Lu Li knew nothing of the Wu family's affairs on Fish Market Street. To her, Wu Xiaolian was merely one of the scholars who came to buy medicinal drinks, no different from any other. A chance meeting, forgotten as soon as she turned away. She was busy preparing more of the medicinal drink. The "Bibo Qi" from Huichun Medical Hall was selling even more explosively than anticipated. It was the depth of March, and countless people were tormented by nasal congestion and sinusitis. Rumors spread through the streets that after decocting and consuming this medicine, such ailments could be significantly alleviated. Many went to purchase it with a try-and-see attitude; after consuming two or three packets, they discovered it indeed had miraculous effects. A jar of "Bibo Qi" cost four taels of silver. Though not cheap, for those suffering deeply from nasal congestion, it was a life-saving remedy. Moreover, even if one didn't buy "Bibo Qi," the cost of buying scattered herbs to brew was not much different. Those housewives accustomed to careful calculation reckoned that they might as well buy "Bibo Qi" directly. In this way, "Bibo Qi" made a name for itself in the Imperial Capital, and the reputation of Huichun Medical Hall became known along with it. This fame also reached the Patrol Camp. In the Patrol Division of the Capital Camp. Duan Xiaole walked in from outside. The youth was young in age, with an agreeable and amiable appearance. He wore a robe of wisteria purple, looking like a delicate vine flower in the Patrol Division, stepping lightly into the room. Inside the room, someone was reviewing official documents. The young man was dressed in a crimson round-collared official robe, with exquisite dark patterns embroidered on the cuffs. Sunlight fell on his face through the carved window lattice, gilding his handsome profile in a hazy halo. Hearing the movement, he did not look up, only asking, "What is it?" Duan Xiaole said, "Brother Zhao San says he will return to the city a few days late." Pei Yunzheng paused in reviewing the documents, frowning as he asked, "What is that old Third Zhao up to?" "He says a farmer outside the city has some plum trees that will be ripe in a few days, with excellent flavor. He wants to wait outside the city until the plums are ripe before leaving." Duan Xiaole was also quite puzzled as he spoke, "Strange, I've never heard that Brother Zhao San liked eating plums before." Hearing this, Pei Yunzheng was first stunned, then thought of something and laughed, "Forget it, let him be." "A post also came from the Grand Tutor's residence." Duan Xiaole said, "Inviting you to..." "I'm not going. Just say my official duties are piling up." Duan Xiaole sighed, "I knew it would be like this." He felt a bit emotional, "It must be that the young miss from the Grand Tutor's residence took a fancy to your beauty last time, so she came to make inquiries. They say a family with a daughter is sought by a hundred suitors, but it's the same for men. Since I came to the Patrol Division, I've helped you reject no fewer than eighty or a hundred such invitations." Duan Xiaole looked at Pei Yunzheng's excessively handsome face, then shook his head, "In our line of work, we occasionally get to play the hero saving the beauty. You, a hero who looks this striking and has such impressive skills—if it were me, I’d want to pledge my heart after being saved once. Speaking of which, among the girls saved over the years, it seems only the one we met last time left without even saying thank you. To remain unmoved in the face of such beauty as yours, that girl is truly destined for great things." Pei Yunzheng smiled faintly, looking at him as he spoke indifferently, "I see you are very idle. It just so happens it is time for the guard rotation..." "Stop!" Duan Xiaole hurriedly said, pulling a palm-sized jar from his bosom and slapping it on the table, "Brother Yunzheng, I came to bring you tea, how can you repay kindness with enmity like this?" Pei Yunzheng picked up the tea jar before him and glanced at it: "When willow catkins float, Bibo Qi rises?" "Don't you know? Recently, this Bibo Qi has become quite trendy in the Imperial Capital. They say decocting and drinking it can relieve nasal congestion and sinusitis with remarkable effect, and the tea liquid is a deep jade green, very elegant. I asked someone to buy two jars, giving you one, afraid that if I went late, Huichun Medical Hall would be sold out." Hearing the words "Huichun Medical Hall," Pei Yunzheng's expression shifted slightly. A moment later, he tossed the jar back into Duan Xiaole's arms, "Keep it for