Chapter 135 - 134: It Really Is Her A Yu, Senior Sister on the Offensive
Chapter 135: Chapter 134: It Really Is Her A Yu, Senior Sister on the Offensive
The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth. It completely lacked the expected bitterness; instead, a sweet and sour lemon flavor bloomed on the tip of the tongue, making the taste buds dance with excitement.
It was a very familiar sweetness.
Four hundred years ago, when she was sick, she had taken this exact type of medicine.
Medicine Girl, Ning Liuyu.
Shi Changying remembered this young girl.
She was a medicinal herb collector Changying had met on her way to conquer Cangzhou.
She had stayed in Cangzhou for a full year. Within that year, she repelled Galuo—a Barbarian Tribe that had been looting, burning, and killing in Cangzhou for six hundred years—seven times.
A year later, when she led her army back to the royal court, Ning Liuyu intercepted her horse and presented her with the medicine she had made herself.
After tasting it, she was surprised to find it sweet.
She genuinely disliked anything bitter, including bitter gourd.
She had then asked Ning Liuyu if she wanted to follow her to Mingjing, not only because Ning Liuyu could make sweet medicine, but more importantly, because she possessed an astonishing talent for Alchemy.
If they had enough high-quality medicine, the soldiers would have an extra lifeline.
After that, she kept Ning Liuyu by her side.
However, before her ascension to the throne, her environment was incredibly turbulent; she could only ensure that the people around her were safe from assassination by rival factions.
It wasn’t until the first year of Taichu that she had an exclusive pharmacy built for Ning Liuyu.
With sufficient funds and equipment, Ning Liuyu indeed shone brilliantly.
She still remembered that day after court, Ning Liuyu stayed behind and took out a Sandalwood Box.
"Lord Zhuge said that whenever Your Majesty takes medicine, you’re in a bad mood for several days in a row," Ning Liuyu said with a smile. "I’ve been researching the texture and flavor of these medicines recently, and I managed to make them a bit sweeter without affecting their medicinal properties."
"Your Majesty, Lord Ning is truly thoughtful," Zhuge Mingyue also said. "Even the children in the city love the medicines she concocts."
She had tasted one of the tonic pills; it had a sweet and sour lemon flavor.
It was exactly identical to the taste of the medicine she had today.
Shi Changying stared fixedly at the medicine box in her hand.
Could there be such a coincidence?
Had this happened before she met Qingyuan and Xie Qingshi, she would have merely considered it a coincidence.
But two of her former subjects had already appeared before her, and both had built their own successful careers in the modern world.
So why couldn’t Ning Liuyu?
Ming Chengli suddenly flipped up and sat straight up in bed. "Changying, Dad feels like his whole body is filled with endless energy right now!"
Shi Changying snapped back to reality. Seeing that the feverish flush on his face had indeed subsided, she raised an eyebrow. "I told you, what you took was medicine."
"What brand of fever reducer is this? It’s too effective!" Ming Chengli couldn’t help but marvel. "The results are instantaneous!"
"Just as I thought..." Shi Changying murmured.
Ancient medical technology was indeed not as advanced as modern medicine; a minor cold could cost someone their life. But that was before the Xuan Dynasty.
During the Xuan Dynasty, there were Xuan Doctors, and the practice reached its absolute peak in the hands of Medical Master Nie Mingchu.
Then there was Medicine Girl Ning Liuyu. Minor ailments like colds and fevers could be cured with just a single pill.
Shi Changying was already eighty percent sure in her heart. She took out her phone and opened a chat window.
[Only I am the first]: Miss Ning, I have something I’d like to discuss with you. Are you free to meet?
The other party didn’t reply immediately. Shi Changying knew she was probably busy conducting experiments.
Four hundred years ago, once Ning Liuyu entered the pharmacy to practice Alchemy, she wouldn’t come out for a week or two either.
Shi Changying didn’t rush her. Instead, she looked back at Ming Chengli. "You threw everything I warned you about to the back of your mind and ended up making yourself sick. What would you do if we didn’t have this medicine?"
Ming Chengli replied meekly, "Then I’d just have to tough it out."
"No need for that," Shi Changying said. "Grab a knife from the kitchen and slit your neck. Better a quick death than a slow one. If you don’t dare to do it, I’ll do it for you."
Ming Chengli was left speechless.
He raised his fingers and swore that he would absolutely listen to her, only managing to coax Shi Changying back to her room to sleep after much pleading.
