People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 39, Han Yu's Murderous Trap
After speaking, Physician Wang revealed a meaningful smile, and emphasized his voice when he spoke of a group of people.

Xu Qing's expression gradually became serious. He understood the unspoken meaning behind Physician Wang's words: someone was deliberately spreading rumors to incite the powerful and influential.

In just a few hours, no matter how fast the rumor spread, it couldn't have reached all of Xinzheng, let alone cause these powerful and influential people to come to him for medicine.

As for who this person is? Apart from the Fourth Young Master Han Yu, Xu Qing felt there could be no one else.

"Thank you for your guidance," Xu Qing said, bowing to Physician Wang.

"Wait, I didn't say anything, so why are you thanking me?" Physician Wang interrupted Xu Qing's thanks.

Xu Qing and Physician Wang exchanged a smile, their understanding unspoken.

If Xu Qing refuses these powerful figures, he will offend them under Han Yu's instigation, and his future days will probably not be easy.

If he accepts the invitation, and one of the powerful or wealthy people he treats dies because of his treatment, he will be held responsible.

The best outcome would be to be stripped of his title and reduced to a commoner, and banished from Xinzheng. The worst outcome would be to be executed as a way of venting his anger.

He kills without a knife and dies without shedding blood; he truly deserves to be called an old fox who can rival Ji Wuye.

"It's good that you can understand the ins and outs of it; this is something that we, as a school of medicine practitioners, inevitably encounter."

Physician Wang patted Xu Qing on the shoulder and then walked out of the room.

Xu Qing watched as the door was closed again, and then looked at the surging crowd outside. His expression was more solemn than ever before.

Just as Xu Qing was struggling with what to do next, the ball of light in his mind reappeared, and two sticks flew out from it.

[His miraculous healing skills brought life back to Xinzheng; everyone on the streets came to see him; his fame spread throughout the land in a single day.]

[A moderate fortune; accepting the invitation to diagnose the health of a powerful figure; proceed with caution and prudence; fortunately, with the help of a benefactor, misfortune turns to good fortune; nothing gained, nothing lost, a peaceful outcome.]

[A poor omen. Refusing invitations and staying indoors will offend powerful figures, incur jealousy, and sow seeds of future trouble. An ominous sign.]

Looking at the two fortune sticks in his mind, Xu Qing began to think of a way to break this deadlock.

The only path before him was to "diagnose" the pulses of the powerful and wealthy. But it wasn't really about diagnosing pulses; these powerful figures' real target was allicin, a substance they used to save their lives.

"As long as we dispel the ideas of these powerful and wealthy people, ninety percent of them will automatically withdraw. As for the remaining people, as long as they choose the right person, who only examines their pulse and does not prescribe medicine, and are careful and cautious, they should be able to escape this calamity."

Xu Qing's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. Perhaps he could use the excuse he had previously used to line his own pocket again.

As long as the cost of allicin extraction is increased indefinitely and the news is spread, these powerful figures will naturally back down.

"But who should be chosen as the first person to see the doctor so that the news can be spread?" Xu Qing pondered, and a name came to mind.

Anping Jun, the third younger brother of King An of Han, was an expert in health preservation.

A plan gradually took shape in Xu Qing's mind, and Xu Qing's expression gradually softened.

"Since you want to test your skills, then let's give it a try. I just don't know if you'll still be able to pave the way to the harem in the future," Xu Qing sneered.

He just wanted to live a quiet life, but Han Yu had already put a sword to his neck. If he didn't fight back, Han Yu's revenge would only be more intense in the future.

Having thought everything through, Xu Qing smiled again, picked up a brush and a blank bamboo slip, got up and opened the door. The servants outside rushed towards Xu Qing once more.

"Everyone, everyone." Xu Qing gestured to the crowd.

The crowd quieted down and turned their attention to Xu Qing, waiting for him to speak.

"Thank you all for recognizing my medical skills, but the Crown Prince has just recovered, and His Majesty has ordered me to take care of him. I am afraid I am unable to treat the many ministers and officials. Please leave your names and symptoms, and I will go to examine each of you later." Xu Qing said, handing out the bamboo slip and writing brush.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do with the gifts in their hands.

"His Majesty is benevolent, allowing members of the royal family and court officials to have the imperial physician examine their pulses. As the imperial physician, this is simply my duty. I do not seek any reward, and I ask that you take your gifts with you," Xu Qing continued.

Looking at Xu Qing's sincere face, everyone was unsure what to do next.

"Please, everyone," Xu Qing said, maintaining her smile.

Seeing this, the servants could only step forward one by one to write down their master's name, and the originally noisy crowd instantly quieted down.

The other medical officers in the Imperial Medical Academy looked at Xu Qing with envy. Treating the powerful and wealthy meant that as long as he cured them, he would gain connections and favors.

These connections and relationships can come in handy at any time.

They usually have to go to great lengths to cultivate relationships with powerful and influential people. Unlike Xu Qing, who seems to be picking and choosing like buying vegetables at a market.

Just as everyone was writing their names, Ruotao arrived carrying a plate covered with a red cloth.

"Imperial Physician Xu," Ruotao called out.

