maidservant

Zhanqian's expression turned serious. "The general was discovered when he entered the palace to exchange his military merits for Lady Li's status. Fortunately, the matter was handled discreetly, and because of the general's merits in supporting the emperor and the Lin family's unwavering loyalty, His Majesty did not punish him."

"So what?" Yun Shan felt that this matter was not over. Her intuition told her that there were more complicated things to come.

"Later, the young prince staged a coup, and most of the soldiers were those who had followed the deposed crown prince in the past."

There was a hint of helplessness in Zhanqian's voice.

"The matter of that woman has been brought up again. After His Majesty was betrayed by the young prince, he wanted to eradicate the deposed crown prince and his cronies from the court, which is why these traitors have been interrogated for so long. His Majesty has ordered that they shall not be allowed to die until the person behind this is found."

"Until recently, someone confessed that some court officials were colluding with the southern barbarian forces."

Zhanqian continued, "After the general reported this matter to His Majesty, His Majesty was furious and determined to eliminate all those who betrayed the country and rebelled. He also brought up the matter between the general and that woman."

Zhanqian revealed all these secrets, "So, you should be able to guess what happened next."

These events, one after another, formed a tight net that enveloped both Lin Xiao and Yun Shan.

The emperor's intention was to send Lin Xiao to the Southern Barbarians.

Therefore, even though he was extremely cautious in the palace, and it was clearly Yang Zhong and his companion who were plotting against him, the emperor still suspected him.

It turned out that because of his relationship with Lin Xiao, the emperor had probably been keeping an eye on him for a long time.

Everyone makes mistakes, and if you are met with suspicion and disapproval from the start, even the slightest impropriety will be magnified.

As expected, it started snowing late at night.

Snowflakes drifted down, like pure white feathers, gently covering the world. Having learned so much today, Yunshan couldn't sleep, worried about Lin Xiao.

She lay in bed, gazing at the snowflakes outside the window, lost in thought.

Is Lin Xiao doing well in the distance?
How long will it take for him to return?

These questions kept swirling in her mind.

Xiaoyue specially came to add the finest silver-thread charcoal to Yunshan's fire. The charcoal fire burned brightly inside the room, and warmth gradually spread.

“My husband is staying at a friend’s house today, so I’ve come to keep you company while you enjoy the snow.” Her voice was gentle and warm, breaking the silence in the room.

Xiaoyue and Yunshan slept together. With their loved ones by their side, the frost and snow felt less cold and more peaceful.

My beloved sleeps peacefully with a gentle smile, as if in a dream; the candle flickers warmly in the tent, and we share a cozy moment.

Snowflakes flutter outside the window, and my heart aches with longing for you.

I eagerly await news of your return and wish you a safe journey.

When the handsome young man returns, she will be dressed in red to welcome him.

---

As dawn broke and the morning light began to shine, the courtyard of the Li residence was still shrouded in a faint tranquility.

Yunshan slowly woke up from her sleep. She hadn't been able to sleep well all night, and besides missing the person far away, she was also preoccupied with the matter of choosing a location for the clinic.

I arrived early this morning.

As Yun Shan stepped out of the room, Zhan Qian leaped down from the eaves. His movements were light and agile, like a nimble wildcat, and he landed almost without making a sound.

"Young lady, there's no need to investigate that place. There are many markets around, the roads are narrow, it's cramped and crowded, too noisy, and not suitable for a clinic."

Zhanqian's voice was deep and concise. As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished like a ghost, as if he had never been there.

"Thank you." Yun Shan's voice was slightly hesitant. By the time she realized what was happening and wanted to express her gratitude, Zhan Qian had already disappeared. She didn't even have time to say another word to him.

Yun Shan tidied herself up a bit, transforming herself into a handsome young man. She wore a plain-colored robe, a black square scarf on her head, and a blue ribbon tied around her waist. In the bronze mirror, her eyes and brows revealed a heroic air, and at first glance, she really did look like a dashing young man.

Afterwards, she borrowed two servants from the Li family and headed towards the bustling alleyway she had spotted the day before, intending to negotiate a price with a broker.

Upon reaching the alley entrance, a bustling crowd came into view. Various stalls lined the street, selling vegetables, fabrics, and small trinkets, their calls echoing throughout. In this noisy environment, Yunshan found the matchmaker.

"Young lady, have you made up your mind?"

When the matchmaker saw Yun Shan enter, her face immediately lit up with a smile. Her plump body trembled slightly, and the fat on her belly jiggled along with it.

"Our shop is owned by Seventh Sister. Seventh Sister's rule is that it can only be rented out, not resold."

"Seventh Sister?"

