The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort were not there. They must have already left after watching.

Qingye finished his treatment once again, almost falling asleep from sheer comfort. He had never felt so comfortable.

Until Lin Miao covered him with clothes and gently shook him awake.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Lin, I haven’t slept so well in a long time," Qingye expressed with a sigh. When it comes to treating illnesses, finding the right person truly makes a difference.

Mr. Fu also had impressive medical skills, but this young physician seemed even more skilled, and this cupping therapy was truly amazing.

Qingye, being a martial warrior, had a physique different from ordinary people, thus could undergo continuous cupping that regular people couldn’t manage.

"It’s understandable," Lin Miao chuckled, disinfecting the glass cups and putting them away for future use.

"How do you feel, senior?" Lin Miao always addressed Qingye as ’senior,’ firstly because Qingye was older than him, making the term appropriate, and secondly because Qingye intentionally came with his identity hidden, and revealing it would show disrespect.

The term ’senior’ was neutral, conveying respect, and was casually used.

"Good, unprecedentedly good." Qingye tried to channel some internal energy and discovered that the stiffness at his back had disappeared. The spot once plagued by a poisoned sore had always been his Achilles’ heel, but now it was gone.

Without this burden, his combat effectiveness had increased by at least 10 to 20 percent.

This delighted him greatly.

"Still remember this, senior?" Lin Miao took out the little sword gifted to him by the old postal worker and handed it to Qingye.

"This is..." Seeing the Cyan Fish Sword, Qingye felt a sense of familiarity, followed by a rush of familiar memories surfacing in his mind.

"I gave this sword to the old hunchback; how does it end up with you, Mr. Lin?"

"Is the ’old hunchback’ senior mentioned possibly a postal worker?"

"Postal worker, I don’t know what he did after retiring, and it’s been years since I’ve seen him..." Qingye said slowly.

Through the years, Qingye had witnessed many comrades coming and going. Although he remembered the old hunchback, he might not know everyone’s whereabouts. Once they went back and hope to find them again, it’s difficult.

"He was at the Tang Family Castle. When I first moved from my hometown Qingping Town to Dongshan City, he lent it to me for self-defense when I stayed at the Tang Family Castle. Later this year I saw him again when I returned. He said, if I have a chance to meet Marquis Wu’an Qingye, I can return this sword to its original master."

"Since I gifted this sword to him, it’s his now; why return it to me?" Qingye asked, puzzled.

"I don’t know either. Perhaps because I left a prescription for his wife, he felt grateful, so..."

Qingye instantly understood the old hunchback’s intention. He wanted Lin Miao to take the sword to find him, hoping Qingye could help Lin Miao with his future career. But speaking of it diminishes the meaning.

The problem is, Lin Miao might not even need his help, and perhaps, Qingye would need Lin Miao’s assistance someday.

Such give and take truly seems like destiny.

"Since I gave this sword to him and it was gifted to you, I won’t take it back; if Mr. Lin doesn’t mind, keep it," Qingye handed the Cyan Fish Sword back.

"Then I will humbly accept it. I really do like this little sword," Lin Miao noticed the sincerity in Qingye’s eyes, didn’t refuse, and reached out to take it.

"No need to come tomorrow, come the day after instead. This treatment course lasts half a month. Later, I’ll teach you the methods of cupping, and senior can let your subordinates help you with it. As for the ointment, I’ll also show you the recipe and preparation method, so you can make it yourself," Lin Miao said.

"If you give me the recipe, how will you earn money later?"

"I’ve earned quite a bit from senior already; one shouldn’t be too greedy. Besides, my prescription is specifically for your injury; nobody else would have it, so what’s there to worry about?" Lin Miao laughed freely.

Qingye nodded, dressed, and left.

...

As winter arrived, cases of asthma and rheumatic joint ailment increased noticeably, which Lin Miao observed during his consultations.

The elderly and children were the main patients, while robust young individuals were less likely to fall ill.

Unlike catching a cold, asthma has many causes, and shouldn’t be generalized; it requires differential diagnosis and treatment.

During his evening classes, Lin Miao delivered in-depth discussions on these common chronic diseases, attracting many attendees.

The Fourth Elder returned from Longchuan Canyon, because Lin Miao’s "Path to Sainthood" trial was nearing its end.

As a supervisor, how could he not return?

Guan Biyun and Lien Xiaorou hadn’t come back yet; they could return anytime, staying at Yingfeng Valley under aliases, where they had opened a small clinic.

Their business was doing well, providing Lien Xiaorou opportunities to practice and gain experience.

The Fourth Elder brought back many items from Longchuan Canyon, mainly poisonous plants and minerals. Lin Miao had requested them, giving Fourth Elder a booklet describing the shapes and characteristics of certain minerals, hoping he could bring some if encountered.

Indeed, he returned with quite a lot, filling an entire large box.

