The new house of Tianshui Bridge would take several days to be busy with purchasing furniture and choosing a day for moving. It was inconvenient for the three of them to run back and forth, so they still lived at Sanniang's house.
After finishing all kinds of arrangements for the new house today, Luo Ning and Yejingtang went back to Ranfang Street together to get some rouge, powder, and change of clothes.
In Shuanggui Lane, Luo Ning held a small sunshade umbrella and walked towards the courtyard gate, saying along the way:
"There are four courtyards in the back residence, all prepared for the madams and concubines. Each courtyard has a main house, east and west wing rooms. Altogether, it can accommodate twelve people. I really don't know what Sanniang is thinking..."
Yejingtang, dressed in a black robe with a long knife hanging from his waist, led the horse and walked behind, smiling:
"It's better to have more empty rooms than not having enough. In the future, when we have children..."
"The young master has the east house, the young lady has the embroidery building, and the maids have the side rooms and the back covered rooms. Those four courtyards are for the concubines. Do you think I can't see the intention?"
Luo Ning turned her head and looked at the extraordinary young thief beside her:
"Sanniang has already prepared it. If you, this young thief, don't fill the rooms, aren't you letting down Sanniang's good intentions?"
Yejingtang raised his hand and put his arm around Luo Ning's shoulder, and they entered the courtyard together:
"Are you kidding? I'm not a donkey. If I bring twelve women home, I'll turn into medicinal dregs before I'm thirty years old."
Luo Ning slightly twisted her fragrant shoulder: "Then how many wives do you plan to marry?"
Yejingtang thought carefully for a while:
"What a man desires in his life is nothing more than dominating the martial arts world, having a status comparable to that of a prince or marquis, and having three wives and four concubines. Three plus four equals seven, so seven... Hiss - Just kidding."
Luo Ning's face turned slightly cold. She stared at the young thief who was eyeing the granary while eating from his bowl for a moment, and then entered the courtyard:
"I'll go back and decoct medicine for you."
As she said this, she looked around the kitchen:
"Where did the medicine I bought last time go?"
Yejingtang smiled and said: "When I came back at noon, I was afraid it would expire if it was left for too long, so I just threw it away."
Threw it away?
I spent a long time bargaining with Madam Wang to get that medicine last time...
Luo Ning gritted her silver teeth secretly and walked towards the courtyard gate: "I'll go to Wende Bridge to get the medicine for you. You... Eh?!! You young thief!"
Yejingtang blocked her way, picked up the slender and graceful and cold and beautiful female martial artist horizontally, and apologized:
"I'll go to get the medicine when I have time. It's so hot, and we've been running around all day. You take a rest, and I'll knead your shoulders and beat your legs."
How could Luo Ning believe this? Neither Yunli nor Niaoniao was around, and there were no outsiders in the whole lane. If she was carried into the house, she didn't know what would happen to her.
Luo Ning pressed her hand on the soft sword at her waist: "You young thief, I just came back to get something and will go back right away..."
"Just take a rest. It's broad daylight. How could I have improper intentions?"
Yejingtang pushed open the door of the west wing with his shoulder, sat by the canopy bed, placed Luo Ning on his lap, and gently kneaded her shoulders and arms with his hands:
"You've been working hard these days. Let me give you a massage, and we can chat for a while before going back."
Luo Ning wanted to get up, but Yejingtang wouldn't let her. So she turned her head aside, putting on an aloof look.
Inspired by Benben today, Yejingtang discovered that the Wind Listening Palm had some other misused but wonderful functions.
Although it was a bit of a waste of top martial arts, Liu Qiansheng wasn't his master anyway, so it didn't matter if he wasted it.
Holding Luo Ning at this moment, Yejingtang kneaded with his hands and carefully sensed the fluctuations of her qi and blood, looking for the parts and strength that Ninger felt most comfortable with. His technique was extremely gentle.
Luo Ning originally didn't want to talk, but in less than a moment, she found that the young thief was different today - completely different from his previous eager and anxious appearance of groping. The kneading strength was quite comfortable, and it seemed that he was really serving her.
