Famine and Chaos: Weaving Cloth in Exile to Escape the War

"At least you know what's good for you!" Shen Qingzhou glared at the timid Jing Zhichun, then turned to Liu Yi. "Liu Yi, give her your bundle and tell her to go ahead and brew the medicine! Hurry up!"

Jing Zhichun nodded immediately, glancing at the large bundle on Liu Yi's back. "Yes, yes, hero, quickly give me the medicinal herbs, I'll run off to brew them right away, no delay!"

Liu Yi expressionlessly untied the heavy package from her body, but instead of immediately handing it to Jing Zhichun, she looked at Shen Qingzhou and said coldly, "Last time, my young master, out of consideration for our past relationship, specifically instructed me to deliver the first batch of medicinal herbs to Young Master Shen's residence in the middle of the night. But you said you didn't receive the herbs at all, accusing my young master of putting on an act. This time, Young Master Shen should keep a close eye on the herbs. If they disappear again, don't wrongly accuse my young master of his good intentions."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingzhou's face turned even uglier. "Liu Yi! You know best whether your Liu family sent me medicine or not! Liu Bancheng and your young master almost cut off my buttocks that night. They hold a grudge against me. Why would they kindly send me medicine?"

"Now that there's no possibility of reconciliation between the Liu family and my Shen family, you don't need to put on these hypocritical nice words here!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yi's anger flared up again.

That night, he was indeed following the young master's orders to personally deliver the medicine for treating the plague to the Shen family, and he personally placed it on the only broken wooden table in Shen Qingzhou's room.

He remembers it perfectly clearly; there's no way he could be wrong.

But Shen Qingzhou insisted that he hadn't received it, and yesterday at the Liu residence, he even accused his young master of being hypocritical.

In his opinion, Shen Qingzhou was just pretending.

Today, how scarce and rare are the effective medicinal materials for treating plague?

He guessed that Shen Qingzhou had hidden the medicinal herbs himself, and then turned around and accused the Liu family of not delivering the medicine!

Their aim was simply to extort more plague-treating herbs from the Liu family, as well as other precious medicinal materials.

Sure enough, after causing a scene at their Liu residence yesterday, the young master sent over even more precious and highly nourishing medicinal herbs.

Thinking of this, Liu Yi's gaze toward Shen Qingzhou, besides the original indifference and disgust, now held an even greater, undisguised contempt.

"Hmph, Young Master Shen, you know perfectly well whether you received those medicinal herbs or not. Yesterday you caused a scene at the Liu residence, but my young master, being kind-hearted and mindful of our past relationship, didn't want to hold it against you and gave you some extra precious medicinal herbs. You should be grateful!"

"I'll make this clear on behalf of my young master: this is the last time the Liu family will send you medicine. From now on, you'd better watch your behavior."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingzhou was so angry he almost vomited blood.

He never imagined that the Liu family could be so shameless and despicable!

Doesn't he know whether the medicine was delivered or not?

He did not receive the medicine for treating the plague sent by the Liu family; instead, he was mocked by Liu Mingxuan.

Now it's Shen Qingzhou's fault; he's been labeled a greedy, despicable person who extorted medicinal herbs!

"You...your Liu family...you are utterly despicable and shameless!" Shen Qingzhou pointed at Liu Yi, trembling with anger.

Kyoto Haru, who was listening nearby, almost couldn't help but laugh.

The Liu family did indeed send the medicinal herbs.

However, she snatched it away.

Watching these two families fight like dogs, suspecting and blaming each other, is exactly the kind of scene she enjoys.

Watching this, Eunuch Wang was extremely anxious, feeling as if the sky was about to fall.

What time is it?

Now the situation is extremely urgent, and lives are at stake!

Shen Qingzhou was still arguing with the Liu family guard.

He had been infected with the plague for several days, feeling unwell all over with a persistent high fever. If this dragged on any longer, forget about a bright future; he might not even be able to save his life...

He really didn't want to die!

So, Eunuch Wang quickly stepped forward and said to Shen Qingzhou inside the carriage, "Young Master! My dear Young Master! Now is not the time to talk about these things! The young master is still ill, let's hurry back to brew the medicine and save him, Young Master!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingzhou suppressed his surging anger, glared fiercely at Liu Yi, and finally turned to the important matter: "Give the medicinal herbs to Madam Jing and tell her to go back and brew the medicine! Eunuch Wang, please drive the carriage!"

Seeing that Shen Qingzhou had finally listened, Eunuch Wang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Alright, alright! This servant will drive the carriage right away!"

With that, he got into the carriage and tightened the reins.

Liu stepped aside, her gaze falling on Jing Zhichun, and asked, "Can you read?"

Although Jing Zhichun didn't understand why Liu Yi asked this, she still nodded, "I know some. When I was in the capital, my father hired a nanny to teach me."

Liu nodded and then handed the package to Jing Zhichun, explaining, "This package contains Young Master Shen's prescription and instructions for preparing the medicine. It says when to take the medicine and how to prepare it. The herbs are all packaged. Just follow the instructions to prepare it."

"Yes, yes, I understand." Jing Zhichun quickly agreed, then, carrying the heavy package worth 200,000 coins, turned and jogged towards the Shen family's thatched hut.

She ran ahead, clutching the bag of herbs, her heart pounding.

So, this precious medicinal herb was obtained just like that?

It's like a dream!

After running for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Jing Zhichun arrived at the three thatched huts of the Shen family.

The surroundings were pitch black and deathly silent, with only the sound of wind and snow. She pushed the door of a thatched hut and found it locked, so she stood in front of the hut and waited for Shen Qingzhou and the others.

Soon, Shen Qingzhou's carriage creaked and groaned as it came to a stop in front of the thatched hut.

Eunuch Wang got out of the carriage and looked at Jing Zhichun, who was standing at the door holding a package and seemed a little lost. He shrieked, "What are you standing there for?! Hurry up and go in to brew the medicine! The young master is waiting!"

Jing Zhichun pointed to the tightly closed door of the thatched hut and said with difficulty, "Eunuch Wang, which of these three rooms is the kitchen? Besides, the doors are all locked, and I can't open them."

"Useless thing! Wait!" Eunuch Wang glared at Jing Zhichun, then quickly turned around and poked his head into the carriage, asking Shen Qingzhou for the room key.

A short while later, the lock on the door of the slightly larger thatched hut in the middle was opened.

Eunuch Wang pushed open the wooden door, and Jing Zhichun hurriedly followed him in, groping around to light a pine torch stuck in a crack in the earthen wall in the corner.

The dim firelight barely illuminated the room.

This is the kitchen.

Inside the house was a simple stove, a black pot, a few bowls, and some firewood piled in the corner.

"Hurry up and brew the medicine. I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If the young master doesn't drink the medicine by then, I'll send you straight to the mountains to feed the wild dogs!" Eunuch Wang glared at Jing Zhichun.

Jing Zhichun feigned alarm and quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, I will make sure the young master drinks the medicine within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"Hmph! You're smart to know what's good for you!"

After saying this, Eunuch Wang turned around and hurriedly walked to the carriage, carrying Shen Qingzhou into the house.

The package has already been opened at Kyoto Spring.

As Liu Yi had said, the medicinal herbs inside were carefully packaged in thick oiled paper, and each packet had instructions written in ink about what ailment it was for and how to prepare it.

Jing Zhichun flipped through the papers and quickly found several packages with the words "Shen Yu" written on them.

The woman called the baby "Yu'er" at the time, so Shen Qingzhou's illegitimate son was named Shen Yu.