Yun Shan had heard of this name before, but didn't know much about her. She frowned slightly, a look of doubt on her face.

Seeing her like this, the matchmaker became interested and began to vividly introduce Seventh Sister to her.

"This Seventh Sister is the seventh daughter of Master Chen, the former richest man in West Street. She has been helping Master Chen run his business since she was a child. Master Chen dotes on this youngest daughter very much, and once said, 'Three sons can't buy a little Seventh Sister!'"

As the matchmaker spoke, she gestured with her hands, her face displaying a wide range of expressions.

"At the age of fifteen, she was married into the Wang family, a salt merchant family, by her parents' arrangement. Although the salt merchants were merchants, they were also government merchants, dealing with the government every day, and naturally had a certain amount of power. So, in order to raise the value of Seventh Sister, Master Chen gave all the shops in two entire alleys of West Street as his daughter's dowry."

After finishing her explanation in one breath, the matchmaker picked up the teacup on the table and took a big gulp of tea.

"This old woman has been working as a matchmaker for Seventh Sister for fifteen or sixteen years, and this price is absolutely fair," the matchmaker said, putting down her teacup and patting her chest. "How much is the rent?" Yun Shan asked calmly, without revealing any emotion.

"The front shop costs eight taels of silver a year, and the small room in the back courtyard costs five taels of silver. If you want to buy both, young lady, it will only cost twelve taels of silver," the matchmaker said with a smile, her eyes narrowing into slits.

Upon hearing this, the servant next to him couldn't help but exclaim, "Isn't this outrageous? This location isn't exactly prime real estate; it's not worth twelve taels!"

The servant was furious, feeling that the matchmaker was truly heartless.

Yunshan remained silent, listening quietly to the servant and the matchmaker's argument. Seeing that the matchmaker was still rambling on about how good the location was, she slowly got up, pretending to leave.

"Alright, alright, ten taels it is." Seeing that Yun Shan was about to leave, the matchmaker hurriedly agreed.

She didn't want to lose this business deal. The ten taels of silver rent was less than she had expected, but it was still quite good.

Shan paid the money and signed the lease. The matchmaker's nagging continued in her ears, "What a loss!" and "Seventh Sister is going to scold us!" Shan ignored her, took the keys, and went to the shop with her servant.

Upon arriving at the shop, Yunshan first gave each of the two servants one tael of silver.

"Miss, you mustn't!" The two waved their hands, trying to refuse, but Yunshan patiently persuaded them, "These two ounces were the ones you two helped me cut down, and I'll be troubling you for a while, so please accept them."

The two of them tucked the money into their pockets with smiles and worked very hard.

The servant removed the original lock and put it in a box along with the three sets of keys. Then, Yunshan replaced it with the new lock she had prepared. She looked at the brand-new lock; it would be the new key to starting her medical practice.

The servants began cleaning the shop quickly, and dust flew everywhere. The small shop didn't look big, but it took quite a bit of work to clean it, and it took almost an hour to finally get it clean.

The three purchased all the necessary items, including tables, chairs, medicine cabinets, and medicinal herbs. Yunshan carefully selected each item, striving to make the clinic look both neat and professional. They had the shopkeeper send two carriages to transport the items over.

After a bit of fussing, stepping back into Xinglin Chuntang, one is immediately struck by its rustic charm and warmth.

Upon entering, a large, thick ebony examination table stands in the center, its fine grain emitting a faint woody fragrance. Behind the examination table is a carved mahogany chair for Dr. Feng to sit on during consultations, with a smaller wooden chair on each side in front of it for patients to sit comfortably.

Opposite the consultation room, against the wall, stands a row of tall jujube wood medicine cabinets. The drawers are neatly arranged, each with a neat label for the medicine. Commonly used medicines such as angelica, astragalus, and poria are all readily available.

In one corner of the shop, a light blue curtain hangs, separating it from the outside world and creating a private cubicle. Inside, there is a simple wooden bed and necessary examination equipment, prepared specifically for female patients or patients who require private treatment.

The entire shop is laid out in a way that is both practical and full of human touch. Every detail shows Yunshan's dedication to the clinic, making people feel trust and at ease as soon as they step in.

After everything was tidied up, Yunshan looked at the empty plaque, pondered for a moment, then picked up a brush, dipped it in thick ink, and inscribed the words "Xinglin Chuntang" on the plaque.

Her calligraphy was strong and vigorous, yet elegant; every stroke reflected her aspirations for the clinic. The servants hung the plaque high, and as the four large characters gleamed in the sunlight, Yun Shan's face broke into a satisfied smile.

