Jinyi Spring

Chapter 140 Taking it a Step Further

Despite Feng Chuchen's repeated refusals, he couldn't sway Cai Yuxiu's determination.

If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have agreed to this master-disciple relationship. But the person in front of her was the niece of Old Cai, the female doctor, and the fiancée of Wang Tu's nephew. This connection made it impossible for her to refuse.

Having acknowledged this title of "Master," one should receive a gift from the master.

Feng Chuchen had a set of brass surgical instruments and a small jar of disinfectant that she had personally prepared, and solemnly handed them to Cai Yuxiu.

Cai Yuxiu accepted it with both hands, her eyes shining brightly as if she had found a priceless treasure.

Cai Yuxiu also gave Aunt Wang four pieces of paper and Feng Buji four sheep-hair brushes. Others who had helped her also gave her a small gift.

Coincidentally, another woman needed an episiotomy in the afternoon, and she performed it again, doing it very well.

At the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM), Ming Shanfeng arrived.

It has already been arranged that Shangguan Ruyu and Ming Shanyue will also come for dinner.

As soon as Ming Shanfeng arrived, he fanned himself with a large folding fan and asked, "Miss Feng, what delicious dishes have you tried today?"

Feng Chuchen laughed and said, "You'll have to ask Aunt Wu."

The kitchen door was ajar, and Aunt Wu poked her head out, laughing, "There's stuffed bitter melon, spicy and sour shredded chicken, and amaranth with garlic..."

Ming Shanfeng said with a bitter face, "Just hearing the name makes it sound ordinary..."

Peony laughed, "Second Master's tongue has been spoiled by my young lady."

Ming Shanfeng tapped his fan lightly and said, "Guo Hei is luckier than me, coming here every day to freeload." He then chuckled and added, "My grandfather is particularly envious of me now, being able to come to Miss Feng's house to enjoy delicious food."

This made everyone laugh.

When Ming Shanyue and Shangguan Ruyu entered the courtyard, Feng Chuchen got up to greet them.

"Please, gentlemen."

A fleeting look of eagerness crossed Ming Shanyue's eyes as she politely replied, "Shanfeng has a sweet tooth; I apologize for making Miss Feng laugh."

As he spoke, he naturally took a few steps forward, standing only one step away from Feng Chuchen.

He did this on purpose, wanting to see if the distance between him and her was shrinking.

Really... nothing's wrong!
He moved closer to her, so close that he could smell her sweet fragrance, mixed with a hint of medicinal scent...

Overwhelmed with joy, Ming Shanyue took a deep breath to forcefully suppress the smile that was about to appear on her face.

Feng Chuchen understood his intention and stood quietly in place. At such close range, he showed no signs of distress. Was her suppression of him truly weakening as the mole changed color?

She was somewhat horrified. Could she really be his "destined one"...?

Ming Shanyue wanted to get a closer look, but was suddenly pushed by Shangguan Ruyu from behind.

Seeing Ming Shanyue so close to Miss Feng, Shangguan Ruyu felt a tightness in his chest. He couldn't quite put his finger on why, but he just felt that Ming Shanyue was particularly irritating today, making him angry.

He said in a harsh tone, "Move aside, you're blocking my way from talking to Miss Feng."

Caught off guard, Ming Shanyue was pushed half a step to the right and glared at him angrily.

Shangguan Ruyu turned to Feng Chuchen and said, “Miss Feng, I have a problem that I’d like to ask you for advice.”

He glanced at Ming Shanyue again, "This is a special problem; no one else should bother us."

It was rare for Lady Shangguan to be so serious.

Feng Chuchen suppressed a laugh and went with him to the east wing for a detailed talk.

Feng Buji politely invited Ming Shanyue, "Lord Ming, please come inside."

Ming Shanyue nodded slightly, but remained standing in the courtyard without moving.

Everyone felt uncomfortable just by him standing there, especially since Shangguan Ruyu had just offended him.

Apart from Guo Hei, Duan Yan, and a few other servants, the Feng family members all went about their business and slipped away.

Shangguan Ruyu asked about the "intestinal abscess" procedure, which is the surgery for appendicitis.

He had heard Feng Chuchen mention before that severe pain in the lower right abdomen was most likely caused by necrosis of a section of the intestine. This section of the intestine was not of much use and could be surgically removed.

Feng Chuchen explained in detail, still using the same rhetoric he had learned from his aunt's notes.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ruyu suddenly leaned forward, lowered her voice, and her eyes gleamed, "These past few days, I secretly took a familiar coroner and went to the mortuary a few times... and finally got a good look at those 'things' inside the person's stomach."

His voice conveyed a suppressed excitement and composure.

