Chapter 5

Illness strikes like a mountain collapsing, while recovery is as slow as pulling silk... This ancient saying is truly classic... The time taken to restore one's health passes particularly slowly, flowing gently and gradually...

How could such a thing happen! Xiao Feng patted his chest, saying, "The ones who come are all afflicted by the epidemic. Once I sell the medicine, they leave happily without any issues! It doesn't matter if you rest a few more days."

When Jingyuan left, he had already become very close friends with Zhou Xiaofeng. Xiaofeng insisted on going to the inn with Jingyuan to drink and talk late into the night, completely leaving the responsibility of taking care of Xiaodie to Zhang and Xiao'e.

Xiao Die is unaware that others have so many troubles

Jingyuan cast a sidelong glance at the blushing, thick-necked fool.

To be honest, Xiaodie is feeling quite frustrated

He enjoys seeing You's reactions, which are always so interesting— and You never fails to disappoint him

"Jun Ge," he asked, "You wouldn't have discussed this with Can E long ago, would you? Did you both intentionally portray Xiao Die in such a negative light?"

On five brown envelopes, there is a dark red character for "secret".

As the saying goes, the master is the support of the disciple, and the disciple is the facade of the master. Is Zhou Xiaofeng truly the disciple of the head of the Medicine Sect, Feiqing

Xiao E's expression changed, and she bit her lower lip, "Did the sect leader show you my confidential report?"

He was lost in thought while making a small cut on Xiao Die's neck, then he sliced a small opening on his own thumb and pressed the wound against her neck

Xiao E firmly asserted: that night the light was dim, so Xiao Die misjudged the color of that young gentleman's blood—his blood is truly a deep crimson! If you don't believe it, next time he comes, Sister Xiao Die can go and see for herself! In any case, he is now close friends with Young Master Zhou.

Setting aside her appearance, her vile character has been personally experienced by Jing Yuan: he was struck in a vital point and, without medical intervention within three quarters of an hour, would have succumbed to the poison spreading throughout his body—she was unaware of how dire the situation was, which is why the sect leader Jing chose to overlook it. However, the lack of compassion that is common among ordinary people is inexcusable. In fact, it was from that moment that Jing Yuan began to hesitate: if he were to truly bring her into the Poison Sect, would she one day transform into a black eagle?

Xiao Feng furrowed his brows and asked, "Who are they?"

Xiao Feng feels very awkward

Jingyuan furrowed his brows in dissatisfaction: What is wrong with Xinyou? Even if he is to play the role of a very concerned assistant regarding the shopkeeper's health, there is no need to act so earnestly, right? His gaze clearly urges me to act quickly—has he ceased to be the Xinyou who grew up with me and was indifferent to others?

Thus, he bent down and gently licked the wound with the tip of his tongue—according to his knowledge, there was no medication more convenient and swift than saliva for stopping the bleeding of such a small cut. The slick tip of his tongue separated his fingers from her skin

This week, Xiao Feng actually found six coins! One cannot say that he lacks ability—after all, the collection of the Wei Yuan Wangfu is only worth at most six coins.

At this moment, A Niu also cast a worried glance at Jing Yuan—he, as a chivalrous scholar who had drawn his sword to help those in need and escorted Xiao Die home, was sitting leisurely on the side, drinking tea, seemingly not intending to take any action for the time being

Jingyuan smiled gently and said, "Please fetch some cold water and prepare seven kinds of medicinal materials: six qian each of white lotus root, yellow monk fruit, red water sorrel, black banana, purple door vine, silver bamboo leaf, and green dan cabbage, ground into powder. Grind quickly, and do not let the fragrance escape."

He got out of bed, shook his clothes, and appeared once again as a refreshed young gentleman. "Let's go and see that useless disciple of the Medicine Sect!"

Jing Yuan smiled as he glanced at the sole of Xiao Feng's boot—clearly, the Zhou family's courtyard was adorned with blue tiles, white walls, and paved with blue bricks, yet the sole of his boot bore an inexplicable patch of red...

