Mo Lixia slept through the morning and finally felt more like herself. A-Mu stayed by her side the whole time.
"Miss, here—have some red bean porridge," Xiqiu urged.
"Mmm." Mo Lixia pushed herself up lazily, but her throat burned with pain. She took two sips and lost interest, hugging A-Mu as she lay back down. Strangely, she wasn't sleepy at all.
"Xiqiu, Hongshang… you two were up all night, and you've been taking care of me all morning. Go rest," she said.
"We're not tired," Xiqiu insisted. "You've eaten too little. Have a bit more."
Mo Lixia shook her head. "My throat hurts too much. I'll eat later."
"Your throat hurts?" Hongshang brightened. "Then let A-Mu give you one of his pills. His pills work amazingly."
"A-Mu… makes pills?" Mo Lixia blinked.
"You didn't know?" Xiqiu looked genuinely confused. "He's been with you for so long…"
She hesitated, then explained in a rush.
"Last night when you had a fever, it was A-Mu who noticed and ran to my room to wake me. Young Master boiled a fever-reducing decoction for you, but after you drank it, your fever came back. It happened again the next time—no matter what, it kept returning. The General was about to send for an imperial physician when A-Mu started squeaking."
Xiqiu swallowed. "That's when we discovered A-Mu… had produced several black pills… and he shoved them straight into your mouth."
Mo Lixia stared. "Produced… how?"
Hongshang coughed, her face turning pink. "It was… from his droppings."
"What?" Mo Lixia's face contorted in horror.
Xiqiu hurried to reassure her. "Miss, don't be disgusted! A-Mu eats medicinal herbs most of the time, and last night he ate a lot. He's… very clean, really."
"Yes, yes!" Hongshang grabbed a chamber pot as if bracing for disaster. "Miss, don't throw up—"
But Mo Lixia wasn't gagging for the reason they thought.
If A-Mu's droppings could become medicine… then all those expensive herbs he'd eaten before… all those pills she'd had thrown away…
Oh, no.
Mo Lixia collapsed back onto the bed, burying her face in her hands and raking her fingers through her hair. She was furious at herself.
Then she grabbed A-Mu and glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
A-Mu lowered his head pitifully and squeaked.
"What? You told me before?" Mo Lixia frowned.
She'd always kept two small ceramic bowls for him—one for urine, one for droppings. Back in the mountains, she remembered cleaning up once and A-Mu had tugged at her insistently, trying to stop her…
Was that what he meant?
She felt like an idiot. What a waste.
"Master, what's wrong?" Mo Chen walked in to find her beating her chest in regret.
Xiqiu covered her mouth, laughing. "Miss just learned what A-Mu fed her last night."
Mo Chen smiled. "Master, isn't A-Mu incredible?"
Mo Lixia gave him a flat look. "Mm."
"Last night, when I came in, I saw him carrying herbs and eating them," Mo Chen continued, voice full of amazement. "At first I thought he was hungry. Later, when you stabilized, I realized—he was eating exactly the herbs that matched your symptoms. And the same medicine works better when it comes from A-Mu's pills. Master… even though it's from droppings, it doesn't smell at all."
"I'm not upset because of that," Mo Lixia snapped. "I'm upset because I threw away so many of those pills before. Those were treasures."
"Master, don't be sad. Now you know. Right, A-Mu?"
A-Mu squeaked enthusiastically.
"Xiqiu," Mo Lixia said at once, "bring me the bowl."
"Yes." Xiqiu retrieved it from a corner of the outer room.
There were only a few pills inside—she'd had it cleaned just the day before yesterday. Mo Lixia lifted them and sniffed carefully.
A strong herbal scent. No foul odor at all.
"These can't be used," she decided. "He's been eating too many different herbs—everything's mixed together, and the effects will be chaotic."
Mo Chen leaned in and sniffed too. "Master, I can't smell anything."
Mo Lixia flicked his forehead. "You've gotten arrogant. New assignment: smell and identify two herbs every day."
"Yes, Master."
