The Martial Doctor-Chapter 96 - 94: Xiaolian

It’s a sin!

"Xia Zhu, you need to ask your mistress about this matter. If she agrees, then the person can stay." Lin Miao gave this authority to Sun Youwei.

In this family, the authority of the mistress as the head must be established.

"Yes."

Xia Zhu knew that as long as her master Lin Miao didn’t oppose, it wouldn’t be a problem for the kind-hearted mistress to let Xiaolian stay.

Sure enough, Sun Youwei agreed to let Xiaolian stay temporarily in the residence.

The household was short on staff, even though they had Yu Zhu and the cook Luu Wan, and had hired two more laborers, it was still not enough.

Especially in the inner courtyard.

Yu Zhu was sometimes too busy and needed Shi Yin’s help, and Shi Yin often went next door to help, but now she was a free person, and Lin Miao also agreed to register her household under his name.

Shi Yin’s status was that of a servant. Even though Qin Yanran gave her the contract of sale, she was still considered a servant. Any servant needs to have a master.

To truly restore her status to that of a commoner, she would need to apply to the authorities to remove her servitude status.

There are many ways to remove servitude status, as long as it’s not prohibited by a judgment. One way is through meritorious service to the government, the other is to pay for redemption.

However, some individuals cannot be redeemed with money, as there are regulations, which can be checked when removing servitude status.

Shi Yin’s servitude status was a bit complicated because she was sentenced to servitude by the government, and she was sold to Qin Tower at a young age, moved around many places, and even she couldn’t recall why she was degraded to servitude.

Furthermore, removing servitude status requires thorough investigation, and even if she wanted to pay for redemption, she couldn’t, so she needed to find a registered household to accept her.

This household could only be Lin Miao’s.

Strictly speaking, she was now Lin Miao’s female servant, yet no one really treated her as a slave.

In fact, Shi Yin’s position in the Lin residence was second only to Sun Youwei’s, as she and Sun Youwei were quite like-minded and addressed each other as sisters.

Originally in Huaye Tower, someone like Shi Yin was attended by maids, but in the Lin residence, she had to take care of herself.

Sun Youwei did suggest getting her a maid, but Shi Yin declined.

One reason was the difficulty in finding a suitable person, and the other was Shi Yin didn’t want to be served by others anymore.

Although the household’s affairs were increasing, and the manpower a bit strained, it was particularly challenging in the early period when Su Chen and Miss Liuli came to recuperate. If not for Xia Zhu, it would have been truly overwhelming.

Sun Youwei allowed Xiaolian to stay, partly out of pity for her, and also because the family genuinely needed more hands.

Having one more person makes a significant difference.

"Mr. Lin, Xiaolian’s health is not very good. I have prescribed a formula for her, please have a look." Xia Zhu brought in a prescription.

"What does your mistress say?" Lin Miao asked. Such an opportunity for practical learning couldn’t do without Sun Youwei.

"Mistress said it needs your decision." Xia Zhu replied.

"When she arrived, I quietly took her pulse. It was thin and soft, a typical symptom of deficiency in both energy and blood. If delayed for too long, it would be difficult to reverse." Lin Miao nodded. "You can use this recipe, but I have another formula. Replace it with Eight Treasures Soup: ginseng, white atractylodes, poria, angelica, ligusticum chuanxiong, white peony root, rehmannia, and prepared licorice. Boil them together and drink for a period for recovery."

"There’s no dosage listed in Mr. Lin’s prescription?"

"The dosage, you decide."

"Me?" Xia Zhu said surprised.

"Yes, you. Don’t be afraid." Lin Miao moved aside the table, letting Xia Zhu write the dosages behind the herbs.

Xia Zhu carefully considered, then started writing down the dosage behind the herbs.

"Take this to your mistress for evaluation." Lin Miao looked it over but said nothing, instead telling Xia Zhu to take it to Sun Youwei for feedback.

Though puzzled, Xia Zhu took the prescription to Sun Youwei.

