Chapter 56 Miss Gao Yi, it's your son-in-law who is back
After two days of careful nursing, Master Yan's lung fever gradually began to improve. The high fever that had persisted for half a decade also quietly subsided. He was no longer drowsy all day, and his spirits were visibly improved.
Not only was Mrs. Shen delighted, but even Young Master Yan himself had more confidence in future treatment.
On the morning of the third day, Chu Yufu and Dr. Xu reached a consensus after discussion and agreed that it was time to give the first injection.
It was April in the capital, and the chill of spring had not yet completely faded. The servants lit a brazier in the room before they dared to help Master Yan undress.
Today's first acupuncture treatment involves four acupoints: Zusanli, Guanyuan, Qihai, and Zhongwan. These acupoints are located on the outside of the knee, around the navel, and the sternum. These four acupoints are key to warming and replenishing the Yuan Yang and stimulating positive energy.
Though still young, Young Master Yan already understood the differences between men and women. A hint of embarrassment crossed his pale face when he learned he would have to bare his chest and abdomen in front of Chu Yufu. It was only when Madam Shen intervened that he persuaded him, "Now is a matter of life and death, and Miss Chu is not shying away from suspicion. So, don't waste any time!" Only then did he pull up his shirt and trouser legs.
Chu Yufu was originally nervous, but after the boy's shy little episode, she relaxed a lot. She thought to herself that she hadn't said anything yet, and this kid was already shy.
My eyes swept over his overly thin and bony body, and Pei Yue's tall and strong figure inexplicably flashed through my mind. Well, what's so good about a child...
After Master Yan lay down flat, the maid brought the cotton balls and liquor that had been prepared in advance. She quickly killed the inappropriate thought, collected her thoughts, picked up the cotton ball with a bamboo clip, dipped it in liquor, and wiped it neatly on the area where the needle was about to be inserted to disinfect it.
The first needle went to the Guanyuan acupoint, three inches below the navel. Holding her breath, she lowered her wrist slightly, tilting the needle at a 45-degree angle, instantly sinking into the flesh. Her movements were precise and steady, without a trace of hesitation.
The depth of acupuncture is divided into three levels: the upper third is the sky part, the middle third is the human part, and the lower third is the earth part.
Young Master Yan was young and weak, so deep acupuncture was not suitable. Chu Yufu carefully controlled the pressure of her fingertips, pausing the needle tip at Tianbu before inserting the needle. She immediately felt a tightness under her hand.
This is the feeling of 'getting energy'!
She raised her eyes to look at Master Yan and asked calmly, "Master, how do you feel?"
Doctor Xu and Mrs. Shen beside him also stared at him without blinking.
Young Master Yan clutched the corner of his clothes with his fingers and said nervously, "It feels sore and numb..."
Chu Yufu's tense jawline relaxed slightly, and she smiled reassuringly: "This is a good sign, indicating that the needle has received energy. If there is no feeling, it means that I have inserted the needle in the wrong direction."
Under the gaze of everyone, Chu Yufu moved her fingers slightly, slowly twisted them to the left nine times, then applied force again, pushing the needle steadily into the human body. After getting the energy, she twisted it to the left nine times again. This was called "one degree".
"Young Master, breathe according to my instructions. When I say inhale, you inhale. When I say exhale, you exhale."
Young Master Yan nodded obediently.
"Hu——" he exhaled.
"Suck—" He breathed.
Chu Yufu inserted and rotated the needle according to the rhythm of his breathing.
The silver needles poked and twisted back and forth between the skin, flesh and meridians. It would be a lie to say that it was not uncomfortable. Soon, sweat began to seep out of Master Yan's forehead, but he gritted his teeth and endured it without saying a word. Chu Yufu gave him an admiring look.
Mrs. Shen was heartbroken, but she didn't dare disturb them. She could only gently wipe her son's sweat with a silk handkerchief, her movements as gentle as possible. She didn't understand medical principles, but she could see that the acupuncture steps used by Miss Chu Er were complicated, far beyond the reach of ordinary doctors. Generally speaking, the more complicated the acupuncture, the more likely it is to go wrong.
While the layman watches the excitement, the expert watches the details. Doctor Xu's heart was already stirred as he watched the girl giving acupuncture beside the bed.
The young woman before him was only seventeen years old, yet her grasp of acupuncture points and control of acupuncture force were so exquisite that even his apprentice, who had studied for six years, couldn't match her! Furthermore, she not only used the "burning mountain fire" method, but also supplemented it with breathing techniques to maximize the effectiveness of this acupuncture!
