The Martial Doctor

Chapter 352: Chapter 318: Discovery

"Aunt Wan, Aunt Wan..."

"What’s the matter, little Hai Tang? It’s not busy in the front at noon today." Luu Wan is the head chef. Unless it’s some particularly important guest, she generally doesn’t need to personally cook.

She just patrols back and forth in the kitchen, supervising.

Of course, if it’s particularly busy, she will help out. After all, she earns a high salary and must live up to the money she’s given.

"Aunt Wan, my... my dad is here..." Qingtang whispered softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"So what if your dad is here? He doesn’t know you’re here. What are you afraid of?" Luu Wan wasn’t flustered at all, staying calm and collected.

"No, Aunt Wan, my dad is right outside!"

"Right outside?" Luu Wan gasped in surprise, "Did you see him, or did he see you?"

"I heard his voice, and I saw his back. That’s my dad. His voice and back are too familiar. I recognized him at a glance."

"Alright, stay put. I’ll go out front and have a look." Luu Wan felt a stir in her heart, instructed Qingtang, and dashed out like the wind.

...

"It really is him..." Luu Wan knew Qingtang’s mother, which is also why she knew Qingye, otherwise, Qingtang wouldn’t have come to rely on her.

It was precisely this relationship that made them so familiar.

Qingye was buying rice wine, and according to the rules of Huaye Tower, rice wine is sold not only to the guests of Huaye Tower but also available for external sale.

But external sales have a limitation: Only guests who spend at Huaye Tower can purchase one jar per person per time.

If they sold openly, Huaye Tower’s rice wine wouldn’t be able to meet the demand.

This one jar of rice wine is about five pounds. For someone with a good tolerance, it’s probably just a single serving, but if you drink it sparingly, it could last a long time.

There were two of them, so they were entitled to buy two jars.

But two jars aren’t enough. Naturally, Qingye wanted to buy a few more jars to share with his subordinates, but the front desk didn’t dare to make that decision.

They promptly consulted Shi Yin.

Shi Yin was also in a difficult position. If she broke her own rules, how would she maintain her credibility next time?

"Sorry, dear guest, the rules of our shop are very clear: One person can only purchase one jar. If I make an exception for you, others will expect the same, and my business will be unsustainable. Besides, the daily supply of rice wine is limited. Maybe when our production increases, you can come again and buy as much as you want, but not now, I’m sorry."

"Young lady, that’s not how business is done..." The rice wine is smooth when entering, but the aftereffects are quite strong, and Qingye was deceived by it, feeling slightly intoxicated at the moment.

"Dear guest, you seem slightly intoxicated. Our shop can arrange a car to take you back?"

"What, slightly intoxicated? It’s just a little wine, I’m not drunk..." Qingye said, glancing at Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze behind him, whose pale face had two rosy patches, also appearing a bit tipsy. "Alright, arrange a car for us to go back."

"Where are you staying?"

"East of town, the official inn!"

Shi Yin’s eyes flashed with a gleam; staying at the official inn means they aren’t ordinary people, especially with the Li Jing accent, she immediately instructed to arrange a car quickly.

Huaye Tower collaborated with the Su Family’s transportation service, with carriages ready at all times to transport guests.

This guest transportation service was Huaye Tower’s pioneering initiative, which other hotels in Dongshan City soon emulated.

Luu Wan came out of the kitchen, saw the scene, and breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried that if Qingye drank too much and caused trouble, it might involve Qingtang.

As for Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze beside Qingye, Luu Wan didn’t recognize him. He was probably an attendant or advisor of some sort.

It’s not unusual for a Grand General guarding the frontier to have a couple of scholarly advisors by his side. It’s just that this advisor seemed a bit frail, needing Qingye’s support to walk.

...

"Aunt Wan, how did it go?" As soon as Luu Wan returned to the kitchen, Qingtang came up eagerly and asked.

"It really is your dad, but he probably isn’t here for you."

"Not here for me?"

"Your dad should be returning to Juxu Pass and just passing through Dongshan City. But oddly, it seems like he’s taking a detour. Don’t worry; I know where your dad is staying. Tonight, I’ll go check it out," Luu Wan explained.

"Okay, Aunt Wan, take me with you."

"No, with your meager skills, your dad would surely notice you. Don’t blame me then," Luu Wan said.

Qingtang pouted slightly and nodded helplessly.

...

"Young master, how’s the pressure?" Back home, Lianxin immediately brought hot tea and then came behind Lin Miao to massage his shoulders.

Lianxin’s way of caring for people, who knows where she learned it, had increasingly suited Lin Miao.

No wonder the wealthy like having a considerate maid to massage their shoulders and back, and even warm their bed.

Lianxin was now playing that role.

This girl was smart enough to quickly find her place, compared to Liansuo, who is not as clever.

Of course, it’s also due to personality. Lianxin’s gentle nature suits this job.

"Sir?"

A voice came from outside the study, belonging to Shi Yin.

"Oh, it’s Shi Yin, come in."

"Greetings, sir." Shi Yin entered and respectfully bowed.

"At this hour, why are you here instead of at Huaye Tower?" Lin Miao asked, seeing that it was the busy time for the restaurant, and her being away as the shopkeeper suggested something important had brought her back.

