Chapter 6

This gentle cough awakened the Xiao Die siblings, as well as the sweet slumber of Prince Wei Yuan

The maids on both sides frowned slightly at the dazed expressions of Xiao Feng and Xiao Die, and gently cleared their throats

He spoke with such confidence that it took Xiaodie a long time to blink before she finally understood. "Brother, how come I never noticed that your thoughts are so meticulous before? Are you really thinking of me? You wouldn't have any other ulterior motives, would you?"

Who is causing trouble? Xiao Die sniffled in grievance and turned her head to look at the older brother behind her

Although knowledge from books is important, it is even more crucial to gather intelligence. I asked Uncle Zhao, and he said that the prince is bedridden because a courtesan named 'Red Umbrella' died in the brothel. Little Die shrugged, saying, 'Seeing a doctor is just like fortune-telling; having more information is never a bad thing'

Xiao Die collapsed to the ground

Xiao Feng looked at this and then at that, and asked in confusion: "What? Don't you all want to move to a more spacious place? Let's find a large courtyard to live in together; it would be convenient for everyone to take care of each other, wouldn't it?"

Xiao Feng, gathering his courage, said: "I can see that the prince's illness is apparent, yet it is difficult to treat. However, my sister has always been skilled in treating this condition; it would be worth allowing her to give it a try"

The world suddenly fell silent

Xiao Feng was not very good at handling this atmosphere, and with a sense of guilt, he waved to his younger sister, "Xiao Die, come over and help."

I have my own way to handle this

Zhao Xingnuo lowered her head in silence, while Zhang remained silent with her head down. A Niu simply sat quietly, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

Zhang seemed taken aback for a moment, then said: "Xiao Die, although we are great thieves, we are by no means thugs—we do not wish to implicate you."

"Strict tutoring yields no results!" Qin Youxian tiptoed around, still dejectedly pacing back and forth. "I originally hoped he would stumble—preferably getting his head chopped off by that capricious prince; who would have thought it would instead benefit this brat. I just heard that the prince generously rewarded him with three hundred taels delivered to his residence. Bah! If he continues to be so arrogant, we will all have to resort to drinking the northwestern wind!"

"Troublesome!" Xiao Feng struck her forehead hard and said, "Find two clean pieces of clothing to change into. We will go this afternoon!"

This elder brother, your appearance...

Xiao E suddenly stood up, stamped her foot, as if she had made a great decision, and said: "Since everyone has spoken their minds, I must also say: Xiao Die! We are actually... actually not father and daughter! Don't be deceived by my appearance; I am already sixteen years old, but my body has not grown since childhood. Moreover, in fact, we are the perpetrators of the series of robbery cases in the capital! We have already chosen the right moment and plan to escape to the South Seas in the next few days."

The world seems to have truly changed. Xiao Die sighed deeply within her heart.

The opulence of the Wei Yuan Wang Mansion left little impression on Xiao Die

Little Die's head suddenly jolted, and she woke up, staring blankly at Zhao Xing. With her eyes wide open, she asked, "Uncle Zhao, what did you say? You all... are moving to another place?!"

In the end, Xiao Die did not move; her funds were insufficient, and she had no choice but to purchase the entire courtyard where she currently resided.

The lady almost whispered softly into Xiao Feng's ear: "Please invite Doctor Zhou to enter the curtain for a consultation"

Xiao Feng pulled Zhao Xing aside and quietly asked, "Uncle Zhao, to speak honestly, my sister can be quite stingy with others, but what do you think of me? Our career is about to take off, why are you leaving at this time? Is it because you find my sister's pay too low? Feel free to say it—I can offer you more! Why be so resolute?"

"Indeed, a good doctor." The Prince of Weiyuan unexpectedly heard Xiaodie’s whisper, "I wonder what medicine can cure this 'butterfly flying solo'?"

