Becoming the Empress: Golden Finger Set Under My Bed

Chapter 74. The Woman’s Request For Medicine

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

That was what it really meant by “Die of illness is better than being killed by mercy”.

An Rushuang frowned in sullenness. It did make sense that sometimes, money was more valuable than lives.

As she sighed in sorrow, Hong Yu suddenly grabbed her before shouting in surprise, “Miss An, that is...”

Looking through the curtain, An Rushuang noticed two narrow gates with rusty iron rings, its black paint almost fading, the four unsightly gilded big Chinese characters at the lintel being nothing but “The First Pharmacy”.

Large amount of people were crowding at the entrance, much more terrible-looking than the pharmacy’s facade.

Just as numerous ants scrambling for food, hundreds of citizens gathered at such a narrow place, so boisterous that made An Rushung feel headache. She couldn’t help frowning at such a weird scene.

What place was The First Pharmacy on earth?

The cart driver scratched his head before explaining with a smile, “I forgot to tell you. Today, The First Pharmacy gives out the herbal medicines for free.”

Given the people’s strong desire for the medicine, like hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, Hong Yu couldn’t help doubting the pharmacy wouldn’t give out medicines but the gold and silver ingots. However, with a second thought, she realized if people were seriously ill, the medicines would be much more valuable than money. “Giving out medicine for free, which pharmacy can afford such a big cost...” Hong Yu sighed.

Zhao Xiaotao jumped off the carriage before looking back and answering, “The First Pharmacy gives out medicine merely twice a month, in the middle and at the end of the month.”

Hong Yu got off the carriage after her and continued, “How come you are so familiar with the First Pharmacy?”

Zhao Xiaotao helped An Rushuang off the wagon before saying with a chuckle, “Since that man always hit us savagely, my mum, in order to protect me, suffered serious injuries almost every day. As long as the First Pharmacy gave out medicines for free, I would wait here on time and bring back some for mum. Besides Miss An, The First Pharmacy is also my life savior.”

An Rushuang sighed slightly. With many words pouring to her mouth, she could utter nothing except for the following words, “It has all passed already.”

Hong Yu, a lump coming into her throat, held Zhao Xiaotao in her arms at once, “Don’t be afraid. Miss An and I will support you. There is no need for you to fetch medicines here anymore.”

Zhao Xiaotao was amused by Hong Yu’s act. Turning to An Rushuang at the same time, both of them couldn’t help shedding tears.

An Rushuang sighed slightly before patting their shoulders. “As long as I am alive, I will protect you from any harm,” this delicate girl said in resoluteness, “As for the medicine...”

She touched Hong Yu’s forehead with her index finger and smiled cunningly. “If I could be apprenticed to the master here, you, instead of Xiaotao, will stay here for the rest of your life!”

“It’s reasonable enough,” Hong Yu snorted, pouting, “I will be with you whenever you are!”

Though saying so, they couldn’t help frowning when wedging through the crowd. Various smells, including the sour smell of the beggars, as well as the pungent smell of the herbal medicines boiled in the big pot, mixed together with the bustling cry and scream, hanging over the narrow space like the thick fog.

The carriage driver suggested in a hurry, “Who do you plan to meet, my lady? How about I go inside to ask for you?”

Hong Yu agreed with him. Since the First Pharmacy was giving out medicines today, the one An Rushuang wanted to meet may be not here. It’s not necessary for them to wedge inside and got themselves smelly. “Okay, you go there quickly!” Hong Yu waved to the driver and ordered.

“Stop.” An Rushuang said calmly, “You stay here. Since I came to meet my master, how can I send others to do it? I must go inside by myself.”

As soon as she finished speaking, An Rushuang tried her best to approach the door.

Seeing her insisting on entering the pharmacy, Hong Yu and Zhao Xiaotao, one at the front, the other at back, strode to the crowd of beggars without any hesitation.

“Get out, don’t stand in my way!” There suddenly came a shout behind them, with the scream in fear, as well as the swish of the horse whip. “Get out of my way, or have a taste of my whip!”

A flurry of swish resounded in the air.

Looking back in a hurry, An Rushuang saw a girl clad in red dress riding on a big purplish red horse. At the age of about sixteen or seventeen years old, with slightly dark skin, the girl was very pretty, her dark eyes flickering with urgency.

Maybe there was an emergency. An Rushuang thought.

Just then, An Rushuang saw a beggar being knocked to the groundby the girl’s merciless whip. How could she hurt an innocent beggar so seriously just because he was in her way?

No one dared to step forward any longer. All the people had to make way for the bossy girl. Pressing the horse’s abdomen harder, the girl in red approached the medicine stall on horseback rapidly before condescendingly staring at the young man in white who lowered his head and was busy with giving out medicine. “Are you the doctor of the First Pharmacy? Follow me quickly. A noble man is waiting for you.”

Without raising his head, the young man kept passing the bowl to a beggar before scooping up the liquid medicine with a spoon from the big pot and pouring it into another old bowl. “Next one,” he shouted before raising his head.

As for the girl on the horse, he directly turned his back to her.

Seeing the medicine ready, a young beggar reached in shudder, intending to catch the bowl. However, with a flurry of swish resounding in the air, his hand was thrashed by the whip, like numerous needles piercing his skin at the same time. With a screech in pain, he slumped to the ground, not only breaking the old bowl into pieces, but also splashing the liquid medicine to the ground.

“How dare you ignore me! Do you know who I am?!”

The beggars crowding nearby were intimidated by the young girl. Since they were already sick, how could they bear the harsh whip? Considering the bossy girl riding a big horse must come from a noble family, the beggars retreated to the side of the road slowly.

It was until then the young man at the stall looked up.

An Rushuang was surprised at his handsome face. With dashing eyebrows, sparkling eyes, tender skin and rouge-dabbing lips, he was even more eye-catching than a girl.

Stunned at his face, the young girl on the horse couldn’t help blushing under the gaze of the young man.

Sneering by slightly curling his lips, he, with a wisp of cold gleam flickering in his eyes, said indifferently, “Ha-ha, it’s out of my expectation that you are actually a human being rather than an evil spirit...”

The beggars snickered. Evil spirit? Didn’t he refer to that girl?!

The young girl’s face went crimson with anger, intending to whip the young man all of a sudden while shouting, “What did you say just then?!”