Chapter 261: The Empress's Favorite

The streets were empty, with few pedestrians.

Those who came out to buy things also walked in a hurry with their heads lowered.

Some shops had already closed.

The news of the Wu Chu Allied Forces invading had already spread throughout the entire city.

Luo Zijun bought some breakfast on the street and then went to a jewelry store to carefully select a Jade Hairpin before arriving at Bao'an Hall.

His senior sister was unwilling to move away and continued to stay in the shop with their master and Qingwen.

But that did not matter.

With him there, no one dared to come to the shop to cause trouble anymore.

Moreover, he had given his master a Waist Token from the Su Guo Fu; with this Waist Token of the Bai Family, his master would not be troubled by government soldiers when going out to see patients.

In fact, the government soldiers driving away the old, weak, sick, and disabled in the city did not include doctors.

After all, during wartime, the role of a doctor was still very significant.

However, his master was indeed getting on in years and was too conspicuous walking on the street; once encountered by government soldiers, he would certainly be checked, and if he met unreasonable soldiers, he might even be taken back and locked up for a few days, only to be released after paying money.

As for the doctor's documents, they had no deterrent power at all; some profit-seeking soldiers would even tear them up directly and refuse to acknowledge one's status as a doctor unless money was given.

This kind of thing, not to mention this era, existed in every era.

Therefore, the Bai Family's Waist Token was still the most effective.

Today, his master was not in the shop; he had gone out early in the morning to see patients.

After Luo Zijun arrived at the shop and chatted with Qingwen for a few moments, he sent her to the inner room to eat breakfast, then quietly said toward the counter: "Senior sister, I have a favor to ask of you."

Su Qingling was drinking the soy milk he had brought; hearing this, she did not look at him, but lowered her head to flip through a few pages of the Medicine Canon on the counter before saying expressionlessly: "Speak."

Luo Zijun glanced at her long, black hair draped behind her and over her chest, and said somewhat embarrassedly: "That... could you cut a lock of your hair for me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Su Qingling was clearly stunned for a moment, then she raised her head and looked at him with her pure yet alluring, moving eyes, which held a trace of confusion amidst their coldness.

Luo Zijun explained in a low voice: "I have been suffering from insomnia recently, and I want to try smelling senior sister's hair every night to see if I can fall asleep."

Su Qingling stared at him for a while, then said with a faint expression: "Don't you have my silk socks there?"

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he brazenly said: "Senior sister, that's not enough; I still want your hair."

Su Qingling did not speak again.

Luo Zijun hurriedly took out the Jade Hairpin he had just bought from his sleeve and placed it ingratiatingly on the counter in front of her, saying: "Senior sister, I just bought this for you. What else do you like? I will buy it for you next time."

Su Qingling glanced faintly at the Jade Hairpin on the counter, paused, and continued to lower her head to flip through the Medicine Canon in front of her, remaining calm and expressionless without saying a word.

A look of pleading appeared on Luo Zijun's face as he said: "Senior sister, I really need it. Not much, twenty strands will be enough."

After waiting for a while longer and seeing that she still did not speak, Luo Zijun sighed and prepared to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Su Qingling finally spoke faintly: "Can you only fall asleep if you smell my scent?"

Luo Zijun turned his head and said: "Yes."

Su Qingling said with a cold expression: "What about Liu Chujian's and your Bai Daxiaojie's?"

Luo Zijun said: "No, I only like senior sister's scent, and I also believe that only senior sister's scent is effective for me."

Su Qingling stared at him expressionlessly for a while longer before lowering her head to take a pair of scissors from under the counter, extending a slender finger to gently hook a lock of the long hair on her chest, cutting some off, and then placing it on the counter.

"I knew it, senior sister is the best to me!"

Luo Zijun was immediately all smiles, hurriedly went over to take it, and then took out a Money Pouch to carefully place it inside.

"Senior sister, thank you! I will definitely keep this lock of hair close to me and take it out to smell every night."

After saying this, Luo Zijun immediately left, feeling satisfied.

Su Qingling watched his back quickly disappear outside the door, and after being quiet for a while, she extended a jade finger to gently hook the lock of hair on her chest, looked down at it, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

Luo Zijun soon arrived at Chujian Bookstore.

As it happened, Jia Yingchun was also there.

Luo Zijun went upstairs and, without any nonsense, went straight to the point: "Miss Yingchun, there is something I need your help with."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yingchun hurriedly said: "Please speak, Young Master Luo. As long as Yingchun can do it, I would never dare to refuse."

Luo Zijun gave a "cough, cough," and after having her maid and Bi'er step back, he said in a low voice: "I need a lock of your hair, twenty strands."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jia Yingchun was first stunned, then two blushes flew onto her fair face, and she lowered her head with a shy expression.

Liu Chujian, who was to the side, was also startled and asked in confusion: "Brother Zijun, what do you need Yingchun's hair for?"

