My husband, please respect yourself. The princess is here to grab the bride.

Chapter 152 The Princess's Opinion

Zou Kongqing really moved to the Princess's Mansion.

Bai Shaoqiu was of course extremely welcome.

After all, this middle-aged uncle who looked a bit sloppy was indeed quite skilled in medicine. Moreover, knowing his purpose, Bai Shaoqiu immediately treated him as a guest of honor.

Make a bath out of herbs and brew a potion!

This thing was so magical in the TV shows and novels I watched in my previous life!

He thought that such a bath could cleanse his essence and marrow, and promote the growth of internal strength in his Dantian, but Zhuang Kongqing's words stopped him from thinking:

"You think too much!"

Bai Shaoqiu: "...then what's the point of soaking?"

"It can improve your blood circulation, and um...it can also make your skin smoother and more delicate!"

"..."

Well, at least it’s good for promoting blood circulation. As for making the skin smoother and more delicate...will this make me look feminine?

Bai Shaoqiu was not interested in this effect.

In the following days, he still sat cross-legged in the morning to meditate and practice qigong.

He Xiaofeng was still holding a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth, leaning against the pillar of the pavilion with his arms folded, in a daze.

At first, Zou Kongqing would curiously sit across from Bai Shaoqiu and watch him meditate, occasionally checking his pulse, but he discovered that there was indeed no internal energy in his Dantian. Then he heard that Bai Shaoqiu was practicing the "Supreme Qi Training Art"...

He immediately turned around and went to the gate of the palace to find Lao Yu.

"Why was the broken technique 'Supreme Qi Training Art' given to him?"

Old Yu opened one eye, glanced at Zou Kongqing, then closed it again and basked in the sun.

"Because he is incapable of practicing martial arts."

"...Then why let him practice?"

Lao Yu touched the back of his head and said, "Because I like it! He likes it too!"

Zou Kongqing: "..."

Lao Yu opened his eyes again: "Don't tell him."

"What?"

"I didn't expect him to be so persistent... People always need something to pursue in life. You pursue the supreme medical path, and I pursue being able to lie down and bask in the sun every day."

"He longed to learn martial arts, to learn to fly... That's why he was so diligent... That's why he persisted in his determination to hold onto the stone pillar."

"If you tell him that he's not cut out for martial arts, and that he won't be able to fly even if he practices for eternity, his faith will instantly crumble, and he'll never embrace that stone pillar again..."

"Perhaps he will sink into depravity and return to his old life of debauchery."

"His Sanwei Bookstore made a lot of money, enough for him to go to teahouses, taverns, brothels and gambling houses... If the princess came back and knew about this, she wouldn't blame Bai Shaoqiu, she would blame you!"

Zou Kongqing: "..."

He took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

"Well, it would be good if I could be stronger and in better health."

He returned to the Princess's Mansion and found Bai Shaoqiu still sitting cross-legged in the pavilion practicing Qigong.

This time he did not go into the pavilion.

He looked at it from a distance, feeling a little regretful.

unfortunately,

If this kid has a talent for martial arts, he doesn't need a high talent. With his perseverance, he will be able to achieve some success in martial arts over time.

But now...

He is just wasting his time and he can't expose it.

Go prepare the herbs for his bath.

Hmm... I need to adjust the method. If you can't develop internal strength, there is no need to strengthen your Qi. It is better to... strengthen your kidneys!

In the future, when he and the princess enter the bridal chamber, perhaps they will have more fun.

Just like that, another ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

The sales at Sanwei Bookstore were not as good as at the beginning, but the shopkeeper Wen Da subsequently introduced Bai Shaoqiu's poems.

These are the five poems he wrote during the Zhuxi Literary Meeting.

This collection of poems is signed by him, Bai Shaoqiu.

One copy costs two taels of silver.

It’s not cheap either.

This collection of poems actually sold very well. In addition to the students from the three major academies, even the girls from the brothels in Xiling City came to Sanwei Bookstore to buy his collection of poems.

