After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

During those days, her master, along with the staff of the Imperial Hospital, stayed by the Emperor's side, taking turns to take his pulse and discuss prescriptions.

Seeing that the Emperor's health was gradually improving, the eighty-year-old master was overjoyed, as if he had become younger, and even ate several more bowls of rice.

Because the matter involved the Emperor Emeritus, Master was worried that if he was not careful, it might not only bring disaster upon himself but also to Brother Ning. Therefore, he did not come to find Brother Ning for the time being, but instead stayed in the palace to guard the Emperor Emeritus.

One day.

A few drops of autumn rain fell this morning.

She was strolling with her master outside the imperial city when they happened to see Marquis Jingbei, Ning Changling, entering the palace to pay homage to the Empress. Her master then greeted the Marquis and asked him to come to Jingren Palace to play chess with her.

Marquis Jingbei looked rather unwell at the time, but he managed a smile and said, "I'll go again next time."

The master snorted and said, "This old man lives one less day with each passing day; who knows when the next time will be?"

Marquis Jingbei's face wrinkled as he laughed and said, "I might not even outlive you, you old monster."

The master stroked his white beard and laughed, "It's not common to see such a sweet-talking devil. I'll put in a good word with the King of Hell and let you live a few more years."

Marquis Jingbei laughed heartily, clasped his hands in greeting, and left.

When she and her master returned to Jingren Palace, the Marquis of Jingbei, who had just finished his audience with the Empress, happened to come to Jingren Palace to see the Emperor Emeritus.

Although the old Marquis, who was still "Ning the Kid" in his master's eyes, was hunched over with his hands behind his back, he had a cheerful demeanor, completely unlike his previous gloomy expression.

The master shouted in displeasure, "What are you so smug about, you consumptive devil?"

Marquis Jingbei glanced at his master and said with a smile, "Physician, my grand-nephew is getting married... I will send you a wedding invitation at that time, please take a seat." He added, "After I finish my audience with the Emperor Emeritus, I will come to play chess with you, you old monster."

The master then smiled happily: "Very good, very good. My grandson's wedding is a perfect occasion to bring you some joy, you consumptive devil."

Jiang Sixue was stunned for a moment... before she realized... a grand-nephew? Wasn't the grand-nephew of the Marquis of Jingbei Brother Ning? A wedding? Brother Ning... She frowned. Wasn't he already married?

Before she could ask a question, Marquis Jingbei, accompanied by Wang Daban, had already entered Jingren Palace to pay homage to the Emperor Emeritus.

But things were very strange. Not long after, the Marquis of Jingbei, who came out of Jingren Palace, did not say a word. His face turned gloomy and angry. After leaving the palace gate, he strode away.

Half an hour later, after leaving the house, Marquis Jingbei suddenly remembered his promise to his master and returned to say goodbye. During this time, Marquis Jingbei seemed to be very angry and could not suppress his cough. He coughed for a long time in front of his master, and there were faint traces of blood on his handkerchief.

It was at this moment that the master sighed and gave the divine medicine to the Marquis of Jingbei as well. However, the dosage was extremely small, just to prevent the Marquis from developing a rash... From then on, the old Marquis's cough was greatly relieved.

Her master gave the Emperor acupuncture and massage every day, while she and the others from the Imperial Hospital prepared medicine, selected prescriptions, and observed for more than a month. A few days ago, the medicine was gradually running out. Although the Emperor's illness was fluctuating, it was gradually improving.

After pondering for a long time, the master wrote a letter and sent her out to find Brother Ning to see if she could provide the prescription for that medicine, or provide some more of that medicine, which he would buy for a thousand pieces of gold.

"Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger..."

The master handed her the letter and said solemnly:

"Don't tell me yet who this medicine is for. If something goes wrong with it, the old man might still have his life, but your kid might not. Do you think that's why the people at the Imperial Hospital aren't competing with the old man for business?..."

The master sighed, tapped the letter with his finger, and said gently with a smile:

"Don't worry, although he is Ning Changling's grandson, this old man will neither take advantage of him nor tarnish that child's reputation... I've put my fingerprint on this letter requesting medicine; he can use it as proof. As long as the Emperor truly recovers, this old man guarantees that he will be a living Buddha to all..."

……

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

A gust of autumn wind swept through the flower hall.

Jiang Sixue snapped out of her daze, glanced at the somewhat embarrassed Master Ning, her face turning red, and she really didn't know how to start the conversation.

Master Ning put down the letter, his expression becoming even more serious.

"Dr. Jiang,"

He placed his hand on the carved jade round table, tapped the surface with his fingertip, and said solemnly:

"So, Master really wants to develop that penicillin ointment?"

