Chapter 68 of Volume 1: Asking a Doctor

  After serving Xian Shi Niang with her hair and makeup done, Ji Kuai suddenly discovered that Shen Zhong Ge had actually hired a horse carriage, and she couldn't help but be startled.

  "...The general has hired a carriage, it seems like they're going to travel far, Miss, put on that thick cotton-padded jacket." She deliberately ran out to take a look and saw that the carriage Shen Zhongge had hired wasn't as considerate as Gu's mother thought, there was even a charcoal brazier placed inside.

  That quilted jacket is too thick and can't be worn under an outer garment, and it's been patched up... won't he feel embarrassed going out with Shen Zhongge?

  Lowering her head in thought, Zhen Shi Niang shook her head and said, "Let it be."

  "Then bring the bedding and spread it on the cart." Ji Que said, without waiting for Zhen Shiniang to respond, she turned around and called out to Qiu Ju, "Go get the bedding..."

  Just as he was about to get on the carriage, he saw Autumn Chrysanthemum bring out a quilt, Shen Zhongge frowned and looked at the narrow space of the carriage, wanting to let her take it back. He caught a glimpse of Zhen Shiniang's thin figure with his peripheral vision, hesitated for a moment, and stepped aside.

  He got on the horse carriage, Shen Zhongge let down the curtain and turned back to instruct the coachman, "Let's go!"

  "The carriage..." The coachman cracked his whip and with a creaking sound, the wheels of the carriage began to turn slowly.

  Rong Sheng also mounted his horse and followed closely behind.

  "Miss!" The carriage had just turned into the alley when Qiujie came running up from behind, panting and shouting at the top of her lungs.

  "Stop the carriage." Zhen Shining lifted the curtain, "What's going on?"

  "Xiao Daren gave me this hand warmer..." Qiu Ju held up the cloisonné crane-patterned hand warmer, "There's not much charcoal left, Xi Que said it can still be used for one or two more hours, Miss should bring it with her to reduce some suffering." Zhen Shimiang was afraid of the cold, and Shen Zhongshuo didn't say where they were going. How long would they sit in the horse carriage, Xi Que was really worried.

  Alas, this cold-faced killer was not someone the three of them could afford to provoke.

  Zhen Shining's forehead was covered in cold sweat after hearing this.

  This chrysanthemum is telling him that he is restless at home, isn't it?

  Another reason for divorce!

  I recall the last time I only saw myself and Zhang Zhi talking, he was interrogating her in a stern tone, asking if she still wanted to remarry. This time, I found out that she had accepted such an expensive gift from someone, with evidence at hand, I wonder if she will be punished on the spot?

  The more she thought about it, the more uneasy her heart became. The large hand warmer in Autumn Chrysanthemum's hands suddenly felt like Mount Tai pressing down on her, and Zhen Shi Niang only felt her ears buzzing with a loud ringing sound.

  It's best if this hand warmer disappears immediately. Without evidence, she can deny it until death.

  Infinite divine powers, change, change, change...

  In her heart, Zhen Shiniang was silently reciting the incantations from the previous life's animation that could make things disappear, hoping that heaven would see her as a transmigrator and make this hand warmer disappear immediately.

  Until a creaking sound, the carriage started again. Zhen Shining found that the hand warmer was still intact in her hands and was even calmly hugged in her arms.

  Yu Guang stealthily glanced at Shen Zhongge.

  Still with that cold and frozen expression, unable to discern joy or anger.

  The horse carriage had traveled for almost an hour and a half before stopping in front of a quiet and elegant courtyard gate.

  "Is Master Zhong at home?" Rong Sheng jumped off his horse and knocked on the door.

  What's wrong with you?

  Zhen Shining turned her head and looked at Shen Zhongge.

  "This doctor is a renowned divine physician, nicknamed Yan Wang Xiong. Let him take your pulse, and maybe... he can cure you..." Shen Zhongge turned his face away, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

  Is it that he didn't believe her words, or was he genuinely taking care of her illness?

  Zhen Shining gazed at Shen Zhongke's broad back with narrowed eyes, her brow furrowed in deep thought.

