Yun Xiao snorted coldly, utterly dismissive.
"To flaunt such petty tricks is truly shameful. Even if you were to die within these premises, this establishment would bear no responsibility, for the coroner would ascertain the medication you consumed, and we do not stock the herb 'wild xuanhua'."
With her words, the man's face turned ashen. Unable to utter a single word, he was promptly seized by Liu Xing and unceremoniously tossed out of the medical hall and onto the street.
As for the old woman, her expression was grim, her lips trembling for a long while, leaving her speechless. Behind her, Yun Xiao gazed at her calmly, speaking deliberately, word by word.
"It is always good to accumulate virtue and kindness. If you do not cultivate yourself, you should at least cultivate a future for your descendants."
Upon hearing this, the old woman shakily walked away, met with no sympathy from those beside her, only scorn and disdain.
After the old woman had passed, those gathered at the entrance, who had been clamoring for compensation, burst into applause, sighing repeatedly.
"Lord Leng Yue is truly remarkable, what excellent medical skills!"
Yun Xiao raised her eyebrows, her smile from before vanishing, replaced by a frost-like chill, as delicate as the thin ice of February. She spoke slowly.
"Begone, you ungrateful wretches! Read the words outside before you dare to enter."
She finished speaking, then turned to order Yan Mei and Wan Wan, "Today's business ends here. No more consultations."
The crowd exchanged glances and finally retreated, all crowding outside the shop to read the inscription on the wall, which read in sparse lines:
'Those with affinity receive without payment; those without, even a thousand gold will not save. Enter only with a sincere heart.'
It turned out they had offended Lord Leng Yue's taboo. Only those who believed in the establishment's medical skills were permitted entry.
Whether payment was due was another matter. The onlookers dispersed, quickly melting away.
Inside the shop, once all the patients had departed, only the apprentices, the doctor, and Wan Wan and the shopkeeper remained.
They looked at each other, gazing at the exceptionally beautiful Lord Leng Yue, thinking that His Lordship must be in a bad mood, so no one dared to speak more than a word.
Unexpectedly, Yun Xiao then smiled, as brilliant as peach blossoms, exuding an unparalleled elegance and freedom.
"Why the long faces, everyone? Today we rest. You are all tired. Tidy up the shop, go home if you can, on duty if you must."
The crowd was stunned, thinking His Lordship had been provoked. Someone couldn't help but murmur, "It's all our fault, Your Lordship?"
All felt a pang of self-recrimination. Only Wan Wan knew that her master's thoughts always differed from ordinary people. Thus, she quickly spoke up.
"Alright, Master is not angry. Everyone, do not blame yourselves. Just do as Master said, tidy up, and rest. Only one apprentice and one doctor will remain on duty. The rest can go home. Today's work ends here. No more treatments will be accepted."
With decisive words, Wan Wan finally understood her master's intent.
These people were truly too ungrateful. They offer treatments without payment, and still, they are so unappreciative. If you don't believe, why enter? Isn't it just causing obstruction?
It was no wonder Master refused to treat those people; even she wouldn't treat them now.
Upon hearing this, the others finally breathed a sigh of relief and rejoiced. It seemed only then did they truly feel that Lord Leng Yue was unlike other demanding and sharp-tongued masters. Everyone relaxed considerably.
Each person set about tidying the medicinal herbs that had fallen to the ground. Then, those on duty stayed, and those not went home. These people had never expected to finish work so early; it was truly surprising.
However, Yun Xiao spoke a solemn word to them.
"Treat those with a sincere heart; medicine must be administered with full responsibility. Those whose hearts are not sincere need not be treated; let them leave on their own."
The fact that the elegant and handsome Lord Leng Yue, who seemed as if descended from the heavens, would utter such coarse language was another surprise to everyone. Yet, in the end, everyone quite liked Lord Leng Yue.
The grand and imposing Lin Prince's Estate. The setting sun painted the entire estate in a crimson hue, as if shrouded in a veil of mist, exceptionally beautiful. The glazed tiles emitted a radiant glow.
Within the estate, winding corridors, white jade stairs, pavilions, and towers, strange flowers and exotic plants were distributed in every corner of the prince's estate. Indeed, it was worthy of being a prince's estate, truly luxurious and magnificent.
Within the study.
In the center was a spacious sandalwood desk, with a chair behind it. On one side of the room stood tall bookshelves, lined with many bound volumes.
On the other side was a small, delicate shelf. On the top of the shelf sat a deer-ear cauldron, with fine incense burning within. Below it were various precious antiques.
The entire study exuded an air of grandeur and luxury.
A vibrant green potted plant was placed on the desk, along with a neat set of writing implements.
At this moment, within the vast study, sat a single person, deep in thought, a chilling aura surrounding him. He gazed frigidly at Mu Li, who stood below. Mu Li shivered. What was troubling His Lordship this time?
"My Lord?"
"You say that newly opened medical hall is called 'Poppy Medical Hall', and it was opened by a young master named Leng Yue."
"Yes, My Lord. Your subordinate has thoroughly investigated. That person is the same young master seen at Qin Yu Tower previously."
"Leng Yue?"
Shangguan Lin savored these two words. For some reason, upon seeing this young man, he couldn't help but think of Feng Guan.
Yet, he had sent people to search for so long without finding any trace of Feng Guan. Had that fellow vanished? He had wanted to become sworn brothers with him, to invite him to Qin Yu Tower for the finest wine. Yet, that fellow seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
Who exactly was this Leng Yue?
He was exceptionally handsome, but very different from Feng Guan. Though Feng Guan was as radiant as the sun, he wasn't this handsome.
As for that Leng Yue, he looked like a pretty boy, the type to break women's hearts everywhere. But whoever he was, he wanted to find out if he knew Feng Guan.
Both studied medicine, both appeared inexplicably. Could they share the same lineage?
Furthermore, the matter of the assassins had still not been resolved. Who exactly was acting in the shadows? He suspected it might be people from the Divine Dragon Palace.
Shangguan Lin's expression flickered, but he found himself somewhat interested in that Leng Yue, a rare gleam in his eyes. Mu Li, standing beside him, had no idea what His Lordship was contemplating that could bring such a bright expression to his face.
Ever since losing news of Feng Guan, His Lordship seemed to have become abnormal, constantly sending them to search for the young man's whereabouts.
Most importantly, he would throw tantrums from time to time. Now, he and Qiao Chu were a hundred percent certain that His Lordship was indeed a "cut-sleeve" (homosexual). What were they to do?
As subordinates, they couldn't just watch His Lordship self-destruct! Therefore, they had decided that they must cure His Lordship of this affliction.
"My Lord, why don't we go to that newly opened medical hall? I heard that young master Leng Yue has good medical skills. Perhaps he can cure Your Lordship's illness."
"My illness?"
Shangguan Lin looked utterly perplexed, staring intently at Mu Li, not understanding what this impertinent fellow meant. He couldn't even find the person he was looking for, yet he looked so mysterious now.