Chapter 672 - 671: Half a Month
Jiang Ning scratched his head and said, "I initially tracked down the boss behind the scenes, but I discovered there’s another boss above that boss. Please give me a bit more time, Your Highness, and I will definitely find out who the biggest boss behind the scenes is!"
Huangfu Jingchen said expressionlessly, "Half a month!"
Jiang Ning replied, "Yes!"
Half a month, though a bit short, is manageable since he already has some clues and should be able to find out.
Yiyi Hall isn’t some big influence, it’s just a medical clinic. What’s different is that most of the doctors in other clinics aim to make money and mostly treat the wealthy.
However, the doctors at Yiyi Hall don’t charge for consultations after their training, and their services are specifically for the public. Patients only have to pay for medicine. For those who can’t even afford medicine, credit is allowed, with repayments expected only when possible, and there’s never any pursuit for payment.
This operates much like a charitable hall.
Initially, the only one in all of Nanxia was in Jinzhou, but now more are emerging: in Yunzhou, Qianzhou, Jiazhou, Liangzhou, and Qinzhou. Even though there are none yet in the eastern provinces like Qingzhou, Yan State, and Ningzhou, it’s likely there will be in the future.
Huangfu Jingchen thought it might be a prince trying to win public favor, but according to the information he gathered, it had no relation to the Imperial Family.
He admired this person and wished to know who the benevolent mastermind funding and training doctors to ensure the common folk could receive medical treatment was.
At the moment, Huangfu Jingchen stood on the curved bridge by the water. They spoke quietly, not fearing eavesdropping. Shortly, Yan Nan came hurriedly, cupping his fist and saying, "Your Highness!"
Huangfu Jingchen raised his eyes and said, "Hmm!"
Yan Nan said, "Subordinate found out that the person who registered Miss Xia is the daughter of the Junior Minister at the Chamberlain’s Mansion, named Yao Yike. It seems she has some discord with Xia Wenjin, so she used this opportunity to attempt to embarrass Miss Xia."
"Where is she?"
Yan Nan replied, "She might have been afraid of being exposed, and left with the young master of Marquis Anping’s family, Zhai Hao, just two quarters ago."
Huangfu Jingchen’s expression shifted slightly.
For years, he remained low-profile in the Capital City, hardly socializing. Even when he stepped out, it was not for outings with friends. Yet, this didn’t mean he was ignorant. On the contrary, he was well-acquainted with the intricate relationships among the noble ministers, wealthy merchants, and the tea houses and taverns in the city.
Naturally, he knew what kind of person Zhai Hao was.
He didn’t know Yao Yike, but he was aware that the Junior Minister from the Chamberlain’s Mansion was Fourth Rank, and with no Crown Prince at the moment, this Junior Minister became even more insignificant.
It was likely that his current situation wasn’t good, and his daughter was eager to climb "high branches" like Zhai Hao. Since Yao Yike took the initiative to cozy up to Zhai Hao, daring to plot against Wenjin, there seemed to be no need to teach her a lesson.
When Xia Wenjin was met, a nanny whispered to the Seventeenth Princess that she was a noble lady holding a red invite. The Seventeenth Princess, curious, asked Xia Wenjin, "The red invites are personally sent by the Princess. How do I have no impression of you? Which noble family are you from?"
Xia Wenjin smiled slightly, maintaining her composure and said, "Reply to the Princess, actually I grew up in the countryside and am not a noble lady. My invitation came from the Xia Mansion!"
"Xia Mansion?" The Seventeenth Princess hesitated for a moment before a nanny came forward to quietly inform her which Xia Mansion it was.
Currently, in the Capital, how many Xia Mansions could there be? What’s more, the invites from the Princess are red!
The Seventeenth Princess suddenly realized, "Are you Xia Xinlin’s younger sister?"
Originally, Xia Xiaozhe and Xia Xinxin were also to receive an invitation this time, but, Xia Wanqing and Xia Shi’en reunited as brothers, of course, demanding recognition of their ancestry.
To recognize their ancestry, they had to return to the ancestral shrine in their hometown.
Xia Shi’en informed Xia Wanqing of the location of the ancestral shrine and family grave, where their parents’ remains were reburied and the graveyard renovated.
Since he didn’t know before, it was okay, but now that his lineage was clear and confirmed with blood, Xia Wanqing naturally had to take Xia Sichen to the family grave mountain to pay homage to the ancestors.
Xia Shi’en had official duties, so he let Xia Xiaozhe accompany his uncle back to pay homage! The two brothers were thus unable to participate in the grand event.
Of course, Xia Wenjin greatly supported this matter.
Since Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin returned, they continued their service in the Capital Guard.
At the time, the residence they lived in was purchased by Xia Wanqing with Silver, but Hua and Gu were still grateful to Huangfu Yuxuan, who also made attempts to build rapport with them.
Add to that, Hua and Gu’s families had been brought to the Capital to reside with them.
Since they still had their duties, their interactions with the Xia Mansion became even less frequent.
Previously, Xia Wanqing might not have cared, but after Xia Wenjin’s intentional guidance and reminders, Xia Wanqing, who was easy-going and unconcerned with small matters, could clearly sense the difference.
Thus, Xia Wanqing chose this time to leave the Capital for ancestral worship, perhaps also desiring some peace and quiet.
As for Bai Feichen, who had sent word much earlier, he still had not appeared in the Capital.
However, Fourth Village Chief Zhuo Pengju, Right Protector Li Ling, and Golden Hall Master Hu Zeqi from the Three Great Hall Masters have arrived in the Capital in the second batch.
It’s just that when they entered the Capital, Xia Wanqing had just left for ancestral worship, and now they’ve been gone for seven or eight days.
Upon learning of the three’s arrival, Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin were delighted. Since their residences were adjacent, they immediately prepared accommodations for the three.
But Xia Wenjin was one step ahead, inviting them to stay at Xia Mansion. Fourth Village Chief and others, hearing Xia Wanqing and Xia Sichen were absent, hesitated slightly. Xia Wenjin even used a bit of charm, saying that if her father and brother were temporarily away from the Capital, the mansion would be cold and empty. If the uncles didn’t stay at home, her father would surely blame her when he returned.
The people from the village pampered Xia Wenjin dearly, so when she put it this way, Zhuo Pengju agreed with a smile.
Xia Wenjin also visited the premises of Hua and Gu, enjoying delightful interactions with their wives.
Though the brothers from the village were loyal, having their own families meant private considerations. Even if the village provided Silver to procure houses for their families, they remained very grateful.
Presently, with more people from Haotian Village coming to the Capital and potentially more in the future, Xia Wenjin couldn’t stop them, only mediating as best as she could.
But people have their pursuits, and what they ultimately choose, Xia Wenjin didn’t know. Now she could only, alongside Xia Sichen, try to persuade her father against entering officialdom.
Xia Wenjin nodded and said, "That’s my cousin!"
The Seventeenth Princess was delighted, "So, you are the Right Minister’s family niece. Your sword dance is truly beautiful; you must teach me sometime, Princess!"
Xia Wenjin smiled and said, "If the Princess is interested in this, I would be delighted to impart all my knowledge; however, with your noble, dignified aura, sword dancing might not suit you!"
"What matters isn’t suitability, but preference, right?" The Seventeenth Princess blinked her big eyes, pouting adorably.
Xia Wenjin chuckled and said, "When learning sword dance, you may often fall and get bruised. It’s quite unbecoming of a lady. If the Princess still wishes to learn, I’d be more than willing to teach!"