"Thump—" From that moment on, I formed a grudge against this bamboo grove, and I never set foot in it again. Luckily, I was blessed with good fortune; the bamboo leaves on the ground were thick, and I didn't lose any limbs. Lou Xiyue jumped down right after me, put his arm around my shoulder, and asked, "I didn't hold on tight enough just now, Master, are you hurt?"
I was so frightened that I was on the verge of tears. It took me a long time to come to my senses before I cursed, "Lou Xiyue, you heartless bastard! Do you know how hard it was for me to raise and nurture you? Is this how you repay me? Tomorrow, tomorrow I will expel you from the sect."
Lou Xiyue ignored me and casually brushed my hand across the back. I took two steps back: This guy wasn't satisfied with just throwing me down, he even touched me. My face darkened, and I glared at him fiercely.
A sly glint flashed in Lou Xiyue's eyes as she smiled and said, "You got a scratch on your hand."
I pulled my hand back and said angrily, "Lou Xiyue, get me out of here right now! If you keep dawdling, I'll make you come here to collect leaves tomorrow."
Lou Xiyue's smile deepened. Suddenly, she stretched out her arm, grabbed my waist, and pulled me closer, teasingly saying, "Xiyue will follow Master's teachings." She then leaped up with me in her arms, lightly stepping on the bamboo leaves. The wind whistled past my ears, and the silver moon hung like a hook in the sky, so close that it seemed I could see the fairy Chang'e and Wu Gang making love under the osmanthus tree.
My feet touched the ground, and I felt a sense of relief. Just as I was about to go back inside, Lou Xiyue still had his arm around my waist, holding me tightly in place. I turned to look at Lou Xiyue; he was scrutinizing me from head to toe with a complicated expression. He was acting strangely today. Had he been spending so much time in the world of pleasure that he was now interested in men?
If my disciple had homosexual tendencies, I would absolutely not accept it. Because in that case, he would most likely compete with me for the position of master. Thinking of this, I decided to test him, so I moved closer, hooked his chin with one hand, and gave a flirtatious laugh, "What? Is Seventh Young Master lonely?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Lou Xiyue's eyes, which then grew even deeper, as if a dark wave were crashing against the shore. He gave a low hum, took my hand, and slowly leaned towards me, meeting my gaze. He looked straight at me, a roguish smile playing on his lips.
I needed to remain calm and remain composed. But then I saw Lou Xiyue's face getting closer, his hair brushing against my neck, and I could feel his breath. I decided I couldn't stay calm any longer. If Lou Xiyue really had this kind of taste, I'd be completely doomed. So I gave a dry laugh, "The crescent moon hangs in the sky, while petty theft roams the ground. How fitting this poem is!"
Upon hearing this, Lou Xiyue's eyes flickered, and she suddenly released my waist, saying respectfully, "Master, it's getting late, Xiyue will go back to her room first."
I was quite satisfied with the result of the test, so I smiled contentedly and waved my sleeve, saying, "Alright." Finally, I reminded him, "Xiyue, the Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, so let's make some zongzi tomorrow. I like fillings with red dates, rock sugar, pork, mung beans, osmanthus, and egg yolk."
Text [04] Green Calyx Withers (I)
I ground the herbs into powder and handed it to Lou Xiyue, instructing him, "If you want to learn how to use medicine, you must first test it on yourself. Only after knowing the taste, properties, and effects of the medicine can you better apply it to patients."
Lou Xiyue dipped her fingertip in the medicinal powder, tasted it, and said, "Slightly bitter and cooling. Upon first tasting, I felt a slight numbing sensation."
I praised, "west Yue, you're absolutely right. Do you know about Emperor Yan?"
Lou Xiyue looked up at me.
I explained to him, “Emperor Yan, also known as Shennong, was a famous physician in ancient times. He was very ethical in medicine and tasted all kinds of herbs to relieve the suffering of the people. But in the end, he lost his life because of the extreme toxicity of a certain herb. This herb is cold in nature. After being poisoned, one will be paralyzed all over. After half an incense stick's time, there will be occasional convulsions, and then blood will flow from all seven orifices and he will die.”
Lou Xiyue's expression changed drastically. "Did I just taste the Heartbreak Grass?"
I smiled at him and said, "Hehehehe."
His lips twitched, and he remained silent.
I turned and stepped outside. "Xiyue, don't worry, that was just bitter melon powder mixed with some **. Hehehehehe."
As I approached the house, I saw a young woman standing there anxiously. She wore a light pink gauze dress with a lace closure, her figure graceful and alluring, truly possessing an ethereal beauty. She noticed my footsteps, looked up at me, and her eyes, misty with tears, made her almond-shaped eyes appear even more translucent.
I approached her, and she began to sob. I stood still with my hands behind my back, and she knelt down with a thud, crying even more bitterly. Before I could even react, hands lifted her up, and a gentle voice said, "Miss, what has caused you such grief?"
The young woman, her face streaked with tears, looked at Lou Xiyue and pleaded, "Divine Physician, please, I beg you, save me and my husband!"
