Yu Zhoujin’s family background was something she had heard Li Yao’e mention before.
The Elder Master of the Yu Family had been dismissed from office during Emperor Jiajing’s Dali Yi Shijian.
Yu Zhoujin’s branch originally depended on the main family for survival, but after the family’s decline and the early death of her parents, she had lived with her uncle’s family.
Her uncle abandoned scholarly pursuits to practice medicine.
The Yu family had a tradition of medical knowledge, and he was reputed for his “one-needle miracle,” known to save lives with a single acupuncture.
Because of this, her aunt brought her to Xifu, where the Xifu Old Madam saw her and admired her fine appearance, needlework skills, and knowledge of chess.
The Old Madam remembered the late Yu matriarch and, learning that Yu Zhoujin’s uncle had passed away, took pity on the young, widowed girl struggling to support her son and recommended her to come live there.
Of course, Li Yao’e knew Yu Zhoujin’s background mainly because Yu Zhoujin behaved arrogantly and unforgivingly.
She would curse Li Yao’e and then soften her tone, but with others, she was even less courteous.
“Put your clothes away, and look at the door,” Xiaoxi muttered after Yu Zhoujin had left.
“This person is jealous of you. If you really rewarded her, she might even be happy.”
“Let her be. We’ll just focus on ourselves,” Miaozhen smiled.
At this moment, Miaozhen was establishing her medical reputation in the mansion.
She ignored such jealous remarks and didn’t pick fights.
She also knew her limits—she let Li Yao’e handle pediatric cases and never stole those patients.
After lunch, the maid of the Second Young Mistress came for Miaozhen.
The Second Young Mistress was born to Zhu Yiniang, a favored concubine of the main branch.
Though she was a concubine’s child, the Second Young Mistress had been bedridden due to a cold and was resting.
The three young ladies all lived in a partitioned room behind the Third Branch.
When Miaozhen entered, she saw the center of the room brightly lit while the sides were dim.
The left side was the Second Young Mistress’s bedroom.
Unlike others, this room was filled with manuscripts, poetry drafts, ancient texts, and paintings—she appeared to be a book lover.
“Miss, Xu Langzhong has arrived,” the maid announced.
Miaozhen glanced at the young lady by the window—about fourteen or fifteen, her hair in a snail bun with white jade hairpins.
From behind, her pale neck was exposed.
She was beautiful but when she turned, Miaozhen noticed her nose was red, resembling a rosacea nose.
Sure enough, the Second Young Mistress, seeing Miaozhen was her age, immediately began complaining: “Since the new year, I’ve often caught colds. My nose runs constantly, and after all the nose blowing, it just won’t stop turning red.”
Miaozhen took her pulse before explaining, “This is called lychee nose, or rosacea. Your nose tip has nodules as well. The pulse is deep and slow, and your tongue is slightly red. Your skin isn’t working well together, so the sores developed. This is a sign of qi stagnation and blood stasis.”
She had paid special attention to gynecological diseases when apprenticing under Master Tan Yunxian but noted other symptoms as well.
“What should I do? I can’t go out looking like this,” the Second Young Mistress fretted.
Being a proud person, she was about to be betrothed; if her complexion was ruined, what would become of her?
She had already tried many ointments, but none worked.
Miaozhen comforted her, “You’ll need both external and internal treatment. I’ll prepare a prescription now. Have someone fetch the medicine later.”
Miaozhen recalled Master Tan used Lurusan powder, and in modern times she’d read about the Diandao powder in Yizong Jinjian.
External treatment might involve acupuncture and internal medicine—she prescribed He Shouwu Wan to nourish blood and dispel toxins.
“Don’t apply anything yourself yet. Wait until the medicine is ready, then send someone to call me,” Miaozhen instructed.
The next day, once the medicine was prepared, Han Yan, the Second Young Mistress’s personal maid, came to fetch Miaozhen.
Each day, Miaozhen would first perform acupuncture, then personally apply medicine, and have someone administer licorice decoction with the He Shouwu Wan.
Since the condition was mild, after ten days, the redness faded, and the swelling and pus disappeared.
Because Miaozhen came daily, the Second Young Mistress chatted with her.
One morning, seeing Miaozhen arrive, she said, “I never thought I’d get better. I used the facial wash you recommended this morning.”
“That’s good. This illness dislikes cold and alcohol. Pay attention to your habits, and you’ll recover fully,” Miaozhen smiled.
The Second Young Mistress sent Han Yan to bring a box of jewelry and said, “I always wanted to thank you. These are my favorite pieces—choose a few.”
Miaozhen hurriedly declined, “Miss, how could you say that? I’m here at the Cheng Family’s invitation as a physician. I can’t accept your gifts.”
But she was resolute in refusing.
The young lady insisted, so Miaozhen finally picked a pair of silver begonia hairpins.
The Second Young Mistress praised Miaozhen’s thoughtfulness, unlike others who were greedy, then added, “This isn’t much. I have more to give you.”
She brought out two thin oil hairpins—one gold-headed lotus petal, the other a begonia petal—and a pink stand-collar jacket with all the layers of a watery-field robe.
Miaozhen never expected that in less than a month, she would receive three sets of clothes and several pieces of jewelry.
Back home, she had only owned a pair of earrings and the Jin Sanshi hair ornament; usually, she wore just silk flowers and hair ribbons.
Regardless, she gained a lot. By September, she even received three taels and six qian of monthly allowance.
Miaozhen gave two qian to Xiaoxi and Xiaotao for daily expenses and saved the rest.
That day, Li Yao’e came to eat with her.
Miaozhen wore a peach-red brocade jacket given by Third Mistress Xiao Ruanshi, shimmering with gold thread.
“You even know about sores?”