"Is this the prescription your master wrote for Miss Xiaolian, with your notes on the dosage at the back?" Sun Youwei recognized it immediately.

"Mr. Lin asked me to bring it to you for evaluation, Mistress?"

"My junior disciple asked for my evaluation?" Sun Youwei was a bit puzzled, but after carefully reviewing the prescription, she exhaled and said, "Your master’s prescription is excellent, much better than the one we drafted earlier. However, your dosage is a bit conservative. He’s reminding me that while being cautious as a physician is good, sometimes being overly cautious is not. His intention is that the dosage should at least be doubled!"

"Doubling it, wouldn’t that be too much?"

"No, Xiaolian’s condition has been prolonged for too long. Severe conditions require strong medication. First, correct the symptoms in her body, and then gradually adjust!" Having been influenced by Lin Miao for so long, Sun Youwei naturally understood his medication philosophy.

"Yes, I’ll go and prepare the medicine right away!" Xia Zhu nodded, realizing she had indeed been too conservative.

Lin Miao hadn’t mentioned another reason: Xiaolian was only twenty years old, young enough to withstand the corrective power of strong medicine. If she were a woman over forty, this method wouldn’t work.

That’s why in traditional Chinese medicine, treatments are individualized since everyone’s physical condition, age, and severity of illness vary, leading to differing prescriptions.

After one dose of the medicinal soup, Xiaolian’s complexion improved significantly that afternoon. She no longer felt weak, and her energy was visibly restored.

There were no discomforts at all.

Xia Zhu was thoroughly impressed.

That evening, though it was supposed to be a family feast, there were quite a few people. When counted up, aside from Xiaolian and Luu Wan, who were absent from the seated table, the gathering filled the table entirely.

"Today is the mistress’s birthday. She doesn’t drink much, so I shall offer a toast to everyone on her behalf!" Lin Miao stood up with his cup raised.

"Cheers!"

The fine wine flowed down the throat, sweet and refreshing.

"Sister-in-law, I am a few years older than you. During the past half month, my mother and I have been living and eating at your home, which has truly been a disturbance." Su Chen stood up and said, "At first, I was unaware and thus didn’t prepare a birthday gift in time. So, I bought something on short notice as a little trinket for you to enjoy."

With that, he handed over an exquisite brocade box.

Sun Youwei glanced at Lin Miao. Although she hadn’t seen much of the world, she knew that the contents of this brocade box were not cheap.

How could a gift from the son of the wealthiest man in Lanzhou be anything ordinary?

Lin Miao gave a slight nod, and only then did Sun Youwei reach out to take it: "Thank you, Brother Su, for your generosity."

"Sister-in-law, you are too polite." No matter how valuable the gift, could it equal a mother’s life?

Su Chen nodded, and then Shi Yin and Miss Liuli also presented their gifts, which were much more ordinary. Xia Zhu, not knowing what to give, simply presented a set of the Four Treasures of the Study.

Sun Youwei loved copying medical books and had excellent handwriting, so she was naturally delighted to receive this set of Four Treasures of the Study.

Seeing that everyone had given their gifts, Su Chen, a lover of excitement, began to egg Lin Miao on to take out his birthday gift.

Lin Miao feigned reluctance for a moment before finally taking out the meticulously prepared piece of jade carved in the likeness of Sun Youwei.

"This... the person on it is me..." Seeing the piece of jade, Sun Youwei’s eyes brightened, happily holding it in her hands, clutching it fondly.

"It’s carved based on your appearance, Senior Sister," Lin Miao said with a doting smile.

"Junior Brother, I didn’t know you could carve," Sun Youwei asked in surprise.

"I learned from the old stone mason in town."

"The old stone mason can carve jade?" Sun Youwei exclaimed in surprise. She knew the old stone mason; her father’s tombstone was commissioned from him, and as a child, they often played at his quarry.

"Yes, seeing him carving jade, I insisted he teach me," Lin Miao lied effortlessly, without a hint of blush.

Looking at the remarkably lifelike jade likeness of herself, Sun Youwei blushed from her neck to her cheeks. This gift held great significance for her, not just as a birthday gift but as a token of love.