Of course, she would not misunderstand anything.

Because this second young lady of the Jia Family was already his person; he could take her into his chambers at any time, and the other party would absolutely be willing.

Luo Zijun said: "I have some things to do and need twenty strands of Miss Yingchun's hair. As for the matter itself, it is hard to explain."

Hearing him say this, Jia Yingchun hurriedly raised her head, blushing, and said: "Please wait a moment, Young Master Luo."

Saying this, she lowered her head and returned to her room.

A moment later, she came out with a lock of hair, handed it to Luo Zijun, and said shyly: "Is this enough?"

Luo Zijun took it in his hand, looked at it, and said: "Enough, thank you."

Saying this, he hurriedly took out his Money Pouch and carefully put it away.

Two people down, ten more to go!

"By the way, Chujian, Yingchun, if you are free now, can you accompany me to Daguanyuan?"

He thought about it; going alone did not seem very good, so it would be better to take these two along.

"Mm, we are free."

"Then let's go."

Luo Zijun led the two of them downstairs and out of the bookstore.

Because the distance was not too far, they did not hire a carriage and walked there instead.

"Brother Zijun, are you going to Daguanyuan to see Lin Meimei, or do you have other business?"

Liu Chujian asked suddenly.

Luo Zijun looked at her and said, "Can't I go see Jia Meimei, or those maidservants?"

Jia Yingchun covered her mouth and giggled behind him.

Liu Chujian said, "I don't know Brother Zijun's intentions yet."

Luo Zijun suddenly asked, "By the way, Yingchun, how is Miss Daiyu's illness?"

Jia Yingchun said, "She is much better. Sister Su's medicine is very effective; Daiyu hasn't coughed up blood for several days now, and she can even get out of bed."

Luo Zijun said in surprise, "That powerful?"

Jia Yingchun nodded and said, "Everyone says Sister Su is a fairy descended to earth."

"A fairy descended to earth?"

Luo Zijun thought to himself: A fairy who likes to pinch people's buttocks and chests? Heh.

But Senior Sister is indeed full of hidden talents; an illness like Lin Meimei's, which had already reached the gates of hell, was actually pulled back just like that?

The three of them talked all the way and soon arrived at the entrance of Daguanyuan.

The person guarding the gate was a sturdy woman, one of Jia Tanchun's people, whom everyone called Shu Shen; she seemed to be a martial artist as well.

Seeing Luo Zijun, she hurriedly came out to greet him, her face full of respect as she said, "Young Master is here. Today, all the young ladies are in the garden, the Old Madam is there too, and the Master and Mistress have just arrived."

Jia Tanchun had long since told her that this Young Master Luo was now the master of Daguanyuan, and the reason why these maidservants and servants of the Jia Mansion had not been swept out the door was because they had been taken in by him; not only were they free from worries about food and clothing, but they also received money every month.

In other words, the servants living in Daguanyuan now were all his servants.

Including her.

Therefore, Shu Shen addressed him directly as "Young Master" and performed the etiquette of a servant.

"Are they all there?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun stopped in his tracks, thought for a moment, walked to Liu Chujian's side, and whispered, "Since they are all there, it wouldn't be convenient for me to go in. Chujian, you and Yingchun go in and do something for me."

Liu Chujian said, "Please tell me, Brother Zijun."

Luo Zijun said, "Help me get some hair from a few people: Tanchun, Jia Xichun, Xiangyun, and Daiyu. If Miss Baochai is there, get a strand from her too. If the Wang family young lady is there, get some from her as well. Remember, at least twenty strands, and it must be from the young ladies, not the maidservants. Just find any excuse to ask for it; if the other party is unwilling, it doesn't matter."

Liu Chujian stared at him with wide eyes, her face full of confusion.

Of course, she wouldn't think that her Brother Zijun had designs on so many people; even if he really did, he wouldn't use a method like this.

"Don't ask too much; I have important matters that require their hair."

Luo Zijun's expression was serious.

Liu Chujian nodded and agreed, though she looked somewhat troubled.

As a girl herself, she naturally knew that hair was a very private thing for any girl.

She suddenly asked in confusion, "Brother Zijun, don't you want mine?"

Luo Zijun felt awkward for a moment, but still told the truth: "Only the hair of a girl who has maintained her virginity is useful."

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Chujian's face turned red, and she gave him a shy and reproachful look, as if to say: It's all your fault.

Luo Zijun said awkwardly, "Go on, quickly."

Then he said to Shu Shen, "I brought them here to play; you just take them inside. I have other business and need to go to the Outer City."

Shu Shen respectfully agreed.

After bidding farewell to Chujian and Jia Yingchun, Luo Zijun left the alley, hired a carriage at the crossroads, and drove toward the Outer City.

The young ladies of the Jia Mansion might not all give it, or might not give it at all.

Even if they all gave it, it wouldn't be enough.

