AEOGA CH49

Yun Luo smiled gently and said, “My name is Yun Luo. Meeting you two again today shows we truly have a destiny together.”

Meeting by chance last night, they hadn’t exchanged names. Meeting again today, it was only natural to introduce themselves properly.

Xie Chongjin said, “Xie Huaiyun.”

“Lu Qingshu.”

Yun Luo smiled faintly: “A virtuous and honorable gentleman, Huaiyun shall not be forgotten. Unmatched in grace and demeanor, noble and clear-minded. These are fine names.”

With just a few brief words, it was clear he was a well-read man of letters.

The moment Yun Luo reported his name, Lu Xuechao and Xie Chongjin confirmed his identity.

Their trip down south to Jiangnan wasn’t purely for pleasure; every move of the local officials and merchants, down to the finest detail, was secretly observed and reported back to the Emperor and Empress.

As the richest merchant in Jiangnan, the Jiang family’s file had naturally been placed before Xie Chongjin long ago—including the romantic tale of Jiang Yue spending a fortune to buy a Yunzhou court courtesan.

Afterward, however, this courtesan was not taken in as Jiang Yue’s concubine, but instead became the Jiang family’s lawfully wedded Young Master’s Spouse, creating quite a sensation at the time.

That courtesan was none other than Yun Luo.

To sell court courtesans at a higher price, human traffickers spared no effort in training them. Literature, bookkeeping, embroidery, culinary arts… every skill was taught one by one. Although the ultimate purpose was to please buyers, it was undeniable that every single one of these courtesans was a talented individual skilled in various crafts.

As the most famous Yunzhou court courtesan, Yun Luo was naturally proficient in everything, possessing an exceptional talent, especially when it came to financial management. After becoming the Jiang family’s Young Master’s Spouse, he had practically taken over the Jiang family’s major industries in place of Jiang Yue. He managed the business meticulously, maintaining the smooth operation of a family whose coffers were being drained day by day due to charitable endeavors—his ability was truly top-tier.

Wasn’t this simply a second Liu Yansheng?

The previous Noble Consort Liu, who could manage the operation of the imperial harem, had already been tossed into the Ministry of Revenue to oversee the nation’s finances.

Xie Chongjin looked at Yun Luo with a gaze reserved for a worker who was about to slave away for him.

Yun Luo: “…”

Why did he suddenly feel a spine-chilling shudder?

Since even romantic affairs like this were reported up the chain, the news that the Jiang family was wholeheartedly devoted to charity while actually running at a loss naturally couldn’t be hidden from Xie Chongjin either.

This journey south was not only to slay corrupt officials, but also to rectify unscrupulous merchants who profited off national crises and evaded taxes. Those who deserved punishment would be punished, and those who deserved rewards would be rewarded—the Jiang family was clearly the one deserving of a reward.

When they had seen someone setting up a soup kitchen in the west of the city and heard the waiting commoners speaking of “Great Benefactor Jiang,” Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao had already guessed it was the Jiang family’s doing. Meeting Yun Luo again made it easy to deduce his identity as the Jiang family’s Young Master’s Spouse.

Yun Luo’s words merely confirmed their suspicions.

Huaman Pavilion had previously made a grand splash in Yujing, gaining renown throughout the realm with its signature dish, Squirrel Mandarin Fish, and Jiangnan had caught wind of it as well. Lu Xuechao wanted to open a branch in Jiangnan, but for one, they lacked a foundation in Jiangnan; even a strong dragon could hardly overpower a local snake, making it difficult to establish a firm foothold quickly regardless of background. Secondly, there was no suitable candidate to manage it.

Learning at this moment that the Jiang family was suffering from internal deficits—and that Yun Luo was secretly worried despite hiding it on the surface—was like a pillow delivered right when one felt sleepy. It was impeccably timed.

Even without these two chance encounters, they had originally planned to contact the Jiang family to discuss a partnership.

Expanding the restaurant was secondary. Lu Xuechao’s primary goal was to enter the medical industry, which differed from running a restaurant. People could taste new dishes at will, but no one dared to recklessly consume new medicines—who knew if it might end a life? The Jiang family was a titan in the medical industry, and people possessed a natural trust in the Jiangyan Pharmacy brand. Achieving a partnership would make everything far more convenient.

In terms of character, they were also trustworthy business partners.

Just as the two were about to speak, a man suddenly ran over in a rush, falling to his knees before Yun Luo and pleading, “Young Master Yun, I beg you to save my younger brother! He fell from a ladder while repairing roof tiles and broke his leg. The doctor said the injury is too severe and he might not be cured… My brother is only sixteen years old; he can’t be left disabled like this!”

Yun Luo’s brows furrowed, and he helped the man up: “Take me to take a look, but I might not necessarily be of help.”