Mo Lixia stared at the pills, thinking. "From now on, when we feed A-Mu herbs, it needs to be formula by formula. One prescription at a time. That way the pills will be useful."
Mo Chen nodded. "Agreed."
She wasn't done worrying. Mo Lixia and Mo Chen interrogated A-Mu for ages, terrified he might have more bizarre abilities. After confirming there weren't any others, she finally let it go.
Even so, the discovery made her happy. To her, A-Mu felt like a gift from the heavens.
For the next few days, Mo Lixia didn't go out. She experimented carefully, feeding A-Mu different formulas and collecting the pills he produced. She stored them in separate porcelain bottles, sorted by type.
After the shops reopened, Mo Lixia mostly stayed home making supplies they needed. Hongshang ran back and forth handling store matters.
Soon, the Lantern Festival arrived. Mu Tong and Yu Fu both invited her to come view the lanterns with them. Since she'd missed the temple fair last time, they refused to let her decline.
Mo Lixia had no choice but to agree. She'd been coughing now and then, and afraid she'd disgust them, so she wore a face covering.
"Miss, Young Master is busy today. Young Madam and Young Master Chen are already getting ready," Xiqiu said anxiously when she saw Mo Lixia still unhurried.
Mo Lixia chuckled. Honestly, the Lantern Festival in this era was basically a matchmaking carnival. She waved a hand. "Fine. Hurry and get dressed. Tonight I'll take you out too, alright?"
"Really?" Xiqiu lit up and ran off at once.
Hongshang sighed. "Miss, you spoil Xiqiu too much. She doesn't even act like a maid anymore."
"Let her," Mo Lixia said easily. "Aren't you going to prepare too?"
"I don't need anything," Hongshang replied, glancing at her simple outfit.
"It's the Lantern Festival. How can you go without a lantern?"
"We can buy them on the street," Hongshang suggested. "There are all kinds."
"Street lanterns all look the same," Mo Lixia mused. "If you make one yourself, it's more meaningful. Hongshang, I want to make something different."
She sat on the couch thinking, then suddenly looked up. "Does the kitchen have pumpkins?"
"I think so."
"Then let's go."
That night, their group poured into the streets. Mo Lixia wore a white gauze dress embroidered with pale pink plum blossoms. In her hand, she carried a pumpkin lantern carved with a cute cartoon girl's face.
Mo Chen carried an orange lantern. Cold Xue held a paper lantern shaped like a determined little bird.
"Lixia," Cold Xue whispered, tugging her sleeve, "people are staring at us."
"Sister-in-law," Mo Lixia said lightly, "they're just jealous of our lanterns."
"Exactly!" Mo Chen declared, proud as anything.
It was still early; the lantern event hadn't fully begun yet. But the snack streets were already packed shoulder to shoulder.
Everyone—maids and attendants alike—carried a lantern. Only Tian Mai walked at the rear, a sword cradled in his arms.
Xiqiu was especially excited. Whenever she spotted something tasty, she rushed to buy it so everyone could share.
It was Mo Lixia's first time seeing the ancient Lantern Festival. In the mountains, the town had been too far, so she'd never gone. The atmosphere here was far livelier than anything she remembered from modern celebrations.
Mu Tong and Yu Fu were already waiting at a snack stall.
"Lixia! Sister-in-law! You're here!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Mo Lixia said.
"We just got here too," Mu Tong replied. "Come on—there's a lantern display ahead."
As they walked, Yu Fu stared at their lanterns with envy. "Sister-in-law, your lantern is so pretty! And Lixia—what did you make yours from?"
"A pumpkin," Mo Lixia said. Then she took two bird-shaped lanterns from Hongshang. "I made extras for you two."
"Thank you!" Mu Tong turned it in her hands, delighted. "It's beautiful."
They ate as they went, but poor Tian Mai and Chu Yao ended up carrying an absurd amount. Tian Mai already had a sword—within moments, his other arm was stacked with bags. Fortunately, he'd brought two guards.
Passing a small eatery, Mo Lixia glimpsed a young man inside looking awkward, with a pretty girl of around ten beside him—dark hair, porcelain skin, delicate features. Another young man sat nearby, and the two looked utterly absorbed in each other while they ate.
