The tense atmosphere in Qianjin Hall was palpable, largely due to the strict quarantine measures surrounding the patient suffering from diarrhea out back. Perhaps sensing their anxiety, fewer customers entered.
When two men, clad in silk shirts and fanning themselves, walked in, the disciples barely noticed them enough to offer a greeting. The two men exchanged a nervous glance.
“Esteemed guests,” a disciple finally saw them and quickly stepped forward, “Are you here for a consultation or to pick up medicine?” The two men became even more tense, instinctively stepping back a pace. “P-p-pick up… p-p-pick up medicine,” one stammered.
Ah, a stutterer, the disciple realized internally, but a healer must treat everyone equally and must never mock another's defect; his demeanor instantly softened into greater kindness. “This way, please.
Are you collecting based on a prescription, or picking up specific ingredients?” he inquired. The first man looked at the disciple, unable to speak clearly through his stammer.
“Individually,” the other interrupted, unable to bear it any longer, pushing his companion aside and striding confidently to the counter. He leaned against the counter, slapping his hand—as large as a cattail fan—down upon the wood.
The disciple behind the counter jumped, then took a closer look at the man. He was dressed in the silk attire of a moderately successful merchant boss, leisurely fanning himself, possessing a fleshy face and large ears.
Yet, no matter how one looked at him… the clothing seemed stolen—there was a jarring discord between the garment and the man’s bearing… “This, this, and this. Ten catties of each,” he said, casually pointing.
Ten catties! The disciple was momentarily stunned.
“What? You think I’m short on cash?” the man growled, his eyes widening.
The disciple quickly apologized and called for assistance; this quantity was too large and required stock to be brought directly from the storeroom. “Say, young brother, what’s this rumor going around about Qianjin Hall treating people to death recently?” the man asked again.
Being asked such a direct question was extremely awkward, and the disciple turned, a spark of righteous indignation coloring his tone. “It wasn’t us who caused anyone’s death,” he asserted, “We were being extorted!” “See, I knew it!
That’s what the Boss said—that Madam Qi would never kill anyone… those few people were just pretending to be pitiful…” the other man exclaimed excitedly. His statement left the disciple thoroughly confused, and he looked at the speaker in surprise.
This man wasn't stuttering; he spoke fluently, but the meaning was utterly incomprehensible… The first man promptly kicked the fluent speaker, who immediately clamped his mouth shut, afraid to say more. “Yes, yes, Madam Qi certainly wouldn’t do such a thing,” he said with a smile toward the disciple, leaning conspiratorially over the counter.
“Little brother, why don’t you tell me exactly what happened?” The disciple was naturally eager to explain, but before he could open his mouth, another disciple rushed in from outside. “Senior Disciple, this is terrible!
Master has been arrested by Wang Qingchun…” two disciples shouted simultaneously. This news instantly threw the main hall into chaos.
“What’s going on?” “On what grounds?” Everyone crowded around, shouting questions. “He claimed Master spread rumors to incite unrest among the populace,” the disciple gasped, whether from running or sheer panic, sweat plastered his hair to his forehead.
“Nonsense! How dare he speak such falsehoods?” Zhang Tong emerged from the back courtyard as well, his face etched with surprise.
“He didn’t just arrest Master; he’s here to seal up Qianjin Hall!” the disciple yelled, pointing outside. “They are already here…” The disciples began yelling in a flurry of panic.
“Quick, go tell Master to come back!” everyone urged. The "Master" they referred to was naturally Qi Yue.
“No! We cannot call her back now,” Ah Ru rushed out from the back, shouting.
“She is compounding medicine; if she is distracted, what will happen to those concoctions?” “But, but what are we supposed to do?” everyone asked desperately, having lost all composure. “What to do?” Hu San stepped forward, setting his jaw.
“We don’t let them in!” “Will that work?” Ah Ru looked at him, asking. Hu San stood tall, puffing out his chest, his gaze fixed on the approaching figures outside the door.
“It will!” he stated firmly. The hall was a mess of confusion, and the two men waiting for their medicine were completely ignored.
“Brother, looks like a fight is brewing,” one muttered quietly. “Let them fight, what are we afraid of?” the other retorted, eyes blazing with excitement, reaching instinctively to his waist only to find his fan.
“Brother, stop fooling around! The Boss explicitly told us not to cause trouble for Madam Qi.
If people find out our identity and she’s accused of colluding with bandits, it’s a beheading offense!” he warned in a low voice. The first man regained his composure.
“Then what do we do? Just watch Madam Qi’s people get bullied?” he asked quietly.
Such a problem requiring genuine intellect was beyond them. The man rubbed his head.
“I told you we should have brought Dog-Head Zhang; he has plenty of tricks…” he grumbled. The two men stood rooted to the spot, watching the thin, agitated disciples slam the doors shut, bracing their hands against the wood.
Scarcely had the door closed than Wang Qingchun’s voice boomed from outside. “…Open up!
Do you think closing the door solves anything?” “Wang, you are abusing your authority for personal revenge! Don’t think we don’t know!” Hu San shouted back.
“Release our Master! We still have patients here.
If their treatment is delayed, we’ll charge you with obstructing medical aid and causing death!” They certainly learned how to apply lessons well! Wang Qingchun sneered in anger, observing the spectacle.
The street instantly attracted a large crowd of onlookers. Qianjin Hall truly was a treasure for the common folk of Yongqing Prefecture.
They couldn't afford to hire theater troupes, but as long as the Hall stood, they wouldn't lack for entertainment… Two young servants in the crowd spotted the commotion and bolted. “Steward!