yourself, I won't drink it." "It may not be some famous precious tea, but there's no need to be so picky. I went to great trouble to buy it." Duan Xiaole pouted, "It's not poisoned." Pei Yunzheng scoffed, "That's not necessarily true." ... The spring breeze from Huichun Medical Hall blew to the Patrol Division far away, and naturally, it also blew to Jishitang right next door. However, what drifted into Jishitang was not the rippling waves left by the spring water, but rather a biting, piercing wind. There were a few new creases on Qian Shouyi's treasure-blue straight robe; he hadn't bothered to smooth them out. His usually kindly brows appeared somewhat heavy. He had sent Wen Ji to spread rumors about Bibo Qi in the streets, deliberately exaggerating its effects, intending for those who bought the drink to find it didn't live up to its reputation and cause a scene at Huichun Medical Hall. Unexpectedly, several days passed, and not a single person came to make trouble; instead, Bibo Qi sold better and better. That medicinal drink actually had the effect of relieving nasal congestion. Nasal congestion and sinusitis had always been difficult to resolve. Every spring, a large number of patients came to Jishitang to fill prescriptions. Drinking the medicine for two or three months brought in a fair amount of income for Jishitang. Now, because of the appearance of Bibo Qi, no one came to Jishitang for nasal congestion medicine anymore. Jishitang's income this month was nearly half less than usual. If previously he merely felt contempt and disgust for Du Zian, now Qian Shouyi was filled with resentment towards Huichun Medical Hall. "Fewer people have come to Jishitang for medicine recently." Qian Shouyi straightened the silk sash at his waist, speaking to no one in particular, "Patients coming to see about nasal congestion have also decreased by sixty percent." Zhou Ping's heart gave a "thump." Zhou Ping was the only resident physician at Jishitang. Originally, relying on his superb medical skills, he had squeezed out all the other doctors in the clinic. Because patients trusted him as a living signboard, Qian Shouyi had turned a blind eye. But now that problems had arisen, Qian Shouyi's displaced anger fell solely on him. Seeing Qian Shouyi in a foul mood, Zhou Ping had no choice but to brace himself and say, "Shopkeeper, I've tasted that medicinal drink for a few days, and it does indeed have the effect of relieving nasal congestion. Perhaps the resident physician Du Zian hired this time is not just a pretty face." "Not just a pretty face?" Qian Shouyi looked at him with a fake smile, "In that case, when that woman came to Jishitang to consign the medicinal drink, why didn't you keep it, instead discarding it casually and letting Du Zian pick up a bargain?" "I..." Zhou Ping looked humble on the surface, but in his heart, he was cursing. Consigning new medicine was always done through familiar suppliers; how could he, a resident physician, make that decision? In the past, the medicine merchants for new consignments were chosen by Qian Shouyi himself. But today Qian Shouyi wanted to find an excuse to lash out, so he could only grit his teeth and endure it. Qian Shouyi looked amiable, but in reality, he was petty and mean. Now that the medicinal drink was at Huichun Medical Hall, the silver flowed there. Qian Shouyi was losing silver, so how could he, the resident physician, have a good time of it? Zhou Ping was thinking this when he heard Qian Shouyi sighing hypocritically again, "It's a pity Bibo Qi didn't land at Jishitang. Otherwise, it would be us earning the silver now." Bibo Qi landing at Jishitang? Zhou Ping's heart stirred. He stood there alone, his goaty eyes flashing, and suddenly spoke, "Shopkeeper, this humble one has an idea." Qian Shouyi glanced at him, "What idea?" Zhou Ping said, "Practicing medicine requires prescribing the right medicine for the illness, but making medicinal drinks and pills is different. As long as one identifies the ingredients used and processes them, one can replicate something with the same efficacy." Hearing this, Qian Shouyi's eyes lit up, "You mean..." "Since that woman is young, she surely lacks medical experience. I reckon she only wins by having a clever prescription, while her processing skills are not profound. I have been a resident physician for many years; I imagine replicating this medicinal drink would not be difficult." Zhou Ping spoke with confidence. His medical skills were ranked in the Imperial Capital's medical circle. How could he not make a medicinal drink that a young woman could produce? Thus, his words carried