Chapter 22 You Are Quite Greedy

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The pharmacist at the consultation desk was dozing off. Hearing the commotion, he hazily looked in the direction of the sound.

His medical skills were not proficient, merely an apprentice not yet fully trained. Usually, he would just perform basic diagnostics or fill prescriptions at the counter.

However, the appearance of Shen Hua startled him, causing him to quickly rise. He anxiously called out loudly towards the back room.

"Master! Please come quickly, the snoring is deafening, and there's a lady here in poor condition."

Saying this, he helped Shen Hua sit down.

The pharmacist smiled apologetically, "The year's end is near, every household is busy preparing for the New Year. Ordinary folks tend to save on small injuries and pains to afford better celebrations. Our Ci'an Hall has been rather quiet because of this."

Continuing, he quickly added, "But don't let the quietness fool you; my master's medical skills are renowned throughout Fengzhou City."

Shen Hua's mind cleared somewhat, the effects of the medicine gifted by Cui Yun transformed into a warm flow, driving away the cold inside her body.

For the first time, Shen Hua felt warmth without the aid of a stove or charcoal fire.

Yet, she couldn't stop coughing.

Soon, an old man with a white beard, holding a medicine chest, hurriedly appeared. Perhaps due to his haste, his outer garment was loose and not properly worn.

Seeing Shen Hua's bloodless face, he was taken aback and scolded.

"Fool, what are you stunned for? Can't you hear the patient coughing severely? Go and get a cup of almond tea to soothe the lungs."

He said, sitting down opposite Shen Hua, quickly taking out the pulse pillow.

Shen Hua raised her hand onto the pulse pillow, pulling her sleeve to reveal her jade-like wrist for examination.

The doctor carefully took her pulse, his expression growing increasingly serious.

Fever was insignificant compared to the underlying severe condition.

Observing her pulse, this chronic weakness was an old ailment. Survival until now was just a matter of relying on various nourishing medicines.

But taking medicine over the years, every medicine has some toxicity.

The doctor's brows furrowed more and more, finally forming a twisted line. After a long pause, he smiled regretfully and apologetically at Shen Hua, indicating his inability to help and then prescribed some cough suppressants.

Shen Hua was not surprised. At this rate, unless there are surprises, she could live for three more years.

Three years would be enough to accomplish many things.

Inside the carriage, Ji Ge sat with arms crossed, eyeing Cui Yun intently.

In the entire Shengjing, he had seen many who were hypocritical. To establish oneself in officialdom, who wasn't two-faced? Even the most upright Marquis Chengyang wasn't above secretly taking bribes.

But Cui Yun was different.

Back then, the battle in Chi City was devastating, yet miraculously they held on until reinforcements from the court secured the city, although Marquis Yangling and his legitimate eldest son perished.

Cui Bai, being the legitimate son of the Cui family, stood out among his peers, extraordinary and noble. The legitimate second son Cui Yun was no less talented, but while the former was as upright as good gold and jade, noble like bamboo and pine, the latter's character was questionable.

Cui Yun was merely standing at the forefront, forced to lead by example, carrying the family with an 'innocent heart'.

He had to learn to emulate Cui Bai, learn to shoulder the responsibilities of being the Family Head of the Cui family, learn to no longer be himself.

Over the years, Cui Yun had indeed been impeccable, leaving no one any pretext, proper and dignified.

But Ji Ge absolutely did not believe that a person with such a black heart, who once kicked the Crown Prince into the water, had truly turned over a new leaf and become a good person!

Despite wearing a face that warned off strangers, he feigned righteousness, no wonder all the girls in Quansheng were infatuated with him.

Ji Ge clicked his tongue.

"Young Master Cui is so considerate, but do tell me, isn't maintaining this facade tiring?"

Cui Yun raised his gaze, maintaining his usual gentle demeanor, "What does the Seventh Prince mean?"

Fine! If you don't admit, you're really something!

