Chapter 980 - 982: Unparalleled Medical Skill, Young Master Yao_1
Sanlang didn’t act up because Bai Ruozhu had done something underhanded, preventing him from falling ill or causing a commotion. Things were just calm for a few days.
However, after the calmness, Sanlang seemed to have suddenly "come to his senses," and he went straight to Fengye Village to find Widow Zhou. Unfortunately, Fengye Village was not welcoming to Widow Zhou, and in the end, she could only return to her parental home to live.
Sanlang pursued her all the way there and, clinging to Widow Zhou relentlessly, he was eventually beaten out of the door by her father and brother. Afterward, Sanlang cursed outside the Zhou family’s main gate for quite a while, but ultimately he had no choice but to return to the old mansion, disgruntled.
Of course, these incidents occurred when Bai Ruozhu and the others were already in Beiyu City, packing their luggage to head for the Capital City.
This time, not everyone from the family was going. Firstly, Bai Zehao and Wan Caiyue weren’t going. Wang Su’s wife would stay in Beiyu City for a while to look after Wan Caiyue and her child, and to allow the mother and daughter to spend more time together.
Then there was the Zhang Liliang family, who stayed behind temporarily to get the toy shop up and running before heading to the Capital City to meet up with the Bai family.
As for the Lin family, they said that Auntie Lin was too old to travel far, and Fusa didn’t want to leave the Weaving Pavilion in Beiyu City, so they decided not to go to the Capital City for the time being. This made Bai Ruozhu very reluctant to leave, but if it was meant to be, they would meet again soon. Perhaps, before long, the Lin family would be willing to go to the Capital.
Last but not least, some guards were left behind to protect the estate and the Bai family, while the rest were led by Cui Fan to the Capital City.
Besides the Bai family’s own people, the ones remaining were Diao Yao and Chu Hai, and Princess Diao Bin whose hair had already turned white.
Chu Hai’s poison had not been completely cured, so the two of them decided to follow Bai Ruozhu for the time being, and Diao Yao also wanted to see the sights of the Capital City. Being of Western Regions origin, she had not yet visited Danliang Country’s Capital City.
Upon hearing of the return to the Capital City, Princess Diao Bin’s face was filled with worry. It was unclear whether she preferred the freedom outside or was concerned about her appearance being discovered by her brother, the emperor, and their mother.
Bai Ruozhu did not mention the witchcraft curse to her, how could she speak of something still uncertain to a princess prone to emotional swings? Instead, Bai Ruozhu quietly shared her speculations and thoughts with Jiang Yichun during the solitude of the night.
"I have been away from the Capital for many years and have not deliberately inquired about affairs there. I am also not well-informed about the happenings in the Palace. However, the Tongzheng Division is quite well-informed. If the Former Emperor was under a witchcraft curse, such a serious matter would definitely be recorded and thoroughly investigated," Jiang Yichun said, having met the Former Emperor and having a good impression of him, he believed the Former Emperor would not have exploited Princess Diao Bin.
"It cannot be called exploitation of the princess, the Former Emperor did provide medicine for her, didn’t he? Unfortunately, it was used by me, otherwise, Princess Diao Bin would not have suffered," Bai Ruozhu said.
Jiang Yichun lowered his head, "I am not familiar with witchcraft, but I have heard that for those whose curse has been transferred, it is extremely difficult to lift, and even if a superior pill is found, it would only extend life for a few to ten years at most."
"This..." Bai Ruozhu was startled, "then, I really hope it is not a witchcraft curse."
But such a sudden onset of organ failure, not caused by poisoning, without any evident disease—how could it look anything but like a witchcraft curse.
Jiang Yichun patted Bai Ruozhu’s head gently and said softly, "Don’t put too much pressure on yourself—we are husband and wife, a single entity. I will also have people investigate and do my best to save Diao Bin." He paused and then added, "Even if something indeed happens to her, the responsibility does not lie with you. The pill was originally intended for me. If I were there that day, I would have allowed it to be used for your brother as well."
Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably, and she sniffled. Yichun’s words warmed her heart and considerably relaxed her mood.
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and planted soft kisses on her eyelids, his tongue delicately lapping up the tears that had pooled in her eyes. Moving from one eye to the other, he tenderly cleared away every last trace.
"I said I wouldn’t make you cry," he whispered as he kissed her lips, with utmost tenderness and lingering affection...
Early next morning, Bai Ruozhu and Lin Pinger went out to stroll around the city, to see what they might need for the road or to prepare some items for gifting in the future. Although such errands were usually handled by the house managers, shopping was still a woman’s favorite activity.
Of course, Bai Ruozhu had a special interest beyond that of the average woman, which was to visit the Pharmacy during her strolls to purchase some medicinal materials she needed.
She found a Pharmacy in Beiyu City with a good reputation and bought some medicinal materials. While the shop assistant was packing them up, someone walked in.
"Shop boy, do you have Caladium Lily?" The newcomer’s voice was clear and melodious. Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but glance over, and saw that the man was middle-aged, wearing a grayish blue robe. Despite the dull color of his clothes, he appeared extremely clean, with an untainted air about him as if he was standing there clad in white, hands behind his back.
Though he was in fact wearing a grayish blue robe, it somehow gave off such a pristine effect, underscoring a remarkable presence.
Bai Ruozhu came to her senses and remembered he was asking for the Caladium Lily, a very rare medicinal material that even standard doctors might not have heard of. Could he also be a doctor?
"Sir, our shop doesn’t carry a medicinal material called Caladium Lily; could it perhaps go by another name?" The young shop assistant initially wanted to address him as "m’lord" but was so taken by the man’s demeanor that he chose the more respectful "sir," a term reserved for the scholarly.
The name Caladium Lily was indeed unfamiliar to the shop boy, and they didn’t have it in the shop. He thought it might be known by another name.
"It has no other name," the middle-aged man said, showing a tinge of disappointment, and muttered to himself, "Still not here. It seems I must return to the Capital."
Bai Ruozhu just happened to have Caladium Lily on hand. When she had collected medicinal materials for Auntie Zhang, she had asked the Du Family and Zhang Liliang for help in finding it, and not all of it had been used up; two plants remained.
"Are you a doctor, sir? I happen to have Caladium Lily with me. If it is urgently needed, I can give one to you," Bai Ruozhu spoke up.
The gentleman hadn’t noticed Bai Ruozhu and Lin Pinger until then. Hearing her speak, he noticed that Bai Ruozhu had purchased quite a few medicinal materials and was knowledgeable about Caladium Lily, so he presumed she was a doctor as well.
"Yes, my surname is Yao, and I am a doctor. If the lady is willing to part with it, I am prepared to pay handsomely for it," the middle-aged man said, bowing to Bai Ruozhu with his hands clasped, a simple gesture that he somehow executed with such refined grace that all who saw it were momentarily stunned.
Bai Ruozhu thought to herself, what an exceptionally charming and beautiful uncle. Had he been born ten or twenty years earlier, he might well have been cast in the role of one of the Four Young Masters.
Suddenly, she looked at him in surprise, her eyes wide as she asked, "The unrivaled Doctor Yao?"
With such dignified bearing and knowledge of the rare Caladium Lily, not to mention the surname Yao, it was probably him!
The charming uncle’s face broke into a smile as he shook his head, "I am too old to be called by such a title as ’Young Master Yao’."
Realizing it was indeed him, Bai Ruozhu quickly performed a courtesy and said, "Then I should address you as Doctor Yao."