Finest Servant

Chapter 356 Goryeo's Gift

"Oh my, Miss Seo, why offer such a grand gesture? I'm overwhelmed," Lin Wanrong said, grinning as he steadied Seo Jang Geum, taking the chance to brush his hand over her delicate one. Her face reddened, and she hastily withdrew her hand, not allowing him another advantage.

Lin Wanrong pondered for a moment. The Great Hua was about to engage in a fierce battle with the Turks. If Dongyin truly conquered Goryeo and then colluded with the Turks to stab Great Hua in the back, it would bring no good. The Emperor should be informed of this. How he dealt with it would be his decision. If Lin Wanrong didn't speak up, it would be a betrayal of friendship.

He couldn't, however, reveal his thoughts so openly. A hint of hesitation colored his face. "Miss Seo, you say Dongyin aims to capture Goryeo. Do you have solid evidence?"

Seo Jang Geum shook her head, "Sir, when it comes to national strategy, can one rely solely on evidence? If we wait for Dongyin to act and then Great Hua responds, it would be too late."

"So, there's no evidence?" Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Without evidence and just your word, how can I speak to the Emperor? Alas, perhaps you should return and wait. Once Dongyin begins its assault, you can face them first. If you can't handle it, then seek reinforcements."

Seo Jang Geum sensed Master Lin's intent to sit on the sidelines from his words, her face turning pale. She whispered, "Sir, if we wait for Dongyin to strike, my peace-loving people of Goryeo will face devastation, with rivers of blood flowing. Must it come to this before Great Hua is willing to lend a hand?"

Lin Wanrong smiled playfully, "Tell me, Jang Geum, in international relations, what's the most crucial thing?"

With a slight sigh, Seo Jang Geum retrieved a letter from her bosom, handing it to Lin Wanrong, "Sir, this is a letter from our King to the Emperor of Great Hua. Please, deliver it on our behalf. If Great Hua assists and saves Goryeo from this crisis, we pledge to be forever subservient, paying our respects annually, and offering tributes every year."

Such a shrewd negotiator this Seo Jang Geum was, holding onto this trump card until the very end. Had Lin Wanrong been a tad less astute, her tears would have deceived him. Taking the letter, he tucked it away, grinning, "Miss Seo, this isn't written in Goryeo's script, right? I can't understand those tadpole-like characters."

Her face lighting up, Seo Jang Geum quickly replied, "Rest assured, sir. The letter is written in both the Goryeo and Great Hua scripts. It was penned by my hand under the King's directive. There's no error. Sir, have you agreed? On behalf of all Goryeo citizens, I thank you for your great kindness."

"You don't need to represent everyone," Lin Wanrong waved dismissively, chuckling, "Apart from yourself, you represent no one. I'll keep the letter, but whether it reaches the Emperor, I'm not certain. Oh, I'm such a soft-hearted person. Doing this favor for Goryeo won't benefit me much. Miss Seo, give me a kiss as encouragement."

Seo Jang Geum's heart skipped a beat, her face glowing like blossoming peach flowers as she swiftly distanced herself. Chuckling, another lady grabbed her hand, "Miss Seo, don't be afraid. My big brother just likes to scare people. If you really kissed him, he'd probably run miles away."

Seo Jang Geum smiled bashfully, delicately reaching into her robe and producing a small box. "Sir," she whispered, "You've done so much for my Goryeo homeland. Our King wishes to express his gratitude but finds himself at a loss. This gift was specifically prepared by him for the Emperor of Great Hua before we set out. Since we were unable to meet the Emperor, and given your immense assistance, the Prince said this gift should now be yours as a token of our appreciation."

A gift intended for the Emperor? What kind of treasure could it be? Lin Wanrong took the small box, chuckling, "This is a bit much, isn't it? I'm not one to accept handouts. However, seeing your sincerity, I'll accept it. Miss Seo, what treasure does this box hold?"

Seo Jang Geum shook her head, "I'm not sure. The King said it was for the Emperor of Great Huaa. Surely, the imperial physician in his palace would recognize it."

An imperial physician? What did a gift for the Emperor have to do with a physician? Could it be some sort of magical elixir? Intrigued, he gently opened the box. As the lid lifted, a subtle fragrance wafted out. Inside, there was a peculiarly shaped root: straight at the front, bulbous at the top, and seemingly split into two ball-like structures at the base. The entire root was translucent and emanated a faint scent.

Upon seeing the object, Seo Jang Geum gasped. Her face turned crimson, and she hurriedly covered her cheeks, seemingly too embarrassed to look any longer.

This thing's shape seemed oddly familiar. Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Miss Seo, did your King really send this? He's quite creative, isn't he? A tube and two balls... Does this resemble the cannon from Divine Machine Unit?!"

Finally overcoming her shyness, Seo Jang Geum uncovered her face, speaking softly, "As a healer, I shouldn't harbor any impure thoughts. My apologies for any inconvenience. Sir, this is an extremely precious medicinal ingredient. It is... beneficial for both you and your wife." As she reached the latter part of her sentence, her voice grew softer, and her face flushed even more, though she steadfastly kept her gaze up.

