RYEY -Chapter 355 Contributing the Prescription

Ye Jun secretly rolled his eyes. Qilin Grass—wasn’t that a spiritual herb? It was like a ginseng that had grown sentience. For ordinary people, even if they turned the whole mountain upside down, there was no way they’d ever find it.

Wu Hongxin, sharp-eyed as ever, caught that fleeting look in Ye Jun’s eyes and curled his lips into a smile. So you dare laugh at me—let’s see how I deal with you.

“Ye Jun, would you be willing to contribute that ancient medical compendium of yours to the state? Some medicines can’t be produced right now, but as times change, I believe many of those formulas will eventually see the light of day.”

“Besides, your family’s ancestors were benevolent people. They would surely want the ancient formulas they compiled to save lives across the land. That would be a great deed—accumulating merit and doing good.”

Wu Hongxin’s words left Ye Jun and Ye Chengying so angry they were momentarily speechless. Cheng Qiao also frowned—so if it’s not your family’s things, you don’t feel the pain of giving them up, do you? Her impression of Wu Hongxin worsened a notch.

Yao Peng sighed inwardly. He knew Wu Hongxin all too well—sharp-tongued, yes, but truly without selfish intent. Even if the ancient formulas were given to him, he would hand them over to the relevant departments immediately for research.

Moreover, the Ye family’s ancient compendium had already caught the attention of certain people. Refusing to hand it over would only be detrimental to Ye Chengying. When it was time to let go, one had to let go.

“Ye Chengying, Old Wu is right. This benefits the country and the people. It’s also a tremendous contribution your Ye family can make to the nation. That said, the ancient compendium is the lifeblood of your ancestors—just make copies. Let the original be passed down.”

Reading between the lines, Ye Chengying understood. He looked at Ye Jun—the book had been passed to him. Ye Jun took a deep breath. Thinking of what Ye Chengying had told him about taking the next step forward, he could only nod helplessly.

Cheng Qiao stepped out and soon returned holding two thin books—one clearly an ancient text, the other a handwritten copy.

“General Wu, this is the copy I made of the ancient formulas. I originally intended to teach my son to memorize them. Please check it—if there are no errors, then contribute it to the state.”

Wu Hongxin glanced at Wu Jiawei. Wu Jiawei hurriedly took the two books and compared them carefully—indeed, word for word identical. He smiled and nodded.

“The Ye family—well done. Old Yao, for this commendation conference, I’ll cast my vote for Ye Chengying. I hope he can shine in the most suitable position. And Cheng Qiao—I’m waiting for your next breakthrough.”

Yao Peng and Ye Chengying were both startled. If Wu Hongxin cast that crucial vote, his own son would lose this opportunity for advancement—the price seemed rather steep.

Cheng Qiao understood the significance as well. She withdrew her earlier displeasure toward Wu Hongxin. In this era, there truly were selfless people—and Wu Hongxin was one of them.

She took a porcelain bottle from her pocket and handed it to Wu Hongxin. “General Wu, this is a health-nourishing pill I developed. There aren’t many. Take one a week—after three months, your old rheumatic knee should improve.”

“And does Old Yao have any?”

“I don’t need it. I’m a person of great virtue and prestige—I have my own blessings.”

“You—my kindness for donkey’s liver and lungs!” (wasted on you!)

Yao Peng smiled. It seemed the relationship between the two old comrades could move another step forward. Still, without their constant sparring, would life become a bit dull?

Wu Hongxin opened the porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, and swallowed it without hesitation. Instantly, a warm current surged from his throat straight to his knees, driving away the heavy chill lodged there.

“Good stuff! Cheng Qiao, this old man thanks you. As a token of gratitude, I’ll marry my only granddaughter to your Cheng Li.”

“Old Wu, Old Wu—how did you become so shameless? The kids are still so young, and you’re already arranging marriages!”

“What’s shameless about it? Childhood sweethearts are the best. Jiawei, go bring Xiaolin and Cheng Li over—ask them if they’re willing.”

Wu Jiawei looked awkward. His old man was getting shrewder with age—but the kids were truly too young for such talk.

“Well I’ll be—my youngest son has learned to resist me now? Old Yao, why don’t you go take a look at my granddaughter—see if she’s worthy of Cheng Li.”

Yao Peng glanced at Ye Chengying. Seeing him calm as ever, Yao Peng nodded in satisfaction. Temperament-wise, the subordinates he had cultivated were indeed better than that old Wu.

The two of them walked out together. Cheng Qiao carefully put away the ancient compendium. In truth, most of the medicinal ingredients listed inside were already extinct. She had found some and planted them in her space.

So even after handing in the compendium, it would mostly gather dust. Even if suitable herbs were found and pills prepared, without the enhancement of space water, the efficacy would be fairly ordinary.

In the central courtyard, gray-brick walls and red-lacquered corridors framed an exquisite pond where foot-long koi swam leisurely. Round stone tables and stools were tastefully placed throughout.

Between the tall crabapple trees, electric wires were strung, small bulbs illuminating the entire courtyard. Several children huddled together playing games, completely unaware that people had entered.

Under the dim lights, Cheng Li looked like white jade—eyes bright as stars, lips red and teeth white—playing a game of Go with Wu Xiaolin. The board was already filled with black stones; clearly, Cheng Li was about to lose.

Wu Jiawei was a Go expert. At a glance, he could tell that Cheng Li was deliberately retreating step by step, allowing his white stones to be slowly encroached upon by black.

He glanced at Yao Peng, already knowing the answer. Cheng Li and Wu Xiaolin had faced danger together and forged a deep bond. Given time, there would likely be good news.

On the other hand, Ye Chengying’s granddaughter, Xiao Gui, was getting along splendidly with Li Ming. Li Ming was bursting with energy, yet when Xiao Gui practiced military boxing with him, she didn’t lose to him in the slightest.

Ye Chengying sighed. Fate wasn’t something they could control at will. They had always wanted to raise the children to be soldiers—and Xiao Gui was already becoming one.

“Grandpa—”

“Grandpa—”

“Dad—”

“Mom—”

The children finally noticed the group by the moon gate. They rushed to their respective parents and grandparents, voices rising and falling, filling the siheyuan with a warm, lively atmosphere.

Wu Hongxin left the Ye family’s courtyard at last, satisfied, taking his family with him. Yao Peng, however, stayed behind—he had much to discuss with Ye Chengying, and the timing today was just right.

It was about Cheng Qiao’s future placement. The fact that she carried secrets was no longer a secret. Since she had caught Wu Hongxin’s eye, she would certainly have caught others’—they were merely hiding in the shadows.

The most urgent task, then, was to transfer Cheng Qiao out of the capital. Otherwise, once she was forcibly recruited into certain departments, her freedom would be gone.

The two men whispered at length in the study, finally arriving at the most appropriate arrangement. Yao Peng was getting on in years and accustomed to early nights; not long after returning to his room, he fell asleep.