Unlike her brother Wang Xiaosong, who is bold and meticulous, Wang Xiaozhu, perhaps because she was used to being pampered, is timid and cowardly. Often, even with her face flushed, she still cannot utter a complete sentence.
Adding to the mix was a taciturn young doctor named Wen. Apart from exchanging a few words when identifying herbs, the master and servant would mostly just stare at each other in silence.
If a patient came, Wen Zhiyun would take their pulse and write down the prescription, then usually place the prescription in the upper right corner of the table.
Wang Xiaozhu would then be quick to notice, step forward, take the medicine, and hand it over to the patient.
If you didn't know better, you'd think this was a clinic run by a mute person.
When the long banquet arrived, he subconsciously pursed his lips and resorted to gesturing instead.
Wen Zhiyun threw him a glare, and he said sheepishly, "Fourth Brother, we need to go to Prefect He's backyard to inquire about information."
According to their plan, they should recruit more female doctors and then select the clever ones to infiltrate the ladies' group and the governor's backyard.
However, most women in modern times politely decline to appear in public, so they couldn't find a clever female doctor, and only recruited a shy woman named Wang Xiaozhu.
"She... isn't quite right for me?" Wen Zhiyun said hesitantly.
Prefect He was unlike any other enemy; he was the chief official of the prefecture, a powerful fourth-rank official, and an extremely dangerous figure.
Even if the siblings choose to start with his backyard, they should choose a clever and quick-witted female doctor, not Wang Xiaozhu, who blushes easily and stutters when nervous. Not only would she easily ruin things, but she would also be in danger.
"Then you go?" Changyan glanced at his dear fourth brother.
With her delicate features and slender figure, she could easily be mistaken for a little girl.
But a fake is still a fake, and once it's discovered, it will become a fatal weakness.
Wen Zhiyun crossed his hands over his chest, the image of himself being discovered while dressed as a woman, stripped naked, and executed flashing through his mind. He shook his head in horror.
Chang Yan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
After I finished laughing, I realized that the laughter seemed to have come from more than one place.
The two brothers turned around at the same time and saw Wang Xiaozhu with a flushed face.
She seemed to have just laughed, tears still glistening in the corners of her eyes, and the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. Noticing the gazes of the two young men, her face quickly flushed red, and her expression changed to one of shyness.
"Xiaozhu, are you willing to go?" Changyan asked, resting his chin on his hand. "This matter may be dangerous, but the reward will be very high."
Wang Xiaozhu pursed her lips tightly.
Intuition told her that she should refuse, that she should run away, and that she should hide behind her brother.
But seeing Wen Zhiyun's furrowed brows and recalling Wang Xiaosong's drenched sweat while carrying dried green beans, the thirteen-year-old round-faced girl paused, and blurted out, "I...can give it a try."
Then, she appeared in the backyard of the government office.
I learned massage techniques on the spot, and memorized acupoints just as quickly. Fortunately, I had served several ladies before, so I had a basic understanding of the pressure required for massage, which was enough to fool laymen.
But Wang Xiaozhu's heart was still uneasy, stemming from her inner timidity and her awe of the title of prefect.
Despite the kind and polite servant leading the way, she remained trembling with fear, even the bamboo basket she carried quivered.
After walking and walking, enduring a long journey, they finally arrived at the gate of the prefect's wife's courtyard.
The servant who led the way stepped forward to negotiate, and soon a head maidservant welcomed her in and led her to a dignified woman. "Madam, the female physician has arrived."
Turning around and seeing Wang Xiaozhu's trembling appearance, he couldn't help but laugh again, "Why are you so scared? The Prefect's Mansion isn't a den of wolves and tigers, it won't eat you."
Wang Xiaozhu hurriedly knelt down and said softly, "It is because the doctor's skills are shallow, and I am afraid that I have displeased Madam."
That's true. The Fifth Prince taught me that when lying, you should be seven parts truth and three parts falsehood. This way, you won't go against your conscience and you can gain people's trust through honesty.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, the head maid covered her mouth and laughed, "Don't be afraid, Madam's neck and shoulders are uncomfortable. Just adjust them to make her feel comfortable, no one will hurt you."
Wang Xiaozhu nodded in agreement, but still dared not speak. After the prefect's wife and the head maid exchanged a few words, she closed the door and drew the curtain.
The head maid still had to stay by her side. First, she removed the lady's outer garments, and then she helped lift up her long hair.
"Please, doctor."
Wang Xiaozhu then felt as if her soul had returned to her body. She first washed her hands with warm water, then asked for a basin of hot water, soaked a thick cloth in it, wrung it out to a suitable temperature, and gently covered the shoulders of the prefect's wife.
After repeating this process three times, remove the thick cloth, apply some moisturizing face oil to your palm, gently massage it in circles on your shoulders and neck, and then knead it with moderate pressure.
This is not a particularly advanced technique; any doctor who has seriously studied medical books could do it, and might even do it better than Wang Xiaozhu.
Unfortunately, they were all men.
The Great Yu Dynasty strictly separated men and women; even children as young as seven were not allowed to sit together. It was practically impossible for a male doctor to massage the shoulders of a lady whose shoulders were partially exposed.
If one comes from a wealthy and influential family, it is also possible to train a skilled physician maid for one's legitimate daughter from a young age.
But how could someone from a truly prestigious family be sent to the desolate Anshui County to serve as its governor?
Wang Xiaozhu's eyes flickered slightly, and judging that the time was right, she suddenly increased the force with both hands.
The prefect's wife suddenly cried out.
The head maid next to him stared wide-eyed, looking like she wanted to devour him.
Wang Xiaozhu quickly stopped and stood there nervously.
Before the head maid could reprimand her, the prefect's wife spoke up, "Don't stop."
Just two words proved her comfort.
The head maid realized she had misunderstood, and her gaze towards Wang Xiaozhu softened, even carrying a hint of apology.
"Continue, doctor."
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