“I once treated a similar patient. If it were more complicated, I might not know. But sister, the Second Young Mistress and Third Mistress both value you now. You should help me when you can,” Miaozhen smiled.
Li Yao’e replied, “You say that, but you visit the Big Mistress and the Second Young Mistress often. What’s the difference?”
They teased each other before finishing their meal.
Yu Zhoujin joined them in sewing, and the three spoke about other matters.
Outside, a messenger said that on Double Ninth Festival outings, the Old Madam caught a chill and had a stomachache; also, the Big Mistress had body pains.
Li Yao’e said, “I only understand pediatrics. Other ailments, not so much.”
Miaozhen glanced at Yu Zhoujin, “Yu sister, you go to the Old Madam’s place. I’ll go to the Big Mistress.”
“That’s your choice? I heard the Big Mistress usually chants Buddha’s name and is kind,” Yu Zhoujin smiled.
Li Yao’e gave her a sidelong look.
“Don’t take advantage of the situation and pretend to be innocent.”
The Big Mistress had been betrothed to Xia Shoufu’s son, but her husband died.
She vowed to remain chaste and lived alone in a small, somewhat gloomy tower. Few dared to visit her there.
Miaozhen knew Yu Zhoujin loved taking shortcuts and might cause trouble if offended now.
Xiaoxi and Xiaotao insisted on accompanying Miaozhen, worried about her safety.
Miaozhen laughed, “You’re being overprotective.”
The eldest young lady lived in Shuiyue Lou, surrounded by towering trees.
Despite early autumn’s heat, it was cool there.
Miaozhen calmly went, greeted by a mama who sent someone downstairs.
The eldest young lady was pale and quiet.
Before her period, she had vomited blood and suffered abdominal pain.
Her wet nurse worried greatly: “They say young people who vomit blood don’t live long. If it’s tuberculosis, what then?”
After taking her pulse and examining her nose, Miaozhen reassured her, “It’s nothing. The liver qi is rebelling upward. If there’s no internal injury, just soothe liver yang and relax liver qi. I’ll prescribe Shunjing Decoction, to be taken as a water decoction—ten doses to start.”
She wrote the prescription.
The young lady, knowing some medicine, saw that it included five qian of angelica wine wash and black mustard seed, which guides blood back to the meridian and soothes liver qi.
She gave it to her wet nurse.
As Miaozhen prepared to leave, the wet nurse personally saw her out and offered two gold rings.
Miaozhen refused, noting the young lady was widowed.
The wet nurse said, “Our eldest young lady doesn’t like outsiders. We’re much obliged to Xu Miss.”
Modern people say having money without a husband is fine, but in ancient times, widowhood was not considered good, especially for the young women Miaozhen met.
Liver qi stagnation was a sign of emotional repression.
Young women lived alone, couldn’t wear bright colors, and had to suppress their personalities.
It was truly difficult.
There were even those who changed their minds halfway…
Miaozhen smiled, “My specialty is gynecology. If anything comes up with the Big Mistress, just send someone for me.”
The wet nurse found Miaozhen straightforward and trustworthy, never prying, only diagnosing and comforting.
This won Miaozhen goodwill.
The two gold rings went into her makeup box.
Next door, Yu Zhoujin heard the Old Madam had rewarded Miaozhen with a brocade garment.
Her own gifts were insignificant in comparison, but she intended to take her time and cure every commoner woman’s illness in the household.
She didn’t compete with Li Yao’e in pediatrics but wanted to excel elsewhere.
The following day, the Cheng Family’s concubines and the Old Mistress summoned Miaozhen.
Yu Zhoujin avoided treating them, looking down on their low status.
Miaozhen did not mind; though she received no gifts, she was diligent.
Li Yao’e’s reputation was even better.
The family’s twin children were treasures, much doted upon.
By October, the Big Mistress had improved greatly.
The Second Mistress learned Miaozhen had cured her and eagerly summoned her.
It was the first time Miaozhen saw Second Mistress Zeng Shi.
She had heard the Second Mistress and the Second Master were devoted, and that she was straightforward.
Miaozhen was a bit shy to face her.
Zeng Shi was about forty but looked no older than twenty.
She had a slender figure and an oval face.
Though not as striking as Madam Zeng, she naturally possessed sweetness.
“Second Mistress,” Miaozhen bowed deeply.
Zeng Shi examined Miaozhen and said, “You’re young, yet your skills are so refined. No wonder you’re Yang Ruren’s disciple.”
“You flatter me, Madam,” Miaozhen replied.
Zeng Shi asked about Miaozhen’s family.
Hearing her father was a scholar and grandfather a candidate, she praised, “Sounds like you come from a scholarly family.”
“A small family, not truly scholarly,” Miaozhen laughed.
The Second Mistress asked more questions.
Seeing Miaozhen answered confidently yet humbly, she rewarded her with a dark floral satin and said, “Visit the Big Mistress diligently from now on.”
Miaozhen nodded.
Zeng Shi seemed hesitant to say more but ultimately let her leave.
On her way back, news came that Third Miss Cheng Yuan had fallen into the water.
The female doctors rushed to help.
Fortunately, she was unharmed, but the Big Mistress Madam Zeng was furious.
She had only two daughters, her treasures.
She shouted, “The three of you stay here with me. If anything happens to Third Miss, I’ll only ask you three and beat you with a rod.”
Even Miaozhen was speechless.
They were invited doctors, not servants, how could they be beaten?
Seeing normally rebellious Yu Zhoujin acting unusually obedient, wearing plain clothes and looking meek, Miaozhen understood everything.
Third Miss soon regained consciousness and took medicine to prevent typhoid.
Wait is big mistress Zeng shi or the eldest young miss?