Chapter 56 (Combined Chapter 56)
They rested there for the night. The spring thunder rumbled continuously, and the branches swayed. Miaozhen got up to check on the two children next door several times, but after returning, she couldn't fall asleep again. Xiao Jingshi, however, slept soundly. Miaozhen stroked his eyebrows and eyes, and was even a little envious of him. This man usually vented everything he had, so he didn't hide anything. He fell asleep as soon as he lay down at night.
Seeing Miaoyun today, Miaozhen was not surprised at all, and was even calm.
Because Miaoyun has always been an ambitious person, and in this world, women cannot take the imperial examinations, and going out to do business is also risky for their lives. They will also be criticized for showing their faces in public. The only way to change social class is to get married. She can become an official's wife and eventually become a noblewoman.
Miaozhen is not to be blamed. How many men climb the social ladder through nepotism? The woman simply did the same thing as them.
She understands, but she may not necessarily follow Miaoyun's example; she still wants to take things one step at a time.
Thinking that, Miaozhen drifted off to sleep. When she woke up the next day, the sky had cleared, and Xiaoxi brought her a box. "Grandma, this was sent to the young master and young lady by Madam Zhang."
Miaozhen yawned, opened the box and saw two longevity locks: one was a silver lock shaped like a qilin, pine cone, ruyi, and cloud, and the other was a silver lock shaped like a butterfly with peony flowers engraved on it.
She asked, "Where is Madam Zhang?"
"He left early this morning. I heard that Magistrate Zhang was rushing to take up his post and was afraid of missing his term," Xiao Xi said.
Miaozhen looked at her and said, "I'm afraid that things might get complicated if we wait too long. Well, the wind blows down the phoenix tree, and others will have their say. Keep her affairs to yourself and don't tell anyone."
Xiao Xi thought to herself that her mistress knew exactly what she was thinking, and hurriedly replied, "This servant understands."
Now that the weather had cleared up, everyone had to get going. This time, they traveled very quickly. Miaozhen first went back to the Nanjing villa with Xiao Jingshi to freshen up. Not daring to delay, she boarded the Huang family's sedan chair and went over.
Fortunately, Xiao Jingshi stayed by her side the whole time, so Miaozhen didn't have to worry about her safety.
The Huang family's hospitality towards Miaozhen was quite unexpected. When Madam Huang saw Miaozhen arrive, she called her "Divine Doctor" and said, "Divine Doctor Xu, we've been waiting for you these past few days with bated breath. Now that you've arrived, I can finally relax."
"No, no, please tell me, Madam, what illness does Miss suffer from? How was she treated before?" Miaozhen couldn't help but ask.
Madam Huang wiped away her tears and said, "We consulted a doctor before, who said it was a stomach abscess and that we had to have surgery on my stomach, but the pus still won't dry up."
Upon hearing this, Miaozhen realized that the illness was quite troublesome, so she followed Madam Huang into the front of Miss Huang's embroidery room. Although the Huang family was only a thousand households, they lived in a five-courtyard house. Madam Huang was adorned with pearls and jade, looking very much like an official's wife. Miss Huang lived in the upper floor of the third courtyard. Miaozhen didn't have time to say much and quickly stepped forward, lifting her skirt.
"Yingying, Doctor Xu has arrived," Madam Huang said with a smile.
Miss Huang was very polite; even though she looked weak, she still said, "Thank you for your help."
Miaozhen said, "Miss, you flatter me. Let's not waste any more time and talk about the illness first. Please tell me about the previous symptoms and medical records so that I will know where to start."
From a moment later, a maidservant beside Miss Huang said, "Dr. Xu, when my daughter was a little over ten years old, she had a lump in her lower abdomen. At that time, the doctor in Luoyang said it was a stomach abscess and had it removed by surgery. Now, she has lumps on both sides of her neck and waist."
Miaozhen asked Miss Huang to take off her outer garment, and saw that there were indeed lumps on both sides of her neck. She saw that the sores were like clams, red and hard, and painful as if they were being branded with a hot iron. They were clearly like scrofula.
Ms. Huang's abdominal surgical wound was still oozing pus, and her waist was also oozing fluid and pus, with lumps resembling leprosy.
She took the medical records home to review and found that the previous doctor had also treated her according to the method for treating lumbar leprosy, and had prescribed Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma Decoction and used acupuncture at Neiguan, Quchi, Yanglingquan, Zusanli and other acupoints, but all of them were ineffective.
Miao Zhen sighed, but then she saw Xiao Jingshi bring over a bowl of sweet soup on a red lacquered and gold-painted plate. He sat down next to her and said, "I made it myself."
