The laughter got even louder.
"Indeed, money makes things easier," a doctor said.
There was no derogatory meaning to these words, and Fang Jinxiu wouldn't take them as such, either; she would only view them as a compliment.
"Money may not be able to accomplish everything, but you can't accomplish things without money," she said. "All you need to do is heal and save people, we'll take care of the rest."
The doctors looked at this girl.
It was the first time they noticed her – she was about Miss Jun's age and held the same confident demeanor as her, both were similarly willful.
Birds of a feather flock together.
"Alright, then we won't stand on ceremony," Doctor Feng said and got into a horse-drawn carriage first, while the other doctors courteously got into their respective carriages.
Manager Liu gestured to the servant boys, who immediately cracked their whips, the crisp sound echoing through the streets as the carriages set off.
Fang Jinxiu and Manager Liu stood outside Jiuling Hall, watching the departure of the convoy.
"Shopkeeper, you sure move fast," Fang Jinxiu remarked.
Manager Liu stroked his beard and let out a long breath.
He had barely slept all night, and the news that morning had given him quite a start; of course, he hadn't been prepared.
"It's because we have money," he said with a chuckle.
Having money meant that even if it was early in the morning and without any preparation, he could immediately gather more than a dozen carriages.
Fang Jinxiu smiled but said no more, continuing to watch the carriages and horses make their way down the street.
"I think I should go too," Manager Liu added.
Fang Jinxiu stopped him.
"Seventh Chen is enough for that. Miss Jun has other things she needs help with from Shopkeeper Liu," she said and took out a piece of paper from her sleeve.
Shopkeeper Liu hurriedly took it and opened it, his expression turning to one of surprise.
"What are these for?" he asked.
Fang Jinxiu shook her head.
"She didn't say," she said.
She had her own reasons for her actions. Questions were useless; it was better just to follow her orders. Shopkeeper Liu pocketed the paper.
"Alright, I'll get on it," he said.
...
The hustle and bustle at Jiuling Hall had always been the center of attention throughout the city. Combined with the crisp sound of horsewhips on the streets, it drew many people toward it.
Due to the fear of smallpox, the streets, which had once been bustling, were now eerily empty early in the morning, and there was absolutely no need to crack horsewhips to clear the way.
It was clear they had been instructed to create a spectacle on purpose.
But no one was concerned about these details now, nor did anyone scorn the shameless vulgarity of the wealthy.
"Is Miss Jun leading so many doctors to treat smallpox?"
"Of course, Miss Jun alone wouldn't be enough; there are so many patients outside."
"That's great, the more people, the more secure it will be."
"But are these doctors up to the task? Isn't that Doctor Feng? Isn't he an orthopedist?"
"And there's Doctor Liu; these are all city physicians."
"What's wrong with the city physicians? Isn't Miss Jun with them?"
A voice rang out loudly from within the crowd.
"These doctors are daring to follow Miss Jun to treat smallpox; that's impressive."
That was true. After all, it was smallpox, and many doctors simply refused to treat it. The crowd nodded in agreement, and suddenly, several women burst out of the group.
"Benefactors!" They knelt toward the doctors in the carriages, "Thank you for relieving us of this disaster and keeping our children safe. We will erect longevity tablets for you."
This act stirred up an immediate commotion among the onlookers.
Indeed, by addressing smallpox, they truly protected the safety of their children. Now, because of the fear of the disease, children were being kept inside the house, not even daring to venture into the yard.
Those were children, each trapped and crying out miserably, leaving their homes in disarray.
As long as the external threat of smallpox was alleviated, they could finally end these days of anxiety and trepidation.
Immediately, even more people surged out to bow and thank the carriage.
Somehow, from out of nowhere, two or three women appeared, hurling baskets full of fruits and cooked food into the carriage, inciting even more commotion in the streets.
Seated within the carriage, the doctors were experiencing this kind of reception for the first time; each one's face flushed with excitement they could hardly contain.
"This is too much, too much," they muttered to themselves inside the carriage, yet they were also overwhelmed with gratitude from the people that made their blood boil with fervor.
"Damn it."
Doctor Geng, standing on a street corner, spat out a curse upon seeing this scene.
"This is so damn fake, where did they find these actors, it's shameless."
...............….
"Master, you didn't see the scene, Jiuling Hall is completely shameless."
In the Imperial Hospital, Doctor Geng described to everyone the scene of the public seeing off the doctors leaving the city, a mixture of anger and amusement in his voice.
"What's all this about, what do they think they are, they haven't even cured the illness yet and they're already heroes?"
The imperial physicians all nodded in agreement.
"It's simply outrageous."
"What kind of behavior is this?"
"The height of shamelessness."
Imperial Physician Jiang tapped on the table, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"Let them be, the more noise they make, the better," he said. "The more they are loved now, the more they will be hated in the future."
After speaking, he looked around at everyone.
"Everyone should also go about their own business, visit the homes of princes, princesses, and nobles; especially since everyone with children is on edge due to the outbreak, let's make sure they feel at ease."
That was the pressing matter they should focus on now. The imperial physicians nodded and voiced their agreement before departing.
Imperial Physician Jiang was left alone in the room, his expression no longer composed but tinged with annoyance and resentment.
He hadn't anticipated she would actually persuade so many doctors.
How did she persuade them? By assuring them she could definitely cure the disease, and this venture would bring them fame and fortune?
These foolish doctors, so utterly naive – they were worshiping her like a deity just because she cured illnesses they couldn't and gave them some advice.
Just wait and see, there will come a time when you'll weep, a bunch of idiots.
.................
After the carriage departed through the city gates, the servant boys put away their horsewhips, hopped onto the carriage, and hastened their pace forward.
Atop the city walls, a few young men watched the carriage.
"Not bad, Miss Jun really commands a response," Sifeng said.
Zhang Baotang patted him on the back.
"You lost, pay up," he said.
Sifeng spread his hands.
"I'm broke, no money," he said.
Zhang Baotang immediately grabbed him, starting to frolic, when someone shouted to them.
"Look, there goes Lu Yunqi."
Zhang Baotang and Sifeng hurried to look, and Zhu Zan, standing aside, also lowered his gaze.
A troop of Jinyiwei exited through the city gate, central to their rallying was the particularly conspicuous Lu Yunqi, who, sensing their gaze, looked up.
Zhu Zan locked eyes with him, both faces expressionless.
Lu Yunqi quickly averted his gaze, and under the Jinyiwei's escort, dashed away.
"What's that bastard up to?" Sifeng said.
Before the words settled, Zhu Zan had turned and walked away.
"Hey, big bro, where are you going?" he called out.
Zhu Zan waved a hand at him without speaking, striding swiftly away from the city wall.