“Has Lord Cao ever heard of the Oddities Storehouse?”
Cao Qian was startled, then nodded. “Does Your Highness mean the Oddities Storehouse that the princes and nobles have all been fond of visiting lately?”
Jiang Sui nodded.
“Naturally I have heard of it. My humble wife often patronizes the place lately, and she loves the novel trinkets inside, buying quite a few back.”
“That shop is an industry under my name.” Jiang Sui looked at Cao Qian. “I have come today for no other reason than to discuss a business venture with Lord Cao. As for curing your illness, it is the sincerity I bring to this negotiation. May our upcoming cooperation proceed smoothly.”
Hearing it was about business, Cao Qian instantly set his mind at ease. Discussing business was his comfort zone; yielding profits or lending a hand were both fine by him, so long as it did not cost the lives of his entire household.
Seeing Cao Qian’s expression relax, Jiang Sui discussed her plans and requirements with him.
After listening to everything, Cao Qian nodded. “Your Highness, your understanding is quite correct. My merchant ships do indeed frequently enter the Sea Moon Kingdom, which produces pearls, coral, crystals, minerals, and many novel fruits. I can clear out two large ships to help Your Highness transport goods. I wonder what Your Highness needs?”
Jiang Sui and Ji Kongqing had already made plans before coming. “I will send someone to accompany you all. Once she has inspected the conditions in the Sea Moon Kingdom, she will place orders according to my requirements.”
“Very well, Your Highness. I will have someone draft the documents right away and deliver them to the Eldest Princess’s Estate in due course.” Cao Qian instructed people to take note of everything and even proactively reduced a portion of the shipping fees for Jiang Sui, showing great sincerity.
After the discussion, Cao Qian inquired of Ji Kongqing, “I wonder where I should go if I wish to seek treatment from Physician Liu next time?”
Ji Kongqing smiled slightly. “Tomorrow I will send someone to deliver the medicine Lord Cao needs for this month. Please have an ice cellar prepared for storing the medications. As for next month, I will open a medical hall in the capital, and upon its opening, I will send Lord Cao an invitation.”
“Very well, then I shall wait to go show my support next month.” Cao Qian smiled, cupping his fists to Ji Kongqing as he saw Jiang Sui and Ji Kongqing off.
Not long after Jiang Sui and Ji Kongqing left, Cao Qian promptly sent for Physician Li, who had previously treated him, to come to the estate.
After checking Cao Qian’s pulse, Physician Li looked somewhat surprised. “Did Lord Cao say he ate roast duck and pastries for midday meal?”
“That is correct, Physician Li. Is there any abnormality in my pulse?” Cao Qian’s gaze was anxious, urgently needing to know whether Ji Kongqing’s treatment had actually worked.
Physician Li shook his head. “There are no abnormalities in the pulse. How strange. Lord Cao’s pulse does not resemble that of someone who has consumed greasy, meaty foods.”
“My lord, it seems the person at noon truly was a divine physician.” Madame Cao grasped Lord Cao’s hand with great excitement. “My lord, from now on you can eat whatever you wish, without having to endure restraints anymore.”
“Is this true?” Hearing their conversation, Physician Li was extremely startled. “Lord Cao’s wasting disease has been cured? What kind of divine physician can treat such an ailment?”
“It has not been cured, but my condition can be controlled.” Cao Qian beckoned, gesturing for a maidservant to bring over the transparent glass medicine bottle left behind by Ji Kongqing.
“Physician Li, you may take a look. The medicine given to me by the divine physician is contained within this transparent little bottle. She used a sharp object to drive the medicine inside into my body, and now I can eat and dine normally.”
“Can you tell what kind of medicine is used inside?”
Physician Li held the empty medicine bottle, sniffing it while frowning in utter confusion. “It is merely this old subordinate’s superficial learning; I cannot discern the composition of the medicine in this bottle. However, the craftsmanship of this medicine bottle is exquisite, crystal-clear and beautiful like jade; at a glance, it is clearly no ordinary object.”
“I am afraid even the cost of this bottle alone is of immeasurable value. I wonder how much the divine physician charges for a single treatment for Lord Cao?”
“It is not expensive. The divine physician said she will provide me with ninety doses of medicine each month, and injection before each meal will allow me to live the life of a normal person. A single dose of medicine costs no more than two liang of silver, alongside other supporting tools.”
“So cheap?” Physician Li was taken aback. “It seems Lord Cao has truly met a divine being. Such medical skill is beyond what this subordinate can ever hope to match. Lord Cao is truly blessed by fortune to have encountered this person to treat you.”
Hearing this, Cao Qian felt even more strongly that he had taken a massive advantage from Jiang Sui, and he nodded with a smile. “Indeed, it is also my good fortune to have met a noble benefactor.”
After seeing Physician Li off, Cao Qian stroked his beard and paced back and forth twice.
“My lord, what are you thinking about?”
Cao Qian looked toward his wife. “I am merely astonished, never expecting that Eldest Princess would truly be as wise and reasonable as the rumors say. The matter she requested today was merely trivial; given her status, she could have simply given me a casual notice to finalize this business.”
“Yet she did not do so. Instead, she understood my difficulties, brought someone to resolve my troubles, and did not forcefully demand profit concessions when discussing business, strictly adhering to principles. Compared to other overbearing princes and princesses, the Eldest Princess is truly a virtuous and benevolent person.”
“My lord, such words should not be spoken casually. Beware that walls have ears.” Madame Cao’s expression shifted, and she shook her head.
