◎Old Madam, I might be able to cure this illness of yours.◎

On the sickbed nearby, Old Madam Jiang lay with her eyes half-closed, neither fully asleep nor fully awake. After listening for a while as her grandson and Physician Yuan discussed changing the prescription, she let out a low sigh and said slowly, “Enough, Heng’er. See Physician Yuan out.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Physician Yuan bowed toward the bed, then turned and left with his medicine case.

After he was gone, Old Madam Jiang, her eyelids still half-lowered, stared at the half-burned charcoal in the brazier and said with a faint smile, “It’s nothing serious, just an old ailment. It’s far from the heart—enduring it a little isn’t a big deal.”

Hearing this, Nanny Hong, who had served her for many years and was standing at the foot of the bed, was the first to tear up. She raised a handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose, bowing her head as tears fell.

Some illnesses, though not fatal, torment one day after day. More than ten years ago, the old madam could still draw a bow and hunt in the woods, but now she had been worn down to little more than skin and bones. From Physician Yuan’s meaning, it seemed there was no cure. What could be done? Were they just to let the old madam suffer like this? In pain while eating, in pain while sleeping—how could a perfectly good person be tormented to death like this!

Her crying made Zhao Hanyun also feel distressed. She stepped forward, knelt by the foot of the bed, took her grandmother’s hand, and pressed her forehead against it, her eyes welling with tears. “Grandmother…”

Suppressing the numbness and pain in her waist and legs, Old Madam Jiang reached out to pat her granddaughter’s head and chided gently, “It’s just an old ailment. There’s nothing to cry about.” But as she spoke, she too couldn’t help reddening her eyes.

If there were a way, who would willingly endure such pain? But many physicians had been consulted, and after years of intermittent treatment, the conclusion seemed to be that she could only drag on like this. Aside from resigning herself to fate and comforting her children and grandchildren, what else could she do?

“Old Madam, I might be able to cure this illness of yours.”

At the sound of a young woman’s voice, everyone in the room was startled. Old Madam Jiang looked up toward the source of the voice and saw two unfamiliar faces by the window. They were two young girls, both dressed appropriately—one gentle and elegant, the other bright and cheerful. She couldn’t help but glance at her granddaughter. “This is…?”

Zhao Hanyun paused for a moment, wiping her tears with a handkerchief before replying, “Grandmother, this is the second daughter of the Chu family, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works, named Yufu. The other is Miss Chu’s cousin, Lu Jia’an. Today, I invited them over to brew tea and enjoy the snow. When they happened to hear you were unwell, they came along to visit…” She bit her lip and added, “I’ve heard that Miss Chu is also skilled in medicine. Why not… let her take a look?” Since they were already here.

The heir of the Zhao family had noticed the newcomers earlier. Hearing Chu Yufu’s words, he turned to glance at her and also said, “Yes, I’ve heard that some time ago, when an epidemic broke out in the capital, the Chu family’s servants suffered few losses, thanks in large part to Miss Chu’s exceptional medical skills. Why not let her examine you?”

“Oh? The Chu family—then Wei Rong is your…” Old Madam Jiang smiled gently but did not directly address the offer of examination. She knew her own body well. Moreover, she had been ill for ten years, treated for ten years, taken countless medicines, and seen numerous physicians, all to no avail. What could a young girl in her teens possibly do?

Chu Yufu stepped forward, bowed, and replied, “Wei Rong is my grandmother.”

Old Madam Jiang nodded, forcing a smile. “Good child, I appreciate your kindness, but there’s no need to examine me. This old bones of mine will hold on a while longer. Once the weather warms up and spring arrives, I’ll naturally recover. Don’t worry.”

Then she patted her granddaughter’s hand. “Alright, weren’t you all going to the back to enjoy the snow? Go on now. Grandmother will be fine.”

As they spoke, Chu Yufu maintained a respectful demeanor, but her eyes unconsciously drifted to Old Madam Jiang’s lower back. Hearing that the old madam wasn’t even giving her a chance to try, she looked up and spoke directly.

“Old Madam, if I’m not mistaken, your condition began with numbness and pain in the lower back, which gradually developed into numbness and pain in one side of the buttock and leg. To be more precise, the pain should follow the meridians along the front of the thigh, the inside of the knee, and the inside of the calf. Am I correct?” Chu Yufu’s gaze was intense as she looked directly at Old Madam Jiang.

Earlier, when Physician Yuan was performing the massage treatment, she had observed carefully. The area he massaged was precisely between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. When nerves in this area are compressed, the typical pain regions are exactly those she had just described. In modern times, due to lack of exercise and prolonged sitting, at least five out of ten people suffer from lumbar spine issues. Thus, she was no stranger to this condition—in fact, she was quite familiar with it.

