Divine Doctor, You’re Busy—Please!
The last time Yu Jinnian had anything to do with candied ginger slices was on Cold Clothes Festival. It was because the weather had suddenly turned cold that day, and he had made the candied ginger slices to warm Ji Hong’s stomach. Later, as a gesture of apology for being late, he gave a packet of the candied ginger slices to Master Yixin at Fengbo Temple.
He had nearly forgotten about this until the young woman brought out the candied ginger slice, reminding him of it.
Yixin, that little monk, was indeed quite strange and always gave people an uncomfortable feeling. But what could he have to do with the White-Robed Monk?
Yu Jinnian asked, “Is the monk your family invited that White-Robed Monk?”
The young woman nodded, “Yes, that’s right. The White-Robed Master said that only a person with a pure heart and mind could prepare the vegetarian dishes with the power to dispel evil and bad luck. So, he specifically requested that you, Boss Yu of One Bowl Noodle Shop, be the one to cook.”
This was truly flattering. If the dishes he cooked could really dispel bad luck, he would have been successful months ago and wouldn’t have to worry about making a living every day.
Moreover, it was the Yang family that was inviting him. Yu Jinnian hesitated, weighing his options.
But the young woman was very persistent. Seeing that Yu Jinnian was unwilling to go with her, she refused to leave, kneeling in front of the door. When Qing Huan tried to persuade her, she didn’t listen. Instead, she knelt down with a thud and said, “If Boss Yu doesn’t agree, I’ll be beaten to death anyway, so I might as well kneel here and wait for Boss Yu to show some kindness. On the way here, I heard that Boss Yu is good at treating people and saving lives, so please understand our plight as servants and help save my life…”
She began to cry loudly.
It was hard to tell if “I’ll be beaten to death” was a common phrase among the Yang family servants, or if the Yang family had a habit of beating their servants. Why did every one of them so casually mention this phrase, and so smoothly at that?
Yu Jinnian’s main profession was treating people and saving lives, with cooking and preparing meals as his side business. Although he enjoyed both, even if he had the ability, if someone tried to force him into doing something with a “you’re a good person, so you must help me,” it would make him very unhappy, as it felt like moral blackmail. To put it bluntly, he hadn’t accepted any deposit from the Yang family, nor had he made any agreement with them. The last time, when he got beaten by the Yang family’s head and still escorted him home, that was out of kindness. Suffering a loss and then avoiding further harm was only sensible. Why would they send a little maid over to force him with her life?
It’s said that even if a business deal doesn’t go through, goodwill should remain.
Moreover, he was already annoyed with the Yang family, and this just made him dislike them even more.
Seeing that the young woman refused to get up no matter what, saying she wouldn’t rise unless Boss Yu agreed, Qing Huan worriedly looked back at Yu Jinnian to gauge his reaction.
Yu Jinnian, for once, lost his temper, pulled Qing Huan back, slammed the door shut, and said, “Then let her kneel there!”
He stormed back to the kitchen, where a pot of walnut porridge was simmering. It was made with one tael of crushed walnut meat and two taels of fragrant rice, cooked together over low heat. He slowly mashed the walnuts and rice with the back of a ladle until the mixture became a thick, sticky porridge. When small bubbles constantly rose and burst on the surface of the porridge, he added a couple of pieces of rock sugar to dissolve.
Although Qing Huan and the others often said that Ji Hong had a picky palate, Yu Jinnian found him easy to please. No matter what strange dishes he made, Ji Hong never complained. He could eat salty foods, handle a bit of spice, and didn’t reject sweets. Yu Jinnian couldn’t tell what Ji Hong particularly disliked, nor could he figure out what he especially liked.
So Yu Jinnian usually made whatever came to mind, like today’s walnut porridge. Since they had been staying up late making Golden Bell Roasts, he hadn’t had a chance to prepare any nourishing dishes for Ji Hong in days. Even though Ji Hong said he wasn’t tired, the faint dark circles under his eyes were evident to anyone. Yu Jinnian decided to make walnut porridge to strengthen Ji Hong’s vitality and nourish his kidneys.