Mo Lixia smiled to herself and led the group toward the city moat.
By then, the riverside was crowded with young men and women, along with couples and lovers.
"Mu Tong," Mo Lixia teased, "why isn't that Young Master Jiang accompanying you tonight?"
Mu Tong's cheeks turned red. "He… has something to do."
Mo Lixia dragged out a playful, knowing "Oh…"
Along the bank, noble households had set up lantern exhibitions—rows of elaborate pieces that drew crowds. Small vendors also took the chance to earn extra money.
When Mo Lixia looked out over the water, she saw lanterns already drifting along the western section. There were even unspoken rules: married couples released lanterns early, lovers who weren't yet married did it when the crowd was thickest, and those nursing one-sided affection released theirs near the end.
"That lantern is gorgeous."
A soft voice cut in. Someone had blocked their path.
Mo Lixia looked up to see Beiye Yinman.
The girl in yellow beside her pointed at Mo Lixia's pumpkin lantern. "Miss, where did you buy that?"
Mu Tong immediately called out loudly, delighted to cause trouble. "Oh, isn't this Miss Beiye and Miss Yin?"
Beiye Yinman offered a gentle smile. "Sorry. We were just drawn to your lanterns. Could you tell us where you bought them? We'd like to purchase one as well."
Mo Lixia smiled politely. "We made them ourselves."
Beiye Yinman froze, her expression tightening—then she smoothed it over in an instant. "I see. Miss Mo is truly skillful. To turn a pumpkin into a lantern… not simple at all."
After Mo Lixia's group left, the girls behind Beiye Yinman stared longingly after the distinctive lanterns, then down at their own expensive, delicate ones. The excitement in their faces faded.
"We should go," Beiye Yinman said, stepping forward. Inside, jealousy churned.
Why was that Mo girl always different? That creature she kept, those unusual little things, now even this lantern—everything about her stood out. People said she had a terrible reputation, yet she acted as if she'd never heard a word. She looked carefree every time she appeared.
And that little pet didn't seem to be with her tonight.
How she wished she had something that lovable. The fox Prince Su had given her had been cute when it was small, but as it grew it became messy and ill-mannered—leaving filth everywhere. It made her irritated just thinking about it.
Someone sighed. "Why do we always run into 'talented women' whenever we go out?"
"Forget them," another girl snapped. "They'll go solve riddles next. Let's hurry over before we bump into them again and ruin our mood."
Mo Lixia didn't care about the interruption at all. She led her group to the riddle area.
The lantern riddles were organized by several merchants together. Rope lines stretched across the riverbank, each set containing ten riddles. The prizes were impressive—annual VIP status at one famous restaurant, a thousand-year ginseng set from another pharmacy—
But Mo Lixia's eyes locked on a prize from Qianzhi Hall: a set of deer antler.
She grinned.
Xiqiu ran back after checking the rules. "Miss, I asked. To win, you have to clear five sets in a row. Each set has an attendant beside it—you just give him the answers. After you clear five sets, you can choose one prize. Whoever finishes first picks first, and you have to do it alone."
"Five sets?" Mo Lixia murmured. "So it won't be that easy."
"Then let's each pick a set," she decided.
"I'll take this one!" Mu Tong pointed eagerly.
"Then I'll take the one next to you," Yu Fu said with a smile.
"Sister-in-law?" Mo Lixia asked.
Cold Xue had been studying them nervously. "You choose first. I'll look for something easier…"
Yu Fu laughed. "So you're not good at these! Stay near us. If you get stuck, we can help each other."
Cold Xue nodded quickly. "That's a good idea. I'll pick this set."
Mo Lixia also told the maids to try a few for fun.
Finally, she selected her own set.
The attendant saw her approach. "Miss, I'll read them out. Just answer."
Mo Lixia hesitated—then thought of the deer antler and nodded. "Alright."
He began.
"A carrying pole makes a character, both ends can be seen. Guess an idiom."
"Consistent from start to finish," Mo Lixia replied smoothly.
