Shen Aoshuang knew his own grandfather the best. As he grew older

and older, Shen’s grandfather had become more like a mischievous old child.

But he was still Shen’s own grandfather, and at his age, with his somewhat stubborn nature, if Shen Aoshuang refused, he would surely think of another way.

In any case, he had decided today that he wanted to see Shen Cui, and he was determined to do so.

So, even though Shen Aoshuang felt embarrassed, he still went along with it and played the “accomplice.”

Shen Aoshuang blushed as he bowed to Shen Cui. “My grandfather is not knowledgeable in medicine, but he wanted to see you. When he heard that you were unwell, he probably thought you wouldn’t receive visitors, so…”

Shen Cui didn’t need him to explain.

She had already figured it out and smiled, waving her hand. “I’m really fine, just a bit of discomfort due to the change in environment. But what Aoshuang said is correct. If it were someone else today, I probably wouldn’t have seen them. But if it’s your family, that’s a different story.”

Moreover, Shen’s grandfather had thought to come and meet her on the night they arrived in the capital.

Shen Cui not only agreed to meet him, but she was also quite pleased—someone who was not a relative was willing to go out of their way to see her, which meant that Shen Aoshuang was highly regarded as a student.

It could be seen that Shen Aoshuang’s situation at home was much better than she had imagined.

At the very least, his grandfather cared deeply for him.

“You see,” Shen’s grandfather turned to look at Shen Aoshuang, “Your master was willing to see me.”

Shen Aoshuang was speechless and didn’t dare to retort.

He could only protest with his eyes—Master had said so, but any discerning person wouldn’t insist on seeing someone who was ill!

The relationship between the grandfather and grandson seemed really good.

Shen Cui couldn’t help but smile.

She told Shen Aoshuang not to linger and instead bring a bowl of tea for his grandfather.

“No need, I’ll leave after a while.” Shen’s grandfather waved his hand and then solemnly looked at Shen Cui, saying, “Clear eyes, upright attitude, indeed rare.”

After finishing his examination and comments, Shen’s grandfather stood up on his own and offered his farewell.

This was really unexpected for Shen Cui.

In her imagination, when parents of students and school officials met, there would usually be some polite exchanges first.

She would then say that her student had caused trouble and proceed to praise Shen Aoshuang’s performance at the academy over the past two years.

Finally, she would decline any offers of help, stating that she would try to find a solution herself and only seek help if absolutely necessary.

They would then exchange a few more pleasantries before ending the conversation.

She had already prepared a lot of words, but it turned out that his visit was just a simple meeting?

Shen Cui was somewhat puzzled by his grandfather’s behavior, but seeing that Shen’s grandfather was already heading towards the door, she didn’t say anything and let Mu Er Pang accompany him.

Mu Er Pang quickly stood up and followed Shen Aoshuang out of the door, but Shen’s grandfather had already descended the stairs with quick steps.

“My grandfather is always like this, with a fast pace that most people can’t keep up with. It’s more important to stay and look after Headmaster.”

Shen Aoshuang said, then hurriedly ran after his grandfather.

He could do this so easily thanks to his senses having recovered quite a bit, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to descend the stairs so effortlessly.

But by the time he reached the gate of the post house, Shen’s grandfather had already boarded the carriage.

“Wasn’t Grandfather here to take me away?” Shen Aoshuang asked, panting and out of breath.

Shen Cui might not have known, but Shen Aoshuang had grown up under his grandfather’s upbringing since he was young and knew quite well about Shen’s grandfather’s character and thoughts.

Although his actions sometimes seemed arbitrary, he was sharp and capable throughout his life, and there was always a purpose behind his seemingly random actions.

Today, they had just arrived outside the city, and his grandfather had specially come over and insisted on seeing Shen Cui.

There must be something he wanted to discuss with Shen Cui.

As for what they were going to discuss? Shen Aoshuang guessed that his grandfather wanted him to return to the Shen family and withdraw from Cuiwei.

After all, the events outside were not widely known in the capital.

If Shen Aoshuang returned to the capital and stayed at Cuiwei, it would be like placing Cuiwei under the protection of the Shen family.

It was because he had guessed this meaning that Shen Aoshuang had thought of excuses earlier to try to stop his grandfather from meeting Shen Cui.

A towering tree catches the wind; Cuiwei had suddenly produced several excellent scholars, which would surely attract attention from various quarters.

Not all of this attention might be benevolent, and Shen Aoshuang didn’t want to leave Cuiwei. It was not only because he was reluctant to leave them, but also because he wanted to protect them.

Inside the carriage, Shen’s grandfather said, “I was originally planning to take you with me, but I’ve changed my mind now. You stay here for now. After the exams…”

Shen Aoshuang interjected, “Before the exams are over, I won’t return home.”

His grandfather acknowledged with a grunt, and then instructed the coachman to drive the carriage away from the post house.

Not long after he left, more people from the Shen family arrived, bringing some common items and an old doctor with them.

The old doctor casually took Shen Cui’s pulse and then glanced at the prescription from the village doctor.

