Chapter 513 The Elders’ Visit
“Nothing, I was discussing with Cousin Yu regarding the things that are to come. The people here are sensible and they did not plant anyone around to spy on us.”
As Lin Mengya spoke, wearing a smile on her face, she had simultaneously poured a cup of tea and offered it to Long Tianyu.
Ever since Long Tianyu was rescued and brought home, the two of them had stayed together like a pair of siamese twins.
It made Zuo Qiuyu uneasy whenever he was around them.
Lin Mengya certainly did not feel uncomfortable about her abusive behavior towards the d.a.m.n single.
Especially after Zuo Qiuyu’s numerous fruitless attempts at protest. Poor Zuo Qiuyu, the d.a.m.n single, could only accept this reality and nod his head in response.
Through Lin Mengya and Zuo Qiuyu’s tireless efforts, Long Tianyu’s addiction to the drug had finally been put under control.
However, the Immortal Powder was way too hard to kick. If Lin Mengya had not used acupuncture needles on him, he would end up with more problems in the future.
For this reason, Long Tianyu had to be extra cautious while he was within the grounds of the Pavilion of Herbs.
Although it was not a bad idea to portray himself as an alcoholic, people who meant harm would continue to probe.
In his heart, Long Tianyu knew very well that not everyone in the Pavilion of Herbs was innocent.
“I wonder what the compet.i.tion is about this time?”
Even though it was supposedly a medical skills compet.i.tion, all the partic.i.p.ants for this round had power backing them up in one form or another.
Zuo Qiuyu was in fact in the most difficult position since he was representing the emperor.
Those people who had set their mind on taking over the Pavilion of Herbs might very well collude with each other to elbow him out.
Even if Zuo Qiuyu was fortunate enough to win the compet.i.tion, the various powers within the Pavilion of Herbs would be difficult to deal with.
Even if they eventually fell out with others, it would spell trouble for them if they leave the Pavilion of Herbs, carrying with them all the resources.
“The questions had been set by the elders. Every compet.i.tor who is here to fight for power does not know the question. However, we are certain that the compet.i.tion is all about neutralizing poison.”
Their resources were limited so Zuo Qiuyu was unable to get hold of any insider information.
What they knew at the moment was common knowledge to other partic.i.p.ants.
“The method for neutralizing poison? The scope would be too wide. What kind of poison are they talking about? How to neutralize it? Are there no clues given at all?”
When Lin Mengya saw the forced smile in Zuo Qiuyu’s eyes, she understood how reluctant the people in the Pavilion of Herbs were to let Zuo Qiuyu partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion.
“It’s alright. I’ll render you my help at that time.”
Lin Mengya did not say this out of arrogance, rather, she knew she could access help from the music score for the green stringed instrument as well as the Sheng Nung system.
If the compet.i.tion was narrowed down to the method for neutralizing poison alone, no one in the Pavilion of Herbs would be better than her in rendering such help.
The only concern was that the compet.i.tion might not be so simple.
“Let’s hope so. You take a rest first while I pay a visit to Elder Chang.”
There was still a worried look on Zuo Qiuyu’s face. It was only normal for him to be anxious over such an important matter in his life.
Letting Zuo Qiuyu take a stroll would be a good way to alleviate his stress.
Although the Pavilion of Herbs was a significant place in the Nation of Lintian, the food offered to them were freshly made homecooked dishes.
They were mainly light dishes.
Even the plates on which the food was served were made of wood.
Lin Mengya could not help but sigh when she noticed this.
Zuo Qiuyu had once mentioned that everything in the Pavilion of Herbs had been established by the Chief Elder.
All the way from the entrance to their little courtyard, the pavilions and paG.o.das which they pa.s.sed by, as well as all equipment had been designed based on the principle of simplicity and nature.
Lin Mengya supposed this was to warn the people to come that they should not be pursuing fame and gain. Instead, their goal was to be diligent in medical research.
Sadly, the people that came after had forgotten the original intention of the founder of the Pavilion of Herbs.
The Pavilion of Herbs had turned from being a n.o.ble inst.i.tution into a place of foul atmosphere.
If the first Chief Elder were to know about this, he would be beating his chest and rebuke these shameless successors severely.
“Your Highness, Prince Shen is back and Elder Chang has come with him. Prince Shen has asked for you.”
After dinner, Lin Mengya and Long Tianyu were reading and chit-chatting in their room.
It was then that Yu An came to inform them that Elder Chang had come.
Although the ointment given by Elder Chang had caused her many sufferings, it was miraculously effective. For this reason, she should have gone to him to express her grat.i.tude.
In the living room, Zuo Qiuyu and Elder Chang were discussing matters concerning medical skills.
When the two of them were engrossed in the discussion, two figures entered through the door of the room one after another.
That day, Elder Chang merely had a glimpse of Princess Anle outside the Pavilion of Herbs.
Today, Elder Chang had a shock when he saw her in close range.
She had such a strong resemblance to her!
Back then, the eldest princess was only a teenager when he met her in the Pavilion of Herbs.
Those bright eyes! Back then, how much ridiculous things were done by countless talented young men just so that they could win a smile from her!
Such a big place as the Pavilion of Herbs had been thrown into disarray because of them.
