Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 47
Chapter 47 Search for Herbal Medicine
The thought calmed Gu Zhihua down gradually and relieved her rage and frustration from being defeated by Gu Qiang and Shen Zhongbai. Then she went away.
Gu Qiang turned around and saw Shen Qianshan sitting in the pavilion with something in his hand. He was looking at the lotus pond in front of him and seemed to be feeding fish.
When she walked to him and saluted, Shen Qianshan put down what was in his hand, stared at her for quite a while, and said, “You don’t need to stand on ceremony.”
He pointed to the opposite stone bench. Though surprised, Gu Qiang sat down on it obediently.
“Your Highness, I am glad to see you here and I need your help. Could you please…” Gu Qiang gazed at Shen Qianshan with expectation while saying. He looked around and seemed to enjoy the view of the mansion. She thought he would ask what he could do for her, but unexpectedly, he nodded directly and responded, “OK.”
“Your Highness, do you just agree to help me before I spell it out?” Gu Qiang asked in surprise.
Shen Qianshan turned around, met her eyes, and said affectionately, “I will satisfy all your demands.”
But Gu Qiang didn’t take what he said seriously. He was strange recently and seemed to drop her a hint.
At dusk, Shen Qianshan and Gu Qiang put on black clothes and rode horses towards Suxin Palace which owned Suxin Grass. The palace was in mountains just like Shen Qianshan’s Xiaoyao Palace.
There were several such palaces in mountains around the capital. Princesses usually lived in these palaces for relaxation. The Emperor and imperial concubines would come to avoid the summer heat. Among the palaces, many had their aces in the hole.
Before Shen Qianshan told Gu Qiang on the way, she had known nothing about it.
At nightfall, they tied their horses to the trees at the foot of mountains. Shen Qianshan raised his head, moved his jaw, and said faintly, “Go along the path, and we’ll get to Suxin Palace. You can find Suxin Grass there.”
Gu Qiang tapped her numb legs. They had traveled a long way and she was surprised that she could make it.
The path wound up the mountain. Unknown flowers gave off a faint fragrance, which smelt good. Shen Qianshan walked behind Gu Qiang for fear that she would fall down the mountain because of tiredness.
It got dark gradually and the dark extended. Fog rose visibly and shrouded the whole mountain finally.
It seemed quiet against the background chirping of insects. Shen Qianshan turned around and asked quietly, “How do you know Suxin Grass can cure the plague?”
Perhaps Gu Qiang was too tired. She sat on a stone and said casually, “If Suxin Grass can’t detoxify the body, it won’t be valued so much by those people in Suxin Palace?”
It didn’t sound like the answer to Shen Qianshan’s question, but he didn’t care. No matter what the solution was and whether it would work, they had to try. It was unknown which decision would change the situation. That was why Shen Qianshan came here with Gu Qiang without hesitation after hearing her suggestion.
He was worried about Gu Qiang, but his worry over the country was not less than that of Gu Qiang.
After they traveled for a while, the path became wider. A black building perched on the top of a nearby mountain. The building was magnificent and looked like a beast lurking in the quiet evening, opening the mouth, and waiting for its prey to walk into its mouth.
Gu Qiang stood at the gate and found it closed. No matter what was waiting for them inside, Since they had arrived, they had no choice but to enter.
Shen Qianshan seemed to realize that Gu Qiang was nervous, so he stretched out his hand and signaled her to hold it. But she just gave a glance and then entered before him.
In the night, the cyan gate looked particularly stately. Inside the palace, there was a corridor paved with stones. It was flanked by buildings of a unique style. The stone path led to a hall. Gu Qiang walked to the main hall with Shen Qianshan regardless of the curious eyes from surrounding people.
On a chair in the middle of the hall sat a middle-aged man, who was in cyan just like others in the hall. The clothes must be uniforms of Suxin Palace.
Gu Qiang was standing in the hall. Surrounding lights flickered and stretched her shadow. The hall was empty. Tables and chairs were laid out. Obviously, they were used to receive guests. The man sat there playing a pearl in his hand. Because the pearl had been played for a long time, it shimmered unusually in the dark hall and made people unable to take eyes off it.