He adjusted his clothing, pulled out a stack of envelopes from his sleeve, and with a gentle flick of his fingers, fanned them out. "For this."

Feng Jun turned away, not looking directly into A Niu's eyes, seemingly murmuring to himself: "I truly hope that Xiao Die will always be a girl who works hard for her own life and does not believe in the existence of the world of rivers and lakes"

The Feng father and daughter still reside in their drafty, dilapidated house, while Xiao Die, for the sake of managing her daily life, lives with the Zhang family in the small courtyard on the east side, and A Niu and his son live on the west side

Xiao Feng hesitantly replied: "Young Master Jing said that your illness requires black banana. We do not have any in our shop, so I went to borrow some from the medicinal herb store at the Wang residence. As soon as we have it, we will return it to him immediately—who would have thought they would be so stingy! They can't even wait a few days.

Hmm

If there were fewer people, he could swiftly search through his sister's luggage, perhaps finding some miraculous medicine—after all, his sister's suitcase even contained "Purple Jade Dragon Blood Mud," a remedy for minor ailments like fainting, which he should be able to easily pull out ten or eight types of—if that were the case, he could elegantly showcase his abilities, basking in the admiration of the crowd and the gratitude of his sister, enjoying the glory of being a "second coming of Hua Tuo"

Hmm? What happened? Xiao Die peeked around cautiously—two fierce-looking officers burst into the pharmacy, heading straight for Xiao Feng. Officers are not prohibited from entering pharmacies, but is it really necessary to be so aggressive when seeking medical attention? They even cut in line! Truly bureaucratic! Xiao Die huffed to herself: "Show them who's boss! Show them who's boss!"—If she were the attending physician, she would definitely give these two a stern warning! ... I wonder if her brother has such courage and wisdom... Xiao Die huffed to herself: "Show them who's boss! Show them who's boss!"—If she were the attending physician, she would definitely give these two a stern warning! ... I wonder if her brother has such courage and wisdom...

"Brother—" Xiao Die, still somewhat weak, leaned against the door frame and asked drowsily, "What happened to your face?"

Jingyuan did not even put down the teacup, casually saying: "Mix the medicinal powder with cold water to form a paste, and apply it to the forehead and palms." Their pharmacy still has some good items. Not to mention, the precious medicinal herb, black banana, has been banned in the folk for many years and is exclusively supplied to the Imperial Medical Institute. Only favored royal relatives and nobles can gather a little from the tributes bestowed by the emperor.

Three old codgers. Xiao Die responded absentmindedly, I won't deal with them, they came looking for trouble—I'll leave it to you, don't be polite with them

Xiao Feng feigned sympathy and sighed, "Elder brother, how can this epidemic concern itself with human feelings and reason? However, I cannot disregard our relationship—I will give you five doses of medicine. You should take three doses yourself, and give one dose each to your wife and child for prevention. I guarantee you will recover completely and thoroughly!"

He truly wished that there were not so many people by Xiaodie’s bedside— the Zhao family of three and the Feng father and daughter were all gathered together, and there was even an additional stranger— the scholar who brought Xiaodie back, someone whose name Xiaofeng had already forgotten

She turned her sore neck and complained, "Oh heavens, since you have given birth to Zhou Xiaofeng, why must you also give birth to me, Zhou Xiaodie? If you insist on bringing me into this world, there is no need for me to be his sister! Are you truly trying to drive me crazy?"

"But you still came." A Niu did not lift his head, continuing to organize the medicine box.

He opened another envelope and read aloud: "Arrogance, vanity, and a love for flattery"

... ...

Xiao Feng nodded slightly, "There are also black bananas, purple door vines, silver bamboo leaves, and green radishes"

In the softly brightening dawn, this courtyard is exceptionally quiet, as if everyone is holding their breath to listen to the steady breathing of the little butterfly in the room.

Xiao E helped Xiao Die clean the medicine residue from her forehead and palms, gently closed Xiao Die's room door, and discussed with Zhang: "Let’s allow Sister Xiao Die some peace tonight; you can come to my house and squeeze in with me. I’ll have my father spend the night with Uncle Zhao."

