Just as Chen Yi had expected, Linglan Pavilion opened its doors and, in just three days, had snatched up most of the patients within a three-li radius of the East Market.

Not only were their medicinal herbs cheap, but they also had a renowned doctor in residence, attracting many people who had been suffering from chronic illnesses.

During this time, Chen Yi also met Linglan Pavilion’s shopkeeper.

He was a clean-shaven, fair-faced middle-aged man named Qian Kuan.

His name, Kuan, suggested width, but the man himself was tall and lanky, with a gaunt appearance.

Fortunately, he was in good spirits; otherwise, whether seen from afar or up close, one couldn’t help but feel he was physically drained.

Moreover, Qian Kuan could be considered a smooth operator.

He stood at the entrance of Linglan Pavilion all day long, greeting and sending off customers with a beaming smile, able to strike up a conversation with anyone he saw.

Compared to him, the three apprentices at Jishi Medicine Hall were like toddlers who had just learned to speak, easily tricked after just a few words.

Chen Yi had naturally spoken with him, but their conversations were mostly pleasantries.

Perhaps it was because of his status as a live-in son-in-law of the Xiao Family, or maybe because he was a talented scholar whose Calligraphy and poetry had earned him some fame in Shu State.

Qian Kuan was always polite to him. Every time he saw him, he would clasp his hands respectfully in greeting.

He wasn’t a scholar and held no official rank, yet he had mastered the art of the formal bow.

Chen Yi saw all this but simply returned the smile, showing no sign that his Medicine Hall’s struggling business affected him in the slightest.

But while he wasn’t worried, the others at the Medicine Hall were clearly getting restless.

The accountant, Liu Quan, made his abacus clatter as he calculated the figures three times over. With a long sigh, he wrote a number in the ledger.

"Our daily income is less than thirty percent of what it used to be. If this continues, we’ll be lucky to break even on our silver coins this month."

In the past, Jishi Medicine Hall had over a hundred patients visiting every day.

Between consultation fees, medicinal herbs, and other sales, the daily income was about thirty taels of silver coins. After monthly expenses, the net profit was four hundred taels.

But over the last three days, yesterday’s income in particular was only ten taels of silver coins.

After finishing his calculations, Liu Quan looked at Chen Yi, who was sitting beside the four Physicians. Seeing him still looking as unconcerned as ever, he couldn’t help but grumble to himself.

’This master is one of the Xiao Family, after all. He doesn’t care about silver coins at all.’

’But we can’t afford not to care.’

The Medicine Hall’s income was tied to the monthly wages of the Physicians, apprentices, and the accountant.

According to the rules set by the Xiao Family’s young miss, if the Medicine Hall did well, every one of them would receive an extra bonus.

But with a daily income of only ten taels of silver coins... there would naturally be no bonus.

At this thought, Liu Quan gritted his teeth, grabbed the ledger, and jogged over. "Shopkeeper Chen, please take a look at this."

Chen Yi put down his teacup and took the ledger for a glance. He immediately understood. "It’s less?"

’Master, so you *do* know it’s less.’

Liu Quan suppressed his thoughts and nodded, shooting a look at the four Physicians beside them. He replied, "Linglan Pavilion next door has stolen too much of our business."

"If we don’t make a move soon, I’m afraid in the future..."

Elder Li didn’t speak, but another Physician chimed in knowingly, "That Linglan Pavilion is despicable. Their herbs are only seventy percent of our price, and they’ve waived all consultation fees! They’re looking for a fight to the death with us."

Competitors in the same trade were rivals by nature.

Linglan Pavilion and Jishi Medicine Hall were right next to each other and using all sorts of tactics to compete, which naturally displeased the Physicians.

But since Chen Yi hadn’t given any orders these past two days, their anxiety was useless.

After listening, Chen Yi’s gaze swept over each of them. He smiled and asked, "Have you already given the silver coins you earned previously to Wang Ji?"

Liu Quan and the others froze, their expressions becoming visibly embarrassed.

"Shopkeeper, uh, my apologies for being nosy. You’re busy, you’re busy, haha."

The accountant was the first to flee.

The other Physicians and apprentices were more straightforward, so they were left speechless.

Chen Yi shook his head with a smile. "Everyone, get back to your work. For now, let’s just wait and see."

’People are just like that, insatiably greedy.’

Wang Ji had already informed them in private that they would get a share of the silver coins earned from the prescriptions issued by Jishi Medicine Hall.

Yet they could only think about the present, wishing they could dive headfirst into a pile of money.

Thinking about it carefully, Chen Yi began to understand.

Aside from the show of force he had given them on his first day taking over the Medicine Hall, he had been too gentle at all other times.

So much so that Liu Quan and the others had forgotten he was still holding their signed and fingerprinted confessions.

After sitting idly for half the day, only three patients had come to Jishi Medicine Hall in an entire morning. Elder Li and the other three Physicians hadn’t even all had a turn, with one still waiting.

Chen Yi observed for a while. He felt he had fully grasped his Minor Achievement Medical Dao, and that his Four Diagnostic techniques and Acupuncture Skill could not be improved any further for now. The Medicine Hall was losing its appeal to him.