The walnut porridge was soon ready. Yu Jinnian boiled some water and instructed Qing Huan to make a pot of light tea once the water was boiled. He then carried the bowl of porridge back to the room. It was still early, and he and Ji Hong had planned to practice calligraphy.
The two of them sat in the room, one drinking porridge, the other writing. Yu Jinnian wrote several sheets without Ji Hong being satisfied enough to stop him. Growing a bit bored, he brought up the matter of the Yang family sending someone to invite him to prepare a vegetarian banquet. As expected, Ji Hong frowned and disagreed with him going. They quickly reached a consensus. Yu Jinnian then asked, “What’s the relationship between Master Yixin and that White-Robed Monk?”
Instead of answering directly, Ji Hong asked, “What do you think?”
Yu Jinnian pondered for a moment and said, “Either Yixin knows the White-Robed Monk, and the monk asked for a favor to invite me to cook the vegetarian banquet. Or…”
He stopped there, his brow furrowing, unwilling to continue.
Ji Hong scooped up a spoonful of porridge, cooled it slightly, and held it to Yu Jinnian’s lips, completing the thought for him, “Or, Yixin is the White-Robed Monk.”
Yu Jinnian naturally tilted his head, opened his mouth to take the porcelain spoon, his teeth clicking lightly against the porcelain, and ate the spoonful of walnut porridge. He licked his lips and nodded, “Mm, so that means the White-Robed Monk isn’t some enlightened monk, let alone a celestial being. But why would Yixin pretend to be a divine monk? Could it be for money, to deceive people?”
“It must be that,” Yu Jinnian speculated confidently. “You don’t know, but his set of nine Lingzhuo needles is made of pure gold. It looks very valuable, probably from a wealthy household. If Yixin isn’t after money, then what else could it be for?” He felt his reasoning was spot on. After all, Yixin’s room was filled with gold and jewels, and he was very generous with his money.
“Oh, you don’t know, each needle in that set has a different use. But many doctors don’t know how to use them, so they end up discarded. Such a waste… Sigh, I’m not very skilled with them either…”
As Yu Jinnian rambled on about the set of gold needles that had almost been his, clearly still longing for them, Ji Hong couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. He scooped up another spoonful of walnut porridge and used it to silence the boy.
Yu Jinnian obediently ate the two spoonfuls, still oblivious to Ji Hong’s intentions.
“Enough talking,” Ji Hong said firmly, pressing Yu Jinnian’s head down, “Keep writing.”
Yu Jinnian placed his brush on a small wooden brush rest, which he had carved himself on the first day Ji Hong taught him calligraphy. That day, he had been so excited that his hands suddenly became clumsy. Normally, he could carve a radish flower without blinking an eye, but that day, he ended up gouging a hole in the wood.
He had been frustrated and was about to throw it away and start over when Ji Hong took it, carving a design out of the hole, making it seamless. Only then did Yu Jinnian realize that Ji Hong was not only skilled at calligraphy but also proficient in carving.
Seeing the little brush rest reminded Yu Jinnian of that moment, and his eyes lit up. He put down his brush and excitedly suggested to Ji Hong, “Let’s stop writing, Ah Hong. Why don’t you teach me how to carve a seal?”
Ji Hong, not knowing how Yu Jinnian suddenly thought of this, chuckled, “You haven’t even learned all your characters, and now you want to make a seal?”
Yu Jinnian daydreamed aloud, “That way, when I go to prepare a banquet for someone, I can stamp the menu with a special seal, and everyone will know it was prepared by Yu Jinnian of One Bowl Noodle Shop. Or, when I go out to treat someone, I can stamp it too. It would be so prestigious… Wouldn’t it be great?”
Ji Hong, well aware of Yu Jinnian’s mischievous nature, sized him up a few times and became even more certain that the boy wasn’t really interested in making a seal. He just didn’t want to keep writing. Sighing, Ji Hong said, “Alright, let’s do this. I’ll give you a few characters. If you can recognize all of them, you don’t have to write anymore today.”
“Bring it on!” Yu Jinnian said confidently.
