Jiang Yao knew that Shen Yuanwu had some knowledge of the Qihuang Arts, though she wasn’t particularly proficient. It was likely self-taught, and she occasionally offered free medical consultations in the capital.
How did Jiang Yao know Shen Yuanwu had learned the Qihuang Arts on her own?
Because everyone in the capital knew.
Besides the Qihuang Arts, Shen Yuanwu was also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, perfume blending, and cooking. She had even dabbled in traditionally masculine pursuits like archery, horseback riding, and swordsmanship.
Shen Yuanwu wanted the world to recognize her intelligence, her prodigious talent, her dedication to the nation and its people, and her broad-mindedness.
Thus, she would learn anything and everything, and she worked tirelessly at it.
A few days ago, during her stay at the Wu’an Marquis Manor, Jiang Yao had overheard the maidservants discussing how diligently Shen Yuanwu studied all day long.
This was Shen Yuanwu—the dream woman of countless scholars and young masters in the capital. The threshold of the Shen family had nearly been worn down by suitors, yet Shen Yuanwu had shown interest in none of them. In the end, she had chosen to fight over a worthless man.
Jiang Yao continued listening to these scholars’ praises of Shen Yuanwu, her expression cold.
“So, do any of you actually have leads on Divine Doctor Xue’s whereabouts? Miss Shen has a heart for the people and some accomplishment in the Qihuang Arts. If she could study properly under Divine Doctor Xue, she would surely bring great benefit to the world in the future.”
“Speaking of Divine Doctor Xue’s whereabouts, I think I might know something. A few days ago, while visiting my family’s estate, I overheard some nearby farmers talking. They said an old farmer was bitten by a five-step snake, and they had already given up hope. But then a person wearing a bamboo hat passed by, stepped in to treat the wound, and gave the old farmer a pill—and actually saved his life… I believe that person must have been Divine Doctor Xue.”
“What village was it? When did this happen?”
The man replied, “It was at Donghe Village on the outskirts of the capital, four days ago.”
“Who among us can contact Miss Shen? We should quickly pass this news to her.”
Jiang Yao memorized the name of the village.
In her previous life, Divine Doctor Xue had eventually taken Shen Yuanwu as his disciple.
Could it be because of this very news? Did it lead Shen Yuanwu to Donghe Village, where she found Divine Doctor Xue?
However, in her past life, while Shen Yuanwu had publicly claimed to be Divine Doctor Xue’s disciple, he had never openly confirmed it.
And after that, there had been no further news of Divine Doctor Xue’s whereabouts.
Jiang Yao glanced at the sky; it was almost noon, and she still needed to go to the Jiang family first.
There was another matter to resolve.
After finishing a pot of tea, Jiang Yao went to the Jiang family.
She stayed for lunch.
Cheng Shi, noticing that her daughter had been returning to the Jiang family frequently these past two days, began to worry belatedly.
“Darling, why have you been coming back every day these past couple of days? Are the Pei family bullying you?”
She feared her daughter was being mistreated by her in-laws, which was why she kept running back to her maternal home.
Jiang Yao said, “Mother, it has nothing to do with the Pei family. I’ve been trying to find Divine Doctor Xue’s whereabouts. I want to become his disciple and learn how to cure Second Brother’s leg.”
Her family knew about her self-studied medical skills. She had started reading medical books sporadically from the age of ten, without any formal teacher, making her progress particularly difficult. She had only managed to grasp the basics.
Although the Jiang family believed in Jiang Yao’s determination, they understood that studying medicine was hard, and curing Jiang Congxing’s leg would be even harder.
They had consulted countless famous physicians for Jiang Congxing’s leg, but all had been at a loss.
The Jiang couple had also tried to seek out Divine Doctor Xue.
But Divine Doctor Xue was known for his eccentric character and elusive movements.
Over the past few years, the couple had spent a considerable amount of money trying to find Divine Doctor Xue, all to no avail.
Upon hearing that their daughter wished to find Divine Doctor Xue and become his apprentice, the Jiang family fully supported Jiang Yao’s decision.
“Alright, your father and I will also help inquire about Divine Doctor Xue’s whereabouts. Let’s work together as a family.”
If they found Divine Doctor Xue, they could also ask him to examine Congxing’s leg.
After having lunch at the Jiang residence, Jiang Yao stayed for another hour. Since nothing happened in the alley outside, she then took Zhenzhu to Donghe Village.
Donghe Village was located just outside the city, not far away.
If the carriage moved quickly, it would take just over an hour to get there.
Upon arriving at Donghe Village, Jiang Yao asked some nearby farmers.
The scholar at the teahouse hadn’t been wrong—a few days ago, a peculiarly dressed person had indeed saved Old Man Chen from their village.
After finishing her inquiries, Jiang Yao took out a piece of broken silver and handed it to the woman before her.
“Auntie, do you know where the person who saved Old Man Chen went afterward?”
The woman’s eyes widened at the sight of the half-piece of silver in Jiang Yao’s hand. She hastily accepted it and said with a beaming smile, “After that strange person saved Old Man Chen, they left along this road.”
The woman pointed to the path the person had taken.
Jiang Yao looked in that direction.
It was the same road they had come from, leading to the capital.
Moreover, there was only this one road, with no other side paths nearby.
So, had that person gone to the capital?
As for whether the person who treated Old Man Chen was Divine Doctor Xue, Jiang Yao felt it was almost certain.
It seemed Divine Doctor Xue had already arrived in the city. There was nothing more to uncover in Donghe Village, and she wouldn’t need to return tomorrow.