  Master Zhong, forty-five or six years old, short and stout, smiled like a Maitreya Buddha when he saw Shen Zhongge standing at the door. He was so startled that he repeatedly saluted. "General has something to say, let someone pass on the message, but actually came in person, really embarrassing for me..." Turning his head to call out to his family members, "General Shen is here, quickly come out and pay respects!"

  Shen Zhongjie waved his hand to stop him, but it was too late. Mrs. Zhong had already brought out her two sons with a look of surprise and delight. After exchanging pleasantries, Mr. Zhong invited Shen Zhongjie and the others into the living room, where someone poured a pot of fine West Lake Longjing tea. "General, what brings you here..."

  "Look at her illness..." Shen Zhong pointed at Zhen Shiniang.

  Since entering the house, Shen Zhong had not been introduced, and Clock Master did not dare to ask more questions. Hearing that he was asked to examine the illness of this quiet woman like a chrysanthemum, he looked at her inquiringly, "This is..."

  She herself wore a simple linen dress with a jade hairpin, while Shen Zhongjie was dressed in luxurious silk fabrics. It was said that they were husband and wife, but they didn't match at all. Zhen Shiniang looked at Shen Zhongjie.

  "It's an internal injury." Shen Zhongge's voice was calm and even. "She has suffered from blood deficiency, please trouble Doctor Zhong to take a closer look."

  Inside person?

  Zhong Dafu blinked his eyes.

  The general's mansion is not short of money, how can he wear such shabby clothes?

  With a puzzled mind, Zhong Dafu didn't dare look at Zhen Shiniang again, slightly lowering his head and respectfully asking her to extend her hand.

  Zhen Shining rolled up her sleeves with a big gesture, revealing her slender and pale wrists.

  "How long has Mrs. Shen been ill?" asked Dr. Zhong after taking her pulse.

  "Four years?"

  "What is the reason for this?"

  "Ah..." Zhen Shi Niang glanced at Shen Zhong Ge, hesitated for a moment, and slowly said, "Blood splatter."

  "What caused the hemorrhage and how was it treated at that time?" Doctor Zhong suddenly sat up straight.

  Shen Zhong'e also sat up straight, staring at Zhen Shi'niang without blinking.

  He had always wondered what kind of hardship she had gone through.

  Hesitating for a moment, Zhen Shi Niang shook her head, "I don't understand how the doctor treated me either, I only know that at the time I drank many medicinal soups, it seemed to have included Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, and Millettia dielsiana...". She listed out the prescription she used back then and the one she was using now.

  Look at this prescription and her symptoms are clearly postpartum hemorrhage!

  Zhong Dafu looked at Zhen Shiniang in disbelief. If it was postpartum hemorrhage, it would be a miracle for her to survive until now. Who took care of her?

  So far, he had never seen a case of postpartum hemorrhage that could survive for so long. A kind of excitement like discovering a new continent made Dr. Zhong's heart beat rapidly, and his old eyes, like those of Maitreya Buddha, flashed with a bright light. He opened his mouth to ask if it was postpartum hemorrhage and who treated her. But facing the quiet and almost lifeless gaze of Shang Yuniang, the question got stuck in his throat:

  Obviously she's knowledgeable about medicine since she can recite the prescription so clearly, how could she not understand what treatment was given at that time?

  He immediately thought of Zhen Shi Niang's evasive answer to his question about how she had induced the miscarriage, and then thought of the look Zhen Shi Niang had given Shen Zhong Ge before the miscarriage. He also thought of how Shen Zhong Ge had been tight-lipped from the moment he entered the door, and then thought of the rumors outside that Shen Zhong Ge was infertile, and Doctor Zhong felt a chill run down his spine.

  There must be some hidden secret behind this matter that cannot be revealed!

  Having practiced medicine for over thirty years, Dr. Zhong also frequently came and went from the Hou's large mansion, and was not unfamiliar with the unspeakable secrets within the mansion.

  It's just a pity to miss an opportunity to learn about new methods for treating hemoptysis.

