The tea garden of Chongcaodo is planted with a plant called seven-petal leaves.

The whole plant of seven-petal leaves invigorates blood and dissolves blood stasis, and the best medicinal effect is the young leaves in June, which can be chewed and swallowed directly, or boiled and drunk, or mashed and compressed on the wound. Wealthy families usually ask farmers to dry the young leaves, like spring tea, so that they can be kept fresh for a long time.

After June, the seven-petal young leaves are getting old, and at this time it is a must-add to many compounds. In December, the stems of the seven-petal leaves dry up, burned into ashes and added to various spices, and incense in the house can also ventilate and clear the lungs.

The purchase of seven-petal leaves, part of which is tribute to the royal family and dignitaries, a large part of which is allocated to various military camps, and a small part is reserved for harem concubines.

However, the seven-petal leaf is a plant that is very well known for the region, and it will be less than seven petals if it is a little bit. If it is less than seven petals, the efficacy is greatly reduced.

Therefore, for a long time, only Yanjiao can be planted.

The Dong family's dozens of acres of seven-petal leaf tea plantations occupy fifty percent of the cultivated land in Yanjiao, and the rest of the families are not as good as the Dong family's planting.

In this case, it is inevitable that some people will be displeased.

Therefore, when Dong Junqin returned to Yanjiao, he suggested that his father recommend himself to pay 90% of the harvest of Chongcaotang to the imperial court, and only keep 10% for himself.

In this way, the seven-petal leaves of Chongcaotang will not be pressed, but also give other people's families a way to live, and they can buy and sell in the market.

It's just that I didn't expect the insect plague to be so severe this year, and the one percent that I left behind has been destroyed, and ninety percent of the people who entered the palace may not be able to keep it. When the time comes, go to other homes to collect, not to mention the uneven quality, it is even more difficult to keep the small-minded deliberate sky-high price.

Father Dong looked at the endless insects in the tea garden with a sad face. No matter how estranged Dong Junqin is from him, he is always father and son, and it is impossible to stand idly by, not to mention that Chongcaotang is still responsible for the livelihood of dozens of people.

Uncle Zhang reported the situation in the past few days, and Dong Junqin squatted down to observe carefully.

Uncle Zhang, who didn't listen to him for a long time, was anxious: "Young master, do you have a way?"

He hadn't thought of the method yet, so he couldn't wave the fairy law.

At this time, Dong's father in the rear couldn't help but say: "What can he do? He hangs outside all day long, what else can he do besides knowing some medical skills? I thought that after he left the school, he would take the examination for a half-official position, and go to the Taiyi Department or the Shang Pharmacy Bureau, but no! Now that his family is in trouble, can he be counted on?"

When Uncle Zhang heard this, he glanced at Dong Junqin nervously, and when he saw that he had no reaction, he turned around and said, "Master, don't say that." This trip to Changyu, the young master has made a lot of efforts. Bitang's shopkeeper Han was also persuaded by the young master. ”

Dong's father disagreed, and continued to arrange Dong Junqin's various homelessness.

And on Dong Junqin's side, he didn't pretend not to hear. But this full plant of insects is really strange, and it attracts all his attention.

Seven-petal leaf beckoning, especially in early spring, this is normal. But this time, it was two kinds of bugs that looked similar but were actually different.

Uncle Zhang said that it may be a side line of the green shell insect. But Dong Junqin didn't look like it.

And what is even more strange is that just now he raised his hand to touch the pole, and another insect covering the green shell insect quickly crawled away, as if he was afraid of him.

Dong Junqin asked Uncle Zhang to try to touch it too, but there was no such situation.

Just when Dong Junqin was puzzled, Dong's father said: "Eighty percent went to some hell place and caused a smell." You see, even the bugs can't stand it. ”

Hearing this, Dong Junqin had a flash of inspiration, took out the jade bottle on his body, and took out the rags soaked in corpse oil.

