"Face-saving, good, I’ll buy more things to bring home, face-saving," Banxia covered her mouth as she spoke.
Gu Youyou watched her, sighed, and gently patted her shoulder before heading upstairs.
The ancient people’s superstitious and pedantic thoughts were truly harmful. Banxia was such a good girl; whoever married her would be fortunate. Yet just because of an accident, they all avoided her like the plague.
Really, the accident wasn’t even her fault.
"We won’t open the medical hall tomorrow, where shall we go for fun?"
She had hung the closed sign in front of the door before the end of the day, which essentially meant they were closed from tonight onward.
This was their second New Year together, and after some thought, Jin Zijin said, "The Lin Family might send someone over."
The Lin Family? Wasn’t that Gu Youyou’s maternal family?
Actually, she didn’t know much about Gu Youyou’s maternal family. All she had heard was that Youyou’s uncle had become Top Scholar in his youth and later held a high-ranking position in Beijing. Now his whole family resided there and cared quite a bit about their niece, sending over money for medicine every year.
The amount wasn’t large, but those fifty taels were more than enough to buy medicine from Doctor Zhou.
The State Preceptor had carefully calculated the cost of the medicine for Gu Youyou; the Gu Family being farmers couldn’t afford anything too expensive.
"Zijin, how much do you know about the Lins in Beijing?"
Jin Zijin understood her meaning. It was time to tell her these things, and he said, "Your uncle, Lin Xingyi, is a Great Scholar of the First Rank in the Imperial Court, deeply favored by the... Emperor, he is a highly sought-after favorite in the court."
"How does he compare to the State Preceptor?" Gu Youyou asked.
Jin Zijin paused before saying, "The position of the State Preceptor is unshakable even by the Emperor. He is different from the court officials; his role is connected to the lifeblood of the nation."
Hearing that, Gu Youyou’s eyes dimmed slightly.
"So, our enemies are more formidable than the Emperor?" she said with a bitter smile.
"However, the State Preceptor cannot participate in politics," Jin Zijin said.
Gu Youyou didn’t believe it, saying that was fine in theory, but with so much power, how could one adhere to such rules?
"Yet they still managed to mobilize the garrison troops of Yangguan City."
Jin Zijin gave a bitter smile and said, "Yes, he didn’t get involved directly, only reported bandits near Qingshui Town."
Saying the State Preceptor couldn’t participate in politics, but he still influenced the imperial power of Zhuzhao Country.
Not being in politics, there were legitimate ways to be involved.
"Since the Lin Family knows I’ve come to Lingnan, could they be implicated because of me?"
Jin Zijin stroked her hair and said, "His enemy is Tianzong; the Lin Family is not worth his effort to target."
He wouldn’t act, but that didn’t mean other forces wouldn’t take the opportunity to do so. Of course, he didn’t need to share that with Youyou.
"Why would they target Tianzong? Because of the Youying Pearl?" Gu Youyou asked curiously.
Jin Zijin said, "Of course not, is it for the position of State Preceptor?"
"..." So complicated.
He laughed and said, "The position of State Preceptor has always come from the Dao Family’s Tianzong and Xuanzong. They’re competitors against Tianzong. Do you think he would fight for it?"
Of course, he would fight.
This news was too important for Gu Youyou; she had thought the State Preceptor was invincible, as even the Emperor feared him. It turned out his position was not that secure after all.
If the next State Preceptor turned out to be Jin Zijin’s master, then what they would face wouldn’t be the State Preceptor but merely a contemptible Taoist, wouldn’t the pressure on them vanish instantly?
"How often do you elect a new State Preceptor?" Gu Youyou asked, hopeful.
"Once chosen, until he dies."
Gu Youyou: "..." The passion that had just been ignited was doused by a bucket of cold water; they would still have to contend with the State Preceptor.