Rebirth of the Exclusive Herbalist

Seven days later, the sky was clear and the air was fresh, a good day for traveling. The eldest son of the Governor-General’s Mansion, Su Zhijin, brought dozens of servants to send his two concubines, Su Qingqi and Su Qinghan, to the capital. The luggage and other items filled three two-decker cargo ships.

When the common people saw such a spectacular visiting team, they talked about it secretly with envy in their eyes, but no one scolded Governor-General Su Yuanhong for corruption, bribery, and plundering the people. The people of Jiangnan all knew that their Governor’s family was a wealthy family in Jiangnan, with businesses throughout the Daqing Dynasty.

It was the first time for Su Qingqi to ride on such a luxurious ship. She stood by the window of the ship with a little excitement and stuck her head out to look around. People and merchants were coming and going on the dock, various passenger ships, and cargo ships, noises, shouts, and hawking sounds.

“Third sister, what are you looking at?” Su Qinghan came behind her at some point, glanced at the messy crowd on the dock, and frowned slightly.

Su Qingqi retracted her head and pursed her lips. “I have rarely been out of the house. This is a rare opportunity. I’ll just take a look for something new.”

“So that’s how it is. This Grand Canal has the most ships traveling back and forth. We have been traveling by water for more than a month. Third sister, you will have a feast for your eyes.” Su Qinghan said with a smile, but she didn’t agree in her heart. What’s so good about the Grand Canal? It will be boring once the interest is over.

Su Qingqi nodded. Not everyone has the opportunity to see ancient shipping. She turned her head and continued to observe the lives of ancient people with great interest.

Then she would respond to every word Su Qinghan said and never say more.

“Third sister, take your time to watch. I’m going back to the cabin to rest first.” Su Qinghan felt bored when she saw that Su Qingqi couldn’t even make her fart with a stick. She glanced around and saw only some servants busying around. She didn’t see her eldest brother Su Zhijin. It seemed that her eldest brother should still be commanding the other three cargo ships. Su Qinghan bit her lip, said a few words and left.

Su Qingqi: “…” Who would believe that you want to rest so early in the morning? You don’t even find a better way to explain it.

“Young lady, there is something I don’t know whether I should tell you or not?” Minglan hesitated. She had been keeping this matter in her heart and she didn’t know whether she should tell the young lady or not.

It would be bad if the girl thought too much, but she would feel sorry for her if she didn’t say anything.

“What’s the matter? Tell me!” Su Qingqi was surprised. When did Minglan become so nagging?

“Miss, I heard that Madam invited the second young lady to Mingyan Hall at noon a few days ago, and she stayed until the evening before returning. Moreover, when the second young lady returned, she also got a small hexagonal box…”

Minglan came close to the girl and whispered, “What the madam did this time was a little too obvious, and the impact was quite big. Didn’t you see that the servants in the cabin were trying their best to ignore us, the master and servant?”

Going on a long journey is not like staying in the Governor’s Mansion, but sailing on the canal. If she encounters strong winds and waves, how can she protect the girl with her weak strength? She still relies on those servants and guards.

Just this? Su Qingqi smiled and said indifferently: “Mother has always liked my second sister more, so it’s normal for her to be dolled up in secret, not to mention that it’s obvious.” There is no real fairness in this world, and everyone has biases sometimes.

She knew Minglan’s worries. The servants were the best at observing people’s words and expressions. She had been living like this for more than three years and she was still happy with the peace and quietness. These servants simply ignored her but did not dare to deprive her of her food, clothing, or allowance. There was also no phenomenon of servants sneering and mocking their masters as in time-travel novels.

Su Qingqi was very satisfied with this.

Her stepmother Han’s housekeeping skills are extraordinary, which is worth learning from.

This time when they go to Beijing, their safety is taken care of by their eldest brother Su Zhijin, so Minglan’s worries are completely unnecessary.

“But…” Minglan wanted to say something, but when she saw the girl’s understanding look, she stopped talking abruptly.

“By the way, where are Nanny Feng and Minghong?” Su Qingqi asked when she suddenly realized that they were not there.

“Madame Feng is directing the servants to move the luggage, and Minghong is tidying up the cabin!”

Su Qingqi nodded and stopped talking.

By the time all the luggage and dowry were moved, it was almost noon. The four large ships began to set sail. The ships sailed very steadily, as if they were flat ground, making people feel very comfortable. Su Qingqi secretly admired the wisdom of the ancients and the rich experience of the sailors.

At this time, Feng and Minghong came over.

“Miss, the cabin is ready, you can go in and rest.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Let’s go back to the cabin.” Su Qingqi said and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, her eldest brother Su Zhijin entered the cabin at this time. After seeing her, he paused and walked straight towards her.

Minglan and Minghong behind her bowed slightly and said, “Your servant greets the young master!” Feng also bowed.

“Brother.” Su Qingqi called out with lowered eyebrows.

The Su family has good genes. The eldest brother, Su Zhijin, is tall slender and handsome, but his features are a little cold and his face is quite serious.

He has a very similar temperament to his father Su Yuanhong.

“Hmm!” Su Zhijin looked at this half-sister who had no sense of existence with a faint look in his eyes and found that the half-sister, who was born with an illness and a weak body, now had a rosy complexion and looked very healthy. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. After thinking for a while, he handed a small box in his hand to her.

“It’s a bit strange to be on a boat for the first time. Big brother, here are some plasters prescribed by the doctor. If you feel dizzy or uncomfortable, you can stick one on your ear or forehead, or eat some sour plums or oranges. These are all prepared on the boat.”

Su Qingqi was stunned, and a warm feeling passed through her heart. She didn’t expect that her cold and indifferent elder brother would also care about others.

