Strange occurrences are common every year, but this year is particularly full of them.
The eldest daughter of the Li family, Li Man'er, took poison and didn't die, and now she claims she can cure the poison that afflicted Marquis Tie Dan! A poison that even the imperial physicians couldn't treat, and she says she can cure it!
Li Zha'er absolutely refused to believe Li Man'er possessed such skill, nor did Guo Shi. She was the first to object to Li Man'er treating Li Shu.
If she could indeed cure him, that would be one thing, but what if she accidentally killed the Marquis? Wouldn't the pillar of their household collapse?
"Mother, we absolutely cannot let Eldest Daughter act recklessly," Guo Shi pleaded with tears streaming down her face. "I've never heard of Eldest Daughter studying medicine. She's just a young lady. Even if she's flipped through a few medical books and has a rudimentary understanding of pharmacology, there's no way she could surpass the imperial physicians. The esteemed Imperial Physician Duan was helpless, so how can she possibly help?"
Cui Shi also felt this matter was not to be trifled with. It involved a significant family affair. If anything were to happen to Li Shu, even ten Li Man'ers wouldn't be enough to compensate.
"Nonsense!" Cui Shi first rebuked Li Man'er, then turned to apologize to Duan Xu. "Imperial Physician Duan, it is this old woman's failing in educating her juniors that has made you witness such folly. How can a sheltered young lady possess the ability to save lives and heal the wounded? I implore you, Imperial Physician Duan, for the sake of the Marquis's loyal service to the country, please overlook her ignorance."
Hearing Cui Shi's words, Duan Xu's lingering discomfort subsided considerably. "Old Madam is too kind." Treating Li Shu was his duty, and if Marquis Tie Dan met with misfortune, his own head would be forfeit.
Duan Xu understood the art of seizing an opportunity. He wasn't a formidable official, and offending a powerful family like the Li family was ill-advised.
Just as Duan Xu was about to let the matter pass quietly, Li Man'er spoke again, "There's no time!"
"What do you mean?"
No one understood her meaning. No time for what?
"If I don't act, the mansion will be draped in white tomorrow."
Draped in white?
Li Zha'er gasped. Li Man'er was truly audacious.
Cui Shi was so enraged she nearly fainted. Her tinnitus seemed to flare up. "Li Man'er, are you trying to anger me to death?"
Li Man'er looked up at the night sky and said, "My father's life hangs on your decision. If you don't believe me, Imperial Physician Duan can go back and check. See if there's a black line four inches above my father's navel."
Four inches above the navel is the Zhongwan acupoint...
Duan Xu seemed to have a realization and immediately ran forward, shouting as he went, "Quick, faster!"
As soon as he left, Guo Shi erupted.
"Eldest Daughter, your usual tomfoolery is one thing, but what time is it now? Do you truly want to lead the Marquis to his death, and our entire Marquis's mansion to ruin?" Guo Shi wasn't just trying to sow discord anymore; she was genuinely heartbroken.
The heir was still young. If Li Shu were to truly pass away, the future of the Marquis's mansion was dire.
"You can't blame me for this," Li Man'er stated. "If you truly cared for Father, you should agree to my treatment."
"This is not a game."
Li Man'er fell silent. She heard footsteps, hurried footsteps.
Duan Xu had returned. Sweating profusely, he bowed to the Ninth Prince and then rushed to Li Man'er. "Eldest Daughter, there is indeed a black line four inches above the Marquis's navel. What is the reason for this? What kind of poisonous pill can leave a black line on the Zhongwan acupoint? I have practiced medicine for decades, and I have truly never heard of such a thing!"
Duan Xu was somewhat frantic, hoping Li Man'er could enlighten him. The others listened with bewilderment. Li Man'er was actually right, could it be that she really could treat illnesses?
"The line is as black as ink, half a finger wide?"
"Precisely so."
Li Man'er said helplessly, "Then there's nothing that can be done. Besides Miracle Doctor Qiu and my maternal uncle's Divine Needles, no one in this world can resolve this poison."
Ning Daocheng was the youngest son of the Ning family. From childhood, he showed no interest in poetry, books, or commerce. He was solely devoted to the medical path, spending his youth poring over medical texts, and possessed considerable talent.
Ning Liancheng, on the other hand, cared little for worldly conventions and prejudices. He raised his children with a laissez-faire approach. As long as they didn't do evil, they were free to do as they pleased. Whether it was studying medicine or becoming a monk, he wouldn't interfere.
Other families would avoid using characters from their father's name or alter them slightly, like omitting a stroke or adding one, to show respect.
Ning Liancheng, however, named his son Ning Daocheng. Those who didn't know might think they were brothers.
Ning Daocheng left home at fourteen, by which time he was already a young physician of considerable renown in the Jiangnan region. Despite his fame, people were skeptical of his medical skills, after all, he was only a fourteen-year-old boy. Perhaps his reputation was inflated by others.
After leaving home, Ning Daocheng went to the vast Cangmang Mountains to seek out Miracle Doctor Qiu, hoping to apprentice under him. He was accompanied only by an old servant and a page. He was away for over ten years, and did not return even after Ning Shi passed away.
Whether out of guilt or some other reason, when the Li family sent Li Man'er to the Ning family, Ning Daocheng suddenly returned.
For as long as Li Man'er stayed with the Ning family, Ning Daocheng remained at home. He didn't go out to socialize but dedicated himself to his medical books. The rest of his time was spent with Li Man'er, running around the house.
Li Man'er and this maternal uncle got along famously. When she left the Ning family, she even cried while hugging Ning Daocheng.
As soon as Li Man'er was sent back to the capital by Ning Qiancheng, Li Daocheng left home shortly after. From then on, although he often sent letters home, he never returned in person.
Ning Daocheng inherited Miracle Doctor Qiu's true teachings and his peerless acupuncture skills became renowned throughout the Zun Kingdom. For the past three years, the Ning family had not received any letters from Ning Daocheng. Rumors claimed he was dead.
The Ning family naturally refused to believe it, but despite searching far and wide, they could not find Ning Daocheng. He gained fame in his youth, and after becoming Miracle Doctor Qiu's disciple, his fame spread across the land. How could he have disappeared for three years?
If he were dead, wouldn't Miracle Doctor Qiu's peerless acupuncture skills be lost forever? And how could Li Shu be saved?
"Then, what do we do now?" Duan Xu was utterly lost. However, his eyes lit up. "Miss Li, you previously said you could cure the poison. Is that true?"
Li Man'er smiled confidently. "Of course, it's true! My uncle imparted his ultimate skills to me long ago. In this world, only I can save him."
Li Zha'er said anxiously, "Grandmother, Mother, you must not believe her nonsense! Just because she lived in the Ning family for a few years doesn't make her a divine physician. It's simply wishful thinking."
Cui Shi also showed some panic. "Imperial Physician Duan, are there truly no other options? You are the Imperial Physician Director!"
Duan Xu shook his head. "If I knew what poison it was, perhaps a cure could be developed. But the Marquis cannot wait!"
Qi Yihan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, "Let her treat him."