Disease rights policy

After Chen Jiu left the palace, Xie Laoshi waited outside the palace gate.

"Young master, young lady has arrived."

Chen Jiu glanced at the carriage not far away, hummed in agreement, and quickly walked over. As soon as he got close, Chen Jinning lifted the carriage curtain and called out with a smile, "Brother."

Chen Jiu got into the car. "It wouldn't be good if someone saw us. If anything happens, tell the guard. I'll talk to him when I get home."

Chen Jinning didn't seem to care, her eyes darting around a couple of times. "I was very careful, I wouldn't cause you any trouble, brother. Why did you come out alone?"

"Hmm? You came all this way so early in the morning, so you weren't waiting for me?" Chen Jiu looked at her with a smile.

Chen Jinning lifted the carriage curtain again to take a look, "Where's Sister Qiao?"

Chen Jiu paused, "Did you know your sister Qiao would be leaving the palace today?"

"Isn't that right?" Chen Jinning frowned slightly, her brows furrowing as she said worriedly, "I thought my brother went to the palace early this morning to pick up Sister Qiao? I heard from Father that Liu Yun's case has been solved. Sister Qiao is so smart, she should be able to find a way to leave the palace."

Chen Jinning had an inexplicable trust in Qiao Ran, as if she were omnipotent.

Chen Jiu flicked Chen Jinning's forehead with his finger, and Chen Jinning scolded, "Brother!" He couldn't help but laugh and said, "If you want to see your Sister Qiao in the future, you can go to Kunning Palace when you have time."

"Kunning Palace?"

Chen Jinning frowned even more deeply. "Brother means... Sister Qiao can't leave the palace?"

"Hmm." The carriage slowly made its way to the street where the Chen residence was located. Chen Jiu said, "As you know, Qiao Ran is now the daughter of the Prefect of Qianzhou. She is here to participate in the selection of female officials in the palace. The selection period has not yet ended. How can she leave the palace so easily?"

The thought that Qiao Ran's identity as the daughter of the Prefect of Qianzhou was fake always startled Chen Jinning.

"Then why did you go to Kunning Palace again?"

“It’s a good thing.” Chen Jiu pursed his lips. “With your sister Qiao’s personality, if she were to learn palace etiquette in a down-to-earth manner, who knows what kind of trouble she would cause. Now that she has gained the favor of the Empress, she can stay in Kunning Palace directly. At least with the Empress looking after her, she won’t cause too much trouble.”

Chen Jinning lowered her eyes and clenched the handkerchief in her hand. "But Sister Qiao certainly doesn't want to stay in the palace. Besides, she's not the daughter of the governor of Qianzhou. Brother, please think of a way to help Sister Qiao."

Chen Jiu instructed her, "The fact that Qiao Ran is not the daughter of the Prefect of Qianzhou is a secret between you and me. Even Father cannot tell you. Your brother will naturally find a way to help Qiao Ran, but we cannot rush this matter, understand?"

Chen Jinning nodded.

"Tenth Brother, take A-Ning back to the manor first."

Xie Laoshi outside the carriage responded, and the carriage sped up, heading towards the Chen residence. However, it did not stop directly at the entrance of the Chen residence, but stopped in an alley not far away.

Chen Jinning got out of the car and looked up again, saying, "Brother, may I go to the palace to see Sister Qiao tomorrow?"

"Alright." Chen Jiu watched her go inside before instructing Xie Laoshi to return to Qingju.

Qingju was a residence that Chen Jiu purchased in the capital. It was two streets away from the Chen family mansion, not far away. Like the villas in Sichuan, it was known for its elegance and tranquility.

Upon reaching the door, Zhou Mu hurriedly reported, in a low voice, "Young Master, Lord Yang has committed suicide in prison."

After hearing this, Chen Jiu paused for a moment before taking the thin, yellowed piece of paper from Zhou Mu and slowly walking into the study.

The last words of Secretary Yang before his suicide were written on paper. The paper flickered in the candlestick and quickly turned to ashes.

"With Yang Kai dead, his wives and concubines scattered and fled with their gold and silk. The Censor-in-Chief, who loves his daughter dearly, will surely fan the flames and get the Emperor to search his house. As a result, Madam Yang is critically ill and will indeed be unable to protect the children in the house."

Chen Jiu spoke softly, as if recounting the most ordinary little thing. Watching the tiny ashes brush against his fingertips in the gentle breeze, he casually rubbed his fingers together and chuckled softly.

Jie Laoshi: "Young Master, shall I send someone to protect Yang Kai's young son?"

Chen Jiu wiped his fingers with a handkerchief. "I had Tian Shu secretly send the child away from the capital and find an ordinary family to adopt him. I hope that the only son he cared about before he died will be safe and healthy. That would be the best way to honor him."