At this moment, Master Yan suddenly exclaimed, "Why do I feel... a little hot where the needle pricked me?"
Madam Shen was startled and turned to look at Chu Yufu. Doctor Xu's face lit up with joy and blurted out, "It's done?!"
Chu Yufu's straightened back slumped slightly, and she let out a long sigh. A smile appeared on her pretty face, and she nodded in response, "It's done. It's because of this slight heat that we call it 'burning mountain fire'!"
After inserting the needle twice, she removed the needle and looked at Master Yan: "Master, can you bear it? There are three more acupoints to go. If you feel you can't bear it, you can try again next time."
Young Master Yan looked up at his mother, shook his head, and said with an extremely firm look: "Second Sister Chu, just continue. Yuchen can bear it."
He was only physically weak, not mentally deficient. He saw more clearly than anyone else the forced smiles of his father and the new gray hairs on his mother's temples. He struggled to hold on, unwilling to grieve his parents. Now that he had a chance to recover, what was so hard about enduring a little physical pain? The sooner he recovered, the sooner his parents would rest in peace.
Mrs. Shen silently clenched her son's hand and placed it on her chest. Her nose felt sour again, and her voice choked with sobs: "Good boy, mother knows that you can do it!"
The maid beside her came forward at the right time and wiped the sweat from Chu Yufu's temples with a warm, wet handkerchief.
The next three needles were inserted in different acupuncture points, but the technique was exactly the same. Half an hour later, all the acupuncture points were completed. After the needles were removed, Madam Shen couldn't wait to ask, "Chen'er, do you feel anything?"
Young Master Yan felt it carefully, then after a moment slowly shook his head: "I don't feel anything special."
The smile on Mrs. Shen's face froze instantly, her heart sank suddenly, and she looked at Chu and Xu helplessly.
Doctor Xu twirled his beard, stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, I'll take your pulse."
Young Master Yan stretched out his hand, and Doctor Xu closed his eyes, placed three fingers on it, and examined it carefully.
Chu Yufu's heart was in her throat, and she glanced nervously at Doctor Xu. She was certain the steps and procedures were spot on, absolutely no mistakes had been made, but in the end... would it really work for Master Yan?
After what seemed like an eternity, Doctor Xu opened his eyes and smiled before speaking. His eyes were bright. "Although it's not obvious, your pulse does seem to have a hint of vitality compared to before the acupuncture. It's a sign of improvement! Improving your vital energy is like the growth of grass and trees in spring. It takes time and patience. Don't be impatient."
"Really!" Mrs. Shen stood up suddenly, her face excited!
"I dare not speak nonsense."
Mrs. Shen could no longer control the tears that had been suppressed for a long time. She squatted down without caring about her manners, hugged her son tightly and vented: "Good! That's great! God has eyes..."
The two maids who stayed in the house to serve were both Madam Shen's dowry. They knew very well how much their master had suffered over the years. Seeing their master crying, they couldn't help but wipe away their tears with red eyes.
Chu Yufu pressed her pounding heart with one hand and exhaled again. As long as it worked, it was good!
She picked up the needle bag from the tray beside her, wiped the silver needle and put it back into the bag, then spoke to Doctor Xu with a smile.
"Originally, there was a final move to this burning mountain fire. Insert it into the deepest part of the ground and twist it seven times to complete it. But considering your frail body, I didn't dare to go too deep. I'll try it once more when your strength has recovered."
Doctor Xu narrowed his eyes and jokingly said, "Second Miss, you described it in such detail. Aren't you afraid that I might steal your family secret method?"
Chu Yufu smiled, her almond-shaped eyes filled with the warmth of spring. She said sincerely, "If Doctor Xu wants to learn, why would he do it secretly? One day I will copy the handwritten notes left by my grandfather and give them to Doctor Xu to study personally."
Doctor Xu's smile froze, and his hand twirling his beard stopped mid-air. His eyes widened, and he almost thought he had misheard: "What did you say?"
You know, medical secrets are always treasured by all families, and they are never taught to anyone other than a direct disciple. This girl actually said she wanted to copy down this acupuncture method and give it to someone else?
So Chu Yufu repeated it again and smiled faintly.
