Chapter 18: A Great Omen of Misfortune

Jiang Muyun dashed to the car, panting as she said, "Great Healer, all the medicinal herbs you asked for are here!"

"What took you so long? If I'd waited any longer, the daylilies would have withered."

Hearing Zhang Shen complain about her slowness, Jiang Muyun immediately bristled with indignation.

"Hmph! You could've helped out instead of just sitting in the car enjoying yourself!"

"Oh? Someone's getting feisty. But tell me, when have you ever seen an assistant who doesn't do any work?"

Anyone with a discerning ear could tell Zhang Shen was speaking directly to Jiang Muyun, clearly treating her as nothing more than an assistant.

"But actually, you're not an assistant." Zhang Shen turned his head to Zheng Tiande. "President Zheng, do you have a dog at home?"

Zheng Tiande was caught off guard and replied instinctively, "No."

"That explains it. Just look at her—doesn't she look like a little puppy, all happy to see her master?"

Zheng Tiande realized Zhang Shen had laid a trap in his words; luckily, he hadn't nodded in agreement.

Hearing herself compared to a puppy, Jiang Muyun angrily tossed the bundle of medicinal herbs at Zhang Shen.

"You two are just bullies! I'm not going!"

With that, Jiang Muyun's eyes turned slightly red.

Zhang Shen realized he might have gone too far this time and quickly jumped out of the car, grabbing Jiang Muyun's arm.

"My lady, why are you crying?"

"Leave me alone. Get lost!"

If Jiang Muyun could take Zhang Shen in a fight, the great healer's head would have been kneaded into dough by now.

She ignored Zhang Shen's attempts to placate her and stood rooted to the spot.

The scene made Zheng Tiande all the more anxious. His daughter was still lying sick in bed, yet these two had the nerve to bicker like this? Weren't doctors supposed to race against death? Why did it feel like the eunuch was more anxious than the emperor in this situation?

"Could you two please focus on saving my daughter first? Can your quarrel wait?"

Zheng Tiande, usually so authoritative in front of others, was now uncharacteristically humble—after all, he was the one asking for help.

"Xiao Ke!"

Jiang Muyun suddenly remembered the real reason she was here.

"This time, for Xiao Ke's sake, I won't hold it against you. But remember, this is the last time! Hmph!"

With a haughty hum, the clouds on Jiang Muyun's face cleared, and she skipped cheerily back into Zheng Tiande's car.

"Healer, your assistant's already in the car—what are you waiting for?"

After saying this, Zheng Tiande realized he might have misspoken and quickly glanced at Jiang Muyun.

Luckily, Jiang Muyun was preoccupied with thoughts of Zheng Ke's illness and didn't notice.

Zhang Shen smiled and climbed into the car as well.

Not far from them, in a tall building, Mu Qiao observed everything and quickly sent a message to Jiang Zhengxing.

"Boss, the young lady doesn't seem happy. Should we forcibly bring her home?"

Three seconds later, Jiang Zhengxing replied, "No need for now. Get closer to Zhang Shen. I want to know what Xiao Yun is up to."

Mu Qiao couldn't quite grasp her boss's intentions, but orders were orders—she would follow them.

...

When they returned to Zheng Ke's room, she was still unconscious, and Zheng Tiande hovered anxiously like an ant on a hot pan.

"President Zheng, don't worry. I'll treat her right away."

"Wait a moment!"

Just as Zhang Shen was about to instruct Jiang Muyun to prepare the medicine, someone intervened.

"President Zheng, I trust you've been well?"

Zheng Tiande immediately recognized the familiar voice—it was Wei Xiaorong, director of the Yuehu City Health Bureau and an old acquaintance.

"President Zheng, I know your daughter's illness is your top concern right now, but you also need to be careful!"

"Director Wei, what do you mean by that?"

"You probably don't know—this fellow doesn't even have a medical license. How can you trust him with your daughter's life?"

"I'm aware of that, but—"

"But what? A human life is at stake! No matter how desperate you are, you can't be so reckless!"

Wei Xiaorong and Zheng Tiande had grown up together, childhood companions. Later, one pursued business and the other academics, and they drifted apart, only reuniting years later at a gathering—by then, Zheng Tiande already had a daughter, Zheng Ke.

When Wei Xiaorong heard about Zheng Ke’s illness, she was deeply concerned, so she had a particular soft spot for her.

"Director Wei, we’ve always abided by the law."

"If you hadn’t said anything, I almost forgot. I heard this young lady is your assistant? Then she’ll have to come with us for questioning."

Jiang Muyun wondered if she’d left the house on the wrong day—why was she being dragged into this?

Zhang Shen, however, showed no sign of fear at Wei Xiaorong’s threat.

"Director Wei, as far as I know, even the Health Bureau needs to follow proper procedures. For you to barge into a private residence and detain two law-abiding citizens—doesn’t that smack of forced confessions?"

Wei Xiaorong had only intended to scare this kid into focusing on treating Zheng Ke, but Zhang Shen, this little internet café manager, clearly didn’t take her seriously.

"Procedures, is it? Fine! I’ll call right now and have them draw up the paperwork!"

She reached for her phone.

"Director Wei, wait!"

"Oh, what is it? Are you scared now?" Wei Xiaorong turned to Zheng Tiande. "See, President Zheng? I told you—they’re frauds."

"That's not it, Director Wei."

Zhang Shen promptly pulled out an ancient set of gold-threaded silver needles wrapped in tattered cloth from his pocket.

Selecting a needle, he said to Wei Xiaorong, "Director Wei, I must say, you’re in remarkable shape."

Wei Xiaorong was startled—after all that, this was his excuse? Still, praise was praise, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit pleased.

"And then…?"

She thought Zhang Shen might continue to compliment her looks, but his next words made her blanch.

"Then I noticed a rather ominous sign, and the red has turned black—quite dangerous. If you don’t mind, I can reluctantly give you a treatment."

"Ominous sign?"

As a government official, and especially in front of an old friend, Wei Xiaorong was scandalized by Zhang Shen’s words.

“I... I want to...” she stammered, momentarily at a loss for words in her anger.

Meanwhile, Jiang Muyun, accustomed to Zhang Shen’s bluntness, was unfazed. For all his boorishness, when it came to medicine, he was nothing if not professional.