Fortunately, that kid's strength is insufficient

Ah You was attracted to that little bit of her

Did we not agree that no one would do anything?

Xiao E's childlike face flushed bright red as she stamped her foot and said with a trembling voice: "Why do you have to think so badly of me? Is it only you who knows that Xiao Die is good? Even if you think she is good, there is no need to praise her in the confidential report to the sect leader! Can't you, can't you say a few more bad things to let the sect leader know that she is a vulgar commoner and prevent her from joining our sect? You... you can't let Xiao Die live her own life?"

The young man's lips curled coldly as he said, "Because among them, there is a confidential report that truly stands out. Would you like to hear it?" He opened an envelope—inside, the content of the letter was written with a special ink on the inner side of the envelope, and a unique process revealed the dark red characters. "Zhou Xiaodie is a person who is solely profit-driven and has no conscience whatsoever; she will absolutely not extend a helping hand to those in difficulty"

Xiao Die was truly very drowsy that day, barely able to sit on the side and support herself as a listener, lacking even the strength to express an opinion—perhaps her silent and reserved demeanor was quite captivating, as she always felt that Young Master Jing had glanced at her several times, whether intentionally or not

Once again, Xiaoyue's account and Xiaodie’s recollections seem to differ slightly—among the two of them, one must have been overly frightened, leading to an unclear memory of the details

Xiao Feng's expression was calm, and he said nothing

"Young Master Zhou," Jingyuan finally set down the teacup calmly, stood up, and bowed to Xiaofeng. "I am not talented, but I have studied a bit of emergency medical methods in the Liangguang region and the countryside. From the looks of Miss Zhou, it does not seem like heatstroke; rather, it resembles symptoms caused by the concurrent onset of pestilence and epidemic, taking advantage of a moment of weakness."

While Zhang was tidying up in the courtyard, Xiao E suddenly saw A Niu silently leaning against the dividing wall of the courtyard. She was taken aback and, with a smile, asked: "A Niu, if you don't sleep soon, it will be dawn. Why are you still standing here scaring people?"

The gazes of the two individuals happened to meet

"So what?" - The lazy response indicates that the other party does not care.

This young man is indeed the one who was ridiculed by Xiao Die in the alley

Make way! Make way!

Jingyuan licked his fingertips and stole a glance at A Niu's reaction—he seemed to be standing at the door, making a great effort to pretend he had seen nothing

He unfurled a scroll of drawings with a swift motion

A Niu seemed to have a troubled expression, "I... I haven't brought this up with her yet."

Brother You! Xiao E used A Niu's real name, and her tone was not at all like that of a twelve-year-old child. She earnestly said: "Xiao Die is very talented, but we do not lack talented people—it's just that the sect leader, on a whim, wants to drag a perfectly good girl into the martial world? If you truly care for Xiao Die, then think about what is good for her and what might harm her!"

She fell asleep just like that

Oh? So what I said is like the spring breeze—just passing by without a trace?! The faces of the young people remain cold, but their tone has changed somewhat. "Didn’t mention it? You can’t really intend to be her errand boy for a lifetime, can you? Don’t lose sight of the essentials and forget what you came here for!"

Jingyuan no longer wishes to act rashly. In the event that blood were to stain the pillow, he would have to expend considerable effort to fabricate an explanation for the source of the bloodstain

Sitting on the stool by the bed was actually A Niu, a worker from Tai'an Hall.

Xiao Die felt that she had not yet seen through Jing Yuan as a person, and her woman's intuition warned her: she must be cautious of him

She felt a flutter of anxiety in her heart—could this be her brother?! Why was he labeled with the words "wanted" above his head?!

