Chapter 192: Deal Made

She had not expected him to say those words.

The words he spoke sounded somewhat bizarre.

After she cured Prince Huai, he said he would protect her life, but wouldn't she be safe after curing Prince Huai? Wouldn't curing the relatives of the royal families enhance her reputation as a divine doctor? She wouldn't need him to save her life.

And if she failed to cure Prince Huai, he said he would protect the Fang Family. If she failed, she might be the one facing danger, yet he would not care about her at all, only mentioning the protection of the Fang Family, not her life or death.

This deal really seemed unappealing.

Miss Jun didn't feel happy either, she just felt like crying.

Do you know what kind of person Prince Huai is?

Prince Huai shouldn't exist; he should've died sooner, rather than living to be an eyesore to the emperor.

Everyone would be happy if he died; few would rejoice if he lived, especially not the emperor.

It would certainly be dangerous for her, the one who cured Prince Huai, to make the emperor unhappy.

And if she failed to cure Prince Huai, it went without saying—the emperor would certainly be pleased to make her face all the consequences and even implicate her family.

Once she entered Prince Huai's mansion, she wouldn't be able to leave. If the emperor wanted her dead, then her death would be certain, and there wouldn't be any need to expend effort to save her. Protecting her family was most crucial.

She was protecting her, and if she wasn't there, she would protect those she cared about. Was there a more appealing deal in the world?

Moreover, what touched her heart even more was that the purpose of the deal was for Prince Huai, to make her do her utmost to rescue him.

To save her brother.

It was her brother, not his brother.

And he was someone unrelated to him, someone everyone avoided.

He asked her if she knew what kind of person Prince Huai was. She wanted to ask him if he knew.

Miss Jun looked at him.

"Why?" she asked.

The why could be interpreted in many ways, but Zhu Zan didn't think twice.

"I am willing—it's none of your business," he answered bluntly.

He was willing.

Willing to keep a child's idle promise, willing to let Prince Huai live.

She had always thought she was alone; she hadn't expected that besides her and her sister, others also cared about them.

Miss Jun looked at him, moved her lips, but said no more.

Zhu Zan's expression showed a trace of impatience.

"Do you know how to do business? In business, isn't it just about knowing what you give and what you get? Why does it matter what others think?" he said.

Yes, nothing else mattered, just because he was willing.

Miss Jun reached out and hugged him.

Zhu Zan was speaking when suddenly, the girl hugged him, and he cried out.

"What are you doing!" he shouted.

He tensed his body, intending to push the girl away, but as he channeled his strength, remembering what he wanted, he forcibly stopped himself and reached out to push her off by the shoulders.

"Don't go too far... business is business... I've given my offer... take it or leave it... don't be greedy..." he gritted his teeth and said, "I won't let you take advantage of this situation."

Hearing this, Miss Jun laughed, first quietly, then out loud, all the while patting Zhu Zan's broad, sturdy back.

Zhu Zan stiffened.

"Stop touching me!" he gritted his teeth and shouted.

Miss Jun, still laughing, let him go.

Zhu Zan immediately stepped back a few paces, his expression one of disdain and wariness.

He had restrained himself from punching her just to get her agreement, truly enduring humiliation.

Miss Jun watched him and then laughed again, tears streaming down her face once more.

She was being irrational again.

Zhu Zan pointed at her and stepped back again, turning to leave, while Miss Jun had stopped laughing.

"Alright, it's a deal," she said.

Zhu Zan turned back to look at her; the girl straightened herself, wiped off her tears with her sleeve, and without looking at him again, began to massage Liu'er by her side.

Liu'er soon woke up, somewhat disoriented, rubbing her shoulders.

"Miss, how did I fall asleep?" she asked, puzzled.

Zhu Zan's figure had already disappeared from the alley.

"No, you probably just got too tired and passed out," Miss Jun said softly, helping Liu'er up, "Let's go back first."

Liu'er looked uneasy.

"Did I faint from exhaustion? I'm not ill, how could I be so tired?" she said, "Did I delay your business?"

Miss Jun smiled and caressed her head.

"No, my business is already concluded," she said, "Let's go back and wait."

Liu'er nodded and followed Miss Jun out of the alley, and just as they emerged, they saw several imperial physicians striding down the street with great commotion.

The imperial physicians also saw Miss Jun and her servant, pausing their steps.

They didn't run away.

Their gazes met for a moment.

"Can you cure it?" the leading imperial physician asked straightforwardly.

