First Trial of Silver Needles
After Zhang and Wang scrambled away, they returned less than half an hour later, panting, with the replenished rations. This time, the rice sack was heavy, the vegetable basket contained several decent kinds of vegetables, and there was even a small basket of eggs and a few pieces of good-quality charcoal. The two women, heads bowed and eyes lowered, hurriedly took their leave after putting down the things, not daring to utter a single extra word—a complete contrast to their previous demeanor.
Qingdai looked at the "spoils of war" with sparkling eyes, as if she had seen some rare treasures. "Miss, you are amazing! They really brought the replacements!" she exclaimed as she quickly put the items away.
Su Qingyue merely glanced at the supplies, feeling little joy. These were merely the basic necessities for survival, far from a comfortable existence. Moreover, she knew this was only temporary peace. Wang Shi and Su Qingxue would not let it go; a much larger storm was likely brewing.
The most urgent task is to restore this body's health as soon as possible. From a modern medical perspective, the original owner's body was riddled with problems—long-term malnutrition led to anemia and weakened immunity, and the cold from sleeping in the water during winter penetrated deep into the lungs. If not addressed promptly, it was almost inevitable that he would develop chronic cough and asthma.
"Qingdai, find those embroidery needles I asked you to put away, and also find a small piece of candle," Su Qingyue instructed. Without professional acupuncture needles, she had to make do with what she had.
"Embroidery needles?" Qingdai asked, puzzled, but quickly found them. They were several ordinary steel needles, their tips gleaming coldly.
Su Qingyue carefully sterilized the needles by burning them over a candle flame. The flickering flame reflected in her calm eyes, seemingly igniting the healer's spirit within her. As she operated, she rapidly recalled the meridian and acupoint diagrams of the human body in her mind. Baihui, Fengchi, Dazhui, Feishu, Zusanli… each acupoint name and location clearly emerged in her consciousness.
"Miss, what are you doing?" Qingdai looked at the slightly reddened needle tip and shrank back in fear. "This needle... it will hurt so much if it pricks my skin!"
Su Qingyue looked up at her, her tone calm and reassuring: "This isn't for embroidery, it's for healing. The human body has many acupoints, like the nexus of a river. By stimulating these nexus points, you can unblock the flow of qi and blood, regulate yin and yang, and dispel pathogenic factors." She tried to explain in simple terms, "Currently, cold qi has entered my body, and I need to stimulate my own yang qi to resist it."
She pointed to the top of her head: "This is Baihui acupoint, the meeting point of all Yang meridians." Then she pointed to the back of her neck: "This is Fengchi acupoint, which dispels wind and cold." Next was her back: "Dazhui and Feishu acupoints, which promote lung function and relieve exterior symptoms." Finally, she pointed to the area below her knees: "Zusanli acupoint, which strengthens vital energy and supports the body's vital energy."
Qingdai was completely bewildered, feeling that every word spoken by her mistress was profound and unfathomable, and her gaze towards Su Qingyue became even more admiring.
After disinfection, Su Qingyue took a deep breath. Self-acupuncture, especially with such rudimentary equipment, is extremely demanding in terms of technique, accuracy in identifying acupoints, and mental fortitude. She closed her eyes, her fingertips gently massaging her scalp, searching for the exact location of the Baihui acupoint. The touch, the pressure, the angle… she was completely immersed in it, as if she had returned to that sterile laboratory in modern times, focused and oblivious.
The first needle was slowly inserted into Baihui (GV20). A slight stinging sensation came, accompanied by a strange soreness, as if a faint flow of energy was being stirred. She held her breath and focused intently, carefully sensing the "deqi" sensation under the needle.
Next came Fengchi, Dazhui… She reached behind her back and felt for the acupoints on her back, her movements slightly awkward, but her needle placement remained steady and accurate. With each needle, she carefully felt the body's response. The cold seemed to be stirred by this subtle stimulation, gently surging through the meridians.
Qingdai watched in terror, barely daring to breathe, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.
When the last needle landed on Zusanli (ST36), fine beads of sweat had already appeared on Su Qingyue's forehead. This wasn't physically demanding, but it was extremely mentally taxing. She maintained her posture, silently sensing the sensation. At first, there was a tingling, numb, and distending sensation at the acupuncture point. Gradually, a faint warmth seemed to start from Zusanli and slowly spread upwards along the meridians of her leg. Although subtle, it stubbornly resisted the coldness lingering in her body.
After about fifteen minutes, she began to remove the needles one by one. Her movements were gentle and swift.
After the acupuncture was finished, she let out a long sigh of relief, an indescribable sense of ease replacing the previous heaviness and sluggishness. Although she was still far from fully recovered, her mind was noticeably clearer, her breathing was much smoother, and the ever-present chill seemed to have been partially dispelled.
"Miss, how are you feeling?" Qingdai quickly handed her a glass of warm water and asked anxiously.
"Much better." Su Qingyue took the water cup and slowly sipped, feeling the warmth of the water sliding down her throat. Looking at Qingdai's worried face, she felt a warmth in her heart. In this cold Prime Minister's residence, at least there was one person who truly cared for her.
"This...this acupuncture really works so well?" Qingdai looked at her mistress's noticeably improved complexion, both surprised and impressed.
“The human body has its own powerful medicine.” Su Qingyue put down her water glass and explained in modern terms, “My method is to stimulate the body’s own regulatory and repair abilities. Compared to drinking those bitter herbal decoctions that are not suitable for the condition, it is more direct and more fundamental.” She thought of the inferior medicinal materials that had been withheld, and a cold smile appeared on her lips.
Qingdai nodded as if she understood, but she did understand the meaning of "treating the root cause." "Miss knows so much! She's even more knowledgeable than the doctors employed in the manor!"
Su Qingyue smiled but didn't reply. She walked to the window and looked at the still gray sky outside. The initial attempt at acupuncture had yielded remarkable results. This was not merely a simple self-treatment, but her first successful practice in this unfamiliar time and space, establishing herself based on her own knowledge.
Medical skills are the foundation of her livelihood and one of the key weapons for her to break through in the future.
She gently moved her wrist, feeling the faint warmth flowing through her body. Excellent. While her physical attributes were lacking, her skills (her medical expertise and modern knowledge) were top-notch. This gave her the potential to turn the tide.
“Qingdai,” she turned around, her gaze resolute, “our lives will gradually get better.” Not just to survive in this Prime Minister’s mansion, but to live better, until… we completely break free from this cage.
Qingdai nodded vigorously, completely trusting her mistress's words.
The mistress and servant exchanged a smile, and in the dilapidated courtyard, the gloom seemed to dissipate somewhat because of this quietly sprouting hope. Su Qingyue knew that the road ahead was still fraught with peril, but she had found the direction and strength to move forward. Though the silver needle was small, it was enough to pierce the prelude to this descent into despair.
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