After gathering information about Divine Doctor Xue, Jiang Yao returned to the Pei family.
By the time she arrived back at the Pei residence, the sky had darkened. Perhaps Pei Muzheng had said something to the other side, as for the next two days, no one came to disturb Jiang Yao.
Jiang Yao ate and drank well in her own courtyard. In the mornings, she would search for Divine Doctor Xue, have lunch at the Jiang residence, play with Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan for a while, and then continue her search for Divine Doctor Xue in the afternoons.
Two more days passed in this manner. As usual, Jiang Yao had breakfast in her courtyard and then went into the city to wander around, stopping at a teahouse to listen for any news about Divine Doctor Xue.
In recent days, discussions about Divine Doctor Xue in the teahouse had grown increasingly frequent.
But no one knew his exact whereabouts.
Jiang Yao stayed at the teahouse for over an hour. Seeing that it was almost noon, she headed to the Jiang residence again.
Today’s meal was just as lavish as before.
Braised lamb ribs, vinegar-braised fresh crucian carp, roasted squab, a rich fish head and tofu soup, chicken broth with heartleaf, Thousand-Layer Oil Cake, and two desserts.
Jiang Yao felt she might have gained a little weight from eating so well these past couple of days.
She murmured to herself, “I really must eat less in the evenings…”
After lunch, Jiang Yao continued to lead Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan to play in the courtyard near the alley.
Jiang Yao thought today would be no different from the previous days—she would wander around the city a bit more later, hoping for a chance encounter with Divine Doctor Xue.
But after about half an hour, sudden cries and other chaotic noises erupted from outside the courtyard.
“My grandson! Can anyone save my grandson?”
“Help! Someone, quick! Is there a Langzhong here…”
“Ah, what happened?”
“What’s wrong with this child?”
“He looks completely still, his face is even turning a little blue…”
“This child couldn’t have already…”
The voices grew closer, gradually becoming clear to Jiang Yao.
Even Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, who had been playing nearby, stopped and nestled close to Jiang Yao, looking worriedly toward the courtyard wall.
Outside this wall was the entrance to the alley.
Hearing these sounds, Jiang Yao’s expression turned serious.
She handed Tuantuan and Yuanyuan over to the nanny who cared for the two children. “Nanny, it seems something has happened outside. I’ll go take a look. Keep Tuantuan and Yuanyuan in the courtyard—don’t let them go out and risk being disturbed.”
The nanny nodded and held the children’s hands.
Tuantuan and Yuanyuan already understood a little and knew something must have occurred outside.
The two little ones were very well-behaved and even cautioned Jiang Yao, “Auntie, be careful when you go out. Don’t let others bother you. Please be careful, Auntie.”
Jiang Yao’s heart softened. She patted the children’s heads, said “Okay,” and then lifted the hem of her skirt to hurry out.
From the chaotic voices she had just heard, she knew the situation was urgent and couldn’t afford any delay.
There was a side gate in this courtyard that led directly to the alley entrance, allowing a view of the outside.
The alley where the Jiang family lived was a designated residential area, somewhat mixed with both wealthy merchants and ordinary officials. The sizes of the residences varied—the Jiang family owned a five-courtyard house, while the alley also contained ordinary quadrangle homes and two or three-courtyard houses as well.
Beyond the alley was a street, though not particularly bustling, with some shops and other residential areas.
Once outside, Jiang Yao saw a crowd gathered at the alley entrance.
Two women stood out the most.
One woman had graying hair, while the other looked younger, in her twenties.
Both appeared panicked, their faces streaked with tears.
The younger woman held a child of about three or four in her arms.
The child’s body had gone limp, and the woman could barely hold on.
The older woman cried out, “Is there a Langzhong? Is there a Langzhong? Please save my grandson!”
Jiang Yao knew there was a pharmacy at the other end of this street outside the alley, but it would take nearly half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to run there.
By now, many passersby had gathered around.
Some even peered over the inner courtyard walls into the alley, trying to see what was happening.
“What’s going on?”
“Did something happen to the child? Look, the child’s body has gone limp.”
“Isn’t that the elderly mother and wife of the Attendant Censor? Is this the Attendant Censor’s child?”
“It really is the child of the Attendant Censor Sun family…”
“What exactly happened? It seems the child is gone? Is there a Langzhong nearby? Someone hurry and take a look.”
Amid these discussions, Jiang Yao walked toward the two women.
She returned to the Jiang family for lunch every noon precisely for this reason.
In her previous life, while at the Pei family, she had heard about this incident—but only long after it had happened.
She had heard that the son of Attendant Censor Lord Sun had an accident at home. A negligent maid failed to watch the child properly, and the child choked on a fruit. By the time the maid discovered it, the child was already unconscious. They sent him for treatment, but the pharmacy was too far away, delaying the critical treatment time, and the child did not survive.
That was why she came to the Jiang family for lunch every day—to stay vigilant about this matter.
She wanted to save this child of Lord Sun’s family.
Firstly, as a medical practitioner, saving lives was her inherent duty.
Secondly, if she could save the child, she might be able to lure out Divine Doctor Xue.
Since Divine Doctor Xue wanted to take on an apprentice, it showed he genuinely wished for a disciple to inherit his medical legacy, and would naturally seek someone with some talent for medicine.
Just as Jiang Yao stepped forward, a young woman in a goose-yellow dress emerged from the side.
“What happened to the child? Quick, lay the child down and let me examine them.”
Jiang Yao looked up and saw it was Shen Yuanwu.