Chapter 49 Meng Yutong… Meng Yutong! …
Princess Jingfu was quite strong; even in such pain, she still pushed Meng Yutong with considerable force.
Meng Yutong was pushed back half a step by her. After she stood still, her gaze swept over Jingfu's body. Her skirt was spread open, and under the thin silk, the outline of her two legs was clearly visible. The outline of her two legs was visible, and her left leg was obviously thinner than her right leg.
Meng Yutong suddenly remembered that when Jingfu left the Meng residence last time, his steps were uneven, with the uneven one being his left leg.
She probably has some hidden illness that she doesn't want to talk about.
This also explains why her reaction was so intense just now.
She didn't want anyone to know.
Meng Yutong then looked at her striking red attire and headdress. It seemed that the upper body was dressed too elaborately, so that... people would notice her upper body at first glance, and not pay too much attention to her legs...
After clarifying these things, Meng Yutong quickly came to her senses. This princess was probably suffering from some kind of old lumbosacral injury, which caused nerve compression, resulting in sudden numbness and weakness in her left leg under certain circumstances, and even making it impossible for her to stand.
It's no wonder she was so reluctant to talk about these kinds of ailments that involve a woman's private parts, especially her waist and abdomen, and are related to her dignity.
Given her arrogant and domineering nature, and her extreme concern for appearances, the consequences would be unimaginable if she found out that her hidden illness, which she had tried so hard to conceal, had been discovered.
The wisest course of action at this moment is to withdraw immediately and feign ignorance.
She bowed slightly, her voice calm: "It was my rudeness that disturbed Your Highness. I take my leave."
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
As they approached the door of the quiet room, the suppressed sobs of a maid and the heavy breathing of Princess Gyeongbok due to her excruciating pain reached their ears, causing a slight pause in their hearts.
Just then, a gust of wind suddenly lifted the curtain of the quiet room.
The curtain was raised high, and outside the curtain, the compassionate gaze of the golden Bodhisattva with lowered eyes in the Mahavira Hall quietly fell into Meng Yutong's eyes.
"Doctors should have the heart of parents and prioritize saving lives. They should not abandon patients out of fear of disaster or trouble."
These are the words Ji Yun said to her when they discussed Xiaoxue's illness at Ji'an Hall.
She hadn't taken it to heart then, but now, in this ancient temple battered by wind and rain, facing a harsh yet ailing soul, the weight of those words suddenly pressed down on Meng Yutong's heart.
She stopped in her tracks, turned her back to the painful panting in the room, took a deep breath, sighed, and resolutely turned back to Princess Jingfu's bedside.
"I'll trouble you," Meng Yutong whispered to the bewildered maid, "Go quickly to the dining hall and find a girl named Baizhi to fetch my medical kit. Also, bring a medicine basket with you."
The young maid looked at Princess Jingfu with a bewildered expression, unsure whether she should listen to her.
Princess Gyeongbok was being overwhelmed by another wave of excruciating pain, drenched in cold sweat, and was momentarily powerless to rebuke anyone.
Meng Yutong gave her a reassuring look: "Go quickly. The longer it takes, the worse it will be for His Highness. Also, if my companions want to come along, be sure to stop them and tell them that I will go to find them later."
Seeing that the princess was in critical condition, the little maid dared not hesitate any longer, nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears, and rushed out quickly.
Meng Yutong squatted down beside the couch and reached out to touch Jingfu's lower back.
"Insolence!" Jingfu, enduring the pain, slapped Meng Yutong's hand away forcefully. Her phoenix eyes widened as she angrily rebuked, "How dare you, a lowly commoner, touch my body, which belongs to the noble family?!"
Meng Yutong remained calm, her eyes clear, and looked directly at Jingfu: "Your Highness, if you still want to walk freely, you should stop struggling now. Without touching the injury, you won't know the depth of the bruising. If you delay treatment and cause the bones and tendons to die completely, don't blame me for not doing my best."
Jingfu was taken aback by her imposing manner, then laughed angrily: "You...you insolent commoner! I told you I'm not sick! You have repeatedly defied your superiors, I will punish you for the grave crime of disrespect, and send you..."
"Was this place subjected to a violent impact? At that time, the bone was fractured, and the blood stasis accumulated and compressed the meridians for a long time."
