The carriage swayed gently as it made its way to the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies.
Unlike before, the Little Eunuch seemed to have slowed down deliberately, probably to make sure Xu Ping’an would be more comfortable.
By the time they arrived at the Hall, it was already afternoon, the sun nearly setting.
Xu Ping’an, slightly tipsy, stepped down from the carriage.
“You wait here. I’ll go see Master Wan, and leave shortly after.”
“All right, Lord Xu. Take your time.”
The Little Eunuch was considerate and quickly reached out to steady Xu Ping’an.
He helped Xu Ping’an off the carriage and was about to escort him inside the Hall, but Xu Ping’an hurriedly waved him off.
If the Little Eunuch really took him inside, that old man would probably lose his temper.
That old fellow just couldn’t stand anyone putting on airs like this.
“Master Wan, Ping’an is here to see you… Wan… huh!?”
Xu Ping’an entered the main hall and greeted first, intending to call over an Apprentice to relay the message inside.
But before he could say more than a few words, his eyes landed on Wan Ji Cang sitting at the front desk, sternly examining a patient’s pulse.
Wan Ji Cang seemed to notice Xu Ping’an as well. After giving him a fierce glare, he turned back to the patient, calmly explaining the condition and handing out a prescription.
The patient thanked him profusely and went to collect the medicine.
Xu Ping’an stood there in confusion and turned to leave, looking up at the sun.
He asked the Little Eunuch, “It’s afternoon now, right? The sun’s in the west?”
“Huh? Lord Xu, how much have you had to drink?”
“Don’t care how much I drank. Just tell me—is the sun really in the west?”
“Yes, it’s in the west~”
The Little Eunuch turned with a confused look toward the setting sun.
“That’s strange… Did I really drink so much that I’m hallucinating?”
Xu Ping’an pondered for a moment, feeling something was off.
He turned back into the main hall of the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies.
Looking again, Master Wan was still sitting at his diagnosis spot.
Seeing this, Xu Ping’an scratched his head.
“Maybe I really did drink too much. Otherwise… I’ll come back another day?”
“You brat, get over here!!”
At these words, Xu Ping’an felt a chill run through his body, and most of his drunkenness vanished immediately.
“Master Wan? Didn’t you only take patients in the mornings? Has the sun suddenly risen in the west today?”
“Cut the nonsense, sit down!”
Wan Ji Cang looked at Xu Ping’an with irritation bubbling to the surface.
At over eighty years old, he still came to see patients himself, all for this brat’s marriage.
And this brat was standing there with a dazed expression—how could the old man not be furious?
He pointed to his own seat.
“You sit here! The rest of the patients, you attend to!”
“Ah?”
That ‘ah’ was layered with surprise—not only from Xu Ping’an but from the patients present as well.
Most had traveled far just to see Master Wan personally today, having heard the old man was seeing patients himself.
Wan Ji Cang turned to the waiting patients.
“Everyone, no need to worry. I will be here today. This young man here is my last disciple. Don’t let his youth fool you—his medical skills are not below mine. You all can be assured. I stand behind this with the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies’ name.”
At these words, the patients all looked at Xu Ping’an with wide eyes.
Xu Ping’an hurriedly waved his hands.
“Not at all, not at all. I’ve only learned a trick or two from Master Wan. I don’t dare accept such praise.”
“Cut the nonsense. If I say you’re capable, then you are. Sit down!”
“Eh!”
What else could Xu Ping’an do? He had planned to come here just to get some supplementary medicine, but instead of getting medicine, he ended up sitting down to diagnose patients.
Well, you can’t out-argue your Master.
If he kept arguing, he’d just be asking for a beating.
Xu Ping’an looked at the elderly man before him.
The man looked quite well-off, round and plump, but his eyes were dull and his energy weak.
Just by looking, Xu Ping’an could tell this old man hadn’t slept well last night.
“Old Mister, having many children is a good thing, but you have to take care of yourself.”
Xu Ping’an casually remarked.
The old man, who had looked a bit disappointed moments ago, suddenly brightened.
“Little Divine Doctor, did you see something?”
“I can see a bit, but it still needs a proper pulse diagnosis for confirmation. Please extend your wrist.”
“Thank you, Little Divine Doctor.”
The old man placed his hand on the wrist rest, and Xu Ping’an pressed three fingers on the pulse points.
“You worked hard last night, but you’re no longer young, so you need to be more careful. Also… to be honest, your body condition calls for you to watch your diet. No more greasy foods. After each meal, walk for about twenty minutes.”
The old man needed no further explanation. It was clear he had been eating too well and exercising too little—in other words, mild hypertension and high cholesterol without any other major illness.
“Also, Old Mister, stop taking those tonic medicines for now. Otherwise, it might harm your vital energy and shorten your lifespan.”
“Little Divine Doctor, you truly are amazing. I didn’t say a word and you explained everything!”
Xu Ping’an smiled and waved his hand.
“Sir, I don’t deserve such praise.”
After a brief hesitation, Xu Ping’an picked up a pen and quickly wrote out a prescription.
“This will help ease your current fatigue. Also, remember to avoid those harsh medicines, or you risk shortening your life.”
The prescription wasn’t anything complicated, just something to gently relieve and regulate.
Wan Ji Cang glanced at it, and his previously furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
“Not bad, not bad.”
For the old man to say this was a rare compliment.
Xu Ping’an felt honored.
Usually, hearing even a single compliment from this old man was like the sun rising in the west.
Today, to get four words of praise felt like a blessing.
The plump old man, hearing even Wan Ji Cang praise the prescription, was overjoyed.
He quickly grabbed the prescription and expressed thanks repeatedly before setting down two large Silver Ingots.
Fifty taels each, placed side by side with a loud thud on the solid wooden table.
“Thank you, Little Divine Doctor. Thank you, Master Wan.”
The old man looked as if he had just struck gold.
Xu Ping’an hastily waved his hands.
“No need, no need. This is too much. Two taels of silver is enough. The prescription isn’t anything valuable.”
“No, no! Having both the Little Divine Doctor and the Old Divine Doctor personally attend to me is well worth these hundred taels. Little Divine Doctor, you must not refuse!”
The old man pushed the two large Silver Ingots forward and then hurried off to get the medicine.
Wan Ji Cang nodded slightly and called over an Apprentice to take the two Silver Ingots away.
But Master Wan’s reaction made Xu Ping’an curious.
Master Wan had always been an honest man—charging exactly what was due, never more, never less.
Why the sudden exception today?
“Master Wan… Ping’an has a question.”
“Ask!”
The old man responded with strong energy.
“Today… why are all the senior brothers and nephews gone, and it’s you sitting here diagnosing? Where are they?”
“They’re out making money.”
“Ah?!”
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