Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 741 Bao'an Hall Arrives

Suzhou, the leading county of Wu Prefecture, is the most prosperous city in Jiangnan.

The streets were bustling, with painted boats thronging the waterways. Pedestrians thronged the cobblestone streets, and the soft, melodious sounds of Suzhou storytelling drifted from the teahouses and taverns. Xu Xuan led Xiao Qing through the crowd, heading straight for the prefectural governor's mansion.

Song Youde had been waiting in front of the mansion for a long time.

"Brother!"

Xu Xuan's greeting was so warm, as if he were seeing his own brother, that even Xiao Qing couldn't help but turn her head to look.

At first glance, Song Qingtian's transformation over the past six months can be described as a complete metamorphosis.

Living environment influences one's temperament, and upbringing influences one's physical condition.

Although he still had that same broad and plump figure, his complexion was rosy, his eyes were bright, and he looked very healthy.

He was dressed in official robes and looked very smart. Even more astonishing was that his aura was tinged with purple within a bluish hue!

This is a sign of a smooth career and a meteoric rise in officialdom!
Xu Xuan narrowed his eyes, and upon closer inspection with his spiritual sense, he saw wisps of pale golden light surrounding his body—this was the manifestation of public opinion!
It seems that this Lord Song has truly won the hearts of the people now...

"Brother!!!"

Song Youde's shout was so sincere and heartfelt, with a slight tremor at the end, as if he had seen a lifeline.

He rushed forward, his enthusiasm so great that even the constables at the entrance of the government office couldn't help but glance at him—was this still their dignified prefect?

In Song Youde's eyes, Xu Xuan's transformation was even more astonishing.

How long has it been since we last met?

The man before him wore a plain white robe with a black jade token hanging at his waist. Although he was just standing there casually, he had an indescribable air about him—he looked more like a high-ranking official than the real prefect.

"Girl Qing is here too?" Song Youde turned around and greeted Girl Qing warmly.

During its expansion phase, Baoan Hall experienced numerous disputes. Hall Master Xu rarely intervened, so the Deputy Hall Master was more often involved. When resolving issues, the scale of the conflict was quite large, indicating that he had witnessed the other party's methods firsthand.

It can be said to be a very unique approach. When a tough attitude and dirty tactics are combined, the local clinic is easily defeated.

It allows one to befriend high-ranking officials and nobles, and also to benefit ordinary people.

It can be considered one of the most powerful local forces in the Jiangnan region.

After entering the inner quarters and dismissing his subordinates, Song Youde became even more obsequious, walking with a slightly lagging gait, showing none of the magnanimity he displayed in the outside world.

Only when you actually sit in the position of prefect do you realize how difficult it is to endure this position.

Song Youde originally thought that he would be able to relax after being promoted, and even secretly harbored a desire to "finally make some money".

Otherwise, wouldn't this promotion have been for nothing?
Little did he expect that the room for maneuver left for him was really too small—the powerful families of Suzhou were harder than rocks in a latrine!

The previous "centipede prefect" was indeed an honest official, but he was too honest, even refusing to take any power, which led to the power vacuum in the upper echelons of Suzhou being completely divided up by powerful families.

All sectors of society, as well as various protection fees and channels for basic livelihoods, were monopolized.

In the end, they still had to rely on the power of the Baoan Hall to manage to gain some benefits.

For example, last time they wanted to regulate the lucrative canal transport industry, the powerful families united to resist, and they wouldn't even let him use the boats.

He ended up looking disheveled and rather embarrassed.

Song Youde now just wants to cling to powerful figures and then try to climb higher.

He had figured it out: if he couldn't defeat them himself, he would ask the gods to come and fight them.

He even had the dark thought that if one of the high-ranking officials in the state suddenly died...

For example, sudden death? Death from a sudden onset of illness? Or... being struck by lightning?

Does this mean I have a chance?

This is not wishful thinking.

Look at Wang Yan, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat in the court. He started as a Gentleman Attendant to the Crown Prince, then rose to the position of Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, becoming a close minister of the Jin Emperor. In the blink of an eye, he became Minister of the Imperial Secretariat!
That's what you call a successful official career!
In comparison, my promotion speed is like an old ox pulling a broken cart!
"Ahem, the food and wine are all prepared. Today, I must have a few drinks with my brother!"

