“Physician said so.” Chunnan quickly signaled Chunning not to say any more: “Physician, could I borrow your writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone?”
“What do you want to do?” The old physician was startled: “Do you want to write a prescription?”
“This young woman is incompetent, but I have some knowledge of medicine. Since your shop needs to see the prescription to dispense the medicine, then I will write the prescription.”
It wasn't that Chunnan didn't want to ask a physician to diagnose her elder sister-in-law, but because a physician's visit required a consultation fee and pulse fee, and the Xiao Family currently lacked family fortune; it was necessary to save money wherever possible.
“You, a young girl…”
“Physician Chen, let this girl write the prescription, and we'll just dispense the medicine according to it.”
“Shop Owner, this…”
Physician Chen was completely baffled. The Shop Owner, having overheard their conversation upon entering, agreed to let her write the prescription. This was abortion-preventing medicine; a single mistake could lead to trouble.
“It's alright. Don't we need to check the prescription when dispensing the medicine?”
That's right. If there is a mistake in the prescription, the medicine cannot be dispensed. That's not treating an illness, but jeopardizing a life.
“Thank you, Shop Owner. Thank you, Physician.”
Chunnan sat down, picked up her pen, and wrote a prescription, then gently blew on the ink to dry it.
“Physician, please dispense a dose of medicine according to this prescription.”
Radix Smilacis Glabrae, Uncaria, Cibotium Barometz… Physician Chen finished reading, looked up at Chunnan.
“Preventing miscarriage requires clearing heat as well.”
“Yes, Uncaria is added to clear liver heat.”
“Not only to prevent miscarriage, but also to prevent eclampsia.”
“Physician is absolutely correct.”
“This pregnant woman is your elder sister-in-law?” Physician Chen confirmed again: “You will use this prescription?”
Although both are abortion-preventing medicines, different prescriptions have different effects. A thousand people may have the same illness, but each needs a unique prescription.
“Yes, thank you, Physician, for dispensing the medicine.”
Physician Chen looked at the Shop Owner, Zhao Chengxun took the prescription and looked at it: “What beautiful handwriting.”
Physician Chen… Shop Owner, you should be looking at the prescription, not the handwriting!
“Fusheng, dispense the medicine according to this prescription for this young woman.”
Before Physician Chen could remind him, Zhao Chengxun handed the prescription to Fusheng, the shop assistant at the counter.
“Yes, Shop Owner.” Fusheng took the prescription and secretly marveled: This is what a prescription should look like. Physician Chen's handwriting is like a heavenly book; it's fortunate that I am skilled enough not to misread it!
Dispensing a dose of abortion-preventing medicine cost one tael of silver.
Chunnan felt the pain of paying with her money pouch; medicine truly was something the poor could not afford!
Think of the Xiao Mansion's storehouse in Beijing, what kind of medicinal herbs were not there?
Her great-grandfather and grandfather cherished medicinal herbs. Noble families all knew that when asking Imperial Physician Xiao for a consultation, precious medicinal herbs could be used instead of consultation fees, and Imperial Physician Xiao would be even happier.
In the end, the “empire” built by the Xiao Family's ancestors was completely emptied. Who benefited from this, I wonder?
“Elder Sister, the medicine is very expensive.”
“Yes, so if the elder sister-in-law can rest well and nourish her fetus, it's also earning money.” Chunnan said, “Hopefully this is the last hardship, and we will have smooth sailing from now on.”
After all, she had already taken an order from the Hundred Herbs Hall's young master, as long as she worked hard, she would definitely be able to earn some silver to support the family.
Hundred Herbs Hall, Physician Chen was full of doubts.
“Shop Owner recognizes that young woman? From which family in Changzhou? When did Annan Town produce such a talented woman?”
Able to write prescriptions and possess beautiful handwriting, is this young woman reciting from a book or truly talented?
“I don't recognize her.” Zhao Chengxun handed him the prescription: “Physician Chen, look at the inscription at the bottom.”
The inscription is the name of the person who wrote the prescription. What's there to see?
However, this young woman’s name is quite good: Xiao Chunnan.
“Xiao Chunnan, Miss Xiao?” Physician Chen realized: “No wonder she can write prescriptions, the young women of the great Xiao Clan are truly multi-talented and capable. I wonder which Miss Xiao the Third Young Master wishes to order, is it this one?”
Physician Chen knew that the Shop Owner had plans for a marriage alliance with the great Xiao Clan. He had sent a matchmaker a few days ago, but the female side had politely refused.
Of course, it wasn't that the Xiao Family looked down on Third Young Master Zhao, but it was a proper stance for the female side to feign rejection once or twice, lest they seem eager to marry off their daughter.
The Zhao Family will send the matchmaker again in a few days. With a daughter in the family, many families will seek her hand in marriage. Repeatedly requesting marriage, demonstrating sincere intent.
“Minghua might not be worthy of this young woman.” As he said this, a thought flashed through Zhao Chengxun's mind: How will you know if you don't try?
“Which branch of the great Xiao Clan is this young woman from? She does indeed possess some talent.”
“She is not from the great Xiao Clan.”
Speaking of which, the great Xiao Clan is truly cold-hearted. They thrived under the protection of Imperial Physician Xiao, yet when Imperial Physician Xiao was suffering, they wouldn't even let his family enter, even expelling them from the clan. This behavior is simply despicable.
No, Minghua cannot marry a young woman from the great Xiao Clan!
Yes, the reason he wanted to marry a daughter of the Xiao family as his daughter-in-law was because he valued Imperial Physician Xiao's connections.
Without Imperial Physician Xiao, how long could the great Xiao Clan remain prosperous?
Imperial Physician Xiao's sons were all exiled, did they think they had no future?
Just looking at this Xiao Chunnan, you know the Xiao Family won't fall!
“If she's not from the great Xiao Clan, then…”
“What people have recently arrived in Annan Town, Changzhou?”
Physician Chen's mind was a little muddled. Really, the Shop Owner knew he was old and forgetful, yet still chose to test him!
“Shop Owner, is she Imperial Physician Xiao's daughter?” Fusheng, being young, reacted immediately.
“Imperial Physician Xiao's daughter?” Physician Chen was shocked, then regretted his earlier rambling: “No wonder she can write prescriptions and dispense medicines. Like father, like daughter…”
“Wrong, wrong, Physician Chen, this is inherited family skill, truly, the grandson is like the grandfather.” Fusheng corrected.
“Makes you seem rather clever.” Physician Chen glared at him: “You've been dispensing medicine here for eight years, and still can't write a prescription?”
“Hehe, I'm just stupid, I can't learn to write prescriptions.” Fusheng admitted his inability.
Zhao Chengxun watched the old and young men bicker and smiled. Looking at the one tael of silver on the table, he suddenly froze.
He remembered, that young woman's money pouch seemed familiar… no, it was exceptionally familiar.
“I'll go home first.” Zhao Chengxun, thinking of a possibility, took large strides, wishing he could run in the street.
As soon as he entered the door, maids and servants greeted him.
“Master is back.”
“Greetings, Master.”
“Qingsheng, where is the Third Young Master?”
“Reporting to Master, the Third Young Master is in the study.”
“Tell him to come and see me immediately.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Master's unusual expression, Qingsheng secretly worried for the Third Young Master. What trouble has this young master caused? I hope I won't be involved when he receives a beating!
Zhao Minghua, however, didn't know what trouble he'd caused.
“Father, what do you want?”
“Did you go out this afternoon? Who did you meet, and what did you do?”
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