Chapter 455: Chapter 454: Waist Card

The farmer was so grateful that he didn’t know what to do. He kept expressing his admiration, saying that he had truly met a living Bodhisattva. He choked up several times, and when Zhu Yu and the others were about to leave, he insisted on gathering things from home into two cloth bags for them to take.

“You all have extraordinary demeanors and clearly are not ordinary people. You likely wouldn’t find my humble belongings appealing, but here in Fan Country, it’s not like elsewhere. Some things can’t be bought with money. Take these with you on your journey in case you need them.” He sincerely tried to stuff the items into their arms.

Seeing the farmer’s determination, Zhu Yu realized that he wouldn’t accept them leaving empty-handed. So, from the two large bundles, she pulled out a small cloth bag filled with ripe apricots from the farmer’s backyard tree.

“Master, since he’s so earnest, wouldn’t it be disregarding his goodwill if we refused everything?” Zhu Yu held up the small cloth bag, just slightly larger than a fist, and waved it in front of her. “How about we take this? Would that be alright?”

“Alright, alright, how did I end up with such a greedy, gluttonous disciple?” Lu Qing scolded Zhu Yu playfully, then waved his hand, “Take it then.

And hurry to thank him.

If you get greedy for anything else, don’t blame the master’s ruler for the pain.”

Delightedly, Zhu Yu cradled the apricots in her arms and said to the farmer, “I truly can’t take anything else, or the master will beat me!”

Though simple-minded, the farmer understood that this wasn’t about a disciple fearing their master’s punishment; it was clearly an excuse not to take too much from him.

This kindheartedness moved the farmer even more, and he couldn’t help but pull them aside for more instructions before they left.

He told Zhu Yu and the others that someone from the same village who had returned from being an apprentice in the capital mentioned that in the past, many doctors were eager to claim the generous rewards. However, they went but never returned, and there was no way to find out what strange illness King Fan had or what symptoms he exhibited.

So rumors began to circulate outside, suggesting that the doctors might not be able to cure King Fan, so he had them killed.

This theory, once spread, made those daring to come to Fan Country to treat King Fan even fewer.

Later, it seemed that Fanwang Mansion changed their approach: they would send any doctor who came to them, whether successful or not, out of the mansion safely.

These people often lingered in the capital for a day or two; many saw them walking outside. But afterward, they disappeared again; the inns reported no sign of their departure, and the streets no longer saw them.

Rumors said that these people were released as a façade, making people think it didn’t matter if they could cure King Fan’s illness—no need to fear for their lives—thus attracting more greedy doctors and witch doctors to treat King Fan.

But why assassinate those who had seen King Fan, there were various stories.

Some said it was because King Fan was angry at their inability to cure him.

Others said that once inside the mansion, naturally, they saw things they shouldn’t have seen.

And it was evident that those things were what King Fan didn’t want outsiders to find out.

“If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean Fanwang Mansion is piled with bones?” Yan Daoxin, listening on the side, chuckled, seemingly not quite believing the story.

The farmer saw his dismissiveness and grew anxious. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to the man willing to give medicine to his child and quickly added more warnings: “I’ve never been to the capital, so I don’t know if it’s true.

But I’ve heard that behind the mansion is a mountain, separated by a deep gorge. Normally, this wouldn’t be unusual; Fanland has no shortage of mountains and gorges. But those who returned said they could often hear the roars of fierce beasts from the valley below.

It’s said we don’t have that many fierce beasts here in Fan Country, very few at that, and certainly not gathering in large numbers.

Unless… unless there’s endless meat there…”

The farmer shivered, seemingly gripped by an unspeakable fear, trailing off.

Yan Daoxin and Lu Qing thanked him again, stating they had no interest in riches or the honors King Fan could bestow, and then left the courtyard.

The farmer desired to see them off, but Zhu Yu reminded him to give his child the pills, ensuring timely treatment.

Only then did the farmer stop insisting on seeing them off, gratefully resting his hands on the fence, waving goodbye for a long time.

The four of them led their horses about two miles toward the main road when they saw Fuwen with a straw twig in his mouth, leaning against a tree in the shade waiting for them.

Seeing them approach, Fuwen spat out the twig and came up quickly.

“Sir, it’s done.” He nodded to Lu Qing, “Those people were disguised guards from Fanwang Mansion. They planned to go to the neighboring village to capture a hidden daughter.

Lucky for them, they first knocked over the lady and fell into my trap. Those men are probably still lying unconscious in the muddy ditch.

I also informed that village’s family, advising them to quickly send the daughter elsewhere and not hide her where she was originally.”

“Well done.” Lu Qing seemed rather satisfied, nodding.

“Sir, there’s also this.” Fuwen didn’t step aside but reached into his tunic, pulling something out to hand to Lu Qing, “One of those men dropped this, and I picked it up, thinking we might make use of it!”

Lu Qing took it and saw it was a heavy badge, with mud still clinging to its rough surface, yet faintly recognizable as a waist card from Fanwang Mansion.

“Whoa! This is quite something!” Yan Daoxin raised his eyebrows, glancing at the object, and then at Lu Qing, “What are you planning? Really intending to sneak into Fanwang Mansion with this?

Let me tell you, any other matter is one thing, but that’s a Vassal King. Though it’s called a mansion, sneaking in is a bit more serious than sneaking into your Prince Xiao Yao Mansion!”

“Nonsense.” Lu Qing gave him a sideways glance, “Do you think I’m not aware of this? Who said I was going to sneak in?

Having this waist card is enough to bluff outside of Fanwang Mansion.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep