The very next morning, Xiao Wan’er finalized the partnership with Hundred Herbs Hall.

Wang Ji was relieved when he heard the news. He personally brought the contract over, accompanied by the vice president of the Medicine Hall Guild, Liu Liming.

Liu Liming, of course, did not dare to be negligent. He and several guild members reviewed the contract’s contents, one by one.

Once all matters were settled, both parties affixed their seals and signed their names.

Only then was the matter finally settled.

Naturally, Xiao Wan’er didn’t see them far, merely having the Armored Warriors in the mansion escort them out.

Wang Ji took his leave respectfully, but his eyes drifted toward the nearby Spring Lotus Garden. He could faintly hear Chen Yi’s cheerful voice from within, and couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

’If the young miss knew what the master did behind the scenes, I wonder how she would react.’

The contract established between Hundred Herbs Hall and the Xiao Family Medicine Hall this time was not as simple as just buying medicinal ingredients based on prescriptions.

It also included a new clause: the Xiao Family Medicine Hall would act as a vendor for five types of tea drinks produced by Hundred Herbs Hall.

Specifically, Wangji Tea, Divine Bull Tea, Old Platinum Tea, Mushroom Tea, and Beauty Tea.

Furthermore, Chen Yi had given special instructions that because Hundred Herbs Hall was newly selling these tea drinks, fifty percent of the profits would be shared with the Xiao Family Medicine Hall.

One must remember that under the original agreement, Hundred Herbs Hall was only supposed to share ten percent of the profits.

From this, it wasn’t hard for Wang Ji to see Chen Yi’s attitude toward the Xiao Family. He was being incredibly considerate.

But that wasn’t all.

What was more important were the prescriptions the master had provided.

Those were prescriptions written by a Medical Master from a previous dynasty!

Forget a thick volume containing a total of thirty-two prescriptions; even a single one would be enough to sustain a Medicine Hall.

That alone showed how precious they were.

Yet the master had given them to the Xiao Family without batting an eye, even sending along those few Quack Doctors who had received his guidance...

It made Wang Ji, who had witnessed it all, ache with regret.

But Chen Yi didn’t see it that way.

’Never mind that those prescriptions weren’t written by some so-called Medical Master from a past dynasty, but were just some of my own research. Even if they were real, so what?’

’How could a few external possessions compare to the peace and harmony of the Xiao Mansion?’

Just after the contract was signed, Xiao Wan’er came to the Spring Lotus Garden. A pink cloak enveloped her body, making her delicate, beautiful face appear even more stunning.

Hearing her approach, Chen Yi looked up from the game board. Seeing the joyful expression on her face, he already knew the outcome and said with a smile:

"The magpies have been chirping on the eaves all morning. I just knew something good was going to happen in the mansion today."

Xiao Wan’er walked over gracefully and sat down at the stone table, her face still holding a relaxed smile.

"You guessed right. I just finalized the contract with Wang Ji."

"Now, our Medicine Halls not only have renowned doctors presiding over them and prescriptions to support them, but we also have a supply of ingredients from Hundred Herbs Hall. You could say we killed three birds with one stone."

Chen Yi blinked. "Three birds?"

His reminder made Xiao Wan’er think of something. She quickly waved Shen Huatang and Cui’er over. "And there’s one more."

"The tea drinks that Hundred Herbs Hall used to give away as gifts are now going to be sold."

"Wang Ji sent some over. The taste is said to be quite good. I brought a few, so everyone, have a try."

Chen Yi had already noticed the tea drinks Shen Huatang was carrying. He didn’t refuse, signaling for Xiaodie to take them.

They each got a bottle of Wangji Tea.

Xiao Wuge, however, curiously opened a bottle of Mushroom Tea. He took a sip, and his little face immediately scrunched up. "Sour! Sour! So sour!"

"Is it sour?"

Xiao Wan’er had Shen Huatang open a bottle for her. She took a small sip, and a faint smile appeared on her face. "It’s delicious."

Hearing this, Chen Yi looked at her, and strands of crystalline light reflected in the depths of his pupils.

He saw a faint blue aura emanating from around Xiao Wan’er’s body, with faint traces of black mixed within.

That black aura was as dark as ink.

Chen Yi frowned to himself and said, "This tea is a bit cold and chilling. It would be good for relieving summer heat."

Xiao Wan’er nodded with a smile and was about to take another sip when Shen Huatang stepped forward. "Miss, let me have a taste."

Before she could respond, Shen Huatang had already taken the bottle of Mushroom Tea from her hand, drained it in one go, and wiped her mouth. "The taste... is indeed pretty good."

"..."

Xiao Wan’er was stunned for a moment, then understood her attendant’s intention and sighed softly with a hint of regret.

A brief silence fell.

Xiao Wan’er changed the subject. "I wonder where Wang Ji found the recipe. Judging by the taste, this tea should sell well."

Chen Yi’s eyes remained fixed on her, using his Qi Observation Skill to inspect her illness. Hearing her words, he replied casually, "Probably."