He laid out a new sheet of paper, ground the ink, and sat at the table, waiting for Ji Hong’s challenge. But to his surprise, Ji Hong didn’t follow the usual routine. After setting down the bowl of porridge, he started writing directly on Yu Jinnian’s back with his finger.
Suddenly feeling a finger tracing patterns across his back, Yu Jinnian shuddered slightly as the sensation moved from top to bottom in an unbroken line. Instinctively, he glanced back at Ji Hong, only to have his chin gently turned forward by the man, who told him not to peek.
Ji Hong’s touch was incredibly light, as if he were afraid of hurting him. The sensation, filtered through several layers of clothing, was faint and indistinct. Though it was supposed to be writing, it felt more like caressing to Yu Jinnian, who had his back to Ji Hong. The soft friction between Ji Hong’s fingertip and his spine felt as though the fabric was entangled with Ji Hong’s hand, sending tiny tingles racing along his spine.
Yu Jinnian could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. How could he focus on what Ji Hong was actually writing?
“What character is it?” Ji Hong’s voice sounded from behind his ear.
Yu Jinnian’s ears warmed, and he felt a moment of shame for losing focus. Bowing his head, he replied, “I… I don’t know. Write it again!”
Ji Hong chuckled softly and wrote it again. This time, Yu Jinnian tried to concentrate, but he only recognized a few complex strokes. Unable to decipher which character it was, he grumbled in frustration, “I’ve never seen this one before. Don’t cheat; write another.”
“Alright,” Ji Hong replied and wrote another character.
“Hmm…” Yu Jinnian furrowed his brow and guessed, “Li?”
Ji Hong shook his head, smiling.
“I know! Luan, as in mountain ranges!”
Ji Hong shook his head again, “No.”
“…”
Seeing that he couldn’t recognize the character, Ji Hong wrote several more in succession. Yu Jinnian strained his mind, only managing to identify one correctly. Frustrated, he bit his lip, refusing to admit that his character recognition was poor, and instead blamed the multiple layers of clothing or Ji Hong’s too-gentle touch. Immediately, he stripped off several layers, tossing them carelessly to the floor, leaving only a thin undergarment. He gathered his hair to one side, exposing the white nape of his neck, and angrily grabbed a cushion, plopping down on it as he said, “Write it again. I’ll definitely get it this time.”
Due to frequent washing and not wanting to replace it, Yu Jinnian’s undergarment was no longer pure white but a slightly yellowed cream color. But because it was worn so often, it was incredibly soft and form-fitting, highlighting the boy’s slender figure. When Ji Hong’s fingers touched his back, he could feel the warmth radiating through the thin fabric.
Ji Hong lowered his gaze, trying to keep his thoughts from wandering, and wrote a large character on Yu Jinnian’s back.
Yu Jinnian still didn’t recognize it. This time, he truly had no excuses and, feeling defeated, slumped backward. Ji Hong, startled, quickly straightened his posture and caught him, teasing, “What, are you giving up already?”
“Sigh,” Yu Jinnian sighed, “I was wrong. What character is it?”
Ji Hong held Yu Jinnian in his arms and lifted one of his hands, writing the character in his palm, “Luan.”
Yu Jinnian, troubled by all the unfamiliar characters, didn’t think too much and earnestly traced the character in his palm a few times. He heard it as something like “luan” but wasn’t sure which character it was. Looking up with bright eyes, he asked, “What does this character mean?”
Ji Hong gently tapped Yu Jinnian’s upturned nose and pulled him closer, casually replying, “It’s my courtesy name—Shu Luan.”
Since it was a courtesy name, it was likely associated with his given name. Yu Jinnian quickly realized which character it was: Luan, an ancient mythical bird, perfectly matched with “Hong” as in the bird of the same name. So, Ji Hong had a courtesy name as well. But of course, a refined and elegant nobleman like him would have a courtesy name.
“Ji Shu Luan…” Yu Jinnian rolled the three characters around on his tongue, finding the sound pleasing.
Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but smile, clearly delighted.
Seeing Yu Jinnian’s cheerful reaction, Ji Hong felt relieved yet also a bit worried.
