Chapter 35 – Bare Your Back, and Wait

Granny Li was the person sent by the Princess Consort of Prince Cheng to Vermilion Bird Lane to find the physician.

She rushed to leave Vermilion Bird Lane before the curfew and hurried back to the Cheng Prince Manor.

Concubine Mei had arranged for her people to keep a close watch on the side courtyard.

“Mistress, no physician was brought back to the side courtyard,” the maid reported softly.

Concubine Mei gave a delicate yawn and sneered.

“In the middle of the night, they really thought they could invite some miraculous doctor? So in the end, they came up with nothing.”

“All right, keep watching that courtyard.”

She was ready to sleep. The commotion tonight had been rather exhausting.

Before long, Plum Blossom Courtyard extinguished its lamps.

But in the side courtyard, the lamps still shone brightly.

Granny Li stood solemnly as she recounted what had happened at Vermilion Bird Lane.

“It was a blind old servant who opened the door. He said his master was not at home, but tomorrow he would inform his master that we had come looking.”

The Princess Consort had not expected such an outcome. She closed her eyes, tears seeping from the corners.

“Granny, tomorrow you must go wait at their door yourself. If you see that physician, invite him here at once.”

She had no choice but to gamble that what was written in the letter might be true.

All the physicians in the manor had already examined her son. He was nearing death.

“Granny…is there truly anyone who can cure my son’s illness?”

The Princess Consort, always so strong, now revealed a pained, bitter doubt.

“Princess Consort, the young master is such a good person. Heaven will surely show compassion.”

Granny Li reached out to stroke the Princess Consort’s white hair.

If the young master passed away, what would the Princess Consort have left to support her through life?

“Mother, in the future, you will be the mother of the Number One Scholar.”

When he was twelve, Young Master Qin had held a book in his hand, wagging his head in earnest, trying to coax her into a smile.

“All right, all right. Mother will wait to be the mother of the Number One Scholar.”

The Princess Consort had laughed happily then.

So many years had passed. Now her son lay dying in bed.

Could that physician in Vermilion Bird Lane really bring them any hope?

**

Fei An’an wore the cloth satchel his mother had sewn and marched into the school with his head held high.

Tang Chaoyang looked at her son’s proud, spirited little figure and pressed her lips to hide her smile.

Ma Ge, in disguise, was already waiting beside the carriage.

Tang Chaoyang climbed aboard.

“Let’s go—Prince Cheng’s manor.”

Granny Li had been standing by the main gate since early morning, and she had even ordered maids to guard the side gates.

From afar, she spotted a carriage approaching and stopping in front of the gate. Her heart lifted hopefully.

She hurried over, thinking the doctor had finally come.

But when the carriage door opened, a plainly dressed woman stepped down. Granny Li’s hopeful smile stiffened.

This ordinary-looking woman was Tang Chaoyang, disguised again.

Whenever she practiced medicine outside in the future, she planned to always dress as an unremarkable woman.

Tang Chaoyang glanced in puzzlement at Granny Li, then walked to the small side door and knocked, explaining her purpose.

Granny Li overheard her and sized Tang Chaoyang up, feeling she hardly looked like a physician—let alone that she was a woman doctor.

A woman traveling around treating patients…such work inevitably damaged one’s reputation. Because of that, very few women ever became doctors.

“You…are the one living in Vermilion Bird Lane?” Granny Li couldn’t help asking, a trace of doubt in her voice.

Tang Chaoyang smiled mildly.

“Yes. I have practiced medicine for many years and have considerable experience. I may be able to treat your young master’s illness.”

Granny Li was half convinced, half suspicious. But the young master’s condition was worsening by the day—they could not delay any longer.

After hesitating a moment, she finally decided to bring Tang Chaoyang inside to see the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort had been waiting with great anticipation for a miraculous healer.

But when she saw who Granny Li had brought, her heart plummeted.

Her gaze fell on Tang Chaoyang—she was a woman doctor, and a young one at that.

