Dowager Ding's inquisitiveness was met with silence from Qi Qian; he merely uttered a few words, "A distinguished guest of Qi," before lifting his tea cup.
Dowager Ding, upon hearing the term "distinguished guest," and seeing him raise his cup, gracefully bowed and departed with her granddaughter, casting a few more glances at Qin Liuxi as they left.
"You don't seem to favor this dowager very much," Qi Qian remarked once Dowager Ding's figure had vanished.
Qin Liuxi replied, "You must be suffering from eye ailments if you think I dislike her."
"Intuition," Qi Qian silently reasoned with himself, reminding to not let it bother him; after all, this was the young mistress, and he had to be accommodating.
With a slight chuckle, Qin Liuxi redirected the conversation, "Could you please have some food brought? I'm famished."
She instinctively severed the topic, realizing that Dowager Ding was nothing more than a stranger to her. As for whether Madam Qin intended to use the Ding Prefectural line to look after those relatives in exile, Qin Liuxi had no say, but evidently, Madam Qin didn't seem to need it either.
As night fell, the inn was aglow with lights. Qin Liuxi, having eaten her fill, was about to head upstairs when a commotion arose from the direction of the inn's courtyard.
"What's happening over there?" someone inquired, already rising to investigate.
However, Qin Liuxi had no interest in spectating and proceeded upstairs.
Meanwhile, in the backyard, someone rushed into the main hall, urgently inquiring if there was a doctor present. Their master had fainted, and they needed immediate medical assistance.
Qi Qian and the others immediately turned to Qin Liuxi. Here was an opportunity.
With one foot on the wooden staircase, Qin Liuxi paused, then said, "!"
Qi Qian realized Qin Liuxi's reluctance and suggested, "Dr. Qin, if you're tired, you may rest first."
The title "Dr. Qin" inadvertently revealed Qin Liuxi's identity, drawing astonished, skeptical, and surprised looks.
This young lad was a doctor?
The servant who rushed out didn't care whether Qin Liuxi was a real doctor or not; they grasped at any hope, saying, "Young master, if you understand medicine, please come and see my master! Saving a life is more important than building a seven-tiered pagoda!"
Qin Liuxi retorted, "I am a practitioner of the esoteric arts, not some butcher!"
"Eating and sleeping immediately after a meal isn't conducive to health; a stroll would be better," Qin Liuxi declared, retracting her foot and giving Qi Qian a glance.
"Thank you for finding me a job!" she thought sarcastically.
As the group arrived at the inn's courtyard, they approached a small building where a wealthy-looking, yet haggard woman anxiously awaited, occasionally scanning her surroundings. Beside her, a young girl offered comforting words, likely the granddaughter of Dowager Ding, who followed a few paces behind.
Seeing Qi Qian and his companions enter, the young Miss Ding released the older woman and approached Qi Qian with a graceful curtsey, her voice as melodious as a nightingale, "Master Qi, Sister Zhou's husband has fallen seriously ill, and we're unsure if there's anyone knowledgeable in medicine here who can help. If so, please assist us, Master Qi, to relieve Sister Zhou's urgent worries."
Qin Liuxi resisted the urge to whistle. Who said ladies in the boudoir were too shy to meet men outside? Look at Miss Ding, boldly showcasing herself.
"Look at me, beautiful and kind-hearted, eager to help others. I am a true flower in the household, fitting for a harmonious family life!" she mused to herself.
Dowager Ding also approached, stating, "We have a servant who has some knowledge of medicine, but even he cannot discern what has happened to him."
"Master, do you have a capable physician with you who can diagnose my husband's condition?" Mrs. Zhou, noting Qi Qian's distinguished demeanor, couldn't help but harbor some hope.