Chapter 28 Deep Hatred

"Our family has been practicing medicine for generations. Starting with my great-grandfather, we have often administered medicine to save people and have a good reputation among the people."

"Zhimian, do you know Huimintang in Jiangnan? That's our family's." Lianqiao looked at Song Zhimian.

“Huimintang? Isn’t that the largest pharmacy in Jiangnan? But…” Song Zhimin was a little surprised.

Huimintang was not only the largest pharmacy in Jiangnan, but it also provided medicines for the troops stationed in Chongqing.

Even though Song Zhimin never left her home, she knew that Huimintang prepared various commonly used medicinal materials for the soldiers every year.

Previously, the Imperial Household Department would have the Imperial Medical Academy prepare them, but later, due to the large quantity, the task was handed over to Huimin Hall.

Huimintang, leveraging its reputation in Jiangnan, spearheaded the effort to involve all the medical clinics in the region.

This prompted all the medical clinics in Jiangnan to participate in preparing various medicinal materials for the soldiers of Dayu.

This also greatly relieved the pressure on the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Medical Academy.

Most importantly, the medicinal herbs that Huimintang brought from Jiangnan Medical Hall were very cheap, with virtually no profit margin.

In addition, Huimintang often provides free medical consultations in the community, gives medicine to people who cannot afford it, and often treats poor people who cannot afford medical care.

Huimintang enjoys a very good reputation among the people, and even Emperor Xiao Xuan praised it many times.

But this wonderful Huimintang suffered an accident.

The folk tale says that he helped someone cure a poison that shouldn't have been cured, which made others covet him, and eventually, he was murdered by bandits.

When the news arrived, even the imperial court was shocked.

How could such a large Huimintang be wiped out by bandits?

Later, the Ministry of Justice sent people to investigate, and the imperial court even dispatched troops to suppress the bandits...

“But…aren’t the Huimintang family members surnamed Bai?” Song Zhimian asked.

Lianqiao gave a bitter smile.

"My original name was Bai Zhi. When I was five years old, an old friend of my great-grandfather came to visit and saw that I was intelligent and could recognize many kinds of medicinal herbs at the age of five."

I can remember any medicinal herb I've ever seen.

He then took me on as his apprentice.

My master's surname was Lian, and he lived in Medicine King Valley. After I became his disciple, I lived with him in Medicine King Valley.

It wasn't until three years ago that one of my father's servants came looking for me, covered in blood.

He said the Bai family had been wiped out.

I asked him who did it, and he said he didn't know, but my father said it must be related to those military supplies and medicines.

Before the Bai family was wiped out, someone approached them, wanting to get a share of the spoils.

The father refused.

Later... the Bai family was wiped out, and the supply of military supplies and medicines became the responsibility of Minjitang.

Later, my master helped me find out that the person behind Minjitang was the steward of the Prince Zhao's mansion.

The bandits were actually Cai Boju and his men in disguise.

My master asked me what I wanted to do. He said he could help me if I wanted revenge, but I refused.

Medicine King Valley has a rule that one must not get involved in the disputes of the imperial court.

The King of Zhao's men must have had some ulterior motive for doing this.

Moreover, the Prince of Zhao was born to Consort Wu and was greatly favored by the emperor. He had a powerful background and it was not so easy for him to take revenge!

I told my master that I would take revenge myself.

Later, I took my master's surname, Lian, and changed my name to Lian Qiao. Just then, the Imperial Household Department was recruiting female physicians, so I signed up. "Lian Qiao said slowly.

Song Zhimian didn't know what to say. She felt sorry for Lian Qiao.

They are just as pathetic as I am.

Did she want to kill the King of Zhao's men, or did she only want to kill Cai Boju?

"Do you want to poison the Imperial Concubine or Prince Zhao?" Song Zhimian suddenly asked.

"I originally thought that if I entered the palace, I would have more opportunities to get to know him, maybe..."

"I can not only prepare medicine and recognize all kinds of medicinal herbs, but I can also use poison, even colorless and odorless poisons," Lian Qiao said softly.

Song Zhimian looked at Lian Qiao with some surprise.

She also poisons...

An unassuming girl could be a poisoner...

"You...you wouldn't poison me, would you?" Song Zhimian looked at Lian Qiao with some worry.

Lianqiao quickly waved her hand.

"How could that be! Actually, we medical students believe most in the retribution of the underworld. You and I have no grudge against each other, why would I harm you?"

Zhimian, I can sense that you are a good person, if you weren't.

Reporting me for my past actions would benefit you.

But you didn't!

"I wouldn't harm a good person," Lian Qiao said earnestly.

Seeing Lian Qiao's serious expression, Song Zhimian believed what she said.

If a girl who knows medicine, knows how to use poison, and looks harmless were to really try to harm me, I definitely wouldn't be able to react in time.

"Did you never expect anyone else to avenge you besides yourself?" Song Zhimian suddenly asked.

Lian Qiao thought for a moment and nodded gently.

"Actually... my master told me that if I want to get away after I take my revenge, I can go to Chunbuwan!"

He gave me a jade pendant, saying that if I took out that jade pendant, the person in charge of Chun Buwan would definitely help me go anywhere.

But I didn't go looking for Chun Buwan.

I know that once I'm in the palace and have my revenge, the commotion will be huge.

At that time, the whole city was under martial law. If Chun Bu Wan risked sending me out, it would definitely implicate Chun Bu Wan.

"So, I don't plan to contact Chun Buwan's side!" Lian Qiao said softly.

Song Zhimian...

This forsythia is somehow connected to the Spring Festival Gala...

You really can't judge a book by its cover!

Look at the setup they used for revenge...

She possesses medical skills and can subtly poison people; most importantly, after she's done the deed, someone can even take her away...

Let's look at our side again...

Haha, she wanted to get out of this situation, so she had to become a female official.

She wanted to become a female official, and she even had to donate her entire dowry.

Both sides seek revenge, but on their side, they have nothing but their own brains, and they're constantly being punished by copying books...

For the first time, Song Zhimian felt very poor and pathetic!

"Zhimian, why aren't you saying anything? Did I say something wrong?" Lianqiao asked, a little uneasy.

Her intuition told her that she could tell Song Zhimian about her situation.

Because she felt that it couldn't be so simple for Song Zhimian, the eldest daughter of a marquis's family, to become a female official.

Song Zhimian sighed and put away the paper and pen on the table.

"No, I was just thinking about myself."

Lianqiao, I'm just like you, I entered the palace because I wanted revenge!

Can you imagine being forced by your own father to marry an old man the same age as your father?

Was a loving elder's family killed as stepping stones because of the father's greed?

All my loved ones are gone; I'm all alone.

"Like lambs to the slaughter, living in fear every day," Song Zhimian said softly.

Forsythia...

Is Song Zhimian really that miserable?

She seems to be in an even worse situation than me!

At least... she wasn't abandoned by her own family, but Song Zhimian was abandoned by her closest relatives...