Chapter 164: Seeking Medicine from the Senior Sister, and the Misunderstanding with the Senior Sister

The bell tolls incessantly.

From noon, it continued until dusk, and from dusk, it rang until nightfall.

The birthday banquet at the Jia Mansion was terminated immediately.

All festive items were taken down and sent away to be destroyed.

The people of the Jia Mansion were each as if mourning their parents, panic-stricken, or dazed and bewildered.

Upon receiving the news, Jia Mu wept bitterly.

The entire Jia Mansion seemed as if the sky had suddenly collapsed, instantly shifting from a joyous atmosphere to one of sorrow and gloom.

The guests dispersed in a hurry.

Luo Zijun also followed Bai Third Miss, boarded the carriage, and left silently.

They had arrived with laughter and joy, but left in a heavy atmosphere.

On the streets, the hawkers' cries suddenly vanished, and pedestrians immediately hurried home.

Squads of soldiers passed by with solemn expressions.

The carriage moved slowly along the street.

After a long silence in the carriage, Bai Qingtong finally spoke: "The eldest daughter of the Jia Mansion has just been promoted to Imperial Concubine, yet the King has suddenly passed away; for the Jia Family, this truly is the sky collapsing."

Luo Zijun looked at her and said: "Is that Noble Consort having a hard time in the palace?"

Bai Qingtong was silent for a moment and said: "While the King was alive, it was nothing much."

The implication was that since the King had now passed away, trouble might arise.

In the palace, apart from the King, the Queen holds the highest authority.

The Queen and the Imperial Concubine are mostly incompatible, and she is a newly promoted Imperial Concubine at that.

When the King was alive, with his backing, the Imperial Concubine was naturally safe.

Now that the King is gone, the Queen has the final say in the palace; if the Imperial Concubine had conflicts with her before, she is now like a fish on a chopping block, left to be slaughtered.

That is why the Jia Family is so fearful and panicked upon hearing the news of the King's passing.

The description in that book, that Yuanchun died suddenly, should also be due to palace intrigue.

Once Yuanchun dies, the Jia Family will completely collapse.

Luo Zijun pondered along the way, thinking to himself: The Lai Da in the book had already escaped before the Jia Family was raided, using the money embezzled from the Jia Family to live a good life, which counts as successfully avoiding the disaster.

Today, seeing that Lai Da, he knew the other party was not simple, and was even a martial artist.

Therefore, wanting to rely on the masters of the Jia Family to deal with him should be impossible.

Even if he obtained evidence of the other party embezzling silver, at most it would only lead to him being expelled from the mansion; after all, that Lai Mama still has some face before Jia Mu.

In that case, it would be exactly what the other party wanted.

That Lai Da is currently a servant of the Jia Mansion, and his slave contract is still with the Jia Family; if he were to be expelled, he would completely shed his status as a servant and regain his freedom.

The other party now has a vast fortune and a son who is a county magistrate; if he sheds his servant status, wouldn't he live even more freely and easily?

Looking at the spineless appearance of the head of the Jia Family, it is clear he cannot be relied upon.

Therefore, he must rely on himself.

Either practice martial arts to take revenge directly with force, or use other schemes to deal with him.

Thinking this way, the carriage soon returned to the Bai Mansion.

After getting off the carriage, Bai Qingtong entered the mansion with him.

When they were about to part at the intersection, Bai Qingtong said to him: "I estimate that for this month, I will not be able to come see you, Teacher. The school will also be temporarily closed; Teacher should just stay at home and study well."

Luo Zijun nodded and said: "Third Miss should just attend to your own affairs."

Bai Qingtong looked solemn and left in a hurry.

Luo Zijun took Xiaohuan and Ziyuan back to the Junzi Residence, and after giving instructions to the two Young Maids, he went to the backyard to practice.

The matters outside had nothing to do with him.

He only needed to practice well now.

Soon, the sound of practicing punches rang out in the backyard.

The Dragon Chant Tiger Roar Fist is not like the Kaishan Fist, where every move is a thunderous strike; rather, it is progressive, gradually increasing in speed and momentum, and its power also builds up slowly.

The further one goes, the stronger the power becomes.

After several repetitions, he became more proficient; without needing to pause to recall or look at the book, he could fluently complete the set.

He began to increase his speed.

The blood throughout his body soon began to heat up and flow gurglingly.

With every move struck, his bones seemed to suddenly emit a sound, echoing the wind generated by his fists; at first it was very faint, but gradually it began to grow louder.

