Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 295 Beautiful women have always been prone to misfortune.

Soon, the wine and dishes arrived. It was only close to dawn, and the shop was empty except for the owner, who was alone inside.

Chen Siyuan picked up a piece of donkey meat with his chopsticks and tasted it, finding it lacking in flavor. He then poured himself a cup of old wine. After taking a small sip, he said, "Master, may I ask if there is a widow named Ma in this alley?"

The short shopkeeper immediately frowned and asked, "Why are you asking about this person, sir?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "To be honest, I'm not good at studying, but I enjoy writing strange tales and storybooks. I only came to the capital last month, and I've already heard about this Widow Ma..."

The owner immediately became talkative and sat down, saying, "Sir, you've come to the right person. I've been running this inn for over twenty years, and I know Widow Ma very well."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Perfect timing, please tell me more, sir." As he spoke, he poured a cup of wine for the owner.

The host, his mouth watering, slurped down the drink in one gulp and said, "That widow Ma's original surname was Liu. She was from Xingtai, and her father was a clerk in the county. When she turned sixteen, she married the eldest son of the Ma family. The two lived happily together for the first two years and had a son."

Years later, when Old Master Ma went out to make a living, he accidentally fell into the Yellow River while crossing it. By the time he was pulled out, he was already gone! His workers had no choice but to quickly buy a coffin and carry it back to the capital. Widow Ma, with her young son, wept bitterly, and then various branches of the Ma family came to fight over the inheritance.

It was only after Widow Ma's father, the clerk, personally came that the various troublemakers within the Ma family were finally subdued. Originally, Widow Ma was raising her son, and in a few years, perhaps the imperial court would even issue her a memorial arch for her chastity. Who knew she would encounter Liu Erlang!

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Oh dear, it's a real pity that the master doesn't go into storytelling."

The host laughed and said, "Sir, please excuse me. I'm used to listening to stories, so when I tell them, I naturally sound like a storyteller."

Chen Siyuan glanced at the carriage outside and asked, "Who is this Liu Erlang?"

The owner said, "This Liu Erlang is no simple man either; he comes from a prominent family..."

The host suddenly stopped talking and looked up at Chen Siyuan's back. Chen Siyuan turned around and saw Miaoyu walk in with a tense face, then sit down at the table next to Chen Siyuan without saying a word.

"This..." The master looked at Miaoyu in her monk's robes with some difficulty, so Chen Siyuan said, "She came along. I suppose she came over to listen to what the master was saying because it was interesting."

Seeing that Miaoyu remained silent, the master continued his story.

Later, when Widow Ma was visiting a temple fair during the New Year, she happened to meet Liu Xianglian, who helped her find her purse. Later still, when she went to the temple to offer incense, the two met again by chance. After this, they began to have an affair.

At first, the two were somewhat discreet, with Liu Xianglian only visiting Widow Ma at night. After half a year, however, they became increasingly bold, and Liu Xianglian simply stayed at Widow Ma's house and wouldn't leave.

Unexpectedly, a servant of the Ma family couldn't stand it and secretly informed the other members of the Ma family. One night, the Ma family members blocked the door to catch Liu Xianglian in the act of adultery. Liu Xianglian was so frightened that he climbed over the wall and fled, leaving the widow Ma alone to deal with the situation.

The members of the Ma family were no saints either. After searching the house and finding Liu Xianglian's clothes, they immediately beat the widow Ma to death.

Afterwards, the spoils were divided among the various branches of the family. Widow Ma's son was raised in the home of her third uncle, but he died of disease after only two years. When Clerk Liu received the news, his daughter and grandson had already died. Enraged, he took a knife and went to the capital to seek revenge on Liu Xianglian. However, Liu Xianglian had many cronies and hid outside the city, afraid to return home.

Liu Dianshi searched everywhere but could not find him, and died on his way back, thus bringing the matter to an end.

The owner talked and drank, finishing half a pot of wine before stopping. Then another regular customer arrived, and he left, still wanting more.

Chen Siyuan smiled and looked at Miaoyu, only to see her give him a cold look. After a brief exchange of glances, Miaoyu got up and went back to her car.

