Chapter 25: So-Called Youthful Recklessness

Hearing Jiang Yunzhou's reply, Zhao Zhinan nodded and said:

"Father, since Doctor Jiang has the ability to treat the daughter's eyes, I trust his medical skill; we should still follow the doctor's arrangement."

Originally, the daughter's eyes had hope of recovery; Prince Rong felt delighted inside, and now the obedient daughter had spoken, so Prince Rong naturally smiled and nodded, saying:

"Very well, since Doctor Jiang insists, I will naturally respect it; I entrust the recovery of my daughter's eyes to Doctor Jiang. Attendants, present the consultation fee together."

Jiang Yunzhou knew that although he had held the princess's leg, his actions today would inevitably offend the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion.

Compared to gold, what he and the Azure Medical Hall currently lack most is safety and stability; therefore, to avoid wasting this favor, Jiang Yunzhou hurriedly bowed and said:

"Thank you for your gift, Your Highness, but the princess's eye ailment is not yet healed; I would feel ashamed to take the consultation fee now, so I will wait until the princess's eye ailment is completely healed before accepting Your Highness's consultation fee."

Thus, before the princess's eyes recover, from a utilitarian perspective, this Prince Rong will also protect him and the Azure Medical Hall.

A hundred taels of gold is nothing to Prince Rong, but Jiang Yunzhou always putting the daughter's eye ailment first still pleases Prince Rong quite a bit.

Although he also sees that Jiang Yunzhou wants a favor, at least in this regard he is much better than the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion, which only knows how to ask for money without any actual effect.

"Good, Doctor Jiang is young but possesses considerable medical virtue; then as you said, in the future, if you or the Azure Medical Hall have any needs, you may speak plainly."

"Thank you for your gift, Your Highness; then I will take my leave, and after half a month I will bring medicine again to treat the princess."

Prince Rong slightly nodded to show respect, and Jiang Yunzhou and Shen Qinqru withdrew together.

Zhou Tan beside him also knew that Prince Rong's Manor's business was surely lost; staying here alone would be awkward, so he followed suit and bowed, saying:

"Zhou Tan takes his leave."

Only the Prince Rong and his daughter, along with the personal maid, remained in the courtyard; Prince Rong then no longer restrained his emotions, saying:

"Naner, wonderful, you have hope of regaining your sight."

Zhao Zhinan was adapting to the faint black outline before her, and the face that had become slightly warm from Jiang Yunzhou's massage also returned to normal.

Just now, while Jiang Yunzhou was speaking, she seized the chance to sneak a glance at his outline; at this moment she was imagining the true appearance of this Master Jiang, and upon hearing her father's sigh, she immediately reacted, laughing and replying:

"It's all thanks to Father persisting these years in seeking a doctor for the daughter that I have had the chance to meet this divine doctor."

Prince Rong was quite pleased with the daughter's sweet words:

"Naner still has a sweet tongue, but this Doctor Jiang is indeed different; he dares to point out the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion's mistakes to their face, remains unmoved before high officials and generous salaries, and is a fine young man."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhinan also recalled how Jiang Yunzhou, in order to treat her eyes, had frankly offended the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion; her brows furrowed slightly, unable to bear it, she said:

"Father, the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion is powerful; there's no guarantee it won't, because of today's incident, sideline the doctor called Jiang Yunzhou and the Azure Medical Hall; if, because of treating the daughter's eyes, their medical hall cannot continue, I fear I would feel guilty for life."

Prince Rong reached out to stroke the daughter's head, saying:

"Naner, rest assured; this person, I as father also greatly appreciate him; having such a doctor, perhaps the medical atmosphere of Great Liang could improve; see, Father will tomorrow send a great gift, and even though he does not take a position at the manor, I can guarantee his Azure Medical Hall will be unharmed."

"Just as I knew Father is the best! Come, my child, accompany Father to the garden!"

——————

On another side, since it was inconvenient to speak much inside the manor, Jiang Yunzhou and Shen Qinqru had just reached the gate and were about to speak when they saw Zhou Tan also following them all the way out.

Having just changed from the aggressive demeanor inside the manor, he greeted them with a smiling face, saying:

"Master Jiang, Shopkeeper Shen, please wait!"

Jiang Yunzhou turned back and laughed, saying:

"What? Official Zhou, you wouldn't be here to chop off one of my fingers, would you?"

