The reason her master “stole” her was simple and crude: in his youth, he had lived freely, never wanting disciples, finding them troublesome. Only when he grew old did he realize his sect was dwindling, leaving him alone.
So he picked up two male disciples along the road. But with only men, noisy and quarrelsome, he grew annoyed—and set his sights on her.
He even left a letter for Grandfather Cen, demanding monthly silver for her food and lodging, claiming he was teaching her medicine and had no time to earn money. Grandfather Cen was furious, wanting to fight him, for he had hoped to raise her into a famous talent. But she lacked that gift, and her master was too forceful.
She suffered greatly under her master’s training, but gained even more.
Over the years, her master picked up more strays, then ignored them. Only the three personal disciples managed them. The eldest brother, fearing their unreliable master would leave them starving, opened a medical hall called Guanwei Hall, run by the disciples who studied medicine. They earned money together and shared it.
Now, the one in the capital was the third branch, managed by junior sister Rendong and junior brother Shanglu. They had arrived before the New Year and opened during Lantern Festival—surely busy.
“Miss, I see Shanglu—he’s surrounded. Those people must be causing trouble. Should we help?” Nanxing asked.
“Let’s go in through the back and ask first,” Ye Sangzhi ordered, having the carriage stop at Guanwei Hall’s rear gate.
Inside, they found Rendong, anxious.
“Senior Sister, you’re here!” Rendong ran up, relieved.
“What happened? Why is Shanglu surrounded?”
Ye Sangzhi was speechless. How had Rendong grown so haggard in such a short time? Just opening a clinic, and already worn thin?
Rendong sighed. “Don’t ask. Since opening, trouble has come daily. Some say our doctors are incompetent, others that our medicine is bad, or our prices are unfair. Today, someone claims our treatment harmed them—the patient’s family is demanding compensation!”
“Didn’t Eldest Brother teach you how to handle this? If you can’t manage such matters, you two should return to Luoxia Valley.” Ye Sangzhi showed no pity. They had no interest or patience for medicine, learning only superficially, yet insisted on coming to the capital. If Master had been as strict with them as with her, their limbs would already be broken.
“Senior Sister…” Rendong looked pitiful. She wasn’t truly stupid, but in the capital, under the emperor’s eye, they were cautious.
Ye Sangzhi poked her forehead. “The doctors you hired—are their skills sound?”
“Absolutely. I guarantee it. Those people are just troublemakers. But one of them is well‑dressed, and a rival clinic is involved. We fear offending the wrong people…” Rendong said bitterly.
“What’s there to fear? Report it to the authorities.”
“Report… to the authorities?”
“If not, what will you do—pay them? And the next time?”
“All right, I’ll go.” Rendong, feeling her sister’s glare, quickly sent a clerk to the magistrate.
Officials from the yamen arrived quickly. Ye Sangzhi did not appear; Shanglu and the troublemakers were taken away to the yamen for judgment.
“If the yamen cannot judge fairly, then use my father, Earl Huaiyi’s name,” Ye Sangzhi instructed Rendong, who wanted to follow.
Rendong hesitated. “Is that proper? Won’t it cause trouble for you, Senior Sister?”
“It won’t. Father will be delighted,”Ye Sangzhi replied with a sly smile.
After Rendong left, Ye Sangzhi didn’t linger. She and Nanxing went out to stroll the streets.
Yesterday had been bitterly cold, but today was clear, and the streets were bustling. She liked such liveliness.
“Miss, I want to try this,” Nanxing said, running to a stall selling candied chestnuts.
“Buy it,” Ye Sangzhi said generously, pulling out her purse.
“Miss, that looks good too.”
“Buy it.”
“Ah, Miss, look at Bawei Tower—it’s packed. Mm, it smells so good… spicy hotpot!” Nanxing’s mouth watered.
Ye Sangzhi, also hungry, said, “Want to eat? Let’s try it, see if it tastes like the one in Wuzhou.”
Nanxing nodded happily. “Mm, Miss, you’re the best.”
The waiter greeted them warmly. “Ladies, what would you like?”
Nanxing answered cheerfully, “Spicy hotpot. You choose the dishes.”
“Right away. Please sit, I’ll bring tea.” He poured tea and left.
While waiting, Ye Sangzhi overheard voices from the next room. She had trained in martial arts since childhood, not enough to be a hero, but her hearing was sharper than most.
First came a young man’s voice: “Qingzhou, you said your elder sister was returning. Has she?”
Another voice replied: “She returned yesterday. I was with Qingzhou when his servant came. But why the long face? Is your sister difficult, or ugly, distracting you even at dinner?”
Then Ye Qingzhou’s voice, tinged with sorrow: “To be honest, my elder sister misunderstands my mother. Yesterday, she quarreled with her and my younger sister, seized my sister’s courtyard, and even injured two servants. I’m troubled how to mend things.”
“Oh? To return and bully others—such behavior disgraces propriety!” one voice cried indignantly.
“Indeed, Qingzhou, tell us. Your sister is too much. Third Miss is lively and kind, yet she bullies her? I won’t forgive her.”
“Don’t ask. Though my sister’s conduct is improper, she is still my elder. I shouldn’t speak ill of her. It’s my fault for mentioning family matters.”
“What’s there to fear? Her mother is long dead, her brother useless. The Ye family will be yours sooner or later.”
“Yes, tell us more. We’ll help you think of a way—to give that Ye… Ye Sangzhi a lesson.”