Chapter 52-2: Keep Calm
Typically, there were numerous individuals seeking medical
treatment, which led the barren area in front of Divine Doctor's residence to
transform into a makeshift tea stand and even host a food stall. However, even
on those occasions, the crowd hadn't been as substantial as it was today.
After all, getting an audience with Divine Doctor was no
easy feat, and he only attended to a maximum of three patients in a single day.
The young gatekeeper cast a suspicious gaze outside. His
intuition was correct; the tea stalls were brimming with customers, and many
had brought their own small mats.
As the gatekeeper boy tried to make sense of the situation,
the crowd outside began to grow restless. Impatient murmurs rippled through the
gathered individuals, their heads frequently swiveling as they scanned their
surroundings. Wasn't it rumored that Commander Luo's legitimate daughter was
supposed to arrive today to pressure Divine Doctor Li? So, why hadn't she shown
up yet?
Amidst the mutterings, a slow-moving carriage came into
view.
"Has she finally arrived?" Hope flickered in the
eyes of the waiting crowd.
The carriage came to a stop, and a young lady dressed in
blue stepped out with the help of her maid. She possessed willow-leaf eyebrows
and an oval face, radiating beauty.
Soon, someone in the crowd identified her. "It's the
Second Miss of the Duke An Family."
Zhu Hanshuang advanced, her maid following closely, as they
approached the gatekeeper boy to request a queue number plate.
This practice had been established by Divine Doctor Li
himself: a limited number of plates were distributed each day, and those who
had these plates were granted the privilege of presenting items to Divine
Doctor Li that they thought would catch his attention.
Once she secured her number plate, Zhu Hanshuang scanned her
surroundings, her eyes diligently searching for Luo Sheng. She pursed her lips
and waited in quiet anticipation.
The rhythmic sound of approaching horseshoes reached the
crowd's ears, immediately drawing their attention. A stir of excitement swept
through the crowd.
"It's Kaiyang Wang!"
Zhu Hanshuang found herself unconsciously clutching the
handkerchief in her hand; her mind flooded with countless questions. When had
Kaiyang Wang returned to the Capital? Why was he visiting Divine Doctor Li?
Could it be that he was unwell?
As the young man dressed in scarlet dismounted from his
horse and drew closer, Zhu Hanshuang's emotions were a whirlwind of nervousness
and excitement. She didn't expect to run into him today——
Upon witnessing the bustling scene outside Divine Doctor
Li's residence, Wei Han's brows furrowed slightly. Why were there so many
people?
A fleeting thought of turning back crossed his mind, yet he
quickly dismissed it. Given Divine Doctor Li's growing reputation, an increase
in patients was to be expected. Such considerations deterred him from turning
back.
After obtaining his queue number plate, Wei Han meandered to
a random spot to wait. Those nearby promptly stood up to offer their greetings.
"We are all here seeking medical treatment. No need for
excessive formalities," Wei Han remarked casually, his gaze lowered as he
spoke.
Understanding that Kaiyang Wang was not one for small talk,
the others refrained from disturbing him. The area settled into silence, and
this tranquil state persisted until a green-curtained carriage gradually came
into view from a distance.
Wei Han keenly sensed the shift in the atmosphere. While the
previous silence might have been attributed to his presence, the current
silence seemed to hold a sense of anticipation. He turned his gaze toward the
approaching carriage.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and the accompanying maid
assisted one girl down and then another... Before anyone could fully grasp the
situation, all four girls had disembarked from the carriage.
The instant Wei Han's eyes fell upon the plainly-dressed
girl, his fingers involuntarily trembled, causing the teacup he held to quiver.
It was Miss Luo!
Upon confirming the presence of Miss Luo among the four
girls, the crowd directed their collective gaze toward Wei Han.
Initially, they had anticipated witnessing the spectacle of
Miss Luo attempting to coerce Divine Doctor Li, only to be rejected and
consequently face frustration and embarrassment. However, they had not foreseen
the additional spectacle of Miss Luo encountering Kaiyang Wang!
It should be noted that just a few months earlier, Miss Luo
had boldly removed Kaiyang Wang's belt on the street. And to appease Kaiyang
Wang's anger, Commander Luo subsequently sent his daughter away from the
Capital.
The present encounter likely marked the first meeting
between the two since that incident. How would Kaiyang Wang react to the woman
who had daringly removed his belt? This fueled a surge of gossip among the
onlookers.
Wei Han's expression remained unchanged despite the scrutiny
from numerous onlookers, although his mood held a hint of subtlety. He had
returned to his palace yesterday to tidy up a bit before entering the Imperial
Palace, and he had come here early this morning to seek treatment. However, he
overlooked one thing: the three thousand five hundred taels of silver owed Miss
Luo had not been repaid!
Yet, if he were to get up and leave abruptly, all kinds of
rumors might circulate among the onlookers. Keep calm. Miss Luo must have come
here to seek medical treatment, and she is unlikely to bring up the debt in
front of everyone.
With this realization, Wei Han managed to regain his composure.
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