When Xiao Die made her official appearance at the pharmacy once again, it was already the nineteenth day after the incident of fainting. She could not help but exclaim: if it were not for the tremendous power of disguise, then the force of forgetfulness is indeed terrifying—now, most people who see the cross-dressed Xiao Die praise her for her delicate appearance, saying she resembles her brother "Doctor Zhou"... Some people, although filled with doubts, are completely convinced by her brother's elaborate explanations, and those who still have questions are sternly warned by Xiao Feng not to steal glances at his sister. She could not help but exclaim: if it were not for the tremendous power of disguise, then the force of forgetfulness is indeed terrifying—now, most people who see the cross-dressed Xiao Die praise her for her delicate appearance, saying she resembles her brother "Doctor Zhou"... Some people, although filled with doubts, are completely convinced by her brother's elaborate explanations, and those who still have questions are sternly warned by Xiao Feng not to steal glances at his sister... On the twenty-second day, Xiao Die's identity as "sister" became stable, and she faced no further doubts.

She has not been ill since childhood and does not know what it feels like to be sick. Moreover, her unusual condition does not seem like an illness; rather, it resembles poisoning. However, when she examined herself, she could not find any signs of poisoning.

I do not need to waste time interacting with her. The young man let out a soft hum, seemingly very disdainful, and said, I only need the conclusion: Does she have real ability? Does she want to join us?

She cast a fearful glance at her brother—his disguise made him look quite similar to Xiao Die, but not very much like the person in the portrait

During these past few days, she had the fortune of meeting that chivalrous scholar, Master Jing, who repays kindness with kindness.

Xiao Die truly wanted to give him a fierce glare—she indeed widened her eyes, but there was still a slight gap from the standard of a "glare"... Then, perhaps due to her eyelids exhausting all their strength, she could no longer muster the energy to keep them open.

"Is the blood poison of the sect master something that a mere disciple of a mediocre medicinal sect can resolve?" A Niu furrowed his brow, "From what Xiao Die implies, her brother is capable of concocting headache medicine that could kill someone... If such a person were to cure the sect master's blood poison, wouldn't that be a joke?"

Secondly, Xiaodie feels that her physical condition seems to be somewhat abnormal

"Hurry up! Everyone, get moving!" Xiao Feng directed the crowd to find medicine and grind it. Instantly, the room was emptied of people, leaving only the unconscious Xiao Die and this Young Master Jing.

Young Master Jing! The medicine is ready!

Unfortunately, when they met again, Xiaodie had just taken the health supplement she prepared for herself, and her mind was extremely unclear

A harsh shout dispersed the crowd

Xiao Feng glanced lightly and said calmly: "Officer, you are making it too difficult for me— I see at least two hundred people every day, if not three hundred! How can I remember everyone's appearance? However, since you have brought it up, I will pay attention from now on for you"

She only knew that she had been in a deep sleep for seven days, and upon waking, the world seemed to be different

A Niu was taken aback, hearing a faint sigh coming from the other courtyard

She truly misses the chair where the attending physician used to sit—now, her brother is pompously seated in it, ostentatiously pretending to treat others: "... Auntie, it’s nothing to worry about! It’s just a seasonal epidemic! You know very well that I am most skilled at treating seasonal epidemics! Come, that will be eight taels of silver... Oh, the price has gone up a bit. It’s hard to find good materials now! Everyone, please be understanding!—Xiao Die! Prepare the medicine for the auntie!"... Oh, the price has gone up a bit. It’s hard to find good materials now! Everyone, please be understanding!—Xiao Die! Prepare the medicine for the auntie!

Oh, by the way. This fellow has not learned much in the way of medical skills, but he is quite proficient in various dubious and unorthodox practices. However, these tricks are usually not employed for good purposes; this time, he actually intends to use them to steal her shop! What a wolf in sheep's clothing! Xiao Die's mind was clouded with several thoughts, and she lacked the energy to lose her temper with him, merely sneering in disdain: "You have worked hard these past few days—how many people have you killed? Our pharmacy's sign hasn't been smashed, has it?"

She has now become a pharmacy assistant responsible for dispensing medication

Smell? Xiao E looked bewildered and shook his head; there was nothing unusual about his scent!

