With her deceased husband as her dowry, would Your Highness dare to marry her?

Judge Xu presented a brocade box with both hands.

Pei Jinxuan took the brocade box and glanced at it. Inside, three exquisite dried kingfisher flowers lay quietly.

"Only three plants?" Pei Jinxuan looked at Lin Ci, his gaze seemingly asking: Is this enough?

Lin Ci shook her head slightly, clearly not satisfied.

Pei Jinxuan placed the brocade box on the table and turned to Judge Xu, asking in a serious voice, "Are there any other pharmacies in the capital that can find this item?"

Judge Xu looked troubled. After a moment's thought, he bowed and said, "I'm not afraid of Your Highness laughing at me, but when it comes to the completeness of medicinal herbs, if Cheng'an Hall claims to be second, no one in the capital would dare to claim to be first. If even Cheng'an Hall can't find them, then there's no need to mention any other place. However..."

He paused, his graying brows furrowing slightly, as if he had something difficult to say.

"Please speak freely, Judge Xu."

"I recall an old story. Last year, the Prince of Liang presented five boxes of dried kingfisher flowers to the palace as tribute. Your Majesty ordered the Imperial Medical Academy to make a batch of embroidered pouches and medicinal pillows from these flowers to be bestowed upon the ladies of the palace."

As he spoke, Judge Xu stroked his beard, "Perhaps the Prince of Liang still has some."

Pei Jinxuan frowned, supporting his forehead with his hand, as if he had a headache.

"I never expected the Prince of Liang to be so capable." As he spoke, he exchanged a glance with Lin Ci.

The dried flowers in the embroidered pillows of the King of Liang and the Queen are tangled together; it's hard to say whether it's a coincidence or not.

Xu Yuan judged that Pei Jinxuan and Prince Liang were irreconcilable enemies. When he told this story, he himself was in a dilemma, rubbing his hands together in confusion.

Pei Jinxuan saw through his thoughts and said frankly, "I won't tell anyone about this, so you can rest assured, Judge Xu. It's getting late, you should go back and rest."

"Alright, alright." Judge Xu nodded repeatedly, clearly relieved. But just as he turned around, he heard Pei Jinxuan say:

"Wait a minute!"

Judge Xu shuddered, then turned back. "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"

Pei Jinxuan raised his hand, and his attendant brought out a heavy wooden box and handed it to the shopkeeper.

"This is the payment for the medicine; the court judge may accept it."

Physician Xu's face changed instantly, and his knees buckled as he knelt down again: "Your Highness, you are too kind! Lady Lin's free medical consultation at Cheng'an Hall today is already an indebted act of kindness that cannot be repaid even with a thousand pieces of gold. How could I dare to accept your payment for medicine?"

Pei Jinxuan smiled and said very frankly, "Let's keep things separate. Today she's providing free medical consultations, so the consultation fee will be calculated according to Cheng'an Hall's rules—whatever it's due. I'll pay for the medicine as well; I won't take it for nothing. In the future, we'll still need to rely on Imperial Physician Xu, so please keep an eye on things then."

"this……"

Judge Xu turned around and winked frantically at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper paused for a moment, then, understanding his master's meaning, quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness is right! Our Cheng'an Hall's renowned doctors will certainly not mistreat Madam Lin, so today's consultation fee is... five..."

"Five hundred taels!" Judge Xu held up five fingers.

The shopkeeper was slightly taken aback at first, but after regaining his composure, he nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, five hundred taels... five hundred taels."

Pei Jinxuan rested his forehead on his hand, tilted his head slightly, and frowned as he looked at the two of them.

"Really five hundred taels?"

"Yes! Five hundred." Judge Xu straightened his back and said decisively, "I will send someone to deliver the silver as soon as I get back."

Five hundred taels?! Lin Ci's heart skipped a beat.

Back then, she and Song Xuan ran a herbal medicine stall in Shengzhou, earning only ten coins a day. When someone asked Song Xuan to make a house call, those who could afford five coins were considered big customers, while those who couldn't would offer a bundle of dry firewood as payment. She never imagined that her medical skills would be worth five hundred taels of silver.

Pei Jinxuan looked at her again, gesturing with his eyes: Is this price enough?

Lin Ci nodded quickly, then bowed and said, "Thank you, Imperial Physician Xu."

Physician Xu raised his hand in a gesture of support, his face beaming with a smile, and said, "Madam Lin, please don't be so polite. I would like to exchange medical skills with you. The day after tomorrow is my day off. Would you do me the honor of coming to Cheng'an Hall for a visit? Rest assured, the consultation fee will not be less."

Pei Jinxuan listened from the side, his forehead throbbing again. This old bastard is really persistent, trying every trick in the book to steal Lin Ci's secret technique.

