Chapter 97: The Apothecary That Shocked the Capital (Middle)

  Diane von Fürstenberg's chairman once said a sentence, he said: "Women's money is never earned, what matters is do you know what women are thinking?"

  For women, youth and beauty, love and glory are their eternal pursuits. Perhaps you think that their relentless pursuit of the latest fashion and handbags is childish and boring. But what you don't understand is that they're not pursuing the clothes and handbags themselves, but rather a sense of inner confidence, nothing more.

  Recently, the capital has been very calm, with no major events for the common people to discuss in taverns and teahouses. However, within two circles of the imperial court, one matter has attracted everyone's attention.

  These two circles are men's circle and women's circle.

  Men's circles don't need to be said, everyone is passing on the amazing effects of Jiuyang Dan. Every person who has used it talks about it with an infatuated expression and a satisfied smile, making others want to buy some quickly and try them out.

  The women's circle is even more frantic than the men's, they have already started inquiring about the whereabouts of Feifeng Dan. Upon learning that Mrs. Choi Jeong-yi still has one bottle left, nearly every day there are over a dozen wives of high-ranking officials visiting her with gifts, although their words are all polite and courteous, the underlying meaning is all pointing to the remaining bottle of Feifeng Dan.

  As the vice president of Shuntian Prefecture, he was also appointed as the left servant of the Ministry of Rites. Cui Zhengyi's position in the court was not low. However, today someone came to make Cui Zhengyi receive him with caution. This person is none other than Jinggui, the Minister of Rites.

  In the main hall of the Cui Mansion, Jing Gui and Cui Zhengyi chatted for a while about official business, gossiped about some interesting stories in the official circle, and talked about family matters. Then he asked casually: "By the way, why didn't I see your younger sister today?"

  "Ah?" Choi Jeong-yi was slightly stunned, he didn't understand why Jang Gui suddenly mentioned his wife while chatting with him. It's known that in ancient times, being too concerned about someone else's wife is considered impolite behavior.

  Jin Gui saw Cui Zhengyi in a daze, and he smiled slightly, with a hint of embarrassment on his face. He said: "Recently, there have been rumors circulating in the capital that your wife and Madame Huang's wife suddenly regained their youthful beauty, as if they had become ten or more years younger overnight. I don't know if this is true?"

  Choi Jeong-yi smiled slightly and shook his head, saying: "So the lord has come for this matter. To be honest, it's true. Although it's not as exaggerated as the rumors outside about returning to youth, it really does have the effect of regaining one's youth. Please wait a moment, I'll let my wife come out and meet you."

  After finishing speaking, Choi Jeong-yi walked out of the hall and let the butler go call his wife.

  Before long, a tall and slender woman wearing a cyan cheongsam walked into the main hall. The woman bowed slightly to Jing Gui and said, "Xiang Yu pays her respects to Your Excellency."

  Jing Gui looked at Yun Xiangyu for a moment, then his whole body stiffened.

  He had seen Yunxiang Yu before, and when he was young, he was indeed a beauty. However, as the years went by, his face was already full of wrinkles and various brown spots, and his figure became more and more obese, looking nothing like his former self.

  But now...

  Yunxiang's face still had a few wrinkles and freckles, but her skin was fair and rosy, looking as tender as that of a young girl in her early twenties. And her originally protruding belly had also shrunk, her figure looked slightly plump but very harmonious.

  Isn't this Cloud Fragrance Jade from back when we were young?

  Jing Gui was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses, his old face slightly red as he said: "I've lost my composure, I've lost my composure." Jing Gui repeatedly apologized to Cui Zhengyi and Yun Xiangyu: "Forgive me, forgive me..."

  "It's nothing to worry about, even if I'm facing my wife every day, I'll still be distracted, let alone you seeing the changed wife for the first time." Cui Zhengyi said with a smile.

  Jing Gui stood up and slightly bowed to Cui Zhengyi, saying: "Zhengyi, I won't be polite with you. I heard that your wife still has a bottle of 'Fei Feng Dan' in her hands. Today, I'm thickening my skin to ask you for medicine, hoping you can give it to me. You don't know, since your sister-in-law saw my younger brother's wife, she's been bothering me every day, making me unable to rest. And those three daughters-in-law of mine..."

  Choi Jeong-yi smiled slightly and quickly stood up, saying: "Sir, the lady indeed has one more bottle of Feifeng Dan in her hand, but there are only seven pills inside. A person must take all seven to see a significant effect, so even if we give it to you, it won't be enough to share. However, sir, don't worry, that pharmacy will reopen in two days, and at that time, I will definitely go buy some and send them to your mansion."

  "Only two more days before we can buy this divine medicine?" Jing Gui let out a slight sigh of relief.

  He thought for a moment and asked: "Righteousness, who exactly refined this medicine? The effect is indeed remarkable."

  "The person selling this medicine is very young, I have never seen him before. I only heard Li Qianshun mention that his name is Jiang Xia."