Since they were eventually going to return to the capital, Ji Hong knew that before that day came, he needed to make sure Yu Jinnian understood more about his background. It wouldn’t do to bring a naïve and impulsive boy back to a place like the capital, where life wasn’t as carefree as in Xinan County. Although it wasn’t exactly a dragon’s den, it could still be dangerous, and those who ventured into it might not escape unscathed.
While both were lost in their thoughts, Yu Jinnian sat in Ji Hong’s lap, tracing the characters for “Ji Shu Luan” when Qing Huan came in with tea, knocking on the door. Yu Jinnian was about to say “come in,” but when he glanced over, he changed his mind and said, “Wait a moment!”
Ji Hong then watched as Yu Jinnian jumped up, hastily gathering the clothes he had tossed aside and pretending to drape his outer robe over his shoulders before opening the door.
A gust of cold wind blew in, catching Yu Jinnian’s thin robe and sending it flying. Ji Hong stood up, grabbed a thick cloak, and draped it over Yu Jinnian’s shoulders, carefully wrapping him up. Yu Jinnian, now bundled up, couldn’t even reach out to hold the tea tray.
“I can’t, I have no hands…”
“Wear it, the wind is strong.”
“No, it’s choking me…”
“Tie it properly; you don’t want to catch a cold.”
Seeing Yu Jinnian bundled up tightly by Ji Hong, with no room for argument, Qing Huan chuckled but then suddenly remembered the maid outside. She cautiously said, “The wind has picked up outside… But that maid from the Yang residence is still kneeling out there. She’s lightly dressed and has been sneezing constantly. If she keeps kneeling, she might catch a cold by morning…”
Yu Jinnian was surprised, “She’s been there all night? Surely she doesn’t plan to kneel until dawn?”
Qing Huan hesitated, “Should I chase her away?”
As the two hesitated over whether to chase her away and how, Ji Hong suddenly let out a cold laugh, “The White-Robed Monk has gone to such lengths, so he must be determined to have you. If he wants to play tricks, sending away a maid won’t solve the problem. Since that’s the case, why not give him what he wants and see what the Yang family is up to?”
Yu Jinnian: “…What?”
—
Yu Jinnian could hardly believe that this reckless decision had been made by Ji Hong. He stared at the man in suspicion, wondering if someone had taken his place. But although the decision sounded like they were just going to the Yang residence for entertainment, it didn’t dampen Yu Jinnian’s curiosity. He had little interest in the Yang family’s mess but was somewhat intrigued by the White-Robed Monk.
Who exactly was the White-Robed Monk? Was he really Yixin in disguise? If Yixin was merely pretending to be a monk to scam money, why did he specifically request Yu Jinnian to prepare the vegetarian banquet? Could it be that this was all because of a shared fondness for candied ginger slices? Did Yixin, wealthy as he was, feel the need to enrich Yu Jinnian too, helping him get a taste of wealth?
With unresolved mysteries in mind, Yu Jinnian, along with Ji Hong and Qing Huan, followed the tearful young maid to the Yang residence that very night.
It must be said that the Yang family was indeed generous. As soon as the three of them entered the gate, before they could even get a clear view of the road, they were given a substantial amount of reward money and were led to a small courtyard near the main kitchen. Though close to the kitchen, the courtyard was quite secluded and lacked any gaudy or garish decorations.
After they settled in, the steward, whom Yu Jinnian had met before, arrived with a large group of servants and maids. The servants were efficient, quickly cleaning the courtyard, replacing the bedding with fresh sheets, and even bringing a brazier for warmth, saying that the courtyard had been unoccupied for a long time and that the brazier was to warm the room as the weather had turned cold.
The steward respectfully said, “There was a misunderstanding between my master and Boss Yu before, which was truly discourteous. Since you were recommended by the master monk, please stay here at ease. If there’s anything you need, just ask the servants. As for the vegetarian banquet over the next three days, we ask that you put in your best effort, Boss Yu.”
Yu Jinnian exchanged pleasantries with him, smiling, “You’re too kind.”
The steward also smiled, “Not at all, not at all.”
