Ch. 316..320: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 316-320

Chapter 316: Chapter 316: For Whom Does She Dress Up (5)_1

"What is surgery?" When it came to medical skills, Hui Zhen also forgot about the unpleasantness and quickly followed up with a question.

"Well, for instance, when an organ inside the stomach suffers a knife wound, you can actually cut the stomach open, then find someone who understands the human body structure. They can delicately repair the injured organ with a needle and thread, then stitch the stomach back up," Lin Ziyin answered.

Dissecting the stomach? The Xu family was astonished. They had been practicing medicine for many years and had never encountered such a method.

"So wounds can also be stitched up?" Hui Zhen was interested. He had seen many people suffer injuries in Border City and had seen how military doctors treat wounds, so he was not afraid of Lin Ziyin’s method, but rather, quite excited.

"Yes, if done correctly, even if fingers, arms, or legs were severed, as long as they are stitched up in time, they can be reattached and then restored to their original state. However, before this, we need to focus on developing two types of medicines. One is an anesthetic, also called Mafosan, a drug that can induce anesthesia. The other is medicine for preventing fever and inflammation of the wound after surgery. For the latter, we need an absolutely clean place for development," said Lin Ziyin. "Where we will find fresh corpses for research is also an issue."

"You’re serious?" Chu Suifeng stepped in abruptly, his face stern. He looked even more intimidating than usual.

"Of course, I’m not joking," Lin Ziyin said calmly, "However, to suture wounds and familiarize oneself with the human structure through dissection, medical practitioners need to practice every day on corpses."

"Corpses, this prince can provide for you," Chu Suifeng said coldly. "This prince will assign four people to work with yours in the development."

"If Prince is sending people over, it would be better to add two women who know medicine," Lin Ziyin hesitated before saying.

"Why?" Si Jinhan asked curiously.

"Giving birth is like walking through the Gate of Hell for women. If they can learn Caesarean section, many women in the Northern Land can be saved. After all, there are too few people in the Northern Land," Lin Ziyin said matter-of-factly.

"Miss, I know some medical skills. I am willing to follow my brother and participate in the development of the medicine." Suddenly, Xu Danhua knelt down on the side and spoke.

"Danhua." Chen was a bit anxious. She had just heard that learning about external injuries was quite bloody. Her daughter had been brought up learning mostly music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was raised like a lady. Could she handle it?

"Good, good, such a good child of our Xu family." The old man of the Xu family, Xu Lianfa, was so moved he shed tears.

Since the incident happened at home, his mood had changed a lot, especially the deaths of his son, daughter-in-law, and wife, which had been particularly shocking to him. Women also need a set of skills, especially in the harsh living environment of the Northern Land, they need a life-saving means. Since the Prince could consider them, they naturally put all their efforts into moving forward.

"Starting tomorrow, you will begin to come to this prince’s mansion. This prince will prepare dead bodies for you," Chu Suifeng said coldly.

"Prince, don’t rush," Lin Ziyin said, smiling to appease him. "Haste makes waste. Surgical operations require specialized instruments. I may know nothing about medicine, but I can barely design those instruments. The making of tools, however, is up to you, Prince."

"Fine," Chu Suifeng agreed.

"Miss, even though we cannot develop the medicine right now, why not let my son and I do something we can handle?" Xu Lianfa asked.

"There is indeed something you can do," Lin Ziyin smiled. "Great Monk, you’ll have to help me."

"You’re thinking of the poor monk again?" Hui Zhen, who had been overlooked, looked unhappy.

Chapter 317: Chapter 317: For Whom Does She Dress Up (6)_1

"The seafood has arrived. I’ll make ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ for you," teased Lin Ziyin.

"What is it you want exactly?" the Great Monk asked stoically, despite the inner joy he felt.

"Do you have any skin whitening product that doesn’t use expensive medicinal ingredients?" Lin Ziyin asked grinningly.

"If that’s what you’re after, I suppose I could give you some," said Hui Zhen contemplatively. "But I’ll have to think about it when I get back."

"Great, I knew the Great Monk was the most powerful," said Lin Ziyin beamingly.

Seeing the deep relationships that Master Lin and the monks of Ding’an Temple enjoy, the Xu Family was emboldened to follow in Lin Ziyin’s footsteps.

In the morning, after eating, Yu Shaohui and others dispersed with the newly arrived workers to procure soybeans. But when they returned in the evening, they came back with very little.

"Miss, someone beat us to buying the soybeans," reported Yu Shaohui after his return.

Lin Ziyin immediately put down her tools upon hearing this, "Did you find out who is buying up the soybeans behind our backs?"

"We checked, but only found out that a merchant from Feng City is buying them. The rest is unknown. Miss, I will investigate further tomorrow," said Yu Shaohui.