Luo Ning blinked her eyes. Because the experience was extremely good, she slowly and quietly leaned against Yejingtang and asked coldly:
"What kind of technique is this of yours?"
The corners of Yejingtang's eyes were filled with a smile. Seeing that Ninger didn't resist anymore, his hand moved to her chest:
"The Wind Listening Palm. Isn't it powerful?"
As a master of the inner sect, Luo Ning knew this top martial art of the inner sect and was half-believing:
"Is this how the Wind Listening Palm is used?"
"Martial arts don't necessarily have to be used for fighting. This is an additional function. Do you want to learn it?"
Luo Ning naturally wanted to learn it, but once she opened her mouth, the young thief would surely push his luck. After thinking for a while, she said indifferently:
"It doesn't matter if I learn it or not. If you have a conscience, you'll teach me. If not, it's okay."
Yejingtang held Ninger's hand and smiled:
"How could I not have a conscience? If you don't believe me, touch it."
"I won't touch... Oh, you~..."
Luo Ning gently hit Yejingtang with her hand. Helplessly, she still lowered the bed curtain...
——
Inside the imperial palace.
Before they knew it, the moon had risen on the branches, and gorgeous palace lanterns were lit up among the palace pavilions.
The front hall of Changle Palace was where the Emperor held court in the inner court. At this moment, the hall was brightly lit. The Empress of the Great Wei Dynasty sat upright in front of the dragon-carved screen. In front of her stood a thin white gauze screen, and only the faint shadows of people in front of and behind the screen could be seen.
In front of the white screen, there was a stool. The old Imperial Physician Wang with snow-white hair sat upright on the stool, holding a confession in his hand and carefully reading it:
"Zhang Jinglin should be a direct disciple of the Medical Sage of Beiliang. More than twenty years ago, he once followed the envoy of Beiliang to Yun'an and visited this old official once... This person can be called talented and brilliant, but he likes to use strong and偏方medicines. He values medical skills more than the lives of patients and lacks medical ethics.
"Testing medicines directly on people is a taboo way. Once a doctor does it for the first time, they will have no scruples anymore. Judging from the confession, Zhang Jinglin should have already gone down the evil path, which is why he was expelled from the sect by the Medical Sage of Beiliang."
"Can Imperial Physician Wang tell what kind of medicine he is researching?"
"Expanding the qi meridians in a short time, causing the martial arts power to multiply several times, and the person can still hold on for two quarters of an hour before dying. Ordinary prohibited medicines can't achieve this. If the confession is true, there should be medicinal materials similar to the 'Snow Lake Flower' added to the prescription to nourish the meridians and protect the veins."
The Empress frowned: "He has the Snow Lake Flower."
The old Imperial Physician Wang shook his head: "The Snow Lake Flower grows in Tianlang Lake. It blooms once every sixty years. The last time it bloomed was during the founding of the country. Now the stock in the world is extremely scarce. Even if Zhang Jinglin has it, it's impossible for him to waste it so recklessly. This old official estimates that he is researching a medicine that can replace the Snow Lake Flower."
The Empress's eyes moved slightly, and she sat up a bit straighter:
"Is there a medicinal material in the world that can replace the Snow Lake Flower?"
"Zhang Jinglin was able to make the person who tested the medicine hold on for two quarters of an hour, so he should have made some progress. But even if he finds a substitute, the medicinal effect will not be as good as that of the Snow Lake Flower which has accumulated the essence of the sun and moon for sixty years. If it can have one percent of the medicinal effect, it can already be regarded as a divine thing."
The Empress nodded slightly, her eyes thoughtful.
When a martial artist's qi meridians are broken, they can't follow the way of channeling qi. If the main qi meridians are all broken, the person will be completely disabled, and the injury can't be recovered at all.