He was not mining, but searching for certain special "metal and stone" medicinal materials used in traditional Chinese medicine. The use of these materials is an unexplored area in this world, much like the use of animal-based materials.

For example, deer antler and bezoar.

The absence of these medicinal materials renders many diseases incurable.

In the medicine he gave to Zhao Yuanze, deer antler and ziheche were not included in this world’s "Hundred Herbs Scripture", and sometimes, using or not using them makes a world of difference.

There’s also rhino horn and buffalo horn, although they can substitute for each other, the effects are different.

In the mineral specimens brought back by Du Laosi, Lin Miao saw mineral medicinal materials like serpent’s gallstone, yangqi stone, roasted gypsum, alum, and copper sulfate.

This indicates that these minerals are produced in Longchuan Canyon.

Du Laosi also did not know why Lin Miao wanted him to find these stones, but after returning and realizing that these stones could actually be used as medicine, he was dumbfounded.

However, he could accept it. After all, Lin Miao had introduced many medicines he had never seen before in his treatments, which ultimately proved to be highly effective, with a noticeable difference when added or not added.

When it comes to the use of insect-based medicinal materials, Lin Miao also has unique insights, even casually mentioning things more thoroughly than Du Laosi’s years of research.

He even began to doubt whether his years of research on "fighting poison with poison" were pointless. How could Lin Miao know more than him without doing anything?

Regarding Lin Miao’s "trial" task, Du Laosi, as the main person in charge, was to write a report and submit it to the Imperial Pharmacy.

This report needed to be submitted immediately after the trial task was completed.

So, he calculated the days and didn’t delve deeper, rushing back from Longchuan Canyon. This was a big issue that couldn’t be delayed, affecting Lin Miao’s future would be a great sin.

...

Qingye, having returned to the guesthouse, hurried to apologize to the Crown Prince, after all, he got up late today and didn’t accompany the Crown Prince to the consultation point.

Later, he stayed behind for treatment and missed the chance to meet with the Crown Prince.

He missed it both times, and although he wasn’t afraid of the Crown Prince holding a grudge, he still needed to explain afterward, since he was at fault first.

"How did Your Highness find Mr. Lin today?"

"I’ve never seen such a physician; his consultation methods are beyond comprehension. If I didn’t have no better options, I really wouldn’t want to stay here." Zhao Yuanze openly expressed his dissatisfaction.

"Does Your Highness have any misunderstandings?"

"Misunderstanding? I saw it with my own eyes, how could there be a misunderstanding..."

Qingye was utterly confused. Lin Miao, though young, in his impression, was a humble and gentle person, as mild-mannered as a gentleman. How could he become such a terrible figure in the Crown Prince’s eyes?

Logically, it shouldn’t be. Lin Miao’s medical ethics and reputation were well-acknowledged in Dongshan City.

"Never mind, as long as he can cure my illness, I’ll bear it." Zhao Yuanze, having been the Crown Prince for twenty years, had long developed a "resilient" personality. Otherwise, he would have had no chance against his domineering father long ago.

"Your Highness is magnanimous." Qingye couldn’t say much more; he didn’t really want to have a very close relationship with the Crown Prince.

Even if the Crown Prince became emperor, as a Grand General holding significant military power, the emperor would have to tolerate him as long as he didn’t plot rebellion.

"How is the Grand General’s injury being treated?"

"Your servant needs to stay for another half month. Mr. Lin says it takes a course of treatment, and afterward, I can go back to take the medication myself." Qingye didn’t want to say more to avoid inciting more of the Crown Prince’s dissatisfaction.

"That’s good. Whatever the Grand General needs, just tell me. No matter how rare the medicinal material, I will find it for you."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness."

"I woke up late today and didn’t have breakfast when I went out. I found a pastry shop with delicious offerings, bought some to try, and it was really tasty. I brought some back for Your Highness to taste." Qingye waved his hand, signaling his men to bring in the pastries he bought at Furong Garden.

"Oh, I must try them then. What good food could Dongshan Prefecture have that makes the Grand General praise it so highly?"

"I love meat and don’t like sweets. My favorite was their salted meat pastries. I ate twenty in one go, and now I have no appetite for lunch."

"Good."

Besides buying salted meat pastries, Qingye also bought some specialty pastries from Furong Garden. As a subject, he should follow proper etiquette; it’s not worth it to be resented by superiors over small matters.

A few pastries don’t cost much, after all.

Zhao Yuanze tasted a walnut crisp and nodded in satisfaction. It was crispy on the outside, fragrant, and not overly sweet, not at all inferior to the pastries made in the palace, perhaps even better.

"Someone, send some to Siyi; these are her favorites." Zhao Yuanze ordered. Although the Crown Princess Consort was bestowed to him by the emperor, after so many years of sharing a bed, despite having favored many girls, she remained his greatest love.

"Tomorrow, I will go out for a walk with Siyi alone. The Grand General need not accompany us, as it would draw too much attention." Zhao Yuanze said.

"Yes, Your Highness."