Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

Just as Yue'er finished arranging the pastries and brewed the tea, Aunt Qiaozhu led someone over. It was none other than Cui Sumu.

"Miss, you're amazing! Doctor Cui really came!" Yue'er whispered to Xiao Lan.

"Understood. Just watch my signals later." Xiao Lan whispered these instructions before the person came in.

Qiaozhu led Cui Sumu into the hall and greeted Xiao Lan: "Greetings, Miss Lan. My lady saw that Doctor Cui had something to discuss with you, so she ordered me to bring you here."

"Thank you so much, Aunt Qiaozhu," Xiao Lan said politely.

After Cui Sumu and Xiao Lan exchanged greetings, Qiaozhu prepared to take her leave: "Miss Lan, the person has been delivered, I will go back to report to my wife now."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Aunt. Please tell my aunt that I'll visit her and my cousin later."

After Qiaozhu left, Xiao Lan invited Cui Sumu to sit down and said with a smile, "I thought Doctor Cui would come today, so I just brewed some white tea. Doctor Cui has arrived, and the water temperature is just right. I just don't know if Doctor Cui, who has lived in the capital for so long, is still used to drinking this white tea."

“Miss Lan, you’re too kind. This white tea is a local tea from Shaozhou, and I’m quite used to drinking it. I used to miss it often when I was in the capital.” As he spoke, Cui Sumu picked up his teacup, stirred the tea with the lid, took a sip, and said, “Renhua white tea, excellent tea.”

"If Dr. Cui likes it, that's good." Seeing that there was no change in Cui Sumu's expression, Xiao Lan asked directly, "Neither Dr. Cui nor I are the kind of people who are coy. I wonder what your decision is after you've considered it?" After saying that, she also picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea, thinking to herself: I've lived two lives and I still can't get used to this white-haired tea. If it weren't for entertaining Cui Sumu today, I would never have let Yue'er brew this tea.

"After discussing it with my family at home that day, Cui decided to go to the capital to seek refuge with that noble person after the mourning period. I would like to ask Miss to introduce me." After discussing it with his family at home, Cui Sumu unanimously agreed that this opportunity was rare. Even if he could return to Dechuntang as a resident doctor, he might not be able to earn such a high monthly salary.

"Has Dr. Cui decided on the length of the contract with my relative?" Xiao Lan had thought Cui Sumu wouldn't agree so readily, and had prepared a whole bunch of things to say to recruit this talent. Needless to say, her mood instantly improved, and she took another sip of tea.

"To be honest, Miss, since I haven't met the owner, I dare not make a judgment, but I can still sign the five-year contract."

"To be honest, Dr. Cui, because of my relative's rather special status, it's inconvenient for him to meet with men outside the family, so most things are entrusted to my aunt and me. I can handle this small matter of hiring people." He then took out three contracts and handed them to Cui Sumu. "Dr. Cui, please look at these three contracts. The first one is a five-year contract, with ten taels of silver per month, and an additional fifty taels for each new prescription developed, but the monthly salary remains unchanged for five years."

The second contract is for ten years, with a monthly salary of ten taels of silver. For each new prescription developed, an additional fifty taels will be paid. The monthly salary will increase at least once every two years, with each increase being at least one tael. This means that in the third year, one will receive at least eleven taels of silver per month, and in the fifth year, it will become twelve taels per month, and so on.

The third contract is for fifteen years, starting with ten taels of silver per month, but increasing by one tael per month each year. In addition to a fifty-tael reward for developing the formula, there will be annual dividends. Furthermore, a courtyard will be provided for Doctor Cui to live in, where he and his family can reside. For these fifteen years, I will not charge Doctor Cui a single penny of rent.

Which one does Dr. Cui think is suitable? Xiao Lan then posed the question to Cui Sumu.

"Well, does that mean I will only take orders from Miss Lan from now on?" Cui Sumu had thought before that if his boss was Miss Lan, he might have agreed three days ago. However, even though he now has a big boss, it would be best if he only took orders from Miss Lan.

“Of course, this contract is signed by me, and I will be the one paying Doctor Cui's monthly allowance from now on. If there is anything, Doctor Cui can just come to me.” Xiao Lan understood Cui Sumu's concerns, but she still didn't want to reveal her identity. She figured she wasn't the big boss, but she could be the third or fourth boss. A local official is more powerful than a distant one. As long as Cui Sumu trusted her, that was enough.

