Mr. Lin rented a carriage from the agency, and all the carriages there standardly resemble each other, with many such carriages on the street, making it easy to shake off any followers.
It was all too easy.
The opposing side aren't skilled trackers.
Even for experts, it's hard to escape his current perception; as long as they're within his range, there's virtually nowhere to hide.
Although he doesn't have a powerful "golden finger," this rebirth has allowed his perception to become sharper.
Perception is extremely important for a medical scholar, especially for those studying Chinese medicine; keen perception increases the accuracy of diagnosis, for making errors in diagnosis would lead to different prescriptions, and the consequences of that could be significant or minor.
Thus, studying medicine truly requires talent.
"Senior Sister, light the lamp and grind the ink!" Returning home, Mr. Lin rushed to the study and directly instructed Sun Youwei.
"Ah?"
"Senior Sister, I want to transcribe the medical books I saw today in the Scripture Pavilion." Mr. Lin explained.
"Junior Brother, you remembered all of it?" Sun Youwei was astonished.
"Just about; while my memory is freshest, I should write it down first, then later have a chance to review and correct it. After that, we won't need to visit the Scripture Pavilion again." Mr. Lin said, although he doesn't forget once he remembers. Since it's for Sun Youwei, he naturally understands the reason behind today's events: Senior Sister is too beautiful, definitely attracting others' covetousness.
This is a destined wife, belonging only to him.
He currently lacks the absolute power to protect her fully, so for now, he'll let her venture outside as little as possible, avoiding unexpected incidents. Transcribing these medical books is primarily for Sun Youwei to study.
Sun Youwei has quite a high aptitude in medicine but lacks a good teacher, as well as practical experience.
This is the biggest challenge for women studying medicine, especially during the "Physician Examination's" face diagnosis, where practical experience is essential.
As there're more male doctors, instructing female apprentices is often inconvenient, especially the young and unmarried. Teaching hands-on, spending time together daily will inevitably lead to situations.
Even a father teaching his daughter medicine needs to avoid certain subjects; meanwhile, such avoidance doesn't exist between spouses.
But this scenario is extremely rare, therefore, there are very few female physicians, and even fewer female doctors.
Even with Mr. Lin and Sun Youwei having grown up together, and being engaged, certain subjects are still untouched.
Husband complements wife, harmonious union.
This is quite pleasant; Mr. Lin wishes for Sun Youwei to live a life belonging to her.
Ephedra paper was already prepared, this paper is generally used by physicians for prescriptions; its downside is vulnerability to dampness, prone to insects, and short lifespan, typically lasting three to five years, whereas the advantage is its affordability. Actually, with a particular technique, it can repel most insects and extend its shelf life; Mr. Lin knows the method, but he won't reveal it now.
Better paper like mulberry paper has a pale grayish color, lasting longer, mainly used for book transcription as well as government document transcription.
The downside is its cost; one sheet of mulberry paper equals ten sheets of ephedra paper.
The most expensive is white Xuan paper, only affordable to the affluent, with one sheet equaling three sheets of mulberry paper, unaffordable to ordinary people.
For temporary transcription, ephedra paper must suffice first, hoping to preserve it longer later with mulberry paper or white Xuan paper transcription instead.
White Xuan paper, I'll find a way to obtain it, not a difficult task.
"Junior Brother, your handwriting..." Sun Youwei, while grinding ink, surprisingly noticed Mr. Lin's handwriting was completely different from usual, his strokes nimble and swift, the characters square and impressive, creating a striking impression she'd never encountered.
"This is called Song font, Senior Sister, if you'd like to learn, I can teach you." Mr. Lin said.
"Song font, why have I never heard of it?"
"Ahem..." Mr. Lin was unsure how to explain now, "Senior Sister, please don't interrupt, I'm afraid I'll forget."
Sun Youwei's cheeks reddened, as she continued slowly rotating the ink stick, watching Mr. Lin intently writing, her heartstring was unavoidably stirred.
Turns out Junior Brother is rather handsome, how come it hadn't seemed so before, perhaps from seeing him frequently?
"Weiwei, Mr. Lin, you two are back, yet not joining for dinner..."
By the study door, Yun saw the two in the library, one swiftly writing under the lamp, the other delicately grinding ink, eyes filled with emotions.
What a picture of sweet affection.
In that instant, Yun unexpectedly felt a pang in her eyes; if only Sun Simiao were alive, she'd gladly grind ink and lay out paper for him.
"Yun, we're alright with just a simple meal here in the study." Mr. Lin, with sharp perception, already noticed Yun approaching, so lifted his head, instructing.
"Ah, sure..." Yun agreed, quickly retreated, fearing she'd disturb this young couple.
...
Unbeknownst to them.
"Senior Sister, what time is it?"
"I don't know, it must be past the Hour of the Boar..."
"The Hour of the Boar, it's getting late, Senior Sister, you should hurry back to your room and rest. I can handle it on my own." Lin Miao said softly, as Sun Youwei was still a patient who needed plenty of rest to recuperate.
