Lu Tong knew nothing of the Wu family’s affairs at the fish market. To her, Wu Youcai was merely one of the most ordinary scholars among those who came to buy medicinal tea. After meeting once, she forgot about it in a flash.

She was busy making more medicinal tea.

Renxin Medical Hall’s “Spring Water Rising” was selling even better than imagined.

It happened to be spring, when countless people were troubled by sinus problems and nasal congestion. Word spread in the marketplace that after brewing and taking this medicinal tea, sinus problems and nasal congestion could be greatly alleviated. Many people came to buy the medicine with a “try it and see” attitude, then brewed and took two or three packets, discovering it indeed had remarkable effects.

“Spring Water Rising” cost four taels of silver per jar. While not cheap, for people deeply troubled by nasal congestion, it was truly a miraculous elixir. Moreover, even if they didn’t buy “Spring Water Rising” and gathered various medicines to drink, the final cost wouldn’t differ much from Spring Water Rising. When those housewives who were good at managing households calculated this, they might as well buy Spring Water Rising. Coming and going, Spring Water Rising gained fame throughout the capital, and along with it, people began to know the name of Renxin Medical Hall.

This fame even reached the Palace Guard Command.

At the Palace Guard Command Headquarters.

Duan Xiaoyan walked in from outside.

The young man wasn’t very old, with an appealing and friendly appearance, wearing a purple-wisteria colored long robe. Like a delicate wisteria flower in the Palace Guard Headquarters, he walked briskly into the room.

Inside the room, someone was reviewing official documents.

The young man wore crimson round-collar official robes with intricate dark patterns embroidered on the sleeves and wrists. Sunlight streamed through the latticed window onto his face, casting a hazy luminous halo over his handsome profile.

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

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

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

“He says there’s a farmer outside the city whose plum trees will ripen in a few days, with exceptionally good flavor. He wants to wait outside the city for the plums to ripen before leaving.” Duan Xiaoyan was also quite puzzled at this point. “Strange, I’ve never heard Brother Zhufeng liked eating plums before?”

Hearing this, Pei Yunying was first stunned, then thinking of something, smiled and said: “Forget it, let him be.”

“Grand Tutor Manor also sent an invitation.” Duan Xiaoyan said: “They want to invite you to…”

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

Duan Xiaoyan sighed: “I knew it would be like this.” He was somewhat emotional. “It must be because the Grand Tutor Manor’s young lady took a fancy to your good looks last time, so they’re trying to find out more. They say when one family has a daughter, a hundred families come courting, but it’s the same for men. Since I came to the Palace Guard Headquarters, I’ve helped you refuse at least eighty invitations, if not a hundred.”

Duan Xiaoyan looked at Pei Yunying’s excessively handsome face, then shook his head: “In our line of work, we rescue damsels in distress from time to time. You’re a hero who’s strikingly good-looking and skilled in martial arts. If it were me, I’d want to pledge my heart after being rescued once too. Speaking of which, among all the young ladies rescued over the years, it seems only that girl we met last time left without even saying thanks. To remain unmoved in the face of such beauty as yours, that girl truly has the makings of someone who accomplishes great things.”

Pei Yunying’s lips curved in a smile as he looked at him and said lightly: “I see you’re quite idle. It just so happens it’s time for guard duty rotation…”

“Stop!” Duan Xiaoyan quickly said, pulling out a palm-sized jar from his bosom and slapping it on the table. “Brother Yunying, I came to bring you tea. How can you repay kindness with enmity like this?”

Pei Yunying picked up the tea jar before him and glanced at it: “‘When poplar flowers scatter, spring water rises’?”

“You don’t know? Recently, this Spring Water Rising has become quite fashionable in the capital. They say brewing and taking it can relieve nasal congestion and sinus problems, with remarkable effects observable. The tea water is blue-green and extremely elegant. I had someone buy two jars and am giving you one, afraid that if I went too late, Renxin Medical Hall would have none left to sell.”

Upon hearing the four words “Renxin Medical Hall,” Pei Yunying’s expression shifted slightly.

After a moment, he tossed the jar back into Duan Xiaoyan’s arms: “You keep it for yourself. I won’t drink it.”

“Although it’s not some precious tea, there’s no need to be so particular. I went through great trouble to buy this.” Duan Xiaoyan pouted. “It’s not poisoned.”

Pei Yunying chuckled: “That’s hard to say.”

…

This pool of spring water from Renxin Medical Hall, having reached the distant Palace Guard Command, naturally also reached the nearby Apricot Grove Hall.

Only at Apricot Grove Hall, what arrived wasn’t the rippling waves left by spring water, but rather seemed like bone-chilling harsh wind.

Bai Shouyi’s sapphire blue robe had several wrinkles that he hadn’t bothered to smooth out. His usually kind eyes and brows appeared somewhat gloomy.