During the evening Medicine Bath, he used up the last of the medicinal herbs.

However, the effect was clearly not very obvious.

After the Medicine Bath and washing up, he gave instructions to the two Young Maids and then went out.

He first changed his clothes, put on a Bamboo Hat and a Mask, and went to another martial artist's pharmacy.

The reason he did not go to the Juxian Hall was for fear that buying medicine for the fourth realm of martial artists again in such a short time would arouse suspicion.

Upon entering the pharmacy, he stated his purpose directly.

The shopkeeper skillfully brought out more than a dozen medicinal herbs, introduced them one by one, and then stated the price: thirty taels per portion.

Luo Zijun felt a pang of pain in his heart hearing this.

Thirty taels per portion meant that every one of his Medicine Baths would cost thirty taels.

Spending thirty taels a day—if his sister and brother-in-law knew, they would be scared to death.

But since he wanted to practice, this money certainly could not be saved.

He took out all the silver he had on him, bought fifteen portions, and then left.

After wandering around the nearby alleys and streets for a while, he took off his black clothes, removed his Bamboo Hat and Mask, then put on a Confucian robe, performed a Disguise Technique, took out a Copper Mirror to check himself, and only then headed toward Bao'an Hall.

He decided to test out his newly practiced Disguise Technique.

Inside the shop, a woman grabbed some medicine and left, while Su Qingling, dressed in a white dress, was lowering her head behind the counter, calculating money.

Luo Zijun entered the shop, slapped the counter directly, and said in a rough voice, "Fill a prescription!"

Su Qingling frowned slightly, still keeping her head down to fiddle with the abacus, seemingly not having heard his words.

"Clap!"

Luo Zijun raised his hand and slapped the counter again, saying, "Miss, I want to fill a prescription!"

Just as he finished speaking, Su Qingling suddenly picked up the Rolling Pin from under the counter and smashed it toward his hand.

Luo Zijun hurriedly retracted his hand and stepped back, eyes widening as he said, "You little girl, how can you hit people?"

Su Qingling went back to fiddling with the abacus, and only after finishing the calculation did she look up, staring at him coldly as she said, "Fill what prescription? An aphrodisiac?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

Clearly, this girl had recognized him.

Luo Zijun stopped pretending, took out the medicine packet from his bosom, and said, "Is it because of the smell of this poison again?"

Su Qingling looked at him coldly and did not answer.

Luo Zijun put away the medicine packet, pointed to his own face, and said, "Eyes, nose, mouth, forehead, chin, temperament—everything has changed, and you can still recognize me? Senior Sister, tell me the reason!"

Su Qingling said in a flat tone, "Ears, hair, neck, hands, scent, teeth, tongue, buttocks—I know every single part better than you do. If you have the ability, change all of those too."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Hahahaha..."

Su Dafang suddenly came down from upstairs with his Medicine Chest on his back, laughing so hard he nearly fell over, and looking at him, he said, "Disciple, every part of your body has been thoroughly studied by your Senior Sister; even if you turned into ashes, she would still recognize you."

Luo Zijun was speechless and had no choice but to face him and say, "Master, can you recognize me?"

Su Dafang immediately glared and said, "Do you take me for your Senior Sister, spending all day with nothing to do but study your body? This old man is a decent person!"

Saying this, he waved his hand and left with the Medicine Chest slung over his shoulder.

Luo Zijun suddenly said, "Master, the King is dead."

Su Dafang stopped at the doorway, turned his head, and said, "Dead is dead, what does that have to do with us? We eat when it's time to eat, we drink when it's time to drink; just because he died, does that mean we stop living?"

Luo Zijun said, "But I heard he has no heirs."

Su Dafang suddenly turned around, looked at him, and said, "What, do you want to go and take his place?"

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he said, "Disciple just feels that the political situation might become turbulent, and it might not be very safe in the city lately. Master, did you steal some courage from a bear and a leopard? You dare to say such things?"

Su Dafang rolled his eyes and said, "There are only the three of us here, I don't give a damn!"

Luo Zijun immediately said, "Master, you are not allowed to use foul language in front of Senior Sister!"

Su Dafang ignored him and strode away.

Luo Zijun restored his original appearance, walked to the counter, and said in a low voice, "Senior Sister, can you give me that bottle of aphrodisiac you took away last time? I want to give it to someone."

He planned to use it to fool that old Master Jia.

As for the Five-Stone Powder, he knew some of the ingredients and thought he might try to concoct a batch himself, or perhaps go buy some elsewhere. Su Qingling narrowed her eyes, looked at him, and said, "You want to take it yourself, don't you?"

