Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 52 The Ancient Book, Released Ahead of Schedule

Yang Zhengdao's cold sweat slid down the back of his neck, soaking his inner clothes. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and tried to hide his shock.

What is a woman in this era?

It's just a resource.

Even though Li Er and Empress Zhangsun's eldest daughter was the only bargaining chip for the Zhangsun family to consolidate their status as maternal relatives.

The Changsun family must have already realized Li Er's scheme.

On the issue of opposing consanguineous marriage, the interests of the Guanlong aristocratic families and the Shandong powerful clans must be aligned.

If the two were to unite because of this, it would be terrifying to even think about.

Is Li Er playing with fire?

No! He's testing me!

When gods fight like this, mortals suffer; when the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat are also affected.

Yang Zhengdao couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "I only ruined a marriage, and all I wanted was to marry a princess, yet it's so difficult."

If things are impossible and the road ahead is fraught with danger, we must take a roundabout approach to achieve our goal.

If government orders are direct and straightforward, then public opinion is a roundabout and indirect approach.

With this in mind, Yang Zhengdao had already made up his mind.

He put down his teacup, looked up at He Guanzhong and said, “What He Fengyu is worried about is very true. Based on medical case records, without the support of ancient methods and old theories, it is ultimately a single case and difficult to establish, which is insufficient to conclude the drawbacks of consanguineous marriage.”

"Absolutely! Absolutely!" He Guanzhong was overjoyed.

He had no choice but to obey the sage's decree.

Since it has to be done, we should try to delay it as long as possible.

He was just wondering what excuse to use to delay the matter, but after some subtle probing, he actually got an excuse from Yang Langjun.

Seeing He Fengyu's reaction, Yang Zhengdao smiled knowingly.

"Recently, the King of Yue, the King of Jiangxia, and the second son of the King of Hejian have all been searching for an ancient book. Zhengdao asked them to search for ancient evidence for the Imperial Pharmacy as a way of repaying He Fengyu for his help today."

He Guanzhong was taken aback at first, and couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.

If you truly wish to repay this kindness today, then do not seek ancient evidence.

Although this young master Yang is clever and insightful, he is also so sincere that it makes people both laugh and cry.

But how can these thoughts be expressed verbally?

He could only manage a dry laugh and say, "Young Master Yang, you're too kind."

An hour later, Xi Youniang showed no unusual behavior.

He Guanzhong increased the dosage of penicillin solution to one qian (approximately 3 grams) and fed it to Xi Youniang again.

Another hour passed, and Xi Youniang showed no abnormalities; in fact, her cough seemed to have lessened somewhat.

This time, Ho Koon-chung doubled the dosage again.

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), the evening drum will sound.

He Guanzhong took Xi Youniang's pulse again.

After taking his pulse, the seriousness on his face finally eased.

"Young Master Yang, the young lady's pulse has stabilized. It seems that this penicillin liquid is indeed very effective for lung abscess."

Upon hearing this, Xi Junmai was about to perform a grand ceremony when He Guanzhong stopped him, saying, "Brave man, there's no need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank your husband."

Yang Zhengdao laughed and said, "I hit it off with Mr. Xi at first sight. If I were to express my gratitude, it would be too formal."

Xi Junmai immediately clasped his hands in a deep fist salute to Yang Zhengdao and nodded solemnly.

His family's wealth had long been depleted due to the deaths of his parents.

Although she came from a respectable family, she was already considered lowly due to poverty. If she were to be conscripted by the government troops again, the young girl would be even more destitute and helpless.

I am deeply grateful for the great kindness shown to me by Young Master Yang, and I have no way to repay it.

Thinking of this, he felt no more resentment, and only by giving his life could he repay this kindness.

Ho Koon-chung then gave further instructions regarding the subsequent medication.

Yang Zhengdao saw He Guanzhong and the two physicians off at the gate of the house; it was already dusk.

Yang Zhengdao returned to the inner room.

Xi Junmai remained by the bedside, holding You Niang's hands tightly, his eyes fixed on A Mei's face.

Xi Youniang had fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing was steady, and a trace of color seemed to have returned to her face.