The man raised his head slowly, squinted his eyes, and ran his eyes over Gu Qiang and Shen Qianshan. He was about forty years old. He was a plain Bill and lacked the awe-inspiring and imposing manner which was necessary for a man at his position.
When Gu Qiang met his eyes, she became clear about his character.
His age signified that he was not reliable. Besides, he looked at them casually and seemed to be arrogant. If he was the master of Suxin Palace, it would be difficult to get Suxin Grass.
The man withdrew his glance and said while continuing to play his pearl, “What can I do for you?”
His question was unnecessary. Visitors came here for nothing but its herbal medicine. Any palace had its ace in the hole, which guaranteed a share in the capital. Suxin Palace was a typical example. Some of its herbal medicines had a magical effect. Pills blended with them could cure many diseases.
Of course, the man was most clear about what he had. Many people visited Suxin Palace. He had been used to it. A lot of people wanted to get the herbal medicines, including the imperial family, common people, and businessmen. He didn’t need to treat anyone preferentially.
Shen Qianshan answered the man, “I’m sorry to bother you. But the capital is afflicted with the plague. I’ve heard that Suxin Grass here can cure it, so…”
Before Shen Qianshan was done, the man sneered. He put his pearl on the table, looked up helplessly at the ceiling, and said, “All visitors want to get the herbal medicines. If I give them, others will also come here, won’t they? If I don’t, we seem to refuse to rescue those in danger. We’re in a dilemma.”
Then he turned around to look at Shen Qianshan and seemed to give him a hint.
Shen Qianshan was clear about his hint, so he asked the man, “What do you want?”
The man found Shen Qianshan was not stupid. Few people that came here before could understand his hint as Shen Qianshan did. Besides, even though someone understood, they couldn’t meet his demand.
“What can you give me?” The man asked in reply.
Shen Qianshan stared at the man silently and met the man’s gaze without flinching. He was both wealthy and powerful in the capital. So long as the man didn’t demand too much, he could have a try.
“So long as your demand can match the value of Suxin Grass, I can satisfy it.” Shen Qianshan said.
Hesitation was useless, so Shen Qianshan decided to take the initiative and ask what the man wanted.
Hearing what Shen Qianshan said, the man knew the comer was not a nobody. He wanted to stop the plague, so he must be a member of the imperial family.
Why not take the chance to extort money from him to improve the life of his men in Suxin Palace?
After making the decision, the man changed his face instantly and answered Shen Qianshan, “We won’t charge much. One hundred thousand taels of silver, OK?”
How greedy he was! The master of the palace made such a charge shamelessly, and Shen Qianshan was ashamed of him. Even though he had the courage to charge, Shen Qianshan was embarrassed to give him.
One hundred thousand taels of silver meant nothing to Shen Qianshan, but he must ensure that the master of the palace would give him Suxin Grass instead of something else.
“If you can give me Suxin Grass that can cure the plague effectively, I will consider your quote.” Shen Qianshan said slowly. He looked up at the master who didn’t look like kind.
It seemed that he was plotting something.
As expected, the man laughed and said, “I am unable to give you Suxin Grass. You need to get it by yourself. It grows in the back mountain. The path was winding and dangerously steep. There are poisonous insects and beasts in the mountain. It can’t be obtained easily.”
Did he mean that Shen Qianshan and Gu Qiang had to get it by themselves? Shen Qianshan wasn’t sure about the credibility of what the master said. Suddenly, he felt he was fooled.
He turned around to look at Gu Qiang, relying on her to decide if they would go on or return.
Gu Qiang met the master’s eyes coldly and asked faintly, “Keep your promise. If we get Suxin Grass, it will belong to us, won’t it?”
The master nodded, “Sure. So long as you give me one hundred thousand taels of silver, it will be yours.”
Gu Qiang didn’t have so much money, but the master meant they also needed to go up the mountain for the herb after they paid the money. He was making difficulties for them deliberately. In fact, he didn’t want to give them the herb. His game could be seen through easily.
Gu Qiang fell into silence. Then she nodded with a frown and told the master, “Show us the way.”
The master didn’t expect the girl would agree. Frankly speaking, it was dangerous. If they survived, he was sure to get the money. If they died, Suxin Palace had nothing to do with it.
After all, it was their choice.
