In Shengjing, rain always fell under the cloak of night.
By dawn, beneath the Falling Moon Bridge, the river drifted with pale willow catkins.
The swallows were busy, the orioles languid; blossoms fading, willows shedding—spring lingered in its most resplendent grace.
Olivia Yin descended to fetch hot water and chanced upon the innkeeper. She was a charming girl, sweet of tongue, and the people at the inn were always willing to look after her.
The innkeeper smiled. "Up so early, Miss Yin?"
Olivia Yin returned the smile. "Yes, I couldn't sleep late today."
The innkeeper glanced upstairs. "Your young lady was in the kitchen again until the third watch. You should persuade her to rest—such long hours will wear her down."
A few days earlier, Alice Lu had sent Olivia Yin to buy herbs nearby, borrowing the inn's kitchen to roast and refine them late into the night. Though the innkeeper said nothing, she secretly disapproved. To process herbs was a delicate craft—even seasoned physicians in the city sometimes failed. How could a young girl like Alice Lu manage it without error? It was presumptuous, to say the least.
Feigning not to notice the innkeeper's veiled disdain, Olivia Yin exchanged a few polite words before heading upstairs.
Inside, Alice Lu sat at the table, wrapping small bundles of medicinal tea in white paper, binding them neatly with coarse red string before placing them carefully into a wooden box.
"Young lady?"
Alice Lu rose. "Let's go."
Outside, the morning was radiant. The sunlight was gentle, brushing over their shoulders like soft fur, warm enough to tickle the skin.
Tea stalls lined the streets. The people of Shengjing adored tea—teahouses dotted every corner, the air rich with the hum of conversation. From the distance came the lilting notes of an opera from the pear garden, filling the city with vibrant life.
"Shengjing is lovely," murmured Olivia Yin, "but everything here costs a fortune."
Alice Lu said nothing.
Before her death, Lily Yun had instructed that all her medical books be burned with her, leaving her remaining silver to Alice Lu. But Lily Yun had been generous to a fault—whatever she earned, she spent again on new herbs. By the time Alice Lu had arranged her teacher's burial, only a few taels of silver remained.
The journey back to Changwu County and then to the capital had drained most of that. Olivia Yin had calculated a few days ago that, after buying herbs, they had enough left to stay in Shengjing for half a month at best.
After that—they would have nothing.
Lost in thought, the two turned through narrow alleys and followed a bustling street. When they rounded a corner, a small, worn-looking medical hall appeared before them.
Amid the well-kept shops around it, this one stood out for its neglect. The signboard was old, the four characters "Renxin Medical Hall" scrawled in flamboyant calligraphy, yet the faded façade made it almost invisible to passersby.
Alice Lu stepped inside.
Up close, the place seemed even more desolate. A long table blocked much of the entrance, and behind it sat a young man in a canary-yellow robe, dozing with one leg crossed over the other. Behind him stretched an entire wall of redwood drawers labeled with wooden tags—clearly the herb cabinet.
The windows were small, the space dim, dust hanging thick in the muted light. Without a lamp, the shop felt more like a shadowed cellar than a healer's hall.
Olivia Yin cleared her throat, about to speak, when a boy of eleven or twelve emerged from the back room, freckles scattered across his nose. Seeing the two women, he blinked, then shouted toward the dozing man, "Master, customers!"
The young man jolted awake, nearly tumbling off his chair. Scrambling to his feet, he forced a smile. "Ah—what can I do for you, ladies?"
Olivia Yin gave him a puzzled look. His tone was that of a trader, not a healer.
Alice Lu spoke evenly. "Does your medical hall purchase prepared herbs?"
Realizing they weren't here for consultation, the man's energy faded. He slouched again, eyeing her with little interest. "What kind of herbs?"
Olivia Yin quickly opened her bundle, revealing a large paper-wrapped parcel.
The man untied it, took a pinch, sniffed, rubbed it between his fingers, and looked up with a flicker of surprise. "Carbonized cattail pollen? Nicely roasted."
