A Jiu paused slightly, "How is Liu Chenglin?"
"I don't know. Eunuch Zhou said he's very weak and might not make it."
"Ah?" A Jiu took the lead and walked away, "Last night, I didn't think the situation was that serious."
"I don't know." Zhang Dadan had just arrived at the post station when he received the news. The first person he thought of was his benefactor Meng Jiuer, so he reported it to Eunuch Zhou, and now he was running back. He was so out of breath from the back and forth trips:
"Eunuch Zhou said he might die of exhaustion like Old Master Liu."
A Jiu's hairs stood on end upon hearing this. She subconsciously recalled that Liu Chenglin was young and wouldn't die of exhaustion so easily.
Besides, Old Master Liu might not have died of exhaustion at all.
When they reached the post station, Eunuch Zhou was looking around. Seeing A Jiu approach, he stepped forward to greet her:
"Oh, what a coincidence! Fortunately, Zhang Dadan said you also came to Nanzhou County, otherwise, this old servant would have had to send someone to pick you up, and it might have cost lives. Come in quickly, quickly."
A Jiu glanced at Eunuch Zhou and immediately imagined him forcing Liu Yuanxian to eat poisoned meat.
A Jiu didn't have such a bad impression of him before; it was just a matter of fulfilling their duties. Now, A Jiu didn't spare him another glance.
Eunuch Zhou and Zhang Dadan led the way.
A Jiu had stayed at this post station before. It was large, designed like a quadrangle with a three-story stilted building facing south, which was formerly used to accommodate traveling merchants.
The backyard was a stable, also providing horse changing and feeding services.
The room A Jiu entered was in the west wing. In this layout, it was a side room, considered a place for the staff managing the post station, and it was only one story.
Zhang Dadan, who was beside her, entered for the first time since the so-called important person arrived. He looked around curiously.
A person lay on the bed behind the screen. A Jiu went around and immediately took his pulse without a word.
"Quickly check on him. The Liu family only has this one descendant left. We can't afford any mistakes," Eunuch Zhou instructed from the side.
A Jiu's fingers suddenly lifted, and she stared at Liu Chenglin. His face was pale, and he was so thin he looked like a knife carving:
"Eunuch Zhou, don't tell me useless things. I just want to know how long Liu Chenglin has not eaten?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Eunuch Zhou was naturally displeased. He looked at A Jiu, his tone of voice was completely different from before. He thought, don't assume you can treat me like dirt just because you've accomplished something and the prince appreciates you:
"That place, the Yi Zhuang, naturally lacks food and drink, but our prince still cares for the people. Every few days, he orders people to send water and grain to the Yi Zhuang."
"How long has it been since they sent any?" A Jiu clung to the core issue and wouldn't let go.
"Why are you asking this for treating an illness? Those dying people can't eat or drink anyway." Eunuch Zhou was dissatisfied. He refused to say that they hadn't sent water and grain for over ten days.
After all, the war had started there, and who would still care about the dying people in the Yi Zhuang.
A Jiu didn't press further. She took out her water pouch and poured a few mouthfuls into Liu Chenglin. A Jiu found that all the water flowed out of the corners of his mouth.
"Big Brother! Brother Liu!"
A Jiu's eyes flickered. She gritted her teeth and took out a ginseng root from her怀.
Unexpectedly, a clear, sweet scent permeated the air. To A Jiu's surprise, the scent was also sweet when inhaled.
Eunuch Zhou subtly took a deep breath: "Ah, this is a good ginseng!" He had seen all sorts of high-quality products in the palace before, and they also had such a sweet aroma. It could be said that this piece from Miss Jiu was even better.
A Jiu remembered reading in the Shennong Grass Record that ginseng was the primary tonic for replenishing vital energy.
A Jiu had no other choice, so she used a grinder for tea leaves to extract the juice and pried open Liu Chenglin's teeth with a spoon, pouring the juice directly down his throat.
A Jiu put the remaining half of the ginseng back into her怀.
Eunuch Zhou watched the remaining half of the ginseng, smacking his lips impatiently: "Isn't it a waste to use such valuable ginseng on him? If he can't be saved, wouldn't it be a loss of both people and money? How about Miss Jiu selling the remaining half to this humble servant?"
A Jiu paused slightly and stared at Eunuch Zhou. This guy was quite shrewd.
"Eunuch Zhou doesn't need to nourish his vital yang energy, so why would he want this?"
Hearing this, Eunuch Zhou's old face darkened.