IDWBE -Chapter 468 Mutual Consent

The moment Wang Xiaoshuan heard the name Chen Xilian, his neck immediately shrank back, and he said helplessly, “If that woman dares to ruin my plans, you’d better back me up, right?”

That was Chen Xilian!

Known as the “Goddess of Fertility,” a healer admired by all, revered for helping the needy!

Yet, many often overlooked another title personally given to her by Prince He: “Paraquat.”
Back then, people didn’t understand the meaning of this nickname, and Prince He even explained it himself: wherever Chen Xilian applied her medicine, not a blade of grass would grow!

Her medicine was so potent that grass couldn’t survive it—let alone humans. Not to mention ingesting it, even the slightest contact could be fatal, beyond the saving of any immortal.

Prince He respected Chen Xilian’s “intellectual property,” allowing her to establish Liang Kingdom’s first pharmaceutical factory, specializing in medicines and health products for pregnant women and infants—items like diapers and fetal protection pills had already entered ordinary households.

What was surprising, however, was that the factory’s main source of income came from orders from the Court Guards!

Formerly shadows in the background, now the Court Guards, though many practiced Huiyuan Gong, were not all geniuses or martial arts experts!

Moreover, no matter how skilled, everyone fears poison.

Chen Xilian’s poisons could easily fell experts of Fifth Rank or below.

Even against Sixth Rank fighters, while it might not outright kill, it could disrupt their qi and blood, giving her allies a chance to escape with their lives.

The most effective method was to combine her poison with the Star-Absorbing Technique, directly transmitting it into the target’s body through qi!

In the words of Prince He’s novels, it allowed one to “fight above one’s level.”

Nowadays, Court Guard boys always carried such poisons when going out.

To increase bargaining power, Pan Duo personally negotiated bulk purchase prices with Chen Xilian.

There were even rumors that the military planned large-scale poison acquisitions.

So, a woman who could kill invisibly, and who wielded wealth and influence like Chen Xilian, was not someone a small Ninth-Rank minor official like him could casually provoke.

Better to keep a safe distance.

Wei Yishan said with irritation, “Chen Xilian is a rising star before Prince He—who would dare offend her? If you die by your own recklessness, that’s on you. Just don’t drag me into it.”

“Even if we’re not brothers, we’re like brothers. Your behavior really disappoints me,” Wang Xiaoshuan said, annoyed. “I’d be worried about her, it’s normal. Why are you scared?”

Prince He valued Chen Xilian, but he also highly valued Wei Yishan!

If Ankang City issued “Outstanding Youth” medals like Sanhe, Wei Yishan would surely receive one.

Why? Because if you didn’t give it to him, Prince He would never agree!

“Thanks for thinking so highly of me,” Wei Yishan put down his teacup, picked up a broad bean from the table, popped it into his mouth, and after hearing the crisp crunch, slowly said, “By the old rules, no matter how skilled Chen Xilian is, she’s still just a court physician. But Prince He respects science and medicine. Now, if the Ministry of Works plans to rebuild a sewer, or the army wants to build a fortified camp, it all requires approval from the Health Department. As long as they claim it violates health and quarantine regulations, your greatest skill won’t allow you to dig a single shovel!”

Wang Xiaoshuan protested, “Even Lord He can’t override it?”

Wei Yishan chewed the bean, sipped his tea, and continued, “A while back, didn’t Sun Chongde want to build a detention facility outside the south city? The application was approved by Lord He, funds allocated by the Ministry of Revenue. But in the end… you should know better than I do what happened.”

Wang Xiaoshuan sighed, “In the end, Doctor Hu rejected it, saying it was too close to the upstream water source and would pollute the daily water supply for Ankang citizens.

“People from Yuanma Temple went many times, arguing it wasn’t a stable and wouldn’t pollute, but the Health Department wouldn’t approve it, not giving an inch of face, driving Sun Chongde nearly mad.”

With Wei Yishan’s reminder, Wang Xiaoshuan finally realized: Doctor Hu’s Health Department truly had authority—and not minor authority.

“That’s not about giving Yuanma Temple face; it’s about General He,” Wei Yishan said with a smile. “Hu intentionally let Lord He hit a soft spot.”

“Has Hu gone mad?” Wang Xiaoshuan couldn’t believe it.

Hu Shilu was indeed favored by Prince He, but how could he dare oppose He Jixiang? He Jixiang was Prince He’s right-hand man, Supreme Commander of the Five Armies, the nation’s top general!

Hu Shilu must be brainless to attempt such recklessness.

Wei Yishan asked with a smile, “When Prince He was in Qianlong, who did he meet first?”

“Of course Hu Shilu,” Wang Xiaoshuan said without hesitation. “But that doesn’t mean Hu has the ability to confront Lord He.”

“Not giving Lord He face doesn’t mean confronting him,” Wei Yishan said, watching Sang An enter, openly continuing, “He’s just acting correctly under the powers Prince He granted. He controls the Health Department; if he obeyed Lord He in everything, it would betray Prince He’s expectations of lawful administration.”

Wang Xiaoshuan paused, then sighed, “You’re right. No wonder Gan Mao dared to argue with Lord He recently—all of it comes from the authority Prince He granted.”

“Gentlemen,” Sang An put the wooden tray on the table and smiled, “Want some wine to warm up?”

Wang Xiaoshuan poured himself a cup and refilled Wei Yishan’s cup.

Wei Yishan drank it all at once, then set the cup down, smiling, “Just a little. I still have guard duty tonight, so no heavy drinking.”

Seeing he didn’t drink more, Wang Xiaoshuan didn’t insist, turning to Sang An, “Did you hear everything I just said?”

Sang An said, “I’m from the same clan as Sang Pozi, though not closely. When we meet, she still has to call me ‘big brother.’ Her granddaughter, I’ve watched her grow. Later, she attended Baiyun City’s girls’ school, and her grades were as good as Jiang Zhen’s.”

“You mean…”

“You think I’m not good enough?” Wang Xiaoshuan asked.

Sang An nodded embarrassedly. “Sang Luo is capable, and Sang Pozi has only grown more proud these years. The Liang, Wang, and Hu families all want to make alliances with them—who does she even look at seriously?”

Wang Xiaoshuan said proudly, “That’s different. Sang Luo and I are by mutual consent. Prince He supports freedom in marriage. No matter how powerful Chen Xilian is, she wouldn’t dare go against Prince He’s wishes.”

“With Prince He’s approval, everything will naturally go smoothly.”

Seeing him invoke Prince He, Sang An wisely chose not to say more.