It is merely a trivial matter of recruiting people, which should have been properly prepared and presented to me directly. Why write a confidential report for my review? You know how busy I am! Moreover, aside from what you are aware of, I have many other matters to attend to that you are unaware of. The young man furrowed his brow, saying, "How can I waste my time on such trivial matters!"

He pulled the golden needle from the patient's lower abdomen, his expression grave and his tone somewhat reproachful: "You are too careless! How could you let a small-time crook injure a vital point?"

She could only vaguely remember: that young gentleman was discussing famous scenic spots with her brother at the dining table. He claimed that one of his greatest wishes in life was to travel the world and visit renowned mountains and rivers—similar to her brother's hedonistic aspirations, although the former sought to enjoy nature while her brother was more interested in food and drink. Observing his spirited demeanor and the way he passionately recounted historical anecdotes, Xiaodie truly could not believe that he would get along so well with her brother—despite their somewhat similar interests, they did not seem like two of a kind.

... ... Yes

The overall standard of the Yongzhou Inn is quite good, but during this season of theatrical performances, even the most refined inns cannot escape the chaos and noise— it seems that all the revelers in the world gather here at this time, leaving no quiet corner to be found in the entire Yongzhou.

A Niu shook his head, "What do you want me to think? There is no banquet in the world that does not come to an end! The master wants us to make a decision next month—Xiao Die will eventually find out who we are, and we will inevitably disappoint her."

Xiao Feng held a tray with seven or eight small bowls, rushing back in a flurry, only to find that the young gentleman Jing was leisurely savoring tea.

A Niu remained silent

Little Butterfly sneered as she immersed herself in her own fantasies

The young man opened his eyes, a faint cold light swept across A Niu's face. "Doesn't she have a brother who is a medicine master? Even if he can't cure her fundamentally, he should have the ability to wake her up, right? As long as she wakes up, any issues can be resolved next month."

Firstly, my brother's appearance seems to have changed—he originally did not resemble himself much (it is estimated that one person's looks take after the father, while another takes after the mother), but today he bears a resemblance to Xiaodie, about sixty to seventy percent alike

"You are quite amusing with that tone!" The sect leader smiled slightly, seemingly deriving pleasure from A Niu's anxiety and cunning, yet his words were particularly gentle: "Since you are going to such lengths to persuade me to take action, just say it directly—what is it that we cannot say openly? Why beat around the bush? I am not someone who would refuse to give you face!"

Xiao Die gasped: "Did you... finish using ... ...? What did you steal?"

"Don't bring up old grievances!" Xiaodie checked the closed door once more and, lowering her voice, shouted at her brother, "Why are you so meddlesome? On the very first day in Yongzhou, you went to steal from someone else's royal residence? That is a royal residence! What do you think that place is?"

A Niu smiled and said, "Xiao Die is very unique—once you spend time with her, you will understand."

"Official, sir," Xiao Die emerged from behind the counter, pretending to be curious as she asked, "What is going on? What is this person here for? Is he... is he very fierce?"

However... it seems you have forgotten that the first person to break this agreement was you! You stole the master's 'Qionghua Liquid' three years ago, which is why you were expelled from the sect

We are not here to seek medical treatment! The one in front called out, but I heard from Xiao Feng that he has already contracted the epidemic, and his voice is not as strong anymore. Have you seen this person with all the comings and goings here?

Is that all? Xiao Die seemed to have thought of something, frowning as she asked. Seeing her brother's affirmative gaze, she stamped her foot and exclaimed: "Brother! You have been deceived! The black banana must use six-ring incense as a medicinal guide; without the six-ring incense, its medicinal properties cannot be activated at all! I have long suspected that that Jing Yuan is not a good person—sure enough! He actually set you up to do such a dangerous thing!" The black banana must use six-ring incense as a medicinal guide; without the six-ring incense, its medicinal properties cannot be activated at all! I have long suspected that that Jing Yuan is not a good person—sure enough! He actually set you up to do such a dangerous thing!

Originally, being a doctor who treats epidemics every day was already quite boring; now I have unexpectedly become a clerk who dispenses the same medicine every day...! ... It is simply hell! Hell!

