On this day, Chunyu, Chun Nuan, Chun Shu, and Chunyan, who were married, returned to their parental home together.

Because on this day, Chun Nuan was accepting apprentices in the Xiao family.

In the hall of the Xiao family, tables were set up early, with incense burners, candlesticks, and three copies of the Compendium of Materia Medica placed on them.

In the midst of drifting smoke, Chun Nuan sat upright in a master chair, dressed in a dark blue long gown, looking warmly at the three people standing below the stairs: Xiao Chun’an, who had rarely adopted a playful smile, stood with his back straight; Xiao Muyang, in a plain cloth shirt, had his hands folded in front of him; Panpan, wearing a light green jacket, tightly grasped a small medicine pouch in her hand, eyes full of expectation.

"The time has come, let the ceremony begin!"

With a shout from the Xiao family steward, Xiao Chun’an was the first to step forward, picked up the teacup on the table, knelt on both knees, and raised the teacup above his head, speaking respectfully.

"Master, please accept the respects of your disciple Xiao Chun’an! I am willing to dedicate myself to studying medicine and helping the world, and I will never let your teachings go to waste!"

After finishing, he respectfully kowtowed three times, his forehead lightly touching the blue bricks, his movements sincere.

Chun Nuan took the teacup, sipped it, placed it on the table, and helped him up.

"Stand up, from now on, you are my disciple. You must not only learn the medical skills well but also maintain the benevolence of a healer."​

The young Xiao Muyang imitated Xiao Chun’an, kneeling to offer tea but spoke with a touch of youthful straightforwardness.

"Master, although I may be a bit playful at times, I am serious about studying medicine! In the future, I will memorize medical books and recognize herbs well to start treating people soon, so you won’t be disappointed!"​

Chun Nuan looked at him with a smile on her lips.

"You have a lively personality, which is suited for interacting with people. In addition to learning medicine, you should also learn how to communicate with others. A healer not only treats diseases but also heals the heart."​

Chun Nuan knew that Xiao Muyang, young as he was, had high aspirations and was the earliest to express a desire to study medicine.

Finally, it was Panpan’s turn. The little girl, small in stature, knelt on the cushion, only showing a small head as she held the teacup with both hands, saying with an upturned face.

"Master, I also want to master medical skills, like my second aunt, to help people, and remember the herbs grandpa taught in my dreams to cure more people."​

Chun Nuan took the teacup, her gaze falling on her small hands clutching the medicine pouch, saying warmly, "Good child, you have a talent for medicine, follow your senior brothers and sisters, ask questions when you don’t understand, and I will teach you well."​

The three of them paid respects in the master’s ceremony again, and those watching this scene were filled with comfort.

"Nuannuan, our Xiao family is an apricot forest family. It’s fortunate that you insisted on following your grandfather to learn medicine back then, carrying forward the medical skills of the Xiao family." Old Master Xiao felt deeply ashamed: "I and your father, third uncle, are useless, causing it to break off in our generation."

"Uncle, there’s no need to blame yourself, it was also grandfather’s decision at that time."

Sometimes Chun Nuan couldn’t understand why her grandfather wouldn’t let his sons practice medicine.

It wasn’t until her grandfather was sentenced to execution that she understood: Grandfather wasn’t forbidding his sons from practicing medicine, he just didn’t want them to enter the palace as Imperial Physicians.

Once they practiced medicine, with two generations serving as Imperial Physicians, they would inevitably enter the Imperial Hospital too.

Serving the emperor is like living with a tiger; grandfather, having spent many years in the palace, saw the difficulties and didn’t want his sons to follow in his footsteps.

The break in the Xiao family’s medicinal lineage was not his wish, but after realizing his fervor for medicine, he did everything he could to support and cultivate it, perhaps seeing this day for the Xiao family long in advance.

After the ceremony, everyone gathered in the main room, drinking tea, with Chun Nuan watching Panpan follow Xiao Chun’an, learning about herbs, and suddenly recalling something, letting out a light sigh.

Chunyu sat beside her, noticing her slight melancholy, and softly asked, "Nuannuan, what’s the matter? Do you have something on your mind?"​

Chun Nuan picked up the teacup, her fingertips caressing the rim, her voice tinged with reminiscence.

"I took on several female disciples back in Changzhou. When leaving, I wanted to take them with me, but some had elderly family members needing care, and others were already engaged, making it impossible to leave, so I had to give up."​

"They’re bound by circumstances; it’s customary for men and women to marry as they mature," Chunyu gently comforted her: "Learning medical skills from you is already an impressive feat. You’ve done all you could to help them, perhaps they’re living well in Changzhou now?"​

"Yes, I recently received letters from them, saying they are doing quite well now."

Chun Nuan’s face lit up with a comforting smile.

"They can now independently treat some women’s ailments and have learned to deliver babies, working as visiting doctors in several pharmacies in Changzhou. They say their presence has emboldened the women of Changzhou to comfortably seek medical attention without hiding their ailments."

"Being able to help the local people is a reward for your teachings."​

"Yes, this world isn’t kind to women, so women being able to seek and conduct medical consultations openly is indeed fortunate."

Previously, many women fell ill without daring to consult male doctors, being too shy to describe their symptoms, or even appearing in public, keeping them hidden from seeking treatment."​

Chun Ning happened upon their conversation and walked over, smiling.

"In that aspect, places like Changzhou are enlightened, unlike some areas where they find women practicing medicine in public as inauspicious, even refusing to hire women in pharmacies. Allowing female disciples to wield their skills is a blessing for them as well."​

"Indeed. I remember the first time I took them to the pharmacy, there was skepticism about ’how women could practice medicine,’ but they proved themselves by their skills—a woman had a difficult labor, and several male doctors were at a loss. Finally, my senior apprentice used acupuncture with herbal medicine to safely deliver the baby, silencing doubt thereafter."​

"Second Aunt, your disciples are amazing! I also want to become like them in the future, mastering medicine to help many, many people and ensure their health."​

Panpan leaned in, clutching Chun Nuan’s hand.

"I want to study medicine seriously; I want to surpass Uncle Chun’an and Cousin Muyang."

Panpan’s ambitious resolve brought joy to Chun Nuan’s heart.

Meanwhile, Chun’an and Muyang, looking at Panpan, were both amused and helpless: Wasn’t this a challenge to the two of them?

They were men, after all, and to lose to a little girl would indeed be embarrassing.

But Chun Nuan knew very well, Panpan wasn’t just saying it; she indeed had that potential.

Including the female students from Changzhou, Chun Nuan has taken on numerous disciples, and among them, Panpan’s talent stood out the most!

"Alright, our Panpan will certainly be stronger than Second Aunt’s disciples one day. She will be the mightiest little junior sister. After you’ve mastered medicine, Second Aunt will take you to Changzhou, letting you exchange knowledge with them."

Sunlight streamed through the window lattices, casting warmth on everyone.

In the pharmacy, Xiao Muyang was holding a book to consult Chun Nuan about the uses of herbs.

Xiao Chun’an organized medical books on one side, Panpan lay by the table observing herbal prescriptions, Chun Nuan chatted with Chunyu about past events in Changzhou—the air filled with warmth and hope. Whether the disciples nearby or the pupils far away, all were progressing along the path of healing, extending this legacy to warm more lives.

This legacy was finally carried on in the Xiao family.