Chapter 705 514: Applying for a Job

"I know you've always wanted to break free from your master, but he has raised you and taught you his skills for so many years. You want to repay him by working for him, and when you feel you've repaid his kindness, you'll leave, right?"

Ruan Qingyao replied coldly, "What's it to you?"

"Your master is in considerable trouble this time. If you can help her solve this problem, perhaps you can leave a little sooner," Hongniang continued.

Ruan Qingyao was unmoved.

She knew this woman called "Hongniang" was always full of schemes. Over the years, she had often helped her master with matters, and she was involved in the event back then. Wanting her to easily believe in them was absolutely impossible.

"Lin Miao, you just need to infiltrate his side, use your beauty to get close to him, seduce him, control him if you can. If not, kill him directly. As long as you accomplish this task, I'll speak on your behalf to your master and have him let you go free," Hongniang said.

"Is this his idea?"

"No, it's mine. After my investigation, I've found that our mission failures, including the exposure of the Heaven-Returning Dew, are all related to Lin Miao. The lord's intention is that if we can recruit this man, it would be ideal. If not, then eliminate him completely."

"I need information on this person." After a moment's silence, Ruan Qingyao finally spoke.

Hongniang seemed to have already prepared, as if knowing Ruan Qingyao would certainly accept her offer. She took out an envelope from her bosom and handed it over.

"Everything you need is in there." With a flick of her wrist, the envelope flew straight toward Ruan Qingyao.

Ruan Qingyao raised her hand, but the envelope did not land in her hand; instead, it flew onto the side table and fell down.

"Wait for my news."

"Alright, you don't have much time; the lord's patience is limited."

"Half a month."

"Ten days."

Ruan Qingyao did not argue further, evidently agreeing to this timeline.

After Hongniang left, Ruan Qingyao walked over, retrieved a pair of specially-made gloves, opened the envelope, and took out the letter inside. After reading the content, she frowned slightly, but then her furrowed brow relaxed. The letter and envelope were balled together and thrown into the burning brazier, turning to ashes in an instant.

She had lived in this place for five years. Even when tasked with missions, she would only leave briefly, but this time after leaving, she feared she would never return.

She didn't have much; apart from those medicinal materials, the gold, silver, and valuables had been spent over the years on buying resources for her cultivation practice.

If not, just based on her relationship with her master, the resources she could obtain would be very limited. Many times, she relied on self-sufficiency.

She didn't want to owe too much; the more she owed, the harder it would be to repay later.

A simple bundle, leading a horse from behind the house, she mounted with a stirrup and rode off, leaving swiftly.

Not long after Ruan Qingyao left, a red figure appeared on the mountain road behind, it was Hongniang.

She hadn't left all along.

Only after seeing Ruan Qingyao leave did she depart with a trace of reluctant gaze.

Qingyao, I'm sorry; it's time to send you away.

...

Yongning Hall.

"You want to apply as a medicine master?" Yongning Hall has always been hiring but with high standards. Whether it's Lin Miao or Sun Youwei, they both have the same attitude: they would rather have fewer than accept mediocrity.

Thus, generally the medicine masters who don't meet the criteria naturally can't stay on.

Furthermore, too many people want this position, and anyone with a slightly improper mind would be dismissed, so even though Yongning Hall is very busy, hiring is very difficult.

And Yongning Hall has another condition when hiring: "Females" are prioritized, as they work more conveniently with Xia Zhu and other women.

But now.

This policy might have to change; they can't hire women around Lin Miao anymore. If they're not attractive, it doesn't matter, but if they're even slightly attractive, the newly hired might end up becoming like sisters.

"Yes, I'm a mid-level medicine master, alone, with low requirements for hospitality. As long as you can provide a place to stay and a salary to live on."

"With such low demands, what do you seek by applying at our Yongning Hall?" Xia Zhu was still helping Wen Ruyu at Shengyuan Hall. Although Yongning Hall was open, there was essentially no doctor on duty, only Xu Qixi with two assistants watching over it.

After all, people still needed to buy medicine. If the pharmacy at Xiuyue Square didn't open, patients would have to travel further to other pharmacies.

"Qingyao, this Medicine Master Order wasn't issued by our Dongshan Prefecture. You're from Yuncheng, how did you end up here in Dongshan alone?" Though young, Xu Qixi was knowledgeable, making it hard to deceive her.

"My hometown is in Yuncheng. I ended up in Dongshan because I eloped against my parents' wishes. Later, I found out the man I liked was married, so I left him and lived alone, relying on collecting herbs for a living. Due to an outbreak of illness, I couldn't sell my herbs and couldn't support myself, so I thought about how being a medicine master might get me a job to earn a living for myself."

"Why not return to your hometown in Yuncheng?"

"I don't have the travel expenses…" Qingyao said pitifully.

As a fellow woman, Xu Qixi couldn't help but feel a bit of compassion, nodding, "In that case, as long as you pass my test, you can stay, but there will be a trial period of about a month. If you can manage, then we'll sign a formal employment contract, for a minimum of a year, or longer if you prefer. Our Yongning Hall doesn't restrict personal freedom; even if you sign, you can leave anytime with a month's notice. The agreement is just to bind both parties for responsibility and duty, so there are no issues later."

"Thank you."

"I'm Xu Qixi. In the future, you can call me Lady Qi. If you have no problem with that, we can begin the test now."

"Alright, I have no problem. We can start now." Qingyao nodded quickly.

The medicine master's test was simple, primarily about distinguishing the nature and types of medicine, especially those that were similar, which was the most important.

If the wrong medicine was prescribed, and it didn't poison or cure anyone, it was still considered a fault.

Xu Qixi randomly grabbed over a dozen types of medicinal herbs, placed them before Qingyao for identification, and required her to describe the processing technique and the herb's age.

Some herbs had requirements on processing techniques, others on age. If not met, the desired medicinal effect wouldn't be achieved, or effects would vary widely.

For Qingyao, who had been steeped in the art of herbal medicine for twenty years, such a test was a piece of cake, not to mention her skill level far exceeded that of a mid-level medicine master, although she had yet to upgrade her certification.

She identified them accurately without error, faster than Xu Qixi by three beats.

This kind of talent was like finding treasure.

Especially since she was a woman, Xu Qixi immediately decided to let her start working. If she performed well, the trial period could even be waived.

Xia Zhu had to prepare for the medical exam and go to the capital. The pharmacy duties at Xiuyue Square's Yongning Hall would likely fall under her responsibility.

She couldn't handle it alone, and hiring such an excellent female medicine master at this time was like receiving a pillow just when she was about to fall asleep.