The moment her words landed, not only was Old Madam Jiang stunned, but even Lu Jia’an, who had been gently tugging at Chu Yufu’s sleeve to stop her from speaking further, was left speechless.

It was Nanny Hong who reacted first. She looked at Miss Zhao with surprise and doubt—had the fifth young miss revealed such detailed symptoms after learning of them? But Zhao Hanyun, after a moment of stunned silence, instead turned to her and asked, “Nanny Hong, is what Miss Chu said correct?”

Nanny Hong glanced at the old madam and nodded silently. Delighted, Zhao Hanyun immediately stood up from the foot of the bed, pulled Chu Yufu to the bedside with one hand, and with the other, guided her grandmother’s hand to rest on the edge of the bed. “Miss Chu, please examine my grandmother carefully!”

By the time Old Madam Jiang gathered her thoughts, Chu Yufu’s fingers were already resting on her wrist, beginning the pulse diagnosis! Gazing at the young, delicate face before her and recalling the girl’s earlier words, Old Madam Jiang’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She hadn’t been aware that young ladies from official families also studied medicine—and to such an advanced level that they could accurately identify her condition at a glance? Was she truly skilled, or… had she somehow obtained the medical records from outside?

At this thought, Old Madam Jiang’s eyes narrowed slightly. She did not withdraw her hand, allowing Chu Yufu to continue the diagnosis quietly.

After a few moments, Chu Yufu retracted her hand and looked up to find Old Madam Jiang watching her. After a moment’s thought, she added, “Old Madam, may I examine your lumbar spine?”

Old Madam Jiang pondered for a moment before replying, “Of course.” With that, she turned slightly and lay face down on the bed.

However, Chu Yufu hesitated at the sight of Old Madam Jiang’s thick clothing. After a brief pause, she spoke up, “For bone injuries like yours, Old Madam, diagnosis and treatment through clothing are never as effective as direct contact with the skin.”

Before the old madam could respond, Nanny Hong frowned and said, “This… other physicians have never made such a request.”

Chu Yufu thought for a moment and explained, “The old madam’s injury is internal. To assess bone injuries, physicians must rely on touch through the skin. It’s like trying to feel the coins inside a pouch through the fabric—there’s already some obstruction making it difficult to discern clearly. If additional layers of cloth are wrapped around the pouch, it becomes even more challenging. Most practicing physicians are men, and out of respect for propriety between men and women, they would never make such a forward request. Since the old madam and I are both women, this concern doesn’t apply. It is for the sake of your condition that I make this request.”

Her explanation was reasonable and well-founded. After hearing it, Nanny Hong couldn’t help but nod. She glanced at Old Madam Jiang, who closed her eyes and gave a slight nod. “Heng’er, Yun’er, please accompany Miss Lu to enjoy the snow for now.”

The named individuals bowed slightly and acknowledged the instruction. As they exited, Lu Jia’an cast a worried glance at Chu Yufu. Seeing her friend respond with a faint smile, her anxious heart eased slightly, and she followed the others out.

Now, only five people remained in the warm chamber: Old Madam Jiang, Chu Yufu, Nanny Hong, and two young maids.

The two maids moved an embroidered screen in front of the bed and lit a charcoal brazier beside it to ensure the old madam wouldn’t catch a chill. Nanny Hong then helped Old Madam Jiang sit up partially and, together with Chu Yufu, removed the old madam’s outer garments.

Chu Yufu draped clothing over Old Madam Jiang’s upper body to cover her shoulders and back, and used a brocade quilt to cover her legs, leaving only her lower back and hips exposed. She then warmed her hands by rubbing them together and gently placed them on the old madam’s lower back, carefully feeling for any abnormalities.

Years of enduring back pain had left Old Madam Jiang unable to eat or sleep well, resulting in an extremely thin frame—little more than skin and bones. Upon touch, an abnormal curvature of the spine was immediately detectable. When pressing on the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae obvious muscle spasms could be distinctly felt under her fingers.

The weather was gloomy that day, with a biting north wind. Old Madam Jiang’s back and legs were plagued by severe numbness and pain, but she had forced herself to endure it while her grandchildren were present. Now that they had left, she let her guard down. As Chu Yufu worked, the old madam groaned in pain, her lips turning pale.

Noticing this, Chu Yufu pressed on the Shenshu acupoint near the old madam’s waist. After three minutes, she released the pressure and moved to the Dachangshu acupoint, applying pressure for five minutes. Then, she pressed on the Huantiao acupoint on the old madam’s buttock, kneading it slowly.

For a moment, Old Madam Jiang felt slightly uncomfortable at having her buttock acupoint pressed. But immediately afterward, her attention was captured by a wave of warmth. This warmth slowly crept up from the soles of her feet, and the numbness and pain that had tormented her all morning seemed to be gradually receding!