Luo Zijun said, "I knew Senior Sister would suspect me. If I wanted to take it myself, I would beg Senior Sister to concoct it for me; how could I dare to eat something I picked up? It really is for someone else."

He then added in a low voice, "I plan to give it to the eldest master of the Jia Mansion, Jia She."

Su Qingling's gaze shifted, and she said, "You went to the Jia Mansion today?"

Luo Zijun said, "Yes, a young lady of the Jia Mansion had a birthday today, and the other party invited me."

Su Qingling said coldly, "Why would the other party invite you?"

Luo Zijun said, "Because I am overflowing with talent and also handsome."

Su Qingling picked up the Rolling Pin from under the counter.

Luo Zijun hurriedly told the truth: "Last time at the Bowang Marquis Mansion, I owed the Jia Family young lady a favor, and I went over today to thank them."

"What favor?"

!

Su Qingling narrowed her eyes, her pretty face cold.

Luo Zijun said, "I told you last time, because of Liu..."

Helpless, he recounted the events of that day once more.

This time, he also brought up the matter of the Jia Family young lady.

After listening, Su Qingling gripped the Rolling Pin in her hand tightly, her pretty face frosty: "You didn't say last time that they said you were the Jia family's son-in-law!"

"Didn't I? Maybe I forgot."

Luo Zijun sheepishly argued.

Seeing her expression was off, he hurriedly added: "I went today and explained it directly to those two Jia masters. That Jia Er Xiaojie also said she didn't want to marry me, and then she was beaten by that Jia elder. I went to stop it, and I really couldn't help myself, so I snatched the feather duster and hit that Jia elder, so..."

"Senior Sister, just give me that bottle of aphrodisiac; I want to poison that old lecher to death."

Luo Zijun pleaded.

Su Qingling looked at him coldly for a while longer before turning to open a drawer, taking out the bottle of pills, and placing it on the counter.

Luo Zijun hurriedly took it, shook it, and found there was quite a lot inside.

Su Qingling said coldly, "You had better not try it; this medicine wasn't concocted correctly, there is arsenic in it."

Luo Zijun said in surprise, "It's really poisonous?"

Then his eyes lit up: "Senior Sister really knows how to concoct it? I have a friend..."

"You come in."

Before he could finish, Su Qingling said coldly, "I know where that friend of yours is hiding. You come in, and I will drag him out to tell you."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Senior Sister, have you ever heard of Five-Stone Powder?"

He hurriedly changed the subject.

Su Qingling frowned slightly and did not answer.

Luo Zijun said, "I still need to give him a bottle of Five-Stone Powder. I know what materials are used to refine that stuff, but I have never refined pills before and am afraid I won't be able to, so I was planning to go buy a bottle for him. Do you know where it is sold?"

Su Qingling suddenly reached out her hand and said, "Five hundred taels, and I will refine it for you."

"Ah..."

Luo Zijun was immediately full of surprise: "Senior Sister can also refine Five-Stone Powder?"

He then hurriedly buttered her up: "Senior Sister, why do I feel like you are omnipotent? What else can you refine? Can you refine a pill for immortality?"

Su Qingling looked at him coldly with her beautiful eyes, her hand still extended, ignoring him.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to say dejectedly, "The four hundred-plus taels of silver I had left on me were all just spent on medicinal herbs for the Medicine Bath. I don't have a single penny left now..."

Su Qingling withdrew her hand, lowered her head to click the abacus, and ignored him again.

Luo Zijun pleaded, "Senior Sister, last time I picked up so much silver and brought it back for you, isn't that enough? If it's not enough, I'll go pick up more next time, okay? Just help me refine a bottle."

Su Qingling lowered her head and clicked the abacus for a while longer before taking two porcelain bottles from under the counter, placing them on the counter, and looking at him coldly: "Corpse-Dissolving Powder, what you asked for last time. So the silver you gave has already been used up."

"Corpse-Dissolving Powder?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun was overjoyed and immediately took them in his hands: "Senior Sister, did you really refine them for me? Does this stuff really have the effect you said it did?"

Su Qingling did not respond to him and continued to lower her head and click the abacus.

Luo Zijun immediately accepted them happily, buttered her up with another round of flattery, and then continued to plead: "Senior Sister, from now on, all the silver I pick up and all the silver I earn will be given to you, okay?"

Su Qingling remained cold and did not respond to him.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to say, "Then should I go borrow money?"