Yu Jinnian expressed a desire to meet the White-Robed Monk, but the steward, looking troubled, replied, “It’s not that we won’t allow it, but the master monk is currently in seclusion, meditating in his room, and has been for several days. He specifically instructed us not to disturb him. We only place a bowl of glutinous rice and a pot of clear water at his door each day, nothing more. Since the ritual starts tomorrow, why not wait until the master monk finishes his meditation? Then it won’t be too late to meet him.”
With such a reply, Yu Jinnian had no choice but to wait.
However, before he could meet the White-Robed Monk the next day, he encountered someone else he knew.
Later that evening, unable to bear being surrounded by a group of servants, Yu Jinnian sent them all away to sleep. Only after everyone had left did he realize that the candles in the room were about to burn out, and he couldn’t find any replacements despite searching for a long time. Regretting his earlier decision, he thought he should have kept one or two servants to stay on guard.
Worried that Ji Hong might suffer from his fear of the dark, Yu Jinnian stepped out of the courtyard to call for someone.
As he did so, he happened to see the young maid who had been kneeling in front of their noodle shop earlier, quietly leading two people into the residence. From a distance, he saw that one of them was tall and thin, while the other was short and slightly plump, with the shorter one carrying a medicine box. They stopped on a cobblestone path and began arguing.
The night was quiet, and their voices carried faintly through the distance, with phrases like “seek another expert” and “I’m unworthy” mixed in with the maid’s pitiful plea, “You treated him before” and “Please have mercy.” After some back-and-forth, the maid seemed to press something into the taller person’s hand, to which he finally sighed twice in resignation, agreeing to continue following her.
It seemed they had brought in a doctor.
As the three of them approached, Yu Jinnian realized he needed to hide, but it was too late. The maid had already spotted him, her face showing a hint of surprise.
Just as Yu Jinnian was about to turn away and pretend he hadn’t seen anything, someone called out, “Is that Master Yu?”
He looked up, feeling utterly speechless—this wasn’t just a case of running into old enemies. It was as if fate had decided to gather everyone he had ever had issues with at the Yang residence for a reunion dinner!
The person with the medicine box even laughed twice as he walked over, greeting him warmly as if they were old friends, “Isn’t this Young Master Yu? My, it’s been a long time. How have you been? Are you here to treat a patient as well?”
“…” Yu Jinnian glared at him, thinking, “Since when were we close?” But even though he was unhappy, he couldn’t show it, so he forced a fake smile and replied, “Isn’t this the renowned Dr. Zou? I’m just a novice and am not here to treat anyone. I’ve come to cook.”
But as soon as Yu Jinnian finished speaking, Zou Heng’s face immediately showed a look of disdain, as if he thought little of Yu Jinnian.
Though Zou Heng himself wasn’t from a particularly prestigious family, his ancestors had been scholars, and his family had once been well-respected, even if their fortune had declined. He still considered himself superior, adhering to the belief that “if not a great minister, then a great doctor.” To him, it was disgraceful for a scholar to engage in something as lowly as cooking. Yu Jinnian, a young man of unknown origin, who spent his days in the kitchen cooking and butchering, seemed disgraceful, especially since he seemed so pleased with himself. How could such an immature boy be compared to him? Even being mentioned in the same breath as Yu Jinnian felt like a lowering of his own status.
Moreover, Zou Heng had inquired about Yu Jinnian, discovering that no one in the surrounding counties had taken on such a young apprentice. Even if Yu Jinnian had picked up some medical skills from someone, treating minor ailments like headaches and fevers, it was likely due to luck and not worth mentioning.
When the Yang family had once again invited him to treat a patient, Zou Heng was reluctant. The illness was something he had never encountered before and hadn’t seen since. Despite treating the patient for over a year, there was no improvement. The condition was truly bizarre.
However, the Yang family’s generosity and insistence left him no choice but to return.
Who would have thought that he would run into Yu Jinnian at the Yang residence—a boy who had once embarrassed him! This was a perfect opportunity for revenge. If even he couldn’t cure the Yang family’s second wife, how could this inexperienced youth manage?
Despite his disdain for Yu Jinnian, Zou Heng forced himself to suppress his contempt and, with a false smile, grabbed Yu Jinnian’s hand, insincerely praising, “Young Master Yu, you’re skilled in both medicine and cooking, a true prodigy. It’s such a coincidence meeting you here. Why don’t you join me in treating the patient? It would be a great help to the suffering.”
