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墨書 Inktalez
Although spring has arrived, the cold is still frighteningly intense. Xing Ruyi shivers from the chill, wishing she could wrap herself in blankets all day long. However, seeing the fox's seemingly smiling eyes, she can only muster her spirits and pretend to be brave.
With the cold weather, fewer people are buying Rouge and Face Powder; those who do come by are mostly regular customers.
Madam Liu arrives after noon, lifting the cotton curtain of Midnight, which also lets in a gust of cold wind. Xing Ruyi rubs her hands together and steps out from behind the counter to greet her.
"It's so cold, Madam Liu, why did you come personally? You could have sent your maid to let me know what you needed."
"Buying Rouge and Face Powder is secondary; mainly, I haven't seen the Fox Demon for a while and I've been feeling anxious," Madam Liu says as she links her arm with Xing Ruyi's. "Look at your hands and feet; they're freezing. You should wear something thicker."
"I'm already dressed warmly enough; if I put on more layers, I won't be able to move," Xing Ruyi replies with a playful pout, showing a hint of a daughter's charm.
"Even so, you need to have a good fire going. It may cost some double silver coins, but keeping warm is the most important thing."
"That's true, but look around; I have three stoves lit inside and outside my place. If I add more, it might scare others away," Xing Ruyi points out. There’s one in front of the door, one beside the counter, and another near the back stage. All are fueled with high-quality charcoal.
"You do have quite a few stoves, but your hands are still icy cold," Madam Liu glances around before returning her gaze to Xing Ruyi's face. Her mouth opens slightly as if she wants to say something but hesitates and swallows her words.
"If you have something to say, Madam, please feel free. Is there anything you need to consider between you and the Fox Demon?"
"I do have some matters to trouble Ruyi with; however, it's not anything major—just difficult to express," Madam Liu says hesitantly, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Please speak freely; if you're going to hold back, then the Fox Demon won't welcome you here anymore," Xing Ruyi feigns anger and pulls her hand away from Madam Liu's grasp.
"But look at this! If I don't come, my Master insists that I do. Now that I'm here, I don't even know how to start." In the freezing cold, it's hard to tell whether it's the warmth of the charcoal fire in Ruyi Workshop or Madam Liu's anxiety that's causing her to break into a cold sweat.
"Fox Demon, I will say it again, Madam, if you have something to say, just speak directly." Xing Ruyi leaned back slightly and picked up a pot of steaming Peach Blossom Wine from the table, pouring a cup for herself and Madam Liu.
"It seems Madam is hesitant because there is something difficult to express. How about this: Fox Demon has paper and pen here. If Madam feels uncomfortable, you can write it down."
"Writing it down sounds good, writing it down sounds good." Madam Liu repeatedly agreed, but when Xing Ruyi stood up to get the paper and pen, she was stopped by Madam Liu.
"Never mind, it's better not to leave any written traces of such matters."
"Such matters?" Xing Ruyi repeated, noticing that Madam Liu's face was slightly flushed. She quickly understood: "Is what Madam wants related to the bedroom?"
"Yes, yes." The Madam replied softly, her cheeks reddening as she lowered her head.
"Love between men and women, the joys of the bedroom, are perfectly normal things—just like drinking water or eating food; there's nothing wrong with it. It's just that Fox Demon doesn't understand. Fox Demon is merely someone who buys Rouge and Face Powder and is still an unmarried girl from her maternal family. I’m afraid I can't help you with such matters."
"Ruyi, don't misunderstand. Actually, my Master just sent me here to try my luck." Seeing that her words were becoming increasingly unclear, Madam Liu took a deep breath and laid out all her concerns.
"It's like this: I have a son who just turned twenty this year and is already married. Because he has a career, he has been traveling with his wife for the past two years. My grandfather and I rarely inquire about their affairs; we feel that children grow up and have their own lives. If parents interfere too much, it's not good. During the New Year, they specially returned home to visit us. It would have been fine if we hadn’t seen them; seeing them revealed our worries. Other couples who have been married for two years usually come back either with a child or expecting one; they must have at least one of those. But in our case—"
Madam Liu took a deep breath before continuing: "Both my Master and I understand medicine, so naturally we wouldn't blame everything on our daughter-in-law. We found time to talk separately with both of them. Upon further inquiry, we discovered that the reasons are multifaceted. First, my son has just taken office and has many official duties; naturally, there is less time for marital matters. Secondly, while my daughter-in-law isn't from a prominent family, she is well-bred and has many concerns regarding such matters. Over time, it's inevitable that some distance develops. Ruyi, think about it: for newlyweds to treat each other with respect in public is one thing; if they do so in private as well, how can they live together?"
Since this involved personal privacy, Madam Liu didn't want to be too blunt in her words; however, Xing Ruyi, coming from another world, understood everything clearly.
"Fox Demon understands what Madam wants; however, I do not understand what Lady Bai means by the connection between today’s visit to Ruyi Workshop and seeking Fox Demon."
"Please provide the medicine." Madam Liu's ears turned red, and she couldn't care less about being embarrassed. She spoke up, "My Master may have good medical skills, but many years ago, when he was learning medicine, he didn't pay attention to this aspect because of certain circumstances. I heard that Fox Demon is skilled in medicine and often has some unexpected remedies, so my Master sent me to ask you."
Xing Ruyi first searched her mind and then looked at Madam Liu and said, "I do have a prescription here, but it was hastily noted down years ago, so I can't guarantee its effectiveness."
"Whether it works or not, we have to give it a try," Madam Liu said, standing up and performing a deep bow towards Xing Ruyi. "I beg you, Ruyi, to grant me the prescription."
"The matter of prescriptions is serious, but you know that such prescriptions should not be used carelessly," Xing Ruyi said while looking directly into Madam Liu's eyes.
Madam Liu seemed a bit flustered; her gaze wandered for a moment before she managed to squeeze out a smile. "Don't worry, young lady."
"As a healer, one must keep their promises. If the Fox Demon encounters anyone using this prescription for evil in the future, I will certainly come to you for clarification," Xing Ruyi emphasized the word "clarification," making Madam Liu's shoulders tremble slightly. She could only mutter something inaudible and fell silent.
Xing Ruyi wrote down the prescription for Madam Liu, naming it "Four Seasons' Joyful Entrance." It was made from ingredients like Stone Swallow, Yangqi Stone, Magnetite, and Cinnabar, ground and mixed with sparrow brain to form a paste, which was then shaped into large pills.
"How should this pill be taken?"
"Before intimate relations between husband and wife, the male partner should take seven pills on an empty stomach, remembering to wash them down with hollow wine. If by mistake someone takes too much, just drink a bowl of ice water to neutralize the effects. Again, this prescription is different from others; please keep it safe and ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands."
"Rest assured, Fox Demon. I will keep this prescription safe," Madam Liu nodded in gratitude and then purchased several boxes of Rouge before leaving.
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