Lou Xiyue comforted the girl, saying, "Don't worry, tell me slowly what happened."
She bit her lip. "My husband has an eye disease and has gone blind."
Lou Xiyue looked at the girl with a sorrowful expression, as if she were empathizing with her, and said, "Tell me about your symptoms, and I'll see if I can cure you."
I was completely forgotten by the two of them. I listened to the girl calling Lou Xiyue a "miracle doctor" over and over again, making Lou Xiyue feel very happy. The veins on my forehead throbbed violently.
"Ahem, Lou Xiyue, you're getting more and more successful. Don't you know that Medicine King Valley has rules for accepting jobs?"
Lou Xiyue froze. The girl looked at him blankly, then at me, as if she had made a decision in her heart, and then resolutely knelt down in front of Lou Xiyue, "Divine Doctor, thank you for your help."
Lou Xiyue seemed to have finally realized her place. She stepped forward, helped the girl up, and said coolly, "Miss, this is the real Doctor Xia."
The girl was clearly startled. She glanced at me, then lowered her eyes and said, "I am Su Wan'er. I implore Physician Xia to heal my husband's eyes. I will spare no expense, no matter the reward."
I walked up to her, patted her shoulder, and smiled kindly, "Wan'er, it's no trouble at all."
The doctor had a peculiar rule when treating patients: the payment had to be something the patient treasured most. For example, he once took on a case of an old man who had lost all his hair overnight and was filled with resentment. He begged the doctor for a long time, but the doctor remained as calm as Mount Tai, unmoved. Finally, the old man presented a luminous pearl that had been passed down through eighteen generations of his family. I had never seen such a dazzling pearl before. I've always loved collecting stones, so the doctor gave it to me as the prized possession of his shop. We were quite moved by the old man's actions. Hair loss is a natural phenomenon; why go against nature just to regain a head of black hair?
I was initially relieved that I had gotten a good deal, because I didn't spend a single penny when An Chen saved me. But later I realized that I seemed to have given him my heart without getting anything in return.
Su Wan'er sobbed as she told me the gist of the matter: Her husband was He Tingzhi, the governor of Xuzhou. A few days ago, he developed an eye ailment for some unknown reason. He visited all the doctors in Xuzhou, but they all shook their heads and sighed. So she went to great lengths to seek medical treatment at Yaowang Valley.
I was puzzled by her words and asked, "Since he is the one who is ill, why are you the only one who came here? You should have brought him with you so that I could prescribe the right medicine."
She hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "My husband... he doesn't want to cure this eye disease..."
“Since he’s not in a hurry, why are you? There’s a saying, ‘One man’s meat is another man’s poison.’ Perhaps he’s seen too much flattery and deceit in the world, and blindness suits him perfectly.” I shrugged, preparing to close the door and see him out.
"Dr. Xia, I'm willing to give up my eyes to let my husband see the light of day again." Her voice was soft, but full of determination. I looked up at her; Su Wan'er's face was flushed, and her stubborn appearance was truly pitiful.
I didn't answer. She handed me the pendants and said softly, "I'm just a weak woman, I really don't have any priceless treasures. These jade pendants are a token of our love given to me by my husband, and to me, they are already the most precious things in the world. I wonder... I wonder if Doctor Xia could make an exception?"
I pondered for a moment, then sighed softly and said to Lou Xiyue, "Xiyue, let's get ready and head to Xuzhou."
That day, Lou Xiyue and I, carrying the medicine box and leaving Nan Yan to accompany the Third Master, boarded Su Wan'er's carriage and hurriedly headed towards Xuzhou. In the carriage, Lou Xiyue and Su Wan'er chatted amiably. With just a few words, he skillfully revealed Su Wan'er's background. Su Wan'er had once been a courtesan at the Rouge Garden brothel in Xuzhou, bought by He Tingzhi for a fortune, and later became a concubine in the He household.
I thought to myself: It seems that He Tingzhi is also a playboy who is fond of worldly pleasures.
Lou Xiyue had been biding his time in Medicine King Valley for so long, and seeing Su Wan'er today finally felt like seeing the light of day again. He recited poems with this beautiful young woman, gazed at the stars and the moon, and talked about everything from poetry and songs to life ideals. I stood by with my arms crossed, humming for a long time, but he didn't seem to care at all.
While the disciples rested, I pulled Lou Xiyue aside and warned him, "If you continue to flirt with a married woman in broad daylight, you will ruin the reputation of Medicine King Valley, which is as pure as a snow lotus."
Lou Xiyue chuckled casually, "Any man would be tempted by a beauty like Su Wan'er, right?" With that, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at me.
I said seriously, "Your master has always been unmoved by temptation." Somewhat curious, I asked him, "Do all men like talented girls like this?"
Lou Xiyue nodded in approval, “Of course, Su Wan’er is no ordinary courtesan. Her talent is comparable to that of a lady from a prominent family. He Tingzhi truly has excellent taste.”