Every year’s end, Third Mistress was very busy.
After some light joking with Miaozhen, she continued her work but asked Miaozhen to perform moxibustion the next day to help her feel better.
Miaozhen agreed immediately.
In truth, Third Mistress’s health was not ironclad, in fact, quite frail.
But she had to hold the entire household together, leaving no room for complaint.
Everything had to be perfect, with meticulous attention.
She knew how to handle every detail: what to say to people of different status, which gifts to accept, how to return gifts, and how to arrange banquets—all with exacting standards.
For Miaozhen, while not impossible, these overwhelming matters gave her a headache.
So she could only help with accounts occasionally.
She preferred to use her spare time memorizing more prescriptions and improving her skills.
Actually, when Mrs. Qin mentioned opening a workshop last time, Miaozhen verbally denied it but felt a small flame ignite inside.
If she really opened a pharmacy, where would she buy medicine?
How to organize the shop?
What if local ruffians caused trouble?
Thinking about these matters gave her headaches, yet she enjoyed it.
Xu Erpeng had also received his daughter’s reply.
He said, “Before next year’s Qingming, I’ll bring our daughter home.”
Folding the letter, he told his wife while some xiucai visited.
Then he went out.
Lu Shian, dressed in simple robes, carried an extraordinary air of elegance.
“Please sit, Lu Gongzi,” Xu Erpeng greeted him warmly and served pine-fern tea, tactfully avoiding mention of Lu Shian’s expenses for the capital exams.
He only spoke of Nanjing’s customs.
Lu Shian was cultured and spoke gently, but in the end confessed, “A true man should marry before establishing a career. I was lucky to pass this time and accomplished something. The elders want me to settle down early—it’s a good thing.”
Though usually composed, he seemed shy now.
Seeing this, Xu Erpeng softened.
“Lu Gongzi should indeed consider his future.”
He was about to say more when Lu Shian said, “I often heard Miss is a kind doctor who will bring blessings to many. I greatly admire her and wonder if—”
Xu Erpeng patted his shoulder, “My daughter is already betrothed, to the Xiao family here in town.”
Lu Shian’s face paled but he maintained some grace.
“Is it the Xiao family from Dingxiang Alley?”
“Yes,” Xu Erpeng nodded.
He knew Lu Shian was talented but his family was poor.
Even passing the capital exams required a large bribe of five to six hundred taels, which the Lu family could not afford.
Xu Erpeng took out ten taels he had prepared and encouraged, “Lu Gongzi, this small token is no more than a courtesy. I wish you success in the imperial exams.”
Sometimes mystery writers have keen intuition.
Xu Erpeng, though not close with Lu Shian, sensed he was a man with a vengeful spirit.
Xu Erpeng hoped he had handled things well enough to avoid grudges.
They parted on peaceful terms.
Unbeknownst to them, once out of sight, Lu Shian’s eyes darkened as he muttered, “Damn bitch.”
Li Clerk, passing by, thought he misheard.
Such foul language was not expected from Lu Shian.
After seeing him off, Xu Erpeng visibly relaxed.
Mei Shi was worried.
“Did he cause trouble?”
“No, he passed the xiucai exams this time. I think that’s why he wanted to make a match with us. Don’t worry—I already gave him ten taels as support. Since he accepted the money, he can’t say much,” Xu Erpeng said with a smile.
Mei Shi knew her husband was intelligent and cunning—a stark contrast to his approachable appearance.
Regarding their daughter’s engagement, the Tong family thought their position secure.
The Zhao family enlisted the Xiao family’s help for matchmaking.
Both were stronger than them, yet their family won out, a result of Xu Erpeng’s careful planning.
First, he had the Xiao family spy for information, then bribed Mo Nun, and finally, by chance at a business association, when meeting Second Master Xiao, he casually showed a letter from the Cheng family of Jinling, establishing connections.
That’s when the Xiao family settled on the match.
Since their daughter was not particularly beautiful, Xu Erpeng even had a portrait painted at the Ma family’s photo studio nearby, making her look like a celestial goddess.
Thinking of this, Mei Shi said, “Once Zhenzhen returns, we’ll send the tea gift to the Xiao family. We should start preparing the dowry now, right?”
“I’ve decided to make two beds for our daughter, one of rosewood, one of red sandalwood.
The current trend is ancient style, so carvings won’t be excessive—more like the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
One will be a Huanghuali Moon Gate Bed, the other a fashionable Nanjing four-poster bed.
We’ll start making the gold-painted chests and boxes, too,” Xu Erpeng declared and sprang into action.
Mei Shi smiled, “Laba Festival is coming soon. I should send some festival gifts to the Xiao family first.”
During the Laba Festival, Mrs. Qin invited Miaozhen over.
Human relationships were truly strange.
At the Cheng family, Miaozhen had no one she could speak to truly, but with Mrs. Qin, she got along very well.
“My family arranged a match for me. On one hand, I feel it’s good to go home after so many years away studying medicine—I miss my parents. But on the other hand, becoming someone’s wife feels very uncomfortable,” Miaozhen admitted, confused about her own feelings.
Mrs. Qin raised two fingers.
“I didn’t marry until I was twenty. When I did, I felt empty and awkward. I cried so hard on the bridal sedan the makeup was ruined, and my eyes looked like toads’. But I gradually came to terms with it and now life is quite good. You shouldn’t resist it too much; it may not be so bad.”
“Of course I know. Father will find me a good match, but no matter how good, it’s not the same as being free alone,” Miaozhen said knowingly.