"Okay." Lin Ci readily agreed, without any concern about having his skills stolen.

Judge Xu was overjoyed and laughed heartily, stroking his beard. He bowed deeply with utmost respect, then took his leave with the shopkeeper, looking spirited and walking with a brisk pace.

Pei Jinxuan watched his departing figure and sighed, "That Physician Xu is a real medical fanatic. He'll fleece any fat sheep he catches." He turned to Lin Ci and said, "Don't teach him all of Ghost Hand's unique skills, or you'll enrich Cheng'an Hall."

Lin Ci smiled and said, "Even if I told him, he wouldn't be able to learn it."

As she spoke, she squatted down and examined each of the herbs that Imperial Physician Xu had brought, first observing their color, then their shape, and finally smelling their aroma. After a moment, she nodded in satisfaction.

"Cheng'an Hall's medicinal herbs are indeed top-grade. Now, only the Golden Kingfisher is missing. Once all the herbs are ready, I can delve into the final forbidden technique taught by my master."

"How did the King of Liang recognize the golden kingfisher?"

Pei Jinxuan was completely baffled.

King Liang was skilled in military campaigns, but frankly, he was a rough man who knew nothing about flowers, plants, poetry, or songs. Even if a golden kingfisher were placed in front of him, he wouldn't know it was a valuable object.

Who told him this? And even made him a tribute? Pei Jinxuan couldn't think of anyone else besides Xuan Jing.

Pei Jinxuan leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

"It seems this banquet is a must." As he spoke, he looked at Lin Ci, his peach blossom eyes becoming unfathomable.

Lin Ci asked, "You want to invite Prince Liang to your residence? But even if he comes, he might not tell you."

"Then let's find a way to get him to talk." Pei Jinxuan stood up, leaning on the handrail, and casually walked over to Lin Ci, placing three golden kingfisher flowers in her hand.

"As I mentioned before, I invited Prince Liang to my residence for a gathering on the fifth day of the month. I will draft an invitation and send it to him tomorrow."

Lin Ci pondered for a moment, then nodded helplessly.

The golden kingfisher is in the hands of King Liang, and the key to its revival lies in his grasp. Even if one doesn't want to deal with a tiger for its skin, this aspect is unavoidable.

"That's all we can do," she said softly.

***

Night, Liang Prince's Mansion.

The steward hurried through the hanging flower gate and turned into a separate courtyard.

There was no one in front of the courtyard, but the gate was half-closed.

The steward carefully pushed open the door and stopped in front of the beaded curtain.

Behind the curtain, shadowy figures flickered, and amidst the swaying beads, a slender figure could be vaguely seen leaning against the couch.

Then, a hand emerged from the gap in the curtain, its knuckles distinct and its fingertips slightly hooked.

The manager quickly presented the letter with both hands.

King Liang snatched it away, quickly glanced at it, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.

"You're thinking the same thing as me."

He casually tossed the post into the charcoal brazier. The flames licked the silk surface, instantly consuming the few lines of ink. The ashes swirled in the brazier before dispersing.

"I was just looking for an excuse to visit his residence, and here he is, delivering himself to my doorstep. Who has Prince Jing'an met with these past few days, and what have he said to him?"

The King of Liang spoke in a lazy tone, as if he were asking what to eat today.

The steward lowered his head even further. "Your Highness, Prince Jing'an went to Cheng'an Hall yesterday to provide free medical care, and the people praised him highly. In the evening, he also met with Physician Xu and bought some medicinal herbs."

"Oh?" King Liang raised an eyebrow slightly. "What medicine?"

"The others are all ordinary, but there is one unique ingredient: kingfisher."

King Liang's eyes narrowed slightly, and the deep blue in his eyes suddenly brightened, revealing a bloodthirsty excitement.

"Golden kingfishers." He repeated slowly. "Coincidentally, the Liang Prince's residence has some. Giving him some wouldn't hurt. You may leave now."

"Here you are."

The manager didn't dare to raise his head and quietly slipped out.

King Liang turned around and plucked a fresh, delicate flower from the celadon vase on the table.

The petals are layered like feathers, and the calyx is an extremely deep turquoise blue, gleaming with a faint, cold light under the candlelight, just like a kingfisher spreading its wings to take flight.

He turned around, gently tucked the strangely beautiful flower behind Consort Chang's ear, and slid his fingertips down the flower stem to lift her chin.

Consort Chang turned her face away.

"I only want to deal with the Empress."

The rough, large hand persisted, then landed on her shoulder.

She was furious and pushed her hand away, saying, "I am the Emperor Yan's concubine, don't forget your place."