Chapter 104: Advancing by Retreating

The next day, the An family’s carriage arrived early outside the gate. An Yi escorted Fang Rong into the carriage. Halfway there, An Yi instructed the coachman to stop in front of the pharmacy.

An Yi led Fang Rong inside. “Shopkeeper, I need to buy some medicine,” she said.

The shopkeeper took the prescription, glanced over it, and forced a smile. “Miss, we don’t have any antelope horn or fresh oyster here.”

“The price is negotiable. Please, shopkeeper, help us out,” An Yi’s eyes darkened slightly. Fresh oyster was rarely used in medicine and it was believable that the pharmacy lacked it, but for antelope horn—a common traditional medicine—even the largest pharmacy in the capital, Jihuaitang, didn’t have it. That was hard to believe.

In modern times, antelope horn wasn’t particularly precious, but now, with no domesticated antelopes, all horns were wild-harvested, making them relatively expensive. Clearly, the shopkeeper intended to hike the price. An Yi didn’t mind paying extra to treat Mrs. Luo’s illness. She glanced at Fang Rong.

Fang Rong understood and took out a silver ingot, placing it on the counter. “Shopkeeper, please sell us some. We urgently need it.”

“Well, well…” The shopkeeper nervously rubbed his hands.

Before he could decide, two young servants wheeled in a wheelchair. An Yi looked over and was momentarily stunned—was that Bai Wuming?

“Seventh young master, you’re here,” the shopkeeper said, stepping out from behind the counter with a flattering smile.

Seventh young master?

The seventh young master of the Han family?

Wasn’t that Bai Wuming?

The young man who resembled Bai Wuming—the Han seventh young master—snorted coldly, expressionless as he rolled the wheelchair onward.

An Yi, wearing a veiled hat, didn’t worry about anyone noticing her gaze and boldly observed the youth passing by. He appeared about sixteen or seventeen, with delicate, handsome features, fair skin, and a stern expression. Clad in a dark brocade robe, he sat upright in the wheelchair. Though he looked exactly like Bai Wuming, their temperaments were completely different; perhaps things can resemble each other, but people only come close.

An Yi retracted her curious gaze and said to Shopkeeper Jia, “Shopkeeper, I only need five qian.”

The Han seventh young master stopped and looked up at Shopkeeper Jia, displeasure evident in his eyes.

Shopkeeper Jia forced a laugh. “Seventh young master, this young lady wants to buy antelope horn, but the store only has a few taels left. The fourth young master wants—”

“Sell it.” The seventh young master cut him off with a single word.

Shopkeeper Jia swallowed his unfinished sentence and obediently went to fetch the medicine.

An Yi turned and said, “Thank you.”

“No need.” The seventh young master said coldly, continuing to roll the wheelchair until it stopped in front of the patient’s pulse examination table. His gaze lingered on An Yi, seemingly both intentional and casual.

An Yi frowned slightly but pretended not to notice.

Shopkeeper Jia quickly gathered the nine herbs An Yi requested, handed them to Fang Rong, and clicked his abacus. “Nine taels and three qian of silver.”

Fang Rong took the medicine and the change.

The seventh young master watched An Yi’s back, a faint smile flickering briefly on his lips—so quick it seemed an optical illusion.

As An Yi stepped out and boarded the carriage, another man came out from the back room, smiling gently. “Seventh brother, you’re here.”

The seventh young master looked up. “Fourth brother.”

“I’ve arranged the medicinal materials. I’ll push you inside to take a look,” Han Songyan said.

The two brothers went to the back courtyard to handle the herbs.

An Yi headed straight to the An residence, first going to the Embroidery Courtyard to see Madam Huang.

Madam Huang was still dressed very elegantly and dignified, with a golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with rubies shining at the center of her coiffure, dazzling and eye-catching. But upon closer inspection, one would notice her expression was desolate, with dark circles under her eyes.

An Yi hesitated to speak a greeting. Though a feigned show of concern might bring them closer, since the two were not familiar, accidentally touching on Madam Huang’s hidden pain might backfire.

“The matter of Doctor Luo temporarily residing at our residence—I have already discussed it with the master. If Doctor Luo is convenient, he can move in tomorrow,” Madam Huang said with a smile.

“I hope his quarters can be close to Madam,” An Yi replied, wanting to stay near Mrs. Luo to care for her.

“The side room in the Jingli Garden is vacant if Doctor Luo doesn’t mind.”

“Wherever he stays, I have no objection. There is one more thing I’d like to clarify with the second madam.”

“Please say it.”

“During Madam’s treatment, I will handle her diet. I don’t want her to eat those high-sugar foods anymore.”

Madam Huang’s eyes flickered uncertainly. “What do you mean by that, Doctor Luo?”

“For the sake of treatment efficacy.”

Madam Huang stared intently. “Are you confident you can cure Madam’s eye ailment?”

“I will follow your arrangements and do my best to treat her,” An Yi said with a hint of implication.

Madam Huang pondered for a moment. “Then the three meals a day for Madam will be your responsibility.”

“Not a bother at all. It’s the least I can do,” An Yi smiled without reaching her eyes. This woman truly kept her composure.

“Lv Tiao, during Doctor Luo’s treatment period, you will serve Doctor Luo,” Madam Huang appointed a trusted maid to supervise An Yi.

Lv Tiao stepped forward and bowed to An Yi.

“During this time, please take good care of me,” An Yi smiled.

After sitting a while longer, Madam Huang accompanied An Yi to the Jingli Garden.

