Chapter 54: The Proud Little Old Man

"Drink half a bottle each day, then dip a feather in the remaining half and apply it to the body; after these ten bottles are used up, Prince Zhao's illness will be almost cured."

"Is it that simple?"

"Exactly." Chi Nan Yi nodded. "Prince Zhao's illness will recover quickly if the right medicine is used." Her gaze fell on Gentleman Zhao. "Does the gentleman's earlier promise still count?"

"Of course it counts!" Gentleman Zhao waved his hand. "Just tell me what you want!"

Chi Nan Yi took out the ginseng. "I, personally, don't like taking advantage of others. My house needs repairs, so I thought of exchanging this ginseng for some silver. If possible, could Gentleman Zhao purchase my ginseng at market price?"

"I can forgo the ginseng; three hundred taels of silver, consider it a reward…"

"No need." Chi Nan Yi shook her head. "Ginseng is ginseng, consultation fee is consultation fee, and the medicine money is calculated separately." She pointed at the porcelain bottles. "Consultation fee is two taels, each bottle's medicine costs five taels; together that's fifty-two taels, ginseng three hundred taels, total three hundred fifty-two taels."

"For the Zhao family, this sum is nothing more than a drop in the bucket."

"Gentleman Zhao waved his hand, and shortly after, the steward brought four silver notes, totaling four hundred taels."

"The remainder, consider it a reward."

Upon hearing this, Chi Nan Yi took three notes from the tray and said with a smile, "In that case, I do have a matter to ask the gentleman to help with."

"What matter?"

"This hundred taels, I wish to set up a shop in the town, but I'm unfamiliar here and fear being cheated. Please, Gentleman Zhao, keep an eye out for me; if the hundred taels aren't enough, I can add more."

"You want to open a shop in the town?"

"That's right."

"You, a woman, haven't married into a household, yet you go out in public all day—what kind of person are you?"

Chi Nan Yi frowned slightly. "Gentleman Zhao, why do you always harbor such hostility toward women?"

"It's not hostility; women are simply inferior to men."

"Huh, inferior to men? On what basis? You previously thought that because I'm a woman I shouldn't understand medicine, yet I cured your son's stubborn illness. Does that mean, in your eyes, a woman should only serve husband and children, be driven by men all her life? Perhaps you place too much importance on the title 'man'. Your claim that women are inferior is merely a matter of division of labor. If you were to manage the inner household—embroidery and needlework—you would probably start pleading at the very step of threading the needle. Yet reality shows that without knowing how to thread a needle, no one can make clothing; you would be left without clothes, so what can you use to support your lofty talk?"

"You!"

Chi Nan Yi turned to Steward Zhao and said, "Please have Steward Zhao exchange this hundred taels for fifty-two taels in cash; I need silver on hand. Since Gentleman Zhao looks down on me as a woman, there's no need to trouble you about the shop."

She had originally thought that, with the Zhao family's strong influence in the town, she could secure a shop through them, and the townsfolk would not dare to trouble her.

"Now it seems this idea will fall through."

"Gentleman Zhao was scolded by her, his face turning ashen."

"Chi Nan Yi lowered her gaze to scan Gentleman Zhao's hand, and upon seeing the callus on his finger pads and the tiger‑mouth of his palm, she understood."

"A martial practitioner capable of capturing a horned eagle…"

"Surname Zhao…"

"At that moment, a name flashed into her mind."

"Zhao Anqi."

"He was once Qi Guo's most valiant general; a single long spear could strike terror into the wind, yet he suddenly chose to retire and return home, refusing the emperor's attempts to retain him."

"Seeing his determination, the emperor could only let him go."

"The reason she knows this name is that the Crown Prince Mo Junheng mentioned it before the original host in her previous life; it is said he personally sent envoys to invite him, yet never even saw Zhao Anqi's face. For this, Mo Junheng held a long grudge and even vowed that the day he ascended the throne would be Zhao Anqi's death day."

"As for whether Zhao Anqi later died, she does not know, because by then she had already been locked in the cold palace."

"Speaking of Zhao Anqi, he was once Qi Guo's Guardian General, illustrious and victorious, the emperor's confidant; yet why did he resolutely leave the court for this place?"

"Zhao Anqi's complexion turned sour, his beard twitched a few times, his hands folded behind his back, and he said nothing further."

"Zhao Mubei felt his body noticeably more comfortable, lifted his sleeve, and saw the blisters and redness greatly reduced."

"He couldn't help but feel startled and doubtful."

"It was actually improving!"

"She… could she be a Divine Doctor?"

"Thank you, miss; your great kindness, Zhao Mubei will never forget."

"Prince Zhao need not thank me; your constitution is weak and requires proper nurturing." She wrote a prescription and handed it to Steward Zhao: "In ten days, follow this formula to gather herbs; drink a bowl each night before sleep, continue for over a month, and stop the medicine once you feel comfortable." Speaking of gathering herbs, Chi Nan Yi said to Gentleman Zhao: "Now that we know the cause of this illness, it proves that the proprietor of Bai cao tang is innocent; please release him."

"Gentleman Zhao said nothing, merely waved his hand, and the servant nearby went to handle it."

"With the goal achieved, Chi Nan Yi prepared to leave; as she was about to collect the silver from the tray,"

"Chi Nan Yi's lips curled faintly; hearing Gentleman Zhao say that, she realized he was softening."

"Then, thank you, Gentleman Zhao."

"Hmph," Gentleman Zhao snorted lightly, lifted his chin, and turned to walk out.

"Still a proud little old man."

"Although some of his views are misguided, they can still change."

"When Chi Nan Yi returned to Bai cao tang, Shopkeeper Li had already come back."

"Knowing that Chi Nan Yi saved him, he formally bowed to her and said, 'Miss, you are my reborn parent; please accept my bow!'"

"Shopkeeper Li replied, 'No need for formalities; it's merely a small gesture, not worth mentioning.'"

"Chi Huai Qian smiled and said, 'Yi'er, quickly bring out the ginseng.'"

"'Ginseng? Miss Chi, do you have ginseng to sell? Rest assured, from today onward, any medicine you send, I, Li, will purchase at the highest price.'"

"To be frank, the ginseng has already been sold to Gentleman Zhao; Prince Zhao's body happens to need it. If there is more next time, I will deliver it to the shopkeeper."

"Alright, alright."

"Across at Liu ji yao pu, Shopkeeper Liu cast a shady glance toward the opposite side."

"'How are you handling things? Didn't you say it would definitely be resolved?'"

"'I have no idea! Li Xun has already been taken to the authorities, how did he return?'"

"'Useless!' Shopkeeper Liu gritted his teeth, 'Li Xun, I will find a chance to deal with you!'"

"At the Zhao household, Gentleman Zhao was in an especially good mood, and he had a servant heat a pot of wine for him."

Just as he took a sip, his expression froze.

Seeing the man standing not far away, Zhao Anqi hurriedly stood up.

「Prince。」.