As expected, Cui Sumu was overjoyed upon hearing this and said to Xiao Lan, "Miss Lan, you are of impeccable character. I am willing to sign a long-term contract. To be honest, my wife and I had already discussed this before. After returning to the capital and settling in, we will bring my mother to live with us there. Once the long-term contract is signed, I can take my mother back to the capital after the mourning period."

"Very well, let's sign the contract today. After the mourning period, you can take Old Madam Cui back to the capital." With that, Xiao Lan called Yue'er over and brought over the pen and ink. She copied the contract from fifteen years ago, and Cui Sumu signed and pressed his fingerprint on it.

Then he called out to Yue'er to take out thirty taels of silver and a voucher, saying: "Since the contract has been signed, this thirty taels is my advance payment to you, sir. It can be deducted from the year-end bonus."

Sir, please don't refuse. Traveling from Shaozhou to the capital with your family is much more difficult than traveling alone. The journey will take at least seven days, so spending a little more money will lessen the hardship for your family. Even though the courtyard is free in the capital, the cost of bedding, pots and pans, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar for the whole family will be considerable. Besides, this money is a loan; you don't have to pay it back. Just don't feel burdened. Do your job well, and you'll certainly receive your year-end bonus.

Keep this safe and sign it. I have something I'd like to ask you for help with.

Cui Sumu put the money into his money bag, signed his name on the withdrawal slip, and asked: "What business does the young master need?" Cui replied: "I will do my best."

"Dr. Cui, don't be nervous. I was thinking that since you've been working at Dechuntang, do you know any female doctors you could introduce me to?"

"I wonder why Miss Lan is looking for a female physician?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan knew that Cui Sumu had connections, and almost blurted out the word "training." She took a sip of water and slowly said, "I want to find a skilled physician who knows acupuncture and preferably some methods of body conditioning. I know that female physicians are not allowed to practice medicine because women are not allowed to. So even the best ones only pay two taels of silver a month. I am willing to pay five taels of silver a month to hire her to condition women's bodies and teach the maids simple massage techniques. I wonder if Doctor Cui has any suitable candidates? Of course, this only requires signing a regular contract."

“Miss Lan, I actually have a suitable candidate in mind, which is my wife. My wife is my master's only daughter. She has been studying medicine with us fellow apprentices since she was a child, and her medical skills are no worse than mine. It's just that she is a woman and cannot practice medicine. However, some ladies in the capital who needed to regulate their bodies all came to my wife. Later, she came back to Shaozhou with me and has been helping me at the clinic ever since.”

Xiao Lan thought the man sounded good, but she had just signed a contract with Cui Sumu, so there was no rush. She would inquire about him herself when she arrived in the capital.

He then said to Cui Sumu: That's great. After you return to the capital, I will meet with Madam Cui and we will discuss this in detail.

Cui Sumu knew that he could not return to the capital immediately because of his mourning period, and he didn't want to keep his employer waiting, so he agreed and didn't say anything more.

Xiao Lan was worried that she would be late if she arrived late, as her grandmother was waiting for her.

He then instructed Cui Sumu: "Don't tell my aunt about the contract yet. She's been worried about my cousin's leg injury lately. Also, I'll trouble you, Doctor Cui, to take care of her leg injury; she'll be recuperating here for another month. Just collect the consultation fee as owed. I'll be leaving for the capital the day after tomorrow. If you need anything, sir, you can contact Manager Lin of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. I'll give Manager Lin some instructions before I leave."

Once you've decided on your return time and route to the capital, be sure to go to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency in advance and inform Master Lin to send me a message. I will send someone to pick you up at the city gate on time.

Seeing that Xiao Lan had finished explaining everything in one go, Yue'er, with her keen sense of observation, came over to report: "Miss, it's time for us to go to the main hall to have dinner with the old lady."

Upon hearing this, Cui Sumu immediately bid farewell to Xiao Lan. Xiao Lan asked Yue'er to pack up the untouched pastries on the table for Cui Sumu, and had someone escort him out of the mansion before hurrying to the main hall.