"You cooked this yourself? Isn't it said that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen?" Miaozhen asked in surprise.
Xiao Jingshi said, "It's not a difficult thing. Besides, I noticed you didn't eat much for dinner, so I thought I'd make this for you to try."
He made grape syrup, which was made by pounding grapes to extract the juice and adding ice to make syrup. Especially for Miaozhen, who was feeling hot and dry, drinking it was incredibly refreshing.
"I'm a little overwhelmed by your kindness," she said, patting her chest.
Xiao Jingshi then came over and said, "I'm not stupid. If I did this at home, people would say you're controlling me."
Miaozhen laughed and said, "Really, you even know what they're going to say."
Sometimes Miaozhen would feel unworthy, but she would cheer herself up and think that she was a unique female doctor, so why couldn't marriage be monogamous and they could grow old together?
Thinking this, she looked at him and said, "I'd like to have another bowl."
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jingshi immediately refused, saying, "That won't do. Be careful not to get a stomachache from the cold. Even though it's spring, we can't do anything reckless."
"Then you can stay here with me," Miaozhen said.
Xiao Jingshi smiled and said, "Of course."
Miaozhen immediately consulted numerous medical books. She thought that since Miss Huang had been draining pus for seven years, she could use Sanzhong Kuijian Decoction first. She listed the formula for Sanzhong Kuijian Decoction: Scutellaria baicalensis, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Phellodendron chinense, Gentiana scabra, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Platycodon grandiflorus, Laminaria japonica, Bupleurum chinense, Cimicifuga foetida, Forsythia suspensa, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Sparganium stoloniferum, Curcuma zedoaria, Pueraria lobata, Angelica sinensis (tail), Paeonia lactiflora, and Coptis chinensis.
Among them, Scutellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis, and Phellodendron chinense clear heat and toxins from the Triple Burner, and are specifically used to treat symptoms of excess heat. Gentiana scabra relieves excessive damp heat in the body and can clear liver and gallbladder fire. Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, and Anemarrhena asphodeloides can nourish yin and blood, which is just right for her to treat pus and yin deficiency. In addition, Trichosanthes kirilowii can clear heat and reduce fire, as well as eliminate skin abscesses and promote body fluid production and quench thirst. When combined with the previous three herbs, it can achieve the effect of treating both the symptoms and the root cause.
As for Platycodon grandiflorus, it is effective in treating lung abscess with purulent sputum, and even has anti-inflammatory effects. Bupleurum chinense, Cimicifuga foetida, and Pueraria lobata are all effective in relieving exterior symptoms and raising Yang.
Furthermore, kelp, sparganium, and turmeric are all used to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. However, turmeric is pungent and warm, while kelp and sparganium have a strong effect in breaking up blood stasis. Since Miss Huang has been ill for a long time, she removed kelp and sparganium.
This prescription includes three qian of honeysuckle and one qian of green tangerine peel. Honeysuckle, needless to say, is a holy medicine for sores, while green tangerine peel can clear liver evil and unblock the qi of the liver and gallbladder.
The prescription was written and drawn, but it wasn't suitable for fortune telling, so Miaozhen rewrote it.
Thinking that moxibustion was the most effective treatment for scrofula, she also chose her acupoint and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He practically climbed onto the bed to sleep, and Xiao Jingshi said, "Sleep well. I bought this bed when I went to the provincial examination last time. The only problem is that the mattress smells musty and rotten. Even burning incense won't help."
Knowing her husband was picky, Miaozhen said, "I'll treat her tomorrow and have someone thoroughly clean and prepare her."
Xiao Jingshi buried his head in the crook of her shoulder: "This is very nice, it smells very good."
"Like a puppy," Miaozhen laughed.
Xiao Jingshi kissed her forehead and patted her body: "Go to sleep."
Miaozhen fell asleep quickly and came over early in the morning. She first said to the Huang family, "I will first use moxibustion to treat Miss. You take this prescription, boil it with two cups of water and three slices of ginger, and give it to Miss to take later."
Moxibustion should be applied first, following the method for treating scrofula, to the following acupoints: Yifeng (TE17), Jianjing (GB21), Shousanli (LI10), Neiguan (PC6), Jianshi (PC5), and Tianjing (TE10).
Since everyone was a woman, there was no need for any taboos. While performing moxibustion, Miaozhen said to Madam Huang, "This is a chronic ailment of yours, Miss. It usually takes a month for an ordinary person, but it will probably take three months for you. I will come over frequently during these three months."
