Miaozhen weakly replied, “I dare not speak ill of my superiors. I wanted to check the Third Mistress’s pulse, but she refused, only complaining of pain and ordering me to stand until she woke. I dared not move. Honestly, I stood under the scorching sun for hours and nearly suffered heatstroke. After I finish here, I’ll rest. I fear another doctor will come tomorrow.”
“Not without you,” Ji Shi said hurriedly.
Miaozhen nodded, “I know. The Third Mistress is strange. She usually sends for Yu Zhoujin, but today she sent for me. I worry she’ll urgently call me again tonight. At this rate, I may be forced to leave the household.”
Ji Shi grew more angry but said, “They’re definitely targeting me.”
“Madam, don’t let anger ruin your health. If so, that’s my fault,” Miaozhen said.
Ji Shi took her hand.
“I’ll have the back room prepared. You come stay tomorrow.”
Leaving the main house, Miaozhen met Yu Zhoujin returning from the Old Madam’s.
Yu Zhoujin looked smug.
“I heard you went to the Third Mistress? How did it go?”
Miaozhen replied, “I’m weak in the legs and dizzy. The Third Mistress didn’t let me take her pulse.”
Yu Zhoujin showed no concern, only laughing, “Your luck really stinks.”
“Then what about you? What were you treating the Old Madam for?” Miaozhen asked.
Yu Zhoujin boasted about her acupuncture skills and how the Old Madam praised her.
Seeing Miaozhen’s misfortune, she grew more animated.
After they returned, Miaozhen began copying scriptures, knowing how much the Old Madam loved them.
Before, they had lived in peaceful neutrality, but now with Yu Zhoujin’s antics, Miaozhen acted to protect herself.
By noon, after eating, Miaozhen regained her strength but still feigned weakness when delivering scriptures to the Old Madam’s room.
The maids guarded strictly, fearing anyone would take her place.
They assumed Miaozhen only came to flatter and said, “Just teach us the scriptures. We’ll deliver them inside. You have no business here.”
Miaozhen hesitated, then looked at the Old Madam’s chief maid, Springxian.
“Sister, I have something to say.”
Springxian, a proud woman respected even by the maids of the mistresses and not dared to be offended by Ji Shi, responded, “Speak.”
“The Old Madam’s illness has always been treated by Sister Yu, whose medical skill is reputed excellent. But when I went to the pharmacy, I found the prescription was probably wrong. I’m younger and don’t want to contradict her, so I’m only telling you,” Miaozhen said, showing a prescription.
Though Yu Zhoujin came from a medical family, she saw too few patients.
Miaozhen had studied under Ru Shi and Tang Shi and, at the Cheng family, had treated many people. Doctors, like any trade, improve with practice.
Merely following old prescriptions is insufficient.
One must see many patients to discern the differences.
For example, the Old Madam’s palpitations could stem from several causes: yin deficiency with fire flaring, yang deficiency with fluid reversal, or blood deficiency.
Her symptoms clearly indicated yin deficiency with fire flaring, but Yu Zhoujin was treating it as yang deficiency with fluid reversal, prescribing only Linggui Zhugan Decoction.
That would not suffice.
Springxian, hoping the Old Madam would live long, said, “I’ll take you in to re-examine her.”
“Good,” Miaozhen breathed a sigh of relief.
She needed to prepare for all possibilities: while Ji Shi protected her, she must also seek the Old Madam’s favor.
Especially with the Third Mistress possibly scheming.
The Old Madam, a silver-haired elderly lady in her seventies, was mostly healthy except for palpitations and occasional night terrors.
Seeing Springxian bring Miaozhen in, she frowned, “Didn’t Zhoujin just leave? Why send another?”
Springxian explained, and the Old Madam glanced at Miaozhen with a sharp look.
“If you know, why not tell Zhoujin directly?”
“I wanted to, but the matter concerns your illness. How can I ignore it and only flatter my peers? I’m a servant of the Cheng family. Besides, Sister Yu’s temperament means she might not listen. Last time she did acupuncture for the Second Mistress, she caused bruising. When I told her that was dangerous, she scolded me. After that, she refused to go, so I took over,” Miaozhen lowered her head.
The Old Madam disapproved of Miaozhen betraying her peer but stretched out her hand.
After taking her pulse and examining her tongue, Miaozhen said, “You have palpitations with stabbing pain, purple spots on the tongue, and a rough pulse. This is qi stagnation and blood stasis with phlegm symptoms. Do your shoulders and back hurt as well?”
The Old Madam nodded, “Exactly. Shoulder and back pain, plus chest tightness.”
“I’ll do some massage to ease your body now and bring medicine tonight,” Miaozhen smiled.
When she left, the atmosphere in the Old Madam’s quarters had become much more respectful.
Miaozhen looked back at the courtyard, thinking: To surpass others, only true skill can protect you.