Meng Yutong withdrew her hand, her tone resolute as if cutting through gold and jade, "This is the root of the illness, which needs to be addressed with methods that promote blood circulation and unblock the meridians. Fortunately, the medicine I have gathered today is exactly for this ailment."
What they said actually hit the mark?
Princess Jingfu's clamor abruptly ceased. She reclined on the soft couch, breathing heavily, and for the first time, her gaze towards Meng Yutong held a mixture of surprise and uncertainty: "You...you really know medicine?"
“We met by chance outside the side room just now. When Your Highness suspected that I had come to the palace to seek marriage, I told you that I had come to gather herbs.”
Meng Yutong's hand moved down and gently pressed on the inside of Jingfu's left thigh through the brocade. Jingfu's body stiffened, but he did not resist violently anymore.
“To be honest, Your Highness,” Meng Yutong met her gaze and said frankly, “I do have a clinic on Peach Blossom Street called ‘Zhaoyutang.’ All the necessary qualifications and documents for practicing medicine are complete and have been registered and archived by the Medical Academy. If Your Highness has any doubts, you may send someone to the Medical Academy or the Women’s Clinic to verify its authenticity at any time.”
A complex emotion flashed in Princess Jingfu's eyes, seemingly surprised by her composure and directness, but it was quickly covered by a deeper sense of pride and disdain.
She endured the waves of excruciating pain, forcing out a cold laugh through gritted teeth: "So what if you opened a clinic? In this world, money talks. Who knows if your medical skills are genuine or just a facade built with silver? Believe it or not,"
Her tone suddenly turned fierce, carrying an undisguised threat, "With just a single word from me, I can turn your crappy clinic into ashes in an instant!"
However, after uttering those harsh words, a sharp pain suddenly throbbed from her lower back, causing her to instantly deflate and break out in a cold sweat.
She was too exhausted to argue with this annoying commoner, so she could only secretly vow in her heart: Just wait! Once I recover from this pain, I will definitely capture you, you ignorant and arrogant lowly commoner, and bring you back to the palace. I will give you thirty heavy lashes before I can vent my anger!
Meng Yutong seemed oblivious to her threat. She pressed harder on several key acupoints on Princess Jingfu's left leg, especially the areas where she sensed the meridians, and asked in a deep voice, "Can you feel anything here? Is it sore, numb, or swollen?"
However, Princess Gyeongbok merely shifted impatiently, seemingly oblivious to the increased pressure, and did not exhibit the expected pain or resistance.
Meng Yutong's eyes darkened slightly, and a chill ran through her. The numbness in her left leg was far more severe than she had anticipated. The nerve damage had likely caused a significant reduction in local sensation.
Her face remained calm as she stated, "Your Highness's left leg, whenever it's rainy or you're tired, the old injury on your lower back feels like a venomous snake biting you, and then your left leg becomes numb and useless, spreading from the thigh to the ankle. In severe cases, it's impossible to walk, and you have to lean against a wall. The numbness takes at least half an hour to subside, isn't that right?"
Princess Jingfu's pupils suddenly contracted, her face drained of color, and she stared intently at Meng Yutong, "You... how dare you speak ill of my hidden ailment?! Believe me or not, I'll take your head right now!"
She couldn't even care less about 'this Empress' anymore. Meng Yutong understood that her diagnosis was correct.
“Your Highness,” Meng Yutong released her hand and advised, “The human body is like the territory of a country. Illness is like an enemy; if it lingers for a long time, the foundation will be shaken. If you ignore your illness and refuse to see a doctor, you may only let the boil grow into a serious disease that is incurable.”
She paused, her gaze calmly meeting Jingfu's surprised and uncertain look, and added a crucial sentence: "Your Highness is unable to move at the moment, and I am anxious to cure you. If I am not careful, I may reveal to others the details of the 'bandits' entrenched in this 'territory'..." Her unfinished words carried just the right hint.
"You dare?!"
Just then, the young maidservant rushed in, panting, carrying Meng Yutong's medical kit and medicine basket.
Meng Yutong said no more.
Princess Jingfu bit her lower lip tightly, staring at Meng Yutong with a complicated expression. Although she was still full of resentment and unwillingness, her body finally stopped struggling violently, which could be regarded as tacit consent.
