Lu Tong knew nothing of the Wu family’s situation at the fish market. To her, Wu Youcai was just one of the most ordinary scholars who came to buy medicinal tea. After their brief encounter, she quickly forgot about him.

She was busy making more medicinal tea.

Renxin Medical Hall’s “Spring Water Tea” sold even better than imagined.

It was spring, and there were countless people troubled by rhinitis and nasal congestion. Word spread in the marketplace that after brewing and drinking this tea, nasal congestion and rhinitis could be greatly relieved. Many people bought the medicine with a “might as well try” attitude, and after brewing two or three packets, discovered it was indeed remarkably effective.

“Spring Water Tea” costs four taels of silver per container. Though not cheap, for those suffering from nasal congestion, it was truly a miraculous medicine. Moreover, even if one didn’t buy “Spring Water Tea” and instead gathered various medicines to drink, the final cost would be about the same. Those housewives who were good at managing household expenses calculated that it was better to buy Spring Water Tea. As time went by, Spring Water Tea became famous in the capital, and people came to know the name of Renxin Medical Hall as well.

This reputation also reached the Palace Guard Division.

At the Commander’s Mansion of the Capital Guard.

Duan Xiaoyan walked in from outside.

The youth was young, with a pleasant and friendly appearance, wearing a wisteria-colored robe, looking like a delicate wisteria flower in the Commander’s Mansion as he walked into the room with light steps.

Inside the room, someone was reviewing official documents.

The young man wore an official crimson round-collared robe with detailed dark patterns embroidered on the sleeves. Sunlight streaming through the decorated window fell on his face, casting a hazy glow on his handsome profile.

Hearing movement, he didn’t look up, only asking: “What is it?”

Duan Xiaoyan said: “Brother Zhufeng says he’ll return to the city a few days late.”

Pei Yunying paused in reviewing documents, frowning as he asked: “What is Xiao Er up to?”

“He says there’s a farmer outside the city with a plum tree that will be ripe in a few days, the taste is excellent, and he wants to wait for the plums to ripen before leaving.” At this point, Duan Xiaoyan was also quite puzzled, “Strange, I’ve never heard that Brother Zhufeng liked eating plums before?”

Hearing this, Pei Yunying first froze, then seemed to realize something and laughed: “Let him be.”

“The Grand Tutor’s mansion also sent an invitation,” Duan Xiaoyan said: “They want you to go…”

“Not going, just say I’m busy with official duties.”

Duan Xiaoyan sighed: “I knew it would be like this.” He felt somewhat emotional, “It must be because the Grand Tutor’s daughter was taken with your beauty last time, that’s why they’re coming to inquire. They say one family’s daughter attracts a hundred suitors, but it’s the same for men. Since I came to the Commander’s Mansion, I’ve helped you reject no less than eighty invitations out of a hundred.”

Duan Xiaoyan looked at Pei Yunying’s excessively handsome face and shook his head: “In our line of work, we often end up being heroes saving damsels. With your striking looks and impressive skills, if it were me being saved once, I’d want to pledge my heart too. Come to think of it, among all the ladies you’ve saved over the years, only that girl we met last time left without even saying thank you. To remain unmoved in the face of such beauty, that girl must truly be destined for great things.”

Pei Yunying smiled faintly and looked at him, saying coolly: “I see you’re quite idle, and it happens to be time for the palace guard rotation…”

“Stop right there!” Duan Xiaoyan hurriedly said, pulling out a palm-sized container from his chest and placing it on the table, “Brother Yunying, I came to bring you tea, how can you repay kindness with vengeance?”

Pei Yunying picked up the tea container before him and glanced at it: “Spring Water when willow catkins scatter?”

“Don’t you know? This Spring Water Tea is all the rage in the capital lately. They say brewing it can relieve nasal congestion and rhinitis, with remarkable effects, and the tea water is an elegant emerald color, very refined. I had someone buy two containers, one for you, fearing if we went too late, Renxin Medical Hall would be sold out.”

Hearing the words “Renxin Medical Hall,” Pei Yunying’s expression changed slightly.

A moment later, he threw the container back into Duan Xiaoyan’s arms: “You’d better keep it yourself, I won’t drink it.”

“Although it’s not some precious tea, you needn’t be so picky. I had such trouble getting it,” Duan Xiaoyan pouted, “It’s not poisoned.”

Pei Yunying gave a derisive laugh: “That remains to be seen.”

…

The spring water of Renxin Medical Hall, having blown to the distant Palace Guard Division, naturally also reached the nearby Xinglin Hall.

However, what arrived at Xinglin Hall was not the rippling waves left by spring water, but rather a bone-chilling cold wind.