“Thank you for your concern, brother!”

Su Zhijin nodded, turned and left.

Su Qingqi returned to the room with her eldest brother’s love – the small box. Minglan, who followed behind her, was a little excited. Didn’t they notice that the eyes of the servants and guards on the boat changed after the eldest young master’s action?

The expressions of Feng and Minghong, who came later, also changed slightly. They looked at each other and attached more importance to the third young lady.

The rooms of the three siblings were all on the second floor. Just as Su Qingqi and her maidservants passed through the cabin door, they saw that the door of Su Qinghan’s cabin in front of them opened, and two people came out – Su Qinghan and her maid Mingya.

At this time, Su Qinghan changed into a light red long skirt embroidered with lilies and honeysuckle, which outlined her beautiful figure. She wore a plum blossom hairpin on her head, dotted with a few silver pearls, and a purse embroidered with cute animals around her waist. With her pure temperament, she looked beautiful and generous with a hint of playfulness.

Su Qingqi’s mouth twitched. Isn’t her second sister too obsessed with beauty? They are on the boat. She changed two sets of clothes in one morning. Who is she dressing up so beautifully for?

“Second sister, why did you change your dress?”

“Third sister, why are you here?” Su Qinghan widened her eyes slightly and avoided her question awkwardly.

“Madam Feng and Minghong said the rooms on the boat have been tidied, so I came up to take a look.”

Su Qinghan nodded, and when she was about to leave, she inadvertently glanced at the small box in Su Qingqi’s hand, and her eyes flashed.

“Third sister, the pattern on the box in your hand is so beautiful…”

Su Qingqi picked up the box and took a closer look at the pattern on the sandalwood box. It looked like a rose?

“Well, this rose is indeed beautiful.”

Su Qinghan burst out laughing, the embarrassment had long since disappeared, “Third sister, this is a Chinese rose, don’t make the mistake again, or you’ll be laughed at when you get to Kyoto.”

This sounds a bit harsh.

Su Qingqi didn’t argue with her: “…Oh, it’s rose, I remember it.” She silently calculated when Su Qinghan would get to the point.

“Was this box given to you by my elder brother?” Su Qinghan asked casually.

It happened faster than she thought. Su Qingqi nodded immediately, “Yes, my elder brother came over just now when we were on the first floor of the cabin. This box is filled with medicine patches. If you feel dizzy and uncomfortable later, you can come to me to get some.”

Su Qinghan was choked. “Third sister, are you sure you are not cursing me for seasickness?”

“Haha, these patches are a token of love from Big Brother. Third sister can just use them by herself, otherwise, I’m just stealing someone else’s love.”

Upon learning that her elder brother was on this ship, Su Qinghan stopped chatting with Su Qingqi and found an excuse to go to the first floor of the cabin.

Su Qingqi glanced at her slim figure disappearing at the corner of the stairs, and curled the corners of her mouth slightly. She was just trying to improve her eldest brother’s favor, and she seemed afraid that she would know.

She walked slowly into the cabin with Minglan, Minghong and Feng. The simple and elegant yet luxurious decoration almost blinded Su Qingqi’s eyes. It was worthy of being a luxurious ship in ancient times. The rooms on the ship were decorated so luxuriously and comfortably.

It was such a pleasure.

After more than a month on the water, Su Qingqi was extremely grateful that she had secretly taken care of her body. She noticed that the maids and nannies they brought with them were all suffering from seasickness to some extent. She was still fine, and sometimes she would even receive Su Qinghan’s inquiring and doubtful looks.

Su Qingqi pretended not to see it and leaned against the window with great interest to watch the ships passing by on the canal. But after a while, she would feel bored. However, it was still fun to see her second sister trying hard to improve her eldest brother’s favor but always failing.

In early July, during the hot summer season, the group finally arrived safely in Kyoto. Su Qingqi got off the boat with the help of Minglan, and saw the emerald-covered and red-tasseled carriage sent by the steward of the Su Mansion in the capital to pick people up, as well as the stewards surrounding Su Zhijin.

Su Qingqi took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling, they finally arrived in Kyoto.

“Third sister, Kyoto is where we will live in the future.” Su Qinghan said this with a double meaning and turned to get on the carriage.

Su Qingqi: “…” She got on the carriage right after her, followed by her trusted maid Minglan. As for Minghong and Feng, they got on another carriage with Su Qinghan’s maids and servants.

The carriage is elegantly and comfortably decorated, with a variety of seasonal fruits and snacks, as well as pickled sour plums, placed on the low table, which is very thoughtful and considerate.

Minglan made mint tea for her girl to cool her down. Su Qingqi leaned back in the carriage, drank the mint tea, and ate the pickled plums with relish.

After a bumpy ride to the city gate, Su Qingqi looked at the tall and thick city walls and immediately felt a majestic breath coming towards her. Unlike the gentle whispers of the Jiangnan water towns, the city walls of Kyoto reflected the weight of history and the accumulation of culture.

When they were about to enter the city, the scene ahead suddenly became quiet and the carriage stopped.

Su Qingqi was stunned, shook her head, and lifted the curtain. However, she couldn’t see the situation clearly because of the two carriages of Su Zhijin and Su Qinghan in front of her. She hurriedly asked the driver: “What happened in front?”

Before the driver could answer, a guard from the Su residence rode over and told the driver to pull the carriage aside and make way.

When the driver drove the carriage aside, Su Qingqi saw a line of military guards riding on maroon horses pouring out of the city gate. In the middle of the team was a large flag with the word “Chu” held high, escorting a colorful glazed carriage with a canopy and green curtains that passed by their carriage..