“…I think we must add leech to eliminate stasis and swelling…”
Qi Yue was already dizzy from continuous artificial respiration and couldn’t hear clearly what these doctors were discussing. Even if she could hear clearly, she probably wouldn’t understand. She stood up to catch her breath briefly, not looking back at these doctors who were now engaged in heated discussion and argument. What she could do was point the direction; as for how to prescribe targeted medication, that was up to them. She bent down again to continue breathing.
Outside the room, people from the Xie family were also standing everywhere.
Old Madam Xie sat in a round chair, wrapped in a thick cloak.
Because she refused to wait in a side room, the eldest master, eldest aunt, and others had to accompany her here.
So everyone had heard the previous conversation inside.
“Can these quack doctors do it…” the eldest aunt frowned, anxiously looking toward the door, then bowing her head to speak to Old Madam Xie. “Mother, why don’t I go personally and offer more payment to invite Old Physician An… These people, these people are completely making a mess. Look at the things they’re using – wooden boards, braziers – can these cure illness? And these doctors can’t even write a prescription by themselves, huddling together arguing…”
Old Madam Xie neither moved nor spoke.
“Mother,” the eldest aunt couldn’t help but raise her voice, looking at her son and daughter-in-law who were pressed against the door like lost souls, then thinking of her own legitimate eldest grandson. “Your grandson’s face and status are precious, but my grandson is also your great-grandson. You, you’re being too partial!”
After saying this, she flicked her sleeves and left.
The eldest master couldn’t stop her with his scolding and quickly knelt before Old Madam Xie to apologize.
“It’s fine. She’s a blockhead – don’t mind her,” Old Madam Xie said slowly.
“Then, then, Mother, should we really not try again to invite Old Physician An…” the eldest master asked hesitantly after a moment.
After all, they really couldn’t trust those people in the room.
“No need,” Old Madam Xie gripped her cane tightly, sitting upright in her chair, and said in a deep voice. “Since Old Physician An is unwilling, then we shouldn’t force him.”
The An family’s gate was awakened by knocking in the middle of the night, leaving everyone somewhat helpless, though as a physician’s household, this was a common occurrence.
Young Physician An looked at the eldest aunt from the Xie family pacing anxiously back and forth in the reception hall and sighed helplessly.
“Madam Xie,” he stepped forward and bowed.
“Young Physician An, please ask the old physician to come again,” the eldest aunt said, her face full of anxiety, her voice somewhat choked. “This grandson of mine came with difficulty. If something happens to him, I’m afraid my daughter-in-law won’t survive either…”
Young Physician An asked her to sit, but how could the eldest aunt sit still?
“Madam, it’s not that we refuse to save lives, but we truly cannot save this one,” he said in a low voice. “Madam, this pediatric acute convulsive syndrome strikes fiercely and truly has no cure. It’s an incurable condition. Madam, when Bian Que saw Duke Huan and turned to leave, it was for this very reason.”
“But this disease isn’t incurable,” the eldest aunt said urgently, trying hard to remember the fragments she had heard. “It’s… it’s the brain… something bleeding. As long as we stop the bleeding, uh… stop bleeding… reduce… reduce something…”
“Brain bleeding?” Young Physician An frowned, not understanding the eldest aunt’s words. “What brain bleeding?”
How would the eldest aunt know?
“Anyway, it can be treated. Right now my nephew’s wife is treating it with a group of street doctors…” she could only say.
Young Physician An looked shocked, then smiled bitterly.
As the saying goes, when illness strikes, one desperately seeks medical help. This was understandable.
“Then let’s hope the young master will be blessed with good fortune and longevity,” he nodded.
“That’s not what I mean,” the eldest aunt wasn’t saying this. She quickly said, “How can they be capable? Old Physician An should still go take a look.”
Young Physician An sighed – they were back to this topic again.
“Madam, please forgive us, but we truly cannot,” he bowed.
“Then I’m not leaving!” the eldest aunt slapped her hand down and sat.
For Young Physician An, this wasn’t anything rare or troublesome.
“Someone, serve tea to Madam Xie,” he said gently.
Immediately servants brought tea and thoughtfully provided cushions and blankets.
“Madam, the night is cold,” Young Physician An said.
The eldest aunt felt a surge of anger stuck in her chest. After glaring for a long time, she angrily grabbed the cushions and blankets.
I’m not leaving! Deal with it!
Young Physician An hesitated for a moment before leaving the reception hall.
“Should we still inform the old master?” a servant asked.
“No need,” Young Physician An said. “I estimate that by dawn, the Xie family will come with news, and that Madam Xie will naturally return.”
The news would naturally be that the child had died…
The servant lowered his head in silence and said no more.
“However…” Young Physician An hesitated slightly, thinking of what the eldest aunt had said, and stroked his beard. “Brain bleeding…”
The servant looked at him uncomprehendingly.
Young Physician An looked at the courtyard, smiled, and shook his head. He wrapped his cloak tighter without saying anything more and walked along the corridor.