"Beneficial for both me and my wife?" Lin Wanrong said, glancing questioningly at Qiaoqiao. Waving the box in front of his wife, Qiaoqiao shyly looked down and muttered, "Big brother, you're terrible! Put it away now!"

"Miss Seo, please clarify. With you being so vague, what if I accidentally consume it—"

"You mustn't misuse it," Seo Jang Geum interjected anxiously. "Sir, this medicine is potent. A piece the size of a fingernail is enough to ensure marital harmony for the night. An overdose could have unforeseen consequences."

Upon hearing "marital harmony," it dawned on Lord Lin: it was a ‘Viagra.’ Yi Seung-Jae, that rascal, wasn't decent at all! Lord Lin himself prided on his genuine prowess, not on medicinal enhancement.

"Seo Jang Geum, what exactly do you mean by 'marital harmony'? I truly don't understand. Can you elaborate? Qiaoqiao, dear, come and listen too. Let's find out about this 'harmony' together." Lord Lin said with a feigned earnestness, his eyes brimming with playful curiosity.

Qiaoqiao, realizing the nature of the item, blushed a deep red, quickly hiding behind her big brother, too embarrassed to look up.

Seo Jang Geum was indeed a principled healer. Despite her shyness, she tried to explain, "Sir, this is known as Wanyang Ginseng, a magical product unique to the sacred mountain of my homeland, Goryeo. There's a theory in traditional medicine that says 'like cures like.' In essence, it means that any medicine that resembles a particular organ in shape, can potentially be beneficial to that organ. For instance, broad beans, which resemble kidneys, are thought to nourish and strengthen them."

Master Lin slapped his forehead, a sudden realization dawning on him. "I see, so because it looks like this, it can be used to bolster... well, you know. That part that looks like this. Is that correct, Miss Seo?"

Seo Jang Geum bit her lip lightly, speaking softly, "Nature is full of mysteries and unpredictability. This 'Wanyang Ginseng' is fiery hot, embodying pure yang, yet it grows in the frigid, yin-dominated sacred mountain, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. It's specifically beneficial for men's vitality. Regular Wanyang Ginseng is already very potent, and considering the size of this one, who knows how many years it has grown beneath the snow. Its medicinal power must be immense and wild, too much for most people to handle. You must be careful not to consume too much, otherwise—"

"Otherwise, what would happen?" Master Lin asked, curiosity making his eyes wide.

Seo Jang Geum's face flushed with embarrassment, yet she refused to lower her gaze. Unable to meet his eyes, she turned to look out the window, murmuring, "Otherwise... your wives might not be able to cope."

Master Lin was ecstatic inside, this was precisely the effect he desired. No wonder the Goryeo King had chosen to send this to the Emperor. He tucked the small box into his robe, sighing, "The Prince shouldn't have sent this. I was already worried about my virility being too potent. With this, it's like adding fuel to the fire. I might live to be a hundred, and I still might not need this. Miss Seo, you're a healer, do you have any solution for my 'excessive fire'?"

Seo Jang Geum smiled faintly, "You may have liver fire rising [TL: hyperthyroidism,] sir. You need to calm your mind, restrain your desires, and cultivate your spirit—"

Qiaoqiao interrupted with a giggle, teasingly poking Master Lin's waist. Master Lin laughed awkwardly, "Miss Seo, you are very skilled at diagnosing. Never mind, forget what I said."

After conversing with Seo Jang Geum for a while, asking detailed questions about the function and medicinal properties of Wanyang Ginseng, and seeking further consultation about his overbearing virility—so much so that he confessed how many times he was capable in one night—the conversation left Miss Seo red-faced and too embarrassed to look up for a long time.

As he bid farewell to Seo Jang Geum, Master Lin still seemed unsatisfied. Holding her hand, he said, "Jang Geum, would you be willing to come regularly and give me and Qiaoqiao medical lessons? I still have many questions about male physiology." Seo Jang Geum fled as though on wings, daring not to look back.

After this playful banter with Seo Jang Geum, Master Lin's spirits were significantly lifted. However, he couldn't find Eldest Miss or Madam Xiao anywhere. Puzzled, he turned to Qiaoqiao and asked, "Little darling, where are Eldest Miss and Madam Xiao?"

Qiaoqiao smiled, "Eldest Miss and Madam Xiao went to Jinghua Academy early this morning."

Master Lin suddenly understood. Of course, now that Madam Xiao was in the capital, she would want to see Yushuang. Speaking of which, he hadn't seen that little girl for several days. He wondered if she was settling in well?

Just as he was thinking of Yushuang, Qiaoqiao tugged at his sleeve, "Big brother, have you told Eldest Miss that we are planning to move out?"

"No!" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, "What happened?!"

Qiaoqiao let out a soft sigh, "Big brother, when you have a moment, please talk to her—last night, the Eldest Miss cried."

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