  "Jiang Xia?" Jing Gui was taken aback for a moment and suddenly lost his voice, saying: "It can't be Li Dongyang's disciple, can it?"

  Jing Gui immediately said to Cui Zhengyi: "Zhengyi, I'll take my leave first, let's meet again another day."

  After finishing speaking, Jinggui immediately walked out of the main hall.

  Choi Jeong-yi was still in a daze when his wife suddenly pinched him and stomped her foot: "What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear Lord Jung say he might know the medicine seller? My medicine is almost gone, why aren't you going to buy some for me?"

  Choi Jeong-yi hesitated for a moment, then reacted and immediately turned his head to call out to the back of Jang Gwi: "Sir, wait for me, I'll accompany you there."

  Chui Zhengyi thought to himself, I still have my Jiuyang Dan, Jiuyang Dan...

  In the Xiangyao Mountain Villa, Jiang Xia was discussing state affairs with Li Dongyang. The topic of their discussion was the pros and cons of the Da Ming Baochao.

  Nowadays, the devaluation of Da Ming Bao Chao is getting more and more serious. Silver is almost about to replace Da Ming Bao Chao. If Da Ming Bao Chao suddenly exits the historical stage, the economy of Da Ming will suffer a severe blow. Li Dongyang was worried about this when he was still serving as the Grand Secretary, but after discussing with Jiang Xia, he felt that he had gained a lot from it.

  Li Dongyang frowned and asked Jiang Xia: "What does it mean to develop new markets, to make the Da Ming Bao Chao currency flow outward and become a circulating currency? Can you explain it to me?"

  Jiang Xia nodded, "This matter is simple to say, but the operation is not easy. In fact, we only need to open up foreign trade, using my Great Ming's silk, porcelain, tea leaves and other goods to trade with the Tartars, Wala, Nuer Gang Dusi and other places outside the pass. Forcing them to use the Great Ming treasure note to buy these goods from us, in this way they will deliberately exchange the Great Ming treasure note.

  As time goes on, as long as our trade is done well, the Da Ming Bao Chao will naturally start to circulate within their country. Then the Da Ming Bao Chao must start to appreciate in value, at that time, as long as the Ming dynasty controls the production quantity of the Bao Chao and allows old notes to be exchanged for new ones, then the Da Ming Bao Chao won't continue to depreciate. However......

  "But cross-border trade is a taboo, it's suspected of aiding the enemy, and it's hard to achieve." Li Dongyang shook his head.

  Jiang Xia nodded in agreement with Li Dongyang's words.

  Li Dongyang let out a soft sigh, and instead of continuing to discuss the matter, he turned to remind Jiang Xia: "By the way, Prince Xingxian Zhu Youzhang will be arriving in the capital soon to pay his respects. You must be extra careful. Everyone says that Prince Xingxian is loyal and honest, but shallow-minded, a prince who is content with a simple life. But I don't think so. People are too good at pretending, and those who seem most virtuous may actually be hiding evil intentions."

  Jiang Xia nodded slightly, he apparently knew more than Li Dongyang, but he didn't want to say it out loud, so as not to implicate Li Dongyang.

  "The apprentice understands." Jiang Xia said.

  Li Dongyang nodded slightly and then asked: "I heard that you recently opened a pharmacy on Sanlihe Street?"

  "Yes, in his family, Disciple had passed down two secret recipes for medicine, which were extremely effective. Therefore, Disciple was planning to make the medicines and sell them, in order to benefit the world."

  Li Dongyang calmly looked at Jiang Xia.

  Jiang Xia suddenly understood that Li Dongyang would not believe such a grandiose talk, and he smiled awkwardly and said: "Of course, I also want to earn some small money to buy wine for my master."

  Li Dongyang smiled slightly, stroking his chin where a sparse beard had just begun to grow: "There are still over ten days until the imperial examination period. As the top scorer in the National Academy's internal exams, you can directly enter the palace exam. I hope you will work hard and strive to bring back a third-class honor from the palace exam."

  "Don't worry, Master, I will definitely work hard." said Jiang Xia.

  Just as Jiang Xia's voice fell, a gatekeeper from the Xiangyang Mountain Villa suddenly rushed over to report: "Master, there are two people outside who claim to be the Minister of Rites and the Vice Minister of Rites wanting to see you, what do you think?"

  "Minister of Rites? Jing Gui?" Li Dongyang nodded and said: "Quickly invite him in."

  "Yes." The guard responded and immediately retreated.

  Before long, Gui and Cui Zhengyi walked in under the leadership of the guard. Seeing Jiang Xia, Cui Zhengyi excitedly pointed at him and said: "It's him, it's him, it's him."

  Young hero Nezha. Jiang Xia unconsciously hummed a line in her heart.

  Of course, what Choi Jeong-yi was going to say next was not that. He excitedly told Jang Gwi: "Sir, the medicine was bought from this young master."

