章 12: Did You Think of a Miracle? (3)
Being called to attend to the same patient for the third time in half a month left Physician Gao brooding over a few questions.
One of them included whether working under the Wei Family was still a great idea as he had once envisioned.
Holding his toolbox and inwardly grumbling to himself, the old physician could only allow Wei Xuan to wheedle him into the Flowing Winds Residence. The instant the bold signboard entered his gaze, he knew instantly what he had been called over for, causing the physician to sigh.
Shaking his head and coming to a stop, Physician Gao turned his gaze to directly face Wei Xuan, ignoring all established rules of etiquette and social convention to bluntly ask.
"Minister Wei, the patient this time is once again, the Fourth Miss? Am I correct?"
"Yes," Wei Xuan responded with a despondent expression. "It's my fourth daughter again. Please offer your assistance, doctor."
"You-you! Has my advice fallen onto deaf ears!?" The physician stomped his foot and roared, his beard riling in his rage. "Only eight days has passed, and I'm being called over once again? Minister Wei, just how are you taking care of your daughter!? Even with her precarious constitution, it wouldn't garner such a result-"
"Someone attempted to murder her whilst I was performing my duty at the Imperial Palace," Wei Xuan replied, his gaze becoming steely as a silver glow was unconsciously emitted from his body. "This minister had rushed my way here after hearing the news, breaking most of the regulations on cultivation and martial arts in Jiang'an."
"Murdered?" the physician inquired, his countenance aghast. "How can that be? Unable to perform the four professions, five virtues, or even fulfil the duties of an official's daughter, what effect would murdering the Fourth Miss cause…"
"Hmph! This minister shall see if anyone dares!"
Wei Xuan trembled as he scathingly spoke, constantly attempting to rein in his anger. The silver light continued to flicker in and out of existence, the fluctuations of spiritual essence becoming unstable.
His eyes narrowing, Physician Gao quickly placated the minister, hurriedly pressing a few acupuncture points on his right arm to calm the rampant spiritual essence.
Feeling his body gradually calm itself, his blood no longer boiling and scalding, Wei Xuan nodded towards the physician, gesturing for him to enter. Physician Gao returned a polite nod, opening the door of the study to find the unconscious An Fei laying on the bed.
Looking at the girl tightly wrapped in multiple blankets, the aged physician frowned, stepping forward and setting his toolbox down. Accepting a silk handkerchief offered by Wei Xuan to take her pulse, the physician raised his index finger just below her nose, only to jerk his hand back as his brows furrowed in surprise.
"Impossible," he murmured, raising a hand to massage his forehead. "This should be impossible…"
"Physician Gao, what's wrong?" Wei Xuan tentatively asked as he stepped forward the inspect the physician. "Is there a problem with my daughter? Has her symptoms worsened?"
"No, nothing of that sort," Physician Gao hastily affirmed. "It's just that…the Fourth Miss is in the midst of an acute fever."
"Fever!?" the minister blurted, his expression one of disbelief. "But her body was ice-cold when I fished her from the water! How can she be having a fever?"
"Perhaps…she acquired a cold deficiency in the body?" the physician refuted. "There have been records of patients with cold-deficiency syndrome suffering a drastic drop in temperature during a fever. Nor can I deny such possibility, for there are no signs of anemia within the Fourth Miss' body."
"Cold deficiency…" Wei Xuan knit his brows in thought. "Physician Gao, can you please explain the symptoms and how to treat it?"
"Of course," the old man replied.
"The primary symptoms of cold-deficiency syndrome include extremely low body temperature, reduced stamina, and a short lifespan. Anything else generally pertains to specific areas of the body remaining at a constantly lower temperature than the rest, including the heart, kidneys, and limbs."
"As for treating it…this physician had studied that though exercise will indeed stabilize the patient's condition, attempting to improve their physique…will accelerate the condition. A far more feasible and reliable method would be to provide a thin slice of ginseng or distilled yang fruit to maintain a thin balance of Yin and Yang. However, this method can only provide stability just like the abovementioned, and never should anyone attempt to consume more than a single slice in a day."
