Mythical Three Kingdoms

"Since that’s the case, I’ll try to hold off some people, but without the Emperor now, how should we handle all the affairs left behind?" Liu Yu sighed and said, "I’ve heard of the theory of constitutional governance, but in such a case, how does one establish official positions among officials, and how do we let those who are unsuitable step down?"

"These are all matters for the future, as for the remaining government affairs, for now, it’s just the annual audits of various aspects of the country, and the evaluation of officials’ promotions and demotions, while the plans for the coming year and the matters of spring plowing all have protocols to follow." Liu Bei gave a look, and Chen Xi immediately understood, stepping forward to explain, such matters are easy to handle!

Especially under the current circumstances, if Chen Xi takes the lead, all the civil officials, except those who need to go to the Western Regions who can roll up their belongings and leave after a while, all others would be roped in by Chen Xi to handle it together, this is simply something unavoidable.

"Well, if Minister Chen of Agriculture says so, then I won’t say more." Liu Yu seemed a bit downhearted, it was obvious that Chen Xi made it sound too easy.

Chen Xi just nodded without arguing, after all, Liu Yu has never worked with him on governmental matters, only having heard of him, and under normal circumstances it might be fine, but currently, suffering from two wounds, and being troubled by Emperor’s matters, how could he be satisfied with Chen Xi’s response.

So Chen Xi did not pay much attention, instead turned to Guann Hai’s side.

"General Guann, long time no see." Chen Xi looked at Guann Hai and said, hearing this, Guann Hai returned the salute with cupped fists. He and Chen Xi once traveled south together to meet the Lul Family, and even had a battle with Zhou Yu on the Yangtze River, though during that time Zhou Yu was wary and didn’t deliver a lethal blow.

"And this carriage is?" Chen Xi inquired.

Ji Xiang poked her head out, smiled at Chen Xi, and Chen Xi’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant. He had met Ji Xiang quite a few times, after all, she was Lub Su’s elder sister-in-law, and also his physician, so Chen Xi was quite familiar with her, but why did she come?

Lately, the situation has been quite complex, forcing Chen Xi to think in conspiracy theories, or it could be said that Chen Xi has been a bit paranoid lately.

"Marquis Chen, I’ll alight here, is it alright?" Ji Xiang asked.

"Get down then, though I don’t know why you’re here, but since you came, you should report to Lord Xuande." Chen Xi sighed and said.

Then Ji Xiang pulled a little girl off the carriage, Chen Xi’s face turned black; he had never seen her before, whose child could she be abducting now? Moreover, looking at her chubby and soft appearance, she couldn’t possibly be picked up off the streets, for in this era, poor household girls are usually skin and bones with hardly any flesh.

"This is my disciple, not someone I’ve abducted." Ji Xiang retorted unhappily.

Zhang Chunhua quickly bowed to Chen Xi, "Commoner Zhang Chunhua, greets Marquis Chen."

"Huh? Your disciple, Zhang Chunhua?" Chen Xi’s face stiffened a little.

"What’s the matter?" Ji Xiang asked puzzledly, noticing a strange expression on Chen Xi’s face, she grew somewhat curious.

"Oh, I observe this girl, cough cough cough, she’s not bad, not bad." Chen Xi coughed a few times, deciding it was best not to say more.

"Zichuan, what have you seen now? Isn’t this Ji Xiang from the Ji Clan?" Liu Bei heard Chen Xi’s voice, turned his head and saw Ji Xiang, and greeted her.

"Greetings to Lord Xuande, greetings to Minister of Ceremonies, greetings to Liu Yizhou." Ji Xiang unhurriedly saluted the three.

"Oh, it’s just that I feel this little girl has great potential." Chen Xi smiled and said.

Ji Xiang took a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Chen Xi, "Marquis Chen, Zijing asked me to pass this letter to you."

Chen Xi opened the envelope and looked it over, "Oh, here to conduct experiments, huh? It requires a large amount of comparative data; alright then, there are hundreds of thousands of captives in the north city, study them how you like, just be cautious, don’t get yourself in trouble."

