Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Lu's brow furrowed, his expression solemn and stern. His words rang like heavy stones, resonating with the air, each word imbued with an irresistible authority. As soon as the words left his mouth, he keenly noticed a gloom creeping over his daughter's face. The corners of her mouth drooped slightly, and her clear eyes were now filled with resentment and displeasure. Zhang Lu's heart suddenly sank, and he realized that his words had gone too far. He knew his daughter's spoiled nature all too well, and he knew that if he lingered any longer, he would only intensify her resentment towards him.

So, he cleared his throat, his eyes flickering, and he stammered, "Well... I suddenly remembered that there are still some military affairs that need to be dealt with, so I'll go first." After that, he still involuntarily took a small step towards his daughter, and his tone softened a little. He advised with loving care: "You must not overwork, and you must pay attention to rest." Then, he slowly turned around, his steps seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and he slowly left.

When Zhang Lu's figure completely disappeared, Zhang Fubao breathed a sigh of relief, her cheeks puffed out slightly, and a hint of playfulness and cunning appeared in her eyes. She winked playfully at the maid and crisply ordered, "Quickly take out all the clothes I hid." The maid looked hesitant and tried to dissuade her with lingering fear, "Miss, if the master knew, he would be furious." Zhang Fubao extended her index finger, gently tapped the maid's forehead, and scolded her coquettishly, "You, don't be so timid, I'm here, what are you afraid of?"

The little maidservant said with lingering fear, "Young lady, you don't know that the master's expression just now was like a dark cloud, with thunder approaching. Although the master dotes on you, once he gets angry, everyone in the mansion trembles. When those words came out of my mouth, I felt as if the air in this room was frozen, and it was so cold that it made people feel terrified. Now you want to take the hidden clothes again. If the master knew, what would happen? Young lady, please listen to my advice and don't be so willful anymore."

Zhang Fubao frowned and said impatiently, "Alright, alright, stop wasting time and hurry up and get me some clothes to change into. We've been out so many times and Daddy hasn't noticed. Besides, even if he does, I'm here, so what are you afraid of?" The little maid stood by, a hint of reluctance on her face, but she didn't dare disobey Zhang Fubao's order. She tiptoed to the bottom of the cabinet and mysteriously pulled out a set of clothes. It was an exquisite brocade robe for a nobleman, and the attire of a servant.

The maidservant first helped Zhang Fubao put on his brocade robe. The material was high-quality, the embroidery exquisite, and it only accentuated his innate elegance. Then, with swift and decisive movements, the maidservant quickly gathered up Zhang Fubao's changed clothes and quickly changed into the servant's clothes. Once everything was packed, the maidservant pulled a suitcase from the corner.

Even when Zhang Fubao was posing as a doctor, she maintained a strong focus on her personal image. With her delicate features, she looked like a distinguished young man from a wealthy family. To others, she lied about her medical background. Whenever she encountered a patient, regardless of their wealth, she would offer her care. She cared little for material possessions like money; all she cared for was the compassion for the people and the joy she felt after helping them.

Carefully disguised, the two men carefully slipped out through the garden's side door, confident they could escape unnoticed. Little did they know, the City Lord's Mansion's guards, constantly on duty, closely followed their every move. The moment Zhang Fubao and his maid left the mansion, one guard quickly ran to the City Lord's location to report the details, while the others followed closely, not daring to slack off.

The master and servant were young and inexperienced, completely unaware of their pursuit. Though disguised, they couldn't conceal their female forms. Zhang Fubao, for example, despite her considerable stature, dressed in men's clothing made her look just as tall as a local boy—after all, life in Yizhou was difficult, and with its rugged terrain, men were generally not tall and strong. Yet, her every move and gesture evoked a uniquely girlish charm, one Zhang Fubao seemed oblivious to. The guards, well aware of the city lord's cherishment of her, were on high alert upon her departure, quietly removing any potential obstacles or trouble to ensure her absolute safety.

When they walked onto the bustling street, the little maid looked embarrassed and asked softly, "Master, where are we going?" Zhang Fubao blinked cunningly and smiled, "Of course we are going to find the genius doctor Hua Tuo. We can't miss his treatment." The little maid felt even more embarrassed when she heard this, and stammered, "Ah, we still have to go? The master has repeatedly ordered..." Before she finished speaking, Zhang Fubao gently knocked the little maid on the head and scolded her, "If it weren't for observing the genius doctor Hua Tuo's treatment and learning some experience, why would I come out in such a hurry?" Seeing this, the little maid didn't dare to say anything more and could only follow him silently.

The master and servant made their way to the outskirts of Yizhou City. Seeing this, the guards of the City Lord's Mansion immediately felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy. They followed them silently, pretending to be indifferent, but in reality, each of them was secretly on guard, constantly paying attention to the movements around them.