"My lord, two guests came to Huaye Tower at noon today. They have the accent of the capital and are staying at the official inn..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Miao’s heart stirred. Those who stayed at the official inn were usually officials or the like. Currently, the Grand General Qingye was in Dongshan. As such a high-ranking official, he wouldn’t stay at an ordinary inn; staying at an official inn meant he didn’t have to pay out of pocket. From the description, one of them had to be him.

"My lord, although the elder in the blue robe spoke most of the time, the slightly younger one’s attire was even more luxurious, especially his lining, which ordinary families could never afford; it looked like tribute silk." Shi Yin said.

"Tribute silk?"

"Tribute silk is the best grade of silk fabric, and those who can wear it are either wealthy or noble, definitely not ordinary people."

Lin Miao nodded. He preferred wearing cotton underwear, while the women in his family liked wearing silk; silk underwear was light and smooth, gentle on the skin but not sweat-absorbent or skin-friendly. Lin Miao used to wear linen, but with improved conditions, he naturally switched to homespun cotton.

He found it comfortable and low-key, not ostentatious.

Clothing is a personal habit. Even the emperor doesn’t wear his dragon robe every day, and who dares to say he’s not the emperor without it?

Of course, to some extent, clothing taste reflects a person’s identity and class.

An old farmer accustomed to working the fields, even if he could afford silk, wouldn’t find it practical to wear because he couldn’t do fieldwork in silk. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

One could also see Qingye’s respect for the person beside him, especially when the other party had such a natural demeanor.

This couldn’t be noticed without careful observation. Shi Yin grew up in Qinlou, receiving training in reading expressions and watching words.

She wouldn’t be mistaken; managing a restaurant requires such sharp eyes and adaptable skills.

Shi Yin had this ability, which is why Lin Miao entrusted Huaye Tower to her.

Restaurants were also sources of information.

In Dongshan City or any other place, restaurants, teahouses, and similar places where people gathered were the easiest spots to gather news.

Thus, Huaye Tower also served the function of gathering information.

Living in these times, it’s impossible to ignore the happenings around, especially with his expanding business.

"I understand this matter. By the way, has Liuli sent you a letter?" Lin Miao asked.

"Sister Liuli hasn’t sent me a letter yet. Perhaps things are too busy in Lanzhou for her to manage at the moment," Shi Yin replied.

"Alright, then you go ahead with your work," Lin Miao said. Liuli hadn’t written to him, which he somewhat understood. While their relationship had progressed, he still felt some insecurity from Liuli.

Well, since Liuli didn’t write to him, he had to take the initiative.

...

Li Jing Imperial Palace, Yangxin Hall.

"Your Majesty, shall we flip the plaque?"

"I’m weary today, so not this time." Zhao Rui had just felt a resurgence of vitality, naturally unwilling to waste it halfway.

Compared to living longer, the fleeting pleasures of the flesh were far less tempting. Hadn’t he spent his life with enough beauties?

Among the current harem, few women piqued his interest. Consort Xue was one, but even she was nearing the end of her prime. Despite the extensive use of beauty-preserving drugs, they couldn’t defeat the ravages of time.

Those younger ones, yet to grasp the subtleties of romance, couldn’t provide full pleasure. Thinking back, it all seemed rather dull.

The past three months of abstinence had clarified many things for Zhao Rui, changing him significantly; ultimately, staying alive trumped everything else.

"Consort Xue seeks an audience with Your Majesty!" Suddenly, a eunuch announced.

"What has she come for?" Zhao Rui put down the book in his hand, understanding Consort Xue’s intentions, but he wasn’t in a position to express anything currently.

The fifth prince and the crown prince each had strengths and weaknesses. The crown prince’s decisive actions had impressed him. Zhao Yuanchun, though intelligent and dearly loved, still had a way to go before being fit to rule this nation; his potential in governance remained uncertain.

The crown prince resigned from his co-regency, but that didn’t mean the position would go to the fifth prince.

Moreover, the fifth prince wasn’t even bestowed a royal title yet.

The bottleneck was the "title." Consort Xue naturally wanted her son titled Prince Yong, but it’s not as if she could have it just by wanting it.

Consort Xue wasn’t the harem’s chief, and even if she were the empress, meddling in politics was beyond her role.

"Do not see her; let her return." Zhao Rui thought for a moment and directly ordered.

"Your Majesty, Consort Xue has prepared a soup you love the most and wishes for the old servant to present it to you." Moments later, Mr. Yao, the eunuch close to the emperor, entered with a soup pot.

"She still has this thoughtfulness; serve me a bowl." Zhao Rui paused for a moment before giving the order.

"As you command."

"Any news from the crown prince?"

"The crown prince and Grand General Qingye have arrived in Dongshan, and the eagle message reports everything is going smoothly," Mr. Yao answered while serving soup.

"Did they meet Mr. Lin?"

"They did. The crown prince seemed unimpressed with Mr. Lin, but Grand General Qingye praised his exceptional medical skills," Mr. Yao reported.

"The crown prince, long confined to the palace, often encounters those who flatter him. Mr. Lin, being a talented person, might naturally have some pride. Unaware of the crown prince’s identity, some inadvertent offense in words is to be expected." Zhao Rui analyzed. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Any movements from Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion?"

"As of now, none..."

"Keep a watch, if anyone leaves the capital, report immediately." Zhao Rui commanded. The struggle for the throne was harsh; even if the crown prince and the fifth prince wouldn’t kill each other, wouldn’t those below take desperate measures?

"This old servant will obey." Mr. Yao placed the freshly served soup beside Zhao Rui’s desk.