Only then did Cao Qian realize he had just discussed other princes and princesses. He offered an embarrassed laugh. “My wife’s reminder is correct; it was my slip of the tongue. But since the Eldest Princess has shown such sincerity toward the Cao family, I have decided to concede an additional ten percent in profits. What does my wife think?”
“Naturally, that is fine.” As a Kunze, Madame Cao also greatly admired Jiang Sui. Even though she knew conceding another ten percent meant the Cao family would earn almost no profit, she still agreed.
Meanwhile, Ji Kongqing and Jiang Sui had already returned to the Princess’s Estate.
“We are finally back. It is so stifling.” Ji Kongqing peeled off the human-skin mask on her face, revealing her somewhat flushed skin.
Jiang Sui noticed her reddened skin and furrowed her brows. “What is wrong with your face?”
“It must be that my skin is sensitive and had a mild allergic reaction. It is fine, Your Highness, I will just apply some ointment tonight.” Ji Kongqing touched her face, not paying it much mind.
Jiang Sui frowned. “You really are delicate.”
Ji Kongqing pursed her lips, leaving the remark unanswered as she smiled and asked Jiang Sui, “Your Highness, I performed quite well today, did I not?”
Jiang Sui swept an indifferent glance over her. “Barely acceptable.”
Ji Kongqing had recently figured out Jiang Sui’s stubborn yet soft-hearted personality, knowing that her calling it barely acceptable meant it was good. She chuckled softly. “Your Highness, I have already decided on the name for my medical hall. Let us call it the Capital First Hospital. What do you think?”
“Capital First? You certainly dare boast.” Jiang Sui gave Ji Kongqing a half-smile, her expression suggesting disbelief.
Ji Kongqing might lack confidence in other matters, but regarding the medical skills she mastered, she was exceptionally confident.
She smiled slightly, her eyes brimming with pride. “Your Highness, whether I am boasting or not, you will know in due time. Once I truly make a name for myself, I shall have to ask you to compose an inscription for my plaque.”
“No problem.” Jiang Sui gazed into Ji Kongqing’s eyes. “If you can truly make a name for yourself, this palace can go to His Imperial Father to beg for an imperial plaque, cementing your title as the number one in the capital.”
“It is a deal.” Ji Kongqing raised her palm.
Unaware of what she meant by this gesture, Jiang Sui failed to react in time.
Ji Kongqing stepped forward, grasped Jiang Sui’s wrist, and struck a high-five with her. “When the time comes, Your Highness must not forget your promise.”
Jiang Sui gently shook off Ji Kongqing’s hand, placed the hand she had just used to high-five behind her back, and curled it into a light fist, rubbing her palm with her fingertips. “This palace’s word is always as good as gold.”
“That is wonderful.” Ji Kongqing nodded with a smile, lowering her gaze as though remembering something, and added, “Your Highness, there is still one more matter I wish to discuss with you.”
“Why cannot everything be stated clearly all at once?” Jiang Sui sounded somewhat impatient.
Feeling a pang of guilt and slight apprehension, Ji Kongqing stepped back a few paces until she felt it was a safe distance before speaking. “Once the medical hall is up and running, can the people Your Highness arranged to tail me only guard the outside and refrain from recording my treatment processes?”
At these words, a distinct change in Jiang Sui’s expression was clearly visible to Ji Kongqing.
The next second, Jiang Sui drew the long sword from behind her. Before Ji Kongqing could react, the blade was already rested against her neck, a mere centimeter from her carotid artery; the slightest movement on her part would mean sealing her throat with blood.
Ji Kongqing widened her eyes in terror and swallowed hard.
Just as she had anticipated, Jiang Sui was a woman of explosive temper and deep suspicion. She had merely mentioned it casually, yet the woman wanted to draw her sword and kill her. Truly terrifying.
“How did you find out?” Jiang Sui looked coldly at Ji Kongqing, her gaze piercing as if trying to drill a hole through her.
Ji Kongqing stared at the sword in her hand, thinking that if Jiang Sui was unsatisfied with her answer, she might genuinely kill her the next second. Living alongside royalty truly was like sleeping with a tiger.
Ji Kongqing sighed. “Your Highness managed to rush over and save me so quickly last time, which already explained everything. Although I am easily fooled, I am not a fool.”
Jiang Sui observed Ji Kongqing’s expression, realizing she truly had not lied. Only then did she withdraw her sword and nod. “Correct, this palace did have people monitor you.”
“But such surveillance is solely due to your special status; this palace has no alternative. You are a hostage of the Kingdom of Thousand Birds who has now entered my estate, and this palace has the responsibility to oversee that you do not commit acts detrimental to Jiaming.”
“I understand Your Highness’s concerns, which is why I merely requested that those monitoring me not record my treatment procedures. If Your Highness remains uneasy, you may station more people outside the medical hall to keep watch. As for the personnel I employ, Your Highness is free to investigate their backgrounds at will.”
Ji Kongqing did not wish for the secret of her system to be discovered by Jiang Sui. Therefore, even though Jiang Sui might scold her or potentially want to kill her, she had no other choice.
Once Ji Kongqing finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room grew cold.
Jiang Sui watched Ji Kongqing, offering no stance for a long while.
The two locked gazes directly for a good while, and Ji Kongqing failed to discern whether this woman agreed or disagreed.
Not possessing the formidable composure of Jiang Sui, who had carved her path through storms and bloodshed, Ji Kongqing’s momentum quickly waned, and she surrendered first.
Attempting to soften Jiang Sui’s heart with a coquettish tone, she pleaded, “I beg of you, Your Highness.”
“Why can you not be monitored?” Jiang Sui withdrew her gaze and lightly tapped the table. “Ji Kongqing, could it be you harbor some unspeakable secret?”