A Pretty Maid, Wronged, Dies Young; A Lovely Actress Severs Love and Enters the Water-Moon Convent

Once the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, Lady Wang saw that Wang Xifeng’s illness was somewhat lighter than before. Though Xifeng had not fully recovered, she could already go out and walk about. The doctor still came every day to take her pulse and prescribe medicine, and a prescription was made up for Menstrual-Regulating and Vitality-Nourishing Pills. The prescription called for two ounces of top-grade ginseng. Lady Wang went to look for ginseng. After searching for a long while, she found only a few pieces in a small box, no thicker than hairpins. Displeased with the quality, she told the servants to search again. In the end they turned up only a large packet of ginseng rootlets and broken bits. Lady Wang was irritated. “When it is needed, it cannot be found; when it is not needed, it is everywhere. I told you long ago to sort and label things, but you would not listen. You leave everything lying about. You do not know how rare good ginseng is. Even if one pays a high price, one may not be able to buy ginseng of this quality.” Caiyun said, “It may be that it is......