People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 43, Everything is Ready, Zi Nu's Interest

Jingdi is located near the border between Qin and Han. The area is harsh and impoverished, and war is constant. If he is not careful, his son could lose his life.

He had tried many connections to get his son transferred back to Xinzheng, but his son had offended members of the imperial clan and high-ranking officials, and he, as a mere imperial physician, was powerless to do so. The connections he made were also unwilling to offend members of the imperial clan because of him.

"You can't say that. I just think it's a win-win situation."

"With you overseeing things for me, I can improve my medical skills under your guidance, and you will not only be able to resolve your own mental anguish but also gain considerable prestige. Perhaps your name will even be recorded in history books in the future," Xu Qing said with a smile.

The reason he knew about Physician Wang's heart ailment was because of the original owner's father.

The reason why the original owner's father made him study Confucianism was because he saw that the Imperial Physician Wang was the Imperial Physician, and that his son had studied Legalism and embarked on an official career.

Therefore, he thought of making the original owner take a different path and change her class status.

"Xiao Xu, then why do you think I should believe you?" Physician Wang asked again.

"Because of Consort Hu, although your son has offended royal officials, it is just a minor matter to Consort Hu. If you do not believe me, you can wait until the imperial edict for the transfer is issued before making a decision."

Xu Qing looked calmly at Physician Wang and leisurely picked up her tea to drink.

Sitting opposite him, Physician Wang looked conflicted, hesitating whether or not to trust Xu Qing. After much deliberation, he finally nodded.

"No need, I trust you," said Physician Wang.

He was about to retire, and once he retired, his only valuable position as Imperial Physician would disappear, making it even more impossible for him to transfer his eldest son, who was far away in a remote and impoverished area, back to China.

"Don't worry, the transfer order will be issued soon," Xu Qing said with a smile.

Physician Wang nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

"I saw you practicing boxing when I came in. Do you also know martial arts?" Xu Qing asked.

"When I was young, I studied under a folk healer. If I didn't have some martial arts skills to protect myself, how could I have dared to travel the world and practice medicine to save lives?" Physician Wang said, revealing a hint of reminiscence, clearly missing those days.

Upon seeing this, Xu Qing's eyes lit up. Although he had started practicing martial arts, he was still completely ignorant about martial arts in the Jianghu.

He was most curious about his own level of strength, so he pressed for an answer.

"Do you know how individual strength is determined in the martial arts world?"

Physician Wang looked at Xu Qing with some surprise, but then smiled and said...
"If you want to know, I'll tell you about this world of martial arts."

Xu Qing looked at Physician Wang with a serious expression, waiting for him to explain.

"In fact, there is no clear division of strength levels in the martial arts world. People in the martial arts world have different methods, but in the end, they all rely on internal strength and skills. Internal strength is the foundation, but skills affect actual combat."

"Take swordsmen as an example. Between two swordsmen with the same internal strength, the one whose swordsmanship is more profound will be stronger."

"If two swordsmen have different levels of internal strength, the one with shallower internal strength but more profound swordsmanship can still defeat the one with higher internal strength."

"However, to differentiate strength, people in the martial arts world are accustomed to classifying individuals based on their internal energy, roughly dividing them into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and grandmaster levels. Grandmasters are also known as the Celestial Realm. It is said that above the Celestial Realm, there is an even higher realm called the Celestial Extreme Realm."

Listening to Physician Wang's explanation, Xu Qing gained a basic understanding of the martial arts world.

His current level of internal strength is at the level of a second-rate master, but he lacks offensive means, that is, skills. If he were to fight head-on, he might even be defeated by a third-rate master.

"It seems I must find a suitable offensive strategy as soon as possible," Xu Qing thought to himself.

"That's basically it." Doctor Wang picked up his teacup and took a sip of water.

"Thank you for your explanation, Physician Wang. I will invite you when it is time to examine the people's pulses. As for your son, you will only need to wait a few days," Xu Qing said.

"it is good."

Xu Qing bowed and left. He needed to check on Crown Prince Han's condition and then wait for King Han An to issue the imperial edict.

The following day, King Han An issued an edict allowing Xu Qing to treat the people of Xinzheng City for one day each at the beginning, middle, and end of the month.

After the edict was issued, it naturally sparked debate in the court. Some believed that this move was an insult to the dignity of the royal family, while others felt that it was a great act of kindness that would benefit the people, and they hailed the king as wise.

Before the two sides could even argue, Zhang Kaidi and Han Yu took turns supporting King Han An. Zhang Kaidi believed this move would enhance King Han An's prestige and change the public's perception of the Han court. Han Yu, on the other hand, wanted to use the matter to send a friendly signal to Lady Hu because it involved Xu Qing.