Yu Jinnian saw the expression on Zou Heng’s face and felt that if he were asked to praise him a bit more, he might vomit on the spot.
Afraid that Zou Heng might actually do so, Yu Jinnian quickly and humbly declined, “You’re too kind, Dr. Zou. How could I compare to your miraculous hands and profound medical skills? I’m just a cook here to prepare a vegetarian banquet. I don’t deserve such high praise… Please, Dr. Zou, you’re the expert!”
With that, he quickly tried to leave, not wanting to be tricked into following Zou Heng after being flattered—he wasn’t that naive.
But Zou Heng wasn’t about to let him go. The Yang family’s second wife’s illness had stumped him for over a year despite being paid handsomely. If he couldn’t figure out the cause, it would damage his reputation. He desperately needed Yu Jinnian to come along, even if it was just as a scapegoat, to show that the illness was too strange and not a reflection of his medical incompetence.
So Zou Heng grabbed Yu Jinnian by the collar and, gritting his teeth, continued to flatter him shamelessly, “Young Master Yu, your skills are unparalleled. You must not be so modest. A person’s life is precious, worth a thousand pieces of gold. Your vast knowledge and expertise are surely capable of curing this illness. Please, join me in treating the patient!”
“…” How could there be someone so shameless in the world!
Before Yu Jinnian could think of another excuse to refuse, Dr. Zou had already grabbed his wrist and was dragging him along, “No more excuses, Young Master Yu. Come with me now!”
The young maid standing nearby was dumbfounded, and by the time she regained her senses, Zou Heng had already dragged Yu Jinnian to the second wife’s courtyard.
Yu Jinnian had no idea whose courtyard he had been brought to. All he noticed was that the courtyard was remarkably spacious and plain, completely different from the extravagant style of the Yang family, who seemed to want to gild their doorstep.
The courtyard was so plain that it lacked even flower beds, let alone potted plants or decorations. The cobblestone path that led to the courtyard abruptly ended at a moon gate, beyond which lay a thick layer of sand, like a sandpit. As Yu Jinnian stepped forward, his foot was quickly buried in the shifting sand.
He was momentarily puzzled, wondering if the patient had an unusual hobby of creating a man-made beach to sunbathe on.
Before he could make sense of it, the young maid walked unsteadily through the sand to the door and knocked, calling out softly, “Madam, Dr. Zou is here.”
There was a moment of silence before a servant woman hurriedly came out, peering at them. She impatiently waved the maid aside, saying, “Quickly, let the doctor in. What took you so long? Why are you dawdling!”
The maid quickly bowed and ushered Dr. Zou and the others inside.
Yu Jinnian was also pulled inside, and the door slammed shut behind him with a loud bang. He jumped, thinking this wasn’t just a doctor’s visit—it felt more like an interrogation was about to happen.
The room was deeper than Yu Jinnian had expected, and the strangest part was that the windows were all covered with thick, opaque silk, blocking out any light. There were no ornate display shelves that the Yang family usually liked to show off, no large flower vases in the corners, and not even the usual embroidery frames or sewing baskets that were common in a woman’s room. One wall even had a thick quilt nailed to it.
This setup was more than just strange—it was outright bizarre.
Zou Heng wiped the sweat from his brow as he entered, still holding tightly onto Yu Jinnian, afraid that if he let go, Yu Jinnian would bolt. Zou Heng glanced at the tall, thin young man he had brought with him, who promptly took the medicine box from Zou Heng’s shoulder, placed it on the table, and opened a small drawer to take out a soft cloth pulse pillow.
Yu Jinnian looked around the room, suddenly hearing faint, pitiful cries from behind a curtain deep within the room. Startled, he turned toward the sound, only to see a woman with disheveled hair burst out from behind a blue-green embroidered curtain. She looked weak and disoriented, her eyes wide open, and she was barefoot. She staggered forward, shouting incoherently, “He’s coming! He’s coming again! Don’t let him come! Don’t let him come, ahhh!”
