The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 24 - 23

Chapter 23

After becoming his disciple, Mu Qingxuan earnestly devoted herself to studying the theoretical aspects, undergoing tests every month until the present.

Tomorrow would be her final theoretical examination. If she passed, her master would begin teaching her hands-on healing!

Therefore, she must pass tomorrow’s test at any cost!

Once she possessed adept medical skills, she would have the weapon to fend for herself and protect her loved ones. Additionally, medical knowledge would grant her the strength to seek power and wealth, enabling her to build her forces.

And to confront her enemies and avoid past life’s disadvantages!

The next morning, after Mu Qingxuan was ready, she and Xiao Chun stealthily left the Mu family manor through a secret door at the back. Navigating various alleys, she eventually reached a small, rundown pharmacy in a narrow lane.

Mu Qingxuan opened the door and entered, greeting the diminutive old man inside, "Disciple pays respects to the master."

Divine Doctor Li, engaged in his trivial activities, turned to look at his petite disciple and smiled, "You’ve arrived just in time; I’m starving. You man the shop while I go out to grab a bite."

"Please don’t be gone too long, Master. Today is the final day for the textbook examination," Mu Qingxuan reminded him, recalling a previous occasion when the master made a similar statement and then disappeared for days, forcing the test to be postponed.

"Eh?! You little brat, remember I am your master!"

Doctor Li rolled his eyes and left the shop to find food, thinking that his tiny disciple was becoming increasingly presumptuous and naggy by the day, causing him almost to suffer from ear fatigue.

Mu Qingxuan shook her head and then went to change into her disguise inside the shop. While standing in for her master, she always dressed as a boy because masquerading as one usually allowed more freedom of action than as a girl when customers visited the pharmacy.

It also helped prevent anyone from recognizing her as the eldest young miss of the Mu family!

Just as Mu Qingxuan finished dressing, the door opened, likely a customer entering as usual. She turned to Xiao Chun, "Today, you help check and count the herbs we have in stock. I’ll attend to the customer first."

"Yes, Miss,"

Xiao Chun, who had been following her young miss to this pharmacy all along, became familiar with helping out in the shop and responded with understanding.

In the initial months when Mu Qingxuan sought out Divine Doctor Li, Xiao Chun did not accompany her; she was instructed to stay at the residence. Despite her worries and concerns for her young miss, Xiao Chun could not defy Mu Qingxuan’s orders and had to be alone in the house.

Fortunately, during that time, no one paid attention to the remote part of the manor, so the fact that the young miss sneaked out frequently remained unknown. However, months later, Mu Qingxuan took Xiao Chun along for the first time, introducing her to the renowned Divine Doctor Li.

When Xiao Chun realized that the elderly man before her was the celebrated Divine Doctor Li, her heart raced. Her young miss had revered this famous doctor as her master!

After that day, Xiao Chun often accompanied Mu Qingxuan to assist at the pharmacy, becoming familiar with her routine tasks there.

Though deep inside, Xiao Chun had many questions, like how her young miss came to know Divine Doctor Li or why she was so keen on studying medicine, she never voiced these questions. If her mistress didn’t wish to share, she wouldn’t ask. She just focused on performing her duties well, staying by her young miss’s side.

As Mu Qingxuan emerged from the back room, she walked towards the front hall to greet the customer, as was her custom. Yet, when she recognized the familiar figure standing with his back to her, her body froze instantly.

Even from behind, Mu Qingxuan still remembered who this back belonged to!

Her blood ran cold, her eyes widened in shock. The bitter memories of her past life surfaced again in her mind.

’Xuan’er...Since the first day Ben Wang[1] met you, you have always been in his heart.’

’Xuan’er...Do you know you are a virtuous and perfect woman, the foremost in Ben Wang’s heart?’

’Xuan’er...Ben Wang wishes to make you happy forever. Will you allow him to be the one?’

’Xuan’er...Ben Wang promises to take good care of you, to love and cherish you. Please agree to be engaged, to become Ben Wang’s future wife.’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

’Qingxuan...You are shameless. It was Ben Wang’s mistake to see something in you. You are vicious and deceitful, unlike your stepsister Fei’er who is beautiful, sweet, genuinely kind-hearted. Let’s break off the engagement!’

’Qingxuan...Ben Wang never thought you could be so wicked! Just because you aren’t going to be the future Wang Fei like Fei’er, you would go as far as to poison her!?’

