Having offended Emperor Jing You consecutively, Feng Qing Heng became more obedient after being confined.
Following Emperor Jing You's decree, the dowry was immediately returned.
The steward from Prince Chen's mansion, who came to deliver the dowry, unceremoniously thrust the ledger at Lu Qing Wan. "Eighty dowry chests and six hundred thousand taels of silver notes are all here. Please, Miss Lu, examine them."
The generosity of this dowry even astonished those who were well-traveled and knowledgeable, such as Lan Yin and Xu Guo.
Even Madam Yang, who had always been as calm as a shadow, couldn't help but sigh, "Back then, when the eldest daughter of Duke Hua's mansion got married, her sixty dowry chests and ten thousand taels of silver were the talk of all the noble ladies in Shang Jing for years.
If these eighty dowry chests and six hundred thousand taels of silver were indeed arranged by Concubine Lan, then perhaps there was a misunderstanding regarding the disappearance of Princess An Yang's dowry?"
Lan Yin and Xu Guo also looked at Lu Qing Wan with some hesitation. After all, if Concubine Lan had truly mistreated Lu Qing Wan, there would be no need to give her such a generous dowry.
Lu Qing Wan remained calm. "Yes, this dowry is indeed generous. So, isn't it Lu Si Wan who is marrying into Prince Chen's mansion?"
She merely hinted at it, but the others changed their expressions.
Concubine Lan was clearly scheming against Lu Qing Wan in every way, yet she had given her such a substantial dowry.
Didn't this clearly indicate that Lu Si Wan deliberately impersonated Lu Qing Wan in the bridal sedan chair to Prince Chen's mansion?
This matter must be reported to Noble Consort. After exchanging glances, Lan Yin, who had originally planned to stay at the Marquis's mansion overnight, returned to the palace.
The steward of Prince Chen's mansion also changed his expression and hastily withdrew.
After a whole day of commotion, Lu Qing Wan was exhausted. She didn't even have dinner and fell asleep on the bed.
Although she was utterly exhausted yesterday, thinking that she had not only reclaimed her original mother's dowry but also implicated Concubine Lan, Lu Qing Wan felt invigorated.
After morning practice, she changed into men's attire and slipped out through the back door.
Upon arriving at Bai Xing Lin again, in just a few days, this dilapidated shop had undergone a complete transformation.
Gone was its previous deserted appearance; several people were now queuing inside.
As soon as Lu Qing Wan reached the entrance, a shop assistant inside exclaimed excitedly, "Father, Father, look, Grand-Master is here!"
The old shopkeeper, who was seeing patients behind his desk, hurried out upon hearing this. "Master, you've finally arrived. I thought you were just speaking casually that day and didn't intend to come to Bai Xing Lin!"
The old man, nearing sixty, had a face creased into a smile like a chrysanthemum. His enthusiasm was somewhat overwhelming for Lu Qing Wan.
"I never go back on my word. How has it been these past few days? It looks much better than before."
She had spent an afternoon there last time and not a single person came for treatment, but today was clearly different.
The shopkeeper rubbed his hands and chuckled, "To be honest, Master, ever since everyone saw that mother and child who narrowly escaped death during childbirth were safe, they've treated you like an immortal.
From that day on, more and more people have come to Bai Xing Lin, most of them specifically for you.
I'm not exaggerating, even Ci An Tang's price war and deliberate intimidation tactics are no longer effective. Everyone is waiting to catch a glimpse of the divine doctor!"
"I am not a divine doctor, just an ordinary physician. From today onwards, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will be here for consultations on the first, tenth, and thirtieth of each month. Please inform the patients that if they are coming to see me, they shouldn't be disappointed."
Lu Qing Wan looked around. "Also, last time it was a sudden emergency, so surgery had to be done with makeshift arrangements. To be safe, this pharmacy needs to be renovated."
"Of course, of course, I'll do as Master says."
The old shopkeeper was overjoyed that Lu Qing Wan was willing to offer suggestions for Bai Xing Lin. "Master, please tell me, I'll write it all down and make the changes one by one."
Her cooperativeness was so perfect that Lu Qing Wan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You don't even know my name, yet you're willing to listen to me and change the existing layout of Bai Xing Lin. Don't you think that's too risky?"
"I've already seen the consequences of not taking risks, but I'm quite curious about the results of taking risks," the old shopkeeper said with a frank smile. "I've personally witnessed Master's medical skills. It's a risk worth taking, and it certainly won't be worse than before. Moreover, Master won't let me lose, will you?"
"You do have some courage."
Lu Qing Wan sat down behind the desk. "First, go and attend to the patients outside. I will design the renovation of the pharmacy. You can have people carry it out later."
"Yes, yes!"
The old shopkeeper, overjoyed, brought Lu Qing Wan writing brush and ink. "Oh, right, Master, your disciple here is Meng Tang, and this is Meng Sheng, my son. If you need anything, just order him around. This boy is a bit slow, but he's diligent and won't mess things up."
Lu Qing Wan nodded, acknowledging his words.
With patients waiting outside, Meng Tang busied himself, while Meng Sheng stood by nervously, awaiting Lu Qing Wan's instructions.
Seeing his extreme nervousness, Lu Qing Wan asked him, "Can you read and write?"
"Yes, I can," Meng Sheng replied shyly. "My father taught me to read and write from a young age. If nothing else, I can write a regular prescription or letter without issue."
"Very good. Then take the brush and ink and sit down. I'll tell you what to write."
"Yes, Grand-Master."
He obediently responded and took the brush and ink, sitting at a small table beside Lu Qing Wan, as well-behaved as a primary school student.
"A pharmacy can only help a limited number of people, and my abilities are also limited. I will tell you some things, and you write them down. They may be useful in the future."
Lu Qing Wan spoke extensively to Meng Sheng, drawing upon her memories of modern hospital layouts.
Meanwhile, she was sketching the appearance of an operating room and operating table on paper, contemplating how to modify them so as not to be too shocking, and to make these things acceptable to people in this unfamiliar world.
One spoke, the other wrote. Unknowingly, over an hour had passed.
Meng Tang suddenly rushed in, "Master, a patient has arrived outside. They say he fell off his horse. There are no external injuries, but his abdomen is in severe pain. The doctor at Ci An Tang said he was faking illness, and I also can't figure out his condition. Please come and take a look."
Upon hearing that it was a fall with no external injuries and abdominal pain, Lu Qing Wan already had an idea.
She immediately stood up. "Bring the person in. Remember to keep him in a supine position and don't let the patient move around."
Meng Tang remained rooted to the spot. "Master, the patient was sent by Ci An Tang. They said they don't trust Bai Xing Lin and want to watch us treat him."
Lu Qing Wan quickly understood. "They're here to provoke?"
Meng Tang nodded vigorously. "I thought so too. Nothing happened for several days, but as soon as you arrived today, they sent a patient they couldn't treat to Bai Xing Lin. They're probably waiting specifically for you!"
"Perfect timing. Today, I'll let Ci An Tang carry my sedan chair for once."
Lu Qing Wan decisively walked out.
"They're here, they're here! Divine Doctor, aren't you supposed to be amazing? Hurry and save him! If you delay any longer and the person dies, it will ruin your reputation!"
The overt provocation was completely undisguised.