Meng Yutong quickly opened the medical kit and took out the needle pack.
Together with her maid, she carefully removed Princess Jingfu's elaborate outer garments, leaving her only in her undergarments. She did not remove any more clothing, but used her fingers to precisely press on several key acupoints and points of stagnation near the lumbar spine through the thin fabric.
The silver needles gleamed coldly between her fingers as she steadily inserted them into the acupoints, applying the needles through her clothes with skillful and efficient technique.
After a few needles, Jingfu's tightly furrowed brows seemed to relax slightly, but the intense pain persisted.
After the acupuncture was finished, Meng Yutong took out a piece of freshly picked *Dioscorea nipponica* from the medicine basket and handed it to the maid: "Go and do me another favor. Borrow a stone mortar from the temple. Wash this herb clean and pound it into a fine paste, skin and roots included. Also, try to get some fresh ginger juice and mix it into the paste. Go and come back quickly."
The young maidservant, as if following the imperial decree, held the mud-covered dragon in her hands and hurriedly left again.
The quiet room fell silent again, with only the sound of torrential rain outside the window and Kyung-bok's suppressed breathing remaining.
"Your Highness, if you follow the doctor's advice and take good care of yourself, there is hope for a full recovery," Meng Yutong said calmly while tidying up the acupuncture needles.
Princess Jingfu scoffed, her voice filled with disbelief and mockery: "Ha, quite the boast! Even the most skilled physicians in the palace are helpless. What extraordinary abilities could a nobody like you possibly possess?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong tilted her head slightly.
Just then, Jingfu also turned his head and looked over, his searching gaze meeting Meng Yutong's calm and serene eyes.
A faint smile curved Meng Yutong's lips, her voice carrying an air of confidence:
“Just because others say it can’t be cured doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be cured. Perhaps the risks are too great; a cure would be fruitless, and a worse one would be a crime, so they’re unwilling to get involved. Perhaps the problem concerns a woman’s private affairs, and due to etiquette, rules, and the differences between men and women, or between the noble and the lowly, they don’t know where to begin. Or perhaps…” She paused, her calm gaze bright and clear, “it’s simply that the person’s medical skills are lacking, and their perspective is limited. What he can’t cure, others may not be able to cure either.”
This last sentence struck like a thunderclap.
"It's not necessarily true that others can't be cured either..."
Jingfu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
That year at the royal hunting grounds, a leopard suddenly attacked the imperial carriage. In the nick of time, she shielded her brother with her own body, taking the fatal claw for him.
The excruciating pain in her lower back and sacrum felt like her bones were shattering and her tendons were breaking, and she fainted on the spot. She was bedridden for half a year afterward, and a constant stream of imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy came to examine her, but they were all evasive in their words, only saying that "the injury to the tendons and bones requires rest" and "just take good care of yourself."
No one dared to assert that her left leg could fully recover, and no one dared to take on this hot potato that concerned the princess's health and the dignity of the royal family.
At that time... she still harbored a lingering romantic feeling, and she once had a young man she admired.
But when the other party learned that her injuries might affect her offspring, the fleeting yet clearly defined look of disgust in his eyes shattered her last illusions.
She was a proud daughter of heaven, born with an air of arrogance. She would rather let the world only see her domineering appearance than allow her disability to become a topic of pity or ridicule for others!
Since then, she has buried this hidden pain deep in her heart, using the most gorgeous palace attire and the most flamboyant demeanor to keep others from prying her eyes out, and not giving others the opportunity to pity her.
Everyone assumed she had fully recovered. Only she knew that the once spirited Jingfu had already died in a pool of blood at the hunting grounds.
I take good care of this leg, and it's managed to keep it looking presentable.
But every rainy season, the damp and cold air, like maggots clinging to the bone, spreads along the old injury to the lumbar spine, and the left leg feels as if it is filled with lead and frozen, completely numb from the thigh to the ankle, making even standing a luxury.
That deep-seated sense of powerlessness and shame repeatedly dragged her into the abyss.
Over the years, she has made it a habit to retreat to ancient temples deep in the mountains during the rainy season under the guise of spiritual practice, just to avoid the gaze of others.
A violent killing intent instantly surged into Jingfu's mind!
