Adoption brings disaster

The place where this poor clinic is located is really a remote and shabby alley. Apart from anything else, just look at the house, it is really small and dark, just like a stove, so cramped that it makes people breathless.

This room is not only comparable to the room where Ah Da and the others live in the palace, but even the slave quarters in Minister Zhang's residence are no worse than this one.

However, although this room is simple and cramped, there is no strange smell, and there is even a scent of sandalwood.

This fragrance is very similar to the smell of Zhang's father and son. I guess this is where Zhang's father and son usually rest.

The old man and I entered the house, and Ah Er started preparing food and tea.

Fortunately, the carriage was equipped with high-quality charcoal, tea leaves and candles, otherwise, in this place, I am afraid I wouldn’t even be able to find tea leaves.

After a while, the originally dim room became bright, the cold room became warm, and the aroma of tea wafted through the room.

The old man and I drank tea and ate cakes. I leaned lazily on the chair. The chair was of poor quality and uncomfortable to sit on. Later, Ada brought me a pillow and I felt a little more comfortable.

The old man was very surprised to see Ah Da serving him wholeheartedly. He said, "It seems that the rumors in this world can't be true."

This made me curious, so I asked, "What kind of rumor is it? Tell me about it."

"It's not a new rumor. It's just that the Seventh Prince was so angry for his beloved, and that Prince Qianqiu is just a fool except for trying to please the Seventh Prince."

This made me speechless. I rolled my eyes at the old man and said, "Do you believe this kind of nonsense?"

The old man didn't get angry when I rolled my eyes at him. Instead, he smiled and said, "I only half believed it at first, but when I saw you just now, I believed it all. Your Highness Qianqiu has such a stunningly beautiful face. You don't need to make others happy. Just standing there is pleasing to the eyes."

I don’t know if it’s because the room has no windows and no ventilation, or if it’s because the old man’s compliment makes me feel ashamed, but I always feel a little stuffy and uncomfortable sitting down.

I tried to adjust the position of the cushion myself, but it was still uncomfortable to sit on, so I glanced at Ada casually.

When Ah Da saw this, he naturally understood what I meant, and he quickly lay down to serve as a foot pad for me.

With Ada's foot pad, I felt much more comfortable. It's a pity that Chunyu couldn't come out because of the winter clothes, otherwise I wouldn't be able to sit comfortably.

Ah Da being my footstool was nothing new to me, but the old man was rather surprised when he saw it. He said, "A few years ago, when I was drinking with the prince in the Northern Frontier military camp, Ah Da was right beside me as a guard. His martial arts skills were only second-rate, but he was incredibly powerful. I never thought he'd be willing to be someone's footstool today. Your Highness Qianqiu really has some skills."

After hearing this, Ada under my feet moved unconsciously, and this movement made me feel uncomfortable again.

I was unhappy, so I gave Ah Da a hard kick and said with a smile, "Everything is done willingly by others. I didn't bribe or threaten him, so what's the point of talking about tactics?"

The old man didn't comment, just nodded and said, "That's the logic. I heard that Tianshu actually taught you his original kung fu. Your Highness even gave him the name of White Rat Magic. Tianshu didn't even get angry. I think he did it voluntarily."

"You also know Taoist Tianshu." I was a little surprised and asked, "Who are you?"

"Your Highness, do you really not know who I am?" The old man said doubtfully when he saw me ask this.

"I was raised within the walls of a palace for a long time, so I'm not very familiar with the affairs of the martial arts world." I touched my nose and said embarrassedly, "Besides, it was not easy for me to raise His Highness the Seventh Prince. Even if we have met, it is natural for us to forget."

Seeing that I didn't seem to be lying, the old man revealed his identity, "Green water has no clothes."

"Green water without clothes?" These four words are very familiar, but I can't remember them for a while.

Seeing that I couldn't think of anything, Ah Da on the ground whispered, "Li Qinghan, the hero of the clear water without clothes."

After receiving Ah Da's hint, I immediately remembered who was in front of me and shouted, "The second best in the world."

As soon as I said these four words, I immediately regretted it. As the saying goes, there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts. Hero Li must be very concerned about these four words.

I thought about it and decided to make amends, so I said, "A peerless master, unparalleled in chivalry."

