Time Travel: I am the idle king Li Shen and Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty

"Alas, I am truly unfilial, causing my mother worry. I will apologize to my father and mother after I recover."

Mr. Lu sighed again.

“Sister, there’s no need for that. How could Father and Mother blame you?”

Lu Dingniang continued to comfort her. She could tell that her sister felt somewhat guilty.

“Dingniang, you don’t know this, but I have indeed neglected you a lot over the years. Every time I return to my parents’ home, my mother gives me a lot of things.”

I know that those things were sent by you from the Prince Ji's residence to show your respect to the two elders.

But my mother gave it to me, and I really…”

At this point, Mrs. Lu couldn't help but shed tears, feeling sorry for her parents.

Every time she visited her parents, her mother would bring her back many gifts, such as money, cloth, and jewelry.

Her mother knew she was struggling financially.

“Sister, we are family, why worry about these things? I have good news for you, sister. I should ask my husband to find a good job for you.”

"From now on, my older sister will be able to live a good life too."

Lu Dingniang told Lu Dingniang the good news.

"This...wouldn't this be too much trouble for Your Highness Prince Ji?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Lu was delighted. She did not refuse the offer, as it would be a good thing for their family if her husband could be promoted.

"My lord said he would discuss this matter with His Highness the Crown Prince after the New Year."

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness Prince Ji."

The two sisters asked and answered questions, and gradually began to talk about trivial matters, even including intimate secrets between them.

At this moment, Li Shen had already arrived at Li Xiuwei's office, also known as the jail room.

"Dr. Sun, how is the Tibetan king doing now?"

After Li Shen sat down, he asked the question.

"Your Highness, as you instructed, the use of penicillin has been reduced, but the patient has basically recovered."

The wound is almost healed, but I'm a little weak from blood loss.

Sun Simiao, sitting below Li Shen, replied.

"Well, try to drag it out as long as possible, so that it will seem like we've done our best to treat them. I've already taken their money, so we should at least maintain the appearance we're in."

Otherwise, people will say we cheated them out of their money and didn't do anything.

Li Shen was very satisfied. The price they had agreed on that day was delivered the next day. It was all gold, although the purity might not be as good as the gold from the Tang Dynasty, but Li Shen could refine it himself.

Tibet's metallurgical technology is still far behind.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I know how to do it. I will go to Tibet to treat the king in place of my master."

Li Xiuwei said from the side that this kind of work was not suitable for Sun Simiao, and that Li Xiuwei should do it.

"Then let's talk about selling medicine." Songtsen Gampo's affairs were actually quite simple, so there wasn't much to explain.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuwei quickly reported:

"Your Highness, our medical school has begun selling medication to treat sluggishness. As per Your Highness's instructions, the Second Hospital has named it Montmorillonite Powder."

The price is set at 20 coins per pack, one pack is a one-day supply, and a three-day supply is 50 coins.

The medicine here at the First Hospital is called Guanyin Powder, and it costs one guan (a unit of currency) per packet, which is a one-day supply.

"How are sales at the First Hospital?" Li Shen was concerned about the sales volume.

A smile appeared on Li Xiuwei's face when this was mentioned:

"Your Highness, sales are excellent, thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Ever since those high-ranking officials learned that His Majesty had recovered after taking this medicine, many court officials, imperial relatives and nobles have come to buy some.

Each person should buy at least three days' worth, and some should buy a dozen or twenty packs.

Later, when the merchants of Chang'an found out, they all came to buy some.

We've sold approximately 200,000 packs so far.

"So many?" Li Shen was somewhat surprised; there were so many people with diarrhea.

One guan and one package, which is more than 200,000 guan, has a negligible cost.

"Your Highness may not know this, but this medicine is indeed remarkably effective for diarrhea. Many high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants have large families..."

Inevitably, some family members will get sick. If you need to see a doctor for medicine, it will cost several hundred coins, and the effect will be relatively slow.

Our medicine works quickly, so it's very popular.

Most merchants traveling to and from Chang'an would also prepare some, as they frequented both places, or even multiple locations.

They often experience diarrhea, and using one packet provides immediate relief without disrupting their schedule.

Li Xiu explained to Li Shen.

"I see." Li Shen suddenly realized that the main problem was that medical treatment was very expensive. If he went to see an ordinary doctor, it would cost several hundred coins and take many days, and there was no guarantee that he would be cured.

If you come to the medical school for treatment, the price is too expensive, costing several dollars per session.

I'd rather buy a pack and eat it myself.

And those traveling merchants, they're afraid of getting sick on the road and delaying their business. Buying a few packs is just in case.

"How are the sales at the Second Hospital?" Li Shen continued to inquire.

"This is what I was just about to report to His Highness Prince Ji. Because it's cheap at the Second Academy, people in the surrounding areas also buy some, including those in Chang'an City."

"I, your humble servant, also presumptuously ordered the sale of medicine at a low price to doctors who run clinics outside the area, so that they could treat the local people. I beg Your Highness to punish me for this."

Li Xiuwei rose to apologize.

“Your Highness, this is not due to cultivation level. It was the old Taoist who instructed me to do it. The old Taoist hopes that this medicine can reach the common people and save more lives.”

Sun Simiao spoke up to defend Li Xiuwei.

"I understand Physician Sun's feelings; he wants to save all living beings. However, what you did in this matter was wrong."

"We should wait until I return before doing this." Li Shen frowned. Researchers can only conduct research; they don't consider anything else.

Seeing that Sun Simiao seemed confused, Li Shen explained:

"Dr. Sun, we all know that the medicines we buy from the First Hospital and the Second Hospital are just different names, but they are actually the same medicine."

Our goal is to use the money earned by the First Hospital to support the Second Hospital.

Didn't you ever consider the possibility that someone might buy montmorillonite powder from the Second Hospital and then resell it at the price of Guanyin powder?

Li Shen's question stumped Sun Simiao and his apprentice; they had never even considered it before.

It is only right and proper to treat the sick and save lives; they never imagined that someone would buy the medicine and then impersonate Guanyin San.

"It was my oversight, Your Highness. Please forgive me." Sun Simiao stood up and bowed.

Li Xiuwei also bowed and apologized; it was he who orchestrated this.

"Well, since things have come to this, let's try to salvage the situation."

First, tell the doctors who come to buy the goods that they must sell them at the price we require, and we can give them some profit margin.

Secondly, he can only sell in their local area and cannot go to other places.

Thirdly, it was publicly announced that only the Guanyin Powder purchased from the medical school is genuine; all others are counterfeit. A substantial reward will be offered to anyone who reports such counterfeit products.

Regional protection and unified pricing are intended to protect the interests of ordinary people. Li Shen is afraid that some doctors will try to sell him at inflated prices.

The third point is to protect one's own interests.

(Oh no, my phone is going to break.)