"Thank you, Junior Brother."

"Master, a guest has arrived!" The sound of knocking came, and a servant went to open the door, returning with a low voice report.

"Who else could be visiting at this hour?" Lin Miao wondered. Not having informed any outsiders of his senior sister’s birthday, since all family members were present, who could possibly be the guest tonight?

"Old Xie, can you check it out."

"Yes, Master." Xie Shouchang left the table.

Xie Shouchang soon returned, followed by none other than Qin Yanran and the Huaye Tower guards. Lin Miao recognized the one who had followed him, Han Si, who was carrying a large, three-tiered lacquer box.

"I heard today is Lady Youwei’s birthday, so I specially prepared some fresh fruits from the south as a modest gift. Wishing Lady Youwei a happy birthday!" Upon entering the door, Qin Yanran set a low profile.

Lin Miao wasn’t sure what trick this enchantress was up to, but since she brought a gift, it was not polite to be rude. So he stood up and clasped his hands in a formal gesture, "Thank you, Mrs. Qin, I’ll accept it on behalf of my senior sister."

With a wave of his hand, he signaled Xie Shouchang to take the lacquer box from Han Si. The southern fruits were certainly not cheap, making this gift not light at all.

He knew that if he didn’t accept, Qin Yanran would likely have a lot more to say.

"Then I won’t disturb all of your enjoyment." With that, Qin Yanran slightly bowed, appearing as though she was about to take her leave, but made no move to depart.

"Junior Brother, since Mrs. Qin is here, she should stay for a drink," Sun Youwei stood up and politely invited.

"Senior Sister..."

"Thank you, Lady Youwei, I would be honored." Qin Yanran, clearly waiting for this invitation, wasn’t allowing Lin Miao a chance to refuse.

The round table was large enough to accommodate another seat without feeling crowded, and Qin Yanran was arranged to sit next to Miss Liuli, right next to Shi Yin.

Once Qin Yanran sat down, the atmosphere at the table noticeably changed. Where there had been laughter and chatter just before, now things became more reserved and polite.

Especially Bai Feng, who had not yet fully recovered, and shortly after, with Su Chen’s support, went back to her room.

Before long, Sun Youwei also showed a hint of fatigue, so Lin Miao let her retire to her room to rest, with Yuzhu following closely behind. Shi Yin left as well.

Then Yun mentioned she needed to go back to settle accounts for the tofu workshop, and Xie, the cunning one, seeing the dwindling crowd, quietly slipped away with a jug of wine.

That left only Miss Liuli, Qin Yanran, Lin Miao, and the returning Su Chen at the table.

Su Chen had also noticed that Qin Yanran had ostensibly come to wish Sun Youwei a happy birthday, but her real target seemed to be Lin Miao.

The light in her eyes never left Lin Miao from the moment she took her seat.

Su Chen couldn’t help but feel a bit envious of how his little brother attracted attention at such a young age, but recalling his mother’s words in the room earlier, he didn’t dare to leave.

"Mistress..." Miss Liuli gently reminded Qin Yanran, the banquet was almost over, and as a guest, perhaps it was time to take her leave.

Qin Yanran turned a deaf ear, continuing to drink, her eyes glittering with romantic intent that even a fool could see.

Another incense stick’s worth of time passed.

"Ahem, Mrs. Qin, it’s getting late. Let’s call it a night," Lin Miao, as the host, was not dense and stood to prepare to see her off.

"Mr. Lin, I have something to say to you alone." Qin Yanran spoke up, stepping closer to Lin Miao.

"Miss Liuli, your mistress is drunk, please give her a hand and see her back to rest." Lin Miao stepped back slightly.

"Mrs. Qin, I may not be capable, but I am willing to play the role of a gallant protector for once." For the sake of his good brother, Su Chen braced himself.

"Mr. Su, I have something to discuss with Mr. Lin; it’s a personal matter between us..." With a touch of drunkenness, Qin Yanran fell into Lin Miao’s embrace.