Chen Siyuan drank another cup of old wine before getting up and boarding the carriage.

Seeing that Miaoyu had taken the main seat, Chen Siyuan didn't care. He casually lifted his robe and sat down, then ordered Qingyu to set off.

Miaoyu suddenly sneered, "How much money did you spend to bribe that shopkeeper? Do you think I'm some roadside child who gets fooled by someone's casual remark?"

Chen Siyuan said, "No rush. We'll see how stubborn you are when we get to the next stage." He paused, then added, "If it weren't for my cousin's request, do you think I would do such a thankless and exhausting thing? We dislike each other, so it's best to just be nodding acquaintances. If we get too familiar, it won't be good."

Miaoyu was merely being stubborn; what the innkeeper had said was practically identical to her previous encounter with Liu Xianglian. Now, recalling that day, Miaoyu found it increasingly strange. The capital was a place of great importance; although there were some ruffians, who would dare cause trouble in the streets? Weren't they afraid of being arrested by the Shuntian Prefecture officials?

Miaoyu had already begun to believe half of what the shopkeeper said. Seeing Chen Siyuan's calm and composed demeanor, she couldn't help but believe him even more.

The carriage rumbled along, and the two people inside remained silent. After a while, it suddenly stopped. Qingyu, who was outside, said, "Master, we've arrived."

Chen Siyuan glanced at Miaoyu and said, "Please wait a moment, Abbess."

After saying this, he lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, and a moment later threw a bundle inside.

Miaoyu frowned, picked it up and spread it out, and found that it was a set of men's clothes. Chen Siyuan outside said, "It is not convenient for female guests to visit Jinxiang Courtyard. Master, you should change your clothes."

"Jinxiang Courtyard?" Having lived in the capital for a long time, Miaoyu was well aware that Jinxiang Courtyard was a first-class den of extravagance. Upon hearing this, she exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Siyuan paused slightly outside and chuckled, "It seems that the nun is afraid to go... In that case, let's head back."

Miaoyu immediately raised an eyebrow and said, "Who says I dare not? You just wait and see!"

After uttering those harsh words, Miaoyu was filled with apprehension. After a long while, she quietly untied her paddy clothes, changed her clothes and boots, and then found a hairnet to simply tie up her hair before lifting the curtain and getting off the carriage.

Chen Siyuan and the others were waiting near the carriage. They were initially impatient, but when they saw Miaoyu step off the carriage in a scholar's robe, their eyes lit up. Miaoyu was already tall and slender, and although she looked delicate in the scholar's robe, she had a unique charm.

When Miaoyu looked over with disdain, Chen Siyuan withdrew his gaze and immediately gestured for the two of them to head towards Jinxiang Courtyard, one after the other.

Jinxiang Courtyard was located near the Goldfish Pond. Compared to Xianqu Shuyu, it was inferior, and its rules were not as strict. Thus, even someone as wealthy as Xue Pan was able to find a girl to enjoy his company.

A large teapot was brought over, and seeing that the two men were dressed as scholars and their clothes were obviously luxurious, the teapot dared not neglect them and quickly led them inside.

This Jinxiang Courtyard, as its name suggests, has a Jinxiang Tower in front and various secluded courtyards in the back. A large teapot gave a shout, and the madam came to greet him.

The madam, though past her prime, saw Chen Siyuan and Miaoyu's distinguished attire and quickly greeted them with a smile, "You two gentlemen have arrived early. May I ask who you are—"

Chen Siyuan said, "It's mealtime, Mother, please prepare a feast."

The madam agreed, then asked, "Do you two gentlemen know any girls?"

Chen Siyuan said with longing, "I have long heard of Jinbao'er's great name and am eager to see her beautiful face." He paused, then added jokingly, "As for Brother Chang... Mother can arrange a courtesan for him."

The madam readily agreed and immediately led the two to a secluded courtyard in the back.

The two sat down in the main room, whereupon pretty maids served fragrant tea and fruit snacks. Soon after, female entertainers came to the side room to play the zither and lute in harmony.

