Jin Shanyao famous overnight and can now walk around the Green Mountain Academy with impunity. Even the old doctor has benefited from his rise in status. In the past, the Confucius Academy looked down on the Medical Academy.
Now... Hmph... I am the heavens!
Master Li, carrying a food box, stood outside the hospital. Seeing the old doctor appear, he hurriedly called out, " Old Cui, could you help me find Shopkeeper Jin?"
Physician Cui glanced at him sideways, "How dare you call me 'Old Cui '?"
Master Li immediately smiled obsequiously, " Physician Cui... could you please call Shopkeeper Jin for me? I have something to give her."
Physician Cui snorted, "Wait..." He then turned and left. Master Li's smile froze, and a short while later, he emerged from the house, Jin Shanyao.
Seeing that it was Master Li, he looked somewhat embarrassed. "What brings you here?"
Master Li chuckled and said, "The dean went to the government office to buy medicine, and I asked him to bring back some pastries from the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion..." As he spoke, he placed the food box at the entrance of the medical institute.
"Then I'll be going now," Master Li, turning back every few steps, his heart pounding. It was his first time fighting a woman, but that wasn't the point. The point was that he'd never fought one before.
Jin Shanyao, realizing her words were wrong, tried to make amends. She called out to Master Li's retreating figure, "Hey, you have the countenance of longevity, you won't die..."
Master Li staggered, but ran even more joyfully.
Meng Anzhi walked over, "Auntie, what's wrong with Master Li?"
"It's nothing..." Yesterday, when the two parted, Master Li refused to let Jin Shanyao leave, insisting that she prescribe some medicine, otherwise he wouldn't feel at ease getting better.
Jin Shanyao couldn't swallow this insult, so she prescribed him half a pound of bitter herbs, which was so bitter it almost killed him.
After thinking it over, I realized that I hadn't explained myself clearly, which caused the misunderstanding. I decided to work hard on my speaking skills in the future and never allow a similar incident to happen again.
She handed the food box to Meng Anzhi, "Take this and give it to the patients. They're all children; they haven't had anything good to eat these past few days except for medicine. Let them have something sweet."
Meng Anzhi agreed, carrying the food box into the ward. Meng Anci and Shiyan were feeding everyone their medicine, and when they saw her come in, they hurriedly said, "Sister, open the door to let in some fresh air."
Meng Anzhi casually pushed the door open, opened the food box, counted the number of pastries, and then distributed them equally to everyone.
Zhao Yushan took the pastries and asked, " Anzhi, how much longer until we're done?"
"Soon, I can go home in another four or five days."
Zhao Yushan felt a little dejected upon hearing this. He didn't want to go home; lying in the academy was physically painful, but it made him feel comfortable.
Meng Anzhi put away the food box and turned around to notice that the medicine bowl next to Zhao Zhiyuan was untouched.
She stepped forward, wanting to check his temperature, but as soon as her hand touched him, Zhao Zhiyuan suddenly opened his eyes and stared blankly at her.
Meng Anzhi asked with a stern face, "Why aren't you taking your medicine again?"
Zhao Zhiyuan looked like he'd been caught doing something wrong; he quickly sat up, picked up the bowl of medicine, but hesitated to take a sip.
His expression was exactly the same as when Meng Anci drank her medicine. Meng Anzhi's voice softened involuntarily, "I have hawthorn candy here. Drink your medicine, and I'll give it to you."
Zhao Zhiyuan's face flushed red. He stared at the medicine bowl for a long time, struggling with the decision, before finally picking it up and gulping it down.
The medicine was so bitter that his face contorted, and a wave of nausea washed over him. Just as he was about to vomit, a piece of hawthorn candy was quickly stuffed into his mouth.
The sweet and sour taste instantly dispelled the bitterness, leaving Zhao Zhiyuan astonished.
He initially thought Meng Anzhi was just teasing him, but she actually prepared candy for him.
Outside the government office.
Su Wenqian stood on a chair, maintaining order. "Those who are sick, stand on the left. There's some medicine that's been brewed; it's three coins a bowl. Those who aren't sick, stand on the right. One serving is enough for each person."
"Hey... what are you doing standing in the middle? Don't you know you're sick or not?" Su Wenqian was busy instructing the yamen runners to stuff people into the line.
Xing'er came from the backyard to report, "My lord, the old lady has fallen ill."
"What?" Because it was too noisy around, Su Wenqian didn't hear clearly. He bent down and leaned closer to Xing'er. "What did you say?"
Xing'er's eyes reddened. "The old lady has fallen ill..." Su Wenqian jumped off the chair and said to Xin Tongzhi, "Keep an eye on them, don't let anything go wrong. I'll be right back."
After saying that, he followed Xing'er to the backyard. "When did the old lady fall ill?"