The fragrance of corpse oil is not as strong as in the jar because of the small amount, and after a few days of running, it is now very light. Dong Junqin himself got used to it, and outsiders didn't smell it. But the rags were here, and before they could get closer, the insects crawled away as if they had seen a ghost.

Dong Junqin remembered that this corpse oil was a kind of thing used in Gu arts, and now there were many insects on the seven-petal leaves that were afraid of corpse oil...... Could it be that this is not an ordinary bug, but a Gu worm?

Just when Dong Junqin was about to discuss with Uncle Zhang, Uncle Zhao shouted at the entrance of the tea garden: "Master, young master, Master Gao is here!"

The three of them looked at each other, thinking to themselves, why did Master Gao come?

This Gao Ting Gao is a new celebrity beside Emperor Chenyang. is not only cold in appearance, but also full of aura in both civil and military affairs. Many women, even men, admired him very much.

So even if he is as proud as Dong Junqin, he feels a little shorter for the tall adults.

After the two sides saluted, Gao Ting said, "Can you please ask someone to go out first?"

Father Dong was stunned for a moment, and then motioned to Uncle Zhao. After the scene was cleared, Gao Ting said again: "I'm sorry, Master Dong has to go out too." ”

Father Dong was surprised, but looking at Gao Ting's son, it was about Emperor Chenyang who had something to talk to Dong Junqin about alone.

There were no outsiders in the house, and Gao Ting said lightly: "Can you ask the young hall master to cast a spell, so as not to have ears on the wall." ”

After Dong Junqin set up an enchantment, Gao Ting continued: "This official came today with the emperor's message. The Eastern Kingdom Mission will enter Beijing next month, and before that, they have already sent a small team of people to bring in the offerings. Among them, there is a medicine that can drive away evil spirits, and His Royal Highness hopes that the young hall master can personally run and check it before entering the palace. ”

Dong Junqin agreed, but why him: "Do the Dao Masters of the Immortal Terrace know about this?"

Gao Ting said: "I know." But when it comes to medicine, the emperor trusts you the most. So keep this trip confidential. It is better not to bring an entourage. ”

Dong Junqin said: "Where to inspect the goods?"

Gao Ting gave Dong Junqin a letter of introduction: "According to the spies, they have already arrived in Lulin and should stay in the area of Luwang Mountain. ”

"Deer King Immortal Mountain?" Dong Junqin thought lightly, "Why did the tribute enter Beijing and make a special detour to Luwang Mountain?"

Gao Ting was silent.

Dong Junqin understood, it seems that this inspection is a small matter, and the investigation of the enemy is true.

Since it is an imperial decree and it is related to the country, Dong Junqin has no reason to refuse.

Gao Ting was very satisfied with his decisiveness and asked, "When can you leave?"

Dong Junqin said: "Ming ......"

Gao Ting interrupted him: "Can you leave tonight?"

"In such a hurry?" Dong Junqin felt strange. After saying that, he regretted it, which is of course urgent.

The relationship between the Central Plains and Dongli has always been delicate, and although there has been no war for many years, both countries know that the other is waiting for an opportunity.

So after Dong Junqin sent Gao Ting away, he briefly talked about it with his father.

Although he was also running, he obviously had an imperial decree, and Dong's father had a much more positive attitude, and even asked him not to worry about the insect plague.

Dong Junqin thought to himself, if it was just an insect plague, he would naturally not be worried. But now that things are to be discussed, how could he not be worried.

But when he thought that his father had always listened to the words of the imperial court and had quite a prejudice against the various techniques in the rivers and lakes, Dong Junqin's suspicion was still not appropriate to tell him, lest his father "help him".

After leaving the study, Dong Junqin returned to Song Jiyue's house

Song Jiyue had already woken up at this time, and everything was stable again.

Dong Junqin was pleasantly surprised, and he was even more determined to ask Ah Lu for help.