"Hahahaha, Your Highness, don't be nervous. It's a fact that I can't defeat the King of Zhenbei, but there are many talented people in the martial arts world, and those with outstanding virtues are even more numerous. I can't bear the title of the second best hero in the world and unparalleled in righteousness."

Regardless of his stance, this man is indeed a wonderful person. My conflict with Prince Gong has ended, so naturally there will be no conflict with Hero Li. Hero Li sees that all I do are chivalrous things and that the poor people benefit a lot, so he is very close to me. We laugh a lot when we chat, and the harmony is extremely good for a while.

As I was talking to Li Qinghan, two children who looked to be about seven or eight years old came in with their eyes wide open. The corners of their mouths were raised like a crescent moon, and they looked very cute.

The two children were orphans, so naturally they didn't know the rules. Regardless of the fact that Li Qinghan and I were happily chatting, they looked at the older child and handed over tea, saying, "Your Highness, this tea is specially made by our owner. It can raise Yang Qi and prevent wind-cold. Your Highness, please drink more."

Another child said, "I cooked this myself."

I picked up the dark teacup and felt a little uncomfortable. It is difficult for a person to go from extravagance to frugality. I was not like this before.

I picked up the tea lid and a medicinal aroma hit me. I sniffed it carefully and said, "It smells good, with mint, honeysuckle, and lotus leaves. I miss it very much. Thank you."

After saying that, I pretended to take a sip, and when the two children were not paying attention, I handed the teacup to A Da and let A Da drink it all.

The two children didn't notice my little trick, but just listened to me mention the herbs and admired me even more. One of the children said, "Your Highness is truly knowledgeable and well-informed, and you are also proficient in medicine."

"You are talking nonsense. Your Highness is well-versed in history and there is nothing he doesn't know," said another child.

The flattery from these two kids was just like when I was a teacher in the previous world. Those kids also blindly worshipped me and thought I was the most powerful, smartest and most capable person in the world.

I pretended to pick up another cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "It's delicious. Thank you for your hard work."

"I'll get another bowl for His Highness." A child said and hurried out.

I quickly stopped him and said, "Nothing in this world should be excessive. These two cups are perfect."

"Thank you for your teachings, Your Highness. I'll take note."

"Just write down what His Highness said," another child said unhappily.

"I have written down every word your Highness said."

"I also took note of what Your Highness said. You're not the only one who took note, you sycophant."

Seeing that the two children were about to quarrel, Li Qinghan said with a smile: "Why is there no tea for me?"

The two children rolled their eyes at Li Qinghan, their eyes full of disdain. One of the children said, "Old beggar, letting you stay in the house is already a great favor from His Highness. How dare you say such shameless words?"

"You're right. I should have sent you outside to make the medicine, so that you wouldn't fume His Highness."

The two children's disgust was evident in their words, but Li Qinghan didn't get angry. He just smiled and said, "The three of us have begged for food together before, and I've even helped you fight vicious dogs. Aren't you more affectionate than your Highness, whom I'm meeting for the first time? Or are you also greedy for profit, forgetting your friendship just because you see His Highness is rich and powerful?"

"Don't try to provoke me. I won't fall for it. Your Highness is doing this for the benefit of the poor people of the world. This is a righteous cause. How can our friendship compare to it?"

Seeing the two children's talk getting more and more outrageous, I was afraid they would anger Li Qinghan, which would be difficult to resolve, so I quickly tried to smooth things over and said, "Go and bring a cup of tea to Hero Li."

When the two children heard that I had spoken, they stopped talking and went out happily to serve tea.

As the two children left, Li Qinghan said lovingly, "The father of these two children is a scholar. After failing to pass the imperial examinations for a long time, he became a tutor in a wealthy merchant's house. These two children followed their father to study, and they can be considered to have some talent."

"How do you know so clearly?" I asked with interest.

"They are all kind people and have been very kind to me. I don't have any other friends in the capital, so I visit them from time to time. However, I only watch from afar, so the two children don't recognize me."

"Since you are always looking after them, how could these two children be reduced to begging? And you said their parents are extremely kind and would never break the law. Even if someone framed them, with Prince Gong's ability, it would only take a word to solve the problem."

