“Go?” “Why? Where to?” Qi Yue asked in surprise, then immediately knitted her brows. “Did someone bully you?”

Seeing the woman’s sudden maternal ferocity, Coffin Boy couldn't help but chuckle. He spun the empty wine glass, gazing at the river view.

“Bully me? Who could possibly bully me?” he laughed. “Actually, all my life, I’ve really wished someone would bully me.”

He looked out at the river, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes.

“If someone bullied me, at least it would mean I had someone to play with. But the other children, they would only run away when they saw me,” he said with a small laugh. “So I really don't know what it feels like to be bullied.”

Qi Yue smiled.

“Me neither,” she said with a smile.

Coffin Boy was slightly surprised.

“Because it was always me bullying others,” Qi Yue said, flashing her teeth.

Coffin Boy laughed heartily.

But... a beggar? Smart and pretty? Studious? Top of the exams? What on earth?

“Thinking about it now, it was quite foolish. I was always so arrogant, self-righteous, and annoying,” Qi Yue sighed, taking a sip of wine. “If I had the chance, I’d want to apologize to all those people I bullied. Too bad there isn’t that opportunity.”

“How could there be no chance?” Coffin Boy asked. “Don’t you dare go and say it?”

Qi Yue smiled, shook her head, and said nothing.

“Hey, where exactly are you going?” she asked.

“You forgot, didn’t you suggest I leave?” Coffin Boy chuckled.

“Me?” Qi Yue snorted. “Am I an idiot? I’d never let you go.”

Coffin Boy laughed, a little sheepishly.

He cleared his throat.

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

Hearing this, Qi Yue suddenly remembered.

While following up on a case for the Prefect’s son, she overheard the Prefect complaining about a difficult case—a death that was quite strange. She casually suggested an autopsy, and while telling the seven-year-old young master a story—nothing more than the Song Ci case-solving tales from the television dramas—the Prefect grew curious and lamented whether there was a Song Ci here. So, she recommended Coffin Boy.

“Oh, he really looked for you?” she asked, surprised.

Coffin Boy nodded.

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

Qi Yue’s eyes lit up.

“Was it by viewing them through the sunlight reflected by the red umbrella?” she asked quickly.

Coffin Boy nodded, a hint of astonishment in his expression.

“Mistress knows too,” he said.

She had seen it on TV—holding a red umbrella to see...

But...

“Just holding an umbrella was enough to see?” she asked, puzzled. “That doesn’t sound very scientific.”

Coffin Boy laughed.

“Not at all. You have to splash it with wine or vinegar… and let it steep for a while before it works,” he explained, slightly embarrassed. This was something he had discovered by chance during his idle days, something he never dared let others know, as it was deeply disrespectful. He never expected to be using it so openly, in front of official figures, no less.

It was truly… exhilarating.

Qi Yue slapped his arm with a smack. Coffin Boy flinched in surprise.

“X-ray! Haha, you’re something else!” she burst out laughing, patting Coffin Boy’s arm again. “That’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful! I can use that too!”

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

“Hey, I have good news! When we go back tomorrow, we can test this out. It should be very useful for examining bone injuries,” Qi Yue called out cheerfully to them.

The disciples smiled at each other, knowing their Master was always thinking about the clinic, and loudly affirmed their agreement.

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

Coffin Boy clutched his arm protectively.

“Alright,” he said with a wry smile.

“Huh?” After the initial excitement wore off, Qi Yue realized something and looked at him. “Wait a minute. If the Prefect invited you, you don’t actually have to leave.”

Coffin Boy gently tapped her arm.

“I haven’t finished speaking yet, and you’ve already drifted off to your own thoughts again,” he said, feigning displeasure.

Qi Yue froze for a moment, then roared with laughter.

“Okay, okay, my mistake. Tell me, continue,” she said, still chuckling.

“There’s a case in Dengzhou Prefecture. The Prefect recommended me to go assist over there,” Coffin Boy explained. “I accepted.”

He smiled as he said this.

“Am I perhaps a bit too ambitious?” he asked. “I just accepted so readily, as if I were already some big shot...”

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

Coffin Boy smiled.

“I’ll just treat it as a test of courage—to see how much ridicule I can endure,” he said.

“Oh, that won’t happen,” Qi Yue assured him. “So you’re leaving tomorrow?”

Coffin Boy nodded.

“Are you sad to see me go?” he asked, using the cover of night to hide his blush.

“Of course, I’ll miss you,” Qi Yue replied, finishing the last drop of wine. “Looks like I’ll have to get used to messy surgeries again.”

“Then I won’t go,” Coffin Boy joked.

Qi Yue let out two small laughs.

“Stop that nonsense,” she said. “A man’s ambition lies in traveling the world, establishing a family and a career. What’s the fun in being an assistant his whole life?”

“If it weren't for you, no one would even hire me as an assistant,” Coffin Boy countered with a smile.

“That’s because you were lucky,” Qi Yue beamed. “You met me.”

“Yes,” Coffin Boy agreed, smiling.

He recalled a time, long ago, the first time he’d struck it rich from gambling. A luxurious carriage had sped past on the street, and people said it belonged to the Marquis’s young mistress, the one who had made him rich. He had watched the carriage, thinking, The Marquis’s young mistress—what does she have to do with me?

It turned out, she had everything to do with him.

“Once you go, you might just earn fame and fortune,” Qi Yue mused, watching the river, her face animated. “Hey, when I tell people later, ‘See that? Yuan Ziqing used to be my assistant!’”

