Looking at the medical clinic across the street, Luo Sheng silently wondered: Could this medical clinic belong to Divine Physician Li?

Just as she was thinking this, a white-bearded elder strode out from the medical clinic. Who else could it be but Divine Physician Li?

Divine Physician Li crossed the narrow bluestone path in a few steps, heading straight for Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng bowed slightly: “I was just wondering who would open a medical clinic with such an elegant name, and it turns out to be you.”

Elegant?

Divine Physician Li turned to glance at the medical clinic’s signboard.

It hadn’t been changed—it still read “A Medical Clinic.”

Turning back to look at the wine shop’s flag with the four characters “A Wine Shop,” Divine Physician Li’s mouth twitched.

This girl was purely praising herself, wasn’t she?

He had opened this medical clinic specifically because of the young lady’s wine shop.

It was truly infuriating when he thought about it.

Ever since the young lady had someone deliver dinner to him daily, he had lived for that one meal each day.

But just as he’d gotten used to such days, the young lady had actually gone off to the autumn hunt with her father.

Going was one thing, but she had actually taken the wine shop’s cook with her, and A Wine Shop had closed for business!

Thinking of the torment he’d endured this past month or so, Divine Physician Li’s anger flared up, and there was no way he could give Luo Sheng a pleasant expression.

Divine Physician Li stood at the wine shop’s entrance, looked inside, and asked with a stern face: “Is the wine shop opening today?”

Luo Sheng smiled and nodded: “Opening. However, we just returned today, and there wasn’t time to prepare things like braised beef. Tonight we only have noodles with gravy sauce for sale.”

“Not even plain noodles?”

“The broth for plain noodles needs to simmer for several hours.”

“If you have nothing, why even open?” Divine Physician Li said irritably.

Luo Sheng wasn’t annoyed at all, smiling as she said: “Mainly, we haven’t cooked in so long, we wanted to heat up the stove first to prepare for tomorrow. The people from the autumn hunt only returned today, so presumably no one knows the wine shop is opening today.”

Having said this, she very considerately suggested: “Divine Physician, why don’t you come eat tomorrow instead? Tomorrow we’ll prepare more dishes.”

“But it’s opening today, isn’t it?” Divine Physician Li huffed and strode into the wine shop.

Noodles with gravy sauce it is then—better than nothing at all.

Luo Sheng curved her lips and followed him in.

Xiu Yue was preparing the noodles with gravy sauce in the back kitchen, while Hong Dou brought out tea and water.

Divine Physician Li blew on his tea, waiting reservedly for a while.

The tea snacks he’d imagined didn’t appear.

Divine Physician Li frowned slightly.

Luo Sheng once again thoughtfully explained: “Only noodles with gravy sauce.”

Divine Physician Li clutched his teacup, fully understanding what this meant, and said with undisguised disdain: “This old man never liked tea snacks anyway.”

“Yes, I know you’re not fond of them. It’s just that serving tea with snacks is the proper etiquette for receiving guests—this junior has been remiss.” Luo Sheng had no intention of exposing the old man, smiling as she apologized.

Divine Physician Li immediately found the faintly smiling young lady much more pleasing to the eye.

“Divine Physician, weren’t you in seclusion in the suburbs? How did you come here to open a medical clinic?”

Divine Physician Li reservedly stroked his beard: “Lesser seclusion is in the wilderness, middling seclusion is in the marketplace.”

When winter came, living in the suburbs would make it difficult even to get a hot meal from the wine shop—what would be the point of staying there?

“Divine Physician speaks truly.” Luo Sheng picked up her teacup and took a sip.

While waiting, Divine Physician Li surveyed the wine shop’s main hall.

The windows were bright and clean, the tables and stools neat and orderly, and several shop attendants were nimbly wiping down the tables.

Just like the burly man who delivered his meals daily, these shop attendants didn’t look like shop attendants at all.

His gaze lingered on a young man.

The youth had a slender build, and with the dark-faced youth beside him for contrast, his complexion seemed somewhat too pale.

