Free Web NovelChapter 2380: Chapter 2355: Speculation
Manbao finally hugged a piece of pink satin and went home. Bai Shan, who was strolling in the garden, saw it, grew curious and approached to take a look, asking, "Is it another gift from State Duke Pi’s mansion?"
Manbao nodded, "Moreover, it’s a reward bestowed by the palace."
Bai Shan raised an eyebrow, reached out to touch the satin, and found its quality indeed quite good. He was somewhat curious, "Strange, lately the gifts from State Duke Pi’s mansion have been too plentiful. It’s understandable if the Crown Prince and Crown Princess give them, but even the Emperor and Empress have bestowed some things upon State Duke Pi’s mansion, and among them, there are herbs specified for Su Jian."
Manbao said, "So recently they’ve been talking about it in the Imperial Hospital, saying that the Su Family is indeed endlessly honored, even more so than State Duke Zhao’s mansion."
Bai Shan laughed, "How is that possible? State Duke Zhao..."
Bai Shan paused here, stroked his chin and said, "It’s a bit strange, indeed. The recent gifts to State Duke Pi’s mansion are unusually numerous. It’s believable that the Emperor relies on State Duke Pi, but to rely on him more than State Duke Zhao? I don’t believe it."
Bai Shan asked, "Who are the gifts intended for? State Duke Pi, or State Duke Pi’s wife?"
Manbao thought for a moment and said, "I heard servants in the Su Family talking, there’s some for both State Duke Pi and his wife, but no matter for whom, there’s always some for Su Jian."
Bai Shan: "Why reward him?"
"To comfort him, perhaps," Manbao said, "I heard that the rewards include herbs."
Bai Shan was somewhat incredulous, "Is having a stomach ache such an honorable thing? Yet he still receives consecutive rewards..."
Bai Shan paused here, lost in thought. If it’s not for honor, then perhaps... compensation?
Bai Shan was somewhat unsure. He glanced at Manbao, but in the end, said nothing.
Manbao didn’t have time to think about these trivial matters. Two days later, she packed her luggage and moved directly into the Imperial Manor.
Because the smallpox scabs had matured and scabbed over, they were to be collected in the next couple of days, and then used to vaccinate people.
This time, the number of people being vaccinated was greater, with a more systematic trial, so constant supervision was needed.
After discussion, the Imperial Hospital finally chose Zhou Man and Imperial Doctor Lu to be responsible for this matter, both of whom had to stay in the Imperial Manor, thus they were temporarily not needed at the Imperial Hospital.
Because there were many for this trial, once people went in, they couldn’t come out.
The four Xi Bing clamored to follow, but Manbao said, "I’m going to work, not to play. Why are you following?"
"To attend to you."
Manbao immediately shook her head, "It’s just me; I don’t need four attendants."
Junior Ms.Qian suggested, "How about bringing two people? You’ll be staying inside and can’t come out; someone needs to cook meals to your taste, and clothes need washing. You’re already so tired; you shouldn’t worry about these tasks."
The four Xi Bing gazed at her eagerly.
Manbao looked at Junior Ms.Qian.
Junior Ms.Qian whispered to her, "Bring Jiu Lan. She’s good at cooking, and you can bring Xi Bing too. She looks quite skilled with a sword, should be able to fight."
Manbao: "... Big sister-in-law, why the need to fight?"
Junior Ms.Qian whispered, "Better safe than sorry. For something like vaccinating people against smallpox, what if someone unwilling stretches out to hit you?"
In any case, Junior Ms.Qian thought that if anyone dared to vaccinate her with smallpox, she’d hit them, maybe even kill them.
Manbao: ...
Manbao was struck hard. She privately confided in Bai Shan, "I was thinking of first vaccinating our family once the cowpox method is confirmed. I’d get vaccinated too, so going out would be safer. Who knew my sister-in-law would want to kill me."
Bai Shan: "She doesn’t want to kill you, just the person harming her..."
Facing Manbao’s gaze, Bai Shan’s voice grew smaller, unable to say more.
Putting it that way seems more ambiguous indeed.
Bai Shan paused for a moment before saying, "I heard Honey Heart Hall has a new pastry that’s particularly delicious. I’ll buy you two boxes; how about taking them to the Imperial Manor to eat?"
Only then did Manbao’s gaze return to normal, "Sure."
Bai Shan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He bought the pastries and joined everyone to send Manbao to the entrance of the Imperial Manor.
He handed two food boxes to Jiu Lan, advising, "Heat them before eating. Don’t let her eat too much in a day. I’ll have someone send fresh ones later; this is a three-day supply."
Jiu Lan bowed in agreement.
Bai Erlang had only one sentence, "Take care of yourself, I’ll help eat the scraps and pancakes made by your sister-in-law."
Yin Huo laughed, "Liu Huan sent a message saying he can’t come to see you off. Minister Liu is watching him closely; he likely won’t be allowed out until after exams. Who knows which of you will get out first?"
Manbao confidently said, "Of course it’ll be me."
Zhou Lijun hesitated before saying, "Aunt, we plan to return home after February, by then..."
Manbao: "I’ll definitely be out."
Zhou Lijun breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "That’s good. I still want to compare the account with you."
Recently, she had been selling many gems and spices in the capital, but Zhao Liulang had sold the most.
Zhou Lijun glanced at Bai Shan. The goods came through him, but every few days, a batch of money was sent over, and it wasn’t a small amount. Obviously, Zhao Liulang sold much more than she did. Indeed a well-connected aristocrat with power and influence.
Manbao waved, "If I don’t get out in time, you can also reconcile accounts with Bai Shan or Bai Er."
After all, the goods they brought back from the Western Regions were all given to Zhou Lijun to sell, with clear accounts conducted openly. Reconciling with any of them was fine.
Zhou Lijun nodded and agreed.
Junior Ms.Qian prepared plenty of food for her, all loaded onto the carriage to take inside. She said, "If you crave something, send a letter home, and I’ll make it and have it sent over."
After all, the Imperial Manor wasn’t far from their home; a short ride into the city would reach it.
Manbao happily agreed, still bidding fond farewells to everyone when a carriage passed by them. Imperial Doctor Lu opened the curtain and snorted inside, thinking they were being too clingy, as if it were a final parting of life and death.
Manbao was still bidding fond farewells to everyone when she saw Imperial Doctor Lu’s carriage and joyfully waved to greet, "Imperial Doctor Lu, you’re here early!"
Imperial Doctor Lu had to reopen the window to face her, forcing a smile and saying, "Not as early as Imperial Doctor Zhou."
He really couldn’t stand the clingy display, so after checking the time, he reminded, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, it’s getting late. If you don’t go in, you’ll be late."
Manbao glanced at the sun, nodded repeatedly, turned, and waved to everyone, "We’re going in now, you all head back."
So she got on the carriage, taking Xi Bing and Jiu Yue into the Imperial Manor.