"But you said something should have been impossible," the minister persisted, a stern expression obscuring his handsome countenance. "Just what is it that worries you?"
"The pulse of the Fourth Miss…has changed," was the reply. "At times, it beats every two breaths of three, and at others, one breath amongst four. This condition, I daresay without confidence, but there was a legend-"
"The imperial physician has arrived!"
A servant broke into the study with great haste, forgetting to even bow as he rested his palms on his knees with heavy pants. Before Wei Xuan could frown his brows in confusion, the servant passed alongside a jade tablet to the minister, departing in the same hurry in which he had intruded.
Thumbing the jade tablet and turning it over, the minister found the symbol of 'Saint' in bold characters stamped on the front, with a cast of the imperial symbol underneath. Realization sinking in after a few moments, both the minister and physician gasped on astonishment, finding the same emotions reflected back towards them.
"Quick!" Wei Xuan hissed towards Physician Gao. "Do you have a method of disguising her symptoms? Such things, the emperor must not know at all costs!"
"I understand," the physician nodded, his gaze ablaze with an indeterminable determination. "I can disguise the Fourth Miss' condition into one of a simple deficiency of Yin. However, the ruse will only persist for half a stick of incense before an imperial physician with a 'Saint' title can distinguish the difference."
"I'll delay the imperial physician for as long as I can. How much do you need?"
"Two minutes. One and a half, if I need to be quick. However, if I rush things, the Fourth Miss may experience some discomfort."
"Two minutes. Don't you dare hurt my daughter!" Wei Xuan nodded, flapping his sleeve as he briskly walked out of the study, his back presenting an indomitable figure.
Physician Gao nodded, before opening the toolkit and extracting five blue needles from a hidden case. The needles were of a dull steel, and each emitted a bone-piercing cold aura.
Using the handkerchief to carefully roll up An Fei's right sleeve, the physician quickly inserted the needles at the underside of the joint of the elbow, at either sides of an obscure meridian behind the wrist, and directly between the major arteries flowing through her arm. When the needles slid into her skin, the girl lightly shivered, her eyelashes fluttering.
Physician Gao quickly massaged her palm through the handkerchief in an effort of calming her down.
"Good girl," the old man spoke as he gently flicked the tips of the needles at a complex rhythm, his finger covered by a grey layer of light. "There's going to be some discomfort for the next few days. Perhaps a little burst of cold here and there, but nothing permanent."
After a moment had passed, the physician slapped his palms together, the needles shooting out of her skin at the same time to rest in the jade case. Carefully stowing away the case in a hidden compartment of the toolbox, the physician ran a final checkup of An Fei's pulse, ensuring that it was stable though significantly weaker than before.
Noting that the girl's temperature had decreased even further, Physician Gao nodded before rolling down her sleeve and ensuring that nothing appeared out of place. Raising his head to the gaze at the ceiling, the aged man released a wistful sigh, softly speaking to an unknown listener.
"Master, master," the physician cried. "Disciple has been unfilial. Disciple has been unfilial. The World of Ice's <Needles of Sealing>, disciple has finally used it to protect his brother. Master's wish of burying these techniques forever, disciple can only break it…"
-
"Oh? So it was Imperial Physician Feng!" Wei Xuan cordially greeted the guest standing at the gates. "This minister did not expect your visit, please do forgive this one."
"What the emperor wills, we shall obey. There is no need for cordiality."
The recipient was a young man in his early twenties. His appearance was rather handsome and admirable, with fair skin, limpid phoenix eyes, and a graceful smile decorating his lips. Facing Wei Xuan's energetic greeting, Feng Tian Mu gave a polite bow in response, neither flaunting arrogance nor humility.
Assessing the young man, the minister discovered that it was nigh impossible to gauge his real thoughts and intentions, the only analyzable result a blank sheet of paper. Not even the smallest ink stain could be found on the pristine paper, leaving Wei Xuan at a deadlock.
