Jiapingguan Chronicle

"So, they never set foot in Linhuang Prefecture for so many years afterward because they were hurt too badly?" Qi Zhifeng looked at Xiao Fengqi and shook his head. "I think that's unlikely." He looked at Chu Han, then at his third grandfather, and said, "What do you and my benefactor think?"

"Hmm!" Chu Han and the Third Grandfather exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. "It is indeed unlikely."

"The kind of thinking or ideas that Uhale's son has can't be corrected by a beating or by sending so much gold and silver every year. They're deeply ingrained, engraved in their bones. There's probably something else that makes them hesitate to go to Linhuang Prefecture." The Third Grandfather waved his hand at them. "Your great-aunt's methods don't stop there. She has many ways to make someone remember her deeply, to make them tremble and shudder at the mere mention of her. Who knows what she did to them? Otherwise, they wouldn't be kowtowing at the gate of the Xiao Mansion."

"However, what exactly they did, I'm afraid no one in the entire household, except for the great-aunt and the Uhale father and son, knows."

“It’s better not to know.” Third Master chuckled lightly, “so as not to have nightmares.” He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and beckoned to Xue Mu to refill his cup. Then he continued, “My master has met her and talked to her once or twice. He said that this little girl has unlimited potential and is definitely a formidable figure. Sure enough, she is another genius of the Xiao family after Empress Dowager Xiao.”

“Master Qingsong?” Shen Cha looked at the Third Grandfather with great curiosity. “What kind of person was Master Qingsong? When I was little, I heard the Master mention him. He said that Master Qingsong was a very witty and humorous person. He liked to play with people younger than him and liked the things that children liked. Although he was a doctor, he never followed the rules and was very willing to try new methods and new prescriptions. He would not object to using poison if it could cure diseases, and he would be happy to use it.”

“Yes, that’s why my senior brother and I have different focuses in our training. I’m more of a normal practitioner, while my senior brother leans towards poison medicine.” Third Grandfather nodded and smiled at Jin Miaomiao. “You’ve only learned three or four parts of your master’s skills. There’s still a lot to learn!”

"Yes!" Jin Miaomiao's attitude was very respectful. "I have only read one or two tenths of the books, medical records and notes left by my master. There are still many I haven't read yet. I am indeed far behind my master." She looked at the Third Master with a smile. "Since you are here, Uncle-Master, why don't you stay for a while? There are many things I don't understand before that I need to ask you."

"If you're not worried, of course I'll be fine." The Third Master raised an eyebrow slightly. "If I stay here, do you need to ask for permission?"

"Don't worry, everything has been taken care of. If you don't have anything else to do, just relax and stay here. Besides," Jin Miaomiao gave him a mischievous smile, "you can also try to rebuild your relationship with the old lady, right?"

The third great-grandfather, who was teased by the younger generation, was not embarrassed at all. He nodded lightly and continued, "Indeed, we have been separated for so many years. Now that we have reunited at this age, we should cherish this time and make up for what we have lost."

Seeing how sincere Third Grandfather was, Jin Miaomiao felt embarrassed to tease him anymore. She touched her nose, gave Third Grandfather an awkward smile, and stopped talking about the topic, returning to Master Qingsong.

“My master said that the advisor was a very special person, unlike most people.” “You should say completely different from most people we’ve met.” The third master took a sip of hot tea, sighed softly, and said, “My master had his own way of watching the show, which no one else could imitate. In his world, whether you were poor or rich, powerful or an ordinary person, or even if you were from the Xia, Liao, or Jin dynasties, as long as you passed his test, he would treat you as a friend. So, he didn’t care what your status was, only what your nature was.”

“Otherwise, how could he have taken you as his apprentice?” Chu Han smiled. “Qingsong suffered a lot when he was young. Meeting you and Huilan was the turning point in his life. Things started to get better because you two understood him and were willing to stay by his side. Later, people like Gongsun Yue appeared who shared his ideals, and he seemed to come alive again.”

"My master used to suffer so much?" Third Grandfather frowned slightly. "My master never mentioned it."

“Because he forgot. If he didn’t remember, he wouldn’t have told you. Qingsong has a very magical ability that none of you have.” Chu Han smiled. “I once told him that if we all had this ability, we might reduce a lot of pain and trouble.”

“I know.” Third Grandfather nodded. “My master can forget all the people and things that make him unhappy or upset, as well as those who have hurt him, or those who were once recognized by him but are no longer recognized by him. He will forget them all.” He spread his hands, looked at Shen Cha, then at Jin Miaomiao, and said, “Your master’s ability is something that we can never learn at all!”

"Forgot?" Shen Cha stroked her chin. "That's quite amazing, so it's normal that Uncle doesn't know."

"But what if the advisor forgets all of this?"

“I know what you’re trying to say.” Chu Han smiled at Jin Miaomiao and said, “Every time he wants to forget something, he has two choices: either tell someone about it and have that person remember it for him, or he writes a letter and sends it to that person. Unfortunately, the person he chooses is me, and I’m basically always by his side whenever he wants to forget something.”

“Master said that you are his best friend, the one he can confide in most, and the one he trusts most.” Third Grandfather nodded in agreement. “But Master also said that the person he has wronged the most in his life is you. You already have enough on your shoulders, and with his troubles added on, it will only make things more difficult for you.”

"Hey, that's not how it works. His little troubles are nothing to me; I'd be happy to help him out. That's what friends and brothers are all about, isn't it?" Chu Han waved his hand. "Without a friend like your master, how boring would my long life be, wouldn't it?" He smiled. "But now, since you all want to hear Qingsong's story, I can tell you everything I know, and everything he wants to forget." He looked at the people around him. "Speaking of which, you're all more or less involved with him in some way." (End of Chapter)