The steward was already over fifty, with a well-rounded figure. Filled with hope, he jogged all the way over, panting heavily.
These past few days, because of the young miss's illness, the master had flown into a terrible rage. Everyone in the household had been as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring even to breathe too loudly. Though he was an old servant of the residence, he had also been having a hard time these days. Now, at last, there were some Clues.
When he reached the entrance, he saw the yamen runner standing there with two youths. He looked around but saw no one else, then asked, “Where is he?”
The yamen runner pointed at Li Qingshi with a stiff expression. “This is him.”
The steward froze for a moment, then went up and slapped him across the face. Enraged, he shouted, “Are you screwing with me? This young brat hasn’t even grown all his hair yet. He knows how to treat illnesses?”
Li Qingshi was sizing him up. Hearing this, he cursed inwardly, “Who the hell are you looking down on? Laozi definitely has more hair than you. Judging by your age, yours is about to fall out completely, isn’t it?”
Although the yamen runner had been slapped, he did not dare offend him. He leaned close and quietly explained what had happened, then finally said, “Things have already come to this. We might as well treat a dead horse as if it were alive. It would be best if he can cure the young miss, but if he can’t, none of us will get out of this unscathed.”
The steward slapped him again. “Who are you calling a horse?” He frowned and thought it over. He did not dare simply send Li Qingshi and the other youth away, reasoning that the master would have to decide this matter. After glaring at the yamen runner, he said, “Don’t leave. Wait here. Damn it, you’ve really dragged me into this mess.” With a dark expression, he led the two inside.
Not long afterward, Zhang Gaoshan’s roar rang out through the main hall: “Whose influence are you relying on to come here and make a fool of this official? Guards! Drag him to prison!”
Li Qingshi had not expected the County Magistrate to make such a decisive judgment without asking a single question, and he was startled. He hurriedly said, “Lord, since this humble one dared come here, I naturally have some confidence. Otherwise, why would I seek trouble for myself? Why not let this humble one try first? What if I actually cure her?”
Seeing the County Magistrate hesitate, he added, “You see, since I’ve already come all this way…”
What he spoke at this moment was no longer the official language, but the local accent of Qingshui County.
The steward’s expression changed drastically when he heard this. He realized that the yamen runner outside had been deceived by someone and that this young man was most likely a fraud. But the County Magistrate was in the grip of his anger, so he did not dare say anything at that moment.
Nearby, the Magistrate’s Wife had long since become frantic with worry. She said, “In any case, we have no other options. Why not let him try? What if—what if…”
Zhang Gaoshan darkened his face and exhaled several rough breaths. With a sweep of his sleeve, he instructed the steward, “Call all those quack Physicians here. If this brat came to my residence to swindle people and writes some nonsensical Prescription, this official will have him beheaded immediately!”
A short while later, more than a dozen Physicians over fifty were brought in. When they heard that the youth before them, who was only in his teens, had taken down the proclamation, they all wore astonished expressions but remained silent.
They had already exhausted every possible method for treating the County Governor’s daughter’s illness. If things went badly, they might even suffer imprisonment. Now that this youth had taken on the task, they had a chance to escape responsibility.
Thus, after exchanging glances, each of them secretly made up his mind to ensure that the youth treated her. That way, when something went wrong, they could shift all the blame onto him.
Only one lean Physician with graying hair and beard looked displeased. Asking a young brat to treat an illness—what did the County Magistrate mean by that? Was he humiliating them? He said, “Lord, have you become confused from your anxiety? How could you possibly have this inexperienced child treat your daughter?”
When the other Physicians heard this, they all cursed him inwardly: “Is this Physician Zhou sick in the head? Why did he have to say anything? You have backing and aren’t afraid of being implicated, but what about us? Wait! Could he be trying to use this opportunity to eliminate all of us at once, so he’ll have no rivals left in Qingshui City? Bah! He’s a Physician, yet his heart is truly filthy!”
This lean Physician was named Zhou Qinghe. His family had practiced medicine for generations, and his medical skill was the finest in Qingshui City. He was also the most renowned. A paternal cousin of his served as an Imperial Physician in the Imperial Medical Academy in the Capital City. He held an official rank of Grade Six and was highly regarded by the palace’s benefactors. Thus, even if the County Governor’s daughter died despite treatment, the County Magistrate would not dare cause him trouble.