Her disappointment showed plainly on her face.

Tang Chaoyang saw it as well but merely smiled serenely, her expression calm.

“Princess Consort, you may call me Doctor Tang. Although I am a woman, I have practiced medicine for many years.”

The Princess Consort observed Tang Chaoyang’s composed manner and found there was at least something admirable about her bearing. She gave a faint nod.

“Doctor Tang, please come with me.”

When they reached the door to Young Master Qin’s room, the Princess Consort instructed the servants to bring Tang Chaoyang a cloth to cover her nose and mouth. She herself also put one on.

They pushed the door open.

A heavy medicinal scent permeated the air, bitter and oppressive.

Tang Chaoyang instructed the servants to open the windows.

The Princess Consort hesitated, but eventually nodded her consent.

Tang Chaoyang was rather satisfied by this cooperation. She had worried that the patient’s family might be troublesome.

On the bed sat the young man, leaning back against the headboard.

Although he had been so ravaged by illness he was little more than skin and bones, he still held a handkerchief over his lips as he coughed and used the other hand to read a book.

Tang Chaoyang was astonished.

This was the first time she’d seen someone so close to death who could still sit calmly reading.

A bookworm? Someone who cherished books more than life?

When Young Master Qin saw his mother enter with a strange woman, he set the book down.

“Mother—”

But he hadn’t even finished the word before he doubled over, coughing violently.

Tang Chaoyang frowned faintly.

She took a medicinal pill herself before stepping closer to the bed and sitting down.

“Give me your hand. I will take your pulse.”

Young Master Qin glanced at his mother. When she nodded, he extended his hand, bewildered.

Her fingertips pressed gently to his wrist.

She felt the frail pulse—

Deficiency of qi and blood. Obstructed circulation. The pulse slow and hesitant.

“You have long suffered from chronic coughing? Sometimes coughing up blood? You also have a persistent low-grade fever.”

Young Master Qin gave a slight nod.

“…Mm.”

The Princess Consort stood at the side, her gaze tense with worry. When Tang Chaoyang stayed silent after feeling the pulse for so long, dread filled her heart.

Tang Chaoyang finally withdrew her hand and spoke in a level voice.

“Pulmonary consumption. Your illness has dragged on too long.”

The Princess Consort nearly collapsed. Granny Li had to catch her.

As she feared—yet again, there was no hope.

Young Master Qin gave a faint smile.

“Thank you. Let it be fate.”

In the past, he would still feel unwilling. But now, he accepted it calmly.

It was only his poor mother he pitied.

Tang Chaoyang was only thinking about how to treat him. She hadn’t expected the patient to misunderstand her pause.

She smiled slightly.

“Although your condition is severe, it is not untreatable. It cannot be fully cured, but I can ensure you can live normally in the future.”

“Nor…normal…? cough cough cough cough…”

“…You’d better stop talking.”

Young Master Qin stared at her, wide-eyed. He clutched his handkerchief, wanting to ask further, but the coughs prevented him.

The Princess Consort’s voice trembled with emotion.

“Doctor Tang—can it really be treated?”

Tang Chaoyang stood and turned to her, nodding.

“Yes. I will write a prescription for medicine, and another for dietary supplements. In a moment, I will begin acupuncture. From now on, I will come every other day to perform acupuncture.”

“Good, good.”

Hope shone in the Princess Consort’s eyes.

Although they didn’t know yet what the results would be, this Doctor Tang was the only one who had said it could be treated.

Tang Chaoyang prepared to begin acupuncture, and the Princess Consort left the room.

Young Master Qin removed his garments, revealing a body gaunt to the point of deformity.

After years bedridden and never seeing sunlight, his skin had become terribly pale.

His shoulder blades and collarbones stood out starkly.

He lowered his head to look at himself, feeling a bit ashamed, though his eyes only held resignation.

Hearing Tang Chaoyang’s instructions, he lay facedown on the bed, bared his back, and waited for the needles.