Chapter 21: The Divine Doctor

 Chapter 21: The Divine Physician 

"Miss!" Physician Liu immediately spotted Chu Qianchen and called out without thinking.

"Miss?!" Madam Ming quickly followed Physician Liu's gaze and saw a young girl in a blue robe, her hair styled in two buns, walking gracefully into the room.

The girl was no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, her face covered with a veil, revealing a pair of beautifully shaped phoenix eyes.

These eyes were strikingly clear, black and white distinct, shining like the twinkling morning stars.

Physician Liu, as if seeing his savior, hurriedly approached Chu Qianchen and introduced her to General Ming and Madam Ming. "General Ming, Madam Ming, this young miss is the one who prescribed the medicine."

Fearing that General Ming and his wife might offend Chu Qianchen with their words, he quickly added, "Although she is young, her medical skills are extraordinary. I am deeply ashamed by my own lack of expertise."

Even with Physician Liu's words, Madam Ming still looked at Chu Qianchen with a trace of doubt in her eyes. After all, how could such a young girl, even if she had studied under a famous teacher, have read many medical texts or treated numerous patients? Could she really cure illnesses? Was she like Zhao Kuo, just skilled in theory but not in practice?

Hu Po, who followed Chu Qianchen, glanced at General Ming and only then realized that the prescription the young miss had written at noon was actually for the General. She was both shocked by his identity and puzzled as to how her mistress could know that General Ming would come to seek her treatment.

Her mistress is truly an unparalleled strategist! Hu Po gazed at Chu Qianchen with admiration.

Chu Qianchen looked calmly at General Ming, who was coughing up blood without stopping.

The reason she had come was not as mysterious as Hu Po thought.

She wasn't a deity and couldn't predict the future, so she didn't know whether the patient would use the prescription she had written. But she figured that if there was a one-third chance the patient took the medicine, upon seeing its effects, he would likely come back for a second prescription.

Or, he might have taken another prescription like the one he was using now, which had worsened his condition. But if he had heard her message through Physician Liu, he might come seeking her treatment.

The remaining one-third chance was that her trip would have been in vain, but that was nothing to worry about.

It wasn't because she had a healer's heart; it was because Physician Liu had written on the silk paper that the patient was a soldier who had retired from the battlefield, suffering from hidden injuries.

In her past life, she had spent several years in a military camp with him. Therefore, she naturally had a fondness for those who came from the battlefield, which was why she had made this special trip.

It was clear she had come to the right place!

However, Madam Ming hesitated. "My lord, why don't we..."

She was about to suggest that they invite the imperial physician instead.

"Bring the candle!" Chu Qianchen ordered the attendants. "Follow the prescription I provided and boil the medicine over high heat, making two bowls of it."

Two attendants quickly complied—one went to fetch the herbs and boil the medicine, the other to get the candle.

The attendants thought Chu Qianchen was going to administer acupuncture, but instead, she instructed Hu Po to take out a moxa stick from the medicine box and light it.

The unique scent of mugwort filled the clinic, mixed with other medicinal aromas.

Chu Qianchen walked toward General Ming holding the lit moxa stick, while Madam Ming still hesitated. However, she heard General Ming’s hoarse voice saying, "Let her try."

Madam Ming: "..."

General Ming continued, "When His Highness the Crown Prince first went to the battlefield at fifteen, everyone mocked him. But what was the result?"

"I believe treating illnesses and saving lives has a similar strategy to fighting on the battlefield."

He was extremely weak and had only spoken a few words before he started gasping for breath, his chest heaving more and more heavily.

Hearing the name that had been on her mind, a brilliant light flickered in Chu Qianchen's eyes.

"Don’t speak." She said succinctly, taking out two silver needles with practiced ease. She expertly inserted them into two of his major acupuncture points and applied moxibustion to several key areas, her movements graceful and confident.

Compared to the nervousness, uncertainty, and suspicion of those around her, Chu Qianchen remained calm and composed, as if General Ming’s illness was no more than a trivial headache or a cold.

Her tranquility subtly affected others as well. Madam Ming’s heart calmed, and she watched intently without blinking.

