"Of course not." Lin Taichu took a small porcelain bottle from his luggage. "This contains a sleeping potion I specially made. It's colorless and odorless. Scatter it around the medicinal herbs, and anyone who dares steal again will sleep for a full day and night."
He took out some ointment as well. "Apply this to the injured apprentices. They'll recover in three days."
Sure enough, someone came to steal medicinal herbs that very night, only to collapse the moment he entered the storeroom. Early the next morning, Lin Taichu had the unconscious man carried to the entrance of the City Lord's Mansion.
When the City Lord saw his subordinate carried back, his face turned livid. Yet he had no proof against Lin Taichu and could only swallow the loss in silence.
After suffering two setbacks in a row, the City Lord no longer dared to openly move against Lin Taichu. Still, he had not given up—he was merely lying low for the time being.
Lin Taichu knew the City Lord would not let the matter rest, so he prepared accordingly. At the same time, he continued treating the common people and discussing medical skills with the Old Doctor.
That evening, Wang Xiaohu returned from outside and excitedly said to Lin Taichu, "Senior Brother, I heard some news. Prince An of Rice Country has a daughter who's contracted a strange illness. He's sought out countless doctors, but none of them could cure her."
"Prince An announced that whoever can cure his daughter will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, and he'll grant them one wish."
Lin Taichu was intrigued. "What kind of strange illness?"
"I don't know the details. I only heard that since last month, the Princess has fallen unconscious every noon for two hours. When she wakes