With a beaming smile, Song Youde personally poured Xu Xuan a full cup of aged Shaoxing wine and then attentively served Xiao Qing vegetables.

Since Song Youde was promoted to prefect, the two had only met privately a few times, but each meeting was very beneficial to him.

For example, the first time he came, he arranged for the suppression of bandits in Taihu Lake; the second time, he arranged for agricultural experimental fields; and the third time, he came to help with the recovery of fisheries after the restoration of the Taihu Lake basin. Layer upon layer of gold paint was applied eagerly, and Song Youde's reputation also grew rapidly.

After the previous governor fostered a demon to enhance his own power, Wu County was in a precarious state.

At this critical moment, Song Qingtian was appointed to the post and quickly took up his post. What followed was a year of favorable weather and abundant harvests, with various achievements being made with great fanfare.

More importantly, the older brother also vaguely knew some of Xu Xuan's true colors.

Exhausted reputation in the martial arts world, and a touch of inhuman nature.

So the relationship... got even better.

The higher the rank of an official, the less they care about these things.

The governor of Xin'an Prefecture kept a snake king with a broken tail. The powerful families of Suzhou all had their own evil cults to worship. Didn't the Emperor of Jin also appoint a national advisor?

Only a bookworm like Magistrate Ximen would adhere to the idea that Confucius did not speak.

After a few rounds of drinks, Xu Xuan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and suddenly asked, "How is Xun Ji?"

Song Youde immediately understood, and while diligently pouring Xu Xuan a glass of amber-colored Shaoxing wine, he lowered his voice and said, "He's about to die."

"That's good." Xu Xuan nodded in satisfaction and took a sip from his glass.

The two exchanged a smile, their eyes revealing a tacit understanding.

"Hehehe..." Song Youde couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hehehe..." Xu Xuan chuckled softly as well.

Xiaoqing, standing to the side, curled her lip in disdain: "That laughter sounds so fake, it's not even as funny as 'hehehe'!"

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xu Xuan casually made a hand seal, and a flash of green light appeared at his fingertips, instantly dispelling the smell of alcohol from the group.

“Let’s go,” Xu Xuan stood up and straightened his sleeves, “Let’s go see if Lord Xun is really dead.”

Song Youde quickly led the way, boasting as he went: "The Xun residence was chosen by Master Mao, and I specially found someone to buy it and send it over."

This mansion is quite particular; it faces south, so yin energy doesn't gather; the doors and windows are wide open, making it easy for the soul to leave the body; it guarantees that the dead can be taken away by the gates of hell immediately, without lingering!

Absolutely thoughtful "one-stop" service!
Outside the bedroom of the Xun family mansion, several elderly doctors with white hair and beards hung their heads dejectedly and shook their heads repeatedly.

Judging from their expressions, Xun Ji is probably 90% dead.

When Song Youde stepped forward to ask, he learned that the actual situation was even worse.

"Ninety-nine percent! He's just one breath away!" an old doctor sighed. "He can only hold on for another fifteen minutes at most..."

As they were talking, the renowned doctors looked up and were shocked to see the head and deputy head of Baoan Hall arriving together.

"The two hall masters of Baoan Hall, Xu and Qing, have arrived!!!"

The Xun family must be incredibly powerful and influential to be able to invite both of them at the same time!

As everyone knows, Baoantang is a medical clinic, and not just any ordinary one.

Dr. Mao is an expert in medical classics. He is a first-rate master in the Five Elements and Six Qi theory, the internal organs, meridians, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment principles, acupuncture, and prescription formulation.

Doctor Yan took a different approach, not following the classics, but instead venturing into the world of knives and axes, becoming extremely skilled in treating internal and external injuries.

Master Qing is skilled at treating difficult and complicated diseases, especially poisons, Gu poisons, and injuries caused by the five elements.

Master Xu was a figure who appeared and disappeared like a dragon, renowned throughout the martial arts world. It was said that he was proficient in everything and was the one who suppressed the most famous doctors in Baoan Hall.

The appearance of both the head and deputy head of the hall together should be a momentous event.

pity……

“Young Master Xun has one foot in the grave; he is beyond saving by human intervention…” Several renowned doctors whispered among themselves, shaking their heads in disbelief.

We're all experts; we can make that judgment.

Xu Xuan, however, did not think so.

(End of this chapter)