Li Tong was also very curious about this person who lived at the Chen family’s but whom the Chen family didn’t know.

Of course, Fan Yilin hadn’t told him that Qi Yueniang was also the young marchioness of Marquis Dingxi—the former young marchioness. After all, divorce wasn’t something worth boasting about for a woman. He only needed to boast about things worth boasting about, like leading Qianjin Hall in preventing the plague.

“Is her medical skill really that amazing?” he asked again.

This was the tenth time he’d asked this question along the way.

Fan Yilin stopped walking.

“Little Li, am I that unreliable a person?” he asked seriously.

He seemed to be… Li Tong twitched the corners of his mouth.

“Put it this way,” Fan Yilin said, probably realizing his question was somewhat self-defaming. “It’s said that in Yongqing Prefecture there’s an iron law: trust Lady Qi, and you’ll stay safe, get promoted, and become wealthy.”

Li Tong couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I understand,” he said, patting Fan Yilin’s shoulder.

“Good that you understand. So this time, if you invite Lady Qi and she cures your old man when so many others were helpless, won’t your contribution be enormous? Who would dare treat you poorly in the family after that? Guaranteed promotion and wealth,” Fan Yilin said contentedly, putting his arm around Li Tong’s shoulder.

Li Tong smiled bitterly and thanked him.

“I just don’t know how much incense money this Lady Qi requires?” he said, feeling around his body. “I don’t have much money.”

“Money, money, we’re family… ptah!” Fan Yilin came to his senses and glared. “What incense money? Lady Qi isn’t a fortune teller.”

“You clearly described a fortune teller,” Li Tong laughed.

“She’s a divine physician,” Fan Yilin corrected.

Li Tong raised his hands in surrender.

“Fine, fine, divine physician. Anyway, thank you,” he said to Fan Yilin sincerely. “Though you’re unreliable, I understand your good intentions.”

Fan Yilin kicked him.

“Stop talking nonsense. Sooner or later you’ll know what a great favor I’ve done you,” he scolded. “Hurry up, let’s go.”

The two had now reached the mouth of the alley.

“Chaoku Street, this was the former dynasty’s Duke Wushun…” Li Tong surveyed the area.

“Nonsense,” Fan Yilin glared at him and pushed him forward. “They’re all Chens. Say what should be said, don’t say what shouldn’t be said. Be careful your old man doesn’t die of illness but gets killed by your implications.”

So although he might be a profligate and boastful wine bag and rice sack, as a privileged young master at the emperor’s feet, political sensitivity was an innate instinct.

Li Tong stopped talking too. The two stopped in front of this dilapidated grand entrance.

“Looking for me?” Qi Yue asked.

She had just been directed by the second wife to have the servant women bathe and perfume her, trimming everything from head to toenails.

“Male visitors?” The second wife frowned. “Don’t see them.”

Qi Yue hurried to stop her.

“It’s Young Master Fan Yilin…” she said quickly. “Lord Wang Tongye’s son-in-law. The Wang family has shown me kindness.”

“Kindness?” The second wife smiled faintly. “Improper thoughts, more likely.”

Qi Yue smiled without speaking.

Though she knew the second wife truly cared for her, she wasn’t used to being constrained by others, especially in the name of love.

“Please let him in to see what urgent matter he has with me,” she said directly.

The second wife was stunned. Since agreeing to be close to her, Qi Yueniang had always been compliant in her presence.

This was the first time she’d refused so directly and openly.

Then she smiled to herself. Yes, this child had always been stubborn—otherwise she wouldn’t have refused to listen back then and insisted on marrying Chang Yuncheng.

So she said nothing more.

Fan Yilin and Li Tong entered and immediately saw two women sitting in the room.

Li Tong was somewhat surprised because he recognized the young, beautiful woman as the one they’d encountered with Fan Yilin at the restaurant entrance.

Of course, now having something on his mind, he couldn’t spare attention for beauties, so he focused on the dignified seated lady.

Serene demeanor with some frailty, around forty years old.

She did have something of that otherworldly fortune teller aura…

Just as he thought this, Fan Yilin had already bowed in greeting.

“Madam Chen, good day,” he said with a smile while bowing.

Though Chen Shi didn’t particularly like him, since Qi Yueniang had invited him in, for Qi Yueniang’s sake she couldn’t be rude. She nodded and invited them to sit.

Seeing it was this lady who responded, Li Tong, who had been bowing alongside Fan Yilin, was somewhat surprised. Wasn’t her surname Qi?

Was that her married name?

“Lady Qi,” Fan Yilin greeted Qi Yue again.

Li Tong’s eyes widened again.

What?

This young one was…

At this age, whether as divine physician or fortune teller, she was too young! Completely unconvincing!

“What do you need from me?” Qi Yue smiled at him.

“It’s like this—my friend here has a sick person in his family,” Fan Yilin said, glancing at Li Tong, who was staring wide-eyed. He coughed dryly.

Li Tong came to his senses and smiled bitterly.

Really grasping at straws in desperation…

“Yes, my grandfather has been ill for many days. People from the Imperial Medical Academy have all examined him but are at their wit’s end. Hearing Brother Fan say the lady might be able to try, I’ve presumed to come here, causing much disturbance,” he said.

In that short sentence, his meaning was already very clear.

First, his grandfather had been seen by Imperial Medical Academy people, indicating his status was certainly high. Second, even the imperial physicians were helpless, showing the illness was severe. Third, “might be able to try” meant you could choose not to try and just politely decline.

Qi Yue looked at him with a knowing smile, her eyes crinkled.

Chen Shi smiled faintly.

“Your surname is Li?” she asked.

Li Tong responded affirmatively.

“Li Huaiqing is ill?” she asked.