Hence, he could only gesture for the two of them to be on their way to the Flowing Winds Residence. The servants had yet to be forgiven and could only remain kneeling on the ground, the rough surface and nearby pebbles digging into their skin.
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章 13: Did You Think of A Miracle? (4)
"Then, please, Imperial Physician." Wei Xuan could only capitulate, and he gestured for Feng Tian Mu to follow as he guided the latter to the Flowing Winds Residence.
"This way, to my residence."
"…is there something Lord Minister wishes to impart to this one?" Feng Tian Mu raised an eyebrow as he inquired, his handsome face displaying a pleasant smile.
"Ah? Oh, no, nothing of what Imperial Physician Feng is worrying of," Wei Xuan quickly replied.
"Imperial Physician arrived far quicker than we had known, hence my daughter is currently resting at this one's study."
"Then it is for the best," Feng Tian Mu nodded. "It is encouraging to see Lord Minister to be so careful and affectionate towards his daughter. Benevolent parents shall birth a generous heart."
"Why, thanking Imperial Physician for his praise," The minister gave a quick bow, clasping his fist before his chest in gratitude. "This minister only wishes for his daughter to live happily."
"Benevolence and affection is indeed wise and magnanimous, but Lord Minister must always remember," Feng Tian Mu's lips raised in a slight smile. "Offending the emperor to care for one's daughter is not benevolence. One must always remember and adhere to the relationships and virtues of subject and official."
"This official remembers," Wei Xuan quickly acquiesced. "Has His Imperial Majesty…decreed anything?"
As he spoke, the minister quickly directed a glance at the ever-smiling Imperial Physician. However, what greeted him instead was still that blank sheet of paper, greatly infuriating Wei Xuan that his hands twitched hidden in his sleeves.
Maintaining a cordial expression on his countenance, Wei Xuan awaited Feng Tian Mu's response, hoping to catch any hints. Unfortunately, the blank paper refused to reveal any hints whatsoever, much to his dismay.
"His Majesty…has declared you a caring father," the Imperial Physician said. "His Majesty wishes, however, for Lord Minister to quickly return to the palace whenever possible. This physician dares to assume that perhaps…there may be an imparting of a blessing?"
Blessing? Blessing his ass! Wei Xuan inwardly grumbled.
The emperor must be stewing in his anger as not only did he walk out before receiving permission, he also broke not just one but three critical regulations of Jiang'an on cultivation and martial arts. Rather than receiving a blessing, it would perhaps constitute the form of a severe punishment just short of execution. Nonetheless, the minister adopted a hopeful expression as he replied to the Imperial Physician.
"This minister hopes to receive His Majesty's blessing," Wei Xuan said. "A blessing by the emperor can indeed bring forth prosperity to a family's future generations…an honor that many wish to receive and covet."
"That is indeed true," Feng Tian Mu nodded. "His Majesty's blessing can indeed bring forth tremendous prosperity to a family in Jiang'an, or perhaps in the entirety of Yong. However," the physician took a sidelong glance at the minister.
"The ancients have always stated that a blessing is always double-sided, one of goodwill and the other of calamity. To digest and accept a blessing, one must first survive the transgressions of the incoming calamity."
"Then this minister must hope that His Majesty's blessing doesn't exceed our capability," the minister secretly wiped cold sweat trickling down his arm. "After all, this one's family does not have much capability to…accept an imperial blessing."
Wei Xuan no longer wished to speak with Feng Tian Mu, his senses screaming of cautiousness and wariness. He feared that if the young but astute physician and he were to converse for an extended period of time, he might unconsciously condemn his family into hell or reveal a terrible secret.
As they strolled along the winding pathways, admiring the flowers at a relaxed but brisk pace, Wei Xuan no longer deemed to talk with the Imperial Physician, instead quietly musing in his heart.
Gao Yun Zhi, have you completed your preparations? Your Senior Brother's nearly about to lose his calm here, ah!
