Chapter 2410 - 2384: Not as Good as Bai Shan

Manbao thought for a moment before nodding, giving a fair assessment: "Not as good-looking as Bai Shan."

A group of women laughed and pointed at Madam Tang, saying, "Ask her who’s better looking, Lord Tang or Lord Yang, and she’ll surely say Lord Tang."

Madam Tang pursed her lips.

A lady sighed, "If it were me, I’d definitely say Lord Yang, but love is blind, so you can’t trust what people in love say."

Manbao curiously asked, "Madam Han and Lord Han aren’t in love?"

The table fell silent.

Madam Tang paused for a moment, then laughed, tapped Manbao’s forehead, and said to Madam Han, "Just a child’s words, Madam Han, don’t take it to heart."

Madam Han smiled slightly, "Why would I take offense? It’s not wrong."

She nodded in a direction, signaling Manbao to look, "Look, there’s Lord Han you mentioned, but he can’t be called Lord Han now. Last month, he was stripped of his official position due to misconduct, so now he’s just Young Master Han."

Manbao: ... The world changes too fast, she couldn’t keep up.

Madam Tang patted her hand, "Alright, I know you feel wronged, but you know she was locked up in the imperial estate last month, how could she know what happened outside?"

Someone laughed, "Even outside, Lady Zhou probably wouldn’t notice much, given her busy schedule. Not like us, who are so idle, just finding novelty in the capital city events."

Madam Han said somewhat despondently, "So, my family’s affairs are just entertainment for you?"

Some of the ladies were sheepish, while others comforted Madam Han or apologized to her. Manbao and Zhou Liru were both bewildered, quietly bowed their heads, took a snack, and sipped tea.

Finally, when Madam Tang finished socializing, she pulled them over to a corner of the storytelling pavilion, where they both let out a sigh of relief.

Madam Tang specifically found a corner to whisper with them, "Why did only you come? Old Madam Liu didn’t?"

Considering Bai Shan and Liu Huan’s friendship, and now Bai Shan also has a title, the Liu family should have separately sent an invitation to Old Madam Liu.

Manbao said, "We sent the invitation, but Grandma Liu had already decided to go to the mountain for a retreat this half month, so she didn’t come. Besides, Bai Shan is the head of the household, so him coming is the same."

Madam Tang was curious, "A retreat at this time?"

Manbao said, "Isn’t Tomb-Sweeping Day coming soon? And Bai Shan has exams, Grandma Liu said the retreat is good for seeking blessings from the gods."

Madam Tang: "... Oh."

Manbao sat obediently on the chair, held a cup of tea, and asked, "Madam Tang, did Senior Brother Tang not come? We didn’t see him during the meal."

Madam Tang looked at her and said, "Didn’t you notice? Today isn’t a day off."

Manbao widened her eyes, "Then..."

Madam Tang said lightly, "They all took leave or skipped work to attend, others can skip work, but he can’t. I heard some place had a case, so he went to investigate."

Manbao was satisfied, "I also took leave to come out."

Madam Tang giggled, "We were saying during the meal that after your return, you’ve rarely appeared. Some wanted to invite you for a consultation but couldn’t find you, so they had to invite Assistant Doctor Liu instead."

Madam Tang glanced at Zhou Liru sitting beside her and asked with a smile, "How is your niece learning? Is she ready to graduate?"

Manbao said, "Not so fast, she’s only studied for a few years."

She said, "She still needs to study for a few more years at the institute before she can graduate."

Madam Tang said, "Didn’t they say five years is enough? She has a foundation, three or four years should be about right?"

Manbao shook her head, "That’s just the basics, to reach the level of her senior brothers and sisters, she would need at least four to five more years."

Whether it’s Liu Sanniang, Zheng Gu, or Zheng Shao, they grew up immersed in medicine, learning whether taught or not, always exposed to it. They know more than Zhou Liru can compare to now.

Of the four disciples, the best and most skilled is Zheng Gu, followed by Liu Sanniang.

Madam Tang nodded slightly and whispered, "Because of you, the number of female patients seeking female doctors has increased quite a bit over the past two years, many even coming from other places just to meet you."

Manbao asked, "Does Madam Tang also have friends wanting to see me?"

Madam Tang smiled a little, tapping her on the forehead, "You’re quite clever, yes, not just one or two."

"But you were busy upon returning, initially tied up in the palace, then directly heading to the imperial estate, I couldn’t ask you then."

Manbao: "I had four days off earlier this month, why didn’t you tell me?"

Madam Tang smiled, "You had just left the imperial estate, must be very tired, how could I visit and ask then? Even now it’s inappropriate, but their illnesses have worsened, that’s why I thought of asking you."

Manbao hesitated, "What kind of illness? If it’s not too private, I can recommend Doctor Ding and Doctor Tao, or ask Imperial Doctor Liu to help take a look."

"You know, I’m at the imperial estate now, once inside, it’s common to not come out for ten or fifteen days, possibly a month this time. Seeing patients now is inconvenient."

Today she could come out because of the banquet, especially since it was Minister Liu’s banquet, Director Xiao agreed to let her out.

As predicted during the meal, they currently needed Minister Liu’s support; attending the banquet to improve relations was crucial for Director Xiao.

But seeking leave to treat other patients was out of the question.

Madam Tang thought for a moment, then whispered a few words to her.

Manbao frowned slightly, "I see, has Sanniang checked?"

Madam Tang nodded and sighed, "That’s why, after eight days of acupuncture and medication, there’s been little effect."

Manbao weighed the situation and nodded, "Then I’ll leave the banquet early this afternoon and go with the scholarly sister-in-law to take a look."

Madam Tang immediately smiled and nodded, "Good, I’ll call for you when we leave."

With the important matter settled, Madam Tang noted that Manbao wasn’t keen on listening to the storytelling, she kept looking towards the lotus pond, and laughed, "Alright, I won’t keep you from watching beauty, go ahead."

Manbao stood up, tiptoed to take a look, but it was too far and blurry, Zhou Liru whispered, "It’s not Miss Fenghua."

Manbao steadied herself and said to Madam Tang, "No hurry."

Madam Tang: "... Is that Fenghua really that good-looking?"

Manbao and Zhou Liru nodded together.

Since the person she liked hadn’t appeared, Manbao had the leisure to care about other matters, "Why was Lord Han stripped of his position?"

"Patronizing prostitutes and fighting at Spring Breeze Pavilion, the matter blew up, an Imperial Censor happened to see and it was brought to court," Madam Tang laughed, "It wasn’t just a dismissal, he was fined quite a bit of money too."

The fine was imposed by Lord Tang.