"Tomorrow, please invite Doctor Feng to come. Our Xinglin Chuntang will be open for business," Yun Shan said to the servants, her voice full of confidence and anticipation.

The next day, before dawn, Yunshan got up early. Everyone lit festive firecrackers, the crackling sound instantly breaking the morning's tranquility and adding a lively atmosphere to the ordinary alley. Festive red lanterns were also hung high, their red glow swaying in the breeze.

Yunshan, accompanied by her servants, greeted the neighbors. With a beaming smile and a friendly demeanor, she quickly became acquainted with the shopkeepers and waiters. Amidst the congratulations of the surrounding shopkeepers and waiters, Xinglin Chuntang officially opened for business.

The new store isn't afraid of losing money, it's afraid of not having customers. In order to make a good start, Yun Shan, on her brother-in-law's advice, launched three special events for the new store opening.

The first thing was to provide free medical consultations and medicine. Yunshan had her servants post notices at city gates or markets and other crowded places. The notices were written in large, eye-catching characters: "The clinic will be holding a three-day free medical consultation, providing free treatment to the poor and giving away some commonly used pills."

It began that very day, with the servants going out early in the morning to solicit patients. Soon, a long queue formed outside the pharmacy, people waiting expectantly for their free treatment. The staff greeted them warmly at the door, guiding patients to their appointments in an orderly fashion. Yunshan watched this scene with a sense of satisfaction; she knew this was a good opportunity for the pharmacy to establish a benevolent image.

Next was the display of the resident physician. Doctor Feng, dressed in a neat long robe, sat upright in the main hall of the clinic. Yun Shan had specially posted Doctor Feng's medical history and his past experience working in the Imperial Medical Academy. Of course, the matter of his demotion from the palace years ago was omitted.

Dr. Feng treated several critically ill patients on site. While diagnosing them, he explained the pathology and treatment methods. His medical skills were superb, and his explanations were clear and easy to understand. The surrounding crowd nodded in praise, which attracted more people to come here for treatment in the future.

The third gift was a special sachet. Yunshan meticulously crafted exquisite sachets for epidemic prevention, based on the seasons and common ailments. These sachets were embroidered with colorful silk threads and various auspicious patterns, making them not only beautiful but also practical.

Today's free giveaways also included several incense sachets and pills for epidemic prevention. The staff distributed them in busy streets and teahouses, the sachets printed with the clinic's name and logo. People curiously examined the sachets, and soon the name "Xinglin Chuntang" (杏林春堂) spread among the crowd.

During the three-day grand opening of the new shop, Xinglin Chuntang was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of people coming for treatment and to pick up sachets. The four young servants were almost overwhelmed, and Yunshan also helped by dispensing medicine and writing prescriptions.

Looking at the lively scene, Yun Shan secretly pondered that borrowing the servants from the Li family was not a long-term solution.

She knew that as the clinic's business improved, she needed more staff to help. She hoped that Xinglin Chuntang could shine in this small alley and become a clinic trusted by the people.

So she asked the matchmaker again about buying four male servants and two female servants.

On the morning of the fourth day, as the people of the city were just waking up, the matchmaker led Yunshan through the bustling streets and alleys.

"Manager Song, we're almost there! The servants I picked out for you are all top-notch!" the matchmaker said in her high-pitched yet enthusiastic voice as she walked.

Soon, they arrived at a somewhat noisy place, where many idle slaves were standing around waiting to be sold.

Yun Shan's gaze swept across the crowd, her expression calm, and she spoke slowly and deliberately to the matchmaker:
"The person I want must be healthy, without skin diseases or internal ailments. They should be clever, reliable, and not someone who looks like they're full of schemes."

The matchmaker nodded hurriedly, her face beaming with smiles. Then, she raised her voice and pulled the group in front of Yunshan, launching into a long and eloquent introduction:
"Look at this girl, Ah Fu is very strong and works very quickly; and this Cui'er is so diligent and always has something in mind..." The words were full of praise, which was inevitably a bit exaggerated.

As Yunshan looked at the group of people being pulled forward by the matchmaker, her thoughts drifted back to when she was six years old, to the days she spent in the slave post station. A chill rose from the bottom of her heart, and even now, she still felt a bone-chilling cold.

She secretly resolved to treat these people well. She knew all too well what it felt like to be chosen and scrutinized, having experienced it herself.

After carefully examining and inquiring, Yunshan selected six people and promptly signed the contract.

Back at the clinic, Yunshan patiently explained the rules to the new servants, down to the smallest detail.

After everything was arranged, it was already late. She had been busy until very late before hurriedly returning to the Li residence before entering meditation. (End of Chapter)