Xiao Wan’er noticed his stare and shot him a playful glare.

"Tomorrow, Wang Ji will bring a Physician to Jishi Medicine Hall. Don’t forget to go and take a look."

After saying this, she stood up. "And don’t forget to write a reply to Second Sister. I’ll have someone deliver them together this afternoon."

Chen Yi smiled, nodded, and stood up to see her off.

He didn’t retract his gaze until Xiao Wan’er had returned to Jiaxing Garden.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi looked at Xiao Wuge, who was still hugging the bottle of Mushroom Tea and drinking, and asked pensively:

"Wuge, what month does your sister go to the Wumeng Mountain Dojo each year?"

Suspecting nothing, Xiao Wuge recalled, "Last year she went in the ninth month. She even brought me back a lot of tasty treats when she returned."

The ninth month.

In Shu State, it was the transition from late summer to early autumn, and the lingering heat was still strong.

These details surfaced in Chen Yi’s mind. Combining them with the Profound Mysteries of the Great Success Medical Dao, the principles of yin-yang balance, and the Five Qi and Six Cycles, he deduced:

’Xiao Wan’er doesn’t have a simple cold-yin illness. She must have the legendary Supreme Yin Body. She was born with extreme yin cold that dominates and freezes her meridians, leading to qi stagnation in the meridians and the decline of her life gate’s fire.’

’Her visits to that dojo must be to supplement her yang fire and slow the advance of the cold poison toward her heart.’

But this only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

As Chen Yi thought, various pathologies and prescriptions swirled through his mind.

A moment later, he shook his head to himself. ’Even with my current Great Success Medical Dao, I can only delay it, not eradicate it completely.’

Chen Yi looked up at the bright sun in the sky and let out a long breath.

Why did Shu State in the sixth month feel a little chilly?

...

「Ten days later, on the ninth day of the seventh month.」

The weather went from hot to hotter.

But within Shu State Prefecture City, a wave of refreshing coolness washed over the hearts of all who toiled outdoors.

—It was the Wangji Tea and Mushroom Tea sold by Hundred Herbs Hall.

Each bottle of Wangji Tea was priced at ten copper coins.

Each bottle of Mushroom Tea was priced at twenty copper coins.

Each bottle of Beauty Tea was priced at one hundred copper coins.

Was it expensive?

Of course, it was.

But don’t be hasty. A notice specially posted by Hundred Herbs Hall clearly stated that they would buy back the porcelain bottles.

Each porcelain bottle for eight copper coins.

With that factored in, the Wangji Tea was no longer so expensive.

Even a laborer at the Wharf who earned around thirty copper coins a day carrying sacks could afford a bottle of Wangji Tea to quench their thirst.

As for the Mushroom Tea and Beauty Tea, made especially for women, they caused a stir as soon as they went on sale, with countless young ladies scrambling to buy them. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

This was especially true in the brothels of South City’s Yanhua Lane.

The reason was simple: Jishi Medicine Hall also sold these tea drinks.

If nothing else, those few Qin Buildings certainly knew how to do business.

Just because the Shopkeeper of Jishi Medicine Hall was Chen Yi—Chen Qingzhou—they hauled back cart after cart of assorted tea drinks, then sent back cart after cart of empty porcelain bottles.

The teas they bought were not only liked by the girls, but also by their clients.

It was just that they each had their own favorites.

The girls preferred the Mushroom Tea and Beauty Tea, which were not only sweet and sour but could also enhance their complexion.

Meanwhile, the clients who frequented Yanhua Lane were more fond of the Divine Bull Tea.

Despite its vulgar-sounding name, its effects made the carousing scholars and wealthy gentry who stayed up all night drink it endlessly.

With this multi-pronged approach, the five tea drinks made Hundred Herbs Hall famous throughout Shu State Prefecture City.

And as a result, the Xiao Family Medicine Hall, which also sold the teas, benefited as well.

The shared profits from the tea sales greatly alleviated the Xiao Mansion’s shortage of silver coins.

Jishi Medicine Hall alone brought in three hundred taels daily, with a net profit of one hundred taels.

Although the other four branches didn’t do as well, they still brought in thirty to fifty taels of silver daily.

As a result, Xiao Wan’er had a constant smile on her face lately.

In her delight, she didn’t forget to return the favor.

She not only had her Third Grand-uncle, Xiao Shen, inform the Prefectural Yamen to increase the patrols of government officials around Hundred Herbs Hall, but also ordered Wang Lixing and Liu Si’er to lead men to patrol their own Medicine Halls.

Chen Yi saw all of this.

But his first thought wasn’t one of joy; instead, his attention turned to Linglan Pavilion.

Many things can’t be judged by their glamorous surface; a crisis is often hidden within.

’If I were the one who stole the medicinal ingredients and set up Linglan Pavilion, seeing the Xiao Family’s current success, I probably wouldn’t be able to sit still any longer.’