Chapter 522 She plundered them all.
Shen Wantang stood up and said with a smile, "I heard that Physician Zhou complained that I sent you too much food, which is not good for your health. So I thought I wouldn't send you any today, since what I made today isn't anything special anyway."
Qin Xin, lively and cheerful, immediately said in a crisp voice, "Imperial Physician Zhou, the dishes our Crown Princess ordered today are lotus leaf glutinous rice porridge, lotus leaf salt-baked chicken, and lotus leaf Dongpo fish!"
Upon hearing this, Physician Zhou immediately said, "Lotus leaves can clear away summer heat and dampness, and also help to remove excess oil and fat. They are perfect for eating in the height of summer! Princess Consort, you must send this old man plenty today!"
Shen Wantang: "You're getting on in years, so you should eat less of these chicken, fish, and meat dishes. Since you like lotus leaves, I'll just bring you lotus leaves!"
Physician Zhou was anxious: "Who eats lotus leaf chicken or lotus leaf fish with only lotus leaves? I'm not a cow or sheep that only eats grass and not meat! Don't worry, this old man can digest anything, just send me more!"
Shen Wantang hesitated: "This...isn't that inappropriate?"
Physician Zhou slapped his thigh: "Since you're like this, I won't take your food for nothing. I'll give you a copy of my own medical book later, and I guarantee you'll make great progress in treating women's pregnancies!"
Shen Wantang laughed: "Then this junior will accept the honor. Qin Xin, remember to send the most fragrant lotus leaf chicken and the tenderest lotus leaf fish to Physician Zhou! Also, ask the kitchen to make a special dish of lotus leaf-fried crispy pork and lotus root cake for Physician Zhou. Lotus root strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, and it also has the effect of removing excess oil, which is suitable for Physician Zhou."
"Yes, I've got it!"
Seeing how cooperative she was, Physician Zhou was quite satisfied. He muttered "little fox" to himself as he calmly walked towards his own courtyard.
His young apprentice, carrying a medicine box, followed behind him and whispered, "Master, you can't give all your books to the Crown Princess! I don't have any!"
"Shut up! How dare you say that? Most of the food that girl brought you ended up in your stomach. Do you think I'm that greedy? I only asked for it for you! You can write a new book, but if we run out of food, won't we both go hungry tonight? I can let this old man go hungry for a while, but you're still growing, and if you go hungry for a while, you probably won't be able to sleep all night!"
The young apprentice grinned foolishly: "Master is so good to me, I will definitely take good care of Master in the future!"
Physician Zhou sneered, "That's more like it!"
The master and apprentice walked to the gate of their courtyard. Before they could go in, they saw the physician Qin from next door come out with his young apprentice.
The sharp-eyed Physician Zhou noticed a small booklet in Physician Qin's apprentice's hand and couldn't help but ask, "Physician Qin, what is your apprentice holding? Is it a new medical prescription written for the Prince and Princess?"
Physician Qin coughed lightly and shook his head slightly embarrassedly: "No, these are the meridian charts and boxing manuals I drew overnight. Physician Zhou also knows that I am most skilled in relaxing muscles and tendons, and I also have a set of boxing techniques for strengthening the body. The Crown Princess said she wanted to learn them, and even used delicious food as bait, so I..."
"You took the bait?"
"Cough cough cough! Why is Physician Zhou still so straightforward? This is not called taking the bait, it's called taking care of the junior! I have something to do, so I won't talk to Physician Zhou anymore. Ayi, let's go. It's our turn to guard the prince, we can't delay."
After finishing his speech, Physician Qin hurriedly left with his apprentice.
Physician Zhou couldn't help but stroke his gray beard: "Tsk, that girl, she really is someone who doesn't like to suffer losses! It turns out she not only took things from me, but she didn't let the other physicians off the hook either. I'm afraid she's ripped them all off!"
His apprentice said with an upright expression, "Oh, so none of us are freeloaders! That's good, we don't owe her anything, we're upright and honest, no one can find fault with us!"
Physician Zhou glanced at his apprentice and couldn't help but shake his head.
His apprentice is honest but not tactful enough; he'll suffer many more losses in the future.
If his apprentice had half the cunning of Shen Wantang, he wouldn't have to worry so much!
He had initially suspected that Shen Wantang was a disciple of Yu Jisheng, the former head of the Imperial Medical Academy, because the acupuncture techniques were too similar.
However, after getting to know him, he felt that Shen Wantang was probably not Yu Jisheng's apprentice, because Yu Jisheng was the kind of upright and honest person who was neither good at nor interested in using tricks and schemes. Otherwise, he would not have been framed and forced to resign from his position as head of the academy and retire to his hometown.
How could Yu Jisheng, with his straightforward nature, have taught Shen Wantang, a disciple who is so shrewd and adept at manipulating people?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
——
It was evening.
The Ning Prince's Mansion was filled with the rich aroma of food, so enticing that even the passing dogs drooled with envy.
The maids carried food boxes and delivered dinner from courtyard to courtyard.
The sun had already begun to set in the west, and the scorching sunlight gradually dissipated, finally easing the oppressive heat somewhat.
The aroma of the food made Shen Wantang's appetite return.
She hasn't been able to eat much lately because of the hot weather, and she's lost a lot of weight.
This meal was actually pretty good.
Just after they finished eating, Granny Chai came in and said, "Princess Consort, someone from the Shen family has come and insists on seeing you. What do you think..."
Shen Wantang was not surprised. In the past month or so, the Shen family had come several times, all about Shen Mingxuan.
"Who came this time? My reckless older brother? Or my hotheaded second brother?"
"This time, Lord Shen and Madam Shen came together and have been waiting outside for some time."
Granny Chai knew that Shen Wantang had been having a poor appetite lately. Since it was rare for her to have a good appetite, she waited until Shen Wantang finished eating before coming in to report, so that she wouldn't be unable to eat again because of these upsetting things.
"Then let them in. My dear father and stepmother won't give up until they see me. Let's send them away today!"
Granny Chai responded and went out to lead the people.
A moment later, Shen Guannian and Madam Qi arrived at Shen Wantang's courtyard.
Shen Guannian's face darkened: "You're getting more and more arrogant. Your own father has come, and instead of going out to greet him, you actually made your father wait outside! You unfilial brat, I've wasted my time raising you!"
Shen Wantang drank her tea without paying any attention to him.
Seeing that he was being ignored, Shen Guannian's face turned red with anger: "You have no manners at all! I'm speaking to you, and you're pretending to be deaf and dumb?! Hurry up and tell someone to serve tea to me and your mother!"
Shen Wantang still ignored him.
Seeing that Shen Guannian was in an awkward position, Madam Qi hurriedly tugged at his sleeve: "Master, Tang'er is our own child. She has never been good at social etiquette, so please don't hold a grudge against her."
"Whether we drink tea or not doesn't matter. What matters is that we need to get Tang'er to help rescue Xuanxuan! Xuanxuan is innocent! She didn't kill that old hag!"
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