So he decided to go to the Outer City to try his luck.

He had saved Sun Yan'er and Huang Zhaodi back then; now, it was time for them to repay the favor.

Although the act of asking for hair was not very appropriate, he couldn't care about that much anymore; as long as he could continue to cultivate in the Diyuan and quickly advance to the Fen Shen Realm, everything else was unimportant.

If it's embarrassing, so be it.

He didn't care what they thought.

The carriage drove along and soon arrived in front of the Sun Family mansion.

When he got off the carriage, the man guarding the Sun Mansion immediately looked at him with a vigilant gaze. Seeing that he was a scholarly young man in a Confucian robe, he didn't dare to be disrespectful and took the initiative to ask, "Young Master, what is your business?"

Luo Zijun cupped his hands and said, "Please go in and inform them that Luo Zijun has come to visit."

The man said apologetically, "I am truly sorry, but my master went out very early today and probably won't be back until evening."

With the master of the house away and only female family members inside, he naturally didn't dare to let a strange young master in.

Luo Zijun said, "Is Uncle Sun not there? Then please go and inform Miss Sun that I have some matters to discuss with her."

"This..."

The guard was in a difficult position; if a strange man came to see their young lady and the master found out when he returned...

Luo Zijun said, "Just go in and say it; it doesn't matter if she sees me or not."

As he spoke, he took out a Waist Token and said, "I am a classmate of your young lady at West Lake Academy, and I have some matters to discuss with her."

When the guard heard he was from West Lake Academy, he knew he wasn't one of those disreputable people from outside, so he hurriedly said respectfully, "Young Master Luo, please wait!"

With that, he hurried into the mansion.

Before long, Sun Yan'er came out of the mansion in a hurry, wearing a pink dress. After seeing him, her eyes lit up, and her face showed surprise, confusion, and disbelief.

"Luo Zijun..."

She still called him by his full name, but it sounded quite intimate.

Just as Luo Zijun was about to speak, Sun Yan'er's mother, Chen Shi, also came out in a hurry. After seeing him, she immediately beamed with smiles, bypassed her daughter, grabbed Luo Zijun's hand, and said with extreme enthusiasm, "Oh my, Zijun, a rare guest! A rare guest indeed! I didn't expect it to be you who came!"

Then she blamed him, saying, "Look at you, you haven't come to visit your Uncle Sun and Aunt in so long. Your Uncle Sun is always hoping you'll come. Sigh, we are all one family, yet we don't visit often. You boy, now that you've moved into the Inner City and become a person of the Duke's mansion, have you forgotten us poor relatives?"

She chattered away enthusiastically while pulling him inside to have tea.

Luo Zijun hurriedly said, "Aunt, I came to find Yan'er today for some matters. Let's do it next time; I will disturb you next time I enter the manor."

Chen Shi immediately said, "How can that be? You have already come; if you don't enter the door, when your Uncle Sun returns this evening, he will blame me again. Just eat lunch here with us; Aunt will personally cook a few good dishes for you. If you have matters to discuss, you can just talk about them in the manor, can't you?"

Luo Zijun said, "Yan'er and I still have to go elsewhere; we truly have important matters."

Just as Chen Shi was about to pull him again, Sun Yan'er hurriedly said from the side, "Mother, since Luo... since Brother Zijun has matters to attend to, then let's do it next time."

Her form of address had suddenly changed; "Luo Zijun" had become "Brother Zijun."

Chen Shi glanced at the two of them, her eyes flickering, then she suddenly smiled and let go of Luo Zijun's hand, saying, "Fine, since Zijun has matters, then Aunt won't delay you. Just take Yan'er with you; if there is anything, feel free to order her to do it, no need to be polite, we are all family. If she dares to refuse, hmph, you come and tell Aunt, and Aunt guarantees she will teach her a good lesson."

Luo Zijun said, "Many thanks, Aunt."

Seeing him so polite, Chen Shi immediately beamed with joy: "We are family, why be so polite?"

Luo Zijun did not dare to delay any longer, glanced at Sun Yan'er beside him, and signaled for her to follow.

Sun Yan'er felt puzzled in her heart and hurriedly followed behind him.

After the two had walked far away, the man who had been guarding the door earlier came behind Chen Shi and said, "Aunt, who is that youth? Why don't I recognize him?"

Watching that elegant figure in a Confucian robe gradually walk away with her daughter, Chen Shi let out a long sigh and said, "He is now the son-in-law of the Bai Family in the Inner City, and I have heard he has also become a favorite in front of the Queen..."

Upon hearing this, the man's face was filled with shock: "The Bai Family? A favorite in front of the Queen?"

Chen Shi added, "His family and our Sun Family are family friends, and also, back then Yan'er and him... sigh..."

Speaking to this point, she gave a bitter smile and said no more, the expression on her face somewhat dazed.

(End of this chapter)