In the past, only the Snow Lake Flower and the Blazing Fire Diagram could treat this kind of injury. But the Snow Lake Flower is too rare and is basically exclusively for the emperor. Not to mention the Minglong Diagram, it can't fall into the hands of martial artists in the martial arts world, and it can't treat many people either.
If a substitute can be found and the quantity is sufficient, the hidden injuries of countless martial artists in the world will have a chance of being cured.
And when she privately pondered over the Minglong Diagram and had an accident, the first thing affected was her whole body's qi meridians. The little Snow Lake Flower left in the national treasury has to be reserved for keeping her alive, and she doesn't dare to use it at all. She can only resist with the damaged version of the Blazing Fire Diagram.
If there is a substitute, even if the medicinal effect is only one percent, it's still better than having no medicine to treat the injury and being able to hold on for a few more days...
The Empress's eyelashes moved. After thinking for a while, she asked again:
"The Snow Lake Flower bloomed during the founding of the country last time. Now that sixty years have passed, is it going to bloom again?"
The Imperial Physician Wang said: "According to the calculation, it will bloom in the next year or two. However, Tianlang Lake is now under the jurisdiction of Beiliang and is heavily guarded by the troops of Beiliang. It's only been a few years since Your Majesty made a truce and conducted business with Beiliang. It's probably not appropriate to send troops at this time."
Seeing this, the Empress didn't say more...
——
A moment later, the old Imperial Physician Wang left under the escort of the palace servants.
The Empress secretly considered for a long time, got up and returned to the bedroom. She changed into a fiery red long dress, and her hairpin style also returned to a neat and capable one. She leaped onto the palace pavilion alone and left the imperial city silently.
The Empress's martial arts skills are peerless. She used to often wander around the capital alone. Because she likes poetry, songs, and fu, the place she goes to most often is the poetry and literature gatherings on Wutong Street. However, she has never shown her skills in front of people - the reason is not that the Empress is low-key, but that in the fields of guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she really can't be high-profile.
The Empress gently landed and took off above the city. She first went to the Black Yamen, found the White-Haired Diting, asked about Yejingtang's whereabouts, and then came to Tianshui Bridge.
The moon was on the branches, and there were many pedestrians on Tianshui Bridge. The depths of the Pei family's lane were also very lively.
The Empress landed silently on the wall. She could see that a table was set up in the viewing pavilion of the west house. A delicate young lady and three maids were sitting inside, concentrating on playing a card game. There was also a big bird squatting beside them.
"One chicken!"
"Ji?"
"I didn't call you!"
...
In the small garden of the back residence, a charming and beautiful mature woman walked beside a woman who was still attractive despite her age, and said with a worried look:
"Sister-in-law, I'm an unmarried girl. What will it look like if I move in..."
"Jingtang has already said that he wants you to move in. The intention is so obvious. What are you being coy about? If you continue like this, I'll throw your bedding over there for you..."
"Sigh, since you've arranged it like this, sister-in-law, I have no choice but to obey..."
...
The Empress scanned around but didn't find Yejingtang's trace in the large house, so she waited among the buildings.
After waiting for about an hour, she finally saw a horse coming from the quiet back alley.
Yejingtang, dressed in a black robe, sat in front, with a straight back and excellent spirit.
And behind him was a stunning beauty dressed in a green summer dress, sitting sideways behind him. She put a small package on her lap and leaned her cheek against Yejingtang's back, looking listless.
When the Empress saw this scene, she thought the girl was ill, but upon closer inspection, something was wrong.
After the horse came near the Pei family's house, Yejingtang stopped. The beauty in the green dress jumped down, her legs went weak for a moment, and then her eyebrows frowned in anger. She hit Yejingtang with her hand:
"I just went back to get something, but you had to mess around."
After saying this, she picked up the small package and quickly walked into the Pei family's house with her head down.
The Empress blinked her eyes and thought that Yejingtang must have gone out on a date with his sweetheart and then kissed and touched her.
The Empress observed secretly for a while. Seeing that Yejingtang put down the horse, talked with the maid, and then walked towards a courtyard alone, she quietly sneaked over...