Chujian has sold new books recently, so there should be money there.

Upon hearing this, Su Qingling raised her head, narrowed her eyes, stared at him coldly for a while, and said, "Her silver is also mine."

"Ah?"

Luo Zijun was stunned and said, "Senior Sister, what does other people's silver have to do with you?"

Who would have thought that as soon as these words were spoken, a crisp voice suddenly rang out at the door: "Miss Ling'er, this servant has come to deliver silver to you."

Luo Zijun turned his head to look and saw that it was actually that girl, Bi'er.

After seeing him, Bi'er hummed haughtily, ignored him, walked to the counter, placed a money bag she was holding in her arms onto the counter, and said crisply, "Excluding the share for the County Princess, there is a total of four hundred and twenty taels left. Miss told this servant to bring it all to you; you count it."

Su Qingling picked up the money bag, put it into the drawer, and said indifferently, "No need to count."

"Oh."

Bi'er said "oh," and prepared to leave.

Luo Zijun hurriedly grabbed her and said, "Bi'er, why are you delivering money to her? Is this money from the books I wrote?"

Bi'er hummed and said, "Some is from your books, and some is from us selling books. As for why it was sent here, go ask Miss Ling'er and my Miss yourself. I am a silly Young Maid, how would I know?"

After finishing, she broke free and ran away.

Luo Zijun: "..."

The room was quiet for a moment.

Luo Zijun hurriedly walked to the counter and said, "Senior Sister, that is the money I earned from writing books..."

Su Qingling lowered her head to click the abacus and said coldly, "Go ask her for it; this is what she gave me."

Luo Zijun stared at her for a while and suddenly said, "Senior Sister, do you go to the bookstore to find her often?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qingling raised her head, looked at him with icy eyes, and said, "What, are you afraid I'll go find trouble with her?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment and said, "She... she is quite pitiful. Can you not go bother her in the future? And this silver, her family needs silver, she..."

"Get out."

Su Qingling suddenly looked at him with cold, icy eyes and clenched her fists.

Luo Zijun glanced at her expression, his lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't say it.

"Then I'm leaving."

He didn't speak again, turned around, and left.

After exiting the shop, he walked directly toward Chujian Bookstore.

After arriving at the bookstore, Xiao Lan was arranging new books in front of the bookshelf. After seeing him, she hurriedly shouted to the upstairs: "Miss, Young Master Luo is here!"

Luo Zijun asked, "Xiao Lan, during this time, has that Su Guniang been here?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan was startled for a moment and said, "That very, very beautiful Su Guniang? She only came those two times. After she left with you, Young Master, she never came again. Why?"

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment and immediately went upstairs.

Upstairs, Liu Chujian was wearing a pink dress, standing on her tiptoes, arranging books in front of the bookshelf. Seeing him come up, she smiled and said, "I heard from Bi'er that Brother Zijun was scolded at the medicine shop just now?"

Luo Zijun said, "How could that be? She wouldn't dare scold me."

Bi'er was smiling not far away.

Luo Zijun couldn't help but ask, "Chujian, why did you take the silver you earned and give it to her?"

Liu Chujian finished putting away the books, then turned around to look at him, and smiled: "Chujian was afraid that Brother Zijun would feel embarrassed to come here often to take money, so I let Bi'er take it over and put it there. Brother Zijun can go there in the future and take it as you need it."

Luo Zijun said, "Didn't she come over to ask for it?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chujian smiled and said, "What is Brother Zijun saying? How could Sister Su come over to ask me for money? During this period, Brother Zijun hasn't come here, so when Chujian was free, I would often go to Sister Su's place to chat, and then I took the initiative to suggest putting the earned silver there."

Luo Zijun fell silent.

Liu Chujian came before him and said softly again: "Brother Zijun, every time Chujian went, Sister Su was pounding medicine or refining medicine. When I asked, Sister Su wouldn't speak. Once I ran into Su Yeye, and Su Yeye said very angrily that it was all refined for you, and also said it cost him a lot of his coffin money to buy medicinal herbs for your cultivation. Those medicines... should be very expensive, right?"

Luo Zijun was dazed for quite a while, then suddenly said, "Liu Chujian, I am going to the apothecary for a moment; I will come over later."

Saying this, he immediately went downstairs.

Upstairs, Liu Chujian said softly, "Brother Zijun, you don't have to come over tonight."

Luo Zijun did not speak again; he quickly exited the shop and disappeared into the street outside.

(End of this chapter)