Chapter 9: and

As evening fell, the glow of the setting sun bathed everything in light.

Zhang Shou'an slowly woke up. Madam Zhang held him and wept bitterly for a long time, as if venting all the grievances and worries of the past ten-odd years. Master Zhang also dabbed at the corners of his eyes; the Zhang family's sole heir had been saved, and the heavens had not treated him unfairly.

Zhang Shou'an took the pill with water, chatted with Master and Madam Zhang for a while, and then fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing that Zhang Shou'an was out of danger, Xie Qingli and Hu Er asked Master Zhang for leave. Master Zhang naturally saw them off to the mansion gate with great courtesy and arranged a luxurious carriage to send them on their way.

The carriage wheels rumbled, kicking up clouds of dust.

Inside the carriage, Hu Er hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. After much deliberation, he couldn't help but ask, "Sister Qingli, was that pill really made from Zhuyu Grass?"

Xie Qingli smiled mysteriously: "Legend has it that Zhuyu Grass is a divine herb from ancient times; eating it allows one to go years without hunger."

Hu Er's eyes widened like copper bells, and he exclaimed in admiration, "So such a divine herb truly exists! No wonder even Old Imperial Physician Xue didn't know of it." Suddenly, realization dawned on him: "So that's why you stated the prescription without the slightest hesitation—he can't find Zhuyu Grass, so even with the prescription, it's useless."

Watching Hu Er's 'I'm so smart' expression, Xie Qingli burst out laughing: "You thought I was easy to fool, but actually, you're the ones who are easier to fool—each of you believing my words without a doubt." She shook her head gently: "Did you really think there was some ancient divine herb? Even if there were, what virtue or ability do I have to be so fortunate as to obtain it?"

Hu Er was instantly crestfallen: "So there isn't any? Then how was your medicine made?"

Xie Qingli covered her mouth and laughed softly: "One could say it exists, and one could say it doesn't. The affairs of the world, true and false—who can really tell them apart?"

She lifted the carriage curtain and pointed to the distant fields: "In a few months, what grows all over those hills and fields *is* Zhuyu Grass!"

Hu Er was dumbfounded: "All over the hills and fields?"

Xie Qingli nodded: "That's right! Brother Hu must have seen it—round leaves, thick stems, a taste sour with a hint of sweetness, juice running all over your hand when you squeeze it."

"Plants have their nature; heaven and earth have their feelings. Everything in the world has its value. This grass is the life-saving grass of the poor—in good years it feeds pigs, in famine years it feeds people. How does it differ from an ancient divine herb? So what's wrong with calling it Zhuyu Grass?"

Hu Er nodded repeatedly, sighing that Sister Qingli was too good at reasoning, but then puzzled: "Since Zhuyu Grass is so common, why couldn't Old Imperial Physician Xue identify it?"

Xie Qingli sneered: "Noble people like Old Imperial Physician Xue have naturally never tasted Zhuyu Grass, so of course they can't recognize it. To them, Zhuyu Grass is just a weed that needs to be urgently cleared from their exquisite medicinal fields. So as long as I don't say it and you don't say it, he'll never find Zhuyu Grass in this lifetime."

...

On the other side, Old Imperial Physician Xue returned to Renji Hall and urgently ordered his young assistant to gather information on Xie Qingli.

He believed that since this wretched girl had gained the favor of that old Daoist Lingxu, she must possess something extraordinary. Leaving other matters aside, he refused to believe there was only a single stalk of Zhuyu Grass.

Unexpectedly, the assistant ran around inquiring and returned panting: "Master, Young Miracle Doctor Song's elder brother was injured a few days ago and is staying in our clinic. Young Miracle Doctor Song's mother has rented a small courtyard near our clinic and comes daily to care for Young Miracle Doctor Song's brother."

It was truly a case of 'finding it effortlessly after searching in vain.' That wretched girl's mother surely knew her best. Old Imperial Physician Xue immediately sent someone to summon Madam He.

Upon hearing that a big shot like Old Imperial Physician Xue wanted to see her, Madam He was extremely anxious and apprehensive all the way.

She was led into an elegantly furnished hall, where she saw an imposing old master sitting solemnly in the central yellow rosewood armchair, flanked by the clinic's steward, physicians, and several others. These people usually held their heads high, but now they were all exceptionally respectful.

Old Imperial Physician Xue picked up his teacup, took a few sips, and then asked in a deep voice: "Madam He, has your daughter shown any abnormalities recently?"

Madam He thought bitterly: her daughter had been raised in the Marquis of Shengjing's mansion for over ten years without meeting; how would she know of any abnormalities? Oh wait—was the nobleman asking about that wretched girl? Had that wretched girl offended a nobleman? Or caught a nobleman's eye?

Seeing Madam He woolgathering, and fearing Old Imperial Physician Xue's anger, the steward coughed heavily and barked coldly: "No concealment allowed. Confess truthfully."

