The most dissolute couple in the capital

As night fell, the two returned to the manor, where a single lamp shone dimly.

Li Chengjing carefully scraped the black, mud-like paste from under his fingernails into a rough porcelain bowl and pushed it in front of Old Qi: "Please smell it, sir."

Old Qi stepped forward, first frowning, then using a silver needle to pry open a small area and gently roasting it under the candlelight.

Along with it, there was also an indescribable stench.

Old Qi's tone carried a hint of anger, "This is poisonous mushroom juice!"

"I guessed so." Li Chengjing sneered, pulled over a bench and sat down. "Poisonous mushrooms can numb the meridians and make people feel no pain. That quack doctor sold this stuff as a miracle cure. The villagers saw immediate effects, but once the toxins invaded their internal organs, even a miracle couldn't save them."

Old Qi snorted coldly: "Doctors should have the hearts of parents; how dare he treat human life so carelessly! I will expose his true colors in public first thing tomorrow morning!"

"You should rest now." Li Chengjing's gaze darkened. "Do you think that village chief is just a figurehead? I saw it clearly during the day; the village chief and that Physician Zhang are secretly sharing the spoils. The village chief gets the rotten medicinal herbs in the village, and then Physician Zhang sells the poison when people fall ill—it's a vicious cycle. If you go out and make a fuss now, they might just shove us both down in the well tonight and tell everyone we accidentally fell in?"

Old Qi looked back and said, "Stop trying to fool me. With you here, who could possibly make us fall into the water?"

Li Chengjing coughed to cover his embarrassment, "I think this kind of thing isn't limited to just this village. Once I find out the truth, I'll wipe them all out in one fell swoop!"

The next day, Cui Qingyi was coming to the estate, but the two of them, having received the news, did not go to make a house call.

As soon as Cui Qingyi entered the courtyard, she saw the dignified Prince Liang of the Great Ning Dynasty, with his sleeves rolled up, squatting in the courtyard, laboriously drying herbs.

This is a newly delivered batch, and Old Qi asked him to sort and classify it.

"Your Highness." Cui Qingyi stepped forward, suppressing a smile.

Li Chengjing looked up, his eyes lighting up instantly. He dropped the herbs and rushed over, exclaiming, "Qingyi! You've finally arrived! Look at my hands, they're all peeling! Last night, that rickety wooden bed was so hard my back ached, and mosquitoes were biting me too!"

What's with this damn delicate feeling? Who's here to experience life?

Although the conditions in the manor are not as good as those in the royal palace, surely there are no broken wooden planks on the beds!

Besides, it's only the beginning of spring, where would there be mosquitoes?

Her expression remained gentle as she took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands: "Your Highness has suffered. I've heard that not only does Your Highness practice medicine here, but you also created your own hand cream, which has been praised by all the young girls in the village."

Li Chengjing immediately puffed out his chest, a smug look on his face: "Of course! How could the hand cream I mixed be bad? I also discovered a big case!"

He lowered his voice and recounted in a low voice the whole story of how the village chief and Zhang the doctor colluded to sell poisonous ointment.

Cui Qingyi's smile gradually faded, and a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.

Local powerful figures colluding with unlicensed itinerant doctors to monopolize grassroots resources would be a corruption case that could cause a huge uproar even in the imperial court.

"Your Highness is astute; I admire you." Cui Qingyi patted the back of his hand. "However, such poor and remote places breed unruly people. Since the village chief dares to act so openly, I'm afraid he has someone backing him. You are just an ordinary medicine boy now; you must not try to stand out."

"I know, I still need to stay alive to go back," Li Chengjing said shamelessly.

Cui Qingyi glanced at him helplessly, then turned to Liu Lu and instructed, "Leave a few more guards for the Prince. Keep a close watch on him, both openly and secretly, and make sure the Prince and Elder Qi are safe. If there is any unusual activity, immediately send a message back to the Prince's residence."

Seeing that Li Chengjing was in good spirits and in excellent physical condition, Cui Qingyi was relieved and instructed Danzhu to set out the prepared food boxes. She then turned to Danzhu and instructed her to set out the three-tiered sandalwood food boxes she had brought, layer by layer.

It contains all of Li Chengjing's favorite foods.

Li Chengjing grabbed Cui Qingyi's arm and started wailing, "Qingyi, you're so good! You're the best, best princess! You have no idea how awful the food at the estate is, waaaaah, you're so good, waaaah!"

While making "woo woo woo" noises, he unceremoniously tore off the fattest roast goose leg.

Cui Qingyi wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth for him: "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you. Your Highness has suffered for the sake of the people, you should replenish yourself."

These words made Li Chengjing even more proud.

After finishing a goose leg, Li Chengjing tossed the bone into the plate, as if he had suddenly had a change of heart.

He blinked his amorous peach blossom eyes twice, holding the remaining half of the roast goose, and asked insincerely, "By the way, Qingyi, wasn't it disrespectful of me to secretly eat alone behind Old Master Qi's back?"

Cui Qingyi burst out laughing at his fawning manner: "Stop your fake compassion. Old Master Qi is getting old and his stomach is weak; he can't eat such oily and greasy food. I've already sent someone to deliver the rest of the food I prepared to Old Master Qi's room. I guarantee he'll eat more comfortably than you. Just relax and enjoy your roast goose."

Li Chengjing immediately felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders. He leaned over and was about to kiss Cui Qingyi's cheek with his greasy lips: "I knew my princess was the most virtuous and kind, perfect in every way! I am truly blessed!"

"Hey! Your mouth is all greasy, don't rub it on my clothes! This is a brand new dress that was just made!" Cui Qingyi pinched his cheek in disgust and pushed him away.

The two of them cuddled and teased each other in the main room for a while, laughing and joking.

It wasn't until the sun was setting and Li Chengjing let out a satisfied burp that Cui Qingyi finally dusted off her skirt and stood up. She left behind a large pile of personal belongings, carefully instructed the guards from the Prince's residence who were secretly protecting her at the estate, and then, satisfied, waved her sleeves and boarded the carriage back to the Prince's residence.

I believe that after today, His Highness Liang's determination to study medicine, fight against quack doctors, and serve the Great Ning Dynasty will burn even brighter!