CH 30

Looking at the distant carriage, the female officer asked in a low voice, “County Princess, since Madam Luo is not in the herbal store, why don’t we go back to the County Lord’s residence first, you are feeling drowsy. A good rest is necessary for you.”

Zhaowei silently shook her head, raised it, and scanned the plaque of the herbal store. Only by looking at the mottled paint she knew that the store was old.

At this moment, she stood outside the door, and could smell the light orchid fragrance, very similar to the scent on Zhou Qing’s body. It was light and refined, completely different from the strong and domineering fragrance of Herbal Pavilion.

She held her skirt and walked inside, followed by two female officials with nervous looks on their faces, obviously very worried.

Yu Fu was sitting by the counter when he saw the elegantly dressed woman enter. He hurriedly gathered his thoughts and greeted her warmly, “Madam, do you want to choose herbs? The store has been open for several years and has all kinds of herbs, both well-blended and unblended. In addition, we have the Fu powder and Muxu oil, which are guaranteed to satisfy you.”

Zhou Liangyu lifted the curtain and walked into the store from the backyard, he heard Yu Fu’s words, and he couldn’t help but retort, “Our precious herbs are only of one kind. If the customer wants to buy sandalwood and lobster, you could go to the Herbal Pavilion across the street.”

Zhou Liangyu read the words of the saints and sought a quiet mind, so he was most disciplined. He knew the guest was a woman, so he simply lowered his eyes so as not to bump into others.

Zhaowei couldn’t help but be a little surprised. She has lived for so many years. It was the first time she had seen someone drive their guests elsewhere. Her apricot eyes narrowed slightly as she surveyed the gentle and handsome face and found that he resembled Zhou Qing. She presumed he was the only son of the Zhou family – Zhou Liangyu.

“Many thanks to the gentleman for mentioning it. It’s just that I just came out of the Herbal Pavilion and the smell of her herbs is particularly pungent. I don’t like it.” In fact, Zhaowei didn’t just dislike herbs; she didn’t have a good feeling about Liu Ningxue either. She was obviously just an ordinary merchant girl, but she had to act like she was an immortal who could neither be desecrated nor stained by dust. Her appearance was not the same as that hypocrite, Liu Henian.

After staying in the Zhou family’s herbal store for a while, Zhaowei bought a bottle of mignonette oil, opened the cap, and gently smelled it; she found that although the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers was sweet, it was not cloying. It was not bad compared to the things sent by the Internal Affairs Department.

——

The carriage stopped in front of the Xie Manor. Zhou Qing walked quickly forward while Xie Yi lowered his head, followed closely, waited until they reached the front of the study, and then stopped in his tracks.

When he returned to the Xie Manor last time, Xie Chong had just left the Imperial prison and given the prisoners a full sentence. He had a problem with his medulla oblongata and had to keep his mind calm and not be stimulated too much. However, when he delivered punishment, he was bound to see blood. And being exposed from the blood, how could his head not hurt? If not for the tranquilizing herb that could calm his mind, he could only forcibly endure the pain.

The Commander helped the Zhou family to keep the furnace and saved her life earlier. Thinking that her benefactor had been suffering, she felt as if a hole was poked in her heart. It was indescribably unbearable.

Reaching out to push the door open, she saw the man sitting behind the desk, wearing a flying fish suit. On his handsome face, his skin was paler than usual, and his obsidian eyes were bloodshot, giving off a terrifying appearance.

Zhou Qing walked straight to the herbal case and cautiously inquired him, “Lord, do you have another headache?”

Xie Chong reached out and pinched in between his eyebrows. His low, hoarse voice contained endless pain, “If it hadn’t been for the severe pain, this official wouldn’t have asked Xie Yi to invite you here. It’s still less than three days. I hope you don’t blame me.”

Zhou Qing married Luo Yu years ago. According to common sense, others should call her Mrs. Luo. But for some reason, thinking of these words, Xie Chong felt the bottom of his heart surge with a bit of astringency. His thick black sword eyebrows were tightly knitted, and the gloomy color under his eyes also became more and more intense.

Although it was now autumn, the weather was sweltering hot. The herb was in line with the season. Herbs were used to nourish the body and as medicine. During summer, porcelain censers were used, and copper censers during winter. But the tranquilizing herb was not the same as ordinary herbs. What mattered was not the taste but its calming effect on the mind, so Zhou Qing would use the finest herbal tool, such as the Xuande furnace, to blend.

What she brought to the Xie Manor today was the longevity herbal cake, which used yellow Dan, dried marshmallow flowers, dried eggplant root, de-pitted dates, and other things as the main ingredients. It was slowly ground into a paste and finally rolled into cakes. After igniting, the herbs were heated to make the fragrance clear and free from dust and smoke.

Xie Chong held the case file in his hand. It was the evidence from the Ministry of Punishment. It was crucially important, but he could not concentrate.

The knot in his throat slid up and down. He raised his gaze from time to time, looking at Zhou Qing, who was concentrating on mixing herbs.

In fact, as the Commander of the Jin Yi Guards, Xie Chong has seen countless beauties. Because of the power he held in his hands, numerous people would send young and tender women to the residence. Those people were mild and submissive on the surface. But as soon as he appeared, they would be scared, trembling, and crying bitterly, as if he was a vicious ghost crawling out of hell. That look was really horrifying.

The herbal cake burned red, emitting bursts of yellow smoke. While Zhou Qing covered the herbal ash on it, she asked, “Since I used the tranquilizing herb, can the Lord recover?”

Xie Chong put down the case file and replied in a rough voice, “The pain has indeed diminished a bit. But as soon as the blood qi rushes, it will get worse, unless…”

“Unless what?” She asked softly.

“Unless you can smell the tranquilizing herb at all times. This thing is indeed very magical. But this official can’t carry the Xuande furnace at all times, nor can I keep bothering you.” Xie Chong said in no hurry, black eyes staring steadily at her.

The woman’s soft red lips pursed into a line, and she respectfully said, “There is neither bother nor trouble. You have saved my life. This kindness is higher than the mountain and deeper than the sea. Preparing the tranquilizing herb now cannot simply repay one or two. But you are in charge of the Northern Zhenfu Division, an important place. I cannot enter at will. I only hope you can restrain yourself a bit and try not to torture yourself. The pain can then be reduced by a few points.”

When she spoke, Zhou Qing’s eyes revealed a trace of concern, “The Jin Yi Guards are loyal to the Emperor. As the Commander, it is not too much to say you are powerful. Even so, you cannot disregard your life. The “Book of Filial Piety – The Beginning of the Righteousness” says: The body is hair and skin, and the parents who suffered from it dare not damage it. At the beginning of filial piety, even if you do not think about one or two for yourself, you have to think about the elders at home……”

Seeing the woman’s seriousness, her jaw tight, her hands on the table clenched into a fist, her skin lily-white, and her pale blue veins faintly visible. Somehow, Xie Chong only felt that the air around him seemed to be much thinner, making his mouth dry and his breath a little unstable.