The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 715 - 289 This Time It’s Swindler Again (5)_2

She glanced sidelong, her voice tinged with irritation as she asked a question.

Jia Da: ...

He could entrust his elderly life to the Grand Master, but his children and grandchildren were his own flesh and blood, not Old Wang’s from next door; he truly couldn’t bear to part with them.

"Shall this old servant go find some beggars?"

Jia Da clumsily touched his nose, suddenly recalling the day he first met the Grand Master and what the Grand Master had said.

He straightened his back and waved his fist, looking like a brutal thug ready to kidnap if necessary.

"Pah! Nonsense! How many fine ingredients did I use in this batch of medicine? Just one ginseng alone is worth over a thousand taels of silver!"

He Tiantian spat directly at Jia Da.

Jia Da found himself in a difficult position as well. Indeed, the ingredients used for alchemy were of high quality, and it seemed that the elixir might not be lethal and could perhaps be useful.

If they just picked someone at random to test it, it would waste the fine ingredients.

But if he gave it directly to the Grand Master, Jia Da worried there could be problems.

"Hiss!"

He Tiantian also pretended to be hesitant, smacking her lips; suddenly, she seemed to have an idea, "That’s right, didn’t someone bring news last time saying that Uncle Lin in Yangzhou was at death’s door?"

Jia Da was stunned, unable to react at first, and dumbly replied, "Yes, Second Young Master Lian from West Mansion personally escorted Miss Lin back to Yangzhou to see him one last time."

"Good!" He Tiantian slapped her thigh, "He’s the one!"

Jia Da: ... What do you mean "He’s the one"?

His eyes suddenly bulged, that... it couldn’t be what he was thinking, could it?!

While Jia Da was feeling uneasy, he heard his own Grand Master excitedly say, "Yes, let Ru Hai try this elixir!"

Jia Da couldn’t hold back any longer and urgently tried to persuade, "Grand Master, this might not be appropriate. Uncle Lin is, after all, the husband of Grandma Min from West Mansion. Even though Grandma Min has passed away, he is still, after all, a relative by marriage."

And, not to say something that would annoy the Grand Master, Uncle Lin is a distinguished salt inspector, and although his rank isn’t high, he is nevertheless an official appointed by the court.

And the Grand Master was still a commoner.

The Grand Master was extraordinarily fanciful to think Uncle Lin should be a test subject for his medicine; this is absurd!

Not to mention that both families are related, though a bit distantly by marriage, it’s still improper to treat him so poorly.

"Ru Hai is gravely ill and beyond the help of medicine."

He Tiantian said slowly, her subsequent words unspoken but clear in their meaning—using the desperate measure of treating a dead horse as if alive!

"Jia Da, prepare a horse immediately, take the elixir, and rush to Yangzhou day and night!" He Tiantian, determined in her course of action, began giving orders to Jia Da.

Jia Da: ...

After hesitating for a moment, Jia Da still said, "Grand Master, this, this—isn’t quite right."

Even if Uncle Lin were dying, it was wrong to use him as a test subject.

"You describe the effects after you take the elixir to Ru Hai, and tell him, he will be the second one to take it."

"Whether he wants to use it or not should be decided by him."

He Tiantian, seeing Jia Da repeatedly trying to dissuade her, seemed to realize this might be inappropriate.

However, she seemed unwilling to give up such a fitting "test subject," so she still insisted forcefully.

Hearing the Grand Master explain to this extent, Jia Da felt it inappropriate to dissuade him further.

Alright, he would deliver the blunt truth upfront, and then it would be up to Lin Ru Hai to decide!

"Yes, this servant understands!"

No longer hesitating, Jia Da took the order and began to prepare.

By noon that day, Jia Da had ridden out on a horse, carrying only light luggage for his journey to Yangzhou.

He Tiantian did not come out to see him off but continued to work on refining elixir in the Alchemy Room.

She had great hearing and could distinctly hear the sound of the horse hooves as they gradually faded away.

She did her utmost to save Lin Ru Hai’s life, so Sister Lin should avoid the same tragic fate.

Hoping everything was still in time, He Tiantian thought to herself while she continued to refine the elixir.

She was silently plotting from her side while at Ningguo’s Mansion, the funeral mourning, which lasts for fifty-four days, was only halfway through.

Ningguo’s Mansion was full of mourners, guests coming and going, monks and priests chanting incessantly, creating a strangely lively atmosphere.

Jia Cong, as a Concubine Son from the first branch of Duke Rong’s Mansion and although a senior relative of Qin Keqing, still had to help.

At five or six years old, because he was not taken seriously, being careless with his wet nurse and maidservants, he looked small and timid.

Although he probably wasn’t bad-looking, his demeanor was poor, making him seem sleazy throughout.

No wonder Mrs. Xing cursed him as "dark-browed and sallow-faced," not resembling a literate child from a distinguished family.