Madam He jumped in fright and hurriedly replied tremblingly: "Replying to the Grand Master: she used to be very timid, but recently she suddenly became very bold, her strength became immense, she's especially good at beating people—my Baor was injured by her."

Old Imperial Physician Xue's face darkened slightly. He had heard that Old Daoist Lingxu was not only skilled in medicine but also in martial arts. Could it be that he had not only passed on his medical skills to that wretched girl but also his martial arts? How hateful!!!

Old Imperial Physician Xue's voice was like frost: "Did she ever tell you why she changed? Did she mention anyone?"

Change? Mention anyone? Madam He thought of Song Wenxiu in wedding robes sticking out a long red tongue, and Xie Qingli's eerie transformation. In a flash, she pieced something together, her body shaking as she stammered: "She... she's possessed by a ghost, a fierce ghost in wedding robes."

Old Imperial Physician Xue was stunned. Had Madam He developed hysteria? She should have mentioned a Daoist passing on medical skills; how did it become a fierce ghost possession? However, his muddy eyeballs rolled, and a plan formed in his mind.

"Madam He, since your daughter is possessed by a ghost, it's best to exorcise it quickly. The Lingxiao Temple on Mingshan Mountain south of Jiazhou Prefecture is extremely famous. Its abbot is a personal disciple of the National Preceptor; the Daoists there all possess profound magic power and excel at exorcising ghosts and demons. Why not invite a Daoist from Lingxiao Temple to exorcise the ghost from your daughter?"

Lingxiao Temple was known to do business for money; all the high-ranking families in Jiazhou Prefecture knew this. The Daoists there didn't have profound magic power—they had profound martial power. Hmph, if he had the Daoist claim the ghost was hard to exorcise and take her to Jiazhou Prefecture, wouldn't she then be at his mercy?

Madam He hesitated. She had heard of Lingxiao Temple; hiring their Daoists was expensive. The money Song Zhaoxing gave had all been spent on Baor's treatment, leaving very little.

The steward was sharp-eyed; guessing Madam He's thoughts with a roll of his eyes, he stepped forward and whispered a couple of sentences into Old Imperial Physician Xue's ear.

Old Imperial Physician Xue scoffed lightly: "Truly a lowly commoner, haggling over such trifling gain."

"The old man understands that a farming family's resources are limited. The fee for inviting a Daoist from Lingxiao Temple will be fully covered by Renji Hall. You just need to be ready to lead the Daoist to exorcise the ghost tomorrow."

Madam He was overjoyed and thanked him profusely: "Thank you for your compassion, Grand Master. You are truly a great benefactor of ten lifetimes; the Bodhisattva will surely bless you with a long life!"

Old Imperial Physician Xue dismissed Madam He and immediately ordered someone to ride fast to Lingxiao Temple to fetch a Daoist.

The next day, before dawn, a young Daoist leading a seven- or eight-year-old novice arrived at Renji Hall. The steward led the Daoist to see Old Imperial Physician Xue.

Old Imperial Physician Xue sized up the young Daoist before him, frowning slightly. This Daoist had an exceptionally handsome face, wore a cyan robe embroidered with silver patterns, held a horsetail whisk, and had a neat Daoist topknot tied with a silver-gray ribbon.

He didn't look like a Daoist at all, but rather a wealthy young master—completely different from the Daoists Old Imperial Physician Xue had dealt with before.

What Old Imperial Physician Xue didn't know was that Lingxiao Temple dispatched different types of disciples for rituals depending on the situation. If the employer was a woman, they would send a handsome young Daoist likely to win a woman's favor; if the employer was a man, like Old Imperial Physician Xue, they would send an old Daoist with a righteous aura who inspired confidence.

This time, hearing the target was a woman and it was at the request of the noble guest Old Imperial Physician Xue, they dispatched the most handsome young Daoist in the temple.

Old Imperial Physician Xue had no time to ponder; since he was a Daoist from Lingxiao Temple, his skills presumably wouldn't be poor, so he gave his instructions.

Today, Madam He wore a light smoke-colored embroidered gauze skirt, a moon-white open-front jacket, her hair styled in a 'lingering cloud' bun with a white jade hairpin slanted across it. She waited at the entrance of Renji Hall in a very cheerful mood.

Suddenly, she saw a young Daoist striding over, a little novice trailing behind. The young Daoist was handsome, his silver ribbon fluttering with his steps. Madam He's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing crimson—what a handsome Daoist!

The handsome Daoist, seeing Madam He's reaction, felt a bit smug but also slightly annoyed—a vulgar village woman daring to have designs on him.

The handsome Daoist was extremely confident in his looks. The ladies and young misses of high-ranking families in Jiazhou City were all very satisfied with him, and their offerings were always the most generous.

Hearing today's task was to deal with a village girl who had never seen the world, perhaps he only needed to crook a finger to complete the task easily...