Jiang Chan was busy with the matter of taking concubines. When she heard that another young hospital director had been visiting Shen Qing's courtyard, her anger flared up immediately.
She had been bustling around for the Marquis Mansion, while Shen Qing was just sitting back and enjoying herself like a carefree bystander!
Without hesitation, she led her people and blocked Qin Ye.
"Are you Director Qin from the Imperial Hospital? I'm the concubine of this mansion. Since you're here, could you please take my pulse as well?"
Qin Ye didn't decline. "There's a pavilion over there. Let's go there."
Jiang Chan nodded. "Sure."
"Director Qin, is there something wrong with Sister's health? She has been inviting doctors frequently these days. There have been several young doctors like you coming in and out of the Marquis Mansion... Director Qin, could you tell me what illness Sister has? As the person in charge of the Marquis Mansion, I need to prepare the medicine. I'll have the servants get it ready."
Jiang Chan pleaded earnestly, pretending to be concerned about Shen Qing.
Qin Ye glanced at her. "Don't talk while I'm taking your pulse."
Jiang Chan was speechless and shut up.
After a while, Qin Ye took out a pen and paper and wrote a prescription. Jiang Chan took it and saw that it included Salvia miltiorrhiza, Angelica sinensis, Poria cocos, Schisandra chinensis, and Ophiopogon japonicus. She had never heard of the latter ones.
"This medicine is specifically for treating suspicion, anxiety, fear, and restlessness. It should be very effective for someone like the concubine."
After saying that, Qin Ye left. It took Jiang Chan a while to realize that Qin Ye was insinuating that she had impure thoughts!
Jiang Chan trembled with anger and immediately tore the prescription into pieces.
The incident in the pavilion reached Shen Qing's ears not long after. Yingxiu's voice was full of glee. "I wonder what Director Qin wrote for the concubine. It made her so angry. But since it could anger her like this, it must not be something good."
Shen Qing couldn't help but smile. Yingxiu was really a vengeful girl.
However... thinking of Qin Ye's words, Shen Qing's hand involuntarily landed on her lower abdomen.
This child never got to see the world in his previous life. In this life, should she still deprive him of the right to come into this world?
It was so cruel to him.
But asking a mother to kill her own child with her own hands was even more cruel to her.
...
After leaving the Guangping Marquis Mansion, Qin Ye followed the clues and found where Meng Hanqing was.
Meng Hanqing finished treating the last patient and then had someone hang up the sign indicating that the clinic was temporarily closed.
"Senior brother, what kind of tea would you like?"
Qin Ye's voice came faintly. "I'm surprised you still remember you have a senior brother. I thought you were going to live in seclusion forever."
Meng Hanqing brewed the tea and pushed the teacup in front of Qin Ye. "Lushan Yunwu, your favorite."
Qin Ye picked up the teacup and took a sip. "I thought you were really going to have nothing to do with the powerful and noble families for the rest of your life. What's so special about the wife of the Guangping Marquis that made you break your rule for her?"
Meng Hanqing's expression remained calm. "It's just a favor for an old acquaintance."
"Tsk tsk." Qin Ye shook his head, obviously not believing him.
His junior brother looked fair and delicate, but in fact, he was as stubborn as a mule. Once he made up his mind, not even eight horses could pull him back. Back then, he went down the mountain alone, and it took him and their master several years to find him.
"Senior brother, you're saying that about me, but aren't you working for the emperor of the Jing Kingdom now?"
Qin Ye was speechless. "I'm different from you. You know my ambition. Since Ji Junye can meet my requirements, why shouldn't I stay?"
It was really pitiful. Their master had only two disciples in his life. One of them went on a completely different path from him, and the other was so stubborn that he almost disabled his own hands and never touched medicine again.
Their master had taught them for a lifetime, and it almost ended with them.
Fortunately, their master was still alive. Otherwise, wouldn't he have to turn over in his coffin and drag them both down?
Tsk, just thinking about it was scary.
"By the way, since you've figured it out, why are you still covering your eyes? Don't tell me you have an eye disease. I know you too well. With this minor eye problem, if you wanted to cure it, you would have done so long ago." Qin Ye curled his lips.
"I'm used to it. If I can't see, I won't have to see so many dirty things."
Qin Ye shook his head.
"I came here for another thing. I've taken over Shen Qing's poison case. I never thought you would help her cover it up."
Meng Hanqing said, "She's in a difficult situation. Since an old acquaintance asked me to help, I should do what I can."
"Anyway, stay away from her."
The person in the palace was so jealous that it seemed like the entire capital was about to be flooded.
Meng Hanqing's expression turned colder. "If she doesn't need me, I naturally won't go anymore. Before the Fourth Young Master left, he asked me to take care of her. I can't break my promise."
"Fourth Young Master? How did he know Shen Qing and ask you to take care of her?"
"The Fourth Young Master sold his pharmacy in the capital to her." Meng Hanqing said indifferently. "Senior brother, if you're free, why don't you stay and help me treat the patients?"
"I don't want to!" Qin Ye looked horrified. "Don't try to drag me into this!"
If he picked up medicine again, how could he justify the years of resistance against their master?
No, definitely not.
Meng Hanqing smiled faintly.
"Fine, I won't interfere with you anymore." Qin Ye finally realized that his junior brother was hinting to him to mind his own business.
His junior brother was so stubborn that he only believed in his own principles. Otherwise, he wouldn't have not set foot in that place for so many years.
Qin Ye left the clinic not long after. He was afraid that if he left too late, Meng Hanqing would drag him into treating patients.
Tonghua Alley.
The person Lu Mian sent to look for the jade pendant finally brought back some news.
"Your servant followed the clues you gave and finally found this jade pendant under the second willow tree in front of that nanny's hometown in Qingzhou."
Lu Mian stroked the high - quality and warm jade pendant in her hand and said softly, "You did a good job. Go and get your reward."
The man thanked her repeatedly, and Xiaodie led him away.
Lu Mian turned the jade pendant over and over in her hand but couldn't find anything special about it. However, there was a small character "Mian" engraved on the hidden pattern.
Was this the name her biological parents gave her?
Just as she was thinking, Xu Yanchi's voice came, scaring Lu Mian.
"Mian'er, what are you doing?"
Lu Mian subconsciously hid the jade pendant behind her. "It's nothing. Brother Yanchi, why did you come suddenly without sending someone to inform me first? I could have gone out to greet you."
But Xu Yanchi had already seen it. "This is our home. Do I need someone to announce my arrival when I come home? Where did you get this jade pendant?"
Lu Mian then showed him the jade pendant. A look of melancholy flashed across her face. "It was left by the nanny who took care of me before. It should be related to my biological parents."
"That's great!" Xu Yanchi looked happy. "The quality of this jade pendant is excellent. I'll have someone find out about it for you right away."
"Thank you, Brother Yanchi."
Xu Yanchi pulled her into his arms. "Mian'er, I've thought it over. The status of a mistress is too unfair to you. I want to give you a formal status after you finish your confinement."
Lu Mian looked up and pulled away from his embrace. "A formal status? What status can you give me, Brother Yanchi? A concubine?"