"Fetch your proprietor," the Heir's wife demanded imperiously.
"I'm truly sorry, Madam, but our proprietor is not seeing patients today. All the doctors at Hundred Herbs Hall are trained by our proprietor and their medical skills are approved by her," the shopkeeper replied with a smile.
The Heir's wife cast a disdainful glance at the shopkeeper. "Since I am here, I naturally know your proprietor is present. There's no need for you to say more. Hurry and call her out."
The shopkeeper appeared conflicted. The proprietor did not easily agree to treat patients.
"Do you not know my status?" the Heir's wife said haughtily.
"I am certainly aware that you are the Heir's wife of the Prince of Qin's manor. Whether our proprietor sees patients is never determined by status. If she is willing, even a beggar on the street can be treated. If she is unwilling, even a noble lady in the palace cannot force her hand," the shopkeeper said calmly.
In other words, what of it being the Heir's wife of the Prince of Qin's manor? Could this status possibly supersede those in the palace? If noble ladies in the palace wished for their proprietor to treat them, they would still have to see if the proprietor was willing. After all, their proprietor's status was extraordinary, and not everyone could exert pressure with their status.
If one wanted to use status to pressure their proprietor, that was fine. Their proprietor was the Crown Princess of the Nanchang Kingdom, and in all likelihood, the future Empress of the Nanchang Kingdom. If one's status was more noble than that, they could come and be arrogant then.
The Heir's wife's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "Are you implying that I am not qualified to have your proprietor treat me?"
"I did not say that. You said it yourself, Madam. Our proprietor is most benevolent and compassionate as a physician, but she has never spoken of qualifications. Madam should mind your words, lest you tarnish our proprietor's reputation," the shopkeeper maintained his unhurried tone.
"Benevolent and compassionate as a physician?" the Heir's wife sneered. "What a joke. If she were truly benevolent, why would the shopkeeper be saying so much to refuse? If she were truly benevolent, why wouldn't the shopkeeper readily call her out?"
"Our proprietor is not a resident physician at Hundred Herbs Hall. Moreover, as soon as Madam arrived, I informed you that the medical skills of the resident physicians at Hundred Herbs Hall have all been guided by our proprietor and affirmed by her. Their medical skills are excellent, and they are highly regarded by the common folk. Any of them can treat Madam," the shopkeeper said neither servilely nor arrogantly.
"You are comparing me to those common people?" the Heir's wife exclaimed in anger.
"In the eyes of us practitioners of medicine, there is no distinction between noble and humble," the shopkeeper stated.
The Heir's wife, enraged, laughed instead. "Since you are unwilling to treat me, I see no need for Hundred Herbs Hall to continue operating. Guards, smash it for me!"
The shopkeeper was stunned. Hundred Herbs Hall was not a newly opened medical clinic; they had stood for many years in the capital and had never encountered such a situation. Smash their Hundred Herbs Hall? Who gave her the audacity?
*Crack—crack—crack—*
Luo Wanqing lifted the curtain, clapping her hands as she walked out from the inner hall, followed closely by Qi Zhenzhen.
"The Heir's wife of the Prince of Qin's manor? What great authority you possess! You want to smash my Hundred Herbs Hall? I'd like to see how you intend to smash it!" Luo Wanqing said sarcastically. "In the capital, is the Heir's wife bullying others with her influence? I wonder whose influence you are relying on? The Prince's manor? I am truly enlightened today. A mere Prince's manor dares to be so arrogant."