Ming Chengli broke into a cold sweat and muttered to himself.
His daughter no longer referred to herself with the royal ’We’, but she was acting more and more like an Emperor!
***
The next day, the teachers of all subjects handed back the answer sheets.
Shi Changying checked the questions she had missed. Most were due to the knowledge being outside the syllabus she had studied, while a few were due to her guessing strategy failing.
But as long as it was a question she answered herself, she got it right.
"Senior Sister!" the class academic representative called her from the door. "The teacher wants you to go to the office."
Shi Changying entered the office and heard the chemistry teacher ask her quietly, "Student Changying, are you dissatisfied with my teaching in some way?"
Shi Changying shook her head. "No, you teach very well."
"Then what is the meaning of this score?" the chemistry teacher asked with a heartbroken expression. "You only scored single digits in chemistry, yet the math test was so difficult and you still managed to score over thirty points!"
Shi Changying told the truth. "Because I haven’t started studying chemistry yet."
Clearly, no one had expected this answer.
The chemistry teacher choked on his words. "But you can’t just study math and physics! You have to take chemistry and biology for the college entrance examination too!"
Shi Changying nodded. "I’ll start studying them this week."
"Alright, don’t be so unbalanced. It’s a good thing that Student Changying has the spirit and drive to learn," the math teacher said exuberantly. "She’s progressing very fast, and her score is higher than I expected."
He had originally figured it would be quite good if Shi Changying could even score twenty points.
Teacher Bei patted Shi Changying on the shoulder and said in a gentle voice, "For this classical Chinese question, other than you, only the young master got full marks in the entire class. Changying, I have high hopes for you."
There was no expected reprimand, only encouragement.
Shi Changying was very satisfied.
She only found motivation and drive when she was praised.
When school let out at noon, Xu Shuangqiao came to look for her. "Yingying, do you want to go check out where my second uncle trains his troops? Today happens to be an open day, and it’s not far."
"Trains his troops?" Shi Changying raised an eyebrow. "I thought he wanted to train me?"
"No way, I won’t allow it!" Xu Shuangqiao patted her chest. "That’s why I have to go with you."
Shi Changying nodded slightly.
She did want to go have a look around. After all, training troops was also her old profession.
Xu Yunfan’s workplace wasn’t far from Jianghuai High School, only a thirty-minute drive.
When Xu Yunfan saw Xu Shuangqiao bringing Shi Changying over, he was also a bit surprised. "Why did you two come over here?"
"Second Uncle, it’s open day! Yingying hasn’t come to witness your heroism yet," Xu Shuangqiao said. "Didn’t you also want Yingying to take a look around here?"
Xu Yunfan frowned, thinking of the task Old Sir Xu had entrusted to him. "Come inside first."
He led Shi Changying and Xu Shuangqiao inside. On the training ground was a group of young men, all looking to be in their early twenties and brimming with energy.
Shi Changying’s gaze swept across them, noticing that they were casting curious glances her way as well.
Xu Yunfan pointed at one of the young men. "You, step forward. Spar a couple of rounds with her. Stop before anyone gets hurt. No injuries allowed."
The training ground fell silent for a moment.
The young man who was singled out pointed at his own nose and asked in disbelief, "Sir, who do you want me to spar with?"
"Yes, you," Xu Yunfan said. "With her. Understand?"
The young man choked in surprise. "That’s not a good idea, is it? Fists and kicks have no eyes. If something were to happen..."
Xu Shuangqiao’s internal alarm bells went off. "Second Uncle, do you really want to train Yingying? I won’t allow it!"
"It’s just a couple of rounds, what are you afraid of?" Xu Yunfan waved a hand. "You said last time that Changying took down the guys who tried to rob you. She definitely won’t be afraid to take on one person."
"Still no." Xu Shuangqiao stood in front of Shi Changying to block her. "Second Uncle, just give it up."
The young man also tried to persuade him, "Sir, I... I’m not feeling well today. Let’s forget about the sparring."
Thus, Xu Yunfan seized the perfect excuse to back down. "Then remember to go back and tell your grandparents that I’ve already tested her."
Xu Shuangqiao readily agreed. "No problem. Just watch how I fool them."
Xu Yunfan was left speechless.
"Not bad, just a couple of rounds." Shi Changying suddenly spoke up. She looked at Xu Yunfan with a faint, half-smile. "Therefore, there’s no need for your subordinate. You step forward. Come and fight me."