She wanted to tear this woman's mouth apart! Was her hidden pain something this unscrupulous person was using to flaunt her medical skills and gain fame and fortune?!
Her confident tone was a blatant insult! Arrogant! Ignorant!
"Princess...Princess, the medicine is ready..." The little maid stood timidly by the bed, holding a stone mortar and pestle that smelled of spicy ginger and the bitter aroma of herbs. Her voice was barely audible.
Meng Yutong seemed oblivious to the chilling killing intent emanating from Jing Fu, and calmly raised her hand to remove the silver needles from her lower back one by one.
As the silver needles left his body, Jingfu was surprised to feel a faint but clear warm current quietly emerging from his waist and flowing in strands towards his numb and stiff left leg!
A long-lost, almost forgotten sense of awareness, like a spring bud breaking through the soil, quietly sprouted beneath the numb ice!
Normally, when this kind of severe pain occurred, her left leg would be numb for at least one or two hours before it could recover slightly... This small change stirred up a storm in her heart.
The surging killing intent suddenly stopped.
One moment she wanted to kill this arrogant woman, the next she was inexplicably curious. What would it feel like to apply that strangely scented medicinal mud to her back? Could it really alleviate the excruciating pain that had tormented her for years? She dared not think about it... yet she couldn't help but think about it!
"Unbutton Your Highness's clothing at the lower back to expose the injury, and apply the medicinal paste evenly." Meng Yutong's voice was calm and composed, carrying the calm and collected command characteristic of a physician.
The young maidservant, holding the stone mortar, looked at Jingfu helplessly. The princess's temperament… to undress her? She didn't dare touch her at all!
"Hurry up, the medicine will evaporate, and if you delay, the effect will be greatly reduced." Meng Yutong turned her back and began to organize her needles.
The young maidservant glanced timidly at the princess on the couch. She saw Jingfu burying her face deeply in her arms, her body tense, yet her shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly—as if she hadn't refused?
The maid steeled her heart, held her breath, and with trembling fingers, very gently and slowly untied the ribbons beneath the elaborate waistband.
Finally, a small patch of delicate skin on her side, bearing the marks of old scars, was exposed to the cool air.
The maid turned around nervously and saw that Meng Yutong was still facing away from them, methodically packing her medical kit, showing no intention of turning around.
"Your Highness's body is of noble birth, and it is inappropriate for this humble woman to look directly at it. When you apply the medicine, your movements must be quick and steady, lest the cold pathogens take advantage of the opportunity to invade." Meng Yutong's voice came at the right time, carrying a reassuring calmness.
The maid steadied herself and took a deep breath. She genuinely hoped the princess would recover.
She had witnessed too many princesses enduring pain alone, their pride and radiance completely vanished. In the depths of their agony, their faces would display a heartbreaking ashen paleness, like a bird whose wings had been cruelly broken... Every time she thought of it, her heart ached unbearably.
She scooped up a spoonful of warm, brown medicinal paste and carefully applied it to the hideous old scar on Kyungbok's lower back.
A clean, white silk handkerchief was silently handed to her.
The maid gratefully accepted the medicine and carefully wiped away the spilled liquid.
When she finally finished applying the thick layer of medicinal mud and looked up with a sigh of relief, she saw Meng Yutong already sitting down at the small table. He gently moved aside the scroll of scriptures that the princess had copied, spread out a sheet of plain paper, and was writing intently with his brush dipped in ink.
"This humble woman has prescribed two remedies." Meng Yutong put down her pen, blew on the ink to dry it, and spoke clearly, "One is for internal use, twice a day, decocted in water and taken warm; the other is for external application, prepared as before when it flares up, crushed and applied to the affected area. If this condition can be supplemented with acupuncture and massage, recovery will be even faster. However..."
She paused, turned half her face to the side, and looked at Jingfu, who was still burying his head in his arms and whose body was slightly stiff. "I suppose the princess is the last person she wants to see right now. So, you just need to get the medicine according to this prescription, take it internally and apply it externally, and stick to it for a month. At that time, the frequency of your back injury will decrease, the pain will be relieved, and the numbness in your left leg will gradually subside."
Gyeongbok remained motionless on the tatami mat, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep or had completely given up the struggle.
