seemed to be daydreaming while still sipping his tea noisily, she suddenly chided him with a mock glare:

"Brother-in-law, as the manager, you really do not care about the medicine hall at all."

Chen Yi snapped out of it, "Ah?"

Seeing the blank look on his face, Xiao Wan'er felt a trace of annoyed embarrassment, and she stood up to throw the slip of paper from her bosom at him.

"The trouble you caused, solve it yourself."

Having said that, she called Cui'er and Juan'er to pack up the ledgers, preparing to return to Jiaxing Court.

Don't be angry, don't be angry. Brother-in-law is a scholar after all, and indeed cannot act as a merchant.

Chen Yi caught the slip and glanced at it, unable to help laughing aloud.

These courtesan houses were quite famous in Shuzhou. In order to invite him over, ten pure courtesans were sweeping their couches to welcome him, tsk tsk.

They certainly knew how to do business.

Hearing the sound, Xiao Wan'er's face, framed by the fur trim of her heavy cloak, tilted slightly as her eyes swept past, and she said directly, "Let us go."

As she walked away with a frown, she thought to herself:

When Second Sister returns, see if I, I will definitely...

(End of Chapter)