The next morning, Kirin Pharmacy was besieged by curious onlookers wanting to see the "arm reattachment miracle." Lixia had to enter through the incense shop next door.
The surgery was a massive success. The patient, Liu Da, was recovering well, though in pain. Lixia gave him painkillers and strict instructions not to move or get the wound wet.
Mo Chen, exhausted from staying up all night answering questions from the visiting nobles (Mo Wushang, Zhanchen, Liu Jing, etc.), was sleeping. When he woke up, Lixia scolded him for drinking wine with Liu Jing the night before.
"Alcohol is forbidden for surgeons! Copy the Za Yi Lun 100 times!"
The Official Visit
The Capital Magistrate, Lord Qin, visited to thank Lixia for saving his subordinate, Liu Da. He offered a tray of silver as a reward. Lixia refused the money, insisting it should go to Liu Da as compensation for his injury in the line of duty. This gesture deeply impressed Lord Qin.
Taking advantage of the meeting, Lord Qin asked for a consultation for his mother, who suffered from chest pain, swelling, and palpitations. Lixia diagnosed it as heart failure due to high blood pressure (excessive nourishment) and prescribed a treatment plan, which Mo Chen wrote out perfectly.
Public Perception: The public now believed the "Little Divine Doctor" (Mo Chen) was the true disciple of the Eccentric Doctor, while Lixia's role remained somewhat obscured, which suited her just fine.
Meanwhile, Prince Liang's son (Yi Mingji) heard about the "Little Divine Doctor" and sent expensive herbs as a gift, amused by the idea of a child prodigy.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet (Alternative Version)
It was Lixia's birthday and the day of the Hundred Flowers Banquet.
Her family celebrated with a warm breakfast. Madam Mo gave her a White Jade Guanyin statue (for fertility), embarrassing Lixia with talk of having "hundreds of sons and thousands of grandsons."
Yi Junlan picked her up in his carriage. Instead of going to the crowded banquet, he took her to his private estate, Clear Stream Villa, which overlooked the banquet grounds. The villa was a paradise with hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows.
"I don't like crowds," Yi Junlan admitted. "But I know you wanted that Distillation Kit (the 3rd prize)."
"Yes! I want it!"
"Write a poem. I'll do the painting."
Lixia wrote a poem about music and wine. Yi Junlan added a masterful painting of the garden. He sent Gu Qing to deliver it to Liu Jing, who was one of the judges, with instructions to win the Distillation Kit.
Alone on the grassy hill, Yi Junlan stood up from his wheelchair (with support) and hugged Lixia. "I'm sorry I couldn't take you to the banquet properly."
"I prefer this," Lixia said. "I'm a bit of a homebody (Zhai)."
They shared a romantic moment, kissing as the wind blew over the flowers.
At the Banquet: Liu Jing's Annoyance
Liu Jing, acting as a judge, received the submission from "Mo Lixia." He scoffed at Yi Junlan's speed in calling her "Princess Consort" but ensured the entry would win the 3rd prize as requested.
Wandering the grounds, Liu Jing ran into Yi Mingji, who was leering at women. Liu Jing was disgusted.
Then he saw Jiang Yinghan putting a flower in Mutong's hair.
"Hey! Public displays of affection! Have some shame!" Liu Jing scolded them like a strict older brother.
"We are engaged!" Jiang Yinghan laughed. "You're just jealous because you don't have a woman."
Liu Jing huffed and walked away, only to find Yang Yufu being pestered by her cousin, Li Menghuai.
"Cousin, why break the engagement?" Li Menghuai pleaded.
"My friend (Lixia) says close-kin marriage leads to sick children," Yufu insisted.
"Who is this? Holding hands in public?" Liu Jing intervened, slapping Li Menghuai's hand away with his fan. "It's an eyesore."
"He is my fiancé," Yufu retorted angrily.
"Fiancé? I didn't know Miss Yang was engaged." Liu Jing's face darkened. He felt an inexplicable irritation—a very bad mood.
Yufu stormed off. Liu Jing returned to the judges' table, grumpy and distracted, unable to get the image of Yufu holding another man's hand out of his head.