Madam Huang said, "Thank you so much, Dr. Xu. Oh dear, it's been a long journey for you. I had prepared a courtyard, but you said you had a house of your own. That's really..."
“Madam, you needn’t worry. I’m just afraid that my two children are too young and will cry and make a fuss.” Miaozhen didn’t seem to care about that.
After the moxibustion was finished, Madam Huang sent people not only rice and grain, but also two sets of clothes, two bracelets, and ten gold fans.
Of the ten gold fans, Miaozhen picked out three and gave them to Xiao Jingshi: "You can use them when you go out to socialize."
Xiao Jingshi had once again been taken advantage of by a woman, so he said, "Now that you're in Nanjing, why don't you go to the Cheng family's place?"
"I think we should wait a while before discussing it. Firstly, I don't know how Miss Huang is doing. If she's much better, I'll have the face to travel around. If she's not well, it wouldn't be good for the Cheng family to find out. As for you, now that you're in Nanjing, do you want to go out and attend any literary gatherings?" Miaozhen asked.
Xiao Jingshi snorted coldly: "What kind of literary gathering is this? In the end, they all end up heading to the Qinhuai River."
Miaozhen knew that there were many famous courtesans on the Qinhuai River. She looked at him and asked, "Haven't you ever been there?"
"I really haven't been there," Xiao Jingshi quickly explained.
Miaozhen shook her head. "I don't believe it."
Xiao Jingshi became anxious: "I really won't go, I don't like going."
"That's good. It's best if you never go there. If you do something reckless behind my back, then I won't like you anymore. Those places are just dens of iniquity, there's no real affection there, and you might even catch a disease." Miaozhen glanced at him.
But Xiao Jingshi said, "It's not just brothels and theaters; many respectable women and even nuns are not proper."
Hearing him say this, Miaozhen couldn't help but ask, "Why do you dislike nunneries so much? Is it because of some unruly monks?"
When this was mentioned, Xiao Jingshi didn't say anything. When he was little, he went to that nunnery with his parents. He was a light sleeper, and when he woke up in the middle of the night, he saw a shocking scene: his mother was chanting sutras, while his father next door was being pestered by the nuns to be a groom every day. That was the most disgusting day of his life, and he didn't know how much it shocked him.
Later, as I grew up, I learned to process things on my own.
But he felt so disgusted whenever he thought about it that he couldn't bring himself to tell Miaozhen.
Miaozhen looked at him: "Did they do something to you?"
When Xiao Jingshi realized she had misunderstood and even brought up things from their childhood, Miaozhen felt sorry for him: "I've heard some things about him before. You must have been very upset back then, right?"
Seeing Miaozhen's pity for him, Xiao Jingshi felt as if he were immersed in a fragrant garden, and all the gloomy past was gone. He said, "Although I hate them, they are the ones who brought you into my life."
“Then you’re wrong. If your family doesn’t believe in Buddhism, my father will definitely try other methods, and if that doesn’t work, he’ll just give up.” Miaozhen was just joking.
Xiao Jingshi held her tightly, saying, "You are not allowed to go anywhere except here with me."
Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling, and Miaozhen's heart skipped a beat.
She had roughly learned his secrets, and their relationship had progressed further.
When there was no need to go to the Huang family, Xiao Jingshi took Miaozhen to Tianjie Temple, Linggu Temple, and Wu Temple. They traveled by boat or carriage and took the opportunity to visit the temple while offering incense.
Tianjie Temple is extremely large, and it is said to have thirty-six nunneries. Miaozhen spent a whole day exploring it but still felt that she hadn't seen it all. She felt that it had the tranquility of the mountains and forests as well as the magnificence of the murals.
The temple fair was bustling with activity. Xiao Jingshi, worried that Miaozhen might get lost, tied her hand with a ribbon. Miaozhen laughed and said, "Isn't that a bit too much?"
"Of course not. Do you think everyone in those brothels goes there voluntarily? They're just trying to lure people there. We're out having fun, but what if someone actually steals you away? In this huge city of Nanjing, where am I supposed to find you?" Xiao Jingshi sighed softly.
Miao Zhen then said coquettishly, "Okay, okay, I know I was wrong, alright?"
The arrogant guy only uttered a soft "hmm" at this moment.
They've been married for almost two years, and now they're finally feeling like they're on their honeymoon. They're so relaxed together; when they get tired, they just go home and sleep soundly, without having to worry about greetings.
The best way to maintain good health is to sleep for four to six hours every day. This is more effective than drinking any tonic soup. Naturally, Miaozhen can no longer play around. She still urges Xiao Jingshi to study, and she herself should also read more medical books.
