Wuyun Temple was not built very high up the mountain. The elderly woman only occasionally needed to walk down a few steps, and when the ground became flat, servants would carry her. Thus, it did not take long for them to arrive and settle into the guest quarters.
The young woman immediately inquired about Ye Yunmian’s residence. Upon hearing from the young Daoist boy that she had indeed arrived as promised, she was overjoyed.
Without even pausing to rest, she quickly brought people over to meet Ye Yunmian.
“Doctor Ye.” Madam Xie greeted her politely, then immediately introduced her to her mother. “Mother, this is Doctor Ye. I met her on my way to the capital. Ever since I learned of your illness, I’ve been extremely anxious and unwell myself, but after just two doses of her medicine, I recovered completely! It was truly miraculous. With her treating you, you will surely recover!”
The old lady, unable to see, groped her way to sit down. In a hoarse voice, she said, “Doctor Ye, I’ll trouble you to take a look.”
After speaking, she removed the silk cloth covering her eyes.
The moment her eyes were revealed, no one dared to look directly at them.
Both of her eyes were severely swollen and bloodshot, to the point where she could not see anything. On closer inspection, there seemed to be a white blister inside her left eye, not small at all, as if it were about to burst out—both disgusting and frightening.
Even her own daughter could not bear to look at her.
“Doctor Ye, my mother saw another physician a few days ago and took some medicine, but the swelling never went down. Now that white blister is growing larger by the day. Can it be treated?” Madam Xie asked carefully.
Ye Yunmian first examined her carefully, then felt her pulse.
A slippery, full, forceful pulse, with weak sinking at both chi positions.
“Have you been experiencing vomiting or dizziness?” she asked calmly.
She sat there quietly, unhurried and composed, as if blending into the incense-filled atmosphere of the temple. Her manner of taking the pulse was dignified and steady, inexplicably inspiring trust.
From a young age, Ye Yunmian had known that it was not easy for a woman to practice medicine.
If she wanted people to trust her, she had to stand straight, keep her expression steady, her gaze firm, and her speech without hesitation.
She had only asked a few simple words, but the old lady’s hand trembled. Before her daughter could answer, she said herself, “Yes. At first I was vomiting terribly. Even after it calmed for a while, any slight movement of my body would bring the nausea back again—it was truly torment. Later, after taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, the vomiting stopped, but I still feel unwell.”
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious,” Ye Yunmian said with a faint smile as she began writing the prescription. “This is caused by phlegm in the middle burner and fire in the liver and gallbladder. Were you recently angered by something?”
At her words, Madam Xie froze.
“Anger?” she murmured, fully trusting Ye Yunmian. After thinking for a moment, she said bitterly, “It’s all my fault…”
She had been married for thirteen years without bearing children. Over the years, she had helped her husband take in many concubines. One concubine had given birth to two sons, and recently they planned to have those children raised under her care—but the older of the two boys was already ten years old. At this point, it was impossible to truly raise him as her own.
Without children of her own, she felt she had no way forward and had resigned herself to fate.
She sent word to her mother and informed her of the situation.
Then came news that her mother had fallen ill.
As a daughter, she felt utterly unfilial…
“It’s not your fault! It’s all that bastard Fang Sheng!” the old lady suddenly erupted in anger. “You can’t bear children—that may be your fault toward the Fang family, I accept that. But forcing you to raise your concubine’s children? Why weren’t they handed to you when they were still small? Now they’re already so grown and only recognize their birth mother—how could they ever be filial to you in the future? Even if I die, I still can’t rest easy!”
As she spoke, she slammed the table in fury, spitting everywhere.
Ye Yunmian said nothing.
She knew medicine, including women’s ailments, and in the past, villagers had even nicknamed her the “Child-Giving Guanyin.”
But she chose her patients carefully—especially in matters of fertility. If she helped someone conceive but the child would grow up in an unsuitable environment, then it would not be merit, but wrongdoing.
On the way here with Madam Xie, she had already heard much from the servants: Madam Xie’s husband served as an official in another region and was known for favoring concubines over his wife. Madam Xie had endured many years of grievances and did not dare resist because she had no children.
“Previously, the doctor who treated the old lady was also skilled. He stopped her vomiting and allowed her to travel here to Wuyun Temple… but at this point, the prescription needs to be changed,” Ye Yunmian said as she finished writing.
The prescription contained herbs such as pinellia, dried tangerine peel, poria, licorice, citrus peel, coptis, plantain seed, selfheal, fragrant root, and others—over a dozen in total, all common and inexpensive.
Her calm voice gradually eased the old lady’s anger.
“Doctor Ye, thank you for your trouble,” the old lady said, then changed tone. “You sound very young. Where are you usually staying? If you are free, you should come stay at my home for a while…”
She reached out and took Ye Yunmian’s hand.
The hand felt soft and delicate, like that of a young girl.
It seemed this doctor had maintained her youth well.
“Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I reside in the capital and am well cared for. For the next few days, please stay here and take your medicine. Do not become angry again. If anything arises, send someone to the Dingguo Duke’s residence to find me,” Ye Yunmian replied gently.
At these words, Madam Xie was startled.
“The Dingguo Duke’s residence? May I ask… who you are?”
“Dingguo Duke Ye Weiren is my elder brother,” she said plainly.
“You… you are Miss Ye of the Ye family?!” Madam Xie’s expression changed instantly, anxiety flooding her face.
Ye Yunmian nodded.
She naturally knew the background of the Xie family. Madam Xie’s brother was a censor-official—without much power, but known for his sharp tongue that could ruin reputations.
Along the journey, she had treated many patients, mostly common folk. Someone like Madam Xie, a foolish noblewoman, was the only one of her kind.
Madam Xie looked at Ye Yunmian, then at her mother. She stamped her foot, twisted her handkerchief, and suddenly became flustered like a headless fly.
The old lady, though blind, sensed something was wrong.
“If you have something to say, just say it! Don’t make a fool of yourself!”
Even she was surprised by Doctor Ye’s identity.
She had heard rumors about the Dingguo Duke’s household. It was a noble family, not something she should casually speak about. Her son, however, had reportedly impeached that family several times before…
But her son had always been upright and impartial.
“Mother… yesterday, Sister-in-law received a letter from the Ye family and met the old matriarch of the Ye household. When she returned, she told me… that the Miss Ye family was greedy for wealth and disobedient to her elders. After hearing much of it, she probably passed it on to my eldest brother. This morning at court, I’m afraid my brother…” Madam Xie stammered.
Her eldest brother was extremely filial and rigidly upright.
He hated most when younger generations acted unfilially, so if the Ye old lady personally complained, he would likely impeach Miss Ye of the Dingguo Duke’s family for improper conduct…
Wouldn’t that be…
repaying kindness with ingratitude?