Summer brought in the much needed sunlight to the plants. The early blossoms had all faded away, leaving behind the lush green assortment of leaves from the ginkgos, evergreens and oaks. A hidden courtyard on Caoben street was filled up with herbs.

Li Yun looked at the vines twisting along the trellis. He reached out to pick a little leaf and tasted it. The information he gathered suggested that the bean sprouts were as mature as mung beans in 8th week, however, he had planted the beans only four weeks ago.

Li Yun was amazed. He had suspected that the title, Shennong, was amazing, but not to that extent.

In the beginning, there weren't many differences. He waited for the sprout to develop enough leaves to test and consume. After consuming the leaf, he could discern whether the plant was infected by the disease or whether it was missing a key nutrient. He could find ways to heal the plant or add specific nutrients. He wasn't sure if that was the main reason why the plants had grown at such a speed or if there was a boost based on his title.

Li Yun took out the turmeric and garlic for formula 91. Although it was not fully grown, the garlic and turmeric had more yin and yang energy than the normal variety. In normal circumstances, he wasn’t able to detect yin and yang unless he used spirit detection, which he had not used since that time. However, after attaining the title, he could sense it after consuming the item.

The yin and yang suppress and balance out the dangerous toxic in the other plants. Rather than allowing the chemicals to be digested, the energy suppressed it. Within a few days, the toxins were neutralized.

With the new ability, it was easier for Li Yun to assess the different formulas he was creating for little Yan. After creating formula 91 with 11 variations and different amounts of medicinal, Li Yun repeated the experiments for the 12th variation.

"Formula 91, variation #12," Li Yun said as he squeezed a drop of the formula into the petri dish with Little Yan's blood.

There was no initial reaction, but that was normal. Some formulas required some time to react. After Li Yun wrote down the initial interaction, he took another look under the microscope. To his surprise, the blood seemed to become stronger?

Li Yun was optimistic, but he wanted to wait another day before confirming. The following day, there were still no negative results, but rather, the blood seemed to become stronger. He smiled. The little smile was caught on the livestream broadcast and didn’t go unnoticed.

MiFu: Is that the first time Doctor Li smiled while working!? Does that mean he did!?

MedicineMaster: It could mean it's effective to some extent, but if he's testing it on the person, the outcome might be different.

Huaisu: Well! It seems like a development!

TCMXu: This could be interesting.

Lurkingdoctor: It's amazing to actually see the process of a doctor experimenting with TCM medicine in such a methodological way. Impressed!

BRUH: Blob Neutral.

As soon as he completed the formula, Professor Shao Shan and many doctors who knew about the case prepared their flight to Imperial City.

"Rouxi, I need to head out to Imperial City again, how about coming with me?" Li Yun asked after he turned off his broadcast.

Rouxi paused for a moment. She was wondering if he wanted to meet her family.

"You really don't need someone to tend the garden?" Rouxi asked him.

"Rouxi,” he said patiently. He wondered if she wanted to avoid heading back there with him. “Everthing is wired to my phone, why would I need someone to tend after the plants?"

Li Yun had an app to monitor and manage every plant in his greenhouse. There was only a simple irrigation system for the ones in the courtyard that Li Yun used as the control. At a press of a button, the irrigation system would release water to the plants.

Rouxi had underestimated his ability, "We can meet my stepparents, but I don't want to let the old man know."

The old man, as in the adopted grandfather she didn’t seem to like.

"Is there a reason why you're so afraid of him?" Asked Li Yun.

"Do you know Song Taiji?"

Li Yun's jaw almost dropped when he heard the name. Song Taiji was one of the eight standing committee members of the CCP in the 90s. Although he had long retired, his influence could still be seen.

He knew Rouxi's background wasn't simple, but he didn't know it would be so complex. There were reasons to believe that the father she never spoke of was a Song, and even possibly the step-father who had adopted her.

From what he knew, Song Taiji had three sons. His eldest son was running a real estate business while his second son was currently the mayor of Imperial city. His third son was someone the public knew very little about.

"You are Song Gaode's daughter?" inquired Li Yun.

"Step-daughter," Rouxi clarified. "When do you plan on leaving? I'll set up something."

Li Yun wondered, based on what he knew, it was possible that her mother targeted the Song family. However, it may have failed and it wasn't until later on that they had decided to adopt Rouxi back into the family.

Rouxi shifted away and started looking up rail tickets. From her avoidance, it seemed that she didn't want to discuss it at that moment.

Li Yun shifted closer, unwilling to leave her side, and wrapped his arms around her, "Can we go by the end of this week?"

Rouxi gently leaned back against him and nodded.

Unbeknownst to them, an old man was also watching the broadcast.

"This kid is interesting," Song Taiji commented as he finished watching the broadcast. "Secretary Liang, did Meilin book a trip for two people to Imperial City?"

The tall man in a black suit and dark-rimmed glasses nodded. "Yes sir, she booked it just moments ago."

Song Taiji had already finished reading the dossier. It seemed like a standard dossier of a surgeon who was average in school, but had shown amazing medical abilities. Despite that, Song Taiji wasn't impressed. "A man like that doesn't have the eyes of a surgeon."

Knowing his boss' habit, Secretary Liang asked him why.

Song Taiji laughed. "Secretary Liang, you still have a long way to go."

Song Taiji looked at one of the scrolls that had just been delivered. It was a simple scroll that wished health and happiness. An untrained eye could not see the value of such calligraphy. If the medium and media were altered, an expert might assume that this was written by a great master during the Tang Dynasty. Song Taiji looked through other scrolls, Doctor Li's ability to imitate any style from any era was truly more impressive to Song Taiji than his medical abilities.

As a man steeped in antiquities and art trades, he also had the ability to see the quality and potential of a person, a trait that Song Meilin shared.