"I can," Miss Jun responded promptly.

The leading imperial physician looked at her.

"Are you willing to cure it?" he asked again.

"To save lives and heal the world, it's the path of a great doctor, of course, I am willing," Miss Jun replied.

Now it's time to talk about saving lives and healing the world, but you have been selective in whom you help, haven't you? Well, this time you have chosen for yourself, so do not regret it.

"Miss Jun, our superiors will report this to the emperor, please wait a moment," the leading imperial physician said, bowing in the direction of the imperial palace.

"Alright, I will wait," Miss Jun said.

She believed that Imperial Physician Jiang would certainly do his best.

"What did you say? A female doctor? And she has just arrived in the capital?"

Upon hearing the words of Imperial Physician Jiang, the emperor frowned.

"Jiang Youshu, are you joking?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not," Jiang Youshu replied. "This Divine Doctor is none other than Jun Fengchun from Runan, as well as the daughter of the former magistrate of Funing, Jun Yingwen."

The emperor was slightly stunned. He naturally could not recall a mere county magistrate, but since she was from a bureaucratic family, he was somewhat more considerate.

"Her grandfather was a famous physician, but that does not mean she is," he said. "The medical profession is unlike any other, it cannot be taken lightly."

"I would not dare," Jiang Youshu earnestly said. "Miss Jun is truly skilled in medicine. She is renowned in Runan, Yangcheng, and the capital. I had the opportunity to exchange knowledge with her in Yangcheng."

"Was there really an exchange?" the emperor asked, slightly surprised.

"Can she truly cure diseases?" he inquired.

Jiang Youshu smiled.

"Your Majesty, not only can she cure diseases, her medical skills are excellent," he said. "She cured ailments that I could not."

The emperor looked skeptical.

"I do not lie, Your Majesty. Not only is her medical skills superior, but she is also humble and courteous, with a broad and generous heart," Jiang Youshu spoke, his expression filled with admiration and relief. "In Runan, she routinely practiced benevolent medicine, providing free consultations and medicine. After arriving in the capital, she was open and communicative with her peers, setting aside any biases from her school or lineage, focused solely on treating the ill."

The emperor let out a sound.

"Is she really so well-known?" he said, tapping the table thoughtfully. "Alright, you may leave now."

Jiang Youshu said nothing more in agreement, and as he exited the hall, he saw Lu Yunqi approaching.

Jiang Youshu bowed to Lu Yunqi.

Lu Yunqi stopped in his tracks.

"Can you really not cure it?" he asked.

Jiang Youshu was surprised, not expecting Lu Yunqi to speak to him at this time and in this place.

Clearly, the emperor was about to verify the truth of Jiang's earlier statements with him—shouldn't Lu Yunqi be avoiding him now?

Instead of avoiding, he was asking about the illness.

This was different from what he had anticipated. Could it be that he wanted the emperor to doubt and refuse letting Miss Jun treat Prince Huai?

That shouldn't be the case—didn't he also want to deal with Jiuling Hall?

Could it be that he was wary of the De Sheng Chang Fang Family backing Jiuling Hall?

Jiang Youshu's expression changed for a moment.

"I truly cannot cure it," he said.

Lu Yunqi gave him a look, and Jiang Youshu felt a chill; no wonder everyone said Lu Yunqi was as cold as a ghost...

However, he had no foul play; he genuinely could not cure the affliction of Prince Huai.

Jiang Youshu straightened his back to say something, but Lu Yunqi had already walked past him.

This unpredictable and elusive fellow, Jiang Youshu frowned and walked away.

...............

Inside the hall, the emperor looked warmly at Lu Yunqi.

"Is this Miss Jun's medical practice truly exquisite?" he asked.

Lu Yunqi lowered his eyes.

"This Miss Jun is the granddaughter of the Fang Family from Yangcheng under De Sheng Chang," he did not answer the emperor's question but instead said, "The first emperor's imperial decree is currently at her medical clinic."

An eerie silence fell in the hall, the emperor still appeared warm, but the eunuchs standing on either side felt a strange oppression and lowered their heads even further.

It seemed like a long time had passed, and yet it felt like just a blink of an eye before the emperor's voice rose again.

"Since this Miss Jun from Runan is so renowned, let her try then."

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Thank you to Ma Dajian, Mu Someone 2004, ? The Last Shot ?, Ice in the South, Xiuyu Burial of Flowers, Jing Three Young Lords, and md12 for their generous support of He's Bi.

Joined hands, thank you all.