People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 159, Incense is great, but I need to learn how to make it.
Upon returning home, Xu Qing did not rest immediately, but went to the second bedroom, where the doors and windows were tightly closed.

The orange glow of the oil lamp illuminated the second bedroom, which was filled with flowerpots of all sizes, and garlic that had originally grown in the yard was transplanted into the pots.

"As long as we can get through this winter, we can harvest next spring. The yield may not be high, but it will be enough to tide us over."

He no longer has any garlic left; most of it has sprouted and he has planted it in flowerpots, waiting for next year's harvest.

"I need to get the Mo family to build me a few stoves, otherwise this garlic might not last through the winter," Xu Qing thought to himself.

He had considered having the Mo family build him a greenhouse, but the cost was too high, and the sudden start of construction on his small courtyard would inevitably arouse suspicion from others.

As for the residence that Liu Yi gave him, he had already sold it through Situ Wanli's channels and exchanged it for some precious medicines and medical books.

After inspecting the garlic, Xu Qing closed the doors and windows to prevent it from freezing.

Back in his room, Xu Qing rested for a while before beginning to cultivate the "Colorless Heaven and Earth" and "Spring Returns to All Things" techniques. He needed to integrate these two techniques into his Tai Chi Dao as soon as possible.

After a night of cultivation, Xu Qing took his medicine box and went to the Imperial Hospital for his shift early the next morning.

After arranging his work at the Imperial Medical Academy, Xu Qing went to Mingzhu Palace to report for duty.

Mingzhu Palace, Baixiang Hall.

Xu Qing slowly pushed open the door of the Hundred Fragrances Hall, and a peculiar medicinal fragrance wafted towards him.

Looking around, Xu Qing saw Madam Mingzhu, Chao Nu Yao, smiling at him beside the incense burner.

As the weather grew colder, the trendy woman didn't dress as lightly as usual; instead, she wore a long black dress and a fur shawl.

A faint smile graced her pretty face, her deep eyes fixed on Xu Qing, filled with joy.

Some conservative long dresses cannot conceal the graceful figure of the trendy woman. The exaggerated size of her chest pushes the long dress into an amazing arc, and her slender waist and full peach shape outline a charming curve.

Long, slender legs encased in black stockings, and small feet painted with black nail polish stepped onto the luxurious carpet, like fallen red grapes, making one's mouth water.

Despite being a very conservative style of dress, the trendy woman's stunning figure and alluring yet not seductive aura create a hazy, seductive contrast.

It makes you want to tear away the conservative exterior and peek into the restless heart of the other person.

"How is my new incense?" the Tide Fairy asked.

Xu Qing walked to the Tide Demoness's side, reached out and pulled her into his arms, and carefully smelled the incense in the air.

"It has a very unique flavor. What did you add to it?" Xu Qing asked.

"Of course it was the ambergris you gave me. That ambergris was truly the finest of the finest. Just a little powder was enough to hold the fragrance in the incense."

The trendy woman turned around, hooked her arms around Xu Qing's neck, leaned back slightly, and looked at Xu Qing with tenderness in her eyes.

It is said that gifts should be given with sincerity, and the ambergris that Xu Qing gave her was exactly the fragrance she had been dreaming of, making her extremely happy.

"As expected, my little man understands me best and knows what I like. All my days and nights of training him have been worthwhile," the Tide Demoness thought.

"I'm glad you like it. I'll get you some new spices when Qianlong Hall gets them in the future," Xu Qing said.

"it is good."

The trendy fairy tiptoed slightly and gently touched Xu Qing's lips, as a thoughtful reward.

"I heard that Ji Wuye sent Liu Yi to guard the border? Are you aware of this news?" Xu Qing asked.

Liu Yi's deployment to the border was Ji Wuye's scheme. Yesterday, he had already agreed to let Madam Hu and Nongyu recognize each other.

To prevent any mishaps, he had to figure out how Ji Wuye planned to deal with Liu Yi.

The Tide Fairy nodded slightly and said softly
“I heard about it, but as you know, he is the nominal Lord of the Night, so he didn’t tell me how to deal with Liu Yi. However, he asked me to suggest to King Han An that we speed up the collection of military funds.”