"If the art of medicine is kept secret and hidden, how can it be innovated and benefit the people? The acupuncture techniques my grandfather devoted his entire life to developing were not intended solely to save a few patients. If Doctor Xu can master them, with your skills, you will surely be able to save many more patients from danger. If people one day mention 'burning mountain fire' or 'cooling the whole sky' and mention my grandfather's name, it will surely be the greatest comfort to his spirit in heaven."
Just now, for a moment, she suddenly remembered the regret in the eyes of the acupuncture professor when he talked about the lost art of burning forest fires in the university class.
Doctor Xu was almost nailed to the spot by these words. It took him a long time to come back to his senses, and his eyes were full of emotion.
He seemed to foresee the turmoil this technique would stir in the medical field if it were to become known. Such generosity and sincerity were the most profound he had ever witnessed, and he could even vaguely glimpse the elegant demeanor of his grandfather.
Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a hazy halo around the girl. He remained speechless for a long time, then bowed deeply to Chu Yufu, "Young lady, you are so righteous."
Chu Yufu remained motionless, accepting the gift calmly. This gift was not for herself, but for Grandfather Wan, who had long since disappeared into obscurity.
When Doctor Xu stood up, she returned his greeting with a smile and said, "I still have a long way to go in the field of medicine. If I have any questions in the future, could you please consult Doctor Xu?"
To be honest, it was a coincidence that she could stand with Doctor Xu today. The man in front of her was a real national player and the former director of the Imperial Medical Service!
"Of course!" Doctor Xu agreed with a smile.
Although Madam Shen was very emotional, she also paid some attention to this side.
Hearing Chu Yufu's earth-shattering words, he was stunned for a moment. Turning back to look at her, he felt a celestial aura shrouding her features. How many people in the world possess such a kind and innocent heart? She could clearly rely on it to achieve immense wealth, yet she so casually said she would make it public, hoping only to save a few more lives.
Even the two maids standing by couldn't help but exchange shocked glances.
Although they didn't know any medical skills, they understood that this was a magical method. And Miss Chu was actually willing to teach others this magical method that could save the young master's life... If more people learned it, wouldn't it mean that ordinary people like them would have another hope of saving their lives if they unfortunately fell ill in the future?
After staying in the Duke's Mansion for three days, Young Master Yan's lung fever had subsided and the first acupuncture had been performed, so Chu Yufu said goodbye to Madam Shen.
Madam Shen was extremely reluctant to let go and wished she could keep this young doctor in her house, but she also knew that she was an unmarried girl after all and had no relationship with the Duke's Mansion. Three days was the limit for her to stay here, and forcing her to stay any longer would be against etiquette.
After agreeing to return for acupuncture in three days, she dispatched a two-horse carriage and, having opened her private storehouse, selected two pieces of fine soft smoke silk and a set of top-quality Hetian jade head ornaments as a gift. She personally escorted the man out of the house before returning briskly to Wutong Garden.
Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the mansion, Lan Zhu gently massaged her daughter's shoulders and said with concern, "My daughter, you must be exhausted these past two days, right?"
Chu Yufu closed her eyes slightly, half leaning against the brocade cushion, and sighed softly, "I'm tired, not physically, but mentally! I've been on edge since entering the mansion, afraid of making any mistakes. Fortunately, it's finally of some use."
She twisted her neck and said tiredly, "When I get home, I want to take a bath, then draw the bed curtains and have a good sleep."
"Okay, I'll go back and find some mugwort leaves and boil them in water, so the girl can soak in them to relieve her fatigue and soothe her mind."
As the two were talking, the carriage, which was running smoothly, suddenly jolted and stopped abruptly. Then there was a loud noise from outside the carriage, with the sound of gongs and drums and the clatter of horses' hooves!
"Whoa!" the driver tightened the reins.
"What's going on?" Lan Zhu frowned, reached out to open the curtain on one side and peeked out: "Why did it stop?"
The coachman replied, "My dear, the whole street ahead is completely blocked. It looks like a large army returning to the capital!"
Army?
Chu Yufu's heart moved, and she couldn't help but lean forward and look out through the gap in the curtains. She saw that the long street in front of her was crowded with people on both sides, and two columns of cavalry in the middle of the road were marching towards the imperial city.
"Is it the army heading south to quell the rebellion, or the army heading north to encircle and suppress the Turks?" she asked.
The driver squinted his eyes and looked around for a while, then said, "Look at that large flag with a gold border. It looks like the Northern Expedition Army led by the Crown Prince himself!"
Lan Zhu turned around and smiled, her eyes full of joy: "Miss, it's my son-in-law who is back!"
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