"Hold on," Lin Ziyin replied with a faint smile, "We have already bought almost all the soybeans in the vicinity. Plus, merchants on the road have been bringing back quite a bit for us. Even if we get no soybeans in the winter, it won’t impact our business much."

"But we don’t know how long they’ll keep buying do we?" Added Shaohui with concern, "If they continue in the spring, it would be challenging to sustain our business."

Lin Ziyin nodded, "Is there any leeway with the soybeans that the merchants brought in exchange?" she asked.

"If the people behind this aren’t buying up all the beans in their path, it shouldn’t be a huge issue. But we should be wary of money-hungry merchants scheming with them," Yu Shaohui had learned much about business from Lin Ziyin since joining the Lin Family. He was already competent enough to handle matters on his own.

"No rush," Lin Ziyin leisurely picked up her tools and continued working. "Our Lin Family has a unique business. If these merchants indeed betray us, no worries, we’ll just find other agents. If our supplies don’t keep up, at worst, we’ll just earn a little less silver. Come springtime, we’ll simply grow more soybeans."

Lin Ziyin had initially planned for a soybean base, so the sudden bad news only advanced her schedule.

"So you’ve been prepared all along, Miss?" Yu Shaohui asked happily.

"Once spring arrives, start plowing large plots of land immediately. Soybeans don’t require much, just flat land and seeds," Lin said with a smile. "Ignore the background maneuvering."

Yu Shaohui felt relieved and cheerfully returned to his tasks.

Later, Bai Jincheng and the others returned. Despite the freezing weather outside, they too brought back a pitiful number of soybeans.

"We respectfully await your punishment, Miss," said Bai Jincheng, his face full of shame. This was their first assignment and they had failed miserably. How were they to face their master?

"It’s not your fault, it’s cold out there. You’ve worked hard. Go eat in the cafeteria," Lin Ziyin didn’t punish them.

Hearing this, they left for the cafeteria with heads hung in shame.

Once in the cafeteria they met Yu Shaohui and others and learned about the mischief brewing. One by one, they cursed the culprits.

 

Chapter 318: Chapter 318: For Whom Does She Dress Up (7)_1

When Lin Changshu and the old man heard that someone was preventing the Lin family from acquiring beans, they were somewhat anxious.

Lin Ziyin comforted them with a laugh, "Grandpa, older brother, don’t worry, the beans in our storage are already plentiful. With the extra beans brought by merchants along the road, it’s more than enough for us. When spring comes, we’ll begin extensive bean farming ourselves, no one can sabotage us then."

Lin Changshu and the old man were still worried. After dinner, they went to check the storehouse again. It was only after they saw the pile of soybeans in there, that they were truly assured.

Li Yanran, who had arrogantly bought all the soybeans around Feng City, was calculating when she should deliver the beans to Chu Suifeng, and what kind of reward he would give her.

"Little sister, I heard you’ve bought all the beans in the vicinity?" Li Jiesong found her directly in her courtyard.

"From whom did brother hear this?" Li Yanran was taken aback. The acquisition of beans had been carried out secretly; how did her brother know about it?

"Don’t you try to hide it from your brother. I’m your real brother, how can I harm you?" Li Jiesong got upset seeing her on guard, "If I hadn’t bumped into Erzhuzi today, I wouldn’t even know about it."

As soon as Li Yanran heard who had betrayed her, she became furious and thought of a hundred ways to punish Erzhuzi.

"That kid refused to talk but was discovered by my father’s secret agents, who found out you were buying beans." Li Jiesong complained, looking at Li Yanran.

Upon hearing that it was not an underling who had betrayed her, Li Yanran felt slightly better.

"You, after all, you’re a girl yet to be out of pavilion, it’s not thorough enough to think about things." Li Jiesong, putting on the airs of an older brother, rebuked her.

"Thorough? What does brother think is well considered?" Li Yanran, looking at Li Jiesong with frustration, was extremely disdainful.

"You only bought the beans in the vicinity, how can it be of any use? Most of the business the Lin family do is related to beans. Wouldn’t Lin Ziyin send people to buy soybeans from far away? The Northern Land is such a huge place, not only Feng City grows soybeans around here." Li Jiesong spoke very convincingly.

Li Yanran listened, and it made her startled. It had to be said, the straw bag older brother does make a lot of sense.

No wonder the price she offered was even higher than the market, yet the beans she was able to acquire weren’t that many. And it seemed like the Lin family didn’t have much movement either.

"Does brother have any good ideas?" Li Yanran lowered her stature.

"Of course, it’s all in or nothing, send people to go further away and buy all the beans from everywhere else." said Li Jiesong, laughing.

"To acquire beans from elsewhere, you need to have silver in your hand." replied Li Yanran, displeased.

