My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Having left Lin’s Medical Hall, Wei Xie immediately pestered Qin Liuxi with questions, wondering why she was showing such a pleasant face to the Lin Family, and even proactively extending them face-saving measures. That’s not like her at all.
"With your temperament, you should have reprimanded them instead." Wei Xie looked at his own slashed arm, then glanced at the dagger at Teng Zhao’s waist—the kind that could sear a soul.
After all, she had slashed him, but she had just let it go when it came to the Lin Family, who misdiagnosed cases and still acted high and mighty.
This seemed rather suspicious.
Qin Liuxi responded, "Why should I reprimand him? The unjust things in this world are countless, could I really crush and trample everyone underfoot? It’s good enough that the Lin Family can afford to run a medical hall, without concerning whether their fees are expensive or not, as long as they have the means to save people. As for that couple, have you not heard of their plight? On one hand, they have elderly parents who need constant medication, and on the other, they have four children, with the entire family relying on the man’s hunting for livelihood."
Wei Xie was taken aback; many poor families were like that.
"A bowel abscess can’t be cured with just one dose of medicine; it requires an extended period of treatment and dietary management to avoid recurrence, especially for someone like him who relies on hunting and lacks dietary discipline. Medicines and treatment don’t cost silver?" Qin Liuxi said indifferently, "Now that there’s a medical hall offering free treatment and medication, why bother going to another hall and spending silver? Isn’t it better to save that little bit of silver to buy something for the elderly and children?"
"In the face of reality, pride and dignity are not worth mentioning, especially for the poor people. They don’t have such things, because they won’t fill their bellies or keep them clothed, let alone allow them to live a decent life. Wei Jun, common folks are not scholars, thinking about how to maintain dignity and become enviable figures. Their most basic concern is whether they can eat their fill and keep warm. Only when these needs are met will they consider other things."
Wei Xie stared at her for a long moment before managing to say: "How can you see through life so clearly at such a young age, like an old person who has lived a long time?"
Qin Liuxi glared at him, "That’s because I’m intelligent and kind-hearted. As a scholar, you probably rarely see what real poverty is like, and to what extents people would go for a bite to eat. Dignity? What is that, can it fill a stomach?"
"Additionally, I was willing to give him a way out largely out of respect for his deceased grandfather."
Teng Zhao asked, "Did master have an old relationship with the Lin Family?"
"I’d met his grandfather once due to a dispute over a diagnosis. The founder of the Lin Family’s medical hall, the Imperial Physician Lin Yuan, was a genuinely good-hearted person. It’s no wonder he could retire from that soul-consuming palace and still manage to run a medical hall. During his time, he also held free clinics. That’s how the Lin Family built their reputation and their fees weren’t so expensive. Unfortunately, this generation doesn’t possess the great kindness Lin Yuan had back in the day."
In just a few years, with Lin Yuan gone, the character of Lin’s Medical Hall had changed.
Wei Xie remarked, "Aren’t you afraid that after you leave, they will pay lip service to your advice? After all, they’re taking you for a fool, they even prescribed a diet."
Qin Liuxi exclaimed, "You have a point. It seems I should have the Ghost Messengers escort Lin Yuan’s spirit here to properly teach his grandson a lesson. He hasn’t been dead for too many years; he must still be waiting in line for reincarnation."
Wei Xie: "..."
Finally, this person is back to normal. That profound demeanor was really unsettling!
Thus, Lin Shiquan and his father were sternly reprimanded in a dream by the old man that night. The next day, both father and son wore dark circles under their eyes and quietly marked down the prices of the medical materials in the hall because the old man had instructed that if they continued such actions, he would come to scold them daily. Who could withstand that?
"Divine Doctor, please hold on, my young master has sent for you." A servant dressed in servant’s clothes stopped the group, smiling broadly though the smile was tinged with bitterness.
Qin Liuxi turned her head and looked back at the carriage not far behind. Ever since leaving the medical hall, she had been aware of this carriage. Now it came to stop them.
"Seeking medical assistance?"
The servant looked surprised and flattered, saying, "Divine Doctor truly has miraculous foresight."
"You reek of medicine, yet you look healthy and not ill; if it’s not you, then it must be your young master, otherwise why stop us?" Qin Liuxi rested her hand on her eyebrow bone and looked at the sun, saying, "The sun is harsh, let’s talk back at the inn. Follow us."
The servant boy was somewhat dazed. Could it be this smooth?
...
Qin Liuxi looked at the gaunt, pale, and frail man lying on the bed in front of her and took a moment before managing to say, "A near-death appearance, you’ve just escaped a deadly calamity."
This man’s complexion had a darkened Yintang, almost covered entirely by the ominous light of blood, a near-death visage, with a thread of life so faint it was almost invisible.
He had just survived a great disaster, not more than three months ago.
Yet he still lived.
A real fighter.
The man was only about twenty-five, and upon hearing Qin Liuxi’s words, a glint sparkled in his profound eyes as he said, "In Li City Qingping Temple there is a Daoist doctor who can diagnose fate, known by the Daoist name Buqiu. Could that be you?"
"Eh, were you specifically looking for me?" Qin Liuxi raised an eyebrow.
The man’s eyes brightened even more, and he extended his hand to the servant boy, "Wa Song, help me up."
The servant called Wa Song, along with another guard, quickly helped him to sit up.
"I am Du Mian, a scholar from Li City, honored to meet Master Buqiu." Du Mian clasped his hands and bowed, "I’ve heard of Master Buqiu’s exquisite medical skills, which is why I’ve come to seek your help. I didn’t expect to encounter you in Prefecture City, it truly is my fortune."
After speaking in one breath, he was panting, a fine sweat appeared on his forehead, and his complexion turned even paler and more frail.
"Master, don’t rush, take it slow," Wa Song supported him, sliding a cushion behind his back, his face showing a trace of distress.
"It’s alright," Du Mian forced a smile, "I must have amused Master Buqiu."
Qin Liuxi said, "Since you are here to seek my medical skills, why did you stop me on the street earlier?"
"Just now, seeing how someone as young as you could discern the hunter’s ailment, I held a sliver of hope," Du Mian glanced at his hand hidden beneath his sleeve, "I am a man close to death, yet unwilling to die so soon. I hoped against hope to try anything possible, never imagining that, by some stroke of luck, I would find you."
Qin Liuxi replied, "I can see that you’ve gone through a severe ordeal and suffered serious injuries, yet death has not claimed you. You are indeed resilient."
Du Mian: "..."
"Lie down then, undo your clothing, and let me have a look," Qin Liuxi signaled with her chin.
She stepped back, and Du Mian lay down again, his clothing undone, revealing the savage wounds across his body.
"Hiss," Wei Xie peeked and jumped back, "No wonder you’re all wrapped up so tightly; isn’t there a patch of unmarred flesh?"
Qin Liuxi stepped forward to take a look and sighed again, "You really are strong-willed, not succumbing to death!"
Du Mian’s mouth twitched slightly. It was clear that he was tenacious, so there was no need to repeat the phrase ’not dying.’ It sounded like a compliment, yet not exactly a compliment; he didn’t even know how to respond properly.