“Pearls lose their luster when stored for too long. Rather than letting them sit here uselessly, it’s better to share them with everyone.”

Binglu’s eyes brimmed with tears. “How can you say they’re sitting uselessly? This servant counts them every day, and that’s wonderful too.”

Qiao Zhao said with amusement, “Alright, get up quickly. These are all windfall gains for me, so giving some away actually brings peace of mind.”

Hearing this, Binglu reluctantly got to her feet.

There seemed to be such a saying that windfall wealth brings misfortune. Miss was truly clever, always so reasonable.

“But, Miss, are you going to distribute these pearls among the other young ladies? It’s fine to give them to Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss, but this servant feels it’s not worth it to give any to First Miss. Yet since you’re all sisters in the same household, if Miss singles out First Miss and excludes her, First Miss will go complain to Old Madam.” The thought of sharing pearls with Li Jiǎo made Binglu’s heart ache as if flesh were being carved away.

Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss had been well-behaved around her Miss lately, but First Miss had just schemed against Miss. A few silk flowers were one thing, but why should she get pearls?

“The sisters gave silk flowers, so these pearls are for the elders. Binglu, find two small boxes to divide the pearls and send them to my mother and Second Madam.”

Binglu immediately clapped her hands upon hearing this. “Miss is so wise in this distribution!”

Madam certainly wouldn’t give pearls to that ungrateful First Miss, and when Second Madam received pearls, it was equivalent to Fourth Miss and the others having them. Either way, First Miss would get nothing.

Qiao Zhao smiled.

She truly wasn’t magnanimous enough to eagerly send pearls to Li Jiǎo.

“Send this red coral branch to Qingsong Hall, and take some silver ingots as well. Ask Old Madam to help me choose a small, sturdy carriage. Convert the remaining silver ingots into small-denomination banknotes later. As for the gold leaves, medicinal materials, and other items, A’Zhu, please inventory and store them properly.”

After finishing the distribution, Qiao Zhao finally pointed to the box of books. “Binglu, move this box of books to the inner room. Don’t come in to disturb me unless it’s mealtime—I want to read.”

The box of books was moved to the inner room, and Qiao Zhao examined them one by one.

The medical texts placed on top were all ones she had studied before. Flipping to the very bottom, she found a book that still carried the fragrance of fresh ink, with a letter pressed against its cover.

Lifting the letter, the book’s cover was revealed, written in handwriting familiar to Qiao Zhao: “Discussions on Rare and Difficult Medical Cases.”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes immediately brightened, but she didn’t rush to open the book. Instead, she drew out the letter and began reading.

It was a personal letter from Physician Li, mainly explaining that this “Discussions on Rare and Difficult Medical Cases” contained the culmination of his lifelong medical experience from recent years, specifically written for her study. Because some content was too shocking, he instructed her to memorize it and then destroy it, lest it fall into the hands of those with ill intentions and cause terrible calamities.

Her pale fingers gently traced the book’s cover, and Qiao Zhao could almost see the white-haired, white-bearded elder writing feverishly by lamplight.

Her heart felt both bitter and sweet as she held the invaluably precious book and began reading word by word.

Before she knew it, noon had arrived, and A’Zhu stood at the doorway saying, “Miss, it’s time for lunch.”

Qiao Zhao rubbed her eyes. Her usually calm face was now pale beyond measure, and only after a long while did she say in a hoarse voice, “A’Zhu, bring the fire basin.”

A’Zhu silently brought the fire basin and candle flame.

Qiao Zhao looked reluctantly at the book that still carried the fragrance of ink, sighed inwardly, and personally brought the book toward the flame.

The book was quickly consumed by tongues of fire, turning to ash in the basin with only wisps of smoke remaining.

This earth-shaking work had thus turned to dust and smoke. Even with Qiao Zhao’s calm disposition, her face now showed reluctance.

However, Grandfather Li was right—the book’s contents were too shocking and unprecedented. If obtained by a physician with improper intentions, it would cause great trouble.

The safest way to preserve the book’s contents was through oral transmission. Presumably, if not for Grandfather Li knowing she had a photographic memory when reading, he wouldn’t have given her this book so soon.

Only after destroying the rare book did Qiao Zhao have time to continue examining the box.

Beneath the rare book lay a leather pouch the size of a child’s palm. Opening it revealed rows of golden needles arranged inside.

Holding the leather pouch in her palm, Qiao Zhao suddenly remembered their last parting when she was still at the Qiao family in Xingzi Alley. Grandfather Li had said with a chuckle that the next time they met, he would give her a set of golden needles as a gift.

How fortunate that she had ultimately received this gift.

Qiao Zhao’s heart filled with joy. She went to the study to draw a design for a pouch and handed it to A’Zhu. “Your needlework is excellent. Sew me several pouches according to this pattern.”

She specifically pointed to a corner of the pouch design. “Remember to embroider the little duck’s eyes in green here.”

She still remembered drawing ducks as a child and discovering that a duck by the pond had green eyes. She had caught that duck and shown it off to her grandfather and Grandfather Li like a treasure. Her grandfather had been quite fascinated, but Grandfather Li had pursed his lips and said, “What’s so fascinating? That’s because the duck is ill, just like how wealthy officials who are stuffed with food get excited over white deer and white owls—those animals are all sick!”

That was her introduction to medical arts. Later, the small pouches she carried for trinkets would always have green-eyed ducks embroidered on them as a memento, which she would beg her grandmother to make. Her previous pouch had been sewn by her own hands, but she was truly incapable when it came to embroidering ducks and such.

After giving these instructions, Qiao Zhao finally felt the gnawing hunger in her stomach and hurried to wash her hands and eat.

While the West Side Courtyard remained peaceful, the other courtyards suddenly became lively due to the gifts sent by Qiao Zhao’s people.

In Jinrong Courtyard, Second Madam Lady Liu held a box of pearls, her joy so great she couldn’t close her mouth. She said to her two daughters, “You can see that Mother was right to have you two befriend Third Miss. At the time, Mother observed clearly that the box of pearls could only be divided into two such portions. Sure enough, when I inquired, Binglu, who came to deliver the items, said they were only divided into two portions—one for your aunt, and one for me.”

Tsk tsk, Third Miss was truly thorough.

Sister-in-law He Shi received half a box of pearls, which she would naturally use to make jewelry for her daughter. This half box of pearls would naturally be used by her and her two daughters together. This way, only First Miss received not a single pearl, yet had no grounds for complaint.

No matter how much Old Madam favored First Miss, haha, a coral branch couldn’t very well be split in half, could it?

“Remember this well—from now on, you must show respect to Third Miss. She’s the elder sister, so lowering your head won’t diminish you. Especially you, Chan’er, you can no longer speak without restraint just because you’re young.”

The third Miss was so efficient in dealing with the First Miss. If her pampered daughters charged forward, they would just be throwing themselves away.

Half a box of pearls and exquisitely crafted silk flowers from the palace dazzled the young girl’s eyes. Li Chan responded enthusiastically, “Mother, I understand.”

Fourth Miss Li Yan, after a moment of silence, solemnly said to Lady Liu, “Mother, I’ll remind my sister in the future.”

In the East Side Courtyard of Yahe Courtyard, Li Jiǎo violently threw the delivered silk flowers to the ground and clung to her wet nurse, crying, “Wet Nurse, rest assured—one day I will avenge this humiliation for you!”

The wet nurse’s lips trembled as she spoke with a grave expression, “Miss, pick up those silk flowers!”