Chapter 6

In the thatched cottage, watching Du Shisan娘 lying unconscious on the bed, Zhuying felt extremely anxious.

It was a miracle that her husband's illness had improved, but her lady had fallen ill due to the rain, lying under the covers for a long time, sweating profusely, yet remaining unconscious!

She had suggested going to invite a doctor, but Du Shiyi had only glanced at her flushed cheeks and shook his head, giving a reason that left her speechless.

"Don't be stubborn. Look at your own red cheeks in the mirror. You've walked back and forth in the heavy rain twice. Du Shisan娘 has caught a cold and fever, and so have you. If you collapse halfway and don't meet a kind-hearted person like before, wouldn't you be like a lamb to the slaughter?"

But at this moment, after Du Shiyi felt Du Shisan娘's pulse, he asked her to find the set of silver needles, which left Zhuying even more puzzled.

The Du family had been related to the Fan Yang Lu family for generations. Du Shiyi and Du Shisan娘's mother were from the Fan Yang Lu family. The set of silver needles was a gift from her Lu family cousin, said to be the personal possession of the great physician Sun Simiao. This time, they were brought along with other jewelry and valuables from home because Du Shisan娘, to save Du Shiyi, was prepared to give this treasure, which had been passed down from her mother and cherished for many years, to the Taichong Daoist at Songyang Temple if things got really difficult.

At this moment, as she watched Du Shiyi try the strength of the silver needles several times, then turn Du Shisan娘 over and insert three needles into the back of her neck, and gently twist them, she could not help but feel a strange shock.

"Where did you learn this acupuncture technique, my lord?"

"In a dream, someone taught me." Du Shiyi answered without looking up, then picked up another needle from the leather needle case, took Du Shisan娘's left hand from under the covers, identified the Lieque point, and inserted the needle. He then did the same with her right hand. After a while, he removed the silver needles, carefully turned Du Shisan娘 over again, and covered her with the blanket. He then looked at Zhuying and said, "Extend your right hand."

Zhuying involuntarily extended her right hand as instructed. When she realized that Du Shiyi was feeling her pulse, she hurriedly lowered her head.

Although she was a maid, she had served Du Shisan娘 since childhood and had never been intimate with a man. If it weren't for the fire at the Du family and Du Shiyi's subsequent illness, the remaining servants, fearing reprimand from the elders, would have fled, and she would never have approached this lord, let alone done all the things she had done in recent days, from wiping his body to helping him use the toilet. Suppressing the strange feeling, she only heard a voice in her ear.

"Like Du Shisan娘, you have a cold and fever. Although your symptoms are milder, you still need a few needles. Otherwise, if the cold gets into your body, it will be troublesome!"

"My lord, really, it's just a minor illness. It will be fine after a good night's sleep!"

"Sit down! This is an order, not a discussion! If you get sick, do you expect me to cook, wash clothes, and take care of both of you?"

This unyielding command left Zhuying too afraid to argue, so she obediently sat down, sitting very formally. Feeling the hand behind her gently pulling down the clothes at the back of her neck, she felt stiff and dry-mouthed. When the silver needle suddenly pierced deep into her skin, she even felt an indescribable tremor. But the next moment, she felt a hand pat her shoulder.

"How can I insert the needle if you are so tense?"

After this reprimand, Du Shiyi felt the woman under his hand relax slightly, and he then inserted the needles at the Fengmen points on both sides. When he moved to the front of Zhuying and inserted the last two needles at the Lieque points on both wrists, he noticed that Zhuying was extremely nervous, her eyes fixed on him. When she saw him looking at her, she immediately lowered her head like a frightened deer, as if she was trying to count the grass and twigs on the ground. He couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.

Just as he, exhausted, was about to insert a few needles on himself to prevent any unforeseen issues, he suddenly heard a somewhat familiar voice from outside.

"Is Du Xiaolangjun here?"

Seeing Zhuying about to get up, he immediately shouted, "Don't move, your needles haven't been removed yet. I'll go to the door."

After Zhuying reluctantly agreed, Du Shiyi dragged his tired feet to the door. When he opened it, he saw several people standing outside the fence.

The first one was Sima Heiyun, who had lent them rain gear and sent them back. The others were clearly attendants, each holding various boxes.

The only one in a Daoist robe stood out like a crane among chickens, his gaunt face wearing a faint smile, and he nodded slightly when he saw Du Shiyi. Despite not understanding their intentions, Du Shiyi stepped out of the house without a word.

"I thought we would meet again someday, but I didn't expect Sima Daxiong to return so soon."

Although the gate was only slightly ajar, neither Sun Zifang, Sima Heiyun, nor the other attendants stepped over it. Seeing Du Shiyi open the door himself, Sima Heiyun nodded with a smile.

"I didn't expect to come back so soon either. After I returned, I asked the people at the temple, and it turned out that Du Xiaoniangzi had repeatedly requested treatment from Sun Daogong at Songyang Temple. He came back with my master and, hearing about Du Xiaolangjun's strange illness and that you and Du Xiaoniangzi were caught in the rain, immediately asked me to lead him here."

Is this the Sun Taichong that Du Shisan娘 had begged for, even kneeling at the gate of Songyang Temple to request treatment for him?