He pointed out two herbs from the prescription, saying, “These herbs work quickly, but if someone with unstable vitality takes them, it could sow the seeds of trouble. It’s better to replace them with these two new ones I’ve written. They’re milder in effect, taking effect in one or two days.”

Naturally, everyone listened to him.

This old doctor not only modified the prescription but probably already knew the illness before coming out, so he brought quite a few corresponding medicines as well.

He laid out all the medicines in front of everyone, washed his hands, then skillfully prepared the medicine by hand, and had a servant weigh them precisely, matching the doses on the prescription exactly!

Shen Cui and the young men on the side were amazed.

They thought that the doctors in the capital were really extraordinary. Each one seemed like a skilled performer.

Wei Xi and Cui Fei, who understood medical principles, went to help prepare the medicine.

After washing his hands, the old doctor asked the servant to clean up everything and then prepared to leave.

Shen Cui had recovered somewhat and was about to get up to ask the innkeeper for rooms for them to rest.

The old doctor said, “Headmaster, you don’t need to see us off. We’ll leave now.”

Shen Cui was puzzled. “But aren’t the city gates already closed?”

The capital was directly under the Emperor’s feet, so the curfew was stricter than in other places.

Once the city gates were closed, not to mention ordinary people, even ordinary officials couldn’t come and go freely.

The old doctor vaguely replied that he had his ways, then asked her to stay and left with the servant.

Once there were only their own people in the room, Mu Er Pang and the others didn’t need to hold back from speaking anymore.

Mu Er Pang exclaimed, “This old doctor is not only skilled in medicine, he also quickly spotted the mistakes in the prescription of the previous doctor, and his skills are quite impressive.”

Mei Ruo Chu also nodded slightly, “I have rarely seen such a skilled doctor in my life.”

Wei Shu said, “There are many talented and extraordinary people in the capital, many of whom are unknown outside but are renowned figures here. However, the most famous doctor in the capital is surnamed Huang. It’s said that we have past dealing each other in the past. Mostly us wanting to meet him.”

Earlier, Wei Xi had been unwell, and Wei’s parents had invited many doctors, all of whom were helpless, so they wanted to invite Dr. Huang.

As a result, despite exhausting all their connections and efforts, they couldn’t even meet him.

It’s not that Dr. Huang demands a hefty fee or insists on being persuaded multiple times to treat someone.

It’s just that although he’s from the capital, his whereabouts are unpredictable.

He travels around practicing medicine outside the city and rarely returns to the capital.

When he returns and his whereabouts are also kept secret, making it difficult to predict.

Moreover, this old doctor has a peculiar temperament.

He enjoys delving into complex and rare diseases.

He doesn’t like to deal with common illnesses that any other doctor could handle easily.

It’s said that only the nobility in the palace can know his whereabouts and motivate him.

Wei Xi’s inherent deficiency may affect his longevity in the future, but in Dr. Huang’s eyes, it’s not considered a complex disease.

Moreover, Shen Cui’s current condition of not adapting to the local environment is even less likely to persuade Dr. Huang to intervene.

So, everyone didn’t think of them as the same person, but instead, they asked Shen Aoshuang, “What’s the doctor’s surname? Where does he practice? He must be very famous, right?”

Shen Aoshuang shook her head with a complex expression.

The others thought the same.

Since he hadn’t returned to the capital for several years, they didn’t pursue it further.

After chatting softly for a while, Shen Cui asked them to go ahead and have their meal and then return to their rooms to read.

There was no need for them to stay here just because she wasn’t feeling well.

After they left, Shen Cui found a comfortable position to lie down and asked the system, “This doctor is Dr. Huang, right? So, this Shen family is the one from the story?”

Her question sounded like a tongue twister, but the system understood her meaning immediately and replied, “The host has guessed it correctly. That’s indeed the case.”

Shen Cui tried to recall the original plot — she knew less about Shen Gelao than Lu Buyu and the others did.

It was because in the original plot, Shen Gelao’s role was not significant.

When Mu Yunchuan first entered officialdom, he naturally had no chance to interact with the esteemed Shen Gelao.

By the time Mu Yunchuan’s official position rose, and he entered the cabinet, Shen Gelao had retired, making way for Mu Yunchuan’s further advancement.

In the book, there were no descendants of Shen Gelao who entered officialdom.

The entire Shen family moved out of the capital after his retirement, even giving their house to Mu Yunchuan.

Now, without her knowledge, Shen Aoshuang managed to pass all the exams and rise up.

When he entered officialdom, Shen Gelao naturally wouldn’t retire and resign from his position as early as in the book.

Although Shen Gelao advised Shen Aoshuang to hide his identity and rely on his own abilities for the imperial examinations, he probably wouldn’t use his authority to pave the way for Shen Aoshuang in the future.

But as an elder, he would at least ensure that Shen Aoshuang could hold his own before he would peacefully retire from the top position of civil officials.

In other words, she had inadvertently clashed with the rules of the world again.

But with many debts, one doesn’t worry about a few more fleas. She and the rules were fundamentally at odds, so she temporarily didn’t think about what might happen next, just wanting to quickly recover and find a house in the city.