"By the window, river water shows spring colors. Name a medicinal herb."
"Kongqing."
"Flying sand and rolling stones. Guess one character."
"The character 'shao.'"
"Metal, wood, water, fire. Guess one character."
"Kan."
"Abandon writing for warfare. Guess an idiom."
"Cast aside the brush and join the army."
The attendant's eyes widened. "Miss, you're amazing. All correct. Next: It's called an ox, but it can't pull a plow. You say it's weak, yet it carries a house on its back. Guess an animal."
Mo Lixia paused—then her eyes lit up. "A snail."
She cleared set after set. When she reached the fifth, she only needed four more riddles to win her prize—yet she heard someone had already finished and claimed a reward.
Mu Tong whispered to Yu Fu, amazed, "She's too fast. How many riddle books has she memorized?"
Yu Fu sighed. "Ask her later. I barely read those books. These days, Miaoning has been reading to me, so I only remembered a little…"
Mo Lixia kept going.
When she finally cleared five sets, the attendant said excitedly, "Miss, you've cleared five. Please come claim your prize."
Mo Lixia beamed. She called to her friends in the distance, "I'm done! You keep going!"
Then she glanced toward Xiqiu and the others, and followed Tian Mai toward the prize table.
"I can't believe it," someone near the line exclaimed. "She cleared five sets by herself—she just beat the famous 'top talents' outright."
Mo Lixia only smiled and said nothing.
"This is your deer antler," the attendant said, handing it over.
Mo Lixia inspected it to confirm it was genuine, then turned to leave—only for the attendant to call out, "Miss, please wait."
"Yes?"
"Our master said you're the fastest and most accurate winner in years, so there's a special prize for you."
He produced a delicate wooden box.
"Inside is a Xiuyan Herb. It's not easy to raise. It prefers shade. If you don't know how to care for it, you can consult cultivation manuals."
Mo Lixia's delight was immediate. A rare herb like that was a true treasure—and a gift like this wouldn't be counterfeit at such a public event.
She didn't return to her friends directly, since no one was allowed to help during the riddles. Instead, she sat in a nearby riverside pavilion and had Tian Mai send word that she'd wait there.
The area near the river was unusually quiet, since so many people were busy solving riddles. The corridor of the pavilion was long, and in contrast to the bright lantern displays it was dim. A few hanging lanterns had been put out by the wind, leaving patches of shadow.
Mo Lixia sat with her chin in her hand, watching the crowd—endless streams of people admiring lights like scattered stars, blazing in every color. The view was breathtaking.
She felt something shift near her foot.
Thunk.
Mo Lixia looked down and saw a small object glowing faintly. She picked it up—a throwing dart.
Frowning, she looked around and finally noticed a shadow not far away.
Because it was so dark, she couldn't make out the person clearly. She only saw a wheelchair silhouette.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly, lifting her pumpkin lantern to cast light toward him. Then she saw the familiar mask.
Prince Kang.
"This is yours, Your Highness?" she asked, holding up the dart as she stepped closer.
Before she could react, Prince Kang's hand snapped out. With a sharp motion, he extinguished her lantern—then spun and pulled her into his arms.
She gasped.
His palm covered her mouth instantly.
"Don't shout," he whispered. "Be quiet."
Mo Lixia's eyes went wide with fear.
He was about to explain—when his gaze turned razor-cold. He flicked the dart out in a single motion.
A dull impact sounded, and a dark figure dropped.
Mo Lixia clutched his robe in panic.
"Don't make a sound," he warned again.
She nodded frantically.
Only then did he exhale and release her mouth. With her soft weight in his arms, he seemed to hesitate, unsure what to say. Yet seeing her fingers gripping his clothes, he felt a strange, unexpected pleasure—something warm and bright.
Mo Lixia sat on his lap, barely daring to breathe. In a short span, he threw several more darts—each one striking true.
Then, with one arm holding her, he moved.
To Mo Lixia, it happened in a blur: a twist of his body, a lift of the wheelchair, and suddenly they were up in a tree—then on the pavilion roof.