It’s terrible! Wang Qingchun is harassing the Young Madam again!” They ran breathlessly into the Residence of Marquis Dingxi and found the steward.
“This bastard isn’t finished yet?” the steward stood up, pondering for a moment. “Has the Young Lord left yet?” The servant shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
“Hurry on horseback to Shanning Prefecture. See if the Young Lord has departed yet.
If he hasn't, tell him,” the steward instructed. “And if he has already left?” the servant asked blankly.
“Then… we must count it as fate,” the steward sighed. What did fate have to do with this?
The servants didn’t understand, but they didn't ask, hurrying off instead. Meanwhile, the doors of Qianjin Hall were finally forced open because the patient’s family members were weeping outside.
“We won’t let you treat him anymore, we’re taking him away,” cried Dr. Zhu’s wife.
If the patient's family demanded to leave, they genuinely could not refuse. Wang Qingchun brushed off his robes with an air of disdain.
A bunch of small fry—what kind of trouble could they possibly cause! Using a sick person to threaten him into releasing Liu Pucheng?
Utterly foolish. Did they think he was the only physician in all of Yongqing Prefecture?
Ridiculous! Dr.
Zhu’s wife wept as she walked toward the back, followed by a few yamen runners ready to carry the patient. “No!” Ah Ru stretched out her hand to block them.
“You cannot take this patient.” “That’s my husband! Who are you, woman?” Dr.
Zhu’s wife was startled by the woman who suddenly blocked her path and immediately shouted. “I am the head nurse here.
No one can move this patient,” Ah Ru stated. This was the first time she had faced so many people; she was trembling with nervousness, but she held her ground, refusing to move her hand.
“This patient is highly contagious and must be isolated. Moving him absolutely cannot be allowed, or more people will contract this illness.” The people inside the room froze.
Contagious… Dr. Zhu’s wife remembered the word epidemic her husband had mentioned, and instantly staggered back two steps, her face pale with terror.
“Is it… is it truly an epidemic?” she choked out. At this utterance, the crowd gathered outside erupted in a loud murmur.
“What?” “Epidemic!” “Mother! It’s over, there’s an epidemic!” Wang Qingchun flew into a rage and immediately shouted at the crowd.
“It is NOT an epidemic! Don’t listen to Qianjin Hall’s nonsense!
They ate spoiled food and got diarrhea!” he roared. “The owner of Qingfeng Pavilion used spoiled vegetables and meat, causing several people to suffer persistent vomiting and purging.” It took several repeated shouts before the scene quieted down.
“You are utterly audacious, daring to speak such nonsense! You are inciting public rebellion!” Wang Qingchun demanded sharply, his eyebrows knitted.
“Guards! Take them all away and seal the shop!” The situation immediately dissolved into chaos.
“No, you absolutely cannot take them!” Ah Ru held the door shut with all her might, shouting. Dr.
Zhu’s wife raised her hand and slapped out. “You little slut, what are your intentions!” she cursed.
Ah Ru took the blow squarely, leaving half her face instantly red. Before Dr.
Zhu’s wife could land another strike, someone rushed in from the side and delivered a resounding slap across her face. Dr.
Zhu’s wife was unprepared and couldn't withstand the force of the sudden blow; she was knocked completely off balance and fell to the ground with such force that she could barely draw a breath. “HITTING PEOPLE!
You dare hit her! I’ll beat you to death!” Hu San furiously pointed at Dr.
Zhu’s wife and cursed. This sudden violence stunned everyone.
“How can you, a man, strike a woman?” one physician called out, trembling, unable to watch. The people of Qianjin Hall were simply too rough!
And these were supposed to be running a medical hall? More like a den of thieves!
“I don’t care if she’s a woman or a man!” Hu San glared viciously at the physician. “Whoever hits her, I hit them!” Dr.
Zhu’s wife recovered her senses, sitting on the ground sobbing, and her relatives who had accompanied her rushed toward Hu San. Hu San could not fend off four fists with two hands, but he still shielded Ah Ru.
Seeing that they had resorted to blows, the other disciples naturally rushed to help Hu San, and the scene descended into a full-blown melee. “What are you doing!
What are you doing!” A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the crowd, and simultaneously, two figures charged in, swiftly separating the struggling fighters in just a few moves. Wang Qingchun’s entourage stared at the two who had appeared so suddenly.
They were clearly not from Qianjin Hall. “Who are you?” Wang Qingchun demanded suspiciously.
“What are you doing?” Countless gazes fixed on the two sturdy men in silk shirts, who looked somewhat bewildered. “We are…” one of them stammered nervously, “…p-p-picking up… p-p-picking up medicine…” Picking up medicine?
Everyone looked at them in suspicion. “We are here for medicine!
What are you doing? Hurry up and pack our medicine for us!” the other man yelled, glaring and pointing at the Qianjin Hall disciples.
Were these two insane? At a time like this, in a situation like this, they were concerned with medicine?
“Sirs, Qianjin Hall is being sealed off, so they cannot sell medicine. You should go elsewhere,” Wang Qingchun stated in a deep voice.
“Sealed off! Before sealing off, we need our medicine!
That has nothing to do with now! Hurry up, pack our medicine!” the man demanded sternly.
What kind of lunatic was this… Everyone stared blankly at the pair. “What are you trying to do?
Are you trying to stop us from getting our medicine?” the two men glared, rolling up their sleeves. “If you stop us from getting medicine, you are sentencing our families to death!
That is an irreconcilable enmity; you are committing murder!” What utter nonsense! The scene reached a stalemate.
“Senior Disciple! Sister Ah Ru!
The patient is about to die!” a shout came from the courtyard.