Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Chapter 554 Falling Sick

"Do you want to go out of town to play? Great! I'll go right away!" After all, Yingzi is a child at heart. When he heard that he could go out to play, his mind was immediately diverted.

With too many worries, Jiang Shangxian, the master of eating, had no taste for his lunch - with the level of his two apprentices, their progress was not very obvious.

Secretly putting the blame on her apprentice made her feel better. She forced herself to cheer up and prepare the medicine and dry food she needed to take with her. Seeing this, several old women who had also finished their meal and were ready to continue chatting hurried to help.

They are really bored to death.

The old women are all good at work and have great strength. With their help, the work can be done very quickly.

When Runzhen came back, the kitchen was almost done. Mrs. Wang waved and handed her a bowl of cold water: "Where have you been to listen to the fun? Look at your forehead full of sweat."

She smiled but didn't answer, only saying, "The sun was very hot, and I walked too fast on the way back, so I was sweating all over."

Jiang Shangxian, who hadn't eaten well at lunch, was just chewing a piece of thin naan bread to replenish his energy. His eyes immediately lit up, and he stuffed a piece into her hand as well: "You've come at the right time. Come back with me."

"Yes." Runzhen drank the water in one breath and felt the dryness on his body subsided a little. He wiped his neck back and forth quickly with a handkerchief and followed her into the yard.

As soon as he entered the house, Runzhen spoke directly: "My lady, there is no news from Yong'an Canal. I thought it might be because the Jiangxia County Prince's Mansion is in Wannian County, so I went to Shengpingfang."

This explains why she came back so late.

It’s not close from Yanshoufang to Shengpingfang, and it took quite a while to go back and forth.

Jiang Shangxian pressed her shoulder and said, "Sit down first. Sit down and talk slowly. Don't be impatient."

"Thank you, madam."

Runzhen didn't refuse. After spending so much time together, she knew her master's temperament, but long-standing habits don't fade easily. She only sat halfway. "I heard that the Prince of Jiangxia County has been reinstated, and His Majesty has issued an edict to appoint him as the Commandant of Maozhou. I've walked around the outside of the Prince of Jiangxia's mansion twice. If I see anyone visiting, I'll let them in."

It was put into use.

Jiang Shangxian's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of anxiety appeared on his face. "Have you heard that after we left, has anyone come to propose marriage?"

"No." Although Runzhen didn't know much about Li Xueyan and Zhao Shan, she did hear Wang Mingqian say in Qingzhou that Zhao Shan was going to come and propose marriage.

When it comes to proposing a marriage, no matter whether it succeeds or not, there will always be some news revealed, but now no one knows.

Either Zhao Shan did not propose marriage, or the matter was forcibly kept secret and not allowed to be spread outside.

Jiang Shangxian hoped it was the former, but she always had a vague feeling that it was most likely the latter.

Although today's imperial examination system is not as perfect as that of later generations, there are still many successful candidates waiting for official positions. Why would they suddenly reinstate an old official who was dismissed from office and idle at home for two years because of corruption?

Could it be...

She suddenly thought of something: "Is anyone outside discussing the war in Songzhou?"

"this...."

Runzhen was a little embarrassed. She was just a maid and had never paid attention to state affairs. But now, facing her master who obviously looked unwell, she could only rack her brains to recall all the trivial gossip she had heard today.

Unfortunately, she didn't recall anyone mentioning this matter, so she could only shake her head and say, "I haven't heard of it, but I guess it's not over yet. Otherwise, such a big event would have been heard by everyone in the streets and alleys of Chang'an."

Jiang Shangxian's breathing became heavier: "You've worked hard, go down and rest for a while."

"Yes, ma'am." Runzhen could see that she was in a bad mood and didn't dare to say much.

When two people have been together for a long time, they will share many of their habits. Jiang Shangxian was upset today because of all the trouble he had, and he couldn't help but imitate Cui Bianxu and tapped the table with his index finger.

She had to think of the worst.

Li Daozon was reinstated, which only meant that the result in Songzhou had already come out, or was about to come out.

It’s just that the news hasn’t been released yet.

How is Zhao Shan doing now?

What should Li Xueyan do then?

What else could she do?

At this moment, she finally understood why Cui Bianxu always liked to discuss things with her.

When faced with a difficult problem, it is always better to have someone to discuss with or listen to other people's ideas than to think alone and end up with a headache.

"Yingzi! Yingzi!" Her palms were sweating from nervousness. Li Xueyan's matter could not be delayed, and Cui Bianxu's matter could not be delayed either.

Yingzi, who was happily packing his rations with a piece of dried meat in his mouth, thought something had happened and ran over like a fly: "Daliang, Senmosi!"

Jiang Shangxian was writing furiously. Her handwriting was a bit awkward, and her writing was not good, with large and small strokes. The whole article was quite jarring, but she couldn't care less at the moment. "Have the driver take you to Xuanpingfang. Zhao Shan should still be on duty at the palace. Leave the letter with the gatekeeper. This matter is extremely urgent. Zhao Shan should return home from his duty and give him the letter immediately."

Assuming that the Jiangxia Prince's Mansion has already used Li Xueyan to exchange for her future, then if she goes directly to Li Xueyan now, she may be turned away. She has to find Zhao Shan first to find out the truth.

Whether it was the marriage proposal or the battle of Songzhou, Zhao Shan worked in the palace, so he should be better informed than the outside world.

After sending Yingzi to run errands, Jiang Shangxian felt for the first time that Cui Bian was right when he said that she didn't buy enough personal maids.

The old women never spent as much time with her as her personal maids. It was fine to ask them to do ordinary things, but it was not convenient to ask them to do things that were not easy to spread.

"Madam, someone is coming from Old Madam Liu." The old woman who was on duty guarding the gate today walked in.

Jiang Shangxian, who had just sat down, slowly opened his eyes: "What's the matter?"

"Someone close to Madam Liu came over to say that Madam Liu is feeling unwell and they are sending the court doctor over. Please come and see her as well."

Aunt is so quick?

Jiang Shangxian knew that she would not have a good rest for a long time, so she gritted her teeth and swore that she must have a good sleep tonight!

"Come on, go in and take a look and then come out. Be careful to get rid of the disease."

The thick curtains that blocked the sunlight in the room had been removed, leaving only shallow nail marks on the window frame. Cui Shuhua was sitting outside and just nodded when she saw her coming.

Looking at his expression, did the conversation go well or not very well?

Xiao Jiang said it was hard to judge, but he also agreed obediently: "Yes, aunt."

Zhao Yue's voice came from inside: "Mother, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you're already this old, why are you still so greedy for coolness and don't know the difference between hot and cold? Now you're sick, right? Aunt Zheng, you too, why don't you try to persuade me?"