Qing Yuan cried out in surprise, drawing everyone's attention.
Qing Zhu's expression darkened slightly, his gaze towards Qing Yuan carrying a hint of sternness. Seeing everyone looking at her and her senior brother's fiery gaze, Qing Yuan meekly shrunk her neck. She pointed at Gou Zi and asked Nan Shiying, "Little Martial Aunt, he says he's a registered disciple of the Poison Elder. Is that true?"
It was one thing for the Little Martial Aunt to be of higher辈分 (bèifen - seniority), but how could this little radish who looked shorter than her also have a higher辈分?
Upon hearing Qing Yuan's question, everyone turned their gaze to Gou Zi. This half-grown child in coarse cotton clothes, a registered disciple of the Poison Elder?
Everyone looked back at Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying hummed in affirmation, "You could say that!"
Although he wasn't particularly gifted, he had studied medicine with the Poison Elder before officially becoming his disciple. Even if the Poison Elder had only thrown him a medical text, the title was still there.
Everyone twitched their lips, momentarily speechless.
Wasn't the Poison Elder known for being extremely strict in accepting disciples? That was why for so many years, he had been alone with no disciples. Could it be that this half-grown child had some exceptional quality that led the Poison Elder to accept him as a registered disciple?
But looking at him, he didn't seem to possess any remarkable skills!
Even though Gou Zi was a registered disciple, in terms of辈分, they still had to call him Little Martial Uncle.
Everyone stood up, clenched their fists, and said to Gou Zi, "Little Martial Uncle!"
This was their way of greeting him.
Qing Yuan reluctantly stood up as well, her back molars grinding audibly as she uttered "Little Martial Uncle." Though her head was bowed, her eyes glared fiercely at Gou Zi.
Gou Zi had never encountered such a situation before. He hastily stood up to return the禮 (lǐ - courtesy), waving his hands and saying he didn't dare.
He didn't notice Qing Yuan glaring at him.
Nan Shiying sat on the chair, his gaze sweeping over everyone. He couldn't discern anything from their expressions, either because they were good at hiding their true feelings or because there were no people from the Chang Sheng Sect here at all.
...
"Poison Elder?"
Nan Chaoyin fell silent for a long time after learning Feng Luan's identity.
Upon learning that the other party refused to treat the Wang family and had the disciples of Medicine King Valley attend to them instead, he didn't say much. He merely sighed and reminded Nan Yu Jin to take good care of the Wang family.
Nan Yu Jin lowered his head, struggling to control the resentment in his heart.
His father had never cared about his mother over the years. Now that his mother was gravely ill, wasn't it because his father had indulged Liu Shi to the point of ignoring Liu Shi's mistreatment of his mother, causing her to fall ill from excessive anger? Why was he sighing now, and why was he putting on a show in front of him?
"Yes! Your son understands!"
Nan Yu Jin closed his eyes, swallowing all his resentment. When he looked up again, his eyes held no trace of resentment, only sorrow and grief.
...
Nan Shiying only taught them for the time it took an incense stick to burn, then he dismissed them to the front hall to see patients.
News spread quickly, and carriages began to stop outside the Tong Ji Pharmacy. The people disembarking were all high-ranking officials and influential figures. Medicine King Valley had many rules for seeing patients; it wasn't just about being of noble status or wealthy and powerful to have a Medicine King Valley physician treat you. This opportunity today was rare, so how could they miss it?
Qing Yi watched the officials and nobles arriving, escorted by their servants. A hint of helplessness flashed in his rough brows as he kept glancing at Qing Zhu.
Little Martial Uncle didn't know their Medicine King Valley's rules, but why didn't senior brother mention them? Now, looking at the scene, they would probably be seeing patients until dawn.
The shop assistant had never seen the pharmacy so crowded. Seeing that the front hall was about to become impassable, he could only plaster on a smile and ask the people seeking treatment to send away their servants, at least not to stay in the shop.
The front hall was bustling with noise. Nan Shiying parted the curtain and walked in. The moment he stepped into the front hall, the clamoring crowd immediately fell silent.
Those who had been exchanging pleasantries just moments before were now as if struck mute, not daring to even breathe loudly. The commoners and merchants who had been relegated to the corners blinked in confusion.
They had no idea why the noble and powerful people had suddenly fallen silent.
"Divine Doctor Feng!"
"Young Master Feng!"
After a brief silence, everyone cupped their hands towards Nan Shiying, their voices carrying a touch of caution.
The people from Medicine King Valley looked at Nan Shiying.
Qing Yi subconsciously raised his hand to touch his face again. In the eyes of these people, was Little Martial Uncle as repulsive as himself?
Qing Zhu, catching Qing Yi's movement from the corner of his eye, took a deep breath.
Someone as pure and refined as Little Martial Uncle wouldn't be disliked for their appearance. Qing Zhu felt that behind everyone's cautious demeanor was fear of Little Martial Uncle.
But why?
The reason Medicine King Valley had dispatched them instead of their masters was mainly due to Little Martial Uncle's good deeds in Yu Zhou. Before he left Medicine King Valley, the Valley Master had summoned him privately and said only that if Feng Luan did not abuse the name of Medicine King Valley, he merely needed to clarify his relationship with Medicine King Valley.
She was clearly a living bodhisattva revered by the common people. Why would these people fear her so much?
This story began at Yi Pin Ju.
It was originally a rumor circulating among the young noblemen in the capital. Now, due to her actions at the year-end sacrificial ceremony a while ago, her notorious reputation had spread completely.
This person was no living bodhisattva.
At Yi Pin Ju, she had poked someone's eye out with a broken chair leg without a word. Due to a minor conflict, she had forced aristocratic sons onto the gambling stage of life and death. It was said that her methods of interrogating criminals in the Xing Bu Prison were extremely brutal. Not to mention that at the year-end sacrificial ceremony, she not only publicly kidnapped a noble consort but also audaciously threatened the Emperor. Each deed was too numerous to recount.
Despite her angelic appearance, her heart was as dark as ink.
Ji Jin Mo was blackened in both substance and appearance, while this person was like a living Buddha with a demon's heart. Even though she was smiling, one could never know what she was thinking.
After the year-end sacrificial ceremony, the officials and nobles in the capital reached a consensus.
This year, in addition to Nan Shiying, Feng Luan was also added to the list of people not to be trifled with.
"Good morning, esteemed sirs!"
Nan Shiying greeted everyone with a radiant smile. However, everyone felt as if the wind from outside had blown into the room, sending chills down their spines.
"Lord Zhou, are you experiencing some gastrointestinal discomfort?"
"Lord Wang..."
"Lord Liu..."
Nan Shiying could immediately discern the ailments of everyone present. Most of them were not serious and could be treated by the imperial physicians in the palace. However, it was worth mentioning that the imperial physicians in the palace were considered the royal family's doctors. Even for court officials, without the Emperor's favor, they could not have imperial physicians treat them.
"Qing Zhu, Qing Yi, Qing Tang, attend to the lords and prescribe medicine."
Nan Shiying turned and called out the names of the three, giving a sense of examination.