The view from above was even more stunning.
Prince Kang remained on alert, scanning the shadows. The high ground gave sight, but also exposure. Thankfully, tall trees on both sides concealed them enough.
Soon, a man in black appeared on the roof.
"My lord. All handled," he reported.
Prince Kang's eyes narrowed. "Check again. Make sure none slipped through."
"Yes."
Mo Lixia listened, realizing the danger had likely passed. She whispered, "Can I speak now?"
Prince Kang's lips curved. "You can."
Mo Lixia studied him. With his mask on, only his eyes were visible—and when he smiled, his eyes softened in a way that surprised her.
"You have nice eyes when you smile," she blurted.
Prince Kang stilled.
Mo Lixia immediately felt awkward. She coughed twice and looked away toward the lantern sea in the distance.
For a while, neither spoke. They simply watched the scattered lanterns glitter below—an entire world of light and celebration.
Mo Lixia could see Mu Tong and Cold Xue and the others beginning to release lanterns onto the water. From this quiet, hidden place, watching them felt strangely peaceful.
A gust hit her throat. She covered her mouth and coughed lightly.
"You're sick?" Prince Kang's voice came from above her, deep and gentle.
"It's mostly better," she said. "I just cough when the wind catches me."
"Be careful," he said quietly. "Winter colds are stubborn."
She nodded. "Mm."
Silence again.
Then Prince Kang asked, almost softly, "Do you like the view here?"
His breath brushed her ear, warm enough to make her cheeks heat. She nodded, forcing a small smile. "I do."
"Good." A pause. "Were you frightened just now?"
"A little," she admitted, glancing at him and then quickly turning away.
After a long moment, he said, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"What? There's going to be a next time?" she blurted.
The line made them both smile, the tension loosening. The air between them turned lighter, almost playful.
"They say you're terrifying," Mo Lixia murmured. "But I don't think so."
"You… aren't afraid of me?" There was a faint, cautious edge to his voice, as if he truly cared about the answer.
"It was only at first," she said honestly. "Your mask is a little scary. If you wore a nicer-looking mask, I think fewer people would call you frightening."
Prince Kang chuckled and shook his head. "The mask is only part of it. I can be cruel." He studied her. "You're still not afraid?"
"I don't know," she said. "Maybe I haven't seen enough. But someone who can say that out loud… doesn't seem like the kind of cruelty people imagine."
He laughed—low and rich, the sound warm enough to make her feel jealous for a second.
How could a man laugh that beautifully?
Hidden in the dark, the guards nearly fell out of the trees at the sound. They had almost never heard their master laugh like that.
Mo Lixia looked toward the river again. "They're looking for me."
Prince Kang's expression softened. "Alright. I'll take you down."
Even if he wanted to keep her longer, he knew he shouldn't push.
With one smooth movement, he brought them back down into the pavilion.
The moment her feet touched the floor, Mo Lixia stood up quickly. Sitting on his lap had been… too intimate, too strange.
Prince Kang felt the sudden emptiness in his arms like a missing warmth. He didn't like it.
Mo Lixia cleared her throat, embarrassed. "I'll go now. Thank you for saving me, Your Highness."
"Be careful on the way," he replied.
She nodded and turned toward her friends. After a few steps, she paused and looked back, as if she wanted to say something—but in the end, she swallowed it.
She had just won a Xiuyan Herb. She had thought about using it to make ointment for his facial injury… but worried it would be too forward.
So she said nothing.
Prince Kang saw her hesitation and almost asked—yet he held his tongue.
"Lixia, where did you go?" Yu Fu demanded the moment she returned. "We already released all our lanterns!"
"I… sorry," Mo Lixia said quickly. "I sat in that pavilion and fell asleep."
"You fell asleep in this cold?" Mu Tong scolded. "You're unbelievable."
"Come on," Cold Xue said, smiling as she pulled Mo Lixia along. "Let's head back. It's late—Mother will worry."
Mo Lixia nodded. "Mm."