Sadly, many do not understand this.
Fame must be matched by substance, not by deceit or gossip.
That night, she brought maids to deliver medicine to the Old Madam.
Seeing Miaozhen’s pale face, the Old Madam asked what was wrong.
Miaozhen said, “I brought the maids along. A gust of wind startled us.”
“This is not acceptable. Young ladies shouldn’t go out like this. From now on, when making night visits, send two maids ahead to clear the way and a motherly attendant behind,” the Old Madam ordered.
Springxian immediately said, “I’ll tell Third Grandmother tomorrow.”
Miaozhen said, “The Old Madam is the kindest person I’ve ever met. We servants are truly grateful.”
The Old Madam liked hearing compliments and changed her prescription.
After taking the medicine, she was in better spirits and soon fell asleep.
Treating the Old Madam had always been Yu Zhoujin’s prerogative, but when she heard Miaozhen had come instead, she stormed over, fuming.
She pointed at herself and accused, “Why did you also climb to the top branch? Running off to the Old Madam like a lapdog?”
Miaozhen smiled, “We’re all servants. Does the Old Madam only allow you to treat her? Would you be angry if someone else came? Besides, you usually see the Third Mistress; why now send me? Don’t we all treat whoever we have time for?”
“You don’t understand the subtleties. Some patients have drug sensitivities; others have past illnesses. I handle my prescriptions carefully. How can you rashly change them?”
Yu Zhoujin grew more self-righteous.
Miaozhen replied, “If that’s so, why did the Third Mistress often send you but suddenly sent me? If you go to her, I’ll yield; I won’t go to the Old Madam.”
Though she deserved retaliation, the Old Madam was more important.
Looking at Miaozhen, Yu Zhoujin asked, “Are you serious?”
“Of course. A gentleman’s word is his bond,” Miaozhen said calmly.
Yu Zhoujin thought she had no feud with the Third Mistress and could just go.
If the Third Mistress blamed Miaozhen later, she’d say she was just a mad woman wanting a son, eager to install a proper second wife and keep the Third Master confined with the second house.
No way.
That did not scare her.
The Third Mistress had early on kept the Third Master home, promising to bring a beautiful concubine.
She personally ordered preparations, making the Third Master very pleased.
“Maids are too low status. A legitimate second wife is much better. The Mistress is truly virtuous,” the Third Master thanked her.
“A legitimate second wife must be carried in a sedan chair, but the Master must see her first. If she’s suitable, I’ll prepare. If not, then forget it,” the Third Mistress knew her husband well.
He was a seasoned pleasure-seeker and would never let a prize slip away.
Late at night, the Third Mistress sent for Miaozhen, fully prepared to accuse her of seducing the Third Master if Miaozhen refused.
If it escalated, they could easily find a pretext to expel her.
For a family like theirs, manipulating a commoner was easy.
But she did not know who had arrived—it was Yu Zhoujin, who, fearing witnesses, brought only Xiao Lingdang.
Yu Zhoujin was beautiful and alluring but, because Ji Shi was pregnant and unwilling to share favor, she had little chance to rise.
The moment she entered, the Third Master hiding behind the screen liked her.
The Third Mistress saw her mistake and was about to shout when she noticed the Third Master’s delight and had to step back.
“Miss, wouldn’t it be better not to go treat the Third Mistress?” Xiao Xi laughed.
Miaozhen nodded, “Yes, Yu Zhoujin has no grudge with her. She’ll probably be back soon. After Eldest Grandmother’s baby is born, my father will surely take me back.”
Our status is unequal; this is the only way.
Xiao Tao’s snoring drifted over.
Miaozhen nodded at Xiao Xi, “You should go to sleep too.”
They had barely dozed when Aunt Gu and others suddenly caused a commotion.
Ji Zhenjie came upstairs to wake Miaozhen.
“My heavens, how can you still sleep?”
“What’s wrong?” Miaozhen, drowsy, asked.
Ji Zhenjie said, “There’s trouble. Third Sister Yu went to treat the Third Mistress. The Third Master was inside. Somehow she accidentally stabbed him in a vital spot with a needle. Gu Mama and a few others carried her back, hair disheveled.”
Miaozhen never imagined the Third Mistress could be so vicious.
She only wanted to avoid torture, so she brought several maids as a show of force.
Never thought she’d play this card!
“What should we do?” Miaozhen asked, bewildered.
Ji Zhenjie shook her head.
Afterward, the Cheng family worried Yu Zhoujin might harm herself.
They gave fifty taels to Yu Jiasun, who happily used twenty to buy a dowry for Yu Zhoujin.
The Third Master had only been lightly stabbed on the thigh but hid out of shame, pretending illness in Jiangzhou.
The Third Mistress was harshly scolded by the Old Madam, utterly disgraced.
She shut herself away like a rat, afraid to show her face.