"Master Jiang, you're joking; just now I was rash, and indeed I did not expect Master Jiang's medical skill to be so superb, so I have come specially to invite Master Jiang to join the Imperial Medical Bureau."

It must be said, in terms of official position, the Imperial Medical Bureau indeed offers better prospects than serving as a dedicated physician at Prince Rong's Manor.

At this moment, Zhou Tan extended an olive branch, clearly intending to win him over; however, Jiang Yunzhou clearly understood that this fellow was not wholeheartedly convinced of his medical skill and character, but simply wanted to drag him into the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion, and besides, there are even more pitfalls in the court.

Jiang Yunzhou feigned puzzlement and asked:

"Imperial Medical Bureau? Official Zhou, do you want me to become the Imperial Medical Order?"

Although Zhou Tan's face had still been smiling, his expression slightly changed; he thought, 'If you become the Imperial Medical Order, what would I be?' Nevertheless, he smiled and replied:

"Master Jiang truly loves to joke."

Jiang Yunzhou, however, spoke seriously:

"I am not joking; if it is not to become the Imperial Medical Order, I still will not go. Let's go, Sister Shen Qinqru."

Seeing Jiang Yunzhou give him no face at all, Zhou Tan collected his smile, furrowed his brows, and said:

"Master Jiang, youthful recklessness is good, but recklessness always comes at a price."

Hearing this, Jiang Yunzhou recalled that master who possessed peerless medical skill but was harmed by the Magnificent Longevity Pavilion, forced to live in seclusion in Mist Prefecture, lonely and helpless for the second half of his life; he immediately turned back, smiling, and asked:

"Official Zhou, do you think I am arrogant?"

"Isn't Master Jiang's actions today not arrogant enough?"

Jiang Yunzhou collected his smile, raised his head, a pair of sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, his eyes fixed on Zhou Tan, and spoke word by word:

"Arrogant? In my words and deeds today, is there a single exaggeration? Is there anything not yet fulfilled?"

"You you this......"

Seeing Zhou Tan momentarily at a loss for words, Jiang Yunzhou laughed again and said:

"What Official Zhou calls arrogance is merely denigrating others when discovering other physicians are superior, merely slapping the label of 'not going with the flow' on those who differ, nothing more; farewell."

Having said that, Jiang Yunzhou, without turning back, pulled the wide-eyed Shen Qinqru beside him onto the carriage.

Left behind, the flushed, breathless Imperial Medical Order Zhou Tan stood before the gate of Prince Rong's Manor, gasping heavily, his whole body trembling.

Having found a thigh to cling to, Jiang Yunzhou, driving the carriage, felt in good spirits; but upon turning his head, he saw Shen Qinqru leaning against his side, supporting her pointed chin with a faint smile, gazing at him.

Unlike her usual mature and steady demeanor, Shen Qinqru's gaze now carried a hint of a maiden's love-like admiration.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed from being looked at, Jiang Yunzhou lightly coughed and said:

"Sister Shen Qinqru, what are you laughing at?"

Shen Qinqru raised her eyebrows and laughed, saying:

"Laughing at a fool who actually abandoned a bright future, refused to take a position at Prince Rong's Manor or the Imperial Medical Bureau, and chose the Azure Medical Hall that pays only five taels of silver per month."

"I promised Sister Qingu that I would eventually help you revive the Azure Medical Pavilion; a true man of honor never goes back on his word."

Although Shen Qingu also knew Jiang Yunzhou's reasons for doing this, hearing him say it in person still made her heart flutter like a startled deer.

Often, concrete reliance and firm promises are easier to reach the soft part of a woman's heart than any sweet words.

Suddenly thinking of something, Shen Qingu, whose gaze was like water, grabbed Jiang Yunzhou's left hand and carefully examined the scar on his little finger, asking with a hint of heartache:

"Yunzhou, did you really break a finger to correct your elders' mistakes? Wait, you shouldn't have only one senior medical practitioner in Mist Prefecture, right?"

Jiang Yunzhou nodded and said:

"It was to correct my master's mistake; fortunately he stopped me in time, so I only broke half of it and managed to reattach it."

"What on earth is going on?"

"Eh, it's nothing, just my master's final test."

If there is anything about myself that most resembles Jiang Yunzhou's past life and his master Jiang Enji, it would be the obsession behind this scar.