Shocked, Yu Jinnian quickly stepped aside to avoid being collided with by the woman.
Immediately, three or four maids ran out from behind the curtain, chasing after the woman and calling out, “Madam, Madam, no one is coming. Please don’t run, you’ll hurt yourself!”
The servant woman from before was also visibly irritated, directing the maids, “What are you standing around for? Hurry and help Madam!”
It was complete chaos.
Zou Heng seemed unfazed, as if he was used to this scene. He stood there, observing with his hands in his sleeves, waiting until the maids finally managed to restrain the woman. Only then did he let out a long breath, grabbed the pulse pillow, and approached to take her pulse, not forgetting to pull Yu Jinnian along with him.
From the way the maids addressed her as “Madam,” Yu Jinnian deduced that this must be the wife of Yang Er, the second master of the Yang family, whom he had never seen before. The first wife had long passed away, and there were only two wives in the Yang family now. One was Madam Zhao, whom Yu Jinnian had seen at a banquet, and the other was Madam Li, who had never appeared in public, allegedly because of a long illness.
But now, it was clear that Madam Li wasn’t just ill—she seemed to be on the brink of madness.
Surrounded by the maids, who were more restraining her than supporting her, Madam Li kept shaking her head and crying out in distress, “It’s almost time! That thing is coming again! Save me, Doctor, save me…” After calling for the doctor for a while, she suddenly seemed to grasp onto a new hope, shouting, “The monk, Master Chengkong! He can save me, he can save me!”
The young maid who had stolen the pages from the Lotus Sutra whispered, “Madam, Master Chengkong really isn’t at Fengbo Temple…”
“That’s impossible! How could that be? You’re lying, you’re all in on it, you just can’t stand to see me well!” Madam Li looked up and saw Yu Jinnian, someone unfamiliar to her. She became agitated and pleaded, “You, you go to Fengbo Temple and find Master Chengkong. I’ll give you money, as much as you want!”
Madam Li appeared to be mad, but not entirely. She seemed confused rather than completely insane. Yu Jinnian, trying to calm her down, said, “Madam Li, please calm down. Why don’t you tell me what Master Chengkong looks like?”
“He, he…” Madam Li thought for a moment, then shook her head again. “I don’t know, I don’t know… He wears a mask, and he’s bald…” She kept repeating, “He’s bald, he’s bald.”
All monks are bald, Yu Jinnian thought.
Despite feeling genuine sympathy for her, Yu Jinnian almost burst out laughing at her words. He quickly coughed to suppress his smile, reminding himself that the patient’s well-being was paramount.
Noticing that Zou Heng had finished taking Madam Li’s pulse, Yu Jinnian quietly asked, “She mentioned that it’s ‘almost time.’ What is she referring to?”
Zou Heng, whose original intent was to embarrass Yu Jinnian, was surprised to see him taking the situation seriously. He didn’t believe that a boy like Yu Jinnian could diagnose anything meaningful, so he casually replied, “She’s referring to her menstrual cycle.”
Yu Jinnian was puzzled, “What do you mean by that? She’s been shouting about something coming. What does her menstrual cycle have to do with that?”
“It happens right before her menstrual cycle,” Zou Heng explained. “A few days before her cycle starts, Madam Li experiences severe abdominal pain, as if her insides are being twisted by a knife. The pain is so intense that she becomes dizzy and breaks out in a cold sweat, writhing in agony, almost as if she’s about to die. It’s truly unbearable to witness. Her cycle is due in about seven or eight days, which is why she’s been shouting, ‘It’s almost time.’”
Yu Jinnian thought to himself, *Is there really a patient whose condition is so severe that even a greedy doctor like Zou Heng can’t bear to look at it?*
He kept his thoughts to himself, maintaining a composed demeanor, and then asked seriously, “But why is she screaming that ‘something’ is coming, instead of just saying ‘I’m going to have a stomachache’? She wouldn’t use such a strange phrase to describe her pain… Dr. Zou, what exactly is this ‘thing’ she’s referring to?”
Zou Heng began, “It’s—”
But then he suddenly realized he was inadvertently engaging in conversation with this young upstart. His expression changed immediately, and he angrily flung his sleeve, snapping, “How should I know what it is? Why don’t you diagnose it yourself!”