Divine Physician Li’s gaze remained on the youth slightly longer, his tone casual as he asked: “Is that your younger brother?”

“Indeed, my younger brother. I didn’t expect Divine Physician to see it at a glance.” Luo Sheng smiled gently. “It seems my younger brother and I do resemble each other somewhat.”

Divine Physician Li carefully looked at the youth with delicate brows and refined features, then looked at the strikingly beautiful young lady, and pursed his lips: “This old man didn’t see any resemblance, but I did notice he’s been taking Vital Essence Pills.”

The young lady had once mentioned giving Vital Essence Pills to her sickly younger brother. Now, seeing such a child in the young lady’s wine shop, who else could it be but her younger brother?

Luo Sheng looked surprised: “Divine Physician’s medical skills are truly miraculous—you can even tell what medicine someone has taken.”

Divine Physician Li drank a sip of tea and said indifferently: “Vital Essence Pills are different from other medicines.”

He didn’t explain how they were different, but inwardly he was puzzled.

While Vital Essence Pills were indeed excellent medicine for treating deficiency conditions, there were many types of deficiency, and not all deficiency patients would experience miraculous effects from taking them.

This was medicine he had specifically developed to help the Princess Consort of Zhennan recuperate, so naturally it was most suitable for those with the same symptoms as the Princess Consort of Zhennan.

Of course, people with other symptoms would also benefit from taking it.

But the difference between benefit and miraculous effect was still quite significant.

The young lady didn’t understand these matters and was carelessly medicating people—what a waste of money.

He was too lazy to remind her, considering it a small lesson, but he hadn’t expected the young lady to have stumbled upon it like a blind cat finding a dead mouse.

“Luo Chen, all of you come pay your respects to Divine Physician.”

Soon Luo Chen and the others came to greet Divine Physician Li.

Divine Physician Li’s face showed little expression as he listened to Luo Sheng’s introductions. After everyone went back to work, he said reservedly: “Just have that Lu Wu continue delivering meals across the street every day.”

That Lu Wu was quite reliable. According to the gatekeeper boy, he had once encountered robbers while delivering food and had fought desperately to protect the meal.

For this alone, he was worthy of employment.

“The noodles with gravy sauce are here!” Hong Dou called out crisply, placing a bowl of steaming hot noodles before Divine Physician Li.

Slightly yellowish noodles topped with a ladleful of gravy made from daylily flowers, wood ear mushrooms, diced pork belly, eggs, and other ingredients. A small handful of emerald green chopped scallions scattered on top immediately elevated one’s appetite several notches.

Hong Dou continued placing small dishes from her tray onto the table, announcing each item: “Smoked tripe strips, ham strips, pickled cucumber strips, black garlic…”

Small dishes the size of vinegar saucers—a dazzling array covered the entire table.

“Divine Physician, please enjoy your meal.”

Divine Physician Li bent his head and began eating slowly.

The noodles were chewy, the gravy fragrant, the side dishes varied. In this moment, Divine Physician Li was absolutely certain that opening a medical clinic across from the wine shop was an utterly correct decision.

Hold consultations? Of course he wouldn’t hold consultations—wasn’t there that quack Doctor Wang who sold fake medicine?

Perhaps because the weather had cooled, the food’s aroma condensed in the main hall, growing thicker and more concentrated.

It was following just such an aroma that Wei Han walked into the wine shop.

Divine Physician Li had just finished wiping his mouth when he saw a familiar-looking young man enter. He turned to ask Luo Sheng: “Didn’t you say no one would know the wine shop was opening tonight?”

Luo Sheng set down her teacup, looking completely unsurprised: “Prince Kaiyang is different.”

He was a glutton who only had eyes for food—he couldn’t be treated like ordinary people.

Divine Physician Li understood.

He recognized him now—it was that fellow who needed white geese to treat his illness.

How was this fellow different?

Divine Physician Li looked at the entering youth, then at the calm-faced young lady, and couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

He had said Vital Essence Pills were different from other medicines, and the young lady had said Prince Kaiyang was different from other people.

Quite the vengeful spirit.

He wasn’t the least bit curious.