Ma Yourong smiled insidiously, "Last year, a half-dead wanderer collapsed in front of my house. I was afraid that he would die at my doorstep, which would tarnish my reputation, so I treated him. After he recovered, he said he wanted to repay my great kindness. The Black Eagle Gang is at odds with the wanderers, and most of the wanderers harbor deep hatred towards it. Why not find that person and have him deal with the Zhou siblings? Wouldn't that be convenient?"

"Is it really that serious?" Xiao Feng pushed the door and found it unlatched, then entered the room, bypassing the screen, and arrived at her sister's bedside. Xiao Die, hearing the sound of the door, hugged her pillow and prepared for battle. As soon as Xiao Feng appeared, she was met with a thorough beating.

Wu Youzhi took a sip of tea and snorted, "I have heard that it is not that young man who treats illnesses, but his sister! Even a woman is showing her face in public, what kind of propriety is that—one should really report his family to the authorities for poor upbringing"

Xiao Feng hurriedly agreed

The Prince of Weiyuan appeared lost in thought, murmuring: "Is the butterfly flying solo?"

Go away—I never want to see you again! You have ruined my life!

At first glance, both Xiaofeng and Xiaodie couldn't help but widen their eyes—this is the Prince of Weiyuan? ... He ...! ... is surprisingly so young!

Xiao Feng, filled with ambition, was enthusiastically sharing his grand plans with everyone: "... Currently, there are three properties that are quite good: the small courtyard in Shanyou Lane is spacious and quiet, but the owner insists on 200 taels, not a single cent less; the property in Taoyuan Lane, although a bit smaller, has great potential for appreciation based on my observations of the surrounding area; within two years, the land price is sure to rise; the last one is in Baihua Lane, which is also quite large, though the layout is not very reasonable, but it has significant feng shui considerations—I took a close look, and that kind of layout is called 'Qi Feng'. ... Sigh, never mind, feng shui is such a profound subject, I won't go into details with you all, but in short, that place will produce noble people. ... Sigh, never mind, feng shui is such a profound subject, I won't go into details with you all, but in short, that place will produce noble people. The price is also quite reasonable. Let's discuss when we can go and take a look?"

As the curtain was drawn back, Xiaodie realized that she was still five or six feet away from the prince's bed—wealthy people truly know how to waste space. Two maidservants stood on either side of the mahogany bed, gently parting the bed curtains to reveal the prince's hand.

It turns out that the younger brother has this skill as well! Qin and Wu both smiled broadly, asking, "Where did the younger brother find that person?"

However, she is no longer the admired doctor she once was—although she has not changed much apart from her outer appearance and hairstyle

Xiao Die swept her hands across the wooden tray, pushing the silver coins onto the table. There were about fifty taels left in the tray. She walked up to Zhao Xing and said softly: "Uncle Zhao, being away from home is not the same as being at home. You still have to take care of your relatives' affairs—consider this silver as a token of my goodwill..."

How can this be? How can this be? An elderly voice deliberately lowered, as if guarding against the ears on the other side of the wall, said, "That illness is clearly difficult to treat; how could he achieve results so easily? There must be a trick!"

She was silent for a while, which secretly alarmed Xiao Feng, leaving him uncertain about how confident his sister truly was

"The day after tomorrow." A Niu's dispirited response seemed to conceal something.

At this moment, Xiao Die finally lifted her dazed eyes from the dazzling brilliance of the ingot, murmuring in a trance: "Brother, perhaps I misjudged that prince—perhaps he is a uniquely kind young man in the world..."

Xiao Die had not yet responded when she heard the crowd cheering: "Doctor Zhou is here! Doctor Zhou is here!"

Little Die smiled, weighing the money bag in her hand—there were at least thirty taels.

A Niu seemed to have made up his mind, suddenly raised his head and impulsively said: "Xiao Die, actually we are ... ... "

Pah! Are you not afraid that others will recognize you as someone involved in the case of so-and-so?" Xiao Die gritted her teeth, "Do you still dare to go to their door?"

