Chapter 517

Jiang Yuanrang did not doubt Xu Heming's words. Instead, he carefully engaged in conversation with Zhang Yanchu."General Wen, I wonder in the military, which type of medicinal herbs is used the most, and which is the most scarce?" Jiang Yuanrang thought, since he planned to donate medicinal herbs, he should naturally send what was urgently needed.

"Among the officers and soldiers, the most commonly used medicines are those for wounds, hemostatic agents, and bone-setting plasters. The scarcest should be the anesthetic powder." Zhang Yanchu pondered for a moment and gave a definitive answer.

Injuries were common among military officers and soldiers. Wound-healing medicines and hemostatic agents were the most frequently used and in greatest demand.

Bone-knitting plasters came next.

Anesthetics were what they lacked most. Many times, without anesthetic powder, wounded soldiers could only endure the pain.

Zhang Yanchu didn't believe these herbs would necessarily be used in his own camp when he heard Jiang Yuanrang's intention to donate, but he still gave a frank reply. This further improved his impression of Jiang Yuanrang.

"Thank you, General Wen. Now I have a clear idea of what to do." Jiang Yuanrang felt that whether it was wound-healing medicines or anesthetics, they might be difficult for others, but for him, it posed no challenge.

"It is I who should thank Young Master Li for your great righteousness." Thinking this, Zhang Yanchu had to admit that the Li family members seemed fond of donating things to the court. First, Li Zhiwei had donated her dowry, then Li Tianyou had donated silver, and now Jiang Yuanrang was donating medicinal herbs.

Just ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍how deep were the Li family's coffers? How many more donations could they make?

With this thought, Zhang Yanchu felt somewhat hesitant.

"In fact, our two families are neighbors. This is the first time I’ve met Young Master Li. I’ve heard you grew up away from home and were only recently brought back. May I ask if young master is betrothed?" Zhang Yanchu looked directly at Jiang Yuanrang and asked.

"You flatter me, General Wen. Since childhood, I followed my foster mother in Lucheng and am not yet betrothed." Jiang Yuanrang didn’t understand why General Wen had brought up this matter, but he answered truthfully.

"Haha, I never thought Young Master Li would be so straightforward. I still have matters to attend to today, but I will come visit you another time for tea." Zhang Yanchu wanted to talk longer with Jiang Yuanrang, but Shangguan Mu was still waiting for him, leaving him with divided attention.

Nevertheless, his visit to the Li family had been fruitful.

Zhang Yanchu felt that if his younger sister didn’t object, this young master Li was a fine candidate. If things worked out, as neighbors separated only by a wall, he could easily look after her.

Though the Li family might not match those aristocratic households of the capital, what mattered was that their household was simple. If his sister married into it, she would not suffer grievances.

The more Zhang Yanchu thought about it, the more feasible this idea seemed.

Watching Zhang Yanchu leave, a smile curled at the corner of Xu Heming's mouth. It seemed the marriage prospects for his brother-in-law were also falling into place.

Thinking of this, Xu Heming hurried back to the Moon Pavilion to claim credit from Li Zhiwei.

Li Zhiwei had just paused her work when she saw Xu Heming return.

"Your Highness, what could make you so happy?" Li Zhiwei asked with a smile as she saw the smile he couldn’t hide.

"Naturally, I have good news." Xu Heming wondered how Li Zhiwei would thank him later.

"Could it be that the Third Prince of Qinling has finally decided to give up and go back?" Li Zhiwei thought of what Qingsong had said—that Zhang Yanchu had matters to discuss with him. The most troublesome issue recently seemed to be the matter of the Third Prince of Qinling.

"He won't accomplish much. Guess again." Xu Heming had never considered Shangguan Mu a rival.

"Your Highness, I can't guess. Why don't you just tell me?" Unable to figure it out, Li Zhiwei tugged at Xu Heming's hand and coaxed.

"What do you think of Eldest Miss Wen?" Xu Heming asked instead of answering her question.

"I think Wen Xiu is wonderful. She's dignified, generous, and very gentle." Li Zhiwei replied without hesitation.

"And how would you feel about her becoming your sister-in-law?" Xu Heming pressed further.

"Did General Wen come to discuss this?" Li Zhiwei’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Not exactly, but in a way." Xu Heming shook his head, then nodded.

"So, Wen’s elder brother has his eye on my elder brother?" Li Zhiwei found this surprising but thought that if Wen Xiu married her brother, it would be a perfect match.

Their homes were nearby, making it easy for them to gather.

"I suggested to Zhang Yanchu that he should find a husband for Eldest Miss Wen as soon as possible," Xu Heming said with a smile.

"Don’t tell me you have designs on Wen Xiu?" Li Zhiwei looked at Xu Heming, her eyes full of displeasure.

"What’s going on in that little head of yours? Shangguan Mu’s original target was you. Now that you and I are married, Wen Xiu could become his next target. It’s to Zhang Yanchu’s advantage to prepare early." Xu Heming sighed in exasperation.

He had no idea what had made Li Zhiwei mistakenly think he was interested in Wen Xiu.

"Besides, your elder brother still wants to return to Lucheng. I thought that if he had a bond here in the capital, perhaps he wouldn't think about going back," Xu Heming added, afraid Li Zhiwei would misunderstand.

"That’s true! How did I not think of that?" Li Zhiwei mused. If her elder brother met someone he loved in the capital, he might not go back to Lucheng.

"It seems Zhang Yanchu is quite impressed with your brother. Maybe you should help him along," Xu Heming smiled.

"Naturally." Li Zhiwei also felt the match had promise.

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

When Zhang Yanchu returned to Shangguan Mu’s courtyard, he immediately felt the tense atmosphere inside.

"What happened?" Zhang Yanchu frowned and asked Shen Chen standing nearby.

Shen Chen’s lips twitched. He wasn’t sure how to explain the mess inside.

"I’m asking you a question!" Thinking Shen Chen hadn’t heard him, Zhang Yanchu kicked him in irritation.

"General, it’s not that I’m ignoring you. I was just figuring out how to answer," Shen Chen said quickly.

"If you don’t know how, just say everything you know." Zhang Yanchu was impatient.

"Well, the Princess of Qinling returned today. She confronted the Third Prince, demanding to know why he abandoned her back then. Only then did the Third Prince remember that he had taken his sister out and failed to bring her home. The princess isn’t familiar with the capital and was deceived by someone. General, guess who tricked her?" Shen Chen spoke with great excitement.

"Who?" Zhang Yanchu frowned, a bad feeling creeping over him.

"Prince Lanhuai!" Shen Chen thought the prince probably had lecherous designs on the princess. Why else would he keep her?