She nudged Coffin Boy with her elbow, winking conspiratorially.

“That’s what showing off is! This is it!” she declared, laughing.

Coffin Boy laughed heartily.

“Alright, I’ll definitely work hard so you can show off to your heart’s content,” he promised.

“Yes, yes! To celebrate, go get some more wine,” Qi Yue urged.

“That,” Coffin Boy said with a smile, “I think that’s harder than me achieving fame and fortune. I’ll just drink mine while you watch.”

He then started walking towards A’Ru.

Qi Yue threw her wine cup behind him with a laugh and followed along.

In the darkness, the lively atmosphere of the tavern was mirrored in many places.

In a top-tier restaurant in the city, several men of varying ages sat together. However, there was no wine or feasting before them; instead, the table was cluttered with strange objects.

“This, is this the so-called stethoscope?” one man picked up a wooden trumpet-shaped device and said, placing it by his ear to listen. “What good is this? You can hear if someone has an internal ailment just by this? Isn’t that ridiculous?”

Someone else took one, placed it by his ear, and then laughed, pressing it against another man’s body, who quickly pushed him away in disgust.

Laughter filled the room.

“It wasn't hard to acquire these things, but how to use them—that’s what we can’t figure out. It’s the secret method of the Qianjintang!” a younger man shook his head and said.

“Enough, it’s just a cheap trick to steal attention and make a spectacle,” an older man said impatiently. He snatched the trumpet-like stethoscope and tossed it onto the table. “Have some dignity!”

“Hey, did Qianjintang give you guys these instructions too?” someone else picked up a piece of paper and read aloud: “…Rinse with salt water, soak all instruments in strong liquor, then boil in hot water…”

Everyone nodded in assent.

“Seriously, we need her to teach us,” someone grumbled resentfully. “Why should whatever she says be right? Our school’s inherited methods have always been this way. Does that mean our ancestors were wrong all along? Preposterous!”

“Then maybe we should follow her instructions. If something goes wrong later, she’ll just blame us for the patient’s death,” someone said with a worried frown.

“Why should whatever she says be the absolute rule?” someone else shouted loudly.

“Because people believe her!” someone else boomed.

That voice drowned out the others, casting the room into silence.

It was true. The patients believed whatever she said. What could be more frustrating than that?

“Is there really no one to check her?” after a period of silence, someone sighed. “If this continues, she’ll force us all out of business.”

Indeed, Qianjintang had already monopolized over half the business in Yongqing Prefecture...

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

This statement caused everyone to look up in pleasant surprise.

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

“Yongqing Prefecture is getting its own Medical Doctor?” everyone asked, astonished.

The Imperial Court maintained the Imperial Hospital to manage royal healthcare, while the prefectures usually had a Medical Doctor in charge of itinerant medical duties within their jurisdiction. However, this position wasn't as strictly established as civil officials; generally, one doctor was shared among three prefectures and two states, primarily for teaching, epidemic control, and acting as an arbiter in complicated medical cases. Yongqing Prefecture shared one Medical Doctor with the three surrounding prefectures. To think now Yongqing Prefecture would have one established solely for itself.

“With the esteemed Medical Doctor arriving, we certainly can’t allow Qianjintang to run rampant and speak nonsense indiscriminately,” this man declared loudly, crumpling up the leaflet distributed by Qianjintang detailing necessary steps for treating external injuries.

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

“Moreover, 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,” the man kept his secret, laughing heartily.

Everyone clamored, refusing to be put off.

“In short, this person definitely won't disappoint everyone. Just wait and watch the show,” he chuckled, raising his wine cup. “Come, come, let’s drink, everyone, drink!”

With fresh food and drink served, the room finally erupted in joyous celebration.

The Prefect’s recommendation didn’t involve a grand procession sending Coffin Boy off, nor was there a joyous welcome from Dengzhou Prefecture.

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

Whether he would actually get the opportunity once he arrived was still uncertain. Watching Coffin Boy’s lone figure receding into the distance, Qi Yue couldn't help but sigh, hoping the boy would secure a chance.

“Master, what are you thinking about?” Hu San asked from the side. “Why the long sigh?”

“Why are you so chatty?” A’Ru scolded him.

Qi Yue smiled lightly.

“I’m thinking,” she looked towards Liu Pucheng. “We need to find two more doctors as soon as possible.”

Liu Pucheng nodded. The group walked and joked their way into the city. Just as they reached the gate, they saw a massive, noisy crowd gathered there, seemingly awaiting someone important.

“What’s going on? Why are so many people from the pharmacies gathered?” Hu San, with his sharp eyes, asked.

Just then, a wave of excitement swept through the chatting crowd.

“They’re here, they’re here! The Medical Doctor has arrived!” they shouted, surging chaotically toward the main road.

Qi Yue and her group were jostled roughly to the side of the road.

“Who is it?” she couldn't help but ask. “A Doctor? They have Doctors here too?”

“He’s the official in charge of medicine for the prefecture, appointed by the Imperial Hospital!” Liu Pucheng yelled over the din.

The surroundings were so chaotic that Qi Yue only just managed to understand. She turned to look, and her eyes widened instantly.

A contingent approached on tall horses. The man leading them, dressed in official robes and wearing an official cap, possessing a dignified bearing—why did he look somewhat familiar?

“Mother of—” Hu San leaped up from the crowd, pointing and shouting, “Wang Qingchun!”

Mother of— Qi Yue inwardly cried out as well, staring in disbelief at the approaching figure. How had this scoundrel become a Doctor?