Mrs. Qin pushed two dried fruits towards her.
“The Cheng family is very strict, yet you’ve adapted well. A merchant’s family should be easier. Don’t worry.”
Miaozhen relaxed.
Though running a pharmacy herself seemed difficult, at home she could manage a family workshop, like Master Tan.
She could store and prepare herbs, charging for visits when people asked for her help.
After talking a while, Miaozhen took Mrs. Qin’s pulse and examined her belly.
“You’re doing okay. If anything happens, you must call me.”
Childbirth was a passage through the gates of death.
Ordinary illnesses couldn’t demonstrate a doctor’s skill—only complicated cases earned merit and saved more lives.
Returning from Mrs. Qin’s, Miaozhen met Springxian.
Before she could speak, Springxian said, “Miss Xu, come quickly. My sister-in-law is in labor. Because the fetus wasn’t coming out well, the midwife tore the womb and now the bleeding won’t stop. You’re the only one who can save her.”
Ahead—
“During delivery, you can’t probe with your hand,” Miaozhen said, exasperated.
Springxian was so anxious she nearly lost her temper.
“What are we to do?”
“I’ll try my best to treat her. If the medicine fails, don’t blame me,” Miaozhen said seriously, wanting to warn them upfront.
Springxian said, “Only you are skilled enough. Last time Auntie Fang was poisoned during pregnancy, you saved her. I will repay you someday.”
Miaozhen waved her off, “Don’t mention it.”
Luckily, she didn’t have bound feet and moved quickly.
Springxian’s brother and sister-in-law lived in the western courtyard.
Her brother managed the dowry fields, and the sister-in-law oversaw the Chamber of Needles.
Though their courtyard was small, they lived better than many small households.
Seeing Miaozhen arrive, her brother bowed respectfully.
Miaozhen hurried inside.
The sister-in-law’s room reeked of urine and blood.
Miaozhen stopped her from greetings, asking, “Tell me how this began? Did you bleed right after delivery?”
“Not exactly. It started with difficulty urinating and uncontrollable urine, later with blood,” she said fearfully.
She had just delivered a child and was unwilling to entrust her to the stepmother.
Miaozhen took her pulse.
The midwife standing nearby said, “It couldn’t be helped. Fortunately, I used my hand to remove the placenta and the baby was safe.”
Miaozhen scolded sharply, “Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t understand. You can’t just probe a woman’s birth canal with your hand. You’ve probably caused more deaths than you saved. Leave now.”
After taking the pulse, Miaozhen explained, “The womb is located below the belt meridian, in the center of the lower abdomen, near the bladder. No wonder your urination is incomplete. Probing during delivery causes difficult labor. You were already weak, and postpartum, even weaker.”
“So I’m going to use a method of greatly supplementing qi and blood to regenerate and gradually repair. But you must follow my instructions and stop taking any random folk remedies.”
Springxian quickly replied, “Please give your instructions, Miss Xu.”
“Take one placenta each from a pig and a sheep and boil them now. We’ll use the broth to make medicine. This works by supplementing with similar forms. I’ll prescribe the Complete Fetus Drink, which contains white atractylodes to strengthen the spleen, ginseng and astragalus to boost qi, angelica to nourish and activate blood, peach kernels and motherwort to remove blood stasis, and Bletilla to stop bleeding, regenerate flesh, heal sores, and relieve pain. I’ve tested this prescription; it’s better than others. Hurry and prepare it,” Miaozhen said, then wrote down the prescription.
Springxian hurried to give the prescription to her brother, who treasured it like a treasure.
Miaozhen then whispered to Springxian, “I scolded the midwife just now. I’m afraid she might do something sneaky. Don’t let her come near until your sister-in-law is better.”
“Thank you for the warning,” Springxian was very grateful.
Miaozhen stepped outside, breathing in fresh air and feeling much better.
About ten days later, Springxian’s sister-in-law finally improved, and Miaozhen breathed a sigh of relief.
If the uterus had been completely ruptured, surgery would be required.
But medical conditions were limited, and she was very nervous.
Fortunately, Springxian’s sister-in-law was not that severe.
Miaozhen visited every two days.
Seeing her improving, she used acupuncture on Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao, Yinbai, Xuehai, and Taichong points to stop bleeding.
Springxian’s sister-in-law regarded Miaozhen as a savior.
“Miss Xu, I’m much better now. Thank you so much.”
“This is my duty; no need to thank me,” Miaozhen smiled.
But the sister-in-law said, “You saved my life yet are so humble. If it were others, they’d be singing your praises.”
Miaozhen thought to herself, I was afraid I wouldn’t cure her!
As long as I do my job diligently and avoid scolding, that’s enough.
Springxian, now the chief maid to the old lady, was very worldly wise.
She gave Miaozhen two pairs of embroidered pouches, each containing gold ingots patterned with crabapple blossoms.
She also gifted six jade pendants—one with trailing peonies, one White Jade Suihan Sanyou Pendant, one White Jade Ruyi Plum Blossom Pendant, one Yellow Jade Double Fish Pendant, and two Fish-shaped Jade Pendants.
Miaozhen couldn’t refuse and accepted them.
Springxian said she had many good things from the old lady, so Miaozhen shouldn’t be shy, and if she ever had troubles, she could come to her.
Miaozhen thought that maids like Springxian were surprisingly generous and grateful, while the Great Taitai and Third Taitai were stingier—how strange!