The person behind this scheme, who could patiently lay out such a plan for decades, must be plotting something far more significant.

Xie Ziyuan secretly made up her mind: "Using living people as medicine is against common sense and against the natural order. I can do it, but I want to see the master behind you!"

Ding Ruoxu scolded, "Ziyuan, how dare you!"

Shen Duo waved his hand dismissively, "You really have guts. No wonder you've got my son all smitten."

Xie Ziyuan knew this wasn't a compliment. Shen Duo probed her for a while, then suddenly laughed, "I suddenly understand why the master said he wanted to send your daughter to the head of the family. There's definitely a reason for that. Brother Ding, I must congratulate you."

Ding Ruoxu broke out in a cold sweat, "I dare not accept such praise."

But a sense of satisfaction welled up inside him; the more he looked at Xie Ziyuan, the more pleased he became. How could his daughter not be outstanding? Even the head of the Shen family would likely find it hard to resist her charms!

Shen Duo paused, then changed the subject, "The only person who could send your daughter to the head of the family is probably the master himself. You probably don't know, but the head of the family already has a daughter."

Shen Duo intended to give Xie Ziyuan a warning, but Xie Ziyuan's first reaction after hearing it was that she couldn't stand it.

Making her serve an old man who even has a daughter? That's disgusting!

But she dared not offend Shen Duo and Ding Ruoxu, so she could only carefully hide the expression on her face.

Shen Duo: "Alright, I'll leave the person here. Hurry up and get the blood drawn, I'll take it to the master. Also, get ready, I'll take you to see the head of the family in an hour."

The so-called meeting with the head of the family was nothing more than going to see that mysterious woman for medical treatment.

Several people went, not just Xie Ziyuan.

"Ah Ye, these are all the top performers selected from the preliminary rounds of this year's TCM examination. My sister-in-law is unwell, and the older generation at Baicaotang probably have limited thinking and their research focuses more on ancient martial arts practitioners than ordinary people, which is why they haven't made much progress. Let's give these newcomers a try; maybe there will be a turning point?"

The man who spoke was probably in his fifties, with a refined and scholarly demeanor. He spoke at a measured pace, and his smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.

Xie Ziyuan immediately realized that he was the master behind Ding Ruoxu and Shen Duo.

Because Ding Ruoxu's words and actions are very similar to this man's, a low-budget version, it's obvious that she learned it from him.

If she hadn't known the inside story, Xie Ziyuan would never have been able to associate the man in front of her with an ambitious man whose desires had swelled to the point of being insatiable.

The head of the Shen family was also unexpectedly young and handsome, with facial features as if sculpted by God, far surpassing Huo Yuntang in looks, and exuding the charm of a mature man.

Xie Ziyuan stared blankly for a long time before she finally looked away.

Shen Ye naturally noticed Xie Ziyuan's gaze. He looked at the middle-aged man who was speaking, who was his cousin, Shen Luocheng.

Seeing the sincerity in the other person's eyes, he couldn't help but smile knowingly. "Cousin, you're very kind, but these people haven't passed the big test yet. Bringing them to me like this isn't appropriate, is it?"

Shen Luocheng's eyes darkened almost imperceptibly. Wasn't Shen Ye worried that the woman would die?

They've been back for several days now, and they haven't called the alchemist even once, nor have they made any medical appointments or gotten any medicine. What are they planning to do?

Shen Ye stood up: "But since you've already called everyone over, why don't you all go and see your aunt? She's getting old and I heard she's been sick lately. She's just an ordinary person, so it's perfect for her."

Although she inexplicably ended up treating the old lady of the Shen family, Xie Ziyuan was still the one who stood out the most.