Chapter 18
“I never cared about status. Yan’er is kind-hearted and noble. Even the princess can’t compare to her.” Su Hao’s eyes were firm.
Su Yingxue’s eyes were filled with a hint of teasing. “Brother, it seems like you like Miss Wu very much.”
“I…”
Su Hao’s handsome face blushed. He lowered his head and looked at the sachet, his expression turning serious.
The first time he saw Jinyan, he felt that she was different from the rest. He was used to seeing pretentious women in the palace, but he had never seen a girl with such a pure heart. She pitied the poor and the weak, but she did not have the slightest bit of coquettishness.
“She’s steady and calm, and she doesn’t fight with the world. Being with her always makes one feel calm and fine.” When Su Hao mentioned Wu Jinyan, the longing in his eyes was as dazzling as the clouds in the sky.
When Su Yingxue heard this, she shook her head slightly. “It’s good to be steady and calm, but if she doesn’t fight with the world, she won’t be able to be with you.”
“Why?” Su Hao was slightly stunned.
He realized that Su Yingxue had become exceptionally deep. Even he could not understand her anymore.
Su Yingxue looked at Su Hao. “Because you’re a general, and you’ll become an official in the future. You’ll be inheriting the title of nobility. If your wife doesn’t fight for it, how can she advance and retreat with you?”
“Sister, you mean…”
“Brother, if Miss Wu has fallen in love with you, she will definitely work hard for you. To be able to predict that I would come to pick up the sachet and give it to you, it proves that she is also an intelligent woman.”
Su Hao held the sachet and smiled gently, “She is smart, but she often makes me feel that she is difficult to approach.”
“There will be a chance. Brother, you’re tired today. Go back to the manor and rest early.”
Su Yingxue comforted him.
Su Hao nodded and wanted to go back with her.
Su Yingxue said that she still wanted to go shopping with Zhilan, so Su Hao did not force her.
Su Yingxue brought Zhilan into the carriage but did not return with her.
Zhilan knew that Su Yingxue had other things to do, so she did not ask. However, she was curious. “Miss, do you think Miss Wu will be with Eldest Young Master?”
No emotions could be seen on Su Yingxue’s beautiful face. “Of course, it’s good that Brother can be with the person he loves.”
“I think with your help, the Eldest Young Master will definitely be able to get what he wants!”
Zhilan blinked mischievously.
Su Yingxue flicked her head. “Do you know what I want to do?”
“Miss will definitely help the Eldest Young Master!”
“Yes, you’ve become smarter!” Su Yingxue patted Zhilan’s little head.
Zhilan smiled. “It’s not that I’ve become smarter, but it’s you, Miss! In the past, you only cared about pleasing others, but now you’re using your ability to protect others. I’m protected by you, and so is the Eldest Young Master!”
Su Yingxue’s heart softened for a moment. Yes, she wanted to use her own ability to protect her loved ones!
However, her current ability was not strong enough!
She wanted to be stronger!
Zhilan returned to the manor to seal the news, and Su Yingxue went to the medical center alone.
Manager Qi was a very efficient person. In just a few days, he had already bought over the surrounding shops and was renovating them.
Upon seeing her, Manager Qi smiled and went out to welcome her. “Miss, come and take a look. Are you satisfied with the progress?”
Su Yingxue looked around. Manager Qi had expanded the medical center and recruited new people. The scale of the center looked three times bigger than before.
She nodded in satisfaction. “Manager Qi, you’ve worked hard.”
“This is what I should do.” Manager Qi’s eyes were filled with gratification. When he saw Su Yingxue, he felt hopeful.
Su Yingxue brought him to the back hall and took out some rare medicinal herbs. She instructed him, “Release the news that the medical center will continuously supply good medicine. Moreover, it can cure all difficult and miscellaneous diseases. However, the number of medicines is limited, and the time of the attending physician is also limited. They’ll need to make an appointment in advance.”
Manager Qi immediately understood. “This can quickly increase the reputation of the center, but the doctor who’s going to treat difficult and complicated diseases, will it be you, Miss?”
Su Yingxue had shown him her skills that day, and he knew that Su Yingxue’s medical skills were extraordinary. She must be like his old master, having the heart to treat patients and save people.
Su Yingxue nodded. “I can treat the illness, but I can’t reveal my identity. Therefore, if a patient comes, come to the Marquis’s Manor to inform me first.”
Manager Qi understood Su Yingxue’s concern. “Don’t worry, Miss. But where did you get your herbs?”
It was normal for Manager Qi to have doubts. After all, the medicinal herbs that Su Yingxue casually took out were expensive. Manager Qi was afraid that she would be punished for doing things for the medical center.
“Don’t worry, it’s from legitimate channels, and they’ll always supply them. You just have to look after the medical center.”
Su Yingxue did not explain too much to him.
Manager Qi felt that she was mysterious, but she wasn’t a talkative person, so he would run the center in peace.
When the two of them came out, Su Yingxue saw a woman asking the clerk at the counter, “Brother, this cold medicine contains ephedra, ledebgrass, and swordgrass. They are all cheap herbs, so why do they cost so much?”
The clerk patiently replied, “These three ingredients only cost ten to twenty dollars. However, they also need to be mixed with cinnamon twigs and morning glory. Only by boiling them together, and consuming them can the cold be cured. Therefore, this medicine costs one tael of silver.”
Wu Jinyan thought for a moment and pursed her lips. “I only want these three medicines. Please calculate the cost of this medicine.”
“But Miss, with just these three ingredients, the medicinal effects will be greatly reduced and the illness will not be cured.”
“It’s okay. I picked the daphnes and will soak it in water. I’ll also add chrysanthemum petals to boil with the medicine and then bathe with mugwort to ward off the cold.”
“This…” The clerk was in a difficult position, but he saw that Wu Jinyan often came to buy medicine and knew a little about her family’s situation, so he followed her instructions and prescribed her new medicine.
Su Yingxue raised her eyebrows and asked Manager Qi, “Do you recognize this lady? She seems to know a lot.”
“It’s Minister Wu’s daughter. She often comes to our shop to buy medicine, and she even learned how to identify medicine from the old doctor. She also knows how to use spices. She can’t afford many herbs, so she picks flowers and grasses herself.”
Manager Qi had a good impression of Wu Jinyan, but he felt sorry for her. “They’re both young misses from rich families. Others compete with each other for beauty, but Miss Jinyan pitied the poor and the weak. It’s a pity that she has such a kind heart, but because her birth mother was born in a lowly family and she is the child of a concubine, sigh…”
“If you want to defy the heavens and change your fate, why do you need to look at your background?” Su Yingxue’s eyes were sharp.
She pointed at Wu Jinyan. “Let her see the recruitment notice for the medical center.”
“Miss wants to recruit her to the center?” Manager Qi was slightly surprised.
“It depends on her wishes.”
Su Yingxue left after saying that. She saw Wu Jinyan walking in another direction with the medicine. There were no carriages or sedan chairs. She was dressed simply, but she strode forward with her head held high. She had an aura that ordinary people did not have. She could not help but take a few more glances at her.
In her previous life, Su Hao died because of her, and he did not settle down and get married. It was likely that he always had Wu Jinyan in his heart, but they could not be together until death.
In this life, she would not let this tragedy repeat itself.