’Qingxuan...The crime of harming the prospective Wang Fei is so grave! Originally, you and your sister should have been torn apart by five horses! However, considering our past, Ben Wang pleaded with the Empress Dowager to reduce the sentence to merely beheading. You should be grateful for this mercy!’

’Qingxuan...Now, Ben Wang and Fei’er have completed our marriage ceremony. Fei’er has officially become Wang Fei. Ben Wang feels extremely fortunate to have seen your true nature before marrying such a wicked woman into the palace!’

’Qingxuan...Tomorrow will be your day of execution. Consider this Ben Wang’s farewell to you. Later, Ben Wang will ask the Empress Dowager to have your and your sister’s bodies thrown to the wolves rather than exhibiting them. Remember to appreciate Ben Wang’s grace!’

Every word he spoke to her, Mu Qingxuan remembered clearly!

From the initial sweet love to the subsequent torment and bitterness, his words turned from melodious to merciless phrases, like poison gnawing at her heart until her execution.

It was him!

The person she loved dearly in her past life and now loathed equally in this one!

In her previous life, he told her to remember his kindness...She remembered it vividly and would repay it duly!

As the young man perused items in the shop, waiting to meet someone, and felt a gaze upon him, he turned to find a slender youth, actually Mu Qingxuan in disguise, pale-faced as if panicked.

"Is Divine Doctor Li here?"

He asked calmly, scanning past to look for someone.

Mu Qingxuan, who quickly regained her composure, bowed her head to avoid revealing her vengeful eyes, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Be calm. It was not yet time for action. She must endure!

Her recent self was still unable to take any revenge!

Because the person before her was no ordinary man, who she could think of doing anything to him without a plan.

But he was Shin Wang, the man whom she both loved and despised!

Being of royal blood, he held significant power and wealth, frequently assisting the Emperor. This alone showed how powerful he was.

His stature was such that all nobles respected him, and none dared to challenge Shin Wang. If she impulsively showed her emotions, it might be like beating the grass and startling the snake...

Once Mu Qingxuan calmed herself, she adjusted her expression and looked up to reply coolly, "If you are seeking Doctor Li, unfortunately, you are too late. He has just stepped out and may not return for a while."

Shin Wang raised his eyebrows slightly, his intention of visiting Divine Doctor Li this time was due to an important matter, but unfortunately, the doctor was not present.

Mu Qingxuan wanted to avoid being near the young man any longer, fearing she might lose control and reveal her emotions. Thus, she walked away in a different direction, heading to the herb shelves to check the inventory as usual.

Noticing the indifference, Shin Wang turned his gaze towards the young man’s retreating back, feeling a surge of irritation.

"And who might you be?"

"Just a shop attendant," Mu Qingxuan replied indifferently, continuing to inspect each herb without turning back to look at the young man.

She silently prayed for him to leave the shop quickly, fearing she might lose her sanity and launch at him to rip out his heart and crush it to pieces!

But it seemed fate was not on her side...

"Well, since I’m here already, I might as well wait," Shin Wang said calmly, taking a seat in a corner of the shop. His handsome face exhibited a cool detachment.

Finding Divine Doctor Li’s shop was no easy feat, so he was determined to meet the doctor today, no matter what.

Mu Qingxuan glanced at him momentarily, clenching her jaw. Just the thought of sharing even a moment more with this man made her feel nauseous, as if wanting to vomit her breakfast out!

Disgusting, intolerable!

No!

She couldn’t let him stay here any longer!

While pretending to check the herbs, she quickly devised a plan to expel this unwelcome guest from the shop.

Asked him politely to leave?

No, he would definitely not comply!

Told him the shop was closing and asked him to leave?

That would likely result in her being thrown out instead!

What should she do then...

Finally, Mu Qingxuan concocted a plan after much contemplation. A wicked smile crept across her thin lips, her eyes sparkling ominously.

With the enemy at her doorstep, how could she not prepare a small gift for him?

Although she might not be able to confront him directly now, a small, harmless gift wasn’t beyond her capabilities!

Hehe, consider it a practical test of her learned knowledge...

Having devised her plan, Mu Qingxuan proceeded to pick various herbs from the shelves, selecting several types under Shin Wang’s watchful gaze.

He sat watching the shop attendant move from one herb shelf to another with curiosity. Eventually, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "What are you planning to do?"