Thinking back, those things had happened twenty years back.
He had transformed from a man in the prime of his life into an old man.
Never did he imagine that he would have another glimpse of this beautiful countenance one day. Some things still remained the same, but people had changed.
“This, this must be Princess Anle. Many years ago, I had the chance to get acquainted with your mother on a few occasions. Fate has allowed me to meet you today.”
Elder Chang’s features had softened and he looked more like a kindly old man now.
In response, Lin Mengya did not put on airs but bowed politely as was expected of someone a generation younger. She looked docile and lovely, nothing like how she was when she was having an argument with Zhu Qiyun.
“The elders here had been taking good care of me since I arrived. I have also heard so much about my mother from my two cousins. Unfortunately, she pa.s.sed away at such a young age.”
It could be said that Elder Chang was her benefactor. Coupled with the fact that he was her mother’s acquaintance, it was only natural for her to address him with pleasantries.
Given Lin Mengya’s polite att.i.tude towards him, Elder Chang also responded to her in a friendly way.
Soon, the living room seemed to become a meeting place for old friends.
“I heard that Your Highness had applied the ointment I created. What do you think of it?”
As the creator of the Fiery Green Jade Ointment, Chang Tianhua surely knew how torturous it was for the person who used it.
Zuo Qiuyu had revealed to him earlier that Lin Mengya had already been given the normal amount of ointment each time she applied it.
He was surprised to find that a young lady like her was able to press on and endure through the most agonizing days.
Chang Tianhua could not help but admire how she had talked about it so casually.
“This is ointment left a deep impression in me. However, its effect was rather aggressive. The sensation on my arm is gradually returning. The day it is fully recovered. I’ll personally visit you to thank you.”
Lin Mengya had always remained calm, but she could not help feeling a shudder at the mention of the Fiery Green Jade Ointment.
She would not have bit the bullet and gone ahead with using this ointment if not because she felt heartbroken seeing Long Tianyu suffer.
She would not let Chang Tianhua off, given how much she suffered from using his ointment, if not for the fact that Chang Tianhua had taken the initiative to be friendly.
“That’s good, that’s good.”
Elder Chang wiped away his cold sweat, thankful that the princess was magnanimous enough to not blame him for the effects of the ointment.
He had once used the ointment on one of his young disciples who broke his finger bone.
He heard that the humble young disciple had cursed him for an entire hour after using his ointment.
Apparently, the princess was truly a magnanimous person and Elder Chang admired her manners. Her family must have raised her under a strict set of rules.
“Your Highness, Elder Qian and Elder Duanmu Yang are here to visit you.”
While the few of them were happily chatting away, Yu An came into the room abruptly and whispered the news into Lin Mengya’s ear.
A frown appeared on her face. She wondered why those two elders had come.
Nevertheless, this was their territory after all. She would invite criticisms if she were to refuse their visit.
Lin Mengya pondered for a moment and putting away the smile on her face, she said, “Please show them in.”
“Come in.”
Yu An politely left and went to invite Elder Qian and his companion to come in while Lin Mengya quickly gave some necessary instructions to the people in the room.
Apart from Elder Chang, the other two people were a little surprised.
It would be alright if the two elders were here to visit them all. Why then did they claim to be visiting Lin Mengya?
Lin Mengya’s thoughts turned and she suddenly understood.
What else could it be? They ought to come because they thought the music score for the green stringed instrument was possibly in her hands!
The moment Qian Yuming and Duanmu Yang entered the room, they surely did not appear as friendly as Chang Tianhua.
On the other hand, their mannerism was rather arrogant. It must be because they were used to being high and mighty in the Pavilion of Herbs.
Perhaps this was why they continued behaving superciliously when they met Lin Mengya and her two companions.
“Sir, I wonder what the reason is for your visit?”
Lin Mengya spoke first while wearing a forced smile on her face.
She could be said to be rather experienced in handling such people.
In the past, she used to receive visiting professors from oversea universities on her teacher’s behalf. Those professors were even more snooty than these two elders.
Qian Yuming and Duanmu Yang simply shot a glance at her and did away with any pleasantries.
“I think it’s time you return the item which our Chief Elder left in your mother’s care many years ago.”
Qian Yuming said in a straightforward manner and sounded a little like he was interrogating her.
Zuo Qiuyu could hardly conceal his dissatisfaction with their att.i.tude.
However, Long Tianyu held on tightly to him to prevent him from acting out.
He knew Lin Mengya would feel the same way as him. How could she withstand being bullied?
“Oh? Leave something in my mother’s care? I haven’t heard anything about it. What I did hear is that the music score for the green stringed instrument would be given to the Chief Elder’s successor whom he chose. Otherwise, why would the Chief Elder forgo what is close at hand and seek what is far afield? Unless you’re trying to say since the Chief Elder was no longer alive so you can openly despise and defy his wishes?”
Instead of being rude like them, Lin Mengya went straight into a fight. She supposed no one would dare to go against her words!
She was an expert when it came to being unreasonable.
Qian Yuming was outargued immediately.
He could only stare at a fearless Lin Mengya before his eyes.
“Your mother, your mother had obtained it by trickery! It’s not like what you said!”