Becoming the Empress: Golden Finger Set Under My Bed - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Die of Illness Is Better Than Being Killed by Mercy

The matter suddenly became clear in her mind. So the Physician of Poison was not that powerful. That skill seemed to be a double sword.

However, An Rushuang never thought about poison her enemies to death directly, which would be too easy for them. This would also increase the chances of getting the An Family involved and being punished. It’s better to wait and see.

If those people suddenly lost all the glamour and wealth they struggled to achieve, wouldn’t that be more frustrating? Thinking so, An Rushuang couldn’t help curving her lips, “Ok, it’s all up to you, senior.”At the same time, the Second Prince was comfortably drinking with a singer when he suddenly sneezed. The singer at his side affably said, “How are you? Are you okay?” Pushing her away, Zhu Han looked around the warm inner room and felt somewhat uncertain. He couldn’t help frowning.

“Apart from that, I have another thing to ask. If you do not teach me acupuncture, shall I study by myself?” Looking at Bian Wen, An Rushuang felt she was being set up. What was the point for her to hold the the precious needle if no one was going to teach her? Surely it would not mean that she could command the skill only by staring at the medical instrument.

Without making any extra expressions, Bian Wen said in a low voice, “Of course there will be someone teaching you.”

“Who’s that?” An Rushuang was so curious about her future master who could teach venerable master’s leech craft. Thinking so, she could now confirm her master must be so skillful whose medical knowledge would not be less than that of Bian Wen. Besides, there were more than one offspring of venerable master.

Looking at the distance, Bian Wen took a sigh before murmuring, “She was a heretical student of venerable master. She has now established a new sect, called the First Pharmacy. But they only sell medicines. They do not diagnose patients anymore.”

Ye Chengzhi never heard of this during the past. He was so confused, “If so, who should she look for?”

“My junior, Luo Qu.”

An Rushuang turned to Ye Chengzhi who was also at a loss. Apparently he did not know her either.

Nodding, An Rushuang said, “I heard of the First Pharmacy. So are you going with me or…”

“You shall go on your own,” said Bian Wen, discarding her slightest hope, “Go and find her with these silver needles. As for whether she will teach you or not, it all depends on how you behave.”

Bian Wen’s words suddenly shifted all the responsibility to Lou Qu, a person An Rushuang had never met.

Looking at Bian Wen, An Rushuang suddenly didn’t know what to say. After a while, she said, “Fine!”

But An Rushuang was indeed upset. Who knew Lou Qu? Only with a casket, how could she convince her?

After An Rushuang left, Ye Chengzhi asked, “Master, if you have this junior sister, why you haven’t told me about her?”

Taking a deep sigh, Bian Wen did not say anything.

Before leaving, An Rushuang went to see Xiaotao’s mum. Seeing everything going well with her, An Rushuang went away with Hong Yu and Xiaotao.

“Do you know who is the owner of the First Pharmacy?” An Rushuang asked Hong Yu and Xiaotao.

Although An Rushuang once heard its name from her friend Xianxian, she had never done any further research about this pharmacy.

Hong Yu shook her head. She had newly arrived to the city so she had no idea about the First Pharmacy in the capital.

However, Zhao Xiaotao looked at An Rushuang curiously, “Miss An, why are you asking about the First Pharmacy? Are you going to buy medicine for Mr. Bian?”

“No,” said An Rushuang slowly, “I want to ask something from the owner.”

“Ok. Are we going now?”

It was not lunchtime and it seemed good to have some rough information about the pharmacy now. Thinking so, An Rushuang said, “Yes, we are going to the First Pharmacy.”

They went on the carriage.

On hearing the destination, the carter said, “I know there well. Sit tight, Miss An. We will arrive soon.”

Drawing the curtain up, Hong Yu asked the carter, “So you are familiar with the First Pharmacy?”

Chuckling, the carter said, “Hong Yu, you’ve just arrived at the capital. It’s normal that you do not know about it. But the First Pharmacy is actually more famous than Mercy Pharmacy.”

“Humph, do not fool me.” Rolling her eyes, Hong Yu continued, “It’s true I just arrived, but I heard many people talking about Mercy Pharmacy. No one ever said about the First Pharmacy.”

Smiling, the carter didn’t care about Hong Yu’s words.

“The Mercy Pharmacy is mostly for the rich and those officials. It is good, but not everyone can afford the payment. Although it is called Mercy Pharmacy, the poor in the capital don’t even dare to go there. However, the First Pharmacy is a wonderful place. It was founded ten years ago. I do not exaggerate that they are indeed miracle-working physicians. My son was once badly ill, after having two sets of their medicine, he got fully recovered very soon. It’s just like a miracle!”

“So they also diagnose for patients?” asked An Rushuang in confusion.

The carter quickly shook his head and said, “No, they don’t diagnose. For most of the time, there is only a young man working in the pharmacy. Last time I just happened to meet an elderly female physician. I heard that they will give away some medicine to the poor once in a while. They are much more humane than Mercy Pharmacy.”

Raising her eyebrows, An Rushuang had some overall ideas of the First Pharmacy.

“Mercy Pharmacy seems good. Why are you belittling it like this…” said Hong Yu.

Thinking that Ye Chengzhi worked at Mercy Pharmacy, Hong Yu naturally had a positive feeling for the Mercy Pharmacy. As for the First Pharmacy, what an arrogant name…

Before the carter’s reply, Zhad Xiaotao sighed, “The Mercy Pharmacy is at the Southern Street where a lot of officials live while First Pharmacy locates at the Western Street where most of the poor live. But the First Pharmacy does not diagnose patients. So some people would send for physicians in the Mercy Pharmacy, which could cost all the wealth of a family. Consequently, there is a saying in the Eastern Street，‘Die of illness is better than being killed by mercy’”.

“Die of illness…better than being killed by mercy? What does that mean?” Hong Yu asked, biting her lips in confusion.

The carter coldly smiled, “If untreated, the patient will die of illness, but if treated by the Mercy Pharmacy, the patient and his family will be starved to death. Die of illness or die in poverty, which do you choose? It might be better to die of illness as their family would not break and can live on…”

Taking a deep sigh, the carter said in a down voice before the carriage stopped, “Miss An, we’ve arrived.”