As the crowd speculated, amidst these watchful eyes filled with doubt and worry, Wanwan, clad in blue robes, appeared elegant and refined, her clear voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Today marks the grand opening of our Poppy Medical Hall. We thank everyone for gracing us with their presence. On this inaugural day, our young master has declared that all consultation fees will be waived. We hope you will spread the word, inviting those who cannot afford treatment or are unable to get well, to come and seek our help."
The onlookers were stunned, never imagining such a thing existed. They exchanged glances, finding it hard to believe. Finally, someone stepped forward tentatively to ask.
"Young lady, you're not deceiving us, are you?"
"How could I deceive anyone? In broad daylight, who would I be deceiving? Just spread the word. However, should there be any troublemakers, we have plenty of cudgels ready."
After Wanwan finished speaking, she stepped back and waved her hand. Two or three assistants went to light the firecrackers.
The firecrackers crackled louder and louder, attracting more and more people.
Hearing that it was the first day and consultation fees were free, with medicine to be paid for, many found it hard to believe.
In a place like Yan Capital, medical consultation fees were notoriously expensive. Many could afford medicine but not the doctor's visit, resorting to blindly buying medicine from apothecaries.
Now, such a medical hall had appeared. For a moment, everyone was unsure if it was true. Amidst this thick cloud of doubt, Wanwan unveiled the plaque. On it, four lifelike characters were inscribed.
'Poppy Medical Hall'
Wanwan had never understood the meaning behind this name. Unlike medical halls like Renzhentang or Wanshoutang, whose names clearly indicated their purpose of healing, her master's chosen name sounded rather ominous.
However, since her master had decreed it, she could only comply.
Despite the lingering skepticism, the Poppy Medical Hall, amidst the constant murmurs, welcomed its very first patient.
As the patient entered, many followed in to observe. They saw the physician diligently examining the patient, then writing a prescription, and instructing them to fetch their medicine from the side. The assistants were also diligently preparing the medication.
The shopkeeper, upon seeing new customers, was not annoyed but greeted them with extreme sincerity and respect.
In an instant, the warm and welcoming attitude of the medical hall, along with the news of a day of free consultations, spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of the capital. Many were still doubtful, but anyone with an ailment flocked to the hall.
Soon, it was bustling with patrons, lively and grand.
However, their actions had also provoked the ire of their competitors.
Several major medical halls, upon hearing this news, immediately convened to discuss countermeasures. They then dispatched their own assistants to pose as patients, even devising malicious schemes.
Because consultations were free, the number of people seeking treatment was immense, with queues stretching from the entrance to across the street.
The assistants and physicians worked tirelessly, without rest, not even stopping for lunch. They managed to snatch a few bites in shifts before returning to their work.
Meanwhile, their leader, the dear Young Master Leng Yue, had not made an appearance at all.
Wanwan thought wistfully, at least he could come out and offer some encouragement. But he hadn't shown his face, that hateful master.
Little did they know, trouble would strike in the afternoon.
A group of menacing individuals barged in, carrying a semi-conscious patient with a sallow complexion on bamboo poles. They roared and cursed all the way, startling the patients, who scattered to the doorway, throwing the hall into chaos.
A person lying on a stretcher clutched their stomach, groaning in pain. Beside them, besides those carrying the bamboo frame, was an elderly woman, crying out "My child!" with such heart-wrenching sorrow.
"My child! I thought you were saved, but now you've lost your life in vain. What kind of medical hall is this? These are clearly fellows with inferior medical skills and wolfish hearts."
The old woman cried, tears streaming down her face. Those around her were startled and immediately dropped the medicine in their hands, shouting.
"Quick, refund our consultation fees! We're not being treated anymore! We're not being treated!"
The shopkeeper Yan Mei, Wanwan, and the assistants and physicians in the hall, witnessing the scene, were thrown into disarray, unsure how to handle such a situation. Everything had been going well, how could a life be lost? They were all filled with anxiety.
One of the physicians attempted to examine the patient, but the old woman blocked him, like a madwoman, shouting, "Get out! You heartless wretch, aren't you satisfied with harming my son? Pay up, or we'll report you to the yamen!"
The crowd gathered at the entrance immediately chimed in, "That's right, pay up! Pay up!"
The situation was spiraling out of control. Wanwan glanced at the scene, exchanged a look with Yan Mei, and prepared to go to the back to fetch the young master. But before she could leave, she heard two crisp sounds.
A folding fan tapped lightly against a hand. Though gentle, it drew everyone's attention. The hall fell silent, and everyone raised their eyes.
From the back hall emerged a young man of dazzling grace. His handsome features were adorned with a smile, his gaze misty, his slender brows slightly raised, and his lips curved into a wicked smile.
Though his smile was captivating, his eyes held a chilling glint. Dressed in a clean white robe, he appeared as refined as jade, yet no one dared to profane him.
Yun Xiao lightly clapped his hands twice, scanning the crowd, his gaze finally settling on the person on the bamboo frame and the one crying as if their world had ended. His smile widened, but the chill in his eyes intensified.
He walked over slowly, his steps as light as water, yet exuding a chilling charm that made everyone instinctively step back.
The old woman, who had been crying so fiercely, stopped her tears, a flicker of fear in her heart. Those clear eyes seemed to tolerate no imperfection, and he stood before them like a bamboo shoot, slowly crouching down, fixing her with his gaze.
"Is it us who have wolfish hearts, or is it you, esteemed elder, who possesses them? Do you believe that heaven has its ways of retribution? I truly admire your acting skills."
As her words fell, she flipped her hands, grasped the arm of the person on the bamboo frame, and after a single press, spoke in a low voice.
"Very good, very good. You've taken Wild Purslane and dare to cause trouble here. Why didn't you take Aconite and pretend to be dead?"
Upon hearing this, the hall fell utterly silent, everyone staring at the young man. They observed his graceful demeanor, as if he were an immortal from the river or a crane from the clouds.
The old woman, who had been crying hysterically, could no longer speak. She pointed at Yun Xiao and mumbled.
"Who are you?"
"Young Master Leng Yue."
"Young Master Leng Yue. So, he is Young Master Leng Yue."
The crowd stirred, whispers of discussion filtering in, filled with awe.
"Young Master Leng Yue is so handsome, and his medical skills are so marvelous."
"Yes, it seems we've wrongly accused this medical hall."
Yun Xiao turned his head, looked at Liu Xing behind him, and commanded in a deep voice, "Get these troublemakers from whichever medical hall they belong to thrown out!"
"Yes, Master," Liu Xing replied with a single sound and stepped forward. Those who had carried the bamboo frame earlier had already fled in terror, leaving only the old woman and the one on the stretcher who had taken the Wild Purslane, clutching their stomachs and writhing in pain.