Chapter 103 - New findings
Zhang Yi gets up, moving closer to Yu Lexuan:
-His highness, please, let's drive to that house in the middle of the plain... We will meet with someone you might not know.
-As you wish... And you can call me using my real name, hahaha, no need to be so formal! - Yu Lexuan smiles.
-I really respect and love your highness... I want to make sure I respect you.
-Your sweet kisses are much better than any title I might have, Zhang Yi. - Yu Lexuan blushes.
-How can't I kiss you with a passion, Yu Lexuan... - Zhang Yi blushes.
-I want more later. - Yu Lexuan smirks.
After a few minutes, they arrive at the house Zhang Yi told him to go. A beautiful, young man, walks toward their carriage, smiling. He bows to Yu Lexuan:
-Greeting to your highness.
-Please, rise... -Yu Lexuan smiles.
Zhang Yi also moves out of the carriage:
-Your Highness, this man is Yu Xuan. He has a vast knowledge of plants and minerals and helped me in the past create the recipe for the flu medicines.
-Nice to meet you, Yu Xuan.
Yu Xuan smiles:
-Please, would you bother having some food and tea? It looks like you have come from afar.
-Don't mention it! We are grateful! - Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan smile.
-Please, follow me.
Yu Xuan moves into his house, Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi follow him to his kitchen. There, he offers them some seats:
-Please, seat. I'll prepare some tea and some food as well, meanwhile, you can talk with me if you want to.
Yu Lexuand and Zhang Yi sit together. Yu Xuan prepares some tea:
-So, Yu Xuan... We are facing a problem with my medicines... Do you know that a new pathogen is spreading in the empire? - Zhang Yi looks at him.
-I noticed something different happening here. I studied it and found that some minerals are not having the same effect they did... But I need some help. I'm happy to meet you again Zhang Yi.
-We need to study this together... Maybe we can solve this puzzle. After all, two brains are better than one, aren't they?
-I'd be very happy... Like you, I know things to a good extent, but, together, we can do more.
Yu Lexuan smiles:
-You are so clever, Yu Xuan!
-I feel flattered by your highness's compliments... - Yu Xuan smiles.
Yu Lexuan smiles. Zhang Yi talks:
-Yu Xuan, do you think a new combination of minerals is needed, or should we focus on herbs by now?
-Considering that the pathogen developed some resistance to our original recipe, I think we should focus more on the minerals. Herbs are a good choice, but over time, they become less effective.
-That's correct. But I'm concerned about the availability of the minerals we will use. If we use something too hard to find or prepare, we will not succeed in producing a good medicine that can be made quickly. -Zhang Yi points out.
-I understand. I try to keep my recipe as simple as possible, but, in this case, I think we might have to use something more exotic. Fortunately, we will need just a few grams, so it shouldn't be a problem.
-That's interesting, I'm curious to know.- Zhang Yi smiles.
Yu Xuan finishes to heat up the food and also the tea, and bring them to Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi:
-Please, feel free to eat and drink as much as you want.
-We thank you for your consideration. - Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi bow slightly.
-Do not mention it! - Yu Xuan blushes.
Yu Xuan sits close to Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi, also serving a cup of tea for him:
-I think you may need to spend at least two days here. My house has only one room for guests, I'm not sure if you would accept sharing it.
-This is nowhere near to be a problem for us... - Yu Lexuan blushes.
-Well, I thank you for the hospitality, Yu Xuan... But we need this done as quickly as we can. - Zhang Yi looks at him.
-Well, I'll show you some compounds I have tested so far. But let's first have this meal. I hope you like it.
They eat. By the face Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi are making, Yu Xuan thinks his meal was terrific. He smiles:
-So, it's been a long time since no one from Jinhua visit us... I wonder how things are going in the capital.
-It is not good, Yu Xuan. As I told you, a new pathogen is spreading quickly. Feng Long is really worried.
-I can understand... Well, so, as I promised you, let me show you new minerals that I found that might be useful.
-Please.
Yu Xuan gets up. Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan follow him to another room where there were several shelves holding hundreds of small containers, each one labeled according to their content. Zhang Yi smiles:
-I like the way you keep it so organized, Yu Xuan.
-Yes, this way, I can quickly find what I want.
Yu Xuan reaches to a specific container, and hands it to Zhang Yi:
-I found this compound in a brook not so far from here. It might be useful for you, but there are more options than you can bring home and test. None of them have names, so I assigned an individual number to make things easier.
Yu Xuan takes another four containers and hands them out to Zhang Yi:
-I think that's it.
-How are you sure they might work, Yu Xuan? - Yu Lexuan smiles.
-I tested them against a contaminated sample and subjected it to our existing test. In theory, if the test turns negative, it tells me the pathogen has been neutralized. Of course, we need to use a realistic concentration. Almost any mineral I have in this room will do the job in very high concentration but may cause death.
-This is actually very clever, Yu Xuan. - Zhang Yi nods.
-There's no other way around for me... Our village is quite small and thanks to your actions, we never recorded an infection here.
They stay in silence for a while. Zhang Yi smiles:
-So, let's bring these minerals home. I went looking for herbs, but I think we should focus on minerals anyway.
-That's a good idea, Zhang Yi. Herbs are good, but we need to move on to more complex medicines.
-I agree.
Yu Lexuan moves closer to Yu Xuan:
-Yu Xuan, we brought some barrels with us on our carriage. I ask you to accompany us to the locations where the minerals can be extracted.
-For sure, that's a good thing you brought your barrels already, I have almost none on my depot today.
They smile and move to the carriage. Zhang Yi drives it, and Yu Lexuan sits next to Yu Xuan:
-I think we should first look for mineral number 45. It is the hardest to get, the others are easier but will require us to travel farther.
-How far?
-I think about 30 li, but the terrain is a bit hilly and hard to cross by carriage.
-No problem, we can do it, and even sleep in the carriage if needed. We do not have enough space for three, but this is something we can deal with. - Yu Lexuan smiles.
-Well, if you say so, let's start digging.
-Of course!
In Jiangsu, Ouyang Ziyu was caressing Xia Chunyu on his cheek, smiling:
-Your majesty... We have no clue about what is happening in other empires concerning the epidemic... Could you please ask Feng Long about it?
-Ah, Ouyang Ziyu... I was thinking about visiting Feng Long.
-Visiting him? Why not just send a letter?
Xia Chunyu smiles, then kisses Ouyang deeply for a few seconds:
-I can't do it through letters, or can I, my dear?
-I think you can't... - Ouyang blushes.
-I love you so much... And I also like Feng Long... We used to spend our days learning and practicing poems together, but it was so many years ago... until I found you. Arguably, my life has become so much better with you, Oyang...
-Your majesty is so loving and warm... But, if you want, meet Feng Long and have a good time together.
-We will go there together, you are my prince! And Feng Long told me you look like his prince, so it would be great for both of you to meet each other.
-This is actually an interesting idea... But how about Jiangsu? Who will attend the matters?
-Not a problem, we will just spend a couple of days or so in Zhejiang... We can solve it later.
-Well, it is your majesty's decision... I'll follow you. - Ouyang bows slightly.
-I love you, Ouyang... Never forget it.
-I fully trust your majesty's words...
Ouyang and Xia kiss. After that, he helps him make his luggage.
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