The one most focused might have been Physician Liu, who seemed entranced, carefully observing which acupuncture points Chu Qianchen was using on General Ming, silently digesting the meaning behind each of her steps.

No one dared to disturb her, and the clinic fell silent.

Soon, the air filled with smoke, swirling and mingling.

As she noticed that her husband’s breathing gradually became steadier, Madam Ming felt a glimmer of hope rise in her heart.

Last year, her husband had suffered serious injuries on the battlefield, which led to his return to the capital for recuperation. While his injuries had healed, his body remained weak and frail, and his health had deteriorated.

Since last winter, despite numerous physicians being summoned, none had been able to cure his illness. In fact, his condition worsened, and his life hung in the balance. Madam Ming had nearly given up hope… He was only thirty-six years old, in the prime of life.

Physician Liu and the servants of the Ming family also watched closely, not daring to make a sound or disturb Chu Qianchen.

After a while, the attendants brought in the steaming medicinal soup, and the servants helped General Ming sit up and drink it.

"Keep the second bowl warm. Feed it to him in half an hour," Chu Qianchen instructed.

The attendants nodded repeatedly.

General Ming was helped onto a couch in the clinic, and Chu Qianchen continued with her moxibustion treatment.

Although her husband’s face appeared peaceful, Madam Ming was still anxious. After all, her husband had initially seemed to improve after taking the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Wang, but within the time it took to burn a stick of incense, he had started coughing up blood again.

Time passed slowly, and it was hard to tell exactly how long it had been before Chu Qianchen extinguished the moxa stick, now burned down to a third, and took General Ming’s pulse.

"Miss..." Madam Ming wanted to ask how her husband was doing, but she suddenly heard a soft snore.

General Ming was asleep, and sleeping soundly, his breathing steady.

"Madam, master..." The maidservant exclaimed with joy, astonished.

Madam Ming’s eyes widened slightly, and the despair and unease that had been in her gaze were replaced with joy, shining brighter than ever before.

For the past few days, her husband had not had a peaceful night’s sleep. His body had grown increasingly frail and emaciated. After being married to him for over a decade, how could she not feel heartbroken?

Now, he was finally able to sleep peacefully, which could only mean the medicine had worked and his condition was improving!

It turned out that, as Physician Liu had said, this young miss truly had exceptional medical skills. She was like the reincarnation of Hua Tuo, far superior to the mediocre Imperial Physician Wang!

Madam Ming silently thanked Buddha, careful not to disturb General Ming’s deep sleep, and closed her mouth, not daring to speak.

In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the atmosphere in the clinic had completely changed. The tension lifted, and the servants of the General’s household showed expressions of joy and hope.

Chu Qianchen walked away from the couch and instructed the attendants to bring her pen and paper, then wrote a new prescription.

Physician Liu could not help but approach to see what the prescription was. Every time he saw Chu Qianchen’s prescriptions, he felt he was gaining a wealth of knowledge.

The new prescription was still very simple. Based on the first prescription, Chu Qianchen added some Codonopsis and Asparagus root and included a medicinal tea.

When Madam Ming received the new prescription, she instinctively asked, "Is this really enough with just these few herbs?"

Having seen many prescriptions in her time, Madam Ming had never encountered one so simple. Most physicians, when treating serious illnesses or urgent conditions, would write a long list of ingredients. But this prescription only had seven herbs.

After asking the question, Madam Ming immediately regretted it. After all, young geniuses often had high opinions of themselves and might not tolerate any questioning.

Physician Liu couldn’t resist speaking up: "Madam Ming, as it says in Luo Yi Hui Jiang: 'The simpler the prescription, the more refined the technique; the more complex, the more crude the practice.'"

In other words, fewer ingredients that target the illness directly reflects more precise medical skills.

Physician Liu sighed inwardly. His own grandfather had practiced medicine for decades, but he couldn’t simplify a prescription like this young miss had. It was clear that, despite her youth, her understanding of medicinal properties was profound. She was indeed a rare and gifted talent.

Chu Qianchen simply said, "My teacher always says that the key to treating illness is in identifying the symptoms clearly, and the medicine must be precise."

It’s not about using more herbs, but about using the right ones.

The prescription is derived from Zhang Xichun's Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu (The Medical Record of China and the West) 

(End of Chapter)