"Mommy, let me put the flower on you." Fu'er started speaking early; at just over a year old, she could already speak in complete sentences.
When Miaozhen saw her approaching with a pair of forsythia flowers, her movements trembling yet strangely steady, she opened her arms and embraced her daughter's chubby body. Although Fu'er and Zhao'er were born on the same day, she came out first, and she wasn't picky about food, and was even a little taller than her brother.
Now she nestled obediently in Miaozhen's arms, melting Miaozhen's heart. She had never particularly liked children, but now it seemed she disliked unruly children; she liked it when the child was so well-behaved.
That's not quite right either. It should be that you're more patient with your own children, but you definitely won't have as much patience with other people's children.
The mother and daughter were whispering when Xiao Jingshi came in carrying his son. When Zhao Ge'er saw Fu Jie'er in his mother's arms, he also wanted Miao Zhen to hold him. In order not to show favoritism, Miao Zhen had no choice but to let him come up as well.
"Mother~" Zhao Ge'er meowed like a little kitten.
Xiao Jingshi came in and said, "A friend invited me over for drinks today. You three can have dinner together tonight."
"Okay, I understand," Miaozhen said with a smile.
They didn't know anyone in Nanjing, and Miaozhen was even less willing to go out. If the Cheng family found out, it wouldn't be good for them to come at this time.
It has been a month since Ms. Huang was treated in Nanjing. The Huang family is very anxious and wish she could get better immediately. Miaozhen advised them, "The illness has been going on for seven or eight years and there are still many hidden injuries. It cannot be cured overnight. We need to be patient so that the lesions can be completely cured."
Madam Huang smiled wryly and said, "I was too impatient. There's nothing I can do; my daughter is about to get married."
“I understand your feelings, but if your body isn’t fully recovered, you’ll still have to raise children and manage household chores in the future. Every single thing takes a lot of effort. Some potent medicines may seem effective in the short term, but they can damage your body and might even affect your lifespan in the future,” Miaozhen said.
Madam Huang sighed, "You're right."
Miaozhen knew that Miss Huang was not in good health, and Madam Huang and the others couldn't muster the energy to do anything. Every time she came, it was just moxibustion and adjusting the prescription. To put it bluntly, in the end, it still came down to real skills.
But this was also a great learning opportunity for Miaozhen, especially in her research on sores and ulcers.
About a month and a half later, Ms. Huang suddenly said to Miaozhen one day, "Dr. Xu, do you know? Before, moxibustion just felt hot, but today, for some reason, I feel a warm current flowing through my limbs and bones."
"That means your blood and qi are starting to circulate, which is a good thing." Miaozhen also breathed a subtle sigh of relief.
After returning home, she spent some time cuddling with the children. For some reason, she thought of the golden beam crown worn by Miaoyun, the wife of an official. She shook her head and continued to study it.
Xiao Jingshi admired Miaozhen. In the prime of spring, apart from occasionally going out to play with him, she would sit at her desk for five or six hours every day without fail, reading and studying.
Two months later, Ms. Huang felt as if her abdomen and lower back were filled with heat. She started passing gas more often, had more bowel movements, and started burping. Her energy levels were noticeably higher than before.
I had moxibustion on my neck six times, averaging once every seven days. It started to scab over, and by the seventh time it had begun to heal. By the eighth time it was completely healed.
The Huang family trusted her more, and Miaozhen felt relieved.
After arriving in Nanjing, Xiao Jingshi attended two literary gatherings and hosted a banquet at his home for several friends. He specifically told Miaozhen, "They also want to meet you. You should come out then."
"Okay, then I need to start preparing," Miaozhen said with a smile.
Xiao Jingshi added that the people he invited were also quite distinguished. One was a student from the Imperial Academy in Nanjing, surnamed Wang, who was skilled in poetry and was said to be incredibly wealthy. The other was surnamed He, a descendant of a renowned scholar.
Miaozhen calculated that a top-class banquet usually consists of two people per table at the Lion Fairy Sugar Table, with sugar cakes, five kinds of fruit, ten kinds of dishes, and fruit, plus two people playing and singing, which costs about one tael of silver.
She also has a specialty, abalone with bones, which is a famous Suzhou delicacy and always receives rave reviews.
Early in the morning, Miaozhen changed her clothes, picked out the abalone with bones, and went to the kitchen with Xiaoxi to take care of the food. After it was served, she changed into a brocade robe and put on her hair in a bun.