Jiang Sixue's beautiful face froze for a moment, not noticing that the other person had said "research and development" instead of "prescription".

She pursed her lips and nodded solemnly.

Ning Nan's eyes, which had become sore from a day of taking the college entrance exam, suddenly turned clear and serious again.

"Tap tap tap, tap tap tap"

He rested his right arm on the jade round table, his fingers tapping incessantly on it, clearly calculating rapidly in his mind.

Jiang Sixue sat quietly and solemnly.

She didn't know that Brother Ning would offer a price.

But they were very wealthy at Shangchuntang, and as long as the price wasn't too outrageous, she could agree to it without having to report to her master.

The young master of the Ning family had a serious expression, and his fingers tapped faster and faster on the round table as if he were striking a war drum.

Hearing the "tap tap tap" sound, the female doctor's heart couldn't help but tighten slightly.

Even though she had only been out of the palace for three days and had spent a few days handling affairs at Shangchun Hall, she had already heard about some things.

Recently, people in the capital have been spreading rumors that "Ning Baixuan has no real talent or learning; most of his poems are, as he himself claims, copied from hermits in the mountains like Li Qingzhao... He was exposed as soon as the imperial examinations came around; otherwise, how could he have ranked last in the county examination?"

"Exactly, the North-South Poetry Gathering actually gave itself away a long time ago, otherwise why would they never participate in it?...

"Ha...what a talented scholar...he's completely overshadowed by Young Master Hongfeng...Young Master Hongfeng has won two imperial examinations in a row!"

"Who is Young Master Hongfeng?"

"Well, those Tartars..."

Others said, "It's also possible he bought it. Isn't he the owner of Sujin Pavilion? He's very rich... The owner of Qiyuejin said that what he admires most about Young Master Ning is his money-making skills..."

"Baiyufang... Chen's old boss also said something like that... Sigh... It's all ancient history... You outsiders in the cloth industry don't know these things..."

"How come I didn't know? I lost a hundred taels of silver at Baiyufang..."

"Then you're amazing."

She scoffed at accusations of "stealing poetry," but found it hard to defend her friend against the accusation of "profiteering"... This large mansion on Datong Street today was a testament to that. If this mansion had been a gift from the Marquis of Jingbei, the servants should have addressed him as "Young Master," but instead, they all called him "Master."

Seeing that the young man with a serious expression was hesitant to mention the price, the female doctor couldn't help but feel a little flustered, worried that Shangchuntang might not be able to afford the price.

The autumn wind brushed past my ears, and a slight chill ran down my neck.

Sitting next to her, only two feet away, Brother Ning sighed, his breathing heavy, as if his thoughts were complicated.

Jiang Sixue was stunned for a moment, then felt a sense of relief and pride... Since it was a sigh, it seemed that Brother Ning was considering her feelings and was not planning to rip them off at Shangchuntang.

Jiang Sixue's eyes stung with tears, and the corners of her lips involuntarily curled up slightly... Hmm... It seems Master sent me here for a party. If it were any other senior or junior brother, Brother Ning probably wouldn't have been so polite... The female doctor rolled her almond-shaped eyes, feeling a little smug... This doctor still has quite a bit of face...

"Ten thousand taels," Master Ning sighed.

Upon hearing the price quoted, Jiang Sixue's expression froze... Ten thousand taels... Her pupils contracted slightly, and she couldn't help but swallow hard... Ten thousand taels... Hmm... Ten thousand taels is indeed a bit too much... She just didn't know if it was a prescription or just a small amount of medicine... If it was a prescription, she could accept thirty thousand taels... But if it was just a small amount of medicine... The pretty female doctor gritted her teeth... Her master didn't care about material possessions anyway, so ten thousand taels it was! ... Asking for an exorbitant price is only human nature... She sighed inwardly... When many of her senior brothers treated high-ranking officials and nobles, how much less did they charge for their consultations? ... In an instant, her mind raced, and many thoughts flashed through her head.

"Okay." Jiang Sixue tilted her head and smiled slightly. "Thank you, Brother Ning."

At this time.

She saw the young master of the Ning family, who was making exorbitant demands, reach into his robes.

"Snapped!"

Ning Nan sighed, his eyes darkening, and slammed two silver notes on the jade round table, pushing them toward Doctor Jiang.

"Here you are, Doctor Jiang, two thousand taels..."

Master Ning stared intently into Doctor Jiang's almond-shaped eyes, his tone becoming extremely complex as he spoke:

"I will go to the warehouse later and get another eight thousand taels for Doctor Jiang."