This herb was commonly used, and raw cattail pollen wasn't costly. Alice Lu had roasted it herself in the inn's kitchen.
Olivia Yin, relieved, smiled. "My lady's roasting is always excellent. Would you—"
Her charm, however, had little effect. The young man raised three fingers lazily. "Three qian of silver."
Alice Lu frowned.
The raw pollen alone had cost her three qian, not to mention the effort of preparation. The offer was far below market price.
"What?" Olivia Yin cried. "Only that much? Even raw herbs are worth more!"
The shopkeeper folded the paper shut, pointing toward the door with visible impatience. "That's the price. If you're not satisfied, try Xinglintang around the corner—they've got deeper pockets."
His indifference was infuriating, and Olivia Yin was about to retort, but Alice Lu slid the parcel forward. "Three qian it is."
The man's smile turned more genuine. "David Chen, fetch the silver."
The boy returned with a small piece of silver, which Alice Lu accepted before taking out two more oil-paper bundles.
The man frowned. "What's this?"
"Medicinal tea," said Alice Lu.
He pushed it back with a hollow smile. "Sorry, miss, we don't take tea here."
"It's free," she said calmly. "A token of goodwill. Brewed, it relieves nasal congestion and sinus inflammation. Take these two packets as a gift—if you find them effective, I can bring more. I'm staying at the Yiyi Inn under the Falling Moon Bridge."
The man studied her. She met his gaze, unflinching. After a moment, he shrugged and pocketed the tea. "Then my thanks, miss."
Without another word, Alice Lu and Olivia Yin left.
When they were gone, David Chen turned to his master, puzzled. "But sir, we usually pay five qian for cattail pollen. Why only three today? That's the raw price—we won't profit. Why'd they agree?"
The man rapped him lightly on the head and walked toward the back. "Who says there's no profit? Didn't they leave two packets of tea?"
David Chen looked down at the small, neatly tied bundles—tiny, delicate things bound with red string.
"Oh," he said, realization dawning. "They want to sell their tea through us?"
"What else?" the man snorted. "There's no such thing as free lunch, boy. You think they came here because of my charming face? If they wanted a fair deal, they'd have gone to Xinglintang."
The boy hesitated. "Then, Master, should we sell it?"
"Sell it? Absolutely not!" The man swept aside the curtain irritably. "Who knows what's in it? If someone dies, who'll take the blame? I'll test that cattail first—Shengjing's full of swindlers, and plenty of them wear skirts. Best keep your wits, or you'll end up helping them count their profits."
He disappeared inside, muttering, "Throw the tea out later—don't mix it with the rest."
David Chen sighed, glancing once more at the tea. What a pity.
——
Outside, Alice Lu and Olivia Yin walked on.
Still brooding, Olivia Yin huffed. "Everywhere else pays five qian, but this so-called Renxin Medical Hall gives only three! 'Benevolent Heart,' hah—more like 'Black Heart!' Miss, why didn't you offer the tea to Xinglintang instead? Their master was much kinder."
Alice Lu shook her head. "Renxin has no resident physician."
During their travels, they had seen many clinics—most had elderly doctors in charge. But this one had only the "master" and David Chen.
Renxin was short of hands.
"You mean…" Olivia Yin's eyes widened. "You intend to be their resident doctor?"
Alice Lu was silent for a while, then nodded.
In the capital, she had nothing but Olivia Yin and a medicine chest. The Ke family's business, however, flourished beyond measure.
Renxin Medical Hall lacked a doctor. It stood on West Street—not far from the Ke residence, yet far enough to avoid suspicion.
She needed a role.
A way to approach the Ke family without revealing her intent—
And a resident physician's post would serve perfectly.
"But…" Olivia Yin hesitated. "For a woman to practice medicine—it's rare enough. To sit as a hall doctor? Almost unheard of."
"Come," Alice Lu said softly, drawing her thoughts back. "Let's sell the rest of the cattail pollen."