Chapter 434 - 270: Trying to Steal a Chicken, But Losing the Rice
Chapter 434: Chapter 270: Trying to Steal a Chicken, But Losing the Rice
Xiao Wan’er, of course, had no idea what Chen Yi was thinking. She simply gave a slight nod.
After a moment’s thought, she spoke in a gentle voice.
"Little Sister Qingwu has probably heard about my plan to establish the Medical Dao Academy. She must be here to learn a few things about it."
An expression of understanding dawned on Chen Yi’s face. "She wants in on it too?"
Xiao Wan’er hesitated slightly. "You mean, she wants to partner with me?"
"I just thought she was asking about the specific procedures so her family could build one in Qinghe."
"After all, she isn’t likely to stay in Shu State for long. Partnering with me... I don’t think so."
Chen Yi shook his head. "It’s just speculation. Who knows what that Miss Cui is really thinking."
’Though I’m not a hundred percent certain,’ he thought, ’based on what I’ve learned of Cui Qingwu recently, she won’t be leaving Shu State anytime soon.’
The reason was simple.
The Yunqing Building she opened in the West Market alone didn’t seem like a casual undertaking.
’Of course, it’s also possible this great lady of the Cui Family is so wealthy she doesn’t care about such a ’small-time’ business.’
’Hard to say for sure.’
Xiao Wan’er hummed in acknowledgment, lowering her head to take a spoonful of congee. Her pale cheeks, tinged with a faint blush, puffed out slightly.
After a moment of silence,
Xiao Wan’er looked up at Chen Yi again. "If she is truly interested, should I turn her down?"
Chen Yi thought for a moment. "To consider this, I need to know: would you mind her getting involved with the Medical Dao Academy?"
"I... a little," she admitted. "I’m just worried she might..."
"Ruin it?"
Xiao Wan’er nodded, a little embarrassed. "If the Medical Dao Academy is done well, it will benefit the state and its people, so I want to do the best job I possibly can."
"Besides, I’ve never done anything like this before, but I have you to help me."
"She has no experience with it either, so I’m just afraid..."
Chen Yi smiled. ’This was indeed what Xiao Wan’er truly thought.’
’Her first thought wasn’t that Cui Qingwu might try to take the Medical Dao Academy for herself, nor was she being possessive of the idea.’
’She was simply worried that Cui Qingwu might unintentionally make mistakes, preventing the Medical Dao Academy from being as perfect as it could be.’
"If that’s all, then I think you should let Miss Cui join in."
Xiao Wan’er froze for a second, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, unblinking.
Her gaze held a trace of confusion.
Chen Yi explained with a smile, "There are two reasons."
"Miss Cui is from the Qinghe Cui Family. They have money and they have manpower. If the academy runs into difficulties in the future, she’ll naturally have a responsibility to lend a hand."
Hearing this, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but pat him lightly on the arm, chiding him.
"I would never think of that."
"If the academy is truly in trouble, it should be my responsibility to find a solution."
"If I let Little Sister Qingwu join me for that reason, wouldn’t that be taking advantage of her?"
Chen Yi feigned injury, rubbing the back of his hand with a pained expression. "You are too kind-hearted, my lady. Of course you wouldn’t think that way. I was the one overthinking things."
"N-no, I..."
Noticing the gazes from Xiao Wuge, Shen Huatang, and the others, Xiao Wan’er gestured for him to continue.
"Y-you, just continue... In any case, I had no such intention."
Chen Yi chuckled, unable to help himself. He decided it was best not to tease her further and continued.
"As for the second point, it’s quite simple. By working with you, Miss Cui will be able to see the entire process of the Medical Dao Academy being built from the ground up."
"If she’s able to open another Medical Dao Academy somewhere else in the future, that would align with your wishes, wouldn’t it?"
’Of course, there was a more crucial point—Cui Qingwu being on good terms with Xiao Wan’er would, to a certain extent, represent an alliance between the Cui Family and the Xiao Family.’
’After all, Cui Qingwu’s Qinghe Cui Family was in no way weaker than the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family, the Jing State Liu Family, or the Shu State Xiao Family.’
’In fact, with the head of their family, Cui Mao, ranked among the Nine Ministers, they could make most outsiders who were unaware of the full picture hesitate to act against them.’
’The reason Chen Yi didn’t mention this was likely because he worried Xiao Wan’er would find it too ’utilitarian’.’
’So, he had to at least ensure the Medical Dao Academy remained pure on the surface.’
When Xiao Wan’er heard his explanation, a smile graced her face. The second point had clearly resonated with her.
"If Little Sister Qingwu is interested, I certainly won’t refuse."
She paused, then added, "But I should still ask her clearly to be sure."
"This isn’t a venture for earning silver, after all. If Little Sister Qingwu is merely curious, I won’t pressure her."
Chen Yi grunted in agreement and said no more.
’Still, he was fairly certain Cui Qingwu had already set her sights on the Medical Dao Academy.’
’Otherwise, with her ’great lady’ airs, she wouldn’t have even bothered to ask a single question if she weren’t interested.’
’At most, she would have offered a few words of perfunctory praise after hearing Xiao Wan’er’s idea, and left it at that.’
Seeing him agree, Xiao Wan’er’s smile widened. She ate a few pastries, then took a letter from Cui’er at her side and placed it on the table.
"There’s more good news. We received a reply today to one of the letters we sent to the Medical Saint Hands."
Chen Yi put down his bowl and chopsticks, raising an eyebrow. "Which one?"
"A Medical Saint Hand from Guangyue Prefecture, an heir to the Fuyang Sect, by the name of Lv Chunle."
"He wrote back saying he will bring his people to Shu State shortly to diagnose Grandfather’s illness."
As Xiao Wan’er spoke, she couldn’t help but feel a new wave of worry.
"Do you think a Medical Saint Hand like him would be willing to serve as the dean of the academy?"
Chen Yi shook his head. "It’s hard to say."
"As long as he has a physician’s integrity, he should be interested. At the very least, he’ll leave something of value behind."
’He had, of course, heard of the Fuyang Sect.’
’It was a major school of thought within the Medical Dao. They believed that ’all illnesses under the heavens are caused by damage to one’s yang energy,’ and that ’primordial energy and true yang are the very foundation of life.’’
’Therefore, physicians from this sect primarily focused their diagnoses and prescriptions on warming a patient’s yang energy. They were skilled in using pungent and hot-natured herbs and relied heavily on classical formulas.’
"But don’t worry too much, my lady. After they arrive in Shu State and have a look at the Old Master, we can still think of other methods."
"If one path doesn’t work out, another one will. We’re bound to gain something."
"Mmm..."
Not long after, they finished their breakfast.