-
Periodically checking An Fei's body temperature to ensure that the cold temperature was not fatal, Physician Gao wiped cold sweat off of his forehead, leaning back onto the study chair. With a light sigh, he intended to rest until Wei Xuan and the Imperial Physician had arrived, when two sets of footsteps could be faintly heard.
Bolting upright, the aged man rapidly gazed around in panic, pressing his ear against the door. One was the familiar rhythm of Wei Xuan's footsteps, and the other seemed to belong to a rather young man, both vigorous and yet elegant in its precise steps.
Looking back to glance at the Fourth Young Miss' features, Physician Gao narrowed his eyes before picking up the girl and moving her to the farther edge of the bed closest to the wall. He then pulled both curtains to close and obscure her figure, then arranged An Fei's left arm to protrude from the cover of the draped curtains.
Ensuring that only part of her wrist and hand was visible, the physician flurried back to his seat. No sooner than had he sat down on the study chair, the door slid open to reveal the Imperial Physician Feng Tian Mu and Wei Xuan.
"Physician Gao, the Imperial Physician is here," Wei Xuan was the first to speak up, directing a hidden glance towards the old man. Physician Gao understood the implicit message, and after a short moment, rose to greet Feng Tian Mu.
"Forgive this old physician for his inability," he said with a deep bow. "Since the Imperial Physician has arrived, this one can be relieved."
"There's no need for such courtesy," the Imperial Physician quickly responded, rushing forward to lift the old man up. Once Physician Gao had stepped behind Wei Xuan, acting like a normal contracted physician of a minister's manor, Feng Tian Mu got straight to the point.
"Esteemed Senior here…" he spoke, directing an inquisitive glance at Physician Gao. "Have you ascertained the patient's symptoms? Did you think of a feasible treatment?"
"This…this old physician had carefully examined the Fourth Young Miss…but could only find symptoms of a severe cold deficiency syndrome."
"...cold deficiency?"
Feng Tian Mu frowned. Pondering on a matter, he slowly walked to sit next to the unconscious girl, wrapping the presented handkerchief around her wrist before reaching to take a pulse.
His fingers resting on that slender wrist, the softness of the skin unable to be deceived by a thin handkerchief, Feng Tian Mu raised an eyebrow in appreciation. His eyes trailing up the arm clothed in a light green dress, he found to his disappointment that the girl's appearance was completely hidden behind a dense protection of dark-blue curtains.
Thinking of how the old physician had remained in the room prior to their entry, Feng Tian Mu's expression darkened for the briefest moment before returning to the customary indifference as he stood.
"Lord Minister," he said whilst greeting Wei Xuan with a light bow. "I've completed my initial diagnosis, which doesn't differ that much from the judgement of the Esteemed Senior."
"Oh?" Wei Xuan exclaimed. "Does Imperial Physician have a treatment method for my daughter?"
"This physician's suggestion is to feed the Fourth Young Miss several slices of yang fruit and loquat until she awakens from her coma. As for treating the cold deficiency syndrome…the symptoms are far too advanced to suggest an effective method without proper investigation. Although, there have been some legends in the medicinal texts that a cultivation method for tempering Yin essence is often the best treatment for cold-deficiency disease."
"Loquat…it's currently in the middle of autumn…perhaps this minister can shove his weight around in the markets."
As Wei Xuan's murmur drifted into the ears of Physician Gao and Feng Tian Mu, both couldn't help but twitch their lips upon the minister's shamelessness. The aged man pretended not to hear, while the youthful Imperial Physician took one last secret, fleeting look at the girl hidden behind the curtains. Turning to the minister, Feng Tian Mu gave a deep bow.
"Lord Minister, this physician will return now," he said, an amicable smile on his face. "Later, after studying the texts a bit further, this physician will return to investigate this matter deeply."
"En, this minister will see you out…"
Seemingly in a haze, Wei Xuan personally escorted Feng Tian Mu out of the manor, returning back to the study after a joss stick's time had passed.
When he had stepped in, Physician Gao had reached over to grasp him by the collar of his neck.
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