Although the Li family didn’t make it difficult for her to spend, as an unmarried girl, she didn’t have her own property, so how much silver could she have left over?

"We’re siblings, if I don’t help you, who else should I help?" Li Jiesong knew that he didn’t have much ability, he was hoping that this little sister could enter the Wang Residence in the future, become Chu Suifeng’s queen and give him a push. "Just don’t forget your brother when you become successful in the future."

Upon hearing this, Li Yanran instantly understood his intentions. "Just as brother said, we’re siblings, if I become a queen, who else should I help if not brother?"

Li Jiesong thought to himself and agreed. He was the first grandson of the Li family; in the future, he would be the head of the Li Residence. Even if Li Yanran became a queen, she still needed the support from her maiden family, so who else would she rely on if not him, her older brother?

However, it’s not necessarily good to add flowers to brocade but helping out in times of trouble is hard to forget. Today he helped her, and he was sure this little sister would never forget his favor in the future.

"I still have some silver stashed away. I’ll assign someone to go and collect all the beans from further locations. You can rest assured." Finally, Li Jiesong said.

"Thank you, brother." Li Yanran was overjoyed, thinking to herself, Lin Ziyin, you’re done for now.

After half a month, Li Jiesong indeed brought back some beans from far-off places, but the number was still not as abundant as expected.

"Miss, the Lin family is indeed cunning. Even beans from far-off locations have already been bought by them." Erzhuzi reported respectfully, lowering his head.

Li Yanran was angry but couldn’t do much about it.

"After you return, prepare all the beans that were bought. Tomorrow, you’ll go with me to deliver them to the Wang Residence." Being mad alone for a while, thinking about being complimented by the prince after meeting Chu Suifeng tomorrow, Li Yanran was delighted again in a blink of an eye.

The next day, early in the morning, Li Yanran, freshly dressed, personally escorted the beans to the Wang Residence in a horse carriage.

The Wang Residence was heavily guarded, the soldiers stationed at the entrance alone were as plenty as beans packed in a bag. Seeing a convoy suddenly appearing at the entrance of the residence, all the soldiers were immediately on alert.

Chapter 319: Chapter 319 Zige Gets Married(1)_1

Li Yanran stepped down from the carriage, her maid presented the guard with the tokens, stating, "Our young lady is here to deliver food and supplies to Prince Ling."

Delivering food and supplies? The guard glanced at the long line of carriages, then gave Li Yanran a sidelong look. Li Yanran, the young lady of the Li Family from Feng City, is no stranger to the princely Wang Residence. As a guard of the Wang Residence, many present could recognize her identity.

As the Prince’s cousin, her status is not ordinarily prestigious, but it’s unfortunate that Li Yanran herself always puts on airs, showing no regard for the doorkeepers. Yet the guards of the Wang Residence were well aware that Prince Ling didn’t care much for this so-called cousin either. So, naturally, they treated Li Yanran strictly by the book.

"The prince is not in the residence right now, and as a lowly one, I dare not make arbitrary decisions. I request the young lady to wait outside a bit longer, then perhaps we can talk when the prince returns." The guard, neither servile nor overbearing, bowed and spoke.

"How audacious!" Li Yanran’s maid, wielding power on her behalf, pointed at the guard and scolded, "You know the identity of our young lady, yet you dare to be so audacious. Are you not afraid of the punishment you’ll receive when the Prince returns?"

Li Yanran’s face was cold. When did even a mere gate-keeping slave dare to show her such disrespect?

But she was still sensible enough at this moment, knowing that even the gatekeeper of the Wang Residence was not an ordinary man, "I’ve brought the tokens. Do you think I am an assassin? If you make me wait in this coldness out here in the carriage, aren’t you afraid of the punishment you’ll receive when the Prince returns?"

Seeing Li Yanran putting on airs, it was, indeed, somewhat intimidating.

The leading guard considered carefully and thought she did have a point. Granted, the prince didn’t care much for this cousin from the Li Family, but her status was still recognized. She came with tokens, and with the weather being so cold, if anything happened to her due to the cold, wouldn’t they indeed face punishment from the Prince?

"Mister Situ." Just when the guard was in a dilemma, he noticed that Situ Gong, a famous advisor who served the prince, had appeared. Normally when the Prince isn’t in his residence, besides the manager, Bai Xian, of the residence, this Mister Situ is the only other person who can make decisions.

Feels like finding a backbone, the guard immediately asked Situ for instructions, "Miss Li brought food and supplies and requests to meet the Prince."

After hearing this, Situ Gong lifted his wise gaze, glanced over the long line of carriages behind Li Yanran, and then looked at Li Yanran herself.