"Junior Brother, you should also rest early." A single glance, and Sun Youwei felt her heart race. Ever since her junior became more perceptive and caring, every time she was with him, she felt an indescribable sensation.
Lin Miao escorted Sun Youwei back to her room, and only after she fell asleep did he return to the study, slightly loosen his neck and wrists, and continue transcribing.
Falling asleep with her junior brother's concern was sweet and restful.
...
Dongshan City, Shanyuan Square, the Ye Family.
The patriarch of the Ye Family, Ye Shengyuan, is a senior physician and the owner of Hesheng Hall, one of Dongshan City's four renowned medical establishments.
The Ye Family has practiced medicine for generations, with disciples spread throughout Lanzhou, ranking just below the Xu Family of Baoan Hall, as the Xu Family once produced a national-level grand physician, thus only second to them.
The other two major medical establishments are one operated by the court, Benefit People Pharmacy, which is virtually present in every state city, and is the most powerful.
The other is Sansheng Hall.
Sansheng Hall is not only within the Da Li Dynasty but extends from the Northern Desert to the Southern Wilderness, from east to west—wherever there's a nation, there's Sansheng Hall.
Behind Sansheng Hall are the three great medical saint families: the Zhong Family, the Le Family, and the Sima Family.
Ye Xizhao, Ye Shengyuan's youngest son, is almost fifty, and has a son who, from a young age, was gifted with intelligence, inheriting his father's medical aptitude and his mother's beauty, becoming the dream bridegroom of unmarried girls in Dongshan City.
By eighteen, he was already able to accompany his father for consultations, prescribe medications, and issue "orders" without amendments.
Two years ago, Ye Xizhao already possessed the capability to qualify as a medical scholar, but his father forbade him from taking the exam, urging him to continue honing himself for another two years, and only this year allowed him to participate in the medical scholar examination.
Ye Shengyuan mainly worried that his son, young and full of vitality, would be too conspicuous, becoming stiff and brittle, thus deliberately restraining him.
If he had qualified as a medical scholar at eighteen, he would probably have become famous across Da Li, yet fame would be detrimental to his future growth.
Especially as this son was glory-driven, having never faced setbacks...
Particularly at a young age, even before marriage, he had already earned a minor reputation in the flower-strewn lanes and alleys of Dongshan City, where many women desire a night of affection from the Ye Family's young master.
Charming and talented, like his father Ye Shengyuan.
How did Ye Xizhao come into being, but through his father, vigorous in old age, taking Xiaolianhong, a talented and alluring courtesan from Xiao Xiang Hall, as a concubine; an old steed standing in the stable, a dry tree flourishing once more.
Like father, like son; a father with a penchant for flirtation naturally passes that gene on to his offspring. The Ye Family's young master's lineage and wealth are first-class in Dongshan City, whether it's someone clinging to them or presenting offerings.
The young master's flamboyance is well-known across Dongshan City.
The women he sets his sights on never escape his attention; with his father's reputation, even the city magistrate must clasp his fist in salute.
Today at the Scripture Pavilion, he inadvertently saw Sun Youwei—her delicate, graceful manner and especially her shy yet timid expression immediately captivated this playboy's heart, lingering in his thoughts. He had never seen such a girl, and it was like scratching an itch.
Especially since she left hand-in-hand with an ordinary-looking youth resembling a servant; if not for their "senior and junior brother" relationship, he might have detained her on the spot.
However, he also discerned that Sun Youwei seemed to suffer from a chronic illness. That young man probably visited the Scripture Pavilion for her health...
"Young master!"
"Lost them."
"With your skills, you actually lost track of them?" Ye Xizhao snorted coldly, harshly reprimanded, "Useless!"
Tong Hu and Zhao Wu were both experts in the Bone Forging Realm, hired at great expense by Ye Shengyuan to act as guards for Ye Xizhao, ensuring his safety.
But Ye Xizhao didn't quite respect these two, as their backgrounds were humble; had they come from good backgrounds, they wouldn't have ended up guarding others.
With their martial arts cultivation, they could earn the position of leader in a second-rate gang, leading a prosperous life, not enduring such grievances.
Yet the Ye Family did provide well; if they quit, they would probably struggle to survive in Dongshan City.
Ye Shengyuan was also a master, at least in the Blood Fusion Realm, or even an expert in channeling the pulse, otherwise at nearly seventy, he wouldn't look forty.
Even with beauty-preserving techniques, one wouldn't achieve such miraculous results without reaching a certain realm.
"Investigate, check at the Medical Bureau, they must have records. This young master wants to know the identities and background of this senior sister duo!" Ye Xizhao ordered.
"Yes, young master."
This pair, dressed plainly and renting the cheapest carriage, likely come from humble beginnings. Once found, a little coercion, and this delicate young lady can only comply with this young master's wishes.
As for that youth, appearing to possess some rudimentary martial skills, he certainly isn't their match.
Why they managed to evade tracking was due to too many similar carriages on the street, confusing their eyes.