The servants who escorted them were not allowed to leave the mansion, which made their luggage seem even more numerous.
Doctor Li reassured him, saying, "Let's walk a couple of steps forward, and when we get to the alley entrance, we'll call for two more porters, and then everything will be fine."
Xiao Dong thought about it.
"Master, wait here. I'll go check the alley entrance and call two people over. If there's a carriage or sedan chair, would you like it?"
Doctor Li said, "Of course I'll take it. I'm not a miser; I need to clean my room if I go back early."
Xiao Dong put down the package, asked Doctor Li to watch it, and jogged towards the alley entrance. He soon turned back, followed by a burly man.
Seeing that the man was strong and robust, dressed in short clothes, and wearing straw sandals made of hemp rope, Doctor Li was taken aback.
This guy is clearly a trained fighter.
Doctor Li gasped, wondering how to refuse.
Xiao Dong laughed and said, "Master, it turns out that Brother Sixteen had already arranged for him to wait outside and give us a ride. We just happened to run into him."
The man nodded as a greeting, said nothing more, picked up the two large bundles, and carried the remaining three or four bundles in his hands, and started walking away.
As soon as we exited the alley, another horse-drawn carriage arrived.
The man tossed the bundle onto the carriage, then turned to the master and apprentice and told them to get in: "This was prepared on Gu Shiliu's orders. It's not as elegant and comfortable as the carriages in the manor. Please make do with this for now, it will be better next time."
Doctor Li and Xiao Dong breathed a sigh of relief; otherwise, having so many things would have been a real problem.
Before long, they arrived at Renhetang.
Doctor Li and Xiao Dong got out of the carriage with their things and said, "Please thank Brother Sixteen for me when you get back, and tell him to invite him for drinks next time I visit your residence."
He then took some loose silver and stuffed it into the man's hand, saying it was an invitation for him to have tea.
The man laughed loudly: "It's nothing serious. It was all ordered by the master of the manor. Doctor Li brought his apprentice to the manor to treat the patient. We should be thanking you. How could we accept this? If the brothers find out, they will laugh at us."
Having said that, he threw the silver into Xiao Dong's arms, turned his horse around, and rode away.
Li Langzhong said to Xiao Dong, "This guy is obviously a soldier under Lord Gu's command, straightforward and honest."
Xiao Dong said, "I used to dislike following my master into wealthy and powerful families, but the Dingbei Marquis's mansion is an exception. They don't bully others with their power, and they're all very approachable."
Li Lang snorted inwardly but said nothing.
This kid has no idea how cold and indifferent people can be.
If it weren't for Qin Yuan, they wouldn't even have been able to get close to the Marquis's residence.
...
After Qin Yuan finished her business as usual, the little maid standing outside the corridor came in and said, "The head of the Imperial Hospital has come to inspect by imperial decree. The Marquis invites the lady to the main room."
Qin Yuan quickly changed into her guest clothes and led Hongye and Cuiming to the main room.
Hongye said, "The Imperial Physician is conducting an inspection by imperial decree. Wouldn't it be much more convenient if Physician Li accompanied him?"
Qin Yuan shook her head: "It is said that people in the same profession are jealous of each other since ancient times, but that is not necessarily true. There are no patients in the manor anyway, so it is just a formality. However, we need to rely on him for the Sixth Madam's illness, but since the Marquis has asked, I think he will not refuse."
Since Doctor Li was trying to avoid her, she didn't need to drag him into it.
It is unknown whether the Chen family's past is related to this academy director.
Thinking about it all the way, we arrived at the upper room.
Qiuju came to greet them personally and said, "The head of the Imperial Medical Academy has brought two imperial physicians with him. The Marquis is just talking about Physician Liu."
Qin Yuan nodded and silently followed them into the hall.
The guests had already taken their seats according to their roles as host and guest, and upon seeing her arrive, they had no choice but to stand up and greet her.
Qin Yuan sat down next to Lord Gu and carefully examined this Chief Physician Pang.
He was in his fifties or sixties, of medium height, with a fair complexion and a slender figure. His arched eyebrows gave his face a slightly melancholy look.
The other two imperial physicians were around thirty or forty years old, and they always fawned over Chief Physician Pang, following his lead without question.
Pang, the chief physician, spoke slowly, "The Marquis submitted a memorial saying that Physician Liu has passed away, but was it due to smallpox?"
Lord Gu said, “I think so. Back then, Physician Liu was very righteous and volunteered to come to the manor. At that time, the manor could not find any other doctors, and it was all thanks to Physician Liu’s hard work. Who would have thought that he would fall ill... Alas... They say that illness comes like a landslide and goes like pulling silk. Physician Liu was ill for only two days before he passed away.”
He paused as he spoke, then lowered his head, seemingly quite saddened.
Physician Pang hesitated and said, "Physician Liu is a sixth-rank official. After he establishes his own residence, could we please move Physician Liu's coffin...?"
Lord Gu sighed and said, "Speaking of this matter, I had no choice but to accept it. I really feel sorry for Physician Liu's family... Physician Liu fell ill suddenly, and I didn't expect him to pass away so quickly. By the time the doctor we summoned from outside arrived, he had already passed away. Physician Liu was a compassionate doctor, and before he died, he specifically instructed me to cremate him on the spot to prevent a smallpox outbreak... In total, I only collected a blue and white porcelain jar of ashes."
The two imperial physicians couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "My God, he was cremated!"
Professor Pang was also dumbfounded.
After a long pause, he finally said, "This...this..."
Lord Gu interrupted, "I have already submitted a memorial to the court, detailing all the inside information in a secret report. The Emperor should respond accordingly."
When Pang Yuanzheng came to his senses, he didn't dare to offend him and nodded, saying, "Imperial Physician Liu's actions were also for the safety of the capital. I believe His Majesty will reward him. When I return, I will report to His Majesty and the Marquis's residence about the investigation and request commendation for Imperial Physician Liu."
These words were exactly what Lord Gu wanted to hear, and he immediately nodded and said, "Very good, then I'll trouble Chief Physician Pang."
The two imperial physicians standing nearby dared not speak out in anger, but could only secretly glare at Lord Gu.
Lord Gu didn't care at all and pretended not to know.
Pang Yuanzheng quietly drank a cup of tea to calm himself before asking, "I heard from the old lady that the epidemic in the manor was contained in time thanks to the medicinal incense used by the Marquis. I wonder where the incense recipe came from?"
Qin Yuan had anticipated this question. She had copied the incense recipe into her memorial to the emperor for future use, so there was no question of keeping it a secret. However, the origin of the incense recipe could not be revealed.
"I found this fragrance recipe in an ancient book. I've always enjoyed blending perfumes, so I just added or subtracted some ingredients as I saw it. It was just a random thing to do, but I didn't expect it to work so well. It must be a blessing from heaven."
After a moment's hesitation, Dean Pang said, "May I ask if it is possible to borrow this ancient book for a look?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I saw it when I was a child, but I don't know where it is now."
One of the imperial physicians couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the lady copied this prescription when she was young?"
Qin Yuan said, "No, it's just that I remembered it at first glance, and I haven't forgotten it all these years."
Imperial Physician: "..."
Pang Yuanzheng squinted and carefully examined Qin Yuan for a moment before saying, "I never expected that the Lady of the Marquis would be so intelligent. Not only did she remember it well, but she also adjusted it perfectly."
Madam Gu hurriedly said, "This child is very skilled in perfumery. I felt much better after using the perfume pills she made. Manager Leng of Ranxiangju even begged to sell her perfume pills. Manager Leng has been making perfumes for decades, but he said he is far inferior to her."
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