Li Tong responded affirmatively again. His grandfather had been an official for many years—who in the capital didn’t know him? Even deep-dwelling ladies were no exception.

“I remember Empress Dowager Xiaoci of the Grand Ancestor once said your grandfather had excess heat in his blood and should watch his diet. It seems he followed that advice well,” Chen Shi said with a smile.

Meaning it was remarkable he only fell ill now.

Li Tong had already hurried to stand when she mentioned Empress Dowager Xiaoci of the Grand Ancestor, and was even more shocked after hearing her words.

He was just a bastard son. It was difficult even to see his grandfather’s face ordinarily—how would he know what Empress Dowager Xiaoci of the Grand Ancestor had said to his grandfather?

His expression immediately became awkward.

A young lady from Duke Deqing’s family was naturally not an ordinary inner palace woman…

He had been presumptuous.

“Which family’s son are you?” Chen Shi asked again.

Actually, asking meant she already knew…

Qi Yue had seen enough. The boy had said one sentence, and Chen Shi’s few cutting remarks were sufficient.

“What’s the illness?” she hurried to take over, while tugging at Chen Shi’s sleeve.

Chen Shi smiled and stopped talking.

Li Tong breathed a sigh of relief.

“He’d been fine, but a few days ago at lunch, being somewhat busy, he ate too hastily and choked on half an egg yolk. His heartbeat even stopped at the time,” he said.

Qi Yue listened carefully.

“…Later Imperial Physician Gong urgently applied needles to revive him and the egg yolk was cleared, but he still has difficulty breathing and unclear consciousness,” he said.

Qi Yue nodded.

“What’s your grandfather’s past medical history?” she asked.

Li Tong was momentarily stunned, then understood her meaning.

“Nothing particular. Grandfather has always been in good health,” he said. “Just occasional common colds and such, which cleared up with some medicine.”

Just listening wasn’t enough—she needed to see. Qi Yue nodded and pondered briefly.

Since Fan Yilin had spoken up, for Wang Tongye’s sake, she couldn’t let Fan Yilin take back his words.

“This way—I’ll go take a look, then I’ll know whether it can be treated or not,” she said.

Li Tong hurried to stand and thank her.

“I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll come over this afternoon,” Qi Yue added with a smile.

Li Tong unconsciously breathed another sigh of relief. Qi Yue saw this and smiled knowingly.

“Don’t worry, Lady Qi is very capable,” Fan Yilin said with some pride after leaving.

Whether Lady Qi was capable or not, Li Tong didn’t yet have a sense of, but that Madam Chen was very formidable.

However, after being put in his place once, he was actually quite happy and had gained some hope for this fortune teller Fan Yilin spoke of.

Someone from Duke Deqing’s family would naturally not be a street charlatan.

“Brother Fan, thank you so much. I’ll treat you in the future. I need to hurry back now to inform my family, or when the lady comes calling, my family won’t know and it would be too rude,” he said hurriedly.

“Go quickly. Lady Qi’s temper isn’t good,” Fan Yilin said, even thoughtfully reminding him.

Because when he had mistakenly arrested her disciple, she had directly besieged his father-in-law’s gates.

Li Tong hurried off. With Duke Deqing’s name backing him, he had much more confidence when speaking to his family. Compared to his various dejection and reluctance when coming, his walk now seemed quite buoyant.

He really had good luck this time!

Li Tong entered his home and first went to find his father.

“Father is with grandfather,” one of his brothers said irritably. “You think everyone’s as idle as you.”

Li Tong lowered his head without speaking. He was idle because they wouldn’t let him help…

He had never been good at arguing, so he lowered his head and walked away. Before he could leave the courtyard, he heard someone call his name.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl was waving at him from the second courtyard entrance.

This was Li Tong’s own younger sister.

“Brother, I heard mother say that because of worrying about grandfather…” she said quietly with red eyes. What they were worried about regarding grandfather couldn’t be said, but everyone understood. “So they want to immediately arrange marriages for all the children in the family, or the three-year mourning period would delay things.”

She began crying as she spoke, reaching out to pull Li Tong’s arm.

“Brother, I don’t want to marry that consumptive ghost from Shanxi…” she cried.

As an unloved bastard daughter, marriage was her only use.

Li Tong’s expression was both anxious and sad.

“Alright, don’t worry. I’ll definitely find a chance to speak with father,” he said.

But whether this chance would come, he himself had no confidence. Looking at his sister’s eyes full of hope and expectation, Li Tong lowered his gaze.

Because of Li Huaiqing’s illness, the entire Li family’s atmosphere was somewhat gloomy. Li Tong finally got permission to see his eldest uncle. His father and other uncles were all in the room.

“What is it?” his father asked directly.

The eldest uncle and others didn’t even look up.

A mediocre bastard son just needed to be fed and housed—not worth much attention.

“I, I’ve found a physician. She says she’ll come look at grandfather, and perhaps has a method,” Li Tong said quietly, still somewhat timid before his father.

Sure enough, Li’s father snorted through his nose.

“Get out,” he said quietly.

“Father, she’s a physician from Duke Deqing’s family,” Li Tong had to bring out this title.

Facts proved this title was indeed powerful.

Li’s father was stunned, and the other uncles also looked over.

“Duke Chen’s family?” the eldest uncle asked.

“Yes,” Li Tong said with great joy. “I’ve already met her. She said she’ll come this afternoon.”

Several people looked to the eldest uncle.

“How did you manage to invite a physician from Duke Deqing’s Chen family?” the eldest uncle asked Li Tong.

This was probably the first time he’d looked directly at this nephew.

“I, I, Young Master Fan Yilin introduced me. He said she’s a divine physician from Yongqing Prefecture…” Li Tong said.

Before he could finish, the eldest uncle interrupted.

“What? A divine physician from where?” he asked, thinking he’d misheard.