Jingyuan disdainfully smiled at Aniu by the door—let others busy themselves; it is not so easy for that layman to find these seven types among thousands of medicines—of course, the premise is that Taian Hall's medicine cabinet contains these seven exquisite types

The lord... A Niu seemed to want to say something, but was interrupted by his lord with a wave of his hand

Having finished speaking, he sat on the bed and closed his eyes to rest his mind

Although outside the door various opera enthusiasts are discussing and performing, the room 2 of the Geng character on the second floor of the Donglai Inn is unusually quiet. This atmosphere seems to make the medicinal fragrance in the air hesitant to swirl freely, merely drifting slowly around the edge of the bed curtains

The blood poison has erupted, only your blood can cure it—she is still unconscious

Xiao Die herself began to hesitate, wondering if there was indeed a problem with her memory

"Cang'e, to speak honestly, how has Xiaodie treated you? Tell me the truth: are you jealous of her abilities, and are you deliberately speaking ill of her in front of the sect leader?" A Niu's expression grew even more unfriendly

This is disguise! Xiao Feng seems quite pleased, "Since I will eventually take over the pharmacy, and everyone is already familiar with your appearance and demeanor, so... heh heh, I will first change your appearance, and then make slight adjustments every day—after a few days, everyone will replace you with my image!"

A Niu quietly tidied up the medicinal herbs and tools, seemingly intentionally yet unintentionally asking: "Why did you come to Yongzhou in person? Don't tell me you came to watch a play"

They were relatively silent when they heard Xiao E calling out in the courtyard: "Young Master Zhou! The owners of the three pharmacies, Shengyuan, Heyuan, and Shunyuan, invite you to dinner!"

She clearly heard that person harshly say she was "overestimating herself," but Xiao E instead said that the person was repaying malice with kindness and not quibbling over trivial matters, sending Xiao Die home

However, listening to their carefree and wide-ranging conversations is quite interesting: one is introducing various local attractions, while the other is supplementing with introductions to local delicacies

Hmph— the young master on the bed reluctantly lowered his collar, unwilling to express his thoughts

Sighing, Zhang said by the door, "I truly wish that time would stop today"

"Forgive my frankness, but those medicines are unlikely to be effective." Jingyuan feigned seriousness, "Your sister has likely developed a resistance after being surrounded by those medicinal herbs all day. I have heard of a folk remedy that specifically targets severe epidemics and is known for its remarkable efficacy. However, the medicinal ingredients are rather difficult to obtain"

Xiao Die wandered around the house in confusion for two laps, deciding to heed her brother's advice and rest for a few more days

However, there are so many people by Xiaodie’s bedside—although Xiaodie is usually carefree and easygoing, she is indeed a genuine woman. How could they not know to avoid this situation?

Xiao Die, however, could not smile— it seemed that many things had happened on the fifteenth of last month

Then... she is self-centered, expecting everyone to be of use to her

"That is not the case." The official glanced at Xiao Die, his tone slightly softened, "There is no need for all the villagers to panic. This person is merely a notorious bandit, suspected of the theft at the Wei Yuan Wang residence on the night of the fifteenth of last month. He has not harmed anyone yet. I urge all villagers to be vigilant. A reward of fifty taels of silver will be given for reporting any sightings of this individual!" He shouted this loudly, as if he had completed his official duty, then leaned closer to Xiao Feng and asked in a lowered voice, "Doctor Zhou... am I really infected with the plague? You know, if I contract the plague, I will have to be suspended from my position. My wife and children at home are still waiting for food..."

Xiao Die fiercely wrapped the medicine while looking at the desk and chair that once belonged to her and were exclusively for her use— I must, I must get them back! Just wait and see!

Little Butterfly shook her head, seemingly trying hard to think of some clues, "There must be a conspiracy! Definitely!"