Outside, Xiao Jingshi had already invited the two people to sit down under the covered shed and had servants bring out the dishes. The other dishes were fine, but the abalone with bones was particularly noteworthy. Xiao Jingshi introduced it, saying, "My master is quite skilled at making this dessert. It's a famous Suzhou delicacy. You should all try it."
Upon seeing this, Wang Sanlang couldn't help but laugh and said, "I've heard of it before, but I've never used it."
He Liulang also used one at the same time, and he will use it again.
While the two of them were eating, he said, "Brother Xiao, you should also invite your wife out so we can exchange greetings."
Xiao Jingshi then had someone invite Miaozhen out. Wang and He were acquainted with Xiao Jingshi in the past. People were somewhat distant and often unrestrained. Wang Sanlang had once watched the so-called Water Curtain Cave with him. The two walked through the waterfall, and Xiao Jingshi never showed any unusual expression.
I wonder what happened to his wife?
Every now and then, a few maids would escort a young woman out. She had fair skin, curved eyebrows and eyes, and an air of friendliness that made her easy to approach. Her demeanor was dignified, and she seemed to possess a kind and gentle nature.
The two presented gifts and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."
Miaozhen returned the greeting, saying, "I dare not."
Miao Zhen went in because she wanted to get to know more of Xiao Jingshi's friends so she could find someone to help her in the future. A man will only introduce you to his friends if he truly likes you.
If he's afraid you'll go out and socialize, you should consider whether he looks down on you and doesn't want you to meet people.
Throughout this journey, Xiao Jingshi actively encouraged her to socialize, which shows that he completely regarded her as a capable helpmate, not as a caged bird.
After the banquet ended, Xiao Jingshi said the same thing to Miaozhen: "If I go to the capital for the imperial examination next year, you can take my invitation to them for help if you need anything."
“Silly boy, we’re going back to Suzhou next month. They’re in Nanjing. How can we find them?” Miaozhen laughed.
Xiao Jingshi shook his head: "If you have such an opportunity again in the future, and I am not by your side, you can't not come, can you? If you come, you will have someone to help you if anything happens."
She was surprised that Xiao Jingshi had considered things so thoroughly for her. She leaned on the table, turned her head to the side and asked him, "Why are you thinking so much about me? I didn't even think of that myself."
"Of course."
So, do you always keep me in your heart?
"No, it just suddenly came to mind."
Seeing his denial, Miaozhen couldn't help but laugh.
In fact, after about two and a half months at the Huang family home, Miss Huang's health had almost fully recovered, and she could walk like an ordinary person.
Madam Huang specially hosted a banquet for Miaozhen and her husband, and only then did Miaozhen agree to come. The Huang family had invited her several times before, but she had refused to come. Only after curing the other person did she have the confidence to do so.
The Huang family set up one table for the women and another for the men, with Commander Huang also hiring a few hangers-on to keep them company. Miaozhen, Madam Huang, and Miss Huang naturally talked about health and wellness, and Madam Huang expressed her gratitude once again. When Miaozhen mentioned that she had treated women with difficult childbirth and transverse births, and that a woman who had been childless for many years had even presented her with a plaque after being treated by her, Madam Huang and Miss Huang were deeply moved.
But Miaozhen only hinted and never pressed anyone for anything. She was never in a hurry to ask anyone to do something, because if you get too eager, others will look down on you in the future.
Furthermore, she had paved the way for Xiao Jingshi. He had protected her for several months, so she had to let him get some benefits too. Even if they were husband and wife, they shouldn't always think that what others do for them is a matter of course.
As for whether Xiao Jingshi can get in touch with the Huang family, that depends on himself. If he does, that would be great. If he doesn't, and only the Huang family still needs him, then there's still a chance.
After the banquet, the two came out together, and Miaozhen quietly asked him, "How was it?"
Xiao Jingshi took out two letters from his pocket. "These are introduction letters from Commander Huang. One is from Commander Lu, and the other is from Minister Huang."
Miaozhen smiled and said, "That's wonderful."
"And you? Stop asking me all the time, how are things on your end?" Xiao Jingshi asked with concern.
Miaozhen said, "They seem to be planning to ask me to come over again if there are any problems in the future. Anyway, I'm already on their list, so I don't need to worry about the future. I'll just have to wait and see."
Xiao Jingshi thought it made sense. The selection of female physicians in the palace was different from his imperial examination. The imperial examination had a fixed date, but the selection of female physicians was uncertain and depended on the opportunity. He thought to himself that he must pass the imperial examination. In this way, even if Zhenzhen did not enter the palace, she would still be a wife of a Jinshi in the future.
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