Ji Xiang extended her fair hand, and Chen Xi immediately understood what she wanted. It’s not easy to enter the military camp, so there was no dispute about Ji Xiang wanting a command talisman.

"Right now I have nothing on me to substitute it with, both the seal ribbon and sword cannot be given to you, I will draft you a document later." Chen Xi reassured, when it came to Ji Xiang, Chen Xi really couldn’t be at ease, to be precise, as someone studying psychology, Chen Xi didn’t dare to be at ease.

"This is too unfair, other people would definitely get a seal ribbon from you, but for me, it’s differentially treated." Ji Xiang grumbled.

"This is unavoidable." Chen Xi didn’t explain, Ji Xiang was clear enough on her own, she herself is a dangerous element.

"Zichuan, why has Ji Xiang come?" Compared to Chen Xi’s casualness, Liu Bei valued Ji Xiang somewhat more; after all, being a figure at the pinnacle among physicians, Liu Bei still regarded her highly, unlike Chen Xi’s procrastination.

"Some experiments couldn’t be done in Ye City, hence coming to Chang’an." Chen Xi explained.

"Is that so?" Liu Bei thought for a moment, "Where does she plan to carry out the experiments? Assisting Physician Hua and them?"

"No, she is specialized in psychology, not much involved with Physician Hua and them, she mostly conducts her own research." Chen Xi explained, hearing this, Liu Bei nodded.

"And what materials does she need?" Liu Bei asked in confusion. Logically speaking, since mature physicians have a great positive influence on his governance and the military system, he would generally be quite generous in meeting their legitimate needs. For respected figures like Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, their treatment under Liu Bei is no less than that of most officials.

Naturally, for elites like Ji Xiang under Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, their treatment is excellent, and any materials needed could be gathered with an order.

When Hua Tuo wanted to perform dissections, with a word from Chen Xi, a variety of bodies were quickly compiled for Hua Tuo’s needs. To reach this level of inhumanity, what materials would ever be lacking?

"What she needs is probably large-scale verification, akin to the final step Hua and them underwent for those universal traditional medicines back then." Chen Xi, although not asking Ji Xiang what she intended to do, immediately deduced the situation, thus explaining to Liu Bei.

"Oh, so it’s reached this stage." Liu Bei recalled the deliberation Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing faced back then for the largescale verification to ensure the medication’s universality, realizing it wasn’t easy to gather that many patients.

"How many samples are needed?" Liu Bei contemplated and asked, from previous experience, Liu Bei at least inferred Ji Xiang’s intentions.

"About five thousand regular samples, at least." Ji Xiang scratched her cheek, though she really wished for more.

"Zichuan, lend her your private seal, allow her access to the barracks. She’s traveled all the way from Ye City to Chang’an, you shouldn’t obstruct her." Liu Bei instructed Chen Xi. Reluctantly, Chen Xi handed over his private seal to Ji Xiang, and Ji Xiang gratefully bowed.

"Make sure not to create anything excessively harmful, those are young and strong Hu people, I’m still counting on them for labor. If too many die, there won’t be anyone to work, beware I’ll hold you accountable." While passing the private seal to Ji Xiang, Chen Xi warned.

In truth, as soon as Chen Xi saw Ji Xiang, he felt she might cause trouble, but at this point, he really didn’t have the energy to care.

Chang’an had a pile of matters needing resolution; balancing the forces from all directions, maintaining stability through the transition, ensuring the Emperor’s passing had no lingering impacts. Even Chen Xi wasn’t as carefree as he claimed.

[Forget it, even if something happens, Zijing will clean up the mess.] Chen Xi thought to himself. In Zijing’s letter, part of why Ji Xiang was sent over was already mentioned, also advising Chen Xi not to meddle with Ji Xiang’s affairs, and it would be best if Ji Xiang didn’t return to cause trouble for him.

Since Lub Su had spoken as such, naturally Chen Xi wasn’t worried. However, according to Chen Xi’s judgement, with Ji Xiang’s frail physique, she could only bully some dim-witted ruffians, at most cripple one or two. With Lub Su’s current status, covering for her wouldn’t be an issue at all.