  A hint of disappointment flashed in Doctor Zhong's eyes, but then he thought about Shen Zhongge's immense power and influence, and how many famous doctors had been consulted, and how much silver had been spent to keep her alive until now. If she were from a poor family, she might have died long ago. It wasn't necessarily someone with extraordinary medical skills who could save her. His mind balanced out again, and his expression calmed down. He thought to himself, "She won't live for much longer anyway, I'd better not get too involved in this, it's fine if I don't ask about the cause of her illness." However, he furrowed his brow again, "Without a clear understanding of the cause of the illness, how can I prescribe medicine?"

  Diagnosing is one thing, but getting confirmation from the patient's mouth is another.

  I don't know what Zhong Dafu was thinking at this moment, seeing his expression change. Finally, he furrowed his brow again, and Zhen Shiniang's heart slowly hung up, "...... How is it, is there a problem with this prescription?"

  For years, she had changed several prescriptions for nourishing blood, but her body was getting worse and worse. She couldn't afford to see a doctor and often stopped taking medicine and food, which was one aspect. Zhen Shiniang suspected that the direction of her treatment might be wrong. As the saying goes, "a doctor cannot treat himself", this Doctor Zhong had a reputation outside. He was known as Yan Wang You, she wanted to hear his opinion.

  "Madam's prescription is fine, it's just... " Doctor Zhong hesitated and looked up at Shen Zhongge.

  "......You go out first." Shen Zhongge looked at Zhen Shiniang and instructed.

  She is also a doctor!

  With Zhong's reminder, she might have the confidence to cure her own illness. She sat stubbornly for a moment, seeing Shen Zhong's resolute attitude, Zhen Shi Niang reluctantly stood up.

  "What's wrong with the person inside, is it serious?" Only after she disappeared from view did Shen Zhongge lean forward, his eyes filled with unconcealed concern.

  "Master Zhong shook his head, 'The pulse of the respected madam is floating and large but slow, it's a case of yin blood deficiency caused by the inability to transform the essence of food and water into blood...' He went on to say a lot more."

  Shen Zhong didn't understand a single sentence.

  He impatiently waved his hand, "You only said that if the illness of the woman is cured, how long will it take?" He also said, "Money is not a problem."

  Doctor Zhong's face suddenly turned red, "Honorable lady's blood..." He wanted to say that the blood was no longer carrying oxygen and there was no cure, but he was afraid Shen Zhongge wouldn't understand and would be impatient. Doctor Zhong paused for a moment, "The vital energy has been exhausted, like an oil lamp running out of fuel..." He shook his head and didn't continue speaking.

  Shen Zhong held him in a tight grip, "You're saying..."

  "Doctor Zhong nodded, 'If you take good care of yourself and don't worry too much, you might be able to live another year or so.'"

  "What she said is actually all true!" Shen Zhong's hands slowly fell down.

  He suddenly raised his head, looked at Doctor Zhong sincerely, "Doctor Zhong is known as Yan Wang's worry, it is said that even those who are recorded in the book by Yan Wang can be brought back by you, can't you do anything?" His tone carried a hint of hope that he himself had not noticed.

  Zhong Dafu sighed, "There are six illnesses that cannot be cured. Those who are too weak to take medicine cannot be cured. The honorable lady's illness is a chronic one, her body is too weak to withstand the power of medicine... even if Hua Tuo were to come back to life, it would be hard to save her." He shook his head, "The prescription the honorable lady is currently taking is already the best..."

  ……

  "What about Mrs. Shen?" After seeing Shen Zhongjie off in the living room, without seeing Zhen Shiniang, Zhong Dafu called over his wife and asked, "The general wants to leave."

  "Madam Shen is watching the snow in the backyard..." Madam Zhong said to Shen Zhong, "General, please wait a moment, I'll go find her immediately."

  "I'll go myself," Shen Zhongjie said, stepping out of the house.

  Look at the slender and blurred figure under the withered banyan tree, Shen Zhongge stopped in his tracks and looked carefully.

  She was very afraid of the cold, and it seemed that under the colorful woolen scarf and flower-patterned vest, she was still wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket. Nevertheless, from behind, her waist could still be grasped with one hand.

  She's too thin!

  It seems that what Master Zhong said is true, she has exhausted her vital energy.

  Fragrance fades, jade shatters, the beauty is gone. She's really going to slip away bit by bit in her most beautiful years. Just like the snow on the ground, a spring rain will melt it all away, leaving no trace...