I asked this out of curiosity, but I saw Li Qinghan's eyes full of self-blame, full of guilt. He said, "I am lazy and didn't go there often. Besides, there were often assassinations of Prince Gong at that time, so I had to protect him at all times. By the time I went to see them again, they had become orphans."

I didn't delve into how the parents of these two children died, but I know that not to mention Prince Gong's power, just based on Li Qinghan's martial arts, the grass on the graves of those who killed the parents of the two children would have to be replaced at least three times, of course, provided that these people have graves.

"These two children are considered the most talented people I have ever seen in my life." Li Qinghan said, "If they learn martial arts, as long as they study hard and practice diligently, their martial arts achievements will definitely not be inferior to mine."

This surprised me a little. Li Qinghan is already recognized as the second best swordsman in the world. If the King of Zhenbei dies, these two children will become the best swordsmen in the world.

I was secretly frightened when I heard Li Qinghan say, "That's all fine, but the temperaments of these two children are rare in this world. If it were any other children, their families broken up and they became beggars, they would either be weak and vulnerable or vicious and cruel. How could they grow up so straightforward like this?"

This was the first time I met these two children, but it was great that they dared to argue with the powerful.

I admired the two children very much, but I also knew that people like them would not live long, so I said, "But they don't know how to adapt. They know they can't win but still fight. That's really stupid."

"The two children are still young. Given their talents, they will naturally not be like this when they grow up. Besides, knowing that you cannot defeat the enemy and still defeat him is the true chivalry, isn't it, Your Highness Qianqiu?"

I knew Li Qinghan's character. I couldn't reason with him about these things, so I didn't argue with him. I just smiled and drank some tea.

At this moment, two children came in with tea, put it in front of Li Qinghan, and said loudly: "Your tea is here, drink it quickly."

Li Qinghan took a sip and deliberately said jokingly, "This tea doesn't taste good. Did you add anything to it?"

"You are a lowly person, how can you know how to drink tea? You can't even drink boiled water. You are not used to it. You only deserve to drink the water from the gutter."

I find it quite interesting to watch them bickering. When I was a teacher, I also liked to tease children, but I was in the role of a child, and those students were both angry and loving when I teased them.

"Take the money." A child stretched out his hand and said as a matter of course.

"What money?" Li Qinghan pretended not to understand.

"Of course it's tea money. You're such an interesting person. Who drinks tea without paying for it?"

Li Qinghan shook his clothes and said shamelessly, "I don't have any money."

Seeing Li Qinghan's rogue behavior, a child snatched the empty teacup from him and said viciously, "Why drink tea if you don't have money?"

"You two have climbed up to the high branch of His Highness Qianqiu, but you don't even think of taking me with you. Instead, you ask me for money for a cup of tea."

Li Qinghan looked so pitiful when he said this that I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I said, "Li Qinghan doesn't look like he has any money. Why not teach the two kids the Green Water Sword Technique to pay off the debt?"

The two children heard what I said and thought I was serious. They hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you misunderstood. Grandpa and I know each other. We are used to teasing each other on a daily basis. I didn't really want money."

I ignored the two children and just stared at Li Qinghan. I said, "Master Li, you don't have any successors anyway. Why don't you pass your Jade Water Sword on to these two kids? That way they'll have the power to protect themselves in the future."

Li Qinghan was stunned by these words. For a moment he just lowered his head in thought without saying a word.

Seeing this, I ignored him and just looked at the two children and said, "They are kind-hearted. When they grow up and become masters of medicine, they will definitely not stay in a corner, but travel the world to treat more poor people."

Li Qinghan's eyes were filled with pride when he heard what I said. Seeing this, I sighed and said, "Master Li, you know better than me how dangerous the Jianghu is. If you don't have superb martial arts skills, even if you enter the Jianghu, even if God bless you, you will die without a burial place in a short time."

Hero Li was a little hesitant, but I didn't know why he hesitated. I could only wait quietly for him to give me an answer, which might be the answer I wanted, or it might be the answer I didn't want.

But these answers are not important. After all, I am just looking for a skill for the two children. If that doesn't work, there are many martial arts in the Zhenbei Palace. Although they cannot be compared with the Green Water Sword, it is not difficult to let the two children have the ability to protect themselves.

What exactly is the entertainment of Mr. Li? Let’s wait and see in the next episode.