Shanji Medicine Shop.
Doctor Qian, who had received the silver from Yan Mingli, had been walking on air these past few days.
When he learned that Shen Baozhu wanted medicinal herbs and even intended to pick them herself, he readily agreed.
Before Prince Rui could react, he saw Shen Baozhu and Doctor Qian had already reached an agreement. He quickly spoke up, "Wait! Mingli said you're only allowed to stay in the medicine shop. Picking herbs requires going so far away. You can't go!"
Doctor Qian fetched a medicinal herb with soil still on it from the backyard and showed it to Prince Rui. Then he said with a smile, "Don't worry, Master Gu. There are some medicinal herbs planted in the backyard of the medicine shop. Miss Baozhu can just go and pick them there. The backyard is also part of the medicine shop, so it doesn't violate Young Master Yan's order."
Shen Baozhu went to the backyard to pick medicinal herbs, accompanied by Qiuqiu and the Fourth Prince. However, Qiuqiu didn't like picking herbs. She ran into the house to look at the processed medicinal materials.
Doctor Qian demonstrated in person, "This herb has a long root, which is also the part used in medicine. You need to be patient and dig it out slowly, being careful not to damage the root."
Shen Baozhu wanted to present a perfect medicinal herb. But she accidentally broke the roots of three herbs in a row. She took a deep breath and tried again according to Doctor Qian's demonstration. As she practiced more, her skills improved significantly.
The Fourth Prince originally followed Shen Baozhu to dig herbs. But when he saw that Shen Baozhu had broken several roots, and since the backyard was small and there were only a few plants of each herb, he quietly moved aside to avoid taking Baozhu's herbs.
Time passed slowly. By the time Shen Baozhu dug out two perfect herbs to give to Lin Yu, a long time had passed.
The Dragon King: [What's going on? Why are there only herbs for Lin Yu? Where are mine!]
The Green Cloud Immortal: [Those are mortal medicinal herbs. They're useless to you and me.]
The Dragon King: [I still want them. I'll just put them aside and they'll make me happy.]
Afraid that the Dragon King would cause a ruckus, Shen Baozhu dug four more herbs, exhausting all the herbs in the backyard. Just as she was about to tell Doctor Qian, she suddenly noticed that Qiuqiu was missing.
Shen Baozhu pulled the Fourth Prince to look for Qiuqiu in the backyard.
At the front yard of the medicine shop.
Doctor Qian was chatting with Prince Rui about growing medicinal herbs. "Back then, you were in critical condition. The medicine wasn't even that precious, but the medical hall didn't have it. I had to go out in the heavy snow to buy it."
"After that incident, I planted a few easy - to - grow medicinal herbs in the yard. Later, when the medical hall closed and I opened this medicine shop, I still kept this habit."
Prince Rui was surprised to hear this and felt quite emotional. "Back then, Mingli saved me when he was just a little kid. In a blink of an eye, he's already engaged. Yesterday, he even asked me to take out all my savings for him to marry his bride."
"Isn't it funny? Back then, I argued and gave him the cold shoulder, and it took me a long time to persuade him to accept these two streets. Now, with a bride on the way, he's asking for them on his own initiative."
"Before, he had nothing to worry about when he was alone. But once he gets married and starts a family, there will be so many things that cost money. Congratulations, Master Gu. Your wish has finally come true. When Young Master Yan gets married, you'll be able to hold your grandson soon." Doctor Qian said with a smile.
Just as they were talking, a man and two women walked in.
The man was wearing an indigo - blue long gown. There was a gentle woman standing beside him, and a young girl following behind.
The woman stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, are you Doctor Qian from Shanji Medical Hall?"
Shanji Medical Hall... Doctor Qian hadn't heard this name for a long time. He felt a bit dazed.
Prince Rui was curious. He answered on Doctor Qian's behalf, "Shanji Medical Hall closed a long time ago. Now, there's only Doctor Qian from Shanji Medicine Shop. There's no Doctor Qian from Shanji Medical Hall."
Jian Ruobing was overjoyed. She had finally found Doctor Qian and could fulfill her mother's last wish.