  "Hahaha...... After searching everywhere, I finally found you without much effort." Jiao Gui hurried over a few steps and grabbed Li Dongyang's hand, saying: "Brother Bin, we've been colleagues in the imperial court for decades. Today is the day when I come to ask you for a favor."

  Li Dongyang was startled by Jinggui's excited appearance, and he quickly withdrew his hand from Jinggui's grasp. He cleared his throat twice and said, "What is it? Tell me first and I'll consider it."

  He also saw that... the word "fart" at the back was not said by Jinggui, after all, he is a reader of sacred books, how can he say dirty words.

  Jing Gui looked at Jiang Xia with a smile and said: "Bin Zhi, let your apprentice give me some of the medicine he refined."

  Jiang Xia was taken aback for a moment, thinking that this old man was still after the Nine Suns Pill at his age?

  Fellow traveler. Jiang Xia raised an eyebrow and said with a sly smile: "Sir, isn't that medicine pretty good?"

  "Not bad, not bad, quite an effect." Jingui said.

  Li Dongyang couldn't help but ask Jiang Xia, "Jiang Xia, what medicine was he talking about?"

  "What Master said is a tonic for masculinity. After taking it, you'll be as vigorous as a dragon and tiger, having seven rounds in one night, each round bringing immense joy." Jiang Xia said.

  Li Dongyang was taken aback, then looked at Jing Gui and burst out laughing. He laughed and joked: "Good, old Jing, you're so old yet still have such thoughts, I must tell Liu Gong and Xie Gong about this."

  "What? What kind of aphrodisiac?" Jing Gui hastily asked Jiang Xia: "How did Feifeng Dan become an aphrodisiac?"

  "Are you looking for the Fei Feng Dan?" Jiang Xia was slightly stunned, and suddenly realized his misunderstanding. He nodded: "I apologize, I misunderstood you, sir. The Fei Feng Dan requires seven pills for one course of treatment, and four courses will show full effect. Please wait a moment, sir, I'll have someone prepare four bottles for you."

  "Four bottles? Four bottles are not enough?" Jing Gui shook his head and stretched out four fingers: "At least four sets of four bottles."

  "So many? Are there many people waiting to take it at home? Let me remind you, this medicine is only for women to take, and it's harmful for men to take it. Moreover, taking too much of it is also useless."

  "There are indeed four women in the house who need to take it, don't worry." said Jing Gui.

  "So that's how it is." Jiang Xia stole a glance at Li Dongyang and tried saying: "Then this price..."

  Jiang Xia saw that Li Dongyang didn't react at all, and he immediately felt relieved. Jing Gui heard that they wanted silver, and his eyes immediately turned to Li Dongyang. He coughed twice, hinting for Li Dongyang to say something.

  Li Dongyang said faintly: "Jiang Xia, Jing Shangshu and I have been colleagues in the same dynasty for many years, so let's just make it convenient..."

  "Consider us even." Jing Gui said with a smile.

  But Jing Gui never thought that Li Dongyang would secretly make a lifting motion with his backhand to Jiang Xia. Jiang Xia suddenly understood, nodded seriously and said: "Yes, Master. Since it's Master's friend, I'll take it at cost price. The Fei Feng Dan is made from over 20 precious medicinal materials, including thousand-year-old He Shou Wu, Tian Shan Xue Lian, thousand-year-old Ren Shen and so on..."

  Chui Zhengyi was taken aback for a moment. Aren't these medicinal materials contained in the Jiu Yang Dan? Are they also included in the Fei Feng Dan?

  Jing Gui's mouth twitched slightly, and a faint sense of unease rose up in his heart.

  Jiang Xia smiled and said: "After calculating the cost, each elixir pill would probably be worth fifty taels of silver."

  "50 taels?" Jing Gui exclaimed, 50 taels per piece, a bottle of seven pieces is also 350 taels, four bottles are 1,400 taels, and sixteen bottles are... 5,600 taels.

  Jing Gui couldn't help but shout: "Why don't you go and rob?"

  "Sir, it's much easier for me to grasp such a wonderful medicine in my hands than to snatch it, why bother snatching?"

  "Li Bin Zhi!" Jing Gui looked at Li Dong Yang and called out his courtesy name in a deep voice.

  Li Dongyang smiled slightly, narrowing his eyes and said: "Giving it to you isn't out of the question, but I recall that your department can specially approve a few students from the Imperial Academy to directly enter the palace examination. Coincidentally, there are several classmates in Jiangxia who didn't make it into the top twenty of the Imperial Academy, so I hope you can help with this small matter."

  Jiang Xia heard this and suddenly exclaimed in his heart: "Master Gao is indeed impressive."

  Last time in the Imperial Academy's internal examination, Tian Class took all of the top twenty places. However, eight people were only ranked outside of twentieth place and could not directly enter the palace exam, they still had to go participate in a joint test first.

  Jiang Xia couldn't think of a way to help them, but Li Dongyang suddenly seized the opportunity to ask for Jinggui's help.