Yang Zhengdao patted Xi Junmai on the shoulder: "A-Zhong and the others will help take care of You Niang, so don't overwork yourself."

Xi Junmai nodded emphatically, then stood up, clasped his hands, bowed deeply, and said solemnly, "My lord, I, Junmai, am willing to serve as your retainer and submit to your command. I will serve you to the death and never abandon you. I hope you will accept me."

Yang Zhengdao quickly lifted Xi Junmai's arm and said affectionately, "I regard Xi Lang as a hero, how can I bear to drive him as a servant?"

Before Xi Junmai could react, Yang Zhengdao sighed and continued, "If Xi Lang insists on this, how about we set a five-year timeframe? After five years, I will definitely release Xi Lang and let him return to his good wife!"

Xi Junmai's eyes immediately reddened, and his voice became hoarse: "My lord, I..."

Yang Zhengdao made a shushing gesture: "Don't disturb Youniang."

Then, he turned around gracefully, a look of ecstatic joy on his face.

Xi Junmai, a man capable of defeating ten thousand men, is now in my trap!

After Yang Zhengdao turned away, Xi Junmai was so moved that he secretly wiped away tears.

Unfortunately, he didn't know that in later generations there was a type of servant with a monthly rent system called the "working class".

Back in his study at the Central Courtyard, Yang Zhengdao rubbed his arm, which was now able to write again, and began to devise a public opinion campaign against consanguineous marriage.

First, there are ancient supporting documents prepared for the Imperial Pharmacy.

The complete explanations of oracle bone script obtained from the system automatically appeared in Yang Zhengdao's mind.

Oracle bone script was discovered in the late Qing Dynasty and was later deciphered with the excavation of Yin Ruins.

If oracle bone script had appeared in the Tang Dynasty, it would have been considered an ancient relic, a legacy of three dynasties.

As ancient evidence of the prohibition against marriage between close relatives, it is undoubtedly highly persuasive.

As for whether the Tang people could recognize it, there was no need to worry. As long as the oracle bone script was modified to be closer to the mature Chinese characters, it would not be difficult to recognize it.

After considering all this, Yang Zhengdao began to forge an oracle bone inscription that had appeared a thousand years earlier than previously thought.

On the day of Guihai, a divination was performed. The question was asked: "Within three clans, should one not take a woman? Within three clans, taking a woman is not as good as taking one."

Wang Zhan said: "It is inauspicious for a close relative to marry a woman, regardless of whether the woman is from within or outside the three clans."

He ordered the Qiang people to take the goods by their close relatives, but to no avail.

Next, simply inscribe this divination inscription on a tortoise shell and then age it.

Another thing is to write a short essay.

Yang Zhengdao spread out a sheet of hemp paper, picked up a pen, and first wrote down a name: "Spring Behind the Curtain".

The earliest mature novels in China were Tang Dynasty tales.

At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, a novel called "The Tale of the Ancient Mirror" was published, which is known as the pioneering work of Tang Dynasty novels.

Yang Zhengdao plans to adapt his realistic novel, written during the Wanli era, into a Tang Dynasty tale.

This timeless masterpiece, tested by time, boasts a novel story and explosive details. Had it been placed in the early Tang Dynasty, it would have undoubtedly caused a sensation and become famous throughout the land.

Simply change the character names to Cui Qing, Lu Jinlian, Zheng Ping'er, and Wang Chunmei, and change the three women to Cui Qing's paternal cousin and maternal cousin.

Yang Zhengdao continued writing, his thoughts flowing freely.

At the end of the Later Han Dynasty, there was a wandering Taoist named Hu Banxian, who called himself "Donghai Sanren" and traveled to Qinghe County.

It was late spring, and many of the local gentry gathered at their villas west of the city to admire the flowers and drink wine, their carriages and horses bustling about. Hu Banxian, leaning on his cane, passed by and saw lanterns and decorations hanging in front of the villas, and heard laughter and chatter inside. He stopped and sighed.

The gatekeeper, seeing this, asked, "Why do you sigh, old Taoist?"

Hu Banxian shook his head and said, "What I lament is that all the beauties in the hall are now withered flowers; all the noble ladies have become extinct."