Xu Qing looked at Ruo Tao, and everyone else looked at Ruo Tao as well.

"Miss Ruotao, what brings you here? Is it possible that Consort Hu is unwell again?" Xu Qing asked in confusion.

"My lady said that she was able to recover thanks to your treatment these past few days. To express her gratitude, she specially asked me to bring you some gifts." As Ruotao spoke, she removed the red cloth, revealing the contents of the plate.

On the plate were a sapphire the size of a baby's palm and a spherical, openwork, gilded jade treasure, both of which were priceless treasures.

The servants and the surrounding physicians all looked on with envy.

"I am merely fulfilling my duty; I do not deserve such a reward from a beauty," Xu Qing declined.

"Physician Xu, please don't be so polite. This was specially requested by the beauty." Ruotao didn't give Xu Qing a chance to refuse and directly handed the two items to him.

"Then I will respectfully accept your offer. Please convey my gratitude to the beauty on my behalf, Miss Ruotao," Xu Qing said.

"Alright, Physician Xu, you go ahead with your work. I'll be going now."

Ruotao glanced at the noble servants surrounding Xu Qing and then left.

After seeing Ruotao off, Xu Qing continued to direct everyone to leave their names. The medical officers outside also dispersed and began to attend to their own tasks.

Before long, the servants left their master's name and symptoms, and Xu Qing refused to accept any of the gifts they brought. He felt obligated to take their gifts and examine them.

After dealing with the servants, Xu Qing took the bamboo slips and returned to his room.

Looking at the names and ailments written on the bamboo slips, Xu Qing's smile deepened.

Just as he thought, nine out of ten of these powerful and wealthy people were not sick; they were all after all the allicin.

"In that case, let's start with you, Anping-kun."

Xu Qing put down the bamboo slips and prepared to tidy up his medicine box before going to examine Anping Jun's pulse.

As soon as the medicine box was opened, a faint fragrance wafted out. Xu Qing frowned and began to search for the source of the fragrance.

After taking out several bamboo scrolls and tools, they saw stockings and thongs hidden at the bottom of the medicine box.

Xu Qing's expression turned to shock upon seeing the wet, flesh-colored stockings and thong.

Xu Qing was very familiar with these two items; they were Hu Meiren's personal clothing.

What is Hu Meiren up to?
Xu Qing was a little confused and didn't quite understand why Hu Meiren was putting these things into his medicine box.
Xu Qing, as if possessed, took the stockings out of the medicine box. The stockings felt smooth to the touch and still had Hu Meiren's unique fragrance and lingering warmth.

"Are you using this to test your cadres? Which cadre can't withstand such a test?"

"You really underestimate me, Xu. Do you think I would be led astray by wine and women?"

"I, Xu, never drink alcohol!"

Xu Qing showed a disdainful expression, stuffed the stockings and thong into her clothes, picked up the medicine box and walked outside.

After speaking with the physician in charge of roll call at the Imperial Medical Academy, Xu Qing headed towards Lord Anping's residence.

Just as Xu Qing was heading to Anping Jun's residence, news about Xu Qing once again broke out among the powerful and influential people of Xinzheng.

This time, however, it was about Xu Qing being rewarded by Consort Hu. The powerful and wealthy people were impressed by Xu Qing again and began to look forward to him coming to their homes to examine their pulses.

The Fourth Young Master's Residence, attic.

Han Yu sat upright in front of the crime scene, handling South Korean government affairs.

Han Qiancheng entered the room and bowed to Han Yu.

"Fourth Master, as you predicted, the powerful figures in Xinzheng have sent people to invite Xu Qing to take your pulse," Han Yu said.

"Really? Xu Qing accepted?" Han Yu sneered.

Xu Qing ruined his plans twice, so he naturally couldn't let Xu Qing off the hook. Therefore, he deliberately spread rumors, exaggerating Xu Qing's abilities, and inciting powerful figures, thus setting a deadly trap for Xu Qing.

"He accepted it, but he didn't take the gift. Instead, he had people write down their names, planning to visit them one by one the day after tomorrow to examine their pulses. Our informants report that he's on his way to Lord Anping's residence," Han Qiancheng said.
"He's a smart man. Anping-jun is one of Father's two most beloved younger brothers, and also the eldest. Both publicly and privately, no one would object to having him as the first person to take their pulse," Han Yu said.

"Have someone keep a close eye on Xu Qing. I want to see if he can get away with it again this time!"

Han Qiancheng looked at Han Yu with a hesitant expression, wanting to speak several times, but did not say anything.

Seeing Han Qiancheng's expression, Han Yu's face returned to normal, and he asked...

"Anything else?"

"Yes, Consort Hu has bestowed a reward upon Xu Qing," Han Qiancheng said.

"Xu Qing has done a good job taking care of her, isn't that a normal thing? What's the problem?" Han Yu asked, puzzled.

"The gift that Coco Hu bestowed upon Xu Qing was a gift from you, a sapphire from the Kingdom of Chu and a gilded white jade openwork nine-colored ball," Han Qiancheng said with a complicated expression.

Han Yu was stunned, his face instantly darkened, and anger burned in his heart.

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(End of this chapter)