Ji Ge then changed the subject, "When are you returning to Shengjing?"

Ji Ge spoke of the Flower Seeking Lady, though he was well aware that Cui Yun's purpose here wasn't for that.

Cui Yun looked at the time. These past days rushing here with Ji Ge's noisy presence neither allowed him to read nor get proper rest.

He pondered for a moment.

"Perhaps in the next two days, I'll set out."

Cui Yun wasn't in a hurry to find Shen Hua. After sending those two home, he intended to find an inn to rest first.

Leaving the medicine hall, Shen Hua carrying some medicine bags, her round figure wrapped warmly, spoke to Ji Qing standing outside the carriage.

"Excuse me, young brother, drive forward, turn left at the second intersection, then go down a street, turn left again after the crooked tree, and you'll see two majestically poised stone lions."

Ji Qing memorized it.

Shen Hua leisurely boarded the carriage. Upon entering, her gaze met Cui Yun's directly.

Perhaps thanks to the tea, she no longer coughed or felt as uncomfortable. Her gaze lingered on Cui Yun for a moment.

The fox fur he wore was of extremely top-grade quality, rarely seen even in Fengzhou City. Only those with the most illustrious family backgrounds could afford such attire even in Shengjing.

The one Shen Hua wore was acquired by Shen Xue's broad connections, dealings with fur merchants, and five years of waiting, only finally managing to obtain it after paying a large sum.

Glancing at Ji Ge in purple, he was definitely not an ordinary person either.

Shen Hua sat decorously in a corner with Zheng Qianyu.

She twisted her fingers. Recalling what Zheng Qianyu had just said, she typically did not like feeling indebted. The young lady pondered for a moment and looked expectantly at Cui Yun, who appeared indifferent.

Unlike when speaking to Shen Qu, her tone was soft and gentle, carrying the girlish sweetness.

"It's said that a life-saving grace shouldn't be overlooked. I have nothing to repay with, how about..."

Ji Ge: !!!

He was familiar with this phrase.

A few years ago, the Third Princess also used this excuse to approach Cui Yun.

"It's said that a life-saving grace shouldn't be overlooked. I, as the Princess, have nothing to repay with, how about offering myself in marriage?"

Tsk tsk, is this little lady here to propose too?

Ah well, it's just another case of unrequited love.

It would be better to direct her feelings towards him instead of Cui Yun.

Ji Ge looked between Cui Yun and Shen Hua, smiling with an expression hard to decipher.

Cui Yun's dark eyes glanced at Shen Hua, who was curled into a ball.

Her small face looked so pitiful yet carried a maturity beyond her years. But like a fragile thing, requiring just a slight force, he could snap her neck.

Shen Hua took a deep breath.

Under the gaze of three pairs of eyes.

She generously took out a 500-tael silver note from her pocket. Her fingers oddly pale as she slowly extended it towards Cui Yun.

It was Cui Yun's first time being offered money in this manner.

Ji Ge laughed in exasperation: ??? "Isn't that an insult, little girl?"

Shen Hua was momentarily puzzled.

When she lost her mother back then, Shen Wei pampered and agreed to everything she wanted but never took on the responsibilities of teaching her. It was a stroke of luck that she hadn't grown up completely wayward.

In her past life, everyone used her; nobody taught her about the ways of the world. Indeed, Shen Hua still didn't understand much now. But she did know the principle of settling accounts paid with money.

She turned to ask Zheng Qianyu, "Is this considered insulting?"

Zheng Qianyu gritted her teeth, whispering, "How could giving money be insulting? If so, I would love to be insulted every day."

Insult her vigorously, without any reservations that she was a delicate flower!

Shen Hua comprehended.

She looked at Cui Yun with difficulty.

"My life surely isn't worth a mere 500 taels."

"Are you saying you find what I offer too little?"

Shen Hua pursed her lips, somewhat accusingly, "You, sir, are quite greedy."

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