Chapter 260 Free to Use

Li Juan watched quietly, her expression gradually changing. Actually, she had no knowledge of acupuncture at all; she only knew the locations of acupoints and basic needling techniques, but she didn't know how to adjust the needling depth according to the patient's condition, let alone the safe depth for inserting the needle into the Fengchi acupoint.

The previous claim that Ye Wanning made a mistake was just her pretending to know what she was talking about.

"Well? Would Miss Li like to give it a try?" Ye Wanning looked at her, her tone calm but her aura very strong.

Li Juan opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. The people around her stared at her curiously, their gazes making her extremely uncomfortable and as if she had lost all face.

"You...you cheated!" Li Juan said angrily. "You and this apprentice must have conspired to embarrass me on purpose!"

"If you can't handle losing, then don't come here to join the fun," Ye Wanning said coldly. "Medical skills are not for showing off or provoking others; they are for saving lives and healing the wounded."

"You've been stirring up trouble at the Heritage Hall by relying on the power of the Prince's Mansion, questioning my medical skills. When I pointed out your shortcomings, you became enraged. Is this how the Prince's Mansion raises its daughters?"

"How dare you say I have no manners!" Li Juan was so angry that she stood up abruptly, ready to attack.

"Who dares to cause trouble at the Heritage Hall?" A gentle yet authoritative voice suddenly rang out.

Li Dequan walked in with several guards from the Prime Minister's residence. He glanced at Li Juan a few times, then turned to Ye Wanning: "Doctor Ye, the Prime Minister sent his men to check if something has happened here."

"Prime Minister? Which Prime Minister?" Li Juan was stunned.

“Naturally, it is Prime Minister Pei.” Li Dequan smiled, but his tone left no room for doubt. “Miss Li is the daughter of the Prince of Jiangnan, isn’t she? I’m sure you will still give Prime Minister Pei face.”

"If you cause trouble in the capital without cause, no matter how powerful you are, you have to abide by the rules here."

"You bully others by relying on your power, but you don't know the weight Prime Minister Pei carries in the capital. Even your father, a prince, has to give Prime Minister Pei some face. How dare you, a young lady from a prince's mansion, come to his door and bully someone he values?"

Li Juan's expression changed completely. Although she was arrogant, she dared not provoke Pei Zhi—she knew Pei Zhi's status and position all too well; even her father had to show him respect.

"I...I'm here to exchange medical knowledge, not to cause trouble," Li Juan's tone softened.

"Exchange medical skills?" Li Dequan laughed. "The Prime Minister said she's just a clown, no need to lower yourself to her level. Doctor Ye saves lives and heals the wounded, a doctor with a benevolent heart, not someone that can be provoked by just anyone."

"If you truly wish to exchange medical knowledge, the Prime Minister's residence is always ready to assist you." The threat in this statement could not be clearer.

Li Juan gritted her teeth, knowing she wouldn't get away with it today, and could only say fiercely to Ye Wanning, "Don't be so smug, I'll remember what happened today!"

After saying that, she left the Heritage Hall in a disheveled state with her servants.

Only after she left did the onlookers breathe a sigh of relief and gather around to comfort Ye Wanning: "Doctor Ye, don't worry, that young lady from the prince's mansion is just a paper tiger!"

"With Lord Pei watching over her, she wouldn't dare to cause trouble again!"

Ye Wanning smiled slightly and said to everyone, "Thank you for your concern. I'm fine. Let's continue with the consultation."

After everyone had dispersed, Li Dequan stepped forward and said, "Doctor Ye, I hope I didn't frighten you just now? The Prime Minister instructed that if anything happens, the Prime Minister's residence will take care of you. You don't need to be afraid."

Ye Wanning felt a warmth in her heart and said, "Thank you very much, Steward Li, for making the special trip."

Li Dequan smiled and said, "This is what I should do. The Prime Minister also said that the princes of Jiangnan have been active in the capital recently. Li Juan's provocation, besides her own arrogance, probably also carries other resentment. You must be more careful in your future actions."

"I understand, I'll be careful." Ye Wanning nodded.

Li Dequan gave a few more instructions and then left with his guards.

Su Ning walked over and said worriedly, "Sir, Li Juan will definitely not let this go. The power of the princes in Jiangnan is immense, you must be more vigilant in the future."

Ye Wanning gave a soft "hmm". She knew in her heart that today's events wouldn't end there. Li Juan held a grudge, and with the actions of the Jiangnan prince in the capital, there would definitely be more trouble in the future.

She looked out the door; the guards left behind by Li Dequan were still standing there, ramrod straight. Pei Zhi's concern reassured her somewhat, and her unease subsided.

However, the gap between her and Pei Zhi was simply too vast. His repeated acts of kindness made her increasingly cautious.

Ye Wanning sighed softly, pulling herself out of her thoughts, and picked up the pulse pillow that had fallen to the ground. No matter what the future held, all she could do was manage the heritage center well and take good care of everyone who came seeking medical help.

Meanwhile, Li Juan returned to the post station, growing angrier with each passing thought. She ran crying to the envoy of the Jiangnan vassal king and complained, "Uncle, Ye Wanning is bullying us! She not only humiliated me, but also said that our vassal king's mansion has no rules! You must help me get revenge!"

The envoy frowned: "Juan'er, why do you have to provoke her? Ye Wanning is now favored by the Empress Dowager and has Pei Zhi backing her up. She is not someone to be trifled with."

"I just can't stand her, a commoner female doctor, running rampant in the capital!" Li Juan cried uncontrollably. "Uncle Wang, don't you care about me anymore? I've suffered so much injustice at her hands. If word gets out, where will our Prince's Mansion stand?"

The envoy remained silent for a long time. During his trip to the capital, the Jiangnan prince had clearly instructed him to prevent Ye Wanning from gaining further trust from the Empress Dowager and to obstruct Pei Zhi's promotion—and now Ye Wanning had become a stumbling block for them.

The humiliation Li Juan suffered provided a convenient excuse.

"Don't cry," the envoy said. "I understand, and I will help you get revenge. But remember, don't go looking for trouble with her alone again, lest you cause unnecessary trouble."

Li Juan stopped crying and nodded: "Uncle Wang, you must teach her a lesson!"

Back in the herbal medicine room of the heritage hall, Ye Wanning pointed to the substandard herbs with knife marks and said to Li Juan in a cold tone, "The processing marks on these herbs are exactly the same as the marks you make in your daily work."

"If you say you didn't do it, these marks couldn't have just appeared out of thin air, could they?"

The apprentices in the pharmacy quickly learned the secret, and their attention instantly shifted from the pile of new medicines to Li Juan. They were all furious and resentful, and their eyes were red.

Everyone used to think Li Juan was hardworking and reliable, but no one expected her to do something like this.

"I...I didn't." Li Juan couldn't speak, tears streaming down her face, but she could no longer deny it.

Ye Wanning ignored her, turned around and walked out of the medicine room to visit the patients who were feeling unwell due to taking substandard medicine.

She instructed Su Ning to invite all the patients to the inner hall, take their pulses again, inquire about their conditions in detail, and then prescribe new medicines for treatment. She personally and carefully examined every single medicinal ingredient.

"Fellow villagers, it is my mismanagement that has caused you all to suffer." Ye Wanning stood in front of the patients and bowed deeply.

"I personally prepared all of these new drugs, and everyone can take them for free."

"If you experience any discomfort in the future, please come to the Heritage Center anytime. All treatments will be free. If you are still worried, please come directly to me. I will take full responsibility."