Leaving?

“Why? Where are you going?” Qi Yue asked in surprise, then raised her eyebrows. “Did someone bully you?”

Seeing this woman instantly transform into a protective mother hen, Coffin Boy couldn’t help but laugh. He turned his empty wine cup, gazing at the river scene.

“Who would bully me? Who could bully me?” he laughed. “Actually, from childhood to now, I really hoped someone would bully me.”

He looked at the river scene with a touch of reminiscence.

“Being bullied would at least mean someone was willing to play with me, but children would just run away when they saw me,” he smiled. “So I really don’t know what it feels like to be bullied.”

Qi Yue laughed.

“I don’t know either,” she smiled.

Coffin Boy was somewhat surprised.

“Because I was always the one bullying others,” Qi Yue said, baring her teeth.

Coffin Boy laughed heartily.

“I couldn’t help it. I was smart and beautiful from childhood, excelled at studying, always came first in exams. Such children are loved by everyone…” Qi Yue continued.

Coffin Boy laughed again.

Though, a beggar being smart and beautiful? Studying? Exams? What were… those?

“Thinking about it now, it was quite foolish. I was really arrogant and self-righteous in an annoying way,” Qi Yue sighed, taking a sip of wine. “If I had the chance, I’d like to apologize to those I bullied, but unfortunately there’s no such opportunity.”

“How can there be no opportunity?” Coffin Boy asked. “Are you afraid to go apologize?”

Qi Yue smiled and shook her head without speaking.

“Hey, what exactly are you going to do?” she asked.

“You forgot—you’re the one who told me to leave,” Coffin Boy smiled.

“Me?” Qi Yue snorted. “I’d have to be crazy. I really don’t want you to go.”

Coffin Boy smiled, somewhat embarrassed.

He coughed.

“A few days ago, didn’t you recommend me to the magistrate?” he said.

Only when he mentioned this did Qi Yue remember.

When doing a follow-up for the magistrate’s son, she heard the magistrate mention a difficult case where the deceased died strangely. She casually mentioned autopsy examination and told the seven-year-old young master a story—basically a TV drama story about Song Ci solving cases. The magistrate was very curious and sighed, wondering if there was anyone like Song Ci here. So she recommended Coffin Boy.

“Oh, he really contacted you?” she asked in surprise.

Coffin Boy nodded.

“That case was solved. The deceased did have bone injuries…” he said.

Qi Yue’s eyes lit up.

“Did you use that red umbrella method to examine under sunlight?” she asked eagerly.

Coffin Boy nodded, showing some surprise.

“You know about it too,” he said.

She’d seen it on TV—holding up a red umbrella to see…

But…

“Just holding an umbrella lets you see it?” she asked puzzled. “That’s not very scientific.”

Coffin Boy smiled.

“Of course not. You need to sprinkle wine or vinegar… um, soak it for a while first,” he said, somewhat embarrassed. This was something he’d accidentally discovered during his dissolute and idle days. He wouldn’t dare let others know, since it was quite disrespectful. He never expected to use it openly in front of people, and moreover, in front of officials.

It was really… too exciting.

Qi Yue slapped his arm, startling Coffin Boy.

“X-ray! Haha, you guys are amazing!” she laughed heartily, patting Coffin Boy’s arm again. “That’s great, that’s great! I can use this too!”

The disciples nearby were drawn by Qi Yue’s laughter and looked over.

“Hey, there’s good news. Tomorrow when we go back, let’s try it. It should be very useful for examining bone injuries,” Qi Yue smiled at them.

The master was always thinking about the clinic. Everyone smiled at each other and loudly responded in agreement.

“Before you leave, write this down for me to use,” Qi Yue turned back to Coffin Boy.

Coffin Boy covered his arm.

“Alright,” he said with a wry smile.

“Huh?” After her excitement, Qi Yue remembered something and looked at him. “That’s not right. Even if the magistrate asked for you, you don’t have to leave.”

Coffin Boy lightly tapped her arm.

“I hadn’t finished talking, and you were already thinking about your own matters,” he said with feigned displeasure.

Qi Yue was stunned, then laughed heartily.

“Alright, alright, I was wrong. Go on, continue,” she laughed.

“Dengzhou Prefecture has a case, and the magistrate recommended me to assist there,” Coffin Boy said. “I agreed.”

He smiled at this point.

“Am I being too presumptuous?” he asked. “I just agreed like that, as if I were really capable…”

“Not at all,” Qi Yue smiled. “You are really capable.”

Coffin Boy smiled.

“I’ll consider it practice for building courage, to see how much mockery I can endure,” he said.

“Oh, that won’t happen,” Qi Yue smiled. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”

Coffin Boy nodded.

“Will you miss me?” he asked, using the night to hide his blush.

“Of course I’ll miss you,” Qi Yue said, finishing the last drop of wine. “Looks like I’ll have to readjust to frantic surgery again.”

“Then I won’t go,” Coffin Boy smiled.

Qi Yue made two dismissive sounds.

“Don’t be silly,” she said. “A man’s ambition lies in all directions. Starting a family and career—what’s the point of being someone’s assistant for life?”

“If not for you, no one would want me as an assistant,” Coffin Boy smiled.

“That’s because you’re lucky,” Qi Yue smiled. “You met me.”

“Yes,” Coffin Boy smiled.

He remembered what seemed like long ago, when he had his first big win after starting gambling. A luxurious carriage passed by on the street, and people said that was the young marchioness from the marquis’s manor who had brought him fortune. He watched the carriage, thinking—what did the young marchioness have to do with him?

Turns out she had such a great connection with him.