In his younger days, when Chen Siyuan was a swindler, he frequented brothels, so he felt quite at ease here. Miaoyu, being new to the place, was currently feeling uneasy. Seeing Chen Siyuan's appearance, she immediately said coldly, "As expected, he's a seasoned womanizer!"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "That's strange. What does my womanizing have to do with you?"

Miaoyu gritted her teeth and said, "What story do you want to hear this time?"

Chen Siyuan said, "No rush, let's wait for the food and wine to be served before we talk."

After a while, the sound of tinkling jade pendants could be heard, followed by a fragrant breeze, and two beautiful women walked in with graceful steps.

The two women stepped forward to greet her. The younger one was alright, but the older one had a worldly air about her, and every gesture she made was seductive and alluring, which immediately made Miaoyu frown in disgust.

Chen Siyuan smiled and stood up to greet them, then invited the older one to sit down to the side, while the younger one naturally sat next to Miaoyu.

After they sat down, the two women exchanged a glance, their faces beaming with joy.

Chen Siyuan was already handsome, but Miaoyu, disguised as a man, became even more so. The younger courtesan, who was merely a maid, fell in love at first sight and served him with utmost devotion.

Soon the food and wine arrived, and Chen Siyuan played around with Jin Bao'er for a while, eating and drinking, but never mentioning Liu Xianglian. On the other side, the courtesan frequently invited him to drink, and from time to time she touched Miaoyu, making the usually clean Miaoyu feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Young Master Chang's hands are even more delicate than mine." As the courtesan spoke, she reached out to tug at Miaoyu, startling her so much that she hurriedly stood up.

The scene paused for a moment, then Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "You don't know, my brother here is a clean freak. He always brings his own bowls and chopsticks when he eats outside. If he doesn't, he might have to scald them with hot water three times."

Jin Bao'er immediately covered her mouth and laughed, "I know you're so obsessed with cleanliness. Last time, that Master Qiao made me bathe three times before he was satisfied."

Chen Siyuan reached out and pulled Miaoyu, saying, "Brother, please sit down and talk. Look how frightened that girl is."

Miaoyu was so angry that her chest heaved repeatedly, and she barely managed to sit down before suppressing her rage.

Only then did Chen Siyuan calmly start a conversation with Jin Bao'er, saying, "Sister, at your age, why haven't you found a wealthy man?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Bao'er frowned and sighed, "I would like to, but the ones I like don't like me, and the ones who like me, I don't like. It's not like I'll end up alone for the rest of my life."

The courtesan beside Miaoyu said, "Young Master Chen, you don't know, Sister Jinbao was originally the most beautiful courtesan in Jinxiang Courtyard. In her younger days, a wealthy man spent a fortune just for a night of pleasure, but he couldn't have her. But Sister Jinbao took a fancy to a down-on-his-luck young master and supported him with her own money for two years. Who knew that he would be so heartless and ungrateful?"

Chen Siyuan feigned surprise and asked, "Oh? Is that so?"

Jin Bao'er said, "Even if I'm sincere in this brothel, people only see me as someone who's good at faking things... Alas, what can I do?"

Miaoyu couldn't help but ask, "Was that person Liu Xianglian?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Bao'er was stunned. After carefully examining Miaoyu, she immediately understood what was going on. She then laughed and said, "Isn't it Liu Erlang? To be honest, it was just wishful thinking on my part. I am but a withered flower, how could I possibly covet growing old with him? However, he does have some affection for me. Although he hasn't come to see me much lately, he still sent me a gift a few days ago."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "That is indeed rare."

Jin Bao'er rolled her eyes and said, "I originally thought it was a Yuan blue and white porcelain, and I was overjoyed. I served it attentively for two days. Who knew that when I asked someone to take a look later, it was not a Yuan blue and white porcelain at all. It was clearly something entrusted to the Emperor during the reign of Emperor Taizong. Even if it were sold, I don't know how many taels of silver it would be worth."

The so-called "imitations" often stemmed from later emperors' fondness for artifacts from previous dynasties, leading them to order Jingdezhen to produce replicas. Being imperial creations, they possessed some value, but they were far inferior to genuine Yuan blue-and-white porcelain.