After the Lantern Festival, Mo Lixia threw herself back into work. Toothbrushes had been launched, and at first people didn't understand them. But once someone asked and saw how they worked, they bought them. Sales were surprisingly strong.
She priced each one at one tael. Expensive, yes—but boar bristles were hard to obtain, and the cost reflected that. New products started high, and later could be promoted and reduced.
Mo Chen also returned to schooling and studied daily. General Mo arranged a comfortable carriage for him with Hao Yang as guard, and Chu Yao accompanying. If Mo Chen finished early, he could go straight to the pharmacy to help.
It was the best of both worlds—study and practice.
Ever since her encounter with Prince Kang, Mo Lixia kept thinking about his face. The Xiuyan Herb was so rare precisely because it could heal many types of skin damage. Instead of planting it, she ground it into an ointment.
She also mixed in a bit of A-Mu's blood.
Over time, Mo Lixia discovered that A-Mu was priceless from head to toe. Even his urine was medicinal—though mild. The truly powerful parts were his saliva and blood, especially the blood. When A-Mu's blood was added to medicine, the potency multiplied.
The ointment was ready.
But how was she supposed to give it to him?
If she sent it without being asked, it might look like she had feelings for him.
She didn't. Honestly. She'd only met him twice. She simply didn't want all her father and brother's efforts to be wasted. And besides—his legs were crippled, and he had to hide behind an icy mask. It was miserable.
This was pure kindness. Nothing else.
Still, she delayed.
As the weather warmed, Mo Lixia asked her mother for an estate so she could grow flowers. There was a property outside the city where the crops had been poor for years. She took it over immediately.
She purchased a large amount of flower seeds and brought Master Pi along to guide the estate workers.
When she arrived, the manager, Steward Yu, came out with servants to welcome her. He was thin and sharp-eyed, clearly capable.
"Miss," Steward Yu said with a smile, "you're new here and may not know the layout. It's already past noon. This old servant had food prepared. After you eat, I can show you around properly."
Mo Lixia smiled. "No need, Steward Yu. We already ate."
"Then this old servant will take you to see the grounds."
She followed him in. Past the entrance, they walked for a while and reached a neat courtyard for the owners to stay in on occasional visits—pink walls and gray tiles, clean lacquered beams and railings, intricate carvings everywhere.
Mo Lixia only glanced at the buildings. She wasn't here to live—she cared about the soil.
As they walked, Steward Yu pointed ahead. "That land is ours. Over a hundred mu. For some reason, the grain hasn't grown well these past years. Someone checked and said the soil changed—no longer suited for crops. But flowers should be fine. If you think it's not enough, there's also an uncultivated hill ahead. It mostly grows wild grass and herbs. We could plant there too."
Mo Lixia's eyes brightened. "If we plant on the hill, will officials demand fees or cause trouble?"
Steward Yu laughed. "No one manages that hill. Officials don't care for it, and developing it takes labor and money. If we plant flowers, no one will bother us."
"That makes sense," Mo Lixia agreed, then turned to Master Pi. "What do you think? Can we plant?"
Master Pi examined the soil and nodded. "No issues. Flowers will grow well here."
"Then we start planting now," Mo Lixia decided.
She then told Steward Yu, "Master Pi knows this best. If you don't understand something, ask him. By next year, you'll need to take over."
Steward Yu promised confidently, "Don't worry, Miss. By summer, the estate will be full of fragrance. Even that hill will be covered in flowers."
"With that, I'm at ease," Mo Lixia said. "I'm leaving the backend to you."
They spent hours planning—flower beds, paths, a pavilion, irrigation channels. Even if it was for production, it could still be beautiful.
By the time they finished half a circuit, the sun was already sinking. The last golden light covered the land warmly as they settled final decisions. Mo Lixia would handle seed purchases, and Master Pi would stay on the estate for a few days to help with planning and planting.
Mu Tong and Yu Fu were doing the same on their own estates. The three of them stayed busy with flower cultivation for days.
With all this arranged, Mo Lixia finally slept well.
Now the balm shop had managers. The toothbrushes had a sales path. Medicine production could be handled by Mo Chen. Only incense was still mostly done by her personally—Mo Chen was still learning and needed guidance.
