Duke Jing's younger sister

Chapter 252 Negotiating a Deal

The King of Medicine is tall and thin.

Although he is now in his seventies, his back is still straight without the slightest sign of hunchback.

It is somewhat similar to the bamboo poles around the yard.

He was wearing a moon-white bamboo cloth gown, and his eyes were as kind and calm as a deep pool.

When he first heard Shen Beiqi introduce himself, Yao Wang was a little puzzled as to what he was doing here.

Later, when I saw him holding the dying girl in his arms, it became clear to me.

Sure enough, he went to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing.

"Sir Shen, what brings you to Luozhu today?"

The Medicine King said with a smile, "I don't have any fine wine or delicious food to entertain you at home. Otherwise, you can go to the city, and King Luozhu will definitely entertain you warmly."

The King of Medicine has always been outspoken, and Shen Beiqi has experienced this a long time ago. Now seeing him like this, he naturally doesn't find it strange.

"I came here this time to ask for an important favor. I hope you can..."

"Stop it, stop it!"

Yao Wang stretched out his hands to him, signaling Shen Beiqi not to continue, "Sir Shen, although you helped me a lot a few years ago, I still remember the favor you owed me, but if you want me to break my oath, then I can only commit suicide to apologize. Anyway, I'm already this old, and it won't be a pity if I die."

"I am not trying to threaten you with the fact that I accidentally saved your daughter's life." Shen Beiqi said, "I want to make a deal with you."

"trade?"

The Medicine King waved his hand and said, "Those gold, silver and treasures cannot be brought with you when you are born and cannot be taken with you when you die. What use do I have for them?"

Shen Beiqi: "Senior, the deal I want to discuss with you is not this."

"Not these?" The Medicine King was curious. "Then tell me what you think and see if I will be interested."

Shen Beiqi lowered his eyes, glanced at Jiang Li, who was breathing weakly in his arms, and said in a deep voice, "What if the junior said that this transaction would be beneficial to the people of Luozhu?"

Although Yao Wang looks like a free and easy person, he is actually a prince of Luozhu.

The current king of Luozhu is his nephew, the son of his elder brother.

Luozhu King Shen Beiqi didn't understand.

But the King of Medicine, although seemingly indifferent to the affairs of the court, was actually very concerned about the lives of the people.

Otherwise, he would not have taught everyone his skills in making poisons and medicines, just so that the people could learn more skills and earn some money.

"It will benefit the people of Luozhu?" Medicine King stroked his snow-white beard and asked, "What does this mean?"

Shen Beiqi smiled slightly.

The fish is willing to bite the hook, which shows that it is very interested in the bait.

"After all, you are a guest who has come from afar," Shen Beiqi raised his eyes to look at the Medicine King and said in a light tone, "Would you like to invite me in for a cup of tea?"

The Medicine King nodded, "Okay, have some tea!"

After the door opened, Shen Beiqi carried Jiang Li into the yard and gently placed her on the rocking chair.

It was almost dusk and the mountain breeze brought a slight chill, so he covered her body tightly with his cloak.

"It's poisoned."

The Medicine King took a quick glance and shook his head, "Looks like...tsk tsk...it won't last more than three days."

This girl was quite pretty, it's such a pity that she died so young.

There's nothing we can do about it, since she is from Southern Wu.

Shen Beiqi sat down at the stone table, took the tea handed over by Medicine King with both hands, and after thinking for a while, he asked, "Senior, what do you think of the living conditions of the people in Luozhu?"

Overall, the life of the people of Luozhu is quite good.

Although there are mountains in Luozhu, they are not very high.

The main source of livelihood for the people is growing some corn and eating seafood from the sea.

"I think it's pretty good."

The Medicine King shrugged and said somewhat unwillingly, "It's good to be well fed and well clothed and not starve."

Shen Beiqi smiled slightly, "Senior, my wife's life is at stake, so I won't beat around the bush with you."

"As long as you agree to save her life, I promise you that from now on, Luozhu will not have to pay tribute to Nanwu every year, and I am willing to open the city gates so that the two countries can trade with each other. What do you think?"

Shen Beiqi's battlefield is not in the southern border.

It is not known how Medicine King's wife died on the battlefield.

But as an official in the court, Shen Beiqi naturally knew that Luo Zhu had to pay tribute to Southern Wu every year, and the amount was not small.

Where do these annual tributes come from?

Naturally, it comes from the people's taxes.

In the early years, Luozhu's annual tax collection was only 20%, so even in years of natural disasters, the people could still live and work in peace.

However, today, Luozhu's tax rate has increased to 40%.

If we could stop paying tribute to Southern Wu, the tax rate could return to 20%.

For the people, it is indeed a great thing.

The King of Medicine admitted that he was really tempted.

He doesn't care about gold, silver, money, fame, or fortune.

But as a member of the royal family, he cannot ignore the livelihood of the people of Luozhu.

Saving one person can bring peace to the people of an entire country.

He really didn't lose money in this deal.

After a long silence, the Medicine King smiled and said, "You actually know how to pry open my mouth."

"How dare I? I just want to save my wife."

With a bitter smile on his lips, Shen Beiqi said in a hoarse voice, "I believe that you can understand my feelings at this moment."

The King of Medicine stared at Shen Beiqi, and a moment of emotion flashed in his gray eyes.

Once upon a time, he wanted to save his wife, but unfortunately he was a step too late.

No matter how skilled a doctor is, he cannot bring the dead back to life.

The King of Medicine slowly stood up and looked at the blue sea in the distance. The sea breeze swayed the wisteria flowers on the flower stand, and the air was filled with refreshing floral fragrance.

He is seventy-three years old now. If he can do one more good thing for the people of Luozhu before he dies, he will have no regrets in his life.

"Okay, I promise you!"

The Medicine King turned and looked at him, "I also believe that with the ability of Duke Jingguo, he will definitely keep his word."

Shen Beiqi was delighted, and immediately stood up and bowed deeply to the Medicine King, "Thank you, senior. I will definitely do what I said!"