Du Shiyi's eyes flickered. Seeing the gaunt man nod again, despite having just treated Du Shisan娘 and Zhuying with acupuncture, he would not turn away a renowned physician who had come to his door. Moreover, acupuncture was just a temporary measure; if he had herbal medicine, he wouldn't have resorted to this.

He immediately clasped his hands and said, "So it's Sun Daogong. Your visit after a long journey is truly a testament to your dedication and skill. My illness is already improving, but my sister and the maid did catch a cold and fever from the rain. However, the house is in disarray, and I fear it will be a poor reception for such distinguished guests."

The praise was flattering, and the refusal was clearly just a formality. Sun Zifang immediately smiled and said, "No problem, Du Xiaolangjun. Since you mentioned a doctor's dedication, if I, as a doctor, passed by a patient's door without entering, wouldn't I be just a doctor in name?"

"Since that's the case, please allow me to tidy up a bit first."

Zhuying heard voices outside and, when Du Shiyi returned, she tidied up the rain gear and the seating. She had intended to help, but as soon as she moved her leg, she saw Du Shiyi turn and glare at her, "Stay there and don't move. Don't speak unless I tell you to!"

When Du Shiyi came out again, Sun Zifang and Sima Heiyun approached the thatched cottage. Remembering the simple and cramped interior, Sima Heiyun spoke up, "Sun Daogong, since there are patients inside, I and the others will wait outside. Please go in with Du Xiaolangjun."

Sun Zifang was about to agree, but Du Shiyi immediately shook his head, "Sima Daxiong is not an outsider. Please come in with Sun Daogong."

"Since that's the case, you wait outside, and Heiyun will come in with me."

Although there were things he didn't want Sima Heiyun to hear, considering the thatched cottage's drafty walls, it was pointless to leave anyone outside. Sun Zifang nodded at Sima Heiyun. After the burly man hesitated for a moment and agreed, seeing Du Shiyi step aside to let him in, he slowly entered.

Upon entering the thatched cottage, he glanced around at the simple and even crude furnishings, getting a rough idea of the situation. Seeing Zhuying sitting stiffly on the mat, allowing Du Shiyi to take care of everything, he was initially puzzled. When he saw the two silver needles on her wrist in the dim light from the window, he raised an eyebrow. But from her appearance and attire, he naturally wouldn't mistake her for Du Shiyi's sister.

"Du Xiaolangjun, where is the patient?"

"Inside the room."

At this moment, Du Shiyi went forward, gently adjusted the silver needles on Zhuying, and instructed her to continue sitting still. He then led Sun Zifang around the partition to the east room, while Sima Heiyun remained outside without a word.

Sitting on the mat by the bed, he saw the young girl, no more than eleven or twelve years old, lying there. Thinking of her repeated visits to Songyang Temple for her brother, even kneeling in the rain, Sun Zifang sighed inwardly. After Du Shiyi gently lifted her hand from under the covers, he extended two fingers to feel her pulse.

Feeling that her pulse was relatively stable, he listened to her breathing and examined her complexion, then asked thoughtfully, "From the condition of the maid outside, it seems your sister has also been treated with acupuncture. Was it you, Du Xiaolangjun, and which points did you use?"

"Fengchi, Fengmen on both sides, and Lieque on both sides."

Upon hearing this, Sun Taichong's face showed a hint of surprise, "Has Du Xiaolangjun studied medicine and acupuncture before?"

"Only read a few medical books." Du Shiyi shook his head and then said calmly, "But during my strange illness, I vaguely learned from my father in a dream how to use needles to unblock the meridians and the key points of acupuncture, said to be passed down by the Lord of the Underworld. I learned a few basics and, since my sister and the maid caught a cold and fever from the rain, I had to try my best to help them."

Sun Zifang was truly surprised this time. He cleared his throat and said, "May I have the honor of diagnosing your pulse again, Du Xiaolangjun?"

"Please, Daogong."

Facing Du Shiyi's outstretched left hand, Sun Zifang took a deep breath and began to diagnose his pulse seriously.

He had studied Daoism and medicine since his youth, taken elixirs, and treated both high officials and commoners, seeing all kinds of complex pulses. At this moment, he could clearly identify that Du Shiyi's pulse showed some signs of qi and blood deficiency, which was common after a serious illness. While feeling puzzled, he, who had read many ancient and mysterious stories, withdrew his hand and smiled at Du Shiyi.

"Congratulations, Du Xiaolangjun. It seems the Lord of the Underworld is protecting you. You are already out of danger!"

After returning to the thatched cottage in the rain, feeling exhausted but not showing signs of a cold, Du Shiyi knew he should be fine. Now, with Sun Taichong's confirmation, he felt a great weight lifted, and his face naturally showed genuine joy.

At this moment, he smiled and returned the courtesy, "It is my sister's sincerity that moved heaven and earth. Now, I have no other wish but for her to recover soon. Sun Daogong, you have already diagnosed my sister. How is she?"

"Catching a cold and fever from the rain, if treated promptly, should not be a serious issue. Moreover, your acupuncture was effective. After a few days of rest, she should be fine. However, to be safe, I will leave a prescription. Have someone fetch the medicine and prepare it according to the instructions. It should ensure her recovery."

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