“Lu Lang~”
When she saw Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan’s long, curved eyelashes carried a smile.
Lu Zheng nodded, then greeted Old Liu and Du Yueyao. “I returned this morning and came to have a look.”
“There is nothing much to see here. If you are free, go to Leping Tower to listen to storytelling. Come back at noon for lunch together,” Liu Qingyan said with a smile.
Lu Zheng neither agreed nor disagreed. He sat down beside Liu Qingyan. Not far away, Du Yueyao was also consulting a patient.
“I have nothing to do. I can help you write prescriptions,” Lu Zheng said.
Liu Qingyan smiled without speaking. The auntie consulting her laughed. “Young Master Lu wants to keep you company!”
Du Yueyao nearby giggled too, a flash of envy in her eyes. However…
“Yueyao, what are you staring at? Were you not writing a prescription? Speak up.”
Lu Zheng had prepared paper and brush. Seeing Du Yueyao in a daze, he could not help prompting her.
“Oh, oh, yes, yes!” Du Yueyao startled, then reacted. She hurriedly pushed back the half-pulled paper and began dictating the prescription to Lu Zheng.
“Three large gansui roots, twelve banxia pieces washed in water and decocted halfway then strained, five shaoyao, one finger-sized piece of gancao.
These four ingredients, decoct in two sheng of water to half a sheng, strain, add a small amount of honey, further decoct to eight he, take two he daily after meals.”
After Du Yueyao finished, Lu Zheng completed writing.
He picked up the prescription, shook it in the air, waited for the ink to dry slightly, then handed it to the approaching patient.
“Thank you, Doctor Du. Thank you, Young Master Lu!”
This patient was also from Tonglin County and knew both Du Yueyao and Lu Zheng. He did not go to other pharmacies but grabbed the medicine at Benevolent Heart Hall, then left slowly while coughing.
At the same time, Liu Qingyan finished consulting the auntie in front of her.
Lu Zheng wrote the prescription. It contained common herbs available at the same price everywhere, so the auntie also grabbed her medicine at the counter. She glanced gossipingly this way, then left with a satisfied expression.
Then…
The noblewoman just mentioned sat down in front of Liu Qingyan.
“Greetings, Doctor Liu.”
“Hello!” Liu Qingyan looked curiously at the noblewoman. She had never seen a woman of such bearing in Tonglin County.
Not just Liu Qingyan. Since the noblewoman entered Benevolent Heart Hall, she had attracted almost everyone’s attention. Nearly all dared only steal glances, not look directly.
By rights, her maid was also refined and elegant, gentle and proper, but beside her mistress, she seemed merely ordinary.
Only Liu Qingyan, with her unparalleled beauty, compassionate heart, warm and gentle temperament like a spring breeze, could rival the woman’s dignified grace. Even so, she seemed slightly inferior.
“Where does Madam feel discomfort? May this humble woman take your pulse?” Liu Qingyan asked.
The noblewoman placed one hand on the table and looked at Liu Qingyan. “I often have headaches, sometimes feel palpitations and shortness of breath, but not severely, and not regularly. Please examine me, Doctor Liu.”
“Oh?”
Liu Qingyan sized up the noblewoman, already having an idea. She extended her right hand and placed it on the woman’s wrist.
After a moment, she had the woman switch hands to confirm the condition.
“When Madam gave birth, it was not smooth, and you caught a chill at the time, damaging your vital energy. Heart and lungs are impaired, spleen and stomach injured, leading to palpitations, shortness of breath, and mental distraction. You probably also often have abdominal pain?”
The noblewoman nodded. “Indeed. Is there a cure?”
“This condition is half congenital and extremely difficult to cure completely,” Liu Qingyan said seriously. “However, I can prescribe two formulas for Madam. One for internal consumption, the other… can Madam take medicated baths daily?”
The noblewoman nodded. “Naturally.”
“That is good.” Liu Qingyan turned to dictate two prescriptions to Lu Zheng, then continued to the noblewoman. “Madam, follow these for half a month first. Then please return so this humble woman can check the effects.”
“I understand,” the noblewoman agreed.
Liu Qingyan thought for a moment and added, “Madam’s family is wealthy. If interested, you could acquire medicines with spiritual ingredients. Wild ginseng replenishes qi, lingzhi nourishes the spirit, assisted by danggui, fuling, and huangqi. It should be effective.”
“The household manager does have that intention, but spiritual medicines are hard to find. We can only let nature take its course.”
Liu Qingyan nodded, took the prescriptions from Lu Zheng, and passed them to the noblewoman.
“Thank you, Doctor Liu.” The noblewoman thanked Liu Qingyan, then nodded to Lu Zheng. Her eyes were gentle and warm, losing some dignity and gaining a touch of kindness. “Thank you, Young Master Lu.”
Lu Zheng nodded in return. “Madam is too polite. It was no effort.”
The noblewoman stood, went with her maid to the counter to collect the medicine. The two assistants, accustomed to facing Liu Qingyan daily, managed not to lose composure before the noblewoman. They weighed the herbs smoothly, took payment, and respectfully saw her off.
From the hall, Lu Zheng watched the noblewoman and maid board the carriage. The coachman then stowed the stool, mounted, and drove away.
Lu Zheng exchanged a glance with Liu Qingyan. Du Yueyao interjected. “I have never seen this madam before. Is she passing through, or has she recently moved to Tonglin County?”
Benevolent Heart Hall had been open in Tonglin County for years. Everyone often visited Yuling Garden or nearby scenic spots. They knew most wealthy families’ ladies, even if not all by face, and this noblewoman did not match any.
“I heard the old Huang family mansion in the north of the city was sold recently,” a following patient said. “That estate has five courtyards front to back, with a garden on the west. Only the rich or noble could buy it. Perhaps it is this family.”
“Tsk tsk, a fierce dragon crossing the river!” Lu Zheng clicked his tongue, remembering Zhao Wenrong.
Zhao Wenrong was a direct descendant of the Zhao family in Yizhou Prefecture. Now in Tonglin County managing family business, he thrived, even marrying a daughter of the local Lin family. Though he could not inherit the head position, he was important in the Zhao family.
“This one, I wonder what business she is in?” Lu Zheng could not help asking.
“That I do not know. Anyway, it has nothing to do with us common folk,” the patient said, switching hands at Liu Qingyan’s gesture. “Doctor Liu, what is my condition?”
After a moment, Liu Qingyan said, “Nothing serious. This is rising deficient fire due to cooling weather, yin flourishing and yang deficient. I will prescribe a formula. Take it for three days and you will be fine.”
“So that is it. Thank you, thank you!”
…
After seeing off the last patient, soon afterwards, Liu San arrived with Liu Qingquan and Ao Qian.
“Mother made roast chicken and fried fish today. It was delicious!”
“And snacks we made ourselves!”