"Perhaps his way of dealing with Liu Yi lies in this military pay."

"Military pay!?"

Xu Qing was taken aback. The memory of the ghost soldiers robbing the paycheck in the original story flashed through his mind, and he vaguely guessed Ji Wuye's plan. The soldiers fought and died not for loyalty to the state of Han, but for their paychecks.

If there are problems with the military pay sent to the border, the army is likely to mutiny.

This mutiny happened to occur in the area under Liu Yi's jurisdiction, so not only was Liu Yi doomed to die, but his fourth son, Han Yu, would also suffer greatly if he didn't die.

This is actually a good thing for him, since he can use Ji Wuye's help to eliminate Han Yu and Liu Yi in one fell swoop.

"If Ji Wuye wants to deal with Liu Yi, he'll definitely need my help. I'll tell you then," the Tide Demoness whispered in Xu Qing's ear.
"Now let's do what we should do. I've found a new incense recipe."

"It has a photinia flower flavor; you'll need to help me mix it."

Xu Qing understood what Chao Nu Yao meant, a smile appeared on his face, and he stopped thinking about Liu Yi and Ji Wu Ye.

"Making incense is great! I need to learn how to make incense!"

The most important step in preparing incense is crushing the flowers, and he's an expert at this crucial step.

"follow me."

After speaking, Chao Nu Yao gave Xu Qing a charming look, hooked her arm around Xu Qing's belt, and walked into the Hundred Fragrance Palace.

A chilly wind blew through the Pearl Palace. A maid standing outside the palace shivered from the cold, and listening to the commotion inside, her expression was filled with grief and indignation.

"Why am I stuck outside in the cold wind while you, Imperial Physician, get to enjoy yourself so comfortably! This is not fair!"

The maid cried out indignantly in her heart, but could only obediently face the bleak cold wind.

Half an hour later, Xu Qing walked out of the Hundred Fragrances Palace looking refreshed. After glancing at the maid with a grief-stricken expression, he strode away.

"Waaaaah, this is so unfair! How can people be so arrogant?"

The maid watched Xu Qing leave, tears welling in her eyes, and even had to bow respectfully to see him off.

"Imperial Physician, please wait!"

After Xu Qing left, the maid turned and entered the Hundred Fragrances Palace to begin serving the Tide Demoness as she rested.

After leaving Mingzhu Palace, Xu Qing arrived at Consort Hu's bedroom.

Upon meeting Hu Meiren, Xu Qing brought up the matter of Nongyu, revealing that Nongyu was Hu Meiren's long-lost child.

"Xu Lang, are you sure this Nongyu is my sister's long-lost daughter?" Hu Meiren asked with a solemn expression.

The lost daughter was a source of deep sorrow for her sister, and she had to confirm it repeatedly to avoid hurting her sister's already broken heart.

“I’m absolutely certain that the Fire Rain Agate is exactly the same as Madam Hu’s, and even the weaving technique of the tassel is the same as the jade belt hook you gave me,” Xu Qing said, picking up the jade belt hook.

Hu Meiren looked at the jade belt hook with a somewhat sentimental expression.

Originally, she only wanted to give Xu Qing, her lover, a token of their love, according to the customs of Huoyu Manor.

Unexpectedly, her unintentional act helped her sister find her long-lost daughter.

“If you say there’s no problem, then there’s no problem. I’ll call my sister over now and tell her the good news,” Hu Meiren said happily.

"Let Lady Hu enter the palace a little later. Tomorrow, Liu Yi will go to the military camp to prepare for the border defense the day after tomorrow."

"Let Lady Hu stay in the palace tonight, so that Liu Yi doesn't notice anything."

"Okay, everything is up to you."

Hu Meiren looked at Xu Qing with seductive eyes, feeling grateful that Xu Qing was indeed her all-powerful benefactor, and that she owed Xu Qing more and more favors.

"Xu Lang, I owe you more and more. Today, let me properly thank you for your kindness."

As soon as Hu Meiren finished speaking, she transformed into a little fox from Liaozhai who was repaying a debt of gratitude and pounced on Xu Qing, even ignoring the scent of incense on Xu Qing's body.

(End of this chapter)