Song Jiyue seemed to see his thoughts, and said softly: "Ah Jun, are you going out to run errands?"

Dong Junqin nodded: "There is a small errand." If there is no accident, I will be back soon, and I will bring Alu back at that time to take a look at it for you. You've ...... these days."

Before she finished speaking, Song Jiyue shook her head and said, "Since it is an errand, you can do it with all your might, and you don't need to worry about me." My body is left like this, it can't get worse. What's more, with Dr. Lu here, it will be fine. As for the girl Alu, although she thinks she is interesting, after all, she walks the path of yin and yang, and she is often in danger when she wants to come. Don't force yourself on her for me and get hurt. ”

Dong Junqin opened his mouth, wanting to reassure Song Jiyue, and he would definitely cure her soul loss by doing his best. But after thinking about it, these words were too heavy, Song Jiyue originally blamed herself for the fact that before the Dong family became the imperial merchant, Dong's father forcibly recalled Dong Junqin, who was a teacher and traveled to Yanjiao, on the grounds of her.

So Dong Junqin just smiled, called Xiaoque to tell a few words, and then didn't say more.

Before leaving, he found Uncle Zhang and Uncle Zhao again: "The insect plague started in early March. It's like this every year, so we didn't pay attention at first. But I just heard Uncle Zhang say that other people's families are not so serious. ”

Uncle Zhang said: "Other people's seven-petal leaves are only a few acres, so the eggs do not spread quickly. ”

Dong Junqin shook his head: "No." The spread of insect eggs depends on soil and water, even if it is planted in a field, the water and soil are still connected, and it makes no sense that only our family is in trouble. Uncle Zhang, after I leave, you will go to investigate the upstream water source without telling the master, and ask if there are any suspicious strangers who have been here before the beginning of March. ”

Uncle Zhang was puzzled: "Does the young master suspect that someone has poisoned the upstream water source to attract insects? But in this way, there will not only be insect plagues in the fields of Chongcaotang." ”

Dong Junqin lowered his voice: "I'm worried that someone is going to do it." ”

Uncle Zhang and Uncle Zhao listened to this, and opened their mouths wide at the same time: "Gu?"

If it is drugged, it can still be said who has a grudge against the seven-petal leaf. But under the Gu, that is to have a grudge against Chongcaotang.

Dong Junqin continued: "This matter must be secretly investigated, and it must not be alarmed. Uncle Zhao, you send someone to collect corpse oil in Luozhou, bring Dabao, don't buy fakes. After the things were in hand, I found a way to burn the corpse oil in the garden to make incense. ”

This method is unheard of, or is it corpse oil?

"The palace knows that we smoke corpse oil, that's ......" The more the two old mages thought about it, the more afraid they became.

But Dong Junqin said: "That's why I didn't look for my father, you must secretly investigate, if you find any danger, stop immediately, remember not to be strong." ”

After Uncle Zhang and Uncle Zhao walked out of the room, they looked at each other and were worried.

Dong Junqin counted in his heart, and everything that should be said and ordered was almost done. The rest can only depend on the will of God.

So he turned around and went to a room in the depths of the courtyard.

There are no guards here, and no one comes and goes. But every grass and tree is neatly trimmed, quiet and peaceful.

The Dong family is not a big family, and their ancestors are ordinary farmers. If it weren't for the fact that the uncle had some friendship with Lord Song, and helped Lord Song and the emperor a little bit, plus his mother was born in the big dart bureau in the Yannan area, the Dong family would not have today's "Feihuang Tengda".

Therefore, there are only three tablets in this ancestral hall so far, uncle, mother and Dong Junqin's brother Dong Juncheng.

Uncle and brother passed away before Dong Junqin was born, but I heard others mention that these two were also talents during their lifetimes. Dong Junqin knelt on the futon, lit incense, kowtowed, and prayed to the spirit of the old man of the Dong family to bless all the tribulations in the sky.