Only the slight undulation of his shoulders and the unconscious rubbing of his nose against the soft pillow after the medicinal mud was applied betrayed a complex and unspeakable emotion beneath his feigned composure.
A faint smile curved at the corners of Meng Yutong's lips. This spoiled princess now showed a touch of childish awkwardness.
She gently placed the two prescriptions in a prominent spot on the table, and speaking to the figure lying on the couch with his back to her, her voice low and solemn:
“Your Highness, I have been quite presumptuous and offensive today. If I have done anything abrupt, I beg your forgiveness. This medicinal mud will take half an hour to fully apply. Your Highness can wait until the medicine takes effect before deciding whether to believe my prescription. In any case…”
She paused slightly, her tone carrying the most sincere prayer of a healer, "This humble woman humbly begs Your Highness to take good care of your health and not to jeopardize your well-being due to momentary anger."
Jingfu kept his eyes closed, ignoring her words, as if he had already fallen asleep.
Meng Yutong looked up and glanced out the window. The rain had stopped, and although the sky was still overcast, only a light drizzle was falling, washing the grass and trees in the courtyard until they were lush and green.
She said no more, stood up and neatly packed her medical kit and medicine basket. "I have troubled you for a long time, and I should take my leave now. Today's events were all my own doing, coercing this young lady to act. I have offended you in many ways. If Your Highness wishes to punish me, or... if you think the prescription is still usable and wish to reward me," she said calmly, "please come to Zhaoyu Hall on Peach Blossom Street. I will be waiting for you at any time."
On the couch, Jingfu's fingers suddenly tightened, gripping the brocade cushion beneath him tightly, his heart churning with a turbulent mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe.
This woman! She's utterly ignorant and shameless! How could she possibly bestow a reward upon her? Absolutely not!
Once she recovers and regains her strength, the first thing she will do is go to that damned "Zhaoyu Hall," capture that arrogant female doctor, bring her back to her residence, make her kneel down and beg for mercy, and let her see what the majesty of the imperial family is like, to see if she dares to be so presumptuous again!
Right now... she's completely exhausted and extremely tired, so for now... let her have a couple of days of peace and quiet.
Less than a quarter of an hour after Meng Yutong left, Jingfu felt a continuous and comfortable warmth coming from the area on his lower back where the medicine was applied, like the warm winter sun soothing his cold muscles and bones.
The sharp, piercing numbness and excruciating pain receded quietly like a tide, and the left leg, which had been like a piece of broken wood, gradually regained faint sensation and was even able to move slightly on its own!
An indescribable surge of ecstasy and shock instantly overwhelmed her!
"Your Highness! You...you can't...you can't move around..." the little maid said in a panic.
Although her left leg was still a little sore, numb, and sluggish, she was able to walk several steps freely in the small, quiet room! There was no excruciating pain as she had expected!
Keep in mind that only half an hour had passed since she fell ill and was in excruciating pain! Normally, she would have had to lie stiffly in bed for two or three hours before she could barely get out of bed!
Meng Yutong... Meng Yutong!
She whirled around, rushed back to the desk, and grabbed the two still-wet prescriptions. Her fingers, gripping the papers, trembled slightly from the overwhelming emotion...
After leaving the quiet room, Meng Yutong did not leave immediately. Carrying a medicine basket in one hand and a medical kit in the other, she paused for a moment at the small window that was slightly ajar to the south, around the quiet room.
The room was silent; there was no scolding or crying as expected.
Jingfu...did not take his anger out on the little maid.
Feeling somewhat relieved, she finally turned and left, returning to the dining hall along the damp corridor. By then, the rain had almost stopped, with only the eaves dripping with residual rainwater.
Bai Zhi and He Haochuan had been waiting anxiously, and upon seeing her return, they hurried forward to inquire. Meng Yutong only gave a few vague words, without revealing the true identity of the noble person in the quiet room.
As darkness fell, the wind in the valley blew against my skin, sending a chill through me.
As dusk approached, a chilly mountain wind, carrying the afterglow of the rain, swept through the area, penetrating to the bone. The Purple Snow Ginseng in the medicine basket was delicate and needed to be returned to the clinic for proper care as soon as possible. Meng Yutong dared not delay any longer and immediately set off down the mountain.
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