He then apologized to Lu Xuechao and Xie Chongjin: “Please excuse me.”

Since he had to manage affairs after marrying into the Jiang family, he couldn’t remain entirely ignorant of their main industry. For this reason, he had learned some basic medical skills, limited to treating cold symptoms and minor external injuries, occasionally offering free consultations at the pharmacy alongside soup distribution.

When proper doctors said there was nothing to be done, seeking him out would be of no use either. The man was merely turning to any doctor in a panic, instinctively coming to ask for his help.

If Yun Luo went, the most he could do was help invite a better physician.

Lu Xuechao said, “I shall go take a look as well. Perhaps I can offer some help.”

Yun Luo was surprised: “You know medical skills, Young Master Lu?”

Lu Xuechao replied, “I know a thing or two.”

Yun Luo didn’t hold much hope.

Xie Chongjin thought to himself: Qingshu’s ‘knowing a thing or two’ is probably superior to countless experts in this world…

The group quickly arrived at the medical clinic. A crowd was gathered around, and in the middle, a person lay on a stretcher on the ground. A doctor was feeling the bones; with just a light touch, the youth broke into a cold sweat from the pain, wailing loudly: “It hurts, it hurts! Don’t touch it!”

With one glance, Yun Luo knew this wasn’t something his own superficial medical skills could heal.

The doctor shook his head and sighed: “The injury is too severe. My humble medical skills are inadequate and there is nothing I can do. You had better carry him to the east of the city—those are imperial physicians from the palace, perhaps they still have a way.”

The palace’s imperial physicians had been giving free medical consultations in the east of the city recently. Before that, the ones treating the city’s commoners were folk doctors in local clinics. This clinic was opened right next to Jiangyan Pharmacy, making it convenient to seek treatment and buy medicine.

The injured youth’s brother’s desperate eyes flared with a spark of hope again: “Right, right… the imperial physicians sent by the court are here, they must have a way! Is there a wooden cart? Let’s send my brother to the east of the city first!”

The distance between the west and east of the city wasn’t short, and the injured person wasn’t suited to be moved again, which was why they had come to the nearest clinic in the west. But facing no other choice now, going to the east of the city was their only option.

As the crowd scrambled to find a wooden cart, a young master in white wearing a bamboo hat stepped out, his voice as refreshing and clear as a cool breeze and a bright moon: “Let me give it a try.”

The youth had a severe fracture and required bone-setting treatment. The palace’s imperial physicians naturally had ways to handle it, but by the time they reached them, he might die from the sheer pain.

Given the current medical standards, there was no method to relieve pain. Whether setting bones, stitching wounds, or performing a Caesarean section, one had to endure the excruciating pain alive. If treated by an unskilled doctor, ending up permanently disabled or dying in the delivery room was all too common. Even if they managed to invite an imperial physician who could set the bone, enduring a pain that pierced straight into the marrow was unavoidable.

Lu Xuechao possessed a formula for pain relief—if the youth could avoid suffering, it was better he didn’t. Furthermore, since he intended to venture into medicine, this served as no bad publicity opportunity.

Everyone froze in unison.

Doctors grew more sought-after as they aged; seniority mattered, and the older one looked, the more convincing they were. Seeing this young master who clearly looked so young dare to take on a task that even an old practitioner of traditional medicine felt helpless with, anyone would think he was making grand, boastful claims.

Yet perhaps because his demeanor was too peerless and his voice too pleasant to the ear, no one questioned him for a moment, even making way for him.

Xie Chongjin: “…”

Qingshu is starting to bewitch people again.

Lu Xuechao asked, “Young Master Yun, may I borrow your family’s pharmacy for a moment?”

Yun Luo paused, though he wasn’t surprised that the other party knew Jiangyan Pharmacy belonged to his family, as this was common knowledge throughout Yunzhou.

He nodded: “Feel free to use whatever you need, Young Master Lu.”

Thus, Lu Xuechao entered the pharmacy and gathered medicinal ingredients such as yellow azalea, jasmine root, angelica, and sweet flag, decocting them into a soup.

Decocting medicine took time, and the process was actually somewhat dull. However, everyone was curious about how he planned to treat the injury. Furthermore, this young master in white had shoulders like carved jade and a waist like bound silk; even his busy appearance was as beautiful as a painting and a feast for the eyes. As a result, not only did no one leave, but more and more people gathered to watch the spectacle.

Only the injured youth’s brother, watching his younger sibling groan in agony, was in no mood to admire a beauty, growing increasingly anxious.

Once Lu Xuechao finished decocting the medicine, he handed it to the brother: “Feed this to him.”

The brother hesitated: “Will he be cured just like this?”