Unexpectedly, these words made Miaoyu tremble with anger! The Ying Shun Cup was originally a gift from the Virtuous Consort. Although it was not worth much money, Miaoyu liked its simple and unadorned design and used it to drink tea every day.

I was grateful to Liu Xianglian for finding the palm-leaf paper, so I gave it to him. I never expected it to end up in Jin Bao'er's hands!

Miaoyu was so angry that she was about to ascend to heaven and be reborn. Without waiting for Chen Siyuan to answer, she stared directly at Jinbaoer and said, "May I ask if you could bring that cup here for me to see?"

Jin Bao'er had already figured out that Miao Yu was a woman, and with a quick thought, she assumed that Miao Yu had also been deceived by Liu Xianglian. Thinking that she might be able to get something out of her, she smiled and said, "What's so difficult about that?"

He immediately called over a maid, who soon retrieved the Ying Shun Cup from behind.

After the cup was placed on the table, Miaoyu hurriedly got up and grabbed it. She was still wary, fearing that Chen Siyuan had deliberately staged this to deceive her. But when she turned it over and looked at the bottom, she saw that the vertical stroke in the middle of the character "顺" was indeed broken, and her heart sank!
Miaoyu had already believed it to some extent, and now she believed it completely. That's why Miaoyu felt utterly hopeless!

She traveled thousands of miles to the capital to seek refuge and entered the Rongguo Mansion as a candidate for Bao Er's wife. First there was Daiyu and Baochai, then Xiangyun and Xia Jingui. Even Baoyu was fickle and easily bored. For her own sake, Miaoyu no longer dared to dream of becoming Bao Er's wife.

She had originally planned to exchange all her ill-gotten gains for the imperial goods and find a loving husband to live with for the rest of her life, but she almost got tricked by Liu Xianglian!
Her delicate hand holding the cup had turned blue, and Miaoyu's face was deathly pale as she bit her lower lip hard. She hadn't lost her composure until she heard Chen Siyuan's soft cough.

Miaoyu looked up at Jinbaoer and asked, "I wonder... if this item could be resold to me?"

Jin Bao'er was overjoyed, but frowned and said, "Oh dear, how can I resell this? It was originally given to me by Liu Erlang. What will I say if he asks about it in the future?"

Miaoyu didn't know how to deal with this person, so she looked to Chen Siyuan for help.

Chen Siyuan then laughed and said, "It's rare that my brother likes it. These Ying Shun cups are only twenty or thirty taels each outside. How about I offer fifty taels?"

Jin Bao'er laughed and said, "Young Master Chen doesn't know, that Liu Erlang has a temper. I can't afford to fall out with him over fifty taels of silver."

"Then one hundred taels will do. If that doesn't work, I'll just go outside and buy a set."

Jin Bao'er quickly smiled apologetically and said, "I knew that Young Master Chen was generous. In that case, I have no choice but to reluctantly give it up."

"Hahaha……"

As Chen Siyuan was laughing, he saw Miaoyu suddenly raise the Ying Shun Cup and smash it violently on the ground.

*Crack!* The cup shattered into pieces. Without a word, he turned and walked out.

Chen Siyuan, too lazy to hide it any longer, got up, threw down the silver notes, and chased after Miaoyu.

After a short while, Chen Si emerged from Jinxiang Courtyard and saw Miaoyu walk past the carriage, looking utterly dejected. He pondered for a moment, thinking that Miaoyu was aloof and only concerned herself with matters of the heart with those of high rank. Moreover, she was exceptionally beautiful. If he didn't keep an eye on her, trouble might arise.

The servant, Qingyu, was in a dilemma. He looked left and right, and finally leaned over to ask, "Master, what should we do?"

Chen Siyuan wasn't without temper, so why would he rush to coax her? He immediately called over a guard and instructed him, "I'm returning to the Rongguo Mansion immediately. The journey will be within the city, so I don't think there will be any problems. You go and follow this woman to avoid any accidents on the way."

The guard frowned, looking troubled.

Chen Siyuan then said, "If you don't go, I will go."