After reading four letters, the young man shook his head, "Having seen these, I thought that Zhou Xiaodie was a living example of 'the theory of inherent evil.' However—" He slowly opened the last envelope, "Someone seems to have a unique perspective—'naive, inexperienced in the world, trusting of those around her, and firmly believing that others trust her in the same way, filled with pure ideals.' I really want to know—when you first praised a woman in such a gentle tone, what was it about her that was so exceptional?" "Someone seems to have a unique perspective—'naive, inexperienced in the world, trusting of those around her, and firmly believing that others trust her in the same way, filled with pure ideals.' I really want to know—when you first praised a woman in such a gentle tone, what was it about her that was so exceptional?"

But what to do? How about letting this little butterfly in women's clothing die, and then she can change into men's clothing and become Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng's younger brother? Yes, this idea is quite good! ... And then ... ... Hehehe. ... ... As long as the brother is dealt with, this pharmacy will be back in her hands!

Black banana! Little Die wanted to scream, but finally held it back, resulting in her nearly choking on her breath. "What do you want the black banana for?"

Perhaps so

"Don't be foolish..." In the darkness, flickers of bright red sparks glimmered—Zhao Xing tapped his pipe in the corner of the small courtyard, "We have our own matters to attend to; we can't spend our entire lives as assistants, apprentices, accountants, cooks, or housekeepers in a pharmacy! I have always said that if we are here to deceive her, we should not treat her well! Now look, no one knows how this play will end!"

But heaven did not grant her a second chance—Young Master Jing soon left Yongzhou and continued his travels.

It cannot be sent back. Xiao Feng replied hesitantly, I have used it all up.

Moreover, why do they gaze at him with such eager eyes? -- Xiao Feng's sweat silently trickled down

"A month... who can know what today will be like a month from now?" A Niu, or rather, "Xin You," heavily leaned his head against the wall

Jingyuan dipped the corner of his sleeve in some tea water and wiped clean the bloodstains on Xiaodie’s neck. He then took out a small box from his pocket, applied a bit of fragrant ointment, and lightly spread it over Xiaodie’s wound, concealing the originally inconspicuous fine scar as if nothing had ever happened.

Xiao Feng glanced at the two unruly constables and then focused on writing the prescription: "Anyone who cuts in line will be treated as an emergency case; the emergency fee is four taels of silver per person. The person in front seems to exhibit early symptoms of an epidemic, while the one behind, although quite healthy, is in close contact with someone showing mild epidemic symptoms, so it is best to take precautions. Alright, the total comes to two taels and four cash—one tael and six cash for the medicine and consultation fee"

There is no need for everyone to panic. His dry voice lacked conviction, According to Xiao E's description, Xiao Die should be suffering from excessive fatigue, having run and squatted vigorously, leading to blood loss... It's nothing serious, nothing serious!

Xiao Feng pretentiously lifted his sister's eyelid to take a look, but he couldn't discern anything unusual. "Hmm, it seems there are still some signs of heatstroke—it's been a bit too hot lately."

He sat unceremoniously at the head of Xiaodie’s bed, carefully scrutinizing the woman.

Where exactly is the "heavenly principle" hidden in the sky? Little Die really wants to rush up to the heavens to take a look, to see if the heavens have not kept this thing well, and inadvertently let a dog eat it!

Although this is what is said, it can only deceive those who are uninformed—looking at Xiaodie, it does not seem like a momentary dizziness

Little Die also peeked around, and upon seeing the portrait in the picture—oh, this person! ... This is not ...

The next envelope reads, "In her eyes, even a child without the ability to live does not deserve her special care— a cold-blooded woman"

Her appearance is quite ordinary! Besides her, there are countless women in the world who have such eyebrows, such eyes, such noses, and such mouths. Moreover, among these countless women, there are many whose facial features are more charming, more delicate, and more whatever.

A Niu knew that the meeting time of this prominent figure had ended, yet he still raised his voice and said: "Master, Xiao Die has been poisoned by your blood toxin"

A Niu did not smile; instead, he coldly asked, "In what way did Xiao Die wrong you? 'A cold-blooded woman'—is this your assessment of her?"