The old doctor at the side couldn’t watch any longer: “Young man, do not let your quackery harm people! He has an external injury—how could drinking a single bowl of medicine cure him?”

Lu Xuechao replied, “Naturally, he isn’t cured yet.”

This medicine was merely to relieve pain; the actual treatment would follow.

The youth was fed the medicine by his brother. Lu Xuechao squatted down, preparing to set his bone.

Before he even touched him, the youth was already wailing heart-wrenchingly: “Don’t touch! It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts!!!”

The previous doctor had felt around his injured leg, leaving a psychological shadow on the youth; the fall itself hadn’t even hurt that much.

Lu Xuechao said gently, “I haven’t touched you yet.”

Youth: “…”

His voice sounds so nice.

Taking advantage of the youth dazing off, Lu Xuechao set the bone, applied medicine, and secured it—swift, precise, and executed in one fluid motion.

The surrounding crowd covered their eyes in sympathy, finding it painful even to watch.

The youth instinctively wanted to cry out in pain, only to realize he felt nothing at all.

Perhaps because this white-robed brother’s voice was too gentle, he couldn’t even feel the pain.

…No, he really didn’t feel a single bit of pain.

The brother’s eyes were red, feeling heartache for his younger sibling suffering such great agony.

The youth said, “Brother, don’t cry, it doesn’t hurt.”

The brother wanted to cry even more: “You don’t need to comfort me; if it hurts, just cry it out.”

The youth scratched his head: “…But it really doesn’t hurt.”

The brother looked suspicious.

He knew his brother wasn’t one who could endure pain. He had been screaming frantically just a moment ago, yet ever since drinking that bowl of medicine, he had actually stopped wailing and looked completely unbothered…

The surrounding crowd felt strange as well.

Lu Xuechao said, “The bowl of medicine I fed him earlier was for pain relief. He can’t feel it right now, but once the effect wears off, there will be a little pain. The bone has been set; just be mindful to apply medicine and massage it going forward, and he will recover as normal. I shall write the prescription for you…”

The brother was stunned. Just when he thought his younger brother would be disabled for life and his world was falling apart, the situation turned around in the blink of an eye.

Overwhelmed with excitement, he knelt down again: “Thank you, doctor! Thank you, doctor! Here, the consultation fee—”

Lu Xuechao said, “No need.”

The crowd burst into applause, praising him for being a kind and beautiful benefactor.

Seeing the prescription Lu Xuechao wrote, the old doctor confirmed it was indeed for treating bone injuries. Yet compared to that, he cared far more about another matter.

“How were you able to make that youth feel no pain at all?” The doctor was advanced in years, yet the thirst for knowledge in his eyes right now was as intense as a child’s. “I have practiced medicine all my life, wishing to spare patients from suffering, yet I never knew such a method actually existed…”

Yun Luo’s expression turned solemn as well.

A medicine that could relieve pain was something everyone desired, yet no one had ever been able to create one before.

What did this signify?

Setting aside ordinary external injuries, consider the single knife cut that most people undergoing childbirth had to endure—countless individuals had been painfully tortured to death in delivery rooms.

Changli had a vast territory with a sparse population. The reasons for the small population, aside from childbirth being too painful leading many to be unwilling to give birth, were also due to the excessive number of people who died during labor despite being willing.

Undergoing a live incision without any pain-relief method caused many to struggle violently from the unbearable pain. Any mishap during incision and suturing would lead to unimaginable consequences, let alone under such violent struggling.

If a pain-relieving medicine truly existed in the world, forget being the richest merchant in Jiangnan or Changli—one could become the richest across all four nations. When women gave birth, it was akin to walking through the gates of hell. Even for men and ordinary people, who didn’t suffer the occasional bump, bruise, or injury? Who would be willing to endure pain?

He had originally thought these two were a chivalrous wanderer and a young master from a prominent family, but looking at it now, they were actually a combination of a hero and a divine physician…

“Young Master Lu, what medicine is that?” Yun Luo asked out of curiosity.

If this medicine could be introduced to the world, what it would bring was far more than vast fortunes. He knew it was a secret prescription, so he didn’t expect the other party to reveal it outright, yet he genuinely hoped this medicine could be spread widely to benefit all commoners.

“A pain-relieving medicine I formulated; it hasn’t been named yet,” Lu Xuechao contemplated. “The principle is to numb a person’s senses, rendering them unable to feel pain. If it must be named, let it be called… Mafeisan.”

Hardship creates talent. Had it not been for the torture of death endured during that endless loop of reincarnations, Lu Xuechao would never have discovered his own talent for medicine.

Future generations would never know that the renowned Lu Xuechao—lauded in historical records as a savior of suffering, a benefactor to all living beings, sacredly compassionate, and all-talented—had initially created pain-relieving medicine simply because he was too afraid of pain.