Resplendent – Chapter 440

Chapter 440 – A Narrow Encounter with an Old Foe

She strolled along the streets of the West District. Compared to the East District, the streets in the West District were smoother and wider. Near the Duke’s Manor were mostly the estates of princes and high-ranking ministers, their buildings grand and imposing.

Yue Yuan had gone out earlier in the morning and had more or less familiarized herself with the area. Upon learning that her lady wanted to visit Jimin Pharmacy, she led her through several alleys and brought her to the commercial district of the West District.

“Miss, look. There’s a Qingfeng Pavilion here in the West District too! It’s twice the size of the one in Yan City, and it looks much more luxurious than the one in the East District!” Yue Yuan pointed excitedly at a three-story building as she spoke to her lady.

Although she had passed by earlier with the estate servants, she had gone straight to Jimin Pharmacy to run the errand for her young lady, so she hadn’t paid any attention to the other shops. This time, accompanying her lady out for leisure, she ended up being even more excited than Gu Ye herself.

“That’s only natural. The people living in the West District are all wealthy or noble. Mansions of dukes and marquises stand everywhere. Throw a stick and you’ll hit two noble sons. The customers coming and going from Qingfeng are all people of status. If its decorations aren’t luxurious enough, how could it attract such clientele?”

Gu Ye spotted a pastry shop, lifted her foot, and walked in. She bought the two most expensive types of pastries, carried them in her arms, and snacked on them as she strolled leisurely.

“Miss, even Jinyuman Pavilion has a shop here in the West. It must have a powerful backing.” Remembering the unpleasant incident from yesterday morning, Yue Yuan pouted and continued, “That pink flower crown was so pretty, and those eunuch lackeys ruined everything. Truly frustrating. Miss, should we go inside and take a look? Maybe there’s something else that catches your eye?”

Gu Ye broke off a piece of pastry, stuffed it into her mouth, and spoke indistinctly, “It’s getting late today. Let’s go another time. Didn’t you say that the physician at Jimin Pharmacy urgently requested to see me? Let’s go there first.”

Before long, the mistress and maid arrived at Jimin Pharmacy. As they went up the steps and walked in with their heads lowered, they nearly bumped into a finely dressed woman coming out. The woman was clearly in a foul mood and snapped, “Can’t you watch where you’re walking?”

Gu Ye found the voice somewhat familiar. She lifted her head—Oh! Wasn’t this the ill-tempered Princess Anya? Seeing the veil on the princess’s face, she grinned. “Sorry, my eyes were covered by my veil. I couldn’t see a thing!”

Princess Anya was already anxious over her brother’s illness. Hearing Gu Ye’s words, she instantly understood she was being mocked for wearing a veil. Enraged, she turned and glared at the insolent girl, raising her hand to slap her!

But when she got a clear look at that familiar little face, she could no longer retract the slap she had already thrown forward. Fortunately—or unfortunately—her hand was caught mid-air by the round-faced maid behind the young girl.

Princess Anya yanked her hand free from the maid’s grip and snapped irritably, “It’s you! When did you come to the capital?”

“When did the capital become your private property, Princess Anya? Does everyone who comes here have to report to you first?”

This Princess Anya’s unlikable temper truly hadn’t changed at all. Gu Ye intentionally teased her. 

Princess Anya’s chest rose and fell sharply as she struggled to restrain her urge to hit someone. At last, she managed to suppress it and retorted impatiently, “Can you speak properly or not?”

The two senior maids behind the princess had never seen Gu Ye before. They were puzzled. 

Given the princess’s temper, if anyone else dared speak to her like this, they would’ve been beaten until they cried for their parents. Even if Princess Ning spoke to her that way, Princess Anya would never give her any face. 

This little girl looked unfamiliar, clearly not from a noble or aristocratic family. Why should the princess treat her any differently?

Gu Ye, however, didn’t feel much dislike toward Princess Anya. So she was a bit spoiled—so what? A princess of a royal prince’s household had the capital to be willful! Gu Ye smiled and said, “Respect others, and they will respect you. If Your Highness speaks nicely, I will naturally speak nicely with you.”

“You…” Princess Anya tugged irritably at the veil covering her face. “That acne medicine of yours and those skincare products, do you still have any?”

Originally, after using the skincare products Gu Ye sold her, her acne had improved significantly. But recently, due to her brother’s situation, she’d been anxious and stressed, and new pimples had broken out again. The medicine and skincare she bought last autumn had already been used up, and she had been thinking of sending someone to Yan City to buy more!

“Your Highness, are you planning to have me diagnose you right here?” Gu Ye looked around at their surroundings. Since the streets were crowded, Gu Ye didn’t mind at all if Princess Anya wasn’t embarrassed.

Princess Anya, still annoyed, said, “Then let’s go inside and talk!”

Jimin Pharmacy’s branch in the capital had only opened last year. This was all thanks to Gu Pharmaceuticals! The enterprise produced children’s medicine, granules, and pills—half of which were distributed to develop the northern market, while the other half were almost all sent to the capital. To compete with the long-established pharmacies, they had no choice but to do so.

For Jimin Pharmacy, Gu Pharmaceuticals was truly their great lucky star and benefactor. To ensure that the shopkeepers, clerks, and resident physicians did not slight any noble visitors, every branch of Jimin Pharmacy displayed portraits of Gu Ye.

The rule was clear: the moment a noble arrives, everyone in the shop has to recognize her immediately.

The branches in the capital had long received news that the noble had arrived in the city two days ago, and might visit Jimin Pharmacy any day. As a result, from the shopkeepers to the resident doctors, everyone was on high alert, eagerly awaiting her arrival.

That morning, the noble’s maid had come to the West District branch of Jimin to purchase medicinal herbs. It was only then that Jimin Pharmacy learned that Miss Gu was residing in the West District. The shopkeeper Huang and resident Doctor Liang in the West District branch were overjoyed, eagerly awaiting the noble’s arrival.

Especially Doctor Liang, who was already somewhat renowned among the common folk. The reason he had accepted Jimin’s invitation to be stationed there was precisely because of this noble from the Gu family.

When he traveled through the northern regions, he had heard of the Gu family’s ‘Little Divine Doctor,’ who could perform life-saving surgeries like abdominal extractions and intestinal repairs, and had even taught new treatments—such as injections—free of charge to Jimin Pharmacy’s physicians.

Doctor Liang had a keen interest in miraculous medical techniques and had long hoped to witness this Little Divine Doctor in person, eager for the chance to see her display skills worthy of Hua Tuo.

As a result, the moment Gu Ye stepped through the doors of Jimin Pharmacy, both the shopkeeper and Doctor Liang immediately recognized her. Shopkeeper Huang greeted her enthusiastically, “Miss Gu, we’ve been looking forward to your arrival! Please, come inside. Second Son, quickly bring out my Mingqian tea and brew a fine pot for Miss Gu!”

Gu Ye looked around. All around her were various medicine cabinets, and the faint scent of herbs filled the air. She really had come to the right place! It was just that the shopkeeper was too enthusiastic; for a moment, she had thought she had mistakenly walked into a tea house!

“No need for such courtesy, Uncle Shopkeeper. I just came in to take a look…” Gu Ye greeted Doctor Liang, strolled around the room, and finally, under Princess Anya’s impatient gaze, leisurely sat down.