This sentence reminds those two accomplices who began their joyful reverie; the three remained silent—this trick, if not played well, could lead to self-immolation

Do you know how long I have been bedridden?" The voice of the Prince of Weiyuan regained its calmness

"Are you the renowned physician of Yongzhou?" He seemed somewhat fatigued, closing his eyes as he asked.

"You are deceiving!" Xiao Feng suddenly realized, "You must have asked Uncle Zhao about this?! How do you know for sure that he will be fine next spring?"

She wore a veil, and everything appeared hazy; she only remembered the eerie silence of Prince Weiyuan's chamber—small sheepskin rugs covered the floor, and the nearly foot-high white fur muffled all sounds of footsteps

Xiao Die collected the silk thread, slightly bowed, and calmly said: "From the prince's pulse and complexion, your ailment is called 'Die Dan Fei'"

Xiao Die! Xiao Die! As Xiao Feng knocked on the door, he peeked through a small hole in the paper window: his sister seemed to have hidden behind the screen to sulk, just out of sight. However, her resentful voice came through the screen, making the door panel rattle loudly.

You all?" Xiao Feng looked at the Zhao family of three with admiration, unsure of what to say

Then the deep cold stars gazed at Xiao Feng, and then turned to Xiao Die, rendering the two siblings silent as cicadas in winter

Xiao Die twisted the belt of her clothes with both hands and moved her lips, "When are we leaving?"

Cough, cough! Little Die cleared her throat and said, "This uncle, your complexion appears slightly pale, suggesting you may be suffering from a mild epidemic disease!"

"What illness do you think I have?" he asked lazily again, still not opening his eyes

The true affliction of longing, I have only read about in books—if there truly exists such a person who is deeply affectionate and loyal, I would gladly pay a few coins to witness it

Xiao Feng winked at his younger sister and made a funny face. Xiao Die knew he couldn't understand, so she leaned close to his ear and said: "It is what is commonly referred to as lovesickness, but it is merely a severe case of lovesickness."

Amidst the eager gazes of the crowd, Xiao Feng walked in through the main door, appearing as if he needed a nap after a hearty meal. "Everyone, please keep it down!" He nonchalantly waved his hand to part the crowd, "Maintain good order, I will be back shortly. Xiao Die, I have something to discuss with you... Xiao Die!"

The young prince seemed to be of a similar age to Xiao Die, with skin so fair it was almost translucent, and his delicate eyebrows were more refined than those of a woman. Even his breathing was as tranquil as that of a virgin. If it weren't for his prominent Adam's apple, Xiao Die might have mistaken him for an unparalleled beauty dressed in men's clothing. No wonder there were figures like Rong Yi, Long Yang, and Dong Qing in ancient times; when a man reaches such a level of beauty, it is difficult not to indulge in fanciful thoughts. However, being granted the title of "Prince Wei Yuan" raises suspicions of being unworthy of the name.

Qin Youxian hesitated for a moment and said, "This... might not be appropriate! We are merely speculating, and there is no solid evidence—making false accusations can lead to countercharges! If an anonymous letter is traced back, regardless of its truth or falsehood, the punishment will be increased... the risk is too great, isn't it?"

Xiao Die was unconvinced, "When thinking of the living, one knows in their heart that there is still a chance; although the pulse is weak and slow, it is not empty or heavy. When thinking of the dead, one knows deep down that there is no more chance, and despair sets in, thus the pulse is naturally different. All of this is written in the foundational texts of our medical school—how many years has it been since you last read a book?"

It truly echoes the old saying: "A true master does not reveal himself!" Xiao Feng exclaimed, "I never expected that our family harbors hidden talents. I wonder if Xiao E and the others have successfully made their way to the South Seas."

The afternoon breeze brushed past the delicate brows of the butterfly, yet it did not bring her a sense of ease

The curtains in the prince's chamber are both luxurious and thick, rendering it impossible to see anything from the outside

Zhao Xing was reluctant to accept, but Xiao Die forcefully shoved the tray into his hands. The two were engaged in a polite standoff when suddenly A Niu exclaimed: "Xiao Die, we are not ordinary commoners! We, we, we are... are... are wanted bandits by the authorities! Recently, my father discovered the movements of the constables nearby—we must leave!"

