“This old man looks like he knows his stuff!”
Doctor Wang muttered to himself, his eyes full of envy toward Doctor Deng, who seemed about to earn the two hundred taels.
Doctor Li, annoyed, said, “Earlier, we all went in full of confidence, didn’t we? And yet, everyone came out dejected. Such a strange condition—no wonder it couldn’t be cured.”
“Such a fine young lady of the Zhou family, and yet she’s become like this…”
The others murmured among themselves. Lan Shuang remained silent, merely waiting patiently.
In her mind, she weighed the options: let Zhou Ruyan continue suffering for another two days, or take the medical fee?
After a moment’s thought, she decided—why leave the silver unclaimed? After all, in a few days, Zhou Ruyan would recover anyway.
Doctor Deng had been inside the longest, almost half an hour without emerging.
The others speculated, “Looks like he might be able to treat this illness… it’s been so long and no one has come out yet.”
“Hard to say—maybe he’s taking his time, after all, he’s the eldest.”
Doctor Li, somewhat jealous, spoke sharply, as was his habit.
The rest remained silent, and the hall fell quiet.
At that moment, the Zhou steward sighed as he came in, shaking his head.
“Alright, all of you may leave. The young lady has suffered enough!”
“Still not cured?”
For some reason, Doctor Li seemed cheerful, perhaps thinking all doctors were equally helpless.
“No,”
the steward replied. “Not a small allergy could be cured by you? You’re barely worthy of the title of doctor.”
“Don’t give up too soon, steward. There’s still one person who hasn’t gone in yet.”
Li pointed at Lan Shuang, sitting in the corner. The steward was startled.
“You’re still here? This isn’t a place for you to fool around!”
He had entered in a rush and assumed Lan Shuang had left on her own.
“They cannot cure it, but I can.”
Lan Shuang wiped her hands with a handkerchief and finally stood up. Being a girl, she wasn’t as tall as a man.
Everyone thought she was just a young boy who hadn’t fully grown.
“Young master, you sure talk big!”
Li deliberately said to the steward, “Steward Zhou, we’re all curious about this young master’s medical skills. Perhaps a hero emerges early—he might surprise us all.”
Lan Shuang’s tone was sharp, so Li hoped to see her embarrassed.
The steward hesitated for a few seconds but, seeing no threat, motioned for her.
“Alright, but be careful. Madam and Sir are quite anxious.”
Offending them could have consequences.
Lan Shuang followed him into the next room, where Madam Zhou was sniffling softly, clutching a handkerchief.
“My poor Ruyan… a girl’s face is her most precious thing. If it’s like this, what will she do in the future…”
“Madam, don’t cry. I am still searching for famous doctors.”
Minister Zhou held Madam Zhou’s shoulder, while Doctor Deng stood not far off, studying a prescription with a puzzled expression.
On the bed, Zhou Ruyan felt as though the sky had collapsed. She covered her face, tears streaming.
“It itches… so much…”
The itching was unbearable, and she couldn’t control herself. After scratching, her face would flush red, like a monkey’s bottom.
“Sir and Madam, there’s still one last doctor.”
The steward lowered his head, fearful that the minister and madam would be upset.
“Who are you? Why hide your face when treating her?”
Madam Zhou’s sharp gaze fell on Lan Shuang. Uneasy, she demanded,
“Take off the hat and show your face before examining Ruyan!”
“Did you not hear me speaking, Madam?”
The steward was panicked. Lan Shuang remained unmoved. He immediately regretted listening to others—if he offended Madam, he’d suffer too!
“My face is ugly, and I fear it would offend the young lady’s eyes.”
Lan Shuang spoke casually, “If the young lady does not wish me to treat her, I shall leave immediately.”
She turned as if to walk away; after all, the silver wasn’t absolutely necessary.
“Wait!”
Zhou Ruyan, in pain and itching unbearably, seized on any hint of hope and refused to let go.
“Ruyan, this young master might be younger than you, but don’t waste this chance,”
Zhou Shangshu said soothingly. “I’ll go find other famous doctors for you.”
“But father, it hurts so much!”
Zhou Ruyan’s eyes reddened with frustration, her pain verging on madness.
“Let him try, husband. It’s only for a moment,”
Madam Zhou said, her hands trembling with worry, her lips quivering slightly.
Suddenly…
Zhou Ruyan couldn’t control herself and scratched her face wildly. Madam Zhou’s voice rose sharply in panic.
“Quick, hold her down!”
“Be alert, all of you!”
Zhou Shangshu glared at Ruyan’s personal attendants in anger.
If her face were ruined, how could she enter the palace?
Even though the household had other daughters, none could compare to the legitimate daughter.
The attendants clumsily restrained Zhou Ruyan while Lan Shuang approached, calm and unhurried.
“I’ll give it a try.”
She parted the crowd and inserted a silver needle into a point on Zhou Ruyan’s face.
The agitated Ruyan suddenly ceased struggling and was pressed back onto the couch.
Doctor Deng, still studying the prescription, and the Zhou couple were equally stunned!
“Quick, all of you step aside! Let him examine Ruyan immediately!”
Madam Zhou was the first to react, excitedly giving Lan Shuang instructions.
Zhou Shangshu’s gaze on Lan Shuang was filled with suspicion.
Only Zhou Ruyan’s reaction was genuine; her voice was sharp and slightly high-pitched.
“My face… quickly, examine my face!”
“Do not worry, young lady.”
Lan Shuang mysteriously placed a handkerchief on her wrist.
“I only inserted a needle into your acupuncture point earlier; I still need to take your pulse to know the details.”
“Poisoned!”
Doctor Deng, having set aside his papers, approached with curiosity toward Lan Shuang.
“Doctor… save me.”
Zhou Ruyan’s eyes pleaded, clearly still emotionally agitated.
“I can cure it.”
Lan Shuang’s words clearly confirmed Doctor Deng’s suspicion. Madam Zhou’s anger surged.
“Who… who did this?!”
Who had harmed her daughter?
Madam Zhou instinctively thought of the concubines in the back courtyard. Perhaps, in their ambition to secure a bright future for their own children, they had indeed committed such a deed.
“Calm yourself,”
Zhou Shangshu pulled on his excited wife. “Let’s cure Ruyan first, then investigate slowly.”
“I need some medicinal ingredients; I will prepare the remedy myself.”
Lan Shuang calmly looked at Madam Zhou, who hurriedly instructed the attendants behind her:
“Bring ink and paper, let the young doctor write the prescription.”
The attendants quickly obeyed, and Lan Shuang sat down to write the prescription.
She already had the antidote, but since she had come to the Zhou household, she wouldn’t do it for free; she listed many valuable medicinal ingredients.
Doctor Deng’s lips twitched at the list, but surprisingly, he did not expose her.
“Prepare a separate room for me. I need to study this antidote.”
Because of the skill she had just demonstrated, the Zhou family was now filled with hope.
Zhou Shangshu hurriedly had people fetch the ingredients and lead Lan Shuang to a room next door.