The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chunnuan set up the medical school in the Xiao family's pharmacy.

Although the place was completely destroyed during the raid.

However, after Master Xiao learned that Chun'an and Muyang Panpan wanted to study medicine, he specially ordered the pharmacy to be renovated to its original appearance.

The Xiao family would try their best to buy whatever medicinal herbs were needed.

In addition, whenever Panpan, the little lucky one, needed any medicinal herbs, she would simply get them from the Xia family or even from the palace, so the pharmacy finally had a complete supply of herbs.

Of course, it wasn't as glorious as when my grandfather was alive.

The morning atmosphere at Xiao Family Pharmacy always carries a certain tranquility.

A hundred or so medicine jars were neatly stacked on the carved wooden cabinet, and the handwriting on the labels was neat and beautiful, all written by Chunnuan herself.

She was standing behind the counter, holding a piece of dried Eucommia bark between her fingertips, explaining it to the three apprentices gathered around her.

"For Eucommia ulmoides, choose those with thick bark and many fine fibers in the cross-section. Look at this texture; it should resemble silver threads wrapped around the bark—that's the best quality. If the cross-section is brittle and the fibers are few and easily broken, it means the plant is not old enough, and its medicinal efficacy is reduced by 30%..."

The apprentices held their breath, their brushes flying across the paper. Occasionally, someone would ask a question in a low voice, and Chunnuan would patiently answer them one by one. The only sound in the pharmacy was the soft scratching of the brush against the paper, mixed with the faint scent of medicine in the air, creating an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the pharmacy. Bai Mei knocked on the door in a slightly flustered manner to report.

"Young Madam, someone from the palace has arrived! It's... it's Eunuch Fu himself! He says he wants to take you and the princess to the palace, it's extremely urgent!"

"In the palace?"

Chunnuan's hand, which was holding Eucommia ulmoides, suddenly stopped, and the herb slipped from her fingertips and landed on the counter with a "thud".

She looked up at the door and saw that the doorman, Old Zhang, who had brought the message, was running around in a sweat, his coarse cloth jacket soaked through, his face full of panic and urgency, which did not seem fake.

The apprentices were in an uproar, all stopping their writing and looking at each other with surprise. Chun Nuan composed herself, bent down to pick up the Eucommia ulmoides and put it back in the medicine pot, then straightened her clothes—a moon-white ruqun embroidered with light orchid patterns, her usual attire for working in the pharmacy, not fancy, but neat.

Where is Eunuch Fu right now?

Her voice was steady, but her fingers, hanging at her sides, secretly clenched the hem of her dress. The palace rarely sent people to the Xiao family, let alone Eunuch Fu, who was deeply trusted by the Empress Dowager, and who specifically mentioned that he wanted to receive the "princess".

She instantly thought of Panpan, who had been made a princess.

Yes, everyone has forgotten that Panpan is now a princess.

So, having a princess among your disciples is truly something special.

But why did Eunuch Fu come to the Xiao residence, and why did he ask him to go to the palace with Panpan?
"They're in the main hall! The First and Second Masters are with them!" Bai Mei said quickly. "Eunuch Fu also said that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are waiting in the palace, and that you and the princess should go there quickly, as there can be no delay!"

Chunnuan nodded and turned to the apprentices.

"That's all for today's lesson. Compile the properties of the medicinal herbs we just discussed into a booklet. I will be checking it tomorrow. Remember, you must not use any of the herbs on the cabinet without permission, especially those jars in the corner labeled 'highly poisonous'."

After giving her instructions, she led Panpan outside.

As she walked through the Xiao family's courtyard, the moss on the bluestone path was still glistening with morning dew, and the crabapple trees by the roadside were in full bloom, their pink and white petals falling onto her shoulders, but she paid them no heed. The doubts in her heart grew heavier and heavier.

If the palace wants Panpan, they can simply summon her to the palace. Why must Eunuch Fu personally come to invite a commoner like herself? Just as she reached the entrance of the main hall, she heard a gentle yet authoritative voice from inside: "Master Xiao, there's no need for formalities. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are still waiting in the palace. We must set off as soon as possible."

Chunnuan took a deep breath, lifted the curtain, and went inside. In the center of the main hall sat a eunuch on a grand chair, wearing a dark blue brocade robe with a dark pattern, and a bright yellow belt with a phoenix pattern around his waist—a style of dress reserved for close attendants of the emperor and empress.

He wore a black gauze hat, and his face, visible beneath the brim, was fair and clean. There were a few fine lines at the corners of his eyes, but he showed no signs of aging. He was none other than Eunuch Fu, whom everyone in the palace respected.

When Eunuch Fu saw Chunnuan enter, he quickly stood up from his chair, a respectful smile plastered on his face, and his originally straight back bent slightly: "This must be Miss Xiao Er, right? This old servant greets you, Miss."

This startled the Xiao family. Chunnuan quickly stepped aside and went to support Eunuch Fu, saying, "Eunuch, you mustn't do this! You're making Chunnuan feel terrible!"

Master Xiao also bowed and said repeatedly, "It is an honor for the Xiao family that you, sir, have come in person. How could we trouble you to perform such a ceremony?"

As spring warmed her body, she stepped forward and performed a curtsy according to palace rules.

"This humble woman, Xiao Chunnuan, greets Eunuch Fu. May I ask what brings you here today to escort the princess and me to the palace?"

Seeing her proper demeanor, Eunuch Fu's eyes showed more approval: "Please rise, young lady. To be honest, the reason I invited you and the princess to the palace today is for the sake of Her Majesty the Empress."

"Your Majesty the Empress?" Panpan exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be...could it be that my sister-in-law is about to give birth? Oh dear, I've been studying medicine and completely forgot that my sister-in-law is about to give birth."

The smile on Grandpa Fu's face faded a little, and his tone became more serious.

“The princess is right. Her Majesty is full term and has been experiencing frequent abdominal pain these past few days. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have been taking turns to watch over her, but they all say that Her Majesty’s baby is in an abnormal position and there may be dangers during childbirth.”

"The Empress Dowager and His Majesty are uneasy, and the Empress even said she wanted to invite the princess to the palace to accompany her." Eunuch Fu said, "The Empress Dowager also knows that the young lady is very skilled in medicine. She has learned a lot from Physician Xiao and has cured many difficult diseases in the capital. So she issued an order for this old servant to invite the young lady to the palace to protect Her Majesty."

"As for the princess, it was the Empress Dowager who specifically instructed that Her Majesty dotes on the princess and that having the princess by her side might put her mind at ease."

"What...what should I do?"

Upon hearing this, Xu was so anxious that tears almost welled up in her eyes. She held Chunnuan's hand, her voice trembling.

“Our Nuannuan is just a commoner. Although she knows some medicine, she has never taken the pulse of a member of the royal family, let alone something as important as the Empress giving birth…”

If anything goes wrong, the Xiao family can't afford the consequences!
Xu wanted to say something more, but Chunnuan gestured for her to stop.

Chun Nuan understood perfectly well: this matter was of great importance, and if not handled properly, it could implicate both the Xiao and Zhao families.

Some things might repeat themselves.

Therefore, this time, she would not allow herself to make the slightest mistake, and she could not allow the Xiao and Zhao families to suffer another ordeal.

Since she was delivering the Empress's baby, Chunnuan brought all her belongings with her.

They brought their own pills, silver needles, two prescriptions, and even their own medicine jar.

"Panpan, if Her Majesty the Empress needs to brew medicine, you will personally oversee the brewing process, and no one is allowed to approach."

Once she enters the palace, Chunnuan will be untrustworthy to everyone! (End of Chapter)