During the time when everyone in the Qin family was resting, Zhao Liangcai was escorting the Sheng family of four home.
"Thank you, General Zhao, for letting my son return home with me for the New Year," Madam Sheng thanked Zhao Liangcai for the third time.
He had brought his grandson and granddaughter with him today hoping they could see their father, but he hadn't expected Zhao Liangcai to let Sheng Jiangji return home with them for the New Year.
"It's I who should be thanking you. The other doctors won't be released until the twenty-eighth. There are army regulations..."
"No need to say more, I understand," Madam Sheng patted Zhao Liangcai's arm, stopping him from continuing.
Serving in the army, it was rare to be able to return home for the New Year. The few people from their clinic were specifically conscripted, and letting them go home involved risks for Zhao Liangcai.
"Thank you for your understanding, Elder Madam Sheng. Can you tell me what poison my younger brother has been afflicted with now?"
Zhao Liangcai followed to see the Sheng family off primarily because when he had asked Madam Sheng about the poison in Fuzi, she hadn't told him directly. He knew then that the poison was not simple.
In the dim light of the oil lamp in the carriage, Madam Sheng glanced at the stool leg driving the carriage and nodded, "General Zhao, you have been kind to my Sheng family. There is no harm in telling you."
"There are thousands of poisons in the world, some used by commoners, some by the wealthy, and then there are some special poisons unique to royalty."
Zhao Liangcai's hands clenched tightly. He looked at Madam Sheng and asked, "Is the poison in Fuzi special?"
Madam Sheng nodded. "Special."
"If this poison is treated with the correct method, the afflicted will have no after-effects after detoxification. However, if it is not detoxified by the original method, various discomforts will arise later."
"Of course, not every doctor can detoxify this poison."
"Therefore, I also implore General Zhao to perhaps release word that although my younger brother's life is not in danger, he will be sensitive to cold and heat, often have a fever, and experience inexplicable pain."
Zhao Liangcai took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and bowed to Madam Sheng. "Elder Madam Sheng, your great kindness is deeply appreciated by this humble servant. I will send two men to protect the medical clinic tomorrow."
Madam Sheng did not refuse Zhao Liangcai's offer. Ever since his son and disciples were conscripted, she had felt something was amiss, and now she seemed to have an inkling of the reason.
In the northwest, official power was divided between the Northwest Great Camp and Salt Lake. Considering the refugee rebellion, the Northwest Great Camp collecting grain from the populace, collecting medicine from their clinic, and Fuzi's letter mentioning unrest at Salt Lake, coupled with the poison in Fuzi, Madam Sheng knew a grand scheme was in play, and her medical skills were a piece on the chessboard that needed to be removed.
Madam Sheng understood, and Zhao Liangcai knew even more. In the northwest, the only person who would use a royal poison against his own family, besides the commander of the Northwest Great Camp Shao Yong, who had pledged allegiance to King Jing, was unfathomable to Zhao Liangcai. Was it a case of eliminating him after failing to win him over?
Common doctors would not recognize this poison, nor could they cure it. Even if they could, they would only cure half of it. With his family as a hostage, Zhao Liangcai dared not make any major moves, and without evidence, he could not find the poisoner. It was indeed Shao Yong's style.
The bell on the carriage jingled in the cold wind. Listening to the sound of the bells, Zhao Liangcai made a decision in his heart.
The cold wind that made the bells jingle also made Qian Duo, standing by the window in the Zhao family's residence, feel a stinging pain in her cheeks. But she paid no mind to it; she needed to calm down. She couldn't understand why Fuzi was alive. If Divine Doctor Mo had saved Fuzi, she would have been happy. Divine Doctor Mo was someone she had saved. If he could treat Zhao Liangcai's insomnia and headaches and also save Fuzi's life, Divine Doctor Mo's status would undoubtedly rise, and the weight of her own bargaining chips would increase. Now, the poison that the elder doctor claimed was fatal had been cured by that elder doctor. Fuzi was not close to her aunt or Qian Duo; he even seemed to dislike her. Zhao Liangcai, on the other hand, cared deeply for this half-brother. What should she do? Should she get rid of Fuzi again and let him return to his rightful path, or should she drug Zhao Liangcai and achieve her desired outcome with him? Qian Duo was in a dilemma. Her mind was no longer thinking rationally; she was contemplating extreme measures because she had a premonition that even if she went to the northwest, she might encounter that person again.
The twenty-third, sticky candies; the twenty-fourth, sweeping the house; the twenty-fifth, making tofu... Accompanied by the children singing "Busy New Year" songs the next morning, every household began preparing to offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God. The Kitchen God was also known as the Kitchen King, the Master of Destiny, and the Star Lord of the Kitchen. Customs varied across regions, with some offering a single male image of the Kitchen God, others a male and female pair. The offerings also differed, and even the date of the sacrifice varied, with the north generally celebrating on the twenty-third and the south on the twenty-fourth. The Qin family, before dawn, changed into clean clothes and rose early. Grandma Qin, along with the female members of the family, arranged the prepared sticky candies, whole chicken, wine, beans, clean water, and fodder on the offering table for the Kitchen God. The first three items were for the Kitchen God, to ensure he ate and drank well before consuming the sticky candies made of malt sugar, which would sweeten his mouth and seal it, so he would only report good things about the family in the Heavenly Palace. The latter three items were for the Kitchen God's mount, the Kitchen Horse. Qin Junyao initially thought the Kitchen Horse was a horse ridden by people, but later Grandma Qin told her that the Kitchen Horse was actually an insect that looked very much like a cricket. This immediately conjured an image in Qin Junyao's mind: the elegant Star Lord of the Kitchen, with his hands behind his back, standing on the Kitchen Horse, which hopped along, carrying the Star Lord of the Kitchen to the Heavenly Court to report back. Qin Father, along with his two younger brothers, lit red candles with three oxen first, then offered incense and kowtowed to the Kitchen God. With their fingers, they dipped wine and sugar and smeared them onto the mouth of the Kitchen God in the image. Then, the image of the Kitchen God was taken down, a step commonly known as "unveiling Grandpa." The image of the Kitchen God, held aloft, was then burned in the courtyard, respectfully sending the Kitchen God back to the Heavenly Court. With this series of rituals, the sacrifice to the Kitchen God concluded. The offerings on the table could be taken down and consumed in the afternoon. Qin Xiaoyu, like other children in the village, had her eyes fixed on the sticky candies on the offering table. Qin Junyao, who participated in the entire process, felt the solemnity and ritual of the occasion, a sincerity that genuinely prayed for good days for the people. From this day onwards, the New Year officially began. The following days would be spent according to the sequence in the "Busy New Year" songs. Every family did the same things, making it seem very lively. Children looked forward to this day the most. Qin Xiaoyu, Hou Liang and Hou Shan from the Hou family, and Shanta were together, forming a small group and roaming the village all day. From what Qin Junyao understood, it wasn't easy for other children to join their group of four. After sacrificing to the Kitchen God, Qin Xiaoyu went to play with her friends. Qin Junyao and her mother took some radish cake to the Zhao family to visit Fuzi and Granny Ma. At the entrance of the Zhao family, Qin Junyao and her mother encountered Deng Zi Tui again. "Brother Tui, what a coincidence. Has Fuzi woken up?" Qin Junyao waved at Deng Zi Tui. "Miss Qin, Fuzi woke up late last night. My surname is Yan, and my name is Yan Song. Miss Qin, you don't need to call me Brother Tui," Deng Zi Tui said, scratching his head sheepishly. It was fine for his brothers in the army to call him whatever they wanted, but it felt a bit awkward for a young lady like her to call him Brother Tui.