Yu Jinnian was taken aback, puzzled by the sudden shift. *You dragged me here, and now that I’m here, you’re giving me attitude?* He found it quite strange, but he didn’t want to waste any more words on someone like Zou Heng. Instead, he moved closer and took the pulse pillow from Zou Heng without hesitation, saying, “Dr. Zou, I’ll just borrow your pulse pillow for a moment.” With that, he stepped forward to check Madam Li’s pulse.
Zou Heng was left speechless.
Yu Jinnian found that her pulse was wiry and thin, her tongue was coated with a greasy layer, her lips were cyanotic, and her complexion was dark and dull.
But as for what the illness was, Yu Jinnian couldn’t diagnose it just from this examination. He hadn’t seen Madam Li during one of her episodes, so he couldn’t make a proper diagnosis. Relying on Zou Heng’s vague descriptions was like searching for a needle in a haystack—fruitless.
Looking at Madam Li’s current state, it wasn’t certain that she was truly mad. It could be that the fear of the intense, regular pain she experienced every month had triggered an emotional response. If this source of pain wasn’t addressed, it was possible that she could eventually go mad.
After examining her, Yu Jinnian walked back to Zou Heng and asked, “Dr. Zou, may I ask why the windows in this room are covered with thick silk? Does Madam Li have a sensitivity to light?”
Zou Heng, unwilling to engage with him, snatched back his pulse pillow, grumbling, “The Madam claims that whenever she sees light, she feels pain all over.”
“And…” Yu Jinnian started to ask another question but was cut off by a fierce glare from Zou Heng. Still, he persisted, “How long has she had this condition?”
Zou Heng frowned. He hadn’t asked about that in detail, and he had only been treating Madam Li for the past year. The Yang family hadn’t disclosed how she was treated before that, so he had no idea. However, he wasn’t about to admit his ignorance, so he irritably waved Yu Jinnian away, saying, “Go ask the servants!”
Yu Jinnian clicked his tongue in annoyance and gave Zou Heng a disgruntled look before turning to find the young maid from earlier to ask her some questions. The maid explained that Madam Li’s condition had persisted for several years, starting shortly after the death of the fourth master. When Yu Jinnian inquired further about the “thing” Madam Li mentioned, the older servant woman stepped in, shooing the young maid away to fetch water for Madam Li to wash up.
“Excuse me, madam…” Yu Jinnian began.
The older servant woman just snorted and turned away.
Yu Jinnian was left speechless. *What is wrong with this family?* The legitimate wife was seriously ill, yet the head of the household was neglecting her, instead indulging with a pretty concubine. Not only were they not seeking out the best doctors, but they were also sneaking doctors in at night, withholding vital information, and expecting the doctors to guess the details themselves. And when questioned, they responded with indifference and even a dismissive snort.
This was truly a frustrating situation.
Realizing he wasn’t going to get any useful information, Yu Jinnian returned to Zou Heng’s side, thickening his skin to engage in discussion. “Dr. Zou, in your opinion, what is Madam Li’s condition?”
Yu Jinnian’s repeated use of “Dr. Zou” in a flattering tone made it difficult for Zou Heng to lash out. After all, even an old saying goes, “Don’t hit a smiling face.” Moreover, Zou Heng prided himself on being from a scholarly family, so he had to maintain his dignity. Suppressing his frustration, he said, “In my opinion, this is not an illness.”
“If it’s not an illness, then what is it?” Yu Jinnian asked curiously, thinking that maybe the old quack had come up with some unique insight.
Unexpectedly, Zou Heng straightened his back, brushed off his sleeve, and said with great confidence, “This is a case of demonic possession. The evil energy has invaded her body, and it’s beyond the help of medicine.”
Yu Jinnian was stunned. “…What?”
Seeing that Yu Jinnian didn’t even understand this basic explanation, Zou Heng’s disdain deepened. He looked at Yu Jinnian with even more contempt and, trying to make it simpler for him, said, “She’s been possessed by an evil spirit!”
Yu Jinnian: “???”