In a side hall of the imperial study, the eunuchs on duty were all beaming as they ate the imperial meal bestowed upon them by the emperor.

In the past, they were extremely envious when they saw Eunuch Ma receiving imperial meals.

The soups and pastries that Miss Lin brought over these past few days have all been eaten by them.

The older eunuch tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Fugui.

"Little Fugui, you're at the age where you're growing, here's a chicken leg for you."

"Thanks."

Fu Gui thanked him and accepted the chicken leg.

The others also put a piece of food on Fugui's plate.

"Fugui, eat more. If you get fat and your face is round, it will be more festive."

Everyone assumed that the emperor had bestowed the dishes upon them because he valued wealth and status, and that they had benefited from it as well, so everyone was vying to curry favor with him.

...

Inside Jishetang, Jiang Shuyue rubbed her slightly sore wrist.

After a heavy snowfall, the clinic saw an increase in patients.

“Miss, colds are all pretty much the same, could we use the same prescription for them all? Don’t tire yourself out.”

When Qiuju returned from ordering food at the restaurant next door, she saw her young mistress looking exhausted as she stepped into the clinic.

Jiang Shuyue smiled faintly, “Everyone’s constitution is different. Some people cough, while others have a fever. It’s not as simple as regulating menstruation or protecting the pregnancy. How can it be done with just one prescription?”

Yinqiao said, "When Master rests for a while, Dingxiang and I can both take his pulse and prescribe medicine."

Jiang Shuyue thought there might not be so many patients in the afternoon, so she didn't refuse. "Okay, I'll take a short rest in the back after lunch. Just call me when you get busy."

A moment later, the waiter brought the food. Jiang Shuyue quickly ate a bowl of rice and went to rest in the backyard.

Qiuju was tired after looking at the account books in the clinic all morning. There were no patients in the clinic at the moment, so she simply sat down in the armchair behind the screen and took a nap.

She didn't know how much time had passed when a commotion in the room woke her from her light sleep.

"Doctor, please, my young lady has been unconscious for quite some time. If she doesn't wake up soon, she may be in danger."

"Judging from your clothes and appearance, you must be a maid from a wealthy family. Don't you have a physician in your household?"

"The royal physician is also helpless! Besides, Miss is usually fine, and now she suddenly falls unconscious. The royal physician is a man, which is very inconvenient for him. Please, doctor, have mercy and help me inform him."

As soon as Qiuju opened her eyes, she saw a maid dressed in silk with her hair in double buns talking to Yinqiao.

"What's up?"

Qiuju rubbed her eyes and asked.

The maid turned around, her face showing surprise and delight.

“Sister Jiang, it’s me. We met at the imperial palace.”

The maidservant excitedly rushed over to grab Qiuju's sleeve, but Qiuju casually raised her hand and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, narrowly avoiding the maidservant's hand.

When Qiuju finally saw the person in front of her, she was so surprised that she stood there stunned.

"you……"

"Sister Jiang, you remember me? I am Mu Tao, a maidservant of You Xian'er, the wife of the Minister of Works."

Qiu Ju gasped in surprise. What a small world! Why did she have to come to our door seeking medical help?

"Don't address me like that. I am Qiuju. My young lady is resting. If you have any urgent business, you can go to the palace to see the imperial physician."

You Xian'er left a very bad impression on her, so she should refuse the job if possible.

"Sister Qiuju, you are so kind. My young lady is really in critical condition. The manor has sent people to the palace to invite the imperial physician. I thought that Miss Jiang is very skilled in medicine and it would be more convenient for her to treat my young lady."

Mu Tao was extremely anxious, her voice trembling with tears.

Upon hearing that the situation was critical, Qiu Ju, influenced by Jiang Shuyue, couldn't care less about past unpleasantness when lives were at stake, and her mind instantly cleared.

"Wait a moment, I'll go in and inform my young lady."

"Thank you very much, Sister Qiuju. As long as my young lady is safe and sound, the You family will surely repay you handsomely."

Mu Tao, who had previously been arrogant, was now moved to tears of gratitude, almost kneeling before Qiu Ju.

When Qiuju arrived at the backyard, she saw Jiang Shuyue fixing her hair.

Seeing Qiu Ju's serious expression, Jiang Shuyue asked, "Has a difficult patient come to the clinic?"

"No, it's a maid from You Xian'er's household who came seeking medical help. She said You Xian'er is in critical condition and begs Miss to come and take a look."

"You Xian'er!"

"Wasn't she preparing for her wedding? How did she get sick!"

At a time when lives are at stake, how could Jiang Shuyue argue with a young girl? She waved to Qiu Ju and strode towards the front hall.

When the two came out, Yinqiao had already packed the first-aid kit.

Mu Tao saw Jiang Shuyue as if she had seen a savior, and ran forward to greet her with a bow, saying, "I would be grateful if Miss Jiang could come with me. The carriage is just outside the door."

What's the situation with your young lady?

"Reporting to Miss, my young lady fainted without any warning today, and we can't wake her up no matter how we call her."

Jiang Shuyue then asked, "Is there any foaming at the mouth?"

Mu Tao shook her head. "No, it's like she's asleep."

Jiang Shuyue took the medicine box handed to her by Yin Qiao and glanced at it; it contained all the first-aid supplies.

After closing the medicine box, Qiuju quickly took it and slung it over her shoulder.

The three of them hurried out of the clinic and boarded the carriage belonging to the You family.

On the carriage, Jiang Shuyue asked You Xian'er what she had eaten these past two days, and whether anything unusual had happened in the manor.

Mu Tao racked her brains but couldn't think of anything special about it.

They only said that eating and drinking were the same as usual.

Upon arriving at the You residence, Mu Tao led Jiang Shuyue and Qiu Ju straight to the backyard.

As I passed through the front hall, I inadvertently caught a glimpse of an object tied with red silk.

Jiang Shuyue was focused on saving lives, so she didn't look closely and headed towards the hanging flower gate.

The You Mansion was very large, with high red walls and courtyards, and inside there were pavilions, terraces, waterside pavilions, and rockeries.

Passing through the garden, you can see banana leaves unfurling, and a quiet and elegant bluestone path runs through the entire garden.

In a corner of the garden, a pavilion with small, exquisite stone tables and benches can be vaguely seen.

After passing through the second hanging flower gate, the corridor ended, and we passed a yellow stone rockery.

Jiang Shuyue and Qiu Ju had no interest in appreciating the well-arranged scenery in the courtyard; instead, they looked up at a courtyard in front of them.

Before I even got close to the gate, I saw a man pacing anxiously back and forth outside the courtyard.

Upon seeing the man, Mu Tao hurriedly ran up to him and asked, "Young Master, has Miss woken up?"

The man looked worried. "No, a royal physician just came from the palace and said it seems like he's been possessed by an evil spirit."

Upon seeing Jiang Shuyue approach, Liu Baokun quickly stepped forward and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, pleading, "Miss Jiang, please save my sister Xian'er! She can't be harmed!"

As Liu Baokun spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.

It is said that men do not easily shed tears, but only when they are truly heartbroken.

It's rare to find a man so affectionate. Although Jiang Shuyue didn't like You Xian'er, she was still somewhat moved by what she saw.

"Young Master Liu, don't worry. With the imperial physician inside, there's an extra layer of protection."

Jiang Shuyue didn't believe the imperial physician's nonsense about being possessed by an evil spirit. Most people here still trusted the imperial physician the most, and she didn't want to correct anything.

At this moment, a maidservant rushed out of the courtyard in a panic.

Mu Tao sensed something was wrong and hurriedly urged, "Please come inside, young lady."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a woman crying came from the courtyard.