She put her arm around the man beside her. "Yunqian, you go to the inn first. I need to talk to this doctor."
This suited Du Yunqian just fine. He pulled his hand away, gave a few perfunctory words, and left the medicine shop. Jian Ruoshui, who was standing at the back, wanted to follow but was held back by Jian Ruobing. She was so angry that she stamped her foot.
Jian Ruoshui complained, "Sister, how could you just leave brother - in - law alone?"
Jian Ruobing ignored her sister. She placed a silver note worth a hundred taels on the table and handed it to Doctor Qian. "Doctor Qian, this was what my mother told me before she passed away. She said she was very grateful for your kindness in saving my grandfather's life back then. If it weren't for you, my grandfather would have died long ago."
Back then, Jian Ruobing's grandfather had a recurrence of his old injury in the middle of the night. The family couldn't afford the medical fees, but Doctor Qian was kind - hearted. He not only diagnosed the patient for free but also gave him two doses of medicine.
Doctor Qian had saved so many people that he couldn't immediately recall who Jian Ruobing's mother was. "May I ask who your mother is?"
Having fulfilled her mother's last wish, Jian Ruobing let out a sigh of relief. Next, she planned to go to the Princess Mansion to visit her mother's childhood friend. She replied, "My mother said there's no need to reveal her identity. She just hoped that you would still be helping others."
Doctor Qian looked at the silver note and felt a sense of accomplishment. He reluctantly returned the note. "Your gratitude is enough. I can't take the money."
Seeing that Doctor Qian refused to accept the money, Jian Ruobing came up with another reason. "You misunderstand me. This is the consultation fee. I've been married for many years but haven't had a child. I'm here today hoping that you can take a look for me."
Doctor Qian agreed to feel Jian Ruobing's pulse but still insisted on not taking the silver note. Jian Ruobing had no choice but to put the note away.
"Sister! How much longer are you going to take? Besides, he just runs a medicine shop. Who knows if he can really feel the pulse? Maybe he's just trying to cheat people out of their money." Jian Ruoshui only heard Jian Ruobing's last words. She impatiently tugged at Jian Ruobing's sleeve, eager to leave as soon as possible.
Jian Ruobing, who usually doted on her sister, changed her expression and scolded her for the first time. "Shut up! What are you talking nonsense about? Doctor Qian is highly skilled in medicine. You're slandering him!"
Jian Ruoshui bit her lower lip, feeling as if everyone was laughing at her. She glared at everyone in the medicine shop.
Doctor Qian regarded Jian Ruoshui as a child and didn't bother to argue with her, but Prince Rui was different.
Prince Rui didn't think children should be spared from criticism. He glared back and mocked, "She looks so pretty, but I didn't expect her to be such a fool. She can't even understand simple words and acts like a wild dog, going crazy everywhere."
"You, you old fart!" Jian Ruoshui stamped her foot in anger.
Prince Rui shrugged. "Yes, I'm an old fart. But what about you? You look like a decent person, but the things you say are just like those of a brute."
"Your family must save money during ancestor worship. You don't even need to buy a pig's head. Just put you on the altar and borrow you for the occasion."
Jian Ruoshui was furious. Unable to argue with Prince Rui, she could only stamp her foot.
Afraid that Jian Ruoshui and Prince Rui would start a fight, Doctor Qian quickly asked Jian Ruobing to take her sister to the backyard.
After they left, Doctor Qian came to console Prince Rui. "Master Gu, don't argue with that girl. She's just not very smart."
Prince Rui waved his hand, indicating that he didn't care anymore.
In the backyard.
When the Jian sisters entered the backyard, Shen Baozhu and the Fourth Prince had just found Qiuqiu.
Qiuqiu had fallen asleep accidentally while lying on the table. After being woken up by Shen Baozhu, she rubbed her eyes. "Baozhu, have you finished digging the herbs?"
Shen Baozhu nodded. "Yes! Do you want to dig some too?"
"No, I don't like picking herbs. I feel like I'll get dirty with soil." Qiuqiu shook her head and refused.