"What a load of nonsense!" Xiaodie struck her brother's head hard and said, "In our lifetime, we might not even be able to get a handful of black bananas! By the way—I felt like there were all sorts of strange smells on me when I woke up, like white lotus, yellow arhat, and red water sorrel..."

After a long time, he gently lifted Xiaodie’s eyelids—the dark blue hue in her eyes gradually faded, as the poison from his blood dissipated within her body. Jingyuan wanted to gently move his fingers away, but he found that the blood from the two wounds had congealed together. He exerted a slight force, but before their skin could separate, both wounds began to bleed again.

Oh, thank you! Thank you very much. The official left with a cheerful smile

Fortunately, it was her brother who spoke at that time, so in retrospect, Xiaodie did not feel too embarrassed—her brother should be grateful to her. If it weren't for her timely collapse to the ground, his comment about a certain type of fried stinky tofu from a certain place would have undoubtedly become a source of laughter for Young Master Jing within three years.

Xiao Die anxiously paced back and forth in the room, complaining: "I had already guessed that during your travels, you would inevitably be 'borrowing money' everywhere, but what sudden whim has struck you? You actually went... oh dear! And someone saw you! Now I truly understand you—your disguise technique is indeed killing two birds with one stone! Not only are you coveting my pharmacy, but you are also evading a manhunt!" She took a breath, "What did you steal? Hurry and return it! I know how efficient the authorities are: they would love to close the case as soon as possible. As long as you return the item, they would be more than happy to treat this matter as an unsolved case and resolve it hastily..."

Xiao Feng was troubled by the lack of guidance, calling out to the heavens with no response and to the earth with no answer. Upon hearing such a insightful assertion, it felt as if he had grasped a lifeline. He promptly recalled the surname of this young man, "Does Young Master Jing also have some knowledge of medicine? My sister has successfully treated many people suffering from the epidemic, and we have quite a few ready-made medicines at home"

Jingyuan let out a helpless sigh, blowing away the strands of hair by the little butterfly's ear. He murmured to himself—after all, she looked quite graceful while sleeping. Could it be that Xinyou has truly developed feelings and intends to bestow the title of "Madam Xin" upon this woman

This means that if Xiaodie is unwilling to join the Poison Sect, no one will take care of the aftereffects of poisoning for the rest of her life

Yao! There are many matters I allow you to decide on my behalf, and this time is no exception—whether this woman should join, you may decide. On this day next month, you will either bring her to the main hall to report, or you may return by yourself. " He cast a faint glance at A Niu, "Do not say that I am pressing you too hard or that I have not given you time to consider.

"Goo---" Jingyuan swallowed a mouthful of tea loudly---his current identity was that of a scholar without medical knowledge, and he needed to maintain a detached attitude towards Xiaofeng's diagnosis; otherwise, he would truly burst into laughter three times, mocking Xiaofeng heartily.

Xiao Feng felt somewhat guilty from what she said and murmured in defense: "Why must you think so poorly of others? He was merely sharing a remedy he heard about. Besides, aren't you feeling better now?"

Xiao Feng's eyes lit up with inspiration, "Young Master Jing, why not share your thoughts! As the saying goes, unconventional methods can treat serious illnesses! Moreover, the regions of Guangdong and Guangxi have historically dealt with fevers and plagues, so there should be some unique remedies to address them. The medicinal materials may be hard to find, but I can find a way to gather them."

She woke up just in time for noon, so she had no opportunity to verify whether the sun had risen from the west or the south today. However, there were still many obvious anomalies left for her to investigate

Black Banana

The blood glued his fingers to her fair skin, and her warm pulse suddenly gave Jingyuan a strange feeling. Gradually, his heartbeat began to synchronize with hers. He could only hear his own heart thumping in rhythm with the vibrations at the tips of his fingers. Perhaps it was indeed late at night; the tranquil and slightly cool atmosphere made him feel somewhat dazed.

He truly hopes to have such an experience

Ahem! A-Niu coughed by the door, seemingly reminding Jingyuan not to waste time