"I am just following Doctor Li’s instructions. If you have any doubts, you might as well ask the doctor himself..."

Mu Qingxuan responded nonchalantly, causing the listener to frown. Once she had gathered all the necessary herbs, she turned and walked back into the back room of the shop to commence some procedures she had learned.

Shin Wang let out a grunt of frustration. It was merely a shop attendant, yet so assertive!

If it wasn’t for his need to show respect to Divine Doctor Li, he would have already dealt with that attendant!

Turning his attention away from the young attendant, the young man went back to sipping his tea on the table, quenching his thirst. His sinister eyes sparkled coldly, the surrounding atmosphere turning frosty, indicating his current bad mood.

However, the cause of it all seemed unbothered!

She was grinding some of the herbs, then mixing them together before proceeding with the next steps outlined in her textbooks. Within an hour, she had prepared what she needed: a fragrant powder for incense burning.

Mu Qingxuan poured the freshly made fragrant powder into a small incense burner, then lit it. As the subtle, delicate scent began to diffuse, only a doctor or an herbalist could recognize its aroma; ordinary people wouldn’t detect it. Her eyes momentarily flashed a steely glint.

She carried the burner and placed it under the stairs, a spot where the fragrant smoke could disperse throughout the entire shop.

The fragrant powder she had crafted was simply made from common Bi Xie flowers mixed with red blood leaf, creating a delicate aroma when burnt in the incense burner. Initially, this fragrant powder was meant to relax muscles and improve blood circulation.

But when inhaled by Shin Wang, the effect was destined to be different!

Because Mu Qingxuan remembered well, in her past life, Shin Wang had inadvertently revealed his allergy to Bi Xie flowers!

If he came into contact with Bi Xie flowers, his body would develop red, intensely itchy rashes all over, causing him great distress. The fragrant powder Mu Qingxuan had concocted, with the inclusion of red blood leaf, intensified the effect when combined with Bi Xie flowers.

For someone already allergic to Bi Xie flowers, inhaling this fragrance would let the scent permeate their respiratory system and blood circulation, causing an intense itching sensation. His body would break out in red rashes, feeling as though thousands of ants were feasting on him!

It surely created an agony he had never experienced before!

Shin Wang...I hope you enjoy this gift.

Mu Qingxuan smirked at the corner of her mouth, then went on to do something else at the back of the shop, leaving Shin Wang, oblivious of what was about to unfold, waiting for Divine Doctor Li in the shop’s front hall. He was unaware of the impending disaster...

An hour passed, and Shin Wang began to have trouble breathing. His skin felt unbearably itchy, and his flesh burned. Pulling up his sleeve, he found his arm covered in red blotches, and the sensation of burning itch spread all over him.

He frowned deeply. Why would he suddenly have an allergic reaction to Bi Xie flowers? And it was more severe than ever before!

Initially, Shin Wang thought to endure and wait for Divine Doctor Li. However, the allergic reaction intensified, with itchiness spreading across his body. It hurt so much that he could not even scratch and had to grit his teeth.

He couldn’t take it anymore!

Couldn’t stay any longer!

Overwhelmed by pain, he abruptly stood up and left the shop quickly. His entire body was aflame with pain. Whenever he moved, his clothing rubbed against his inflamed skin, aggravating his suffering immensely.

His eyes turned bloodshot, almost crazed, and even his face was blotchy and terrifying!

After leaving the shop, the guards outside rushed to him in alarm, "Shin Wang! What has happened, Your Highness!?"

"Don’t ask! Send someone to fetch the royal physician to treat me at the palace immediately! And you, report to the Emperor that I won’t be able to attend the meeting today!" Shin Wang commanded sternly before striding to the large carriage parked outside the narrow alley.

His body felt as if thousands of ants were biting him, causing excruciating pain!

What in the world was happening!?

Why was his allergic reaction so severe!?

The moment Shin Wang got onto the carriage, he collapsed, drained of strength. But the moment his body touched the cushion, he gasped in pain as the agony multiplied, forcing him to sit back up. His skin felt like a hot iron plate, untouchable by anything.

If anything touched him, the searing pain would increase manifold, making this robust man suffer unbearably, nearly losing consciousness...

[1] 本王 (běn wáng) is a Chinese term that translates to "this prince" or "this king" in English. It’s a self-referential term used by a prince or a king to refer to oneself.

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