The night envelops the orderly courtyard in a deep darkness, and amidst the overlapping shadows, a faint yellow light emanates from a window screen.

Xiao Die's chin dislocated with a loud crack, lacking any grace

Suddenly, Ma Yourong thought of something again, her face lighting up with joy: "That's right, how could I have forgotten that person!"

A challenging task? Xiao Die wiped her tears and asked in a muffled voice, "What is it?"

The Zhao family of three and the Feng father and daughter fell silent

"Woman?" The Prince of Weiyuan slightly opened his eyes, his distrustful gaze lightly swept across Xiaodie’s face through the veil. He snorted and said, "Men and women should not be in close contact. How can a woman take my pulse?"

A muffled sound echoed.

"Why did you suddenly say that?" Xiao Feng was also taken aback, "I haven't heard you mention it before!"

She can feel the pulse by suspending a thread!" Xiao Feng said anxiously

Quickly, say it for me to hear

"No, it's not possible," Xiao Die said with a faint smile, "This place is quite nice! One day, perhaps everyone will return, and it would be good to gather here again—this is where we all first met..."

We have a distant relative who has passed away. We plan to take a trip far away in the next couple of days. He has a considerable estate in Taizhou, and we may need to take over. After this, we probably will not return.

Who is it

Heart medicine! The Prince of Weiyuan did not know why he suddenly became angry—indeed, this royal family has always been a model of capriciousness since the dawn of time. Xiaodie has truly witnessed what it means to serve a ruler as one would a tiger. "If I had heart medicine, why would I seek out you ordinary doctors?"

Qin Youxian's words seemed to remind Ma Yourong, who turned his yellowing eyes and said with ill intent: "I have an idea to make those troublesome Zhou siblings disappear completely..."

I hope they encounter no troubles along the way

Prince Wei Yuan was somewhat surprised by her swift and accurate answer, unable to help but glance at Xiao Die once more, and said: "A woman possesses such remarkable skills... and it is indeed precise to the day. In your opinion, can this illness of mine be delayed for another ten months?"

Three sinister faces huddled together, and Ma Yourong lowered his voice to say: "The prince led troops to suppress a faction of the Black Eagle Party at the age of fifteen, and was subsequently granted the title 'Young General of the Dragon and Tiger' by the emperor. The Black Eagle Party is closely tied to his future, and he has always been ruthless in dealing with them. I find the Zhou siblings suspicious; their origins are unclear, and their home is filled with many outsiders—like that Zhao Xing family, who only arrived in this area recently and even worked in the prince's residence; and the Feng father and daughter, who also found themselves stranded here due to family issues—doesn't that seem too coincidental? Moreover, the prince's illness can only be treated by the Zhou siblings. Do we really need to analyze the oddities in this situation further?"

The uncle, who appeared rather dull, chuckled and said, "Miss Zhou, do you want to learn from your brother? Treating patients is not a game for little girls. Stop fooling around!"

Xiao Die has already left her seat and angrily rushed to the backyard

"Suspending threads to feel the pulse? How interesting." The Prince of Weiyuan extended his left hand, "Consider it a pastime, come and take my pulse."

"But you think you don't have that ability, so you want to push it onto your sister, right?" Xiao Die snorted softly, indicating no intention of refusal.

Heavens, can you not see that the person they are longing for, whether alive or dead, is evident to everyone? Little Feng took two steps back, admiringly surveying his younger sister from head to toe

"So it was Aunt Zhang's idea?" Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow, deciding to pursue the individual conversation to the end. He waved to Zhang, saying, "Aunt Zhang, please come here."

The prince's illness is deeply rooted and cannot be treated with ordinary soups or medicines. If a quick and fundamental cure is desired, it seems that only the 'heart medicine' will suffice

I wonder where Uncle Zhao and the others have flown off to?" Xiao Die took a bite of the hard and crispy sesame cake, "I really miss the meals he used to make.