Upon seeing Madam Huang, Mrs. Luo was delighted. “Sister, the Doctor Luo you brought yesterday is very skilled. After just three doses, I can already see a little light.”

Madam Huang’s smile stiffened briefly before recovering. “Congratulations, sister. Your recovery is a joyful event for the whole family.”

An Yi felt quite helpless witnessing Mrs. Luo’s trust in Madam Huang, but she was truly happy for Mrs. Luo’s improvement. Moreover, Mrs. Luo’s words would force Madam Huang—who doubted An Yi’s ability to heal—to reveal her true colors. Watching Madam Huang’s bitter resentment masked by forced happiness, An Yi found it amusing.

An Yi took Mrs. Luo’s pulse again, prepared the medicine, and instructed Fang Rong to brew it. “Second madam, please send some ingredients. I want to prepare a few medicinal dishes for Madam.”

“What do you need?” Madam Huang tried to maintain her graceful smile.

“Tremella, chicken liver, goji berries, jasmine flowers, mint leaves, cassia seeds, and honey—just these for now. If I need anything else, I will have Lv Tiao inform you,” An Yi said with a smile.

Madam Huang stifled her annoyance and ordered a maid to find the requested items. The housekeeper had something to report, so she left Lv Tiao behind and went to handle it.

An Yi stayed in the Jingli Garden, chatting with Mrs. Luo.

Mrs. Luo repeatedly recounted stories about An Yi’s childhood.

After a while, the ingredients arrived. An Yi cooked a porridge with cassia seeds, mint leaves, and polished rice. She soaked the tremella, washed and sliced the chicken liver, then put it in a pot with clear broth, cooking wine, ginger, salt, tremella, and goji berries. Once boiling, she skimmed off the foam. When the chicken liver was cooked, she poured it into a bowl and sprinkled jasmine flowers on top.

An Yi carried the porridge and medicinal dishes inside. “Mother...” The word slipped out, and she immediately caught herself, quickly correcting, “Let it cool before feeding Madam.”

“Oh.” Fortunately, Lv Tiao was not in the room, and the maid attending Mrs. Luo was not very perceptive and did not notice.

An Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

After Mrs. Luo finished the porridge and medicine, An Yi accompanied her for a short stroll in the courtyard. She then pressed the acupoints around Mrs. Luo’s eyes until she fell into a comfortable sleep before returning to the Embroidery Courtyard.

Madam Huang sat by the table, her face darkening. When she saw An Yi arrive, her smile was thin and insincere. “Doctor Luo’s medical skills really are impressive.”

An Yi sat opposite her, picked up a chopstick, and leisurely chewed a piece of goose meat. After swallowing, she smiled lightly. “When the medicine matches the illness, recovery is faster. This afternoon, I will perform acupuncture on Madam. Combining medicine and acupuncture will help her eyes regain sight more quickly.”

An Yi pressed Madam Huang to speak the truth because she had no choice. Madam Huang had already agreed to let her stay at the An residence; inevitably, she would meet An Qinghe, An Kang, and An Jian. An Qinghe certainly would not recognize her, but An Kang and An Jian would.

An Yi was not afraid of being recognized by An Kang and An Jian, but if Madam Huang did not openly admit her ill intentions toward Mrs. Luo, An Yi would have no just cause to torment her.

“Don’t do acupuncture this afternoon,” Madam Huang frowned. If Mrs. Luo’s eyes were cured, her efforts over the past months would have been wasted.

“Why not?” An Yi was secretly pleased at forcing out the truth.

“Don’t play dumb. You know why the princess sent you here. Does it really need to be said?” Madam Huang snapped sharply. Events had progressed too quickly. In just two days, she hadn’t even had time to inform the noble consort that the princess had sent a doctor. She wanted to settle matters first before giving others a handle.

An Yi was unaware of palace affairs. Hearing this, she grew suspicious but kept her expression unchanged. “Second madam, we both know the princess’s intentions in sending me. How long do you intend to stall like this? My patience isn’t infinite.”

Madam Huang stared at An Yi, a complex array of emotions flashing in her eyes.

“Second madam, when I treat someone, there are only two outcomes: either a cure or...” An Yi’s lips curled. “The other outcome—do you want to know it?”

Madam Huang swallowed hard. “What is the other outcome?”

“You’re clever enough to guess,” An Yi smiled and picked up a piece of fish.

Madam Huang pressed her lips tightly and lowered her head to stare at her bowl of rice. An Yi didn’t rush her, calmly eating her meal.

When An Yi finished, Madam Huang looked up. “I want to see the princess.”

“By all means,” An Yi said indifferently.

“I’ll write a letter of request. You’ll send it immediately.”

An Yi put down her chopsticks and bowl. “Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, second madam. Since you no longer require me to treat Madam, I will take my leave.”

With that, An Yi rose and headed for the door.

“Stop!” Madam Huang shouted loudly as An Yi reached the threshold.

An Yi paused and turned. “Second madam, any further instructions?”

“Why should I believe you were sent by the princess?” Madam Huang voiced her suspicions.

An Yi took out a rosewood token from her bosom. “Do you recognize this?”

Madam Huang nodded.

“If you have any other doubts, ask them all at once,” An Yi raised an eyebrow.

“Why would the princess help the noble consort?” Madam Huang asked.

An Yi’s eyes shifted, aware that Madam Huang had misunderstood something. At this moment, she would not explain, instead countering, “Why shouldn’t the princess help the noble consort?”

Madam Huang fell into deep thought once more.