He had sent Wen You to spread rumors about Spring Water Rising in the marketplace, deliberately exaggerating the medicinal tea’s effects, hoping that people who bought the medicinal tea would discover it didn’t live up to its reputation and cause trouble at Renxin Medical Hall. Unexpectedly, several days had passed without a single person coming to cause trouble, while Spring Water Rising sold better and better.

That medicinal tea actually had effects in relieving nasal congestion.

Nasal congestion and sinus problems had always been difficult to resolve. Every spring, large numbers of patients would come to Apricot Grove Hall to get medicine. This medicine would be taken for two to three months, bringing considerable income to Apricot Grove Hall.

Now, due to the appearance of Spring Water Rising, no one came to Apricot Grove Hall anymore for nasal congestion medicine. This month’s income at Apricot Grove Hall had decreased by nearly half. If previously his attitude toward Du Changqing was merely contempt and disgust, now Bai Shouyi could be said to be furious with Renxin Medical Hall.

“Recently, fewer people have come to Apricot Grove Hall for medicine.” Bai Shouyi fingered the silk cord at his waist, speaking to no one in particular. “Patients coming for nasal congestion have also decreased by sixty percent.”

Zhou Ji’s heart skipped a beat.

Apricot Grove Hall had only him as the resident physician. Previously, Zhou Ji had relied on his superior medical skills to squeeze out all other physicians in the medical hall. Because patients recognized his living signboard, Bai Shouyi had turned a blind eye. But now that problems had arisen, Bai Shouyi’s anger would fall on him alone.

Seeing that Bai Shouyi was in a bad mood, Zhou Ji could only bite the bullet and say: “Shopkeeper, I’ve tried that medicinal tea for several days, and it indeed has effects in relieving nasal congestion. Perhaps the resident physician Du Changqing hired this time isn’t just for show.”

“Not just for show?” Bai Shouyi looked at him with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “If that’s the case, when that woman came to Apricot Grove Hall to consign medicinal tea, why didn’t you keep it, instead carelessly discarding it and letting Du Changqing pick up the bargain?”

“I…” Zhou Ji’s face remained respectful, but he cursed inwardly. Consigning new medicines had always been supplied by familiar sources. How could he, a resident physician, make such decisions? In the past, consigning new medicines had always been personally approved by Bai Shouyi himself. But today, Bai Shouyi wanted to find an excuse to cause trouble, so he could only grit his teeth and endure.

This Bai Shouyi appeared gentle and kind but was actually petty and mean. Now that medicinal tea was at Renxin Medical Hall, silver flowed to Renxin Medical Hall. With Bai Shouyi earning less silver, how could he, the resident physician, have an easy time?

Zhou Ji was thinking this when he heard Bai Shouyi sighing dramatically again: “It’s a pity Spring Water Rising didn’t end up at Apricot Grove Hall. Otherwise, it would be our Apricot Grove Hall earning silver now.”

Spring Water Rising ending up at Apricot Grove Hall?

Zhou Ji’s heart stirred.

He stood there, his goat-like eyes flashing, and suddenly spoke: “Shopkeeper, I have an idea.”

Bai Shouyi glanced at him: “What idea?”

Zhou Ji said: “Practicing medicine as a resident physician requires prescribing the right medicine for the condition, but making medicinal tea and pills is different. As long as we can identify the materials used and process them accordingly, we can replicate items with the same effects.”

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

“Since that woman is still young, she surely lacks medical experience. She probably only succeeded because her prescription was clever, but her actual processing techniques aren’t sophisticated. I’ve been a resident physician for many years, so replicating this medicinal tea shouldn’t be difficult.”

Zhou Ji spoke confidently. His medical skills ranked among the notable ones in the capital’s medical community. If a young woman could make this medicinal tea, how could he not? Therefore, his words carried considerable arrogance.

Bai Shouyi was silent for a while, then slowly smiled.

When he smiled, his eyes and brows relaxed, appearing kind and benevolent, yet he said hypocritically: “In that case, it would be somewhat unethical. After all, this copying business wouldn’t look good if word got out.”

“How could that be?” Zhou Ji feigned surprise. “Since it’s a medical prescription, it should naturally be shared and exchanged to alleviate patients’ suffering. This would be a tremendous virtue, showing your Bodhisattva-like compassion, shopkeeper.”

These words deepened Bai Shouyi’s smile. He affectionately patted Zhou Ji’s shoulder and sighed: “It’s thoughtful of you to think so far ahead. I was narrow-minded. Since that’s the case, I’ll trouble you to work harder.”

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

Bai Shouyi nodded, put away his smile, and called in the young assistant who was sweeping outside.

He said: “Go buy several jars of Spring Water Rising from Renxin Medical Hall. Be quick.”