Xiao Feng was unconvinced, "Then why are you so eager to buy this place? Can't we just wait until we save enough money and then buy a house on Baihua Lane?"

His long eyelashes, which were originally so gentle, now emitted a vigilant cold light from below. The moment he opened his eyes, all traces of warmth were suddenly swept away, as if a stream of ice spread from the corners of his eyes to his entire body

The people waiting to seek medical attention stood in silence. At the front of the line, this uncle had already locked eyes with her for three quarters of an hour. No one took the initiative to speak to Xiaodie. Her back and palms grew damp under their distrustful gazes

Xiao Die turned her head again, captivated by the charm of the ingot, with only faint voices of people in her ears

During a break from tidying up the furniture, the two siblings sat on a box, gazing at the sky, eating sesame cakes, and chatting

The phenomenon of a butterfly flying alone is one of the most cruel forms of longing! Little Die shot her brother a glance, and looking at the pairs of butterflies in the flowerbed, she said: "When a pair of butterflies is doing well, if suddenly one dies, the other becomes a solitary flyer; that kind of pain is what we call 'butterfly flying alone'."

Hehe, do you think those three old men came to me to ask me to be their master? Not at all!" Xiao Feng propped his chin up, a satisfied expression on his face as if he were reminiscing about the delicious dishes on the dining table. "They are in trouble—Prince Wei Yuan is ill, and they cannot cure him, so they are treating me to fine wine and good food to persuade me to take action!"

Four months and eight days

"You have taken away all my joy!" Xiao Die cried and shouted while fighting, "I hate you! Why do you have to appear in front of me? Leave! Leave! Give my life back to me!"

Xiao Feng finally left the makeshift bedroom in the storeroom near the restroom and moved into a proper main house

"Their concern is a matter of life and death! We are merely dealing with the issue of three meals a day." Xiao Die shrugged, "We can earn it back tomorrow! It's just that I didn't buy that large courtyard—I really liked that place on Baihua Lane!"

Xiao Feng seems to be rather indifferent to this matter, instead asking: "Do you want to become a female doctor in a legitimate way? If we cure the illness of Prince Wei Yuan, the two of us can make a name for ourselves and see who would dare to disregard you. If you go alone as a girl, it would be surprising if they didn't drive you out."

"Do not speak of your brother as if he is an uneducated, timid good-for-nothing!" Xiao Feng scratched his chin, "I am considering that our small courtyard is rather cramped; it feels crowded even with just a few of us living here. If the illness of Prince Wei Yuan is cured, there will surely be a reward in silver. At that time, we can buy a larger courtyard and also procure some good medicinal herbs from outside the borders..."

Xiao Die was completely unaware that a conspiracy against her siblings was being plotted in the depths of darkness. She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought as she gazed at the shiny gold ingots on the table, drooling.

Zhao Xing awkwardly pushed Xiao Feng's hand away and said, "Xiao Feng, you underestimate me too much! In fact, I don't want to leave just like this. We have been getting along so well... It's just that some things are beyond my control."

Miss Zhou! They didn't even let her finish speaking, interrupting her with a furrowed brow: "When is your brother coming?"

Xiao Die took out three colored silk threads from the fragrance pouch and had Xiao Feng tie them on the prince's cun, guan, and chi pulses, sitting silently in the chair. After a moment, she softly said: "Please, Your Highness, switch hands." Then she checked the pulse on the right hand.

Little Die let out a sigh, "Your Highness, in fact, this illness does not require immediate treatment. With the use of the common woman's frost phosphorus powder, the constitution can be improved within a month, allowing one to get out of bed and move about; within ten months, a complete recovery can be expected."

"Ah Niu!" Zhang's expression changed drastically as she shouted, interrupting him, "This is our family matter, so please do not bother Xiao Die!" After saying this, she returned to her usual amiable demeanor and slightly bowed to Xiao Feng, saying, "Young Master Zhou, the chaotic matters in our family are difficult to explain—every family has its own troubles. If there were other options, we would not be considering leaving." She gritted her teeth, as if there were some complicated grievances that were hard to untangle, making Xiao Feng feel rather embarrassed to continue asking.

