A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

As soon as Nie Qianqian arrived at Jishetang, she was dragged to a corner of the pharmacy by Zhang Guanzhang's young apprentice, Tiandong.

Tian Dong whispered, "The curator told me to stay here and wait for him when he sees you. He said you're not allowed to go anywhere."

Nie Qianqian looked completely bewildered. "Why?"

Tian Dong shook his head. "You're not allowed to move around. Otherwise, I'll go and inform the curator, since I haven't told him yet."

Nie Qianqian waited obediently in the pharmacy. After a while, Director Zhang walked in hurriedly, turned around and closed the pharmacy door.

Director Zhang said anxiously, "We've finally waited for you! Dean Qiu has arrived with your husband and they're waiting in your consultation room now."

Upon hearing this, Nie Qianqian jumped up from her chair in surprise, "So fast?"

Director Zhang sighed, "Dean Qiu is so eager to attract talent. I only mentioned it to him this morning, and he brought Gu Xiao here this afternoon. They've been waiting for a while now. If you don't show up soon, they'll have to come back another day."

Eager to examine Gu Xiao, Nie Qianqian quickly said, "Don't let them leave. I'll go change my clothes and make a house call as Doctor Qian."

Nie Qianqian found a secluded spot, slipped into her spatial dimension, changed into Doctor Qian's clothes, and then came out of the dimension.

She quickly walked to the third floor, and when she arrived at the door of the consultation room, she heard Dean Qiu's voice coming from inside, "Gu Xiao, Dr. Qian comes from a reclusive medical clan. His medical skills are extremely high, but his temper is a bit strange and he is arrogant. When you see him later, you must be respectful and polite."

Gu Xiao replied in a low voice, "Student understands."

Nie Qianqian was speechless. "Thank you for listening to me."

What kind of image has Dean Qiu created for her?

She pushed open the door and entered. Dean Qiu quickly stood up and respectfully bowed to Nie Qianqian, "Dr. Qian, you've arrived."

Nie Qianqian, her voice hoarse, changed her tone and whispered, "Mm."

She was actually a little nervous. Gu Xiao was very perceptive, and even though she was fully disguised and confident that he wouldn't recognize her, she was still a little uneasy.

She decided to speak less, because the less she spoke, the fewer mistakes she would make.

Dean Qiu introduced, "Dr. Qian, this is Gu Xiao, a student of our Tiande Academy. He has great talent and is a key student of the academy. However, he has a ailment in his right hand, which has hindered his path to the imperial examinations. Director Zhang said that you are very good at treating external injuries, so I brought Gu Xiao here for treatment. Dr. Qian, please tell us how much the consultation fee and medicine cost are, and we will definitely pay it."

Hearing Dean Qiu's words, Nie Qianqian thought to herself that Dean Qiu truly valued talent and respected Gu Xiao. With such a teacher around, Gu Xiao should receive excellent care at the academy.

Seeing that Doctor Qian did not respond, Dean Qiu became somewhat anxious. "I have never seen such talent in my life as Gu Xiao. I hope Doctor Qian will take pity on his talent and treat his illness. I thank you in advance."

After saying that, he gave Director Zhang a worried look, hoping that Director Zhang would put in a good word for him.

Director Zhang: We don't need his help at all to treat Gu Xiao's illness. Nie Qianqian is as eager as a rabbit.

Director Zhang could only feign a question, "Dr. Qian, what do you mean?"

Nie Qianqian replied with a single word, "Okay."

Dean Qiu was relieved to see that Dr. Qian had agreed. He had great faith in Dr. Qian's medical skills; if he could cure tuberculosis, he was sure he could cure this hand ailment as well.

Gu Xiao secretly sized up Doctor Qian. This Doctor Qian was wrapped up tightly from head to toe and was very sparing with his words. He was really an oddball.

Dean Qiu said, "Thank you, Dr. Qian." He then gave Gu Xiao a wink.

Gu Xiao bowed and greeted Nie Qianqian, "Thank you, Doctor Qian."

This time, without Nie Qianqian having to say anything, Dean Qiu said quite consciously, "It's Dr. Qian's habit to ask others to leave when he's seeing patients. Gu Xiao, your teacher will wait for you outside."

After the two left, only Gu Xiao and Nie Qianqian remained in the room, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Nie Qianqian coughed to break the silence, "Extend your hand, let me take your pulse."

Gu Xiao obediently extended his right hand, and Nie Qianqian placed her hand, which was wearing an ice silk glove, on his wrist to take his pulse.

Nie Qianqian carefully felt the sensations. After the examination, she looked up and saw Gu Xiao quietly watching her.

Nie Qianqian was startled and immediately pulled her hand back.

Seeing his reaction, Gu Xiao's eyes darkened. "Doctor Qian, is this hand ailment chronic and incurable?"

Nie Qianqian realized from his words that she was truly feeling guilty, and that Gu Xiao clearly hadn't noticed anything amiss.

Nie Qianqian had never seen him look so worried before, and couldn't help but ask, "I noticed you were so calm and collected just now, as if you didn't care about your hand ailment. What, are you afraid that you can't cure it?"

Gu Xiao remained silent for a long while before replying, "Only by being free from desires and wants can one be free from worries and fears. Gu Xiao is just an ordinary mortal, and naturally, he will feel worried and fearful when he has desires in his heart."

Nie Qianqian was taken aback. She was used to Gu Xiao's calm and composed demeanor in the face of any situation. But in reality, he was just a twenty-year-old boy with his right hand crippled. How could he not feel worried and fearful? He was just used to hiding it.

What is it that he seeks?

Whatever Gu Xiao wants, Nie Qianqian will help him.

Gu Xiao: "Doctor Qian?"

Nie Qianqian snapped out of her daze and said, "Take off your outer clothes."

Gu Xiao was stunned, not understanding.

Nie Qianqian explained, "The pulse diagnosis I just performed was to observe the flow of your Qi and blood. We need to examine your bones as well."

Gu Xiao understood and obediently took off his outer clothes again.

Nie Qianqian: "Take it off again."

To Gu Xiao, there was nothing wrong with these words coming from the experienced and skilled physician, Dr. Qian. However, Nie Qianqian blushed deeply under her bamboo hat, and some lewd thoughts popped into her head.

Gu Xiao stopped questioning and obediently used his left hand to slowly remove his clothes, revealing his upper body.

Gu Xiao's skin is really fair.

An idea, from who knows where, just popped into Nie Qianqian's head.

Nie Qianqian swallowed hard.

The thud sounded rather abruptly in the quiet room.

Nie Qianqian felt so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole. She swore she was thirsty, not lusting after Gu Xiao's body!

Nie Qianqian picked up the teacup on the table, gulped it down, and muttered to herself, "It's dry, I'm thirsty."

Gu Xiao thought to himself, "This Doctor Qian is indeed as strange as Dean Qiu said."

Nie Qianqian walked closer to examine him more closely, but she immediately saw Gu Xiao's scarred back.

Gu Xiao had multiple cuts on his back, some large, some small, some deep, some shallow, all inflicted by swords.

There is a scar on his left shoulder, which looks like a graze from an arrow.

Nie Qianqian felt a chill run down her spine.

He was hunted down!

He has enemies!

Nie Qianqian immediately guessed that Gu Xiao was not a scholar from a poor family at all; he had escaped after being chased by his enemies.

No wonder Gu Xiao never mentioned his past; this was the reason.