Some girls also bought "A Dream of Red Mansions".

The reputation of "A Dream of Red Mansions" has long been known in Xiling City, and it has been praised by almost all the talented scholars and writers in Xiling City.

But Xiao Xi said that the people who bought the most copies of "A Dream of Red Mansions" were the ladies from wealthy families in Xiling City.

However, Xiling City is not big, with a population of only about 200,000. The consumer group that can spend huge sums of money to buy "A Dream of Red Mansions" is very small.

This first volume is actually almost saturated.

But the second volume was not published in a hurry. It was agreed to be a monthly publication, so the second volume would be published in July.

Xiao Xi also said that students from the three major academies provided a lot of manuscripts to Sanwei Bookstore, and Uncle Fu and the shopkeeper Wen selected five books from those manuscripts.

Two of them are poetry collections, one is a collection of strange stories in the form of notes, and the other two are legendary stories from previous dynasties.

Bai Shaoqiu didn't look at it, and left the matter to Uncle Fu and Manager Wen to make the decision.

……

……

The third day of July in the sixth year of Wenzhi.

In the blink of an eye, it has been almost two months since he came to this world, and it has also been almost two months since his wife, Princess Changying, escaped from the marriage and went to the battlefield.

I don't know when she will come back, but it's better not to meet her in this princess's mansion—

What if I get beaten out by that powerful princess due to a disagreement? How embarrassing would that be?

This will probably cause another sensation in Xiling City. How can we hold this head up in the future?

So, on this morning, Bai Shaoqiu did not sit cross-legged to meditate and practice Qi, he went to the palace!

In the main room of the palace, he met with the princess and explained his intention to leave.

The princess didn't seem surprised.

She took the teacup handed over by Bai Shaoqiu, raised her eyes, and asked:

"Are you unhappy living in the Princess's Mansion?"

"That's not the case."

"Did I ever interfere with your opening of Sanwei Bookstore?"

“…I don’t have this either.”

"Do the servants of the Prince's Mansion and the Princess' Mansion still dare to bully you?"

Bai Shaoqiu was ashamed: "I don't have any of these."

The princess took a sip of tea and smiled slightly:

"Have you seen my daughter?"

"...Isn't she out on the expedition and hasn't returned yet?"

"Well... your mother-in-law knows exactly what you're thinking. Your father-in-law also told me before he left for Dasan Pass. He said that what you said that night was right. In the end, marriage is about mutual affection."

"So even though you've become Xiling City's most talented scholar, possessing a rare talent in martial arts, and now displaying astonishing business acumen, the prince hasn't taken the initiative to talk to you about the matter between you and Changying."

"What the prince means is that you can still come and go freely, but if Changying comes back one day... you need to meet her."

"As for what choice you make after meeting, that's up to you."

"Of course, I still hope you can be together."

"It's not that I'm afraid of the emperor's decree, it's just that I think you and Changying are a good match. Although she is a little lazy, she has a very good personality."

"And you... I've seen this change in me, and I feel even more strongly that you two are a perfect match... You should be able to live in harmony!"

This makes sense.

But Bai Shaoqiu didn't dare to think about such a thing as treating each other as equals.

No matter what, Dongfang Changying is still his wife in name. If she comes back, he must meet her and explain his thoughts to her honestly. It would be best if he could get her understanding.

Let's get together and relax.

"Okay, I want to live outside for a while."

"Okay... let Sibaozi and Zou Kongqing go with you,"

After a pause, the princess looked at Bai Shaoqiu and said:

"Zou Kongqing is not only an excellent doctor, but I think it might be more helpful for you to spend more time learning from him."

Practice medicine?

Bai Shaoqiu had never considered this matter at all.

However, the bath medicine prepared by Zou Kongqing was quite good. After taking a bath, my back seemed to be stronger.

"Thank you, Princess!"

The princess held the bowl in her hand and looked up:

"Call me mother-in-law!"