"Mister Situ." Upon seeing Situ Gong, Li Yanran dared not be the slightest bit impudent. Knowing how highly Chu Suifeng valued Situ Gong, she immediately greeted him warmly, "Mister Situ, these beans were purchased by our residence shopkeeper while he was out. I came especially today to present them to my cousin to use as supplies."

Situ Gong secretly chuckled. Though his visits to the Lin Family have lessened, he still had some knowledge of what was happening there. Just yesterday he heard that someone had been secretly buying the beans of Lin family, and here the one responsible was delivering herself today.

Did Li Yanran realize that her actions would inevitably cause Prince Suifeng’s fury? And what would Marquis Li’s reaction be if he knew how foolish his legitimate daughter had been?

"Please come inside, Miss. I will have someone fetch the Prince to handle this matter." Situ Gong said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Yanran’s maid held her head high. When she and Li Yanran walked into the Wang Residence, she sneered coldly at the guard.

The well-trained guards had already resumed their statue-like demeanour, watching their noses and hearts, not paying any attention to the three of them - Miss Li and her servants.

"Get Miss Li some tea." Situ Gong led Li Yanran into the living room, then ordered the servants of the residence to serve them tea.

Chapter 320: Chapter 320 Zige Gets Married(2)_1

"I have already sent someone to invite the prince back to the residence. Miss Li, feel free to do as you wish. I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now." Situ Gong explained with a smile.

"Mr. Situ is a man who assists the prince in significant matters. We are not strangers, so there’s no need to care too much about entertaining me. Please feel free to proceed." Li Yanran symbolically bowed to Situ Gong then sat down without any hesitation. "I heard that the winter plum blossoms in the backyard are thriving, I would love to go and see them."

"Miss Li, at your own convenience." Upon hearing this, Situ Gong immediately knew what she was thinking. However, if someone is foolish, he would not stop them. Moreover, in the Wang Residence, a place guarded as steadfastly as a golden soup, she would not be able to make any waves anyway.

When Li Yanran heard Situ Gong’s explicit consent, she was elated beyond words.

As Situ Gong had guessed, Li Yanran’s intention of admiring the plum blossoms was fake; her actual aim was to come to the backyard and show off.

All the aristocratic families in Feng City were aware that the Wang Residence didn’t have a primary consort, but the number of women in the backyard was not small, and many of them were beauties sent by the emperor and other princes. There were already three consorts in the residence, not to mention countless number of beauties.

However, the one managing the backyard were not the three consorts, but a slave concubine. In other words, these three consorts, no matter how high their status were, they still had to listen to the commands of a slave concubine when matters arise.

Li Yanran had long been eyeing the position of the main consort of the prince, so naturally, she didn’t have any good feeling for any of the women in the backyard. Among them, the three consorts and that slave concubine were the most detestable to her.

"Miss, the plum blossoms in the backyard are really beautiful." Seeing the plum blossoms in full bloom, the eyes of the maiden beside Li Yanran were completely attracted by them.

"Sister, the plum blossoms are flourishing this year, we can make more sachets." A sweet female voice came from the plum garden.

"I also want to pick some more to make tea with snow water."

"Aye, Sister Lin is the most talented one. She paints such lifelike plum blossoms. The prince will definitely cherish it if he sees them."

...

Hearing these voices, Li Yanran wore a grinning smile on her face. Good, it was good that they were all here. She was worried about how to find these women.

She quickened her pace towards the pavilion. In the middle of the heavy plum woods, in a small pavilion, there was a group of gorgeous women wearing thick cloaks, gathered around a table either sitting or standing, with numerous maids and moms guarding around.

"Such a lively gathering." To draw attention, Li Yanran purposely spoke loudly.

Upon hearing her voice, the females who were absorbed in their drawings turned their heads. When they saw Li Yanran’s face, several of them had a playful grin on their faces, while others were looking at her disdainfully.

These cousins of the Li family had been lusting after the prince. Not only did the aristocrats of Feng City know about it, but the women in the backyard were also informed. They naturally wouldn’t like a woman competing for the same man as them.

Thus, in just an instance, the women in the backyard formed an invisible alliance, starting to stand united against Li Yanran.

"So it’s Young Miss Li." The one speaking was one of the three consorts, Consort Wang. She was not very tall, had a doll-like face, and seemed adorable and likable. Unfortunately, the words she said were not so pleasant, "The prince has always been busy with public affairs and is not in the residence. Although Young Miss Li is a cousin, she is not a child anymore. As a grown-up lady, you should maintain some decorum to prevent people from gossiping about you and tarnishing your reputation and the prince’s name."

"Sister, you are wrong. Some people are born lowly, like they have never seen a man before. When they see our prince, they can’t wait to throw themselves at him." The speaker was one of the consorts, Consort Gao, who has been demoted to a beauty now.