So after lunch, he gave a few instructions, said he was going to take a few days off, and left the Medicine Hall.

Liu Quan and the others stared at each other in dismay.

"What did the Shopkeeper just say? Ten days off a month? That’s outrageous! A heinous crime!"

"If we actually take ten days off, is this Medicine Hall still going to be in business?"

"Only a master like him can take time off. Us? We’re like those government officials—clocking in at dawn and closing up at dusk, never a moment of rest."

In the end, it was Elder Li who was more philosophical about it. "Forget it. Let him be."

"This Medicine Hall is a Xiao Family business. If he, a son-in-law of the Xiao Family, isn’t concerned, what’s the use in us worrying?"

"That’s true. Linglan Pavilion is walking all over us, and he still does nothing..."

Setting aside the grumbling from the staff at Jishi Medicine Hall.

As soon as Chen Yi left the Medicine Hall, he saw the shopkeeper of Linglan Pavilion next door, gave him a greeting, and headed towards North City.

Qian Kuan watched him walk away with a smile, which he then dropped as soon as Chen Yi was out of sight.

He glanced at the silent Jishi Medicine Hall, then returned to Linglan Pavilion with a frown and picked up his brush to record the events of the past three days:

"Sixth month, eighth day. Linglan Pavilion’s grand opening. Jishi Medicine Hall sent a congratulatory gift. The Xiao Family’s son-in-law was polite and proper."

"Sixth month, ninth day. Linglan Pavilion had many patients. Jishi Medicine Hall’s business suffered. The Xiao Family’s son-in-law was polite and proper."

"Sixth month, tenth day. Linglan Pavilion, same as before. Jishi Medicine Hall was deserted. The Xiao Family’s son-in-law... was polite and proper."

’Strange.’

Qian Kuan stared at what he had written, his brow deeply furrowed. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what kind of person the Xiao Family’s son-in-law was.

’As the Shopkeeper of Jishi Medicine Hall, watching his own shop’s business fail, is he really not anxious at all?’

It was a good thing Qian Kuan didn’t know what Chen Yi had just said. Otherwise, his expression would have been quite a sight.

For any shopkeeper, the word "rest" was a rarity, let alone a term as blasphemous as "ten days off a month."

Chen Yi paid no mind to what others thought. He strolled leisurely from the East Market to Kangning Street in North City.

The weather certainly felt like summer had arrived.

The midday sun beat down directly, and the worn, smooth parts of the bluestone slabs reflected a blinding light that made pedestrians squint.

North City was better, with shady green trees, the chirping of birds, and the fragrance of flowers.

The scholars were mostly dressed in long robes, holding fans, while the beautiful ladies held pristine, flower-patterned Oil Paper Umbrellas, their sashes fluttering in the breeze.

Dressed in fine brocade, Chen Yi’s tall, slender figure walked among them, his casual and carefree demeanor fitting in perfectly.

This was, more or less, the air of a scholar.

After walking for a moment, Chen Yi stopped in front of a teahouse, looked left and right, then crossed to the pavilion by the edge of Wu Pool.

Wang Ji had been waiting there for a long time.

He was just about to bow when Chen Yi waved his hand dismissively. Facing Wu Pool, Chen Yi smiled and said, "Tell me, what’s the background of that Linglan Pavilion?"

Wang Ji sized him up, understood the situation, and pretended not to know him. He replied in a low voice:

"I only found out that they are from Jing State. It’s a business established in Shu State by a young master from Xinglin Hall of Jing State."

"However, it is said that an Advisor from the Governor’s Office was the one who connected them."

’People from Jing State, the Governor’s Office.’

Chen Yi silently made a mental note and continued to ask, "The negotiations didn’t go smoothly?"

Wang Ji paused. "I can’t hide it from you, my lord. I didn’t get to see that young master; only a Steward came forward to meet me."

"He seemed friendly, but he was noncommittal. He probably doesn’t have the authority to make decisions."

Chen Yi nodded slightly, not finding it strange.

Even if Linglan Pavilion wasn’t targeting the Xiao Family Medicine Hall, when expanding a business in an Outer Mansion, one should tread cautiously.

A shop like Hundred Herbs Hall, which was obscure, also a new startup, and had taken the initiative to approach them, would naturally not be worthy of their attention.

With that thought, Chen Yi took a stack of prescriptions from his robes and handed it to him. "What you asked for."

Wang Ji quickly took them, put them away carefully, and let out a sigh of relief.

With these prescriptions, Hundred Herbs Hall could finally open for business.

But after a moment’s thought, he asked hesitantly, "My lord, you mentioned before that the silver coins should be returned to the young miss. When should that be?"

"No rush."

"Then, this matter..."

Chen Yi glanced at him sideways, then turned away with a smile. "You should focus on Hundred Herbs Hall first."

"Remember, after Hundred Herbs Hall gains momentum, find a few Wandering Martial Artists with high Cultivation to protect yourself."

Wang Ji watched his retreating back, somewhat bewildered.

’Hundred Herbs Hall gains momentum... protection?’

’Is my lord saying that someone will try to harm me?’