“On this trip, you might earn some fame and fortune,” Qi Yue smiled, looking at the river water with excitement. “Hey, then I can go around telling people, ‘See that Yuan Ziqing? He used to be my assistant.'”

She nudged Coffin Boy with her elbow and winked.

“If you want to know what showing off and bragging looks like, this is it!” she laughed.

Coffin Boy laughed heartily.

“Alright, I’ll definitely work hard so you can show off and brag,” he said.

“Yes, yes, and to celebrate, go get some more wine,” Qi Yue said eagerly.

“That would be harder than me earning fame and fortune,” Coffin Boy smiled. “Better let me drink while you watch.”

He walked toward A’Ru’s direction.

Qi Yue threw her wine cup at his back, laughing as she followed.

In the night, such liveliness was common in wine houses.

In one of the city’s finest wine houses sat several men of various ages, but none were drinking or feasting. The table was covered not with delicacies but with a pile of strange objects.

“This is supposed to be a stethoscope?” one man said, picking up a wooden trumpet-shaped object and putting it to his ear. “What can this do? Just by using this you can hear if there’s illness in the belly? Isn’t that a joke?”

Someone else took it and put it to his ear, then laughingly pressed it against another person’s body, who quickly pushed it away in disgust.

Laughter filled the room.

“These things are easy enough to obtain, but we can’t figure out how to use them. They’re Qianjin Hall’s secret formulas,” a younger man shook his head.

“Enough, these are just tricks and gimmicks for show,” an older man said impatiently, snatching the trumpet stethoscope and throwing it on the table. “What propriety is this?”

“Hey, did Qianjin Hall give you these things too?” someone else pulled out a paper, unfolded it and read, “…saline irrigation, all instruments must be soaked in alcohol, boiled in boiling water…”

Everyone nodded.

“Really now, that she should presume to teach us,” someone said angrily. “Why should hers be right? Our schools have always transmitted knowledge this way. Are they saying all our ancestors were wrong? Absurd!”

“But if we don’t follow her methods and something goes wrong, she’ll say we caused the patient’s death,” someone frowned worriedly.

“Why should everything she says be law?” someone shouted.

“Because people believe her!” someone else shouted back.

This voice drowned out the others, and the room fell silent.

Indeed, the patients believed what she said—what could be more frustrating than that?

“Really, isn’t there anyone to control her?” someone sighed after the silence. “At this rate, she’ll force us all out of business.”

Indeed, now more than half the business in Yongqing Prefecture was monopolized by Qianjin Hall…

“Of course someone can handle her,” someone suddenly said.

This made everyone look up with delight.

“The new Medical Doctor for Yongqing Prefecture is about to take office,” that person said with a smile.

“Yongqing Prefecture is getting its own Medical Doctor?” everyone asked in surprise.

The court had the Imperial Medical Academy managing imperial healthcare, while prefectures had Medical Doctors managing itinerant medical affairs within their territories. However, unlike the tight organization of prefectural officials, usually three prefectures and two counties shared one Medical Doctor, mainly for teaching, epidemic prevention, and adjudicating medical cases.

Yongqing Prefecture had shared a Medical Doctor with three nearby prefectures, but unexpectedly it was now getting its own.

“With a Medical Doctor here, Qianjin Hall won’t be able to act recklessly and spout nonsense,” the man said loudly, crumpling up the paper on necessary steps and precautions for treating external injuries distributed by Qianjin Hall.

“Right, right, exactly,” others in the room shouted.

“And do you know who this new Medical Doctor is?” he lowered his voice with a mysterious smile.

“Who?” everyone asked curiously.

“You’ll know when he arrives,” he kept them in suspense, laughing heartily.

Everyone clamored in dissatisfaction.

“In any case, this person definitely won’t disappoint you. Just wait for the good show,” he laughed heartily, raising his wine cup. “Come, come, everyone drink!”

Food and wine were served again, and the room finally began feasting heartily.

The magistrate’s recommendation didn’t involve drums and fanfare to send Coffin Boy off, nor did Dengzhou Prefecture come to welcome him with celebration.

In reality, Coffin Boy shouldered a bundle, took a letter of recommendation, and set off on his own.

Whether he could get this opportunity was still uncertain. Watching Coffin Boy’s increasingly solitary figure disappear into the distance, Qi Yue couldn’t help but sigh. She hoped this child would get a chance.

“Master, what are you thinking about?” Hu San asked beside her. “Why are you sighing for no reason?”

“Why are you so talkative?” A’Ru glared at him.

Qi Yue smiled.

“I was thinking,” she looked at Liu Pucheng, “we need to find two doctors quickly.”

Liu Pucheng nodded. Everyone chatted and laughed as they entered the city. Just reaching the city gate, they saw a commotion ahead with a crowd gathered at the gate, seemingly waiting expectantly for someone.

“What’s happening? Why are they all from medicine shops?” sharp-eyed Hu San asked.

Just then, the chattering crowd stirred.

“He’s coming, he’s coming! The Medical Doctor is coming!” they shouted, rushing chaotically toward the main road.

Qi Yue and her group were jostled aside.

“What person?” she couldn’t help asking. “Doctor? There are doctors here too?”

“It’s an official managing prefectural medicine, appointed by the Imperial Medical Academy,” Liu Pucheng shouted.

With all the surrounding noise, Qi Yue finally understood. She turned to look and her eyes immediately widened.

A procession approached on fine horses, led by a man in official robes and hat with dignified bearing who looked somewhat familiar.

“Good lord!” Hu San jumped up from the crowd, pointing and shouting, “Wang Qingchun!”

Good lord! Qi Yue also shouted in her heart, staring in disbelief at the approaching figure. How did this bastard become a doctor?