One day, with time on her hands, Mo Lixia went to the clinic. Mo Chen hadn't returned from school yet. In the back-room workshop, she experimented with new pills.
Once pills were introduced, many patients preferred them. Bitter decoctions were avoided whenever possible. As a result, more and more people in the capital came to their Qilin Pharmacy.
Some smaller pharmacies were starting to struggle. Mo Lixia didn't know whether that was good or bad.
She handed the finished bottles to Mo Yan.
"These are high-quality medicines," she explained. "Each bottle is labeled with its effect. They work fast, and many cases resolve quickly. The ingredients are rare and costly, so the price will be high."
Mo Yan scratched his head. "Then what price do you think is appropriate?"
Mo Lixia considered. "It depends on the condition. For chronic colds, fifty taels per pill. Usually three pills per course." She picked up a black bottle. "This one is for more difficult problems—fainting spells, severe internal issues, bleeding in the stool, patchy hair loss, men with urinary trouble… that sort of thing. This will be at least a hundred taels per pill."
Mo Yan looked shocked. "Isn't that too expensive?"
"People will pay for their lives," Mo Lixia said calmly. "For wealthy households, this is nothing. But for the poor… when we should waive fees, we still do. We can't forget what medicine is for."
"Understood," Mo Yan said sincerely.
After organizing the medicines, Mo Lixia checked the month's accounts. After wages and costs, the net profit was excellent.
She watched the crowded hall—patients coming nonstop—and felt like laughing in satisfaction, though she kept her face composed.
As she finished and prepared to leave with the month's earnings, loud gongs and drums sounded outside.
Curious, she leaned out and saw a procession coming toward the pharmacy. Two men carried a plaque inscribed in gold: "Healing the World with Medicine."
Mo Lixia turned to Doctor Hu, who had just finished taking a pulse, and smiled. "Doctor Hu—someone is bringing you a plaque."
Doctor Hu flushed. "This… I only did what I should. Why bring a plaque?"
"It's gratitude," Mo Lixia said lightly. "I can't stand these loud scenes. I'm leaving."
She slipped out before the procession could clog the doorway, taking Xiqiu and Hongshang with her.
Back at her courtyard, Mo Lixia bathed with A-Mu in her arms. When she came out, Mo Chen had returned.
"Master."
"Why are you so late today?" Mo Lixia asked, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I waited at the shop for a while and didn't see you, so I came home. Why are you drenched?"
"I went right after you left," Mo Chen said. "And I saw someone bring a plaque for you."
"For me?" Mo Lixia blinked. "Wasn't it for Doctor Hu?"
"Who told you that?"
"I… guessed."
Mo Chen gave her a scornful look. "It was from the Fang family. They said you cured their young madam. Now she's pregnant, so they came to thank you."
Mo Lixia finally understood. "Oh—Madam Fang."
So she'd missed her first plaque in this life. What a shame.
"Master," Mo Chen said, sounding almost smug, "you're going to be busy. Once that plaque went up, women lined up immediately. Mo Yan already started taking appointments."
"What do you mean 'line up for me to get pregnant'?" Mo Lixia smacked him lightly. "It's treatment for infertility. Speak properly."
Mo Chen scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
Mo Lixia clicked her tongue. "So a pharmacy can advertise by beating gongs and delivering plaques."
"Master," Mo Chen asked, puzzled, "what does 'advertise' mean?"
"It means promoting your own shop so everyone knows you," Mo Lixia said, then changed the subject. "By the way—did you finish the medical text I gave you?"
"Yes."
"Did you fully understand it?"
"Not completely. I'll study harder until I grasp it."
"Don't just memorize it—use it," Mo Lixia warned. "Understand?"
"Yes, Master."
Mo Chen puffed up proudly. "Actually, I already know more than Doctor Hu!"
Mo Lixia shot him a look. "Arrogance is dangerous. You may know more theory, but in treating patients, you're not better than Doctor Hu. Be humble. Ask questions. Sometimes even a so-so doctor knows one illness better than a famed physician."