The Prime Minister and the Fourth Prince both supported this matter, so the others naturally had no objections. As for Ji Wuye, he cared even less about these things.

Therefore, the Korean court had no further objections and issued the edict that same day, posting notices to inform the people of Xinzheng.

When the people of Xinzheng learned that King Han An had sent imperial physicians to treat them for free and even provided medicine, they were naturally overjoyed and praised the king's wisdom. This even reversed the unfavorable image of King Han An in the hearts of the people of Han.

Xinzheng, Zilanxuan.

As the most famous brothel in Xinzheng, and even in South Korea, Zilanxuan attracted not only the beautiful girls inside, but also the miracle of its rise to become the best brothel in Xinzheng in just one year, and the mysterious owner behind it, Zinu.

As night fell, Zilan Pavilion remained brightly lit, with numerous powerful and wealthy merchants spending lavishly, all for the sake of winning a smile from a beautiful woman.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the front building, the backyard of Zilan Pavilion was quiet and secluded. Wei Zhuang and Zi Nu stood by the pond, the moonlight elongating their shadows.

The woman's long purple hair was styled into a cloud-like bun with a silver hairpin, exuding elegance and grace.

Those purple eyes, dark yet dazzling, with a bewitching purple butterfly pattern painted at the corner of her left eye, added to her mysterious and noble air. She wore a long purple fishtail dress that perfectly showcased her graceful figure, revealing her fair skin on her back and waist, and her long, slender legs were encased in black stockings, with deep purple high heels on her feet.

"King Han has ordered that the imperial physician Xu Qing provide free medical care to the people of Xinzheng. What do you think of this?" Zi Nu asked.

“If he really had such thoughts, South Korea wouldn’t have fallen to this state,” Wei Zhuang said coldly.

Wei Zhuang wore a black robe with gold patterns, and the shark tooth at his waist gleamed with a sharp edge. His narrow phoenix eyes were filled with coldness.

"What if it really is King Han's idea?" Zi Nu chuckled.

Wei Zhuang looked coldly at Zi Nu, as if to say, "What are you talking about?"

"Alright, alright. According to what I know, this order was indeed not King Han's idea. It was proposed by the imperial physician Xu Qing, and it is said that Consort Hu helped persuade King Han."

Zi Nu had a playful smile on her face.

"Imperial Physician Xu Qing? He's been the biggest topic of conversation in Xinzheng lately. First, he cured the Han King's favorite concubine's anorexia, and then he saved the Han Crown Prince from his deathbed."

A thoughtful look flashed in Wei Zhuang's eyes, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"Moreover, it is said that this Imperial Physician Xu Qing is an expert in alchemy, and he saved the Crown Prince of Han by concocting a miraculous elixir. Therefore, he has become highly sought after by the powerful and wealthy of Han. However, he visited the residence of Prince Anping yesterday, and then..."

Zi Nu recounted what had happened to Xu Qing in the past two days.

Xu Qing's name and deeds are not a secret in Xinzheng; anyone can find out by asking around.

"Alchemy? Is he a Taoist?" Wei Zhuang asked in a deep voice. Being able to refine the pill that saved Prince Han meant he was no longer among the swindlers of the Fangji family.

“I investigated his background. He has no connection with Taoism. Before becoming a royal physician, he only studied Confucianism,” Zi Nu said.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang's lips curled up slightly as he spoke.

"Interesting people, those who offer to treat the common people, have only two purposes. First, to gain prestige."

"There are two schools of medicine. He is not from the unorthodox school, so he doesn't seem to need this kind of reputation," Zi Nu said, shaking her head.

“Secondly, to hone one’s medical skills. But the next Imperial Physician who saves the Crown Prince from the brink of death seems to make this reason even less valid,” Wei Zhuang said.

“Looking at it this way, this person is indeed interesting. He is hiding a secret unknown to others, which may bring new changes to this land.” Zi Nu’s eyes gleamed.

"You're going to contact him? Because you suspect he's a Taoist?"

"The day after tomorrow is the day he will treat the people of Xinzheng. I am also from Xinzheng, so of course I can go."

Zi Nu wore a slight smile, but her eyes gleamed with an unknown light, giving off a mysterious and dangerous feeling.

"Taoism, Confucianism, and medicine—Xinzheng will become even more interesting and more dangerous in the future."

Wei Zhuang gripped the hilt of Shark Tooth Sword, his expression cold, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

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(End of this chapter)