The guard said, "Then why don't we go together... um—"

Seeing Chen Siyuan's unfriendly expression, the guard quickly stopped talking, cupped his hands in greeting, and went after Miaoyu.

............................................................

Chen Siyuan ignored Miaoyu's concerns and rode back to Rongguo Mansion. By the time he arrived at Qingtang Thatched Cottage, it was already past midnight.

After chatting with Hongyu and the others for a while, Wu'er brought over a food box. Chen Siyuan hadn't eaten much at the brothel at noon and was starving. Just as he was about to enjoy his meal, Yunxiang from outside said, "Master, Miss Cousin is here."

Chen Siyuan put down his chopsticks, thinking to himself that Xing Xiuyan really couldn't let go of Miaoyu.

These two are quite interesting. Due to the changes in Miaoyu's family background, the former best friends have become like strangers and have no contact with each other on the surface, but they still care about each other in private.

A moment later, Xing Xiuyan quickly entered, glanced around, and seeing Chen Siyuan looking calm and composed, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, noticing the food box on the table, she smiled and said, "I'm early, you know."

Chen Siyuan suggested, "It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Why don't you have some with me, cousin?"

Xing Xiuyan was also straightforward and immediately nodded in agreement. Wu'er hurriedly went to the small kitchen to fetch a food box, and Yu Hongyu and the others served the two of them their meal.

Despite her humble background, Xing Xiuyan remained silent during meals and sleep. Occasionally, the two would exchange glances while eating, and Chen Siyuan, noticing that Xing Xiuyan was only picking at vegetarian dishes, would keep piling meat into her bowl.

Once or twice is fine, but after this happened repeatedly, Xing Xiuyan frowned and said, "Eating so much meat is not good."

Chen Siyuan said, "Cousin, are you really going to become a hermit because you're a vegetarian?"

Xing Xiuyan said, "The fish is alright, but for some reason, the meat tastes fishy and gamey as soon as it enters my mouth, making it really hard to swallow."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, "Xing Xiuyan's family isn't well-off, so she probably hasn't eaten meat much in recent years. Suzhou is by the water, and fresh lake fish are cheap, so she's developed a habit of eating fresh fish."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "In that case, next time I'll have the kitchen make it differently, and I guarantee you won't taste any fishy or gamey smell."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and agreed. Now that the conversation had started, she asked, "How...is she?"

Chen Siyuan said, "Since you've asked, how could I refuse? I took her on a trip today and saw through Liu Erlang's character. She left in a daze around noon, and I was afraid something might have happened to her, so I sent the guards to follow her. I expect she'll be back in a while."

Xing Xiuyan was relieved and said, "Although she has a... strange personality, she is not a bad person after all."

Chen Siyuan said, "Whether she's good or bad is none of my business. If it weren't for my cousin, I wouldn't bother with her at all."

Xing Xiuyan immediately covered her mouth and laughed. She thought to herself, "My cousin is quite the one who has strong likes and dislikes. It's a shame that Miaoyu calls herself a celestial being, but my cousin doesn't seem to care at all."

Just as she was pondering this, a pair of large feet suddenly clamped down on her left foot, and Xing Xiuyan immediately frowned. After eating in silence for a while, she couldn't help but raise her right foot to poke Chen Siyuan.

The two were having a great time, poking and prodding each other. Hongyu and the others had already noticed something was up, so they simply covered their mouths, laughed, and quietly slipped away.

As soon as they left, Xing Xiuyan immediately came to her senses and scolded, "You're just like a naughty child. Hongyu might be laughing at us right now."

Chen Siyuan objected, saying, "Single talk about me? You poked me quite a bit earlier too."

Xing Xiuyan was speechless, so she rolled her eyes at him and then laughed to herself. For some reason, every time she spent with her cousin, things would be fine at first, but after only half a day, the two of them would seem to have regressed to their childhood.

After having drunk a cup of tea, Xing Xiuyan felt it was inappropriate to stay any longer, so she got up to say goodbye and left.

Chen Siyuan had nothing else to do today and was thinking of going to talk to Sister Bao at night, but before he knew it, Sister Feng and Ping'er came to visit again.

