Chapter 38

"It turns out it's not a medicinal herb."

Old Master Shangguan chuckled softly, "At least it's a token of your heart, so I'll accept it."

Young Master Chen was utterly embarrassed, his face turning extremely ugly.

What kind of precious gift could change the temperature?

After Qin Xianyu, this junior, it seemed to be just a small item worth only two silver coins. More infuriatingly, Old Master Shangguan even pretended, acting as if he was reluctantly accepting it.

Qin Xianyu remained silent for a moment before saying, "Although this item cannot be used as medicine, it can improve the temperature, preventing colds and heatstroke, and can be used to prevent diseases. In my opinion, it can also be classified as a medicinal herb."

These words somewhat salvaged Young Master Chen's face.

But Young Master Chen's face turned even uglier.

The people in the hall were stunned into silence. They were all high-ranking and influential figures with considerable experience. They could tell that this Young Master Chen was deliberately making things difficult for the young Taoist, but they didn't expect that the young Taoist actually recognized this rare stone, which made Young Master Chen lose face.

And this young Taoist actually had such a rare stone?

Could it be... that they could obtain such a rare stone from this young Taoist?

Some people began to have thoughts.

Grand Scholar Su's eyes were quite peculiar, looking at Duke Qian with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Earlier, Duke Qian had said that this item was just a broken stone, not a medicinal herb.

But in the eyes of this young Taoist, anything that could prevent disease was already a medicinal herb.

Duke Qian sighed, "This young man has seen through the essence of medicine. In this aspect, I am inferior to him. Given time and more medical experience, he will surely surpass me."

These words were not spoken softly.

So everyone heard them.

The hall fell silent again.

This young Taoist actually had the potential to surpass Duke Qian in medicine?

Many people's gazes became more profound.

Qin Xianyu said softly, "Duke Qian is too kind. I am shallow in knowledge and experience, and do not deserve such high praise."

Duke Qian grunted and said nothing.

Qin Xianyu smiled bitterly.

"Seems you have high hopes for this young Taoist?" Grand Scholar Su, who knew his old friend's character well, saw that he was praising this junior and even belittling himself to elevate him, and knew that Duke Qian actually held him in high regard, which piqued his interest.

Duke Qian chuckled coldly, "Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to appreciate it."

The tense atmosphere finally dissipated.

Qin Xianyu was about to take his seat.

But then Young Master Chen said, "Little Taoist Qin, what is your gift?"

Qin Xianyu paused.

One farce ended, and another began.

Everyone watched with great interest.

Qin Xianyu reached into his robe and said leisurely, "Of course, I have a gift."

"From your appearance, you seem to be a man of letters, so you must read a lot. Could it be an inkstone?" Young Master Chen said, fanning himself and smiling. "If it's an inkstone, you can save yourself the trouble. I've heard that a nobleman in the capital has already sent a famous inkstone called the Red Dragon Inkstone."

The Red Dragon Inkstone, to those who didn't know it, sounded impressive.

But those who recognized it were all shocked.

Grand Scholar Su, however, seemed to have expected it.

Qin Xianyu thought, "It seems Young Master Chen knew that the Shangguan family gave me the Red Dragon Inkstone. By mentioning it, he's blocking the way for me to present it as a gift. He's almost openly trying to embarrass me, which means he's at odds with the Shangguan family. The important person who gave me a hundred taels of silver must be him."

Old Master Shangguan's eyes flashed with a cold light. The matter of the Red Dragon Inkstone was known to only a few people. Young Master Chen's mention of it revealed that the Shangguan family was not as clean as it seemed and needed to be cleaned up.

By mentioning this, Young Master Chen cut off the path for the Red Dragon Inkstone to be presented as a gift. Qin Xianyu, a poor young man who collected herbs for a living, had no valuable gift. If this young man, out of ignorance, really took out the Red Dragon Inkstone, everyone would know that the gift actually came from the Shangguan family, and the so-called gift was just a round trip.

If this kind of trick got out, it would only be a laughingstock.

Seeing Old Master Shangguan's ugly face and Qin Xianyu's long silence, Young Master Chen felt satisfied and said with a smile, "Taoist Qin, what gift do you have for the birthday celebration? Please present it without hesitation."

Qin Xianyu was silent for a moment and said, "Of course, I have a gift."

He took out an object.

A golden leaf.

It shimmered with a dazzling golden light.

"Oh? A golden leaf?"

Young Master Chen smiled slightly and said, "For ordinary people, a golden leaf is a very valuable gift, but the Shangguan family is a distinguished family. Your golden leaf, even if it's pure gold, is worth only a few silver coins. You sit in this inner hall banquet and present a few taels of gold as a gift. Isn't that insulting the distinguished guests here?"

Everyone present was a high-ranking and influential figure, and the gifts were naturally not ordinary.

Not to mention a golden leaf, even a gold ingot, what was it worth?

Even if this golden leaf was pure gold, how much value could it have?

Originally, Old Master Shangguan was quite pleased to see Qin Xianyu's golden leaf. Although it wasn't heavy, it was still a gift that could be appreciated. But after Young Master Chen's words, it offended many people.

Qin Xianyu said leisurely, "This is not gold."

Young Master Chen sneered, "If it's not gold, is it just a colored leaf?"

Qin Xianyu did not answer him, but held the leaf with both hands and presented it slowly.

"This is the Cold Year Herb."

An old voice slowly said, "As recorded in ancient texts, the hundred-year-old Cold Year Herb!"

Everyone looked over, and it was Duke Qian who spoke.

Duke Qian's eyes were bright, no longer cloudy as usual. He stared intently at the golden leaf and said in a low voice, "The Cold Year Herb can only grow for eight years, and only a few can survive for ten years."

"An ordinary Cold Year Herb leaf can refresh the mind and make the eyes clear."

"But there is an excellent variety, the ten-year-old Cold Year Herb, which has grown for ten years. Its leaves remain on the plant for ten years and undergo a transformation overnight after ten years, increasing its medicinal effects a hundredfold."

Duke Qian looked at Young Master Chen and said slowly, "There is a hundred-year-old Cold Year Herb, which grows for a hundred years, and its leaves remain on the plant for a hundred years. Just by holding a piece in your mouth, it can refresh the mind and keep you awake for several days. If you drink it, it will greatly invigorate the spirit and improve the body, extending life."

Silence.

Suddenly, there was a commotion.

"A life-extending elixir?"

"Isn't that a divine medicine?"

"The Cold Year Herb usually only lives for eight to nine years, and ten years is rare. But this one has lived for a hundred years, and its leaves have not fallen for a hundred years?"

Some people were shocked.

Others had a burning desire, their eyes blazing like flames.

"So this leaf is really a hundred-year-old Cold Year Herb."

Qin Xianyu was surprised, but it was within his expectations. The jade pill was extraordinary, and its ability to promote plant growth was also expected.

Amidst the burning gazes, Qin Xianyu presented the Cold Year Herb with both hands.

"A humble gift, light as a feather, far less valuable than gold. Please do not disdain it, Old Master Shangguan."