Zhang Gaoshan glanced at him. In his urgent fury, he could no longer care about appearances, and said coldly, “If you could cure her, why would this official have called anyone else?”
Zhou Qinghe’s gray beard trembled. He stared wide-eyed, unable to say anything.
After entering the room, the group of Physicians waited in the hall, while only Li Qingshi entered the inner chamber. He saw a young woman of fifteen or sixteen lying on a carved redwood couch. Her features were delicate and beautiful, but her eyes were tightly shut and her face was pale.
Medicine emphasized observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. With one glance, Li Qingshi had already judged her condition. However, she was the daughter of the County Magistrate’s family, so for the sake of caution, he still decided to take her pulse.
As he placed his fingers on the young woman’s wrist, Li Qingshi thought, “An official’s daughter really is different. Those women in the village can’t compare. This skin is truly smooth and soft.”
“Laozi has been to the County Magistrate’s residence and even touched an official’s daughter. I can be considered someone who has seen the wider world now. I’ll have to boast about it properly to those crude fellows in the village later.”
The country bumpkin Li Qingshi let his thoughts wander for a moment, then quickly collected himself and calmly took her pulse. A short while later, he relaxed. This illness would not be difficult to treat.
“How is she?” Zhang Gaoshan asked anxiously.
Li Qingshi stood and said, “She can be cured. I’ll write a Prescription right now.”
The couple had not expected him to truly have a solution. Overjoyed, they immediately changed their previously cold attitude and personally led him to the table, where they had the servants bring ink and writing brushes.
Li Qingshi wrote out a Prescription, carefully checked it once more, and handed it to Zhang Gaoshan. “Prepare the medicine according to this Prescription. One dose in the morning and one in the evening. You’ll see results tomorrow, and she’ll be completely cured within ten days.”
“Good! Good! Good!” Zhang Gaoshan carefully accepted the Prescription and instructed the servants, “Bring me the Prescription Physician Zhou wrote.”
A servant brought the Prescription. Zhang Gaoshan compared the two prescriptions, and disappointment immediately appeared on his face. He let out a long sigh and slumped into a chair.
The Prescription this youth had written was the same as Zhou Qinghe’s. Clearly, it would not cure his daughter’s illness either.
What a false alarm of joy!
Zhou Qinghe took the Prescription and looked it over. He was startled and could not help sizing up Li Qingshi, thinking, “This youth is so young, yet he possesses such medical skill. I wonder what his background is. If he reveals his talent in the future, this old man may well be overshadowed by him.”
Li Qingshi was puzzled. He took the two prescriptions and looked at them, then said to Zhou Qinghe in astonishment, “There’s nothing wrong with your Prescription. How come it failed to cure this young woman?”
Zhou Qinghe snorted. “Miss Zhang’s illness flared up too suddenly. She is unconscious and her mouth is clenched shut, so we can no longer feed her medicine. Otherwise, why would this old man have been helpless?”
Li Qingshi froze. His two refined brows drew together slightly. They could not feed her medicine?
That was troublesome! No matter how marvelous the Prescription, if the medicine could not be administered, she could only wait for death.
The Magistrate’s Wife sobbed, “My poor daughter. Could this be Heaven’s will?”
Zhang Gaoshan irritably took a sip of tea and instructed someone outside the door, “Have them keep searching. I refuse to believe that no one can cure this illness!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qingshi suddenly said, “There is still another method.”
Another method?
“Speak quickly!” Hope returned to the couple’s faces, and they found the youth before them increasingly pleasing to the eye.
The group of Physicians also moved closer and perked up their ears.
Li Qingshi thought for a moment, then said, “Please find a quiet room for me, Lord. Seal all the doors and windows. Remove all of the young woman’s clothing until she is completely naked, and place her in the center. I will write another Prescription, then set up several furnace fires around her. Boil the medicine over a roaring fire. Once the medicinal steam fills the room, continue for eight shichen. The young woman should then awaken.”
This method was called Fumigation Therapy. Old Liu had told him that he had learned it from an Expert named Xi.
Zhang Gaoshan looked toward the group of Physicians, seeking their opinions with his eyes.
Yet the Physicians, all old men over fifty, merely stared at one another with wide eyes.
What kind of treatment was this?
They had never heard of it before…