Chapter 50: Genetic Disease

Huang Niu was overwhelmed by the presence of Lu Man, who appeared almost divine and showed no hint of disdain towards her. Lu Man’s gentle demeanor almost moved her to tears. She sat on the silk stool, carefully positioning her arm only on one corner of the table, afraid of tarnishing it, her body tense with nervousness.

After a few comforting words, Lu Man placed her delicate jade-like fingers on Huang Niu’s wrist.

After checking her pulse, Lu Man inquired about Huang Niu’s menstrual condition. Huang Niu explained that her menstruation was irregular, accompanied by severe menstrual pain, dark and scanty blood with small clots…

Upon examining Huang Niu’s tongue coating and complexion, Lu Man noticed bruising on her face and neck, subtle but apparent due to their prolonged presence. Additionally, she observed how Huang Niu hesitated to roll up her sleeves, keeping them tightly clenched, possibly concealing something on her arms.

With a somber expression, Lu Man turned to Huang and asked, “Does your son frequently abuse his wife?”

Terrified, Huang knelt down, sighing, “My son is anxious because his wife hasn’t conceived yet, so he, he…”

Liu Ya scolded, “How can you speak like that to Third Young Madam? It’s rude!”

Hastily, Huang corrected herself, “I’m sorry, I misspoke. I meant ‘conceive.'”

Lu Man explained, “Stress and fear can lead to infertility. If your son continues to abuse his wife, there’s no point in seeking treatment.”

Huang bowed again, promising, “Third Young Madam, I will discipline my son and ensure he never harms his wife again.”

Observing Huang further, Lu Man remarked, “Huang Niu’s complexion is dull, her tongue coating is pale and thin, and her pulse is taut. I will prescribe two sets of medication for her to start taking on the first day of her next menstruation. After her period, she should come for moxibustion therapy.”

In an era without advanced medical equipment to diagnose issues like blocked fallopian tubes or developmental abnormalities in the ovaries or uterus, Lu Man’s pulse diagnosis skills were not precise enough to distinguish between these conditions. Therefore, her approach focused on regulating menstruation, soothing the liver, relieving stress, nourishing blood, and tonifying the spleen.

Before they left, Lu Man tactfully reminded the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, “For the moxibustion treatment on the feet, um, make sure to maintain personal hygiene at home.”

Huang didn’t fully grasp the meaning of “hygiene,” but she understood it as a reminder for her daughter-in-law to clean her feet. Blushing, she nodded in agreement.

After writing the prescription, they thanked Lu Man profusely and took their leave.

Before departing, Huang Niu knelt down and kowtowed three times to express her gratitude. She was surprised by the Third Young Madam’s kindness, not only treating her but also forbidding her husband from hitting her again.

Once they left, Xing pouted and remarked, “Third Young Madam, I heard that Huang’s daughter-in-law works as a night incense burner, quite dirty. We shouldn’t keep the stool she sat on, it smells.”

Liu Ya scolded her, “Why are you talking nonsense in front of Third Young Madam?”

Lu Man quite liked Xing’s innocent and lively nature and didn’t get upset. She smiled and said, “No need to discard it, place it in the south ear room in the west wing of the backyard. Tidy up the room, place a table, a few stools, and a small bed. In the future, when servants come for treatment, they can use that space.”

Lu Man wasn’t bothered by it, in her past life as a midwife, she had encountered situations where women defecated during childbirth. As a doctor, she treated all patients equally. However, in this setting, she had to maintain standards to avoid being criticized for being sloppy.

Though Liu Ya and Lu Ying didn’t express their disdain openly, they quickly lit incense and opened the windows to freshen the air.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, it was already mid-May, with the weather growing hotter, and the treatment of the Old Marquis proceeded smoothly.

On the tenth day, the Eldest Master of the mansion only visited to inquire about the Old Marquis’s health but didn’t stay for a meal. This was because Princess Changting, accompanied by the three Madams, had gone to the palace for dinner and would return later.

That afternoon, Lu Man saw Jiang Zhanyu again, along with the Second Master, came to pay respects to the Old Marquis.

His complexion had improved slightly, retaining his graceful demeanor. After greeting the Old Marquis and expressing gratitude to Lu Man, he was persuaded by the Second Master to rest, having rushed back from Dingzhou.

Jiang Zhanyu also brought gifts for each master. That evening, his maid sent a Xiang bamboo fan to Lu Man. The maid mentioned she would also visit Qingfeng Courtyard to bring Eighth Young Master two goat hair brushes and four small wooden dolls for Jiang Jiu.

He truly was a gentleman, treating all family members equally. Lu Man’s impression of him grew even more positive. She considered inquiring about his ailment in the future, if she couldn’t cure him, she had “Records of Revival” and numerous medical texts from the He family to refer to.

With her mind occupied and the need to focus on practicing acupuncture and pulse diagnosis, Lu Man hadn’t continued reading “Record of Revival” or other medical books.

Lu Man had already taken “He Family’s Medical Case Notes” back to Orchid Pavilion. She had removed the pages related to treating “living tree people” and inserted them into “Record of Revival.” Additionally, she had patched up the torn page with new content on a separate sheet of paper.

The next morning, Lu Man arrived at Crane Hall. Upon entering the main hall and courtyard, she sensed something amiss. There were no servants around, and the maid stationed at the gate hung her head low. Even the birds under the eaves seemed quieter than usual.

Before entering the main room, Lu Man could hear Princess Changting scolding someone angrily through the window. It seemed Jiang Zhanyu had defied advice and gone to study at the Imperial Academy.

Princess Changting, unwilling to scold her grandson or son, directed her frustration at her daughter-in-law, criticizing her for being a drunkard and neglectful. She lamented Jiang Zhanyu’s poor health and upbringing, blaming it on the Lin family.

Could the Second Madam have a history of genetic diseases, causing her first son to die at birth and Jiang Zhanyu to suffer from poor health?

Rather than intrude on the situation, Lu Man quietly made her way to the Old Marquis’s bedroom in the east wing. Inside, everyone was preoccupied, avoiding any noise that might attract Princess Changting.

Approaching the Old Marquis, Lu Man observed him and engaged him in light conversation, speaking softly near his ear, “Grandfather, your granddaughter-in-law is here to visit you again. Your complexion looks good today, almost as if you’ve had a bit of wine. You must have had a good night’s sleep yesterday. That’s good, praise is in order. When you wake up, I’ll make a special dish for you, something you’ve never tasted before…”

Before she could finish, she noticed the Old Marquis twitching his nose slightly.