19 – Leaving the Palace to Get Rich (Revised)
Six taels might be little, but at least it was money, more than enough for some snacks.
That evening, Jiang Lige still took Luzhu out of the palace.
The sun had not yet set. The two disguised themselves as young eunuchs and arrived at the palace gate.
Before leaving, Jiang Lige had pasted a fake beard on her face for a slight disguise. After all, she was the ‘Chosen One’ who had been seen by thousands of commoners—it wouldn’t be good if she were recognized.
“Which palace are you from? What are you going out for? Do you have a pass?” The gate guard stopped them fiercely.
Jiang Lige took out her token.
“My humble apologies!”
The guard immediately knelt on the ground upon seeing the token.
It truly was still Shang Guanqi’s world inside the palace.
Jiang Lige put away the token and swaggered out of the palace.
It wasn’t dark yet, and the night market hadn’t come to life. The two first went to the capital’s largest pharmacy—Jishi Hall.
“Are you two here for a consultation or to buy medicine?” a shop assistant greeted them.
“Do you have any nourishing medicine for yin deficiency and dryness? I have an elder sister at home who has been frail since childhood,” Jiang Lige asked.
“Yes, yes, we have White Phoenix Pills and Donkey-Hide Gelatin Paste here, both excellent medicines for nourishing yin,” the assistant immediately brought out some medicines to promote.
Jiang Lige looked them over—their quality was average.
“These are all too low-grade. What’s the best you have?” Jiang Lige said, tossing her money pouch onto the counter, making a jingling sound.
Seeing a big customer, the assistant beamed and brought out an exquisite brocade box containing a jade porcelain bottle.
“Take a look at this, young master. This is the Revitalization Pill, made from Doctor Han’s exclusive formula, using eighteen rare medicinal ingredients. It’s only sold in our shop in the entire capital.”
Hearing this, Jiang Lige turned and quietly asked Luzhu, “Is this Doctor Han very skilled?”
Luzhu replied, “The Crown Prince has been unconscious all this time. I heard the Empress Dowager has been searching for Doctor Xue’s whereabouts.”
With this comparison, Jiang Lige understood.
“How much is this?”
“Not expensive—two hundred taels per box.”
Two hundred taels? Luzhu timidly glanced at Jiang Lige.
Jiang Lige crushed the pill and tasted it, frowning slightly.
Although she had no sense of smell, she could still identify several ingredients. These were all good medicines for nourishing yin, but they were all piled together, making the effect too strong. In the short term, one might feel better, but long-term use would only harm the essence and blood, making the body weaker the more one took it.
She curled her lip and tossed it aside. “This thing costs two hundred taels? Aren’t you afraid it’ll kill people?”
Seeing her attitude, the assistant’s face immediately fell.
“Get out, get out. If you can’t afford it, don’t cause trouble. Doctor Xue’s medical skills are superb—he can revive the dead and heal bones. His medicines are priceless. This formula was hard-earned by our shopkeeper and isn’t available anywhere else. We’ve been selling it for years, and which noble lady in the capital doesn’t praise it?”
The assistant directly pushed Jiang Lige out. Luzhu, indignant, wanted to go back and argue.
“These insolent commoners, how dare they!”
Jiang Lige pulled her back. “Let’s go quickly. We have serious business to attend to.”
After walking for a while, the two entered another pharmacy called “Hundred Herbs Hall.”
This shop wasn’t as large as Jishi Hall, but Luzhu said the shopkeeper here was benevolent and often provided free consultations for poor commoners, earning an excellent reputation.
Jiang Lige walked in, and again, a shop assistant came to greet her. Jiang Lige got straight to the point, taking out the pills she had made.
“I’m selling medicine. Do you buy it?”
The young assistant didn’t understand and called for the shopkeeper. A young man in a gray robe walked out from the back hall.”I am Shen Mobai. Allow me to first examine your medicine.”
Without judging by appearances, Shen Mobai directly took a pill, smelled it, and then tasted it.
Luzhu felt a bit nervous. Her master had never studied medicine; she had only made these pills by following medical texts. She worried whether they might give themselves away.
“Top-grade lingzhi, supplemented with lily and adenophora root, excellent for replenishing qi and nourishing blood, and most suitable for nourishing yin. Excellent medicine!” Shen Mobai immediately identified the formula, his expression somewhat excited.
Luzhu looked at Jiang Lige with admiration. Her Majesty truly was the Chosen One—so incredibly skilled!
Jiang Lige remained calm and unperturbed. This medicine was made from the ingredients Shang Guanqi had sent over—first-rate, top-quality medicinal herbs that far surpassed anything that so-called Doctor Xue could offer.
Any physician could tell the difference between good and bad.
“Name your price. We will take this medicine,” Shen Mobai said straightforwardly.
Jiang Lige smiled mysteriously and said, “I will sell this medicine, but not individually.”