Feng Jie and Ping'er were not in a hurry to go inside. Ping'er took out various colored latex soles from her bundle one by one and said with a smile, "These are newly made in the workshop. Compare the sizes and take two pairs if they fit."

Wu'er received two pairs and exclaimed happily, "Second Mistress, the soles of these shoes are really good! But how are the sizes calculated? Do I have to measure each one individually?"

Sister Feng laughed and said, "It's all thanks to your master's method. The sizes are measured one finger at a time. He also hired two people to shine shoes for free at the inner city gate every day, taking the opportunity to measure the sizes. That way, he knows which sizes are more or less, and he has them all."

Hongyu, Wu'er, and the others exclaimed in unison, all marveling at Chen Siyuan's ingenious idea.

Seeing that Chen Siyuan had already come from the study to greet her at the door, Fengjie said, "You go and see him off. I want to say a few words to Brother Yuan."

Ping'er smiled and agreed. Feng Jie then stepped forward with a smile, greeted Chen Siyuan, and said, "I have two good things to tell Brother Yuan."

Chen Siyuan smiled and invited her inside. After they were seated, before the teacups were even served, Feng Jie said eagerly, "Firstly, the workshop manager took the shoe soles to various shoe shops to promote them. The shoe shops tried them on and all said the soles were good, and they placed orders for two or three thousand pairs of soles."

Latex soles weren't cheaper than woven soles, but they were thicker and more durable, making them a popular choice for shoe shops. The workshop started generating income as soon as it opened, instantly calming Sister Feng's previously anxious heart.

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "That's good news... What else?"

"And—" Feng Jie leaned forward and lowered her voice, "I spoke to Brother Zhen a couple of days ago, and he replied today that the soldiers of the Beijing garrison really like latex soles. A general has already petitioned the Ministry of War to procure these, and some impatient soldiers went straight to the workshop and ordered two hundred pairs at once."

Chen Siyuan laughed loudly: "Congratulations! I think it won't be long before Second Sister-in-law sees her money back."

Sister Feng laughed and said, "It's all thanks to Brother Yuan's guidance, otherwise how could such a good thing have happened?"

Sister Feng had privately calculated that if half of the million people in the capital used the latex soles from the workshop, that would amount to seven or eight thousand taels of silver—a huge sum!
And although the soles of these shoes are thick, they are still designed for different seasons. You can't wear the same pair of shoes all year round, can you? After two or three years, when the soles wear out, will you have to replace several pairs?
In addition to military purchases, even after deducting labor costs and capital, Feng Jie alone would earn at least three or four thousand taels of silver a year, which is far better than the nerve-wracking loan sharking.

Seeing that she was about to make money, Sister Feng was in a great mood and even gave Jia Lian a friendly look today.

Chen Siyuan then offered another suggestion: "I imagine that powerful and wealthy families, especially the women, would not appreciate this kind of generic stuff. Why don't you, Second Sister-in-law, select two workers to take molds and have them custom-made for you everywhere... Of course, the price will have to go up accordingly."

Sister Feng was greatly moved upon hearing this, and couldn't help but clasp her hands together and say, "They say Brother Yuan has the abilities of Tao Zhu, but I think he is clearly Tao Zhu reincarnated!"

"Second sister-in-law, you flatter me."

Sister Feng smiled and said, "You flatter me! This idea is excellent. I'll give the order to it later."

After briefly drinking a cup of tea, Sister Feng felt she had grasped the essence of business and happily took her leave.

Nothing else happened that day. Chen Siyuan went to see Baochai once that night, read a book for a while, and then fell asleep in Wu'er's arms.

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The next day, Chen Siyuan had just finished practicing his stance training when a maid named Yunxiang led Qingfan, who was by Miaoyu's side, to look for him.

After exchanging greetings, Qingfan frowned and asked, "May I ask, Master Yuan, where is my young lady now?"

Chen Siyuan asked in surprise, "Didn't Miaoyu come back yesterday?"

