Chapter 26: Making Pills

"I'm planning on making a fortune, so I can be more generous when I give you your monthly allowances in the future."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Ziyue was overjoyed at the prospect of a raise. Though only fifteen, she retained a touch of innocence despite her premature maturity.

"Alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves. You two will be my greatest assistants. I plan to make medicinal pills to sell." Yu Yuanzheng finally revealed her intentions.

"But the pharmacies already sell all sorts of pills. It won't be easy to make a lot of money," Jianghua said, having visited pharmacies many times and knowing how things stood.

"My strategy is simple: I will offer what others lack, and where they have the same, I will offer superior quality. Won't that make me money?" Yu Yuanzheng possessed a wealth of refined formulas in her mind; their efficacy would undoubtedly surpass the pills of this era.

"Besides, don't I happen to own a pharmacy? Let's go take a look now, and while we're at it, buy some herbs. I'll try making a few batches first, and once you've learned from me, we can teach the Liu family."

"My Lady, if we do this in the Prince's residence, others will find out," Ziyue worried.

"We'll do it quietly at night. Don't worry, my method doesn't require decocting herbs, so there won't be any smell." The two maids were reassured.

They arrived at the Hundred Herbs Hall on Minhe Street. This shop was part of Yu Yuanzheng’s mother’s dowry, and it now belonged to her. She had never visited it before. Stepping out of the carriage, she saw people coming and going; business seemed decent.

"How may I help you, Madam? Are you seeking a physician or filling a prescription?" A shop assistant noticed the new arrivals and hurried over.

"Young man, is the manager in?"

"Are you looking for our manager? He is in the back hall. Please, follow me." Seeing Yu Yuanzheng’s elegant attire, the assistant dared not be negligent. He led them inside.

"Manager, we have guests!" the assistant shouted.

A man in his forties emerged from the main room. He wore a dark blue long gown, had a goat-like beard, a square face, and sharp, spirited eyes—he clearly looked like a shrewd man. It seemed her mother had a knack for choosing good help. This man was named Dong Shike.

"Greetings, Young Miss." Upon seeing the mistress of the house, Dong Shike immediately paid his respects. He had seen her a few times when he went to the Earl’s mansion to settle accounts with her mother, and he recognized her instantly.

"Uncle Dong, please, no need for formalities."

"Please, come inside and sit."

They sat in the inner hall, and Dong Shike poured them tea himself.

"Uncle Dong, does the Hundred Herbs Hall sell medicinal pills?" Yu Yuanzheng asked.

"We do, but not many. Pills are generally more expensive than the equivalent raw herbs, so common folk rarely buy them. Only the wealthy do."

Yu Yuanzheng frowned. If that were the case, there wouldn't be much profit in ordinary pills. She would have to focus on efficacy. If a patient could recover in two or three days with her pills, whereas decocting herbs took half a month, people would surely choose the pills.

"Uncle Dong, where do the shop's pills come from?" She wasn't sure if this dynasty had already developed workshop-style production.

"They are all made by our own physicians and assistants. They are mostly for the convenience of travelers."

"I see. So there is no external supply chain?"

"None. Every pharmacy makes its own to sell," Dong Shike replied truthfully.

"Uncle Dong, please bring me the pills from the shop so I can have a look."

Dong Shike returned with five porcelain bottles. Yu Yuanzheng checked the labels; they were mostly for treating colds, diarrhea, and promoting blood circulation for pain relief. She took some out and tasted them. The formulas were mediocre—they worked, but the effects were not significant. If she used her own formulas to make pills, they would be far superior.

With a plan in mind, she decided to target the high-end market.

"Does the Young Miss know medicine?" Dong Shike asked, puzzled by her actions.

"I read a few medical texts in my father’s study, but I wouldn't call myself a physician." She was only here to survey the market today and didn't want to reveal her skills just yet.

"Uncle Dong, please send the account books to the Prince’s residence from now on. You should be aware that my mother gave me this shop as part of my dowry."

"Yes, Young Miss. My mistress informed me of this long ago."

Back at the Prince's residence, Yu Yuanzheng immediately wrote down several prescriptions and a list of tools she would need. Some tools were not readily available, so she drew sketches and sent Chunlei to find someone to craft them. Chunlei was efficient; except for the custom items, everything was purchased that same evening.

Jianghua and Ziyue were curious, never having seen pills being made, and they were eager to watch their mistress at work.

"I'll teach you tonight, so stop looking so clueless," Yu Yuanzheng said, amused by their eager expressions. This was, after all, manual labor.

To keep their private pill-making a secret, the three women chose to work in the inner chamber, right in front of the Prince's bed, waiting until the dead of night. Qingfeng and Mingyue had finished attending to the Prince and had already retired. The Princess Consort had built them a small room outside the courtyard for night duty, and the maids could call them easily if needed. Both guards were skilled martial artists and could leap into the courtyard without opening the gate, but this was not something to be made public.

"Young Miss, let's begin." Ziyue had already moved everything to the center: the herb-cutting blade, the mortar, the pestle, and the fine sieves.

Yu Yuanzheng intended to start with the 'Heaven-Mending Creation Pill' for Elder Jin. She weighed the ingredients according to her formula. "Ziyue, you’re in charge of cutting the herbs. We’ll grind them into powder tonight. Don't complain about being tired!"

The three women began their rhythmic work. It was amidst this clatter that Shangguan Ziqi, lying on the bed, began to regain his senses. Since the acupuncture treatment the previous night, he had been unconscious, but now he was awake. He felt his head was less heavy than before, and listening to the three women, he understood what they were doing. They talked about Elder Jin’s illness, and then, inevitably, about him.

"Young Miss, I heard Qingfeng say that you drew so much blood from the Prince last night that he was terrified and couldn't sleep all night," Jianghua laughed.

"Well, his brain was filled with stagnant blood pressing against his nerves, which was why he couldn't wake up."

"Young Miss, what are nerves?" Ziyue asked, eager to learn.

"Think of it this way: when you use a knife to cut herbs, why does your hand move that way? It's because your brain is directing your hand, and that command travels through nerves extending from your brain to your hand. Once your hand receives the command, it moves according to your will."

"Oh, I see!"

Lying on the bed, Shangguan Ziqi listened intently to this explanation. He decided to try. He focused all his mental energy, straining with all his might, and attempted to move his hand.