"I want to open a pharmacy and need to renovate the shop. Do you know any craftsmen?"

"Yes, yes, yes! We'll take care of it."

"That's great." Xiao Qingyin smiled gently. "Then I'll leave it to you."

With the help of Yi Wu and others, Xiao Qingyin found craftsmen and finalized the renovation arrangements the very next day.

Two days later, the materials arrived, and since it was an auspicious day, the renovation began.

With nothing else to do, Xiao Qingyin went to the shop to supervise the work.

This shop is right next to Dr. Gou's Ping An Medical Clinic. There are also two other medical clinics and several pharmacies nearby, forming a small-scale cluster of businesses.

Naturally, it attracts people who need to see a doctor, seek medical treatment, and buy medicine. After the pharmacy opens, it can find its target group without extensive advertising.

When Gou Shengtian saw Xiao Qingyin pointing and whispering next door, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly sent his apprentice over to inquire.

Upon learning that Xiao Qingyin was going to open a pharmacy, he was so angry that his mouth twisted in anger.

"Why would a perfectly good rich girl like you come to our line of work and cause trouble!"

Ever since he was defeated by Xiao Qingyin when treating the Lady of Anguo, Doctor Gou has never felt at ease.

He studied under the medical sage and completed his apprenticeship at a young age. He ran a clinic in the capital for twenty years and didn't even take the imperial physicians seriously.

However, he was repeatedly humiliated by Xiao Qingyin, a young lady from a respectable family, which damaged his reputation with the Duke of Anguo.

Not many people know about this, so it's best to leave it at that.

Now Xiao Qingyin has actually opened a pharmacy right next to his clinic. Isn't she deliberately trying to make things difficult for him?

His clinic also sells medicine. Patients usually get their medicine directly after seeing a doctor there. If Xiao Qingyin were to practice medicine at the pharmacy, there would be no difference in business between the two clinics.

"This can't go on..."

Dr. Gou paced back and forth restlessly for a long time, then an idea came to him.

...

The craftsmen were working hard, sweating profusely, when Xiao Qingyin bought some ice jelly and shared it with them.

I picked up a bowl, about to try it, when I noticed a familiar face standing in front of the shop.

"Uncle He?" Xiao Qingyin greeted him, and seeing the medicine packet in his hand, asked, "Are you sick?"

"This old servant is not sick, it is the old woman who is sick, she caught a cold."

Old He replied, his voice dry and sounding a little nervous.

"The weather has been quite cold lately, so you should take care to keep warm, especially your legs. Don't let them get cold, or your old ailment will come back."

Xiao Qingyin smiled.

"Yes, yes, this old servant understands."

Old Man He lowered his head, twisting the rope of the medicine bag he was carrying, and remained silent for a while before looking up at Xiao Qingyin.

"Young Miss, this old servant is sorry."

"What's wrong?"

"This old servant got drunk a couple of days ago and told others about being kidnapped by bandits. After the Second Miss found out, she summoned this old servant for questioning..."

Xiao Qingyin immediately understood and smiled, "It's alright, I don't care much. When I asked you to keep it a secret, I wasn't concerned about my reputation, but rather the power behind the bandit stronghold."

Old Man He looked bewildered for a moment, but his expression changed drastically after he came to his senses.

"Will...will someone still cause us trouble?"

“I don’t know either,” Xiao Qingyin replied. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry. You and Aunt He should be careful lately.”

Old Man He was quite frightened and left with even heavier steps than when he came to see Xiao Qingyin.

Xiao Qingyin anticipated that Xiao Qingrong would not let this matter go, and sure enough, within two days, rumors were everywhere on the streets.

"Have you heard? Minister Xiao's eldest daughter was kidnapped and raped by bandits when she returned to the capital."

"I heard that she was violated by more than one bandit; all the bandits on the mountain took turns with her."

"Tsk tsk, no wonder the Living Yama led his troops to raze the entire bandit camp to the ground the very next day. So he was trying to avenge himself!"

"Why didn't the living Yama kill her too?"

"She's been manipulated. She knows a lot of unorthodox methods and can even cure the princess's illness!"

...

"Yinyin, what's the story behind these rumors?"

When Han went out to buy groceries, she found the streets filled with rumors about Xiao Qingyin, and she almost fainted.

“I was indeed kidnapped by bandits when I returned to Beijing. They made me serve their wives, but I drugged them and escaped.”

Xiao Qingyin gave an explanation.

Han's anxiety subsided.

But he still frowned deeply: "Who spread these rumors?"

To say such vile things is to deliberately ruin this child!

"Who else could it be?" Xiao Qingyin sneered. "It's either my good stepmother or my good sister."

"Smack!"

Yun Shu slammed her hand on the stone table, and the surface shattered into pieces instantly.

Xiao Qingyin's eye twitched; her cousin was really strong.

Yun Shu was furious and said, "This is outrageous! We're going to the Xiao residence right now to get justice for you."

After saying that, he picked up the long spear that was placed in the corner.

"Brother, let's go!"

"good!"

Yun Zhao also picked up a large knife.

"Don't get so agitated."

Xiao Qingyin stopped the two of them.

“If we go to their door without any evidence, and they take legal action, we will be in big trouble.”

Yao and Xiao Qingrong might be waiting for this move.

"So we'll just let these rumors spread?"

Yun Shu was indignant.

I wish I could beat up everyone who spread the rumors.

"This isn't difficult to resolve," Xiao Qingyin said with a smile. "If handled well, we can even make use of it."

The three Hans were skeptical.

Xiao Qingyin first reported the case to the Jingzhao Prefecture, and then found a group of beggars and paid them to help spread the news.

Soon, a rumor spread throughout the capital: Miss Xiao was going to sue someone for defamation and offered a reward of ten thousand taels of gold for finding the source of the rumor. Anyone with solid evidence could come to Baibaozhai to claim the reward.

The phrase "ten thousand taels of gold" is extremely attractive, and it is quite tempting not only to ordinary people but also to the sons of officials.

That's no small sum; it's enough for them to live a life of luxury for several years.

In an instant, people's hearts were in turmoil. Instead of spreading rumors, they tried their best to find the source of the rumors.

The "Baibaozhai" pharmacy, which is still under renovation and has not yet opened, has also come into the view of people in Beijing.

Every day, many people come to the shop to watch, hoping to bump into the lucky winner.

Some people suspect that Miss Xiao deliberately spread a sensational rumor first in order to promote her pharmacy, and then offered a reward to refute it.

Regardless of what people think, the rumors have subsided.

"This method works well, but it's too expensive."

Yun Shu stood at the entrance of Baibaozhai, whose signboard had just been hung up not long ago, looking distressed.

Ten thousand taels of gold! She was so eager to investigate and find the culprit to prevent the money from falling into someone else's pocket.

"As long as they're not stupid, they won't give anyone grounds for criticism, and it will probably just fizzle out in the end."

"That's too lenient on them!" Yun Shu's cheeks puffed out in anger. "We can't beat them up, and we can't let the government punish them either."

"That's not necessarily true." Xiao Qingyin smiled. "There are many ways to punish someone."

Just as Yun Shu was about to ask for more details, a group of people rushed towards Baibaozhai with murderous intent, interrupting her thoughts.