Qingfan looked like she was about to cry, and shook her head rapidly, saying, "I and two nannies kept watch all night, but we didn't see the young lady return."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, no wonder Qing Fan's eyes were full of wariness... he was treating him like the bad guy.

He then said, “After we parted yesterday, your daughter was distraught, so I sent a guard to follow her… If you’re not in a hurry, go back and wait. I’ll send someone to tell you when I get the news.”

Qingfan bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak, and looked up, her eyes filled with distrust of Chen Siyuan.

Chen Siyuan remained silent for a while, just as he was about to say something else, an old woman from the back gate came looking for him, saying, "Master Yuan, someone from your household is here looking for you."

Chen Siyuan glanced at Qing Fan and said, "Fine, you can go and listen to it."

Qingfan quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Master Yuan."

Chen Siyuan didn't say much at the moment. He led Yunxiang and Qingfan to the back gate of Rongguo Mansion, where guards were indeed waiting.

Chen Siyuan stepped forward, and the guard greeted him, saying, "Sir, I've been following Miss Miaoyu all yesterday..."

Where is she now?

The guard said, "Muni Monastery."

Chen Siyuan turned to look at Qing Fan. Seeing that Qing Fan was still unconvinced, Chen Siyuan immediately glared at her, which startled Qing Fan into quickly lowering her head.

Chen Siyuan straightened up and asked, "Did she walk all the way there?"

The guard, both amused and exasperated, nodded and said, "Indeed! I couldn't stand it any longer, so I went up and said a few words to her, but she seemed not to hear me and ignored me."

"and then?"

"Then... thanks to the master's instruction to send me along the way, the journey was peaceful until we reached the gate of Muni Temple, where two thieves suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I saw one of them had a knife, so I went up and dealt with them."

Chen Siyuan frowned slightly, unaware that the two had been assigned by Xia Jingui, and assumed it was just a coincidence.

Then the guard said, "I escorted the man into the Muni Monastery. It was getting late, and the city gates were probably already closed, so I stayed there for the night. I only rushed back to report this morning."

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "You've worked hard." He quickly took a small piece of silver from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "You've had a long day too. Go and have some wine to relax."

The guard was overjoyed, clasped his hands in thanks repeatedly, and left with profuse gratitude.

Chen Siyuan then turned to Qingfan and said, "You heard that too? If you want to find your young lady, you should hire a carriage and go to Muni Temple as soon as possible."

Qingfan thought about it and agreed. No matter what, this Master Yuan couldn't possibly sell his own daughter. He immediately curtsied and took his leave, returning to the Longcui Nunnery to gather two old women, and then took a carriage to the outskirts of the city.

Chen Siyuan dismissed Yunxiang, who had sent the good news, but inwardly he was filled with resentment. He thought to himself, if it weren't for his cousin's pleas, why would he have bothered with such a troublesome matter?

To everyone's surprise, as soon as he turned around and entered the Grand View Garden, he saw Su Yun approaching quickly with a frown on her face.

The two bumped into each other, and Su Yun hastily bowed. Chen Siyuan then asked, "Sister, is there something urgent?"

Su Yun then said, "Lan Ge'er has a persistent high fever and is delirious right now. Doctor Wang instructed me to fetch some strong liquor to wipe Lan Ge'er down."

"Huh?" Chen Siyuan was taken aback, frowning as he asked, "How could it be so serious?"

Na Suyun shook her head, hurriedly said goodbye to Chen Siyuan, and went into the small kitchen.

Chen Siyuan stopped in his tracks, unable to help but sigh inwardly. He had just given Jia Lan this instruction, but who would have thought it would come true? It was a pity that his penicillin was destroyed, otherwise it would have been just what he needed now.
Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly saw two rough-looking old women carrying a basket of garlic into the small kitchen. Chen Siyuan quickly made way for them, and after they passed each other, he suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Those dormant memories gradually resurfaced. Oh right, garlic can also kill bacteria, and it seems that allicin can be extracted from it?

How to extract it is unknown; perhaps we should soak it in strong liquor first. Chen Siyuan quickly interjected, "Wait! Take this garlic to my humble abode first!"

(End of this chapter)