Little Die closely followed behind her brother and leaned in to take a glance at the person on the bed. Even divine beings require observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation when diagnosing, and this "observation" is indeed the first essential skill.

Little Die nodded and said, "How do we go? Should I change into men's clothing?"

I will go back and make up for it right away..." Xiao Feng nodded repeatedly, fully convinced.

Xiao Feng found it difficult and said, "This ... ... can only be told to the prince himself"

Xiao Feng waved his hand impatiently: "Alright, alright, you've been talking nonsense all night! You keep dreaming, we are discussing important matters here, don't interrupt!"

You gave all your savings to others, and our troubles are just beginning!" Xiao Feng poked his sister's forehead

Wu Youzhi suddenly realized, "Ah—those Zhao family members must be from the Black Hawk Party seeking revenge. Zhao Xing took advantage of his position as a chef to poison the prince! The Zhou siblings are cunning and have laid a long line to catch a big fish, and they even cured the prince's illness to gain his trust! It must be this way, there is no doubt about it! We should immediately write to the authorities and capture them for their treacherous schemes!"

Xiao Die looked at her brother with disdain, "Those who suffer from the loneliness of a butterfly flying solo will naturally find peace when they no longer yearn for the dead. Looking at his demeanor, it is fierce yet lacking in substance—do not be deceived by his sharp gaze; he lacks a profound aura. Upon closer inspection, one will realize he is merely a youth who enjoys posturing and feigning authority. Such a person, rather than being capable of genuine affection for others, is more inclined to indulge in his own romantic fantasies—he imagines himself as a tragic hero, elegant and noble, loyal to love. Moreover, how could someone who frequents brothels understand the true, heart-wrenching pain of longing? This type of person, rather than being moved by others, is more enamored with his own romantic sentiments—he merely envisions himself as a tragic protagonist, graceful and noble, devoted to love. Furthermore, how could someone who lingers in brothels comprehend the genuine, deep-seated anguish of yearning? By next spring, the brothel will surely present a new courtesan, and by then he will forget the one who caused him pain, bowing before other vibrant beauties, embarking on new romantic escapades—such occurrences are hardly rare. I am merely borrowing a phrase."

After receiving the reward from the Wangfu's treasury, Xiaofeng finally felt relieved and let out a breath, "How can you be so confident? What is this 'butterfly flying solo'? I've never heard of it!"

Originally, she had calculated that her brother's meal would take at least an hour or so to eat well and be satisfied, so she finally got her wish and shamelessly sat back in her former exclusive seat

This statement is indeed very reasonable

Oh dear! Oh dear! Xiao Feng snatched the pillow away and tossed it aside, gently comforting, "Sister, I know you have been quite bored lately. Haven't I found you a rather challenging task? Would you like to hear about it?"

An irritable old man paced back and forth in the room, while two other elderly men leaned against the Eight Immortals table, silently watching. The one who was walking back and forth was Qin Youxian, the owner of Shunyuantang, and the two men at the table were his colleagues: Ma Yourong from Shengyuantang and Wu Youzhi from Heyuantang

No. Of course, I will go—just assist me like this.

The Prince of Weiyuan was unaware of what hint he had given, and the two maidservants silently withdrew.

She silently locked eyes with the man in front of her

I heard the flower worker at the Wangfu say, "Ma Yourong was stroking his goatee, his brows deeply furrowed. The prince took that kid's medicine in the afternoon, and by evening he should be able to get up. I estimate that in a day or two he will be able to move around—this is just too incredible! No matter how skilled he is in medicine, it makes no sense for a bedridden and weak person to recover so quickly and be full of energy!"

Of course, "Xiao Die shrugged, "However, when my frost scales disperse in spring, I must take them with the spring breeze. The prince must go on more outings and enjoy the spring next year—by then, I guarantee this ailment will be completely cured.