"Yes." Xie Laoshi bowed and turned to go out to do so.

Yang Kai's youngest son was only four years old, but Yang Kai was willing to die to ask Chen Jiu to protect him.

To Chen Jiu, the Yang family was nothing more than a discarded pawn.

Three years ago, Yang Kai, for his own selfish desires, colluded with a silk merchant from Pingjing and amassed a lot of money from the merchant by exchanging his knowledge of the secrets of the Great Liang Dynasty. Unfortunately, Chen Jiu's people discovered the scheme halfway through, and Yang Kai had no choice but to be controlled by Chen Jiu in order to save his life.

He had never met Chen Jiu, nor did he know Chen Jiu's identity; he only knew that Chen Jiu was very knowledgeable about the situation in the palace.

Although Chen Jiu eventually dealt with the Pingjing silk merchant secretly, some information still reached Pingjing.

From then on, Yang Kai became Chen Jiu's pawn, and he had to do whatever Chen Jiu told him to do.

A year ago, Chen Jiu sent Yang Hui to the palace to participate in the imperial concubine selection, but Yang Hui failed to be selected. At that time, he had personally met Yang Hui and found her to be an obedient girl.

Chen Jiu remembered that he had met Yang Hui three times in total. Yang Hui was following his father's instructions and knew that Chen Jiu had something on Yang Kai, so she cooperated very well each time.

Regarding the selection of female officials, Chen Jiu told Yang Hui to proceed as usual, awaiting his message, and to protect Qiao Ran if necessary.

Yang Hui did not disappoint him, but it was a pity that she lost her life at such a young age.

Chen Jiu felt regretful for a moment, but when he looked up again, it seemed that nothing had happened. He called Old Qu to take his pulse.

While Old Qu was rambling on, Chen Jiu had already fallen asleep.

"Old Ten," Old Qu waved to the returning Old Ten and said in a low voice, "Young Master has finally recovered a little. Do you know that you should avoid overworking yourself?"

Xie Laoshi said he had no choice.

"This relic powder will only last for about a month," Old Master Qu said worriedly. "Relics are warming, which is exactly what counteracts the young master's weak cold condition. That's why the young master has gradually recovered. We should have been determined to take care of him during this time, and he might have gotten even better. But you all left Sichuan."

Helpless, Elder Jie said, "Elder Qu, it was all the young master's decision, and naturally I also hope that the young master can stay in Shu to recuperate."

"You're by the young master's side every day, don't you know how to remind him?" Old Master Qu glared. "I just hope that the Buddha's relic is truly effective, and that the young master's illness can be completely stabilized after this, and that it won't relapse."

Although my health is generally poor, it's already a blessing from heaven, much better than having my life in danger at any moment.

Old Qu muttered to himself as he left. Old Xie looked down and noticed that Chen Jiu had woken up again.

"Son."

"Old Mrs. Qu is so annoying." Chen Jiu said, sitting up straight and rubbing his temples.

Xie Laoshi said, "Young master, why don't you rest on the bed for a while? If there's anything else, I'll come in and report."

-

Chen Jinning got ready and entered the palace early the next morning. When the Empress heard that it was Chen Jinning, she was overjoyed and specially invited her to have lunch together.

Qiao Ran went to the Imperial Clothing Bureau to have clothes made in the morning, so she found out late. She deliberately waited at the door to listen to Chen Jinning and the Empress talking.

The Empress was annoyed that she hadn't come often, so Chen Jinning made an excuse that she had something to do at home.

Chen Jinning barely ate any food and seemed distracted. The Empress noticed and asked her, "Is something on your mind today?"

Chen Jinning smiled and shook his head. "No."

The Empress put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth lightly, and said, "I treat you like my daughter. You can tell me anything that's on your mind."

Chen Jinning hesitated and shook her head. She was just thinking about why she hadn't seen Qiao Ran, which kept distracting her.

Just then, Yinghong came in to report, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince and Miss Siruo have arrived."

"What a coincidence today," the Empress said with a smile as she glanced at Chen Jinning. "We can have a meal together now."

Upon hearing that Li Chen had also arrived, Chen Jinning suddenly became uneasy, and an awkward expression appeared on her face. The Empress noticed this but said nothing.

Before Li Chen even entered, his voice rang out from the doorway, "Why are you still here?"

Immediately afterwards, Chen Jinning heard a familiar voice. Qiao Ran said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Sister Qiao!

It turned out she had been outside the door the whole time. Chen Jinning looked up and unexpectedly met Li Chen's eyes as he entered. Li Chen was clearly taken aback.

"Ah Ning is here too." Li Chen's smile froze, and he awkwardly bowed to the Empress, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."