Several wrinkles appeared on Bai Shouyi’s sapphire blue robe, which he didn’t bother to smooth out, his usually kind eyes showing some heaviness.

He had Wenyou spread rumors in the marketplace about Spring Water Tea, deliberately exaggerating its effects, hoping that people who bought the tea would find it didn’t live up to its name and cause trouble at Renxin Medical Hall. Unexpectedly, several days passed without anyone coming to make trouble, and Spring Water Tea sold even better.

That medicinal tea truly had effects in relieving nasal congestion.

Nasal congestion and rhinitis had always been difficult to treat, and every spring, large numbers of patients would come to Xinglin Hall for medicine. Drinking this medicine would take two to three months, bringing considerable income to Xinglin Hall.

Now with the appearance of Spring Water Tea, no one came to Xinglin Hall for nasal congestion medicine anymore, and Xinglin Hall’s monthly income had decreased by nearly half. If previously Bai Shouyi had only felt contempt and disgust towards Du Changqing, now he was filled with resentment towards Renxin Medical Hall.

“Lately, fewer people have been coming to Xinglin Hall for medicine,” Bai Shouyi adjusted the silk belt at his waist, speaking to no one in particular, “Patients coming for nasal congestion have decreased by sixty percent.”

Zhou Ji’s heart skipped a beat.

Xinglin Hall had only one resident doctor. Previously, Zhou Ji had relied on his superior medical skills to drive away other doctors from the medical hall, and since patients recognized him as the star doctor, Bai Shouyi had turned a blind eye. But now that problems had arisen, Bai Shouyi’s displaced anger fell solely on him.

Seeing Bai Shouyi’s dissatisfaction, Zhou Ji could only force himself to say: “Manager, I’ve tried that medicinal tea for a few days, it truly has effects in relieving nasal congestion. Perhaps the resident doctor Du Changqing invited this time is not just for show.”

“Not just for show?” Bai Shouyi looked at him with a cold smile, “If that’s the case, when that woman came to Xinglin Hall to sell the medicinal tea, why didn’t you keep it, instead of carelessly discarding it, letting Du Changqing pick up the benefit?”

“I…” Zhou Ji’s face remained respectful, but in his heart he cursed. New medicine for consignment had always been supplied by familiar houses, how could he, a resident doctor, make such decisions? In the past, medicine merchants for consignment were always chosen by Bai Shouyi himself. But today Bai Shouyi wanted to find an excuse to make trouble, so he could only grit his teeth and endure.

Bai Shouyi appeared gentle but was petty and harsh. Now that the medicinal tea was at Renxin Medical Hall, money was flowing to Renxin Medical Hall, and with Bai Shouyi losing money, how could he, as the resident doctor, have any good outcome?

As Zhou Ji was thinking, he heard Bai Shouyi sighing theatrically again: “It’s a pity Spring Water Tea didn’t end up at Xinglin Hall, otherwise we would be the ones making money now.”

Spring Water Tea at Xinglin Hall?

Zhou Ji’s mind stirred.

Standing there, his goat-like eyes flickered, and he suddenly spoke up: “Manager, I have an idea.”

Bai Shouyi glanced at him: “What idea?”

Zhou Ji said: “Being a resident doctor requires prescribing according to symptoms, but making medicinal tea and pills is different. As long as we find out the materials used and process them properly, we can recreate something with the same effects.”

Hearing this, Bai Shouyi’s eyes lit up: “You mean…”

“Since that woman is still young, she must lack medical experience, probably just having a clever recipe but no profound processing techniques. I’ve been a resident doctor for many years, I think recreating this medicinal tea shouldn’t be difficult.”

Zhou Ji spoke confidently. His medical skills were well-ranked among medical practitioners in the capital – how could he not make something that a young woman could make? Hence, his words carried much arrogance.

Bai Shouyi was silent for a moment, then slowly began to smile.

When he smiled, his features relaxed, appearing kind and charitable as he hypocritically said: “This seems somewhat improper. After all, copying like this wouldn’t look good if word got out.”

“How could that be?” Zhou Ji feigned surprise, “Since it’s a medical prescription, it should be shared for the benefit of relieving patients’ ailments. This is a great kindness, showing your compassionate heart, Manager.”

These words made Bai Shouyi smile even more deeply. He patted Zhou Ji’s shoulder affectionately and sighed: “You think far ahead, I was being narrow-minded. Since that’s the case, I’ll trouble you with this task.”

Zhou Ji just smiled: “It’s what I should do.”

Bai Shouyi nodded, concealed his smile, and called in an apprentice who was cleaning outside.

He said: “Go to Renxin Medical Hall and buy several containers of Spring Water Tea, quickly.”