It's been three or four days.
Why didn't anyone tell me?
Xing'er trotted after Su Wenqian, saying, "The old lady forbade it, saying that you serve the court and work hard for the people, and cannot be careless, so she ordered everyone in the mansion to keep it a secret."
Ever since Jin Shanyao deliver the message, Su Wenqian has been busy, either holed up in his study thinking of countermeasures or inspecting pharmacies with his subordinates to prevent them from raising prices.
He strode into the old lady's room and saw Old Madam Su leaning against the wall. "Mother... are you feeling unwell?"
Old Madam Su, "Why have you come back, child...? These are all old ailments of mine. How's things up front? Is the plague under control?"
"It's under control... it should return to normal in less than two weeks."
Old Madam Su looked at her son with reluctance, reaching out to touch his cheek, the stubble making her palm itch.
Time really flies. It seems like just yesterday you were still in my arms, and today you're a local official.
Su Wenqian grasped Old Madam Su's hand, "Mother... please don't talk like that, it scares me."
"Tsk... What's there to be afraid of? Everyone has to face this day sooner or later. When Jin Shanyao gave me two talismans for no reason last time, I knew my time was running out."
That child was simple-minded and spoke without any restraint. She thought she was hiding it well, but I could tell at a glance that there was pity in her eyes.
Old Madam Su held her son's hand, "Don't cry, I'm not dead yet... wait until I die before you cry."
"Mother, your son is so sorry..."
"What are you saying? Loyalty and filial piety are hard to reconcile. You've already done very well. Go and fetch Jin Shanyao for me. I have a few words I want to say to her."
Su Wenqian sighed and said to Madam Su, "Take good care of Mother, and have your two sons come and watch over her..."
Madam Su hurriedly told Xing'er to inform the two children to come over.
Su Wenqian rode swiftly to the Green Mountain Academy. As soon as he dismounted, he said impatiently, "Go and tell Jin Shanyao that Old Madam Su wishes to see her."
The guards dared not delay and ran quickly to the medical facility. "Miss Jin, Old Madam Su wishes to see you."
Jin Shanyao paused slightly as she spun the medicine, then handed the ladle to Physician Cui. "Distribute the medicine to everyone after it's ready. Also, check on everyone's condition. If they've recovered enough, let them come out for some fresh air."
He then called Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci, and the three of them walked out together. Zhao Cheng received the news and hurried over, finally stopping them at the entrance of the academy.
"Miss Jin, what will happen to the academy if you leave?" Seeing that the patient is recovering, we absolutely cannot afford to make a mistake at this crucial juncture.
With Jin Shanyao, she said, "Don't worry, Old Zhao, I'll be right back."
"Can he really come back?"
"Why would I lie to you? The hospital is full of Meng Anci's classmates. How could I just stand by and watch them die?"
Zhao Cheng looked at Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci, wondering if he should put them there as collateral, but he hesitated, fearing it might backfire. "Then I'll wait for Miss Jin to return," he said.
After they finished speaking, the two parted ways. The woman with the Jin Shanyao waved as she left Green Mountain Academy, saying before Su Wenqian could speak, "Let's go."
Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi rode on the Black Grand Marshal, while Su Wenqian carried Meng Anci. In no time, they arrived at the back gate of the government office.
Jin Shanyao dismounted and, familiar with the place, went to the old lady's courtyard. The old nanny, holding a wooden box, was guarding outside. When she saw Jin Shanyao aside to open the door.
Old Madam Su looked radiant and far from being a dying woman. Seeing Jin Shanyao enter, she pushed aside her eldest grandson, who was in the way, and said with a smile, "I've been waiting for you! Come sit next to me..."
Jin Shanyao smiled and stepped forward, grasping her hand firmly. "You missed me, didn't you?"
Old Madam Su looked kindly at her. "I've thought about it," she said, her gaze tracing the features of Jin Shanyao. " Yao'er is so beautiful, it's a pity this old woman met you so late."
Jin Shanyao glared at her reproachfully, "It's never too late to make friends. You can wear the talisman I gave you every day."
Old Madam Su felt around the thin thread at her neck, slowly pulled out the talisman, and then held it in the air, "Look... what's this??"
Jin Shanyao placed her fingertips on Old Madam Su's pulse, her eyes smiling, "You do have a conscience, you didn't share it with anyone else."
Old Madam Su laughed so hard she almost fell over, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Thanks to this talisman, I don't know how much suffering I would have endured without it."
I feel that my life has been worthwhile; my son is successful, and my daughter-in-law and grandson are filial.
It wasn't until I met you that I felt regret. Sometimes I think how wonderful it would be if you were my granddaughter.
Madam Su couldn't listen any longer and turned her face away to secretly wipe her tears.