Hua Tuo originally practiced medicine within Hanzhong City. His extraordinary skills and fame soared, attracting patients from all over the city. Zhang Lu, the mayor of Hanzhong, feared the influx would undermine his teachings and his prestige. He deliberately kept the poor outside the city, allowing only one or two to enter. These patients, after being treated, expressed gratitude and hinted that many more needed care outside. Hua Tuo, a compassionate doctor, remained unfazed by these arrangements. He resolutely moved from the city walls to the outskirts, diligently treating the patients despite the harsh living conditions. Furthermore, soldiers with broken bones and incurable injuries flocked to the city walls seeking treatment. This was Zhang Lu's greatest concern, fearing that this would cause the followers to question the teachings and escalate into an uncontrollable situation.

Zhang Fubao strolled leisurely outside Hua Tuo's simple, unadorned medicine room. Several patients, arriving for follow-up consultations, caught sight of her and greeted her warmly with a bow. She wore a richly embroidered dress, crafted from the finest fabric, yet without a trace of overbearing pride, she carried herself like the warm spring sun, gentle and welcoming. Though the patients, fearful and hesitant to approach, still took the initiative to greet her, "How are you, Young Master Sun?" The endless stream of greetings betrayed their respect and affection for her.

The reason was that Zhang Fubao had heard of a young hero in the Central Plains named Sun Ce, also known as Sun Bofu. Even at a young age, he had distinguished himself amidst turbulent times, achieving unparalleled feats. He was also a man of striking appearance, with a strikingly heroic presence, a commanding presence, and a distinguished demeanor. Furthermore, "Bofu" rhymed well with her own name, "Fubao," making it easy to pronounce and seemingly a natural fit, so she boldly adopted Sun Ce's name.

Yizhou was a remote region, surrounded by mountains and steep roads, like a secluded paradise, and news spread slowly. Furthermore, most of these patients came from poor families and were relatively inexperienced. Those with a little wealth and experience could easily meet their needs at the city's well-equipped clinics, eliminating the need to wait outside the city walls in the bitter cold, eagerly awaiting treatment from the legendary doctor Hua Tuo. Consequently, no one had the slightest doubt about her impersonation, and it was even harder to connect the person before them with the world-renowned Sun Ce.

Zhang Fubao smiled broadly as she responded to everyone's greetings. Her clear eyes, brimming with concern, she carefully inquired about the well-being of familiar patients and whether their symptoms had eased. Her words were sincere, her manner friendly, and approachable, without any airs of superiority. As she walked gracefully, the patients waiting in line behind her chattered and discussed the situation. "This young master Sun looks like he comes from a prominent family, exuding nobility, yet he possesses no airs of arrogance. Instead, he treats us, the poorest of us, like his own family, caring deeply for us. He even clearly remembers our past ailments. He truly possesses a kind heart and a benevolent mind," an elderly man exclaimed with deep emotion. "It's not just that. Young Master Sun's medical skills are also exquisite. When Mr. Hua Tuo was busy treating critical illnesses, he treated them with his skillful hands and cured them immediately. Sometimes, when he saw the helpless, he would generously donate money to help them buy medicine. Such kindness truly shows the heart of a bodhisattva." A strong young man echoed, his eyes full of admiration and gratitude. Everyone chatted and praised him, like a beautiful piece of music, echoing outside the medicine house. Zhang Fubao walked in front, his lips slightly raised. That smile was like a blooming spring flower, delicate and moving, unable to conceal his inner joy and pride.

Zhang Fubao stepped lightly into Hua Tuo's medicine hut. Everything he saw was utterly simple. It was the dead of winter, and the chill of the cold filled every inch of the place. The hut seemed vulnerable to the wind, making it seem less like a shack hastily assembled from simple materials than a place for medical consultations.

Inside the shed, a pile of firewood was lit in the center to ward off the pervasive cold. The dancing flames flickered tenaciously in the chilly wind, never extinguished, like a ray of hope clinging to the darkness. Mr. Hua Tuo poured all his energy and dedication into meticulously treating his patients, so busy that he had no time to worry about such mundane matters as firewood.

Although these people who came to seek medical treatment were poor and could not afford to pay Mr. Hua Tuo for his selfless treatment, they were grateful and knew that a handful of firewood was just a piece of cake for them. So they spontaneously brought firewood from their homes. These firewoods gathered in the medicine room, creating a little warmth for Mr. Hua Tuo in the icy and snowy weather, and also provided them with some comfort against the cold during the long and arduous wait for treatment.

Zhang Fubao witnessed all this, her mind racing with thoughts. In this world, high-ranking officials are as numerous as the sea of ​​​​fish, but how many are truly willing to bend down and pay attention to the hardships of the common people at the bottom, like ants? She slowly surveyed the somewhat shabby surroundings of the medicine house, her clear eyes devoid of a trace of disdain, replaced by a surge of pity like the tide. She felt that the lives of these people were truly difficult, like a small boat drifting alone in a storm, vulnerable to being swallowed by the merciless waves at any moment. It truly aroused endless compassion and sympathy.