Mo Chen frowned. "Why? Even geniuses can't treat certain illnesses?"
"Because a genius can be broad, but a mediocre doctor might have a family remedy for one thing," Mo Lixia said. "Specialization matters. Learn everyone's strengths—bit by bit. Eventually you become a true master."
Mo Chen nodded. "Understood. Then, Master… what kind of illness are you best at treating?"
Mo Lixia frowned, thinking… she didn't have a single category.
Mo Chen laughed. "You don't even know, do you?"
"I don't see enough patients," Mo Lixia muttered. "If I ran clinic daily, I'd figure it out."
Then Mo Chen added thoughtfully, "But I do know what you're best at."
"What?"
"Women's illnesses. And… your surgery."
Mo Lixia considered it. Maybe. But she also knew: being from the modern world meant her knowledge and technique were far ahead in many ways.
While she was thinking about her "specialty," she didn't realize that tomorrow would bring a flood of women waiting at her door.
…
The next morning, Mo Lixia hadn't even gotten out of bed when Mo Yan sent an apprentice to fetch her, saying there were so many people outside the pharmacy that the doorway could barely hold them.
Only then did Mo Lixia remember what Mo Chen had warned.
She hurried up, washed quickly, and rushed to the pharmacy.
The crowd shocked her.
A single plaque had created this effect?
At this rate, even if she didn't eat or drink all day, she couldn't finish seeing everyone.
Medicine was a doctor's duty, yes—but if she worked herself into collapse, what then? She was young. She had no intention of turning her life into endless exhaustion.
She complained in her heart, but she still had to treat the patients in front of her.
She had Mo Yan organize the line properly, went to the back room, changed into a white coat, and put on her face covering before returning.
Doctor Hu was busy too. Mo Lixia had the women come to the back courtyard instead, where there was a separate consultation room. These conditions were private; it was better this way.
Most cases that morning were infertility caused by gynecological problems. They didn't have enough suppositories in stock.
Mo Lixia had no choice but to tell them to come back tomorrow to purchase.
Some were cases of cold in the womb. For others, she couldn't find obvious issues. She could only suspect internal causes—blocked tubes, ovarian problems—things she couldn't confirm without instruments.
It made her think of A-Mu.
If A-Mu could "diagnose" it somehow…
But she hadn't brought him today, so she couldn't test it.
For those unclear cases, she told them to return tomorrow. She would bring A-Mu and see if he could help identify anything. If he could, she would laugh herself to sleep.
After an entire day, Mo Lixia's waist and back ached. Outside, the sky was already darkening.
"Has Mo Chen come?" she asked.
"Miss, Young Master has been here for a while," Hongshang replied, massaging her shoulders. "He's in the workshop with Xiqiu and Chu Yao making suppositories."
"Then we'll help," Mo Lixia said. "Looks like we'll need a lot of these from now on."
She couldn't understand it—people in this era bathed often. Why were there so many gynecological issues?
When she reached the workshop door, she saw Hao Yang standing outside with his sword, face red.
Mo Lixia frowned. "Hao Yang, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing," he stammered. "Just… hot."
She gave him a skeptical hum and walked in.
The moment she entered, she heard Mo Chen speaking with the innocent confidence of someone who didn't realize how ridiculous he sounded.
"Xiqiu-jie, isn't this like women giving birth, just with a shorter cycle? And if you put this through the belly button and leave it overnight, it really works? Master is too good at coming up with methods."
Mo Lixia finally understood why Hao Yang's face was red.
She sighed inwardly. This half-grown boy… she really needed to give him a proper lesson someday. If he talked like this in front of patients, it would be humiliating—for her.
Xiqiu was bright red too, nodding without daring to speak. When she saw Mo Lixia, her eyes lit up as if she'd been pardoned from a crime. "Miss, you're finally here."
Mo Lixia cleared her throat, suppressing a smile. "Everyone work hard tonight. Another day, I'll give you all bonuses."
"Yes, Miss."
Mo Lixia told Hao Yang to return home and inform her mother so no one worried, since she would be late.