Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 36 - 34 Crying Miserably Thank you all for subscribing

Chapter 36: Chapter 34 Crying Miserably Thank you all for subscribing

When Chen Yongsheng returned home from the battlefield, he traveled with a few people from neighboring villages. They were all wounded soldiers, no longer of use on the battlefield, and it was both unfortunate and fortunate to have survived and returned home.

They empathized with each other, and an inexplicable bond formed between them. During the Liao people’s attack on Zhenzhou, they had also exchanged information. With such ties, it was easier to persuade them.

Upon hearing Chen Yongsheng mention gathering medicinal herbs, they readily agreed without much thought.

The people of Chen Family Village led the way up the mountain to gather herbs. They only needed to carry the herbs down the mountain to earn silver coins, which was indeed a rare opportunity.

Chen Yongsheng didn’t forget what Xie Liangchen had instructed and advised them, "Do you still have any herbs gathered from the mountain? It’s best not to sell them to the herbal merchants right away. The herbal merchants won’t tell us the price of each herb, and selling them blindly would likely result in losses."

An acquaintance couldn’t help but ask, "Then who should we sell to?"

Chen Yongsheng was forthright, saying if they sold the herbs well this time, they would look to gather more. If they trusted his word, they should hold on to them for a while. Anyway, it’s not like dried herbs would spoil in a few days.

Chen Yongsheng said the same thing to everyone and took them up the mountain to gather herbs at first light.

On the way back to Chen Family Village, Chen Yongsheng noticed someone following him. Having served as a scout, although not as skilled as Chen Yongjing, he was more alert than others. He intentionally stopped along the road to confirm and found it was indeed a spy.

Chen Yongsheng didn’t alert them, hastening back to Old Mrs. Chen’s house to explain everything to her.

Old Mrs. Chen was filled with dread; Miss Chen had indeed predicted it.

Chen Yongsheng said, "Just like Liangchen said, we haven’t done anything wrong. We’ll do what we need to do."

Old Mrs. Chen nodded. What Miss Chen said made sense, but why did her eyelids keep twitching?

"Where’s Liangchen?" Chen Yongsheng looked around the courtyard but didn’t see Xie Liangchen.

Old Mrs. Chen pointed to the kitchen, "Since early morning, she’s been tinkering away in the kitchen, steaming and drying things. Once she was done, she went with the mule cart to deliver herbs to the paper workshop."

Miss Chen didn’t trust anyone else to deliver the herbs, saying she wasn’t reassured.

Old Mrs. Chen frowned, "There should be no problem, right? Someone went with her."

Miss Chen going to town didn’t worry her since some villagers accompanied her. What could happen in broad daylight? But listening to Chen Yongsheng now, she felt uneasy.

Just as Old Mrs. Chen was lost in thought, Chen Zigeng and Hei Dan came along with a few children carrying baskets. The children were helping the villagers gather herbs.

After putting down the small bamboo basket, Chen Zigeng touched the paper packet in his chest.

With sharp eyes, Old Mrs. Chen asked, "What are you holding at your chest?"

Chen Zigeng stepped forward and whispered, "Sister gave it to me, told me to keep it safe, and never lose it, no matter what."

After speaking, Chen Zigeng saw the mule cart return to the village. He hurried forward to meet Xie Liangchen, but when he arrived, he found she was not there.

Chen Yuyu came running towards him, sweat-soaked, with dried tear streaks on her face. Her voice changed as she said, "Sister Chen is missing."

Chen Zigeng froze upon hearing this, then recalled the item in his chest. Sister had told him never to take it out unless necessary; he thought she was just worried he’d lose it.

Perhaps that wasn’t what Sister meant.

What if there was trouble?

...

Xie Liangchen, after delivering herbs to the paper workshop, would always stroll the marketplace. This time, just as she jumped off the cart and before she could see the wares on both sides of the street, a soft cloth suddenly covered her mouth, and she was lifted off the ground. By the time she regained her senses, she was already thrown into the carriage.

She wanted to scream, but a dagger was pressed against her throat.

Xie Liangchen dared not speak, staring blankly at the person before her, as tears of terror trickled down her cheeks, and she shook all over.

The carriage moved forward some distance before halting, and the people inside ordered her, "My master has some questions for you. If you answer truthfully, you’ll be let go."

Xie Liangchen opened her mouth to speak but ultimately dared not make a sound; she was led off the carriage and into the yard.

The person coercing her pushed open a door and gestured for her to enter. Only then did Xie Liangchen begin to struggle. The dagger was withdrawn from her neck, and her wrist was grabbed and tossed inside.

The door was then shut tight.

Xie Liangchen lunged, pounding on the door desperately.

Song Min, standing in the corner, overheard the girl’s cries from within.

"Who are you? Let me out."

Song Min smirked, glancing at Housekeeper Zhao beside him. "Tell her if she can sort out the Yangtao Vine and Huang Shu Kui mixed among the herbs, we’ll release her."

Song Min wasn’t reckless; he wouldn’t easily believe others. Although Xie Shaoshan had insisted that Miss Xie had no knowledge of herbs, he had to see for himself.

The knocking finally ceased as the girl resigned to her fate, returning to the room to search the herbs.

Song Min stepped forward, peering through the window.

The girl, while wiping tears, rummaged through, her cries tinged with fear. After a while, she found the Yangtao Vine and dashed to the door, shouting, "I’ve found it. This is it."

The person knowledgeable in herbs at the door glanced through the gap and then, in a low voice, instructed, "Sort out all the Yangtao Vine and Huang Shu Kui inside."

The girl shed tears for a moment, wiped her nose with her sleeve, then went back to rummaging through the herbs. But this time, it wasn’t easy; her hands were now mixed with other herbs.

"No, that’s not right."

Upon hearing the reply, the girl who had quieted down began to cry loudly again, tears dripping down like raining pennies.

"Please, let me out. I can’t find it, sob, sob..."

On Song Min’s indication, the steward spoke, "Who gave you the recipe for using herbs to make slippery water?"

Xie Liangchen remained silent.

The door opened, and a towering figure stepped in, once more placing the dagger against Xie Liangchen’s throat.

The steward said, "Tell the truth, and I will release you."

Xie Liangchen quivered, "No one told me. I figured it out on my own."

The steward’s voice was a shade deeper, "Is that true?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "It is... I..."

The dagger pressed further.

Xie Liangchen’s sobs halted abruptly, her fear mounting until she couldn’t hold it anymore, "Someone told me."

Song Min smiled in satisfaction. Now he could report to Li You, showing Li You what Song Xian truly was capable of.

...

The message was relayed to Song Xian by Chang Yue’s subordinates.

Lu San reported, "Third Young Master abducted the person."

Song Xian lifted his eyes, "How is the person?"

Lu San pressed his lips together, "Locked in a room sorting herbs. If she doesn’t get it right, she won’t be let out. They are also forcing her to disclose where the herbal slippery water recipe came from. From afar, you can hear her cries, quite pitiful. Only Brother Chang has the skills to get close. That’s how we gathered this information."

"No problem," Song Xian casually returned to his official duties, "Let Chang Yue keep an eye on it."

Xie Liangchen putting so much effort into setting traps for others showed she hadn’t suffered any losses and didn’t see Song Min as worthy of concern.