What he couldn't say was that Duan Yan and the others were terrified; this was even more frightening than being asked to enter a maternity clinic to watch women give birth. They knelt and begged for a long time, but they couldn't stop him.

He took out a few sheets of paper from his sleeve and quickly stuffed them into Feng Chuchen's hand. "I drew this exactly like this. You'll definitely like it."

Then, he gave her a look that said, "Only I understand you."

Feng Chuchen unfolded the paper, revealing clearly outlined internal organs and meridians, with even their names labeled, along with detailed diagrams of the ribs and spine. Although not as precise and scientific as the diagrams she had seen in her previous life, the sheer detail of the human anatomy in this world was enough to astound her.

This person... is truly a genius. Fortunately, he comes from a distinguished family; otherwise, such "unorthodox" behavior would have brought him trouble sooner or later.

Feng Chuchen was very fond of this "student".

Based on her knowledge, she explained the ambiguous and questionable parts of his drawing in a more systematic and "scientific" way.

Shangguan Ruyu's eyes widened as she listened. "You didn't even see it with your own eyes, how could you know more about it than I do?"

Feng Chuchen's lips curved slightly, with a hint of slyness: "Don't you know that there is such a thing as a 'genius' in this world? After seeing your drawing, many things suddenly became clear."

Shangguan Ruyu bowed deeply to her solemnly, "Hearing your words is better than reading ten years of medical books. It is not unworthy for me to call you Master."

Feng Chuchen returned the greeting and said modestly, "I should thank you too. If I hadn't seen these diagrams with my own eyes and listened to your explanation, I might not have been able to understand many of the key points so thoroughly."

She reached out, her fair fingertips gently pointing to a section of intestine in the picture. "Based on the records in my aunt's letters, I deduce that the root of the intestinal abscess lies in the necrosis at this point. This section of intestine is of little use to the human body; if it's damaged, it can simply be cut off. This treatment method is more direct than taking medicine or acupuncture."

Shangguan Ruyu's pupils widened slightly upon hearing this, her face filled with disbelief. "This... this section of intestine is really useless?"

Feng Chuchen said firmly, "I believe my aunt. If she says it's useless, then it's useless."

Shangguan Ruyu rolled her eyes, a hint of eagerness flashing in them. "If any prisoners in the cell have this disease, I'll give it a try."

Feng Chuchen laughed; this cousin of hers was really bold.

Shangguan Ruyu leaned closer, "However, when it really comes to it, I must invite you to oversee things. I feel uneasy doing it alone."

Outside the door, Ming Shanyue stood quietly in the shadows.

Faint whispers could be heard from inside, one clear and cheerful voice, the other gentle and composed.

He could hear snippets of words, "internal organs," "vessels"... The door was not closed, and he could see Shangguan Ruyu and Miss Feng standing very close, almost shoulder to shoulder, both looking down at the papers in their hands.

He almost climbed the steps to join the conversation that was completely unfamiliar to him. But just before his feet moved, he stopped.

He walked in as if he were afraid of something. Then he thought, since it's destiny, no one can take it away from me.

He turned his back, his gaze fixed on the deepening twilight on the horizon.

He was quite puzzled. He had always been "carefree" and "rough," so how could he suddenly become so... so sticky and fleshy?
He had often teased Shangguan Ruyu for being too chubby, comparing her to a girl. Just then, Peony's clear voice came from outside, "Hibiscus, Perilla—come to the kitchen to bring out the dishes..."

Feng Chuchen put the papers away, and Shangguan Ruyu had no choice but to get up and go to the main room for dinner.

After the meal, Shangguan Ruyu lingered, wanting to continue her discussion with Feng Chuchen. However, Ming Shanyue grabbed her arm and dragged her away.

Shangguan Ruyu was very unhappy and kept glaring at Ming Shanyue.

In the car, Shangguan Ruyu looked at Ming Shanyue with a strange expression. "Cousin, you... have finally figured it out?"

Ming Shanyue was baffled by the question and asked in return, "What enlightenment?"

Shangguan Ruyu smirked, her tone hard, "I'm warning you, don't get any ideas about Miss Feng, stay away from her. What if your fate is too strong and you bring her bad luck?"

Ming Shanyue was furious. She rolled her eyes at this idiot and couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

Ming Shanfeng laughed out loud, "Miss Feng isn't an extremely yin person, so how could my elder brother possibly have designs on her? Even if Miss Feng were an extremely yin person, my elder brother still wouldn't have designs on her—because he doesn't even want women. Hahaha..."

Before he could finish laughing, he received a slap on the back of the head from Ming Shanyue.

Shangguan Ruyu had just chuckled twice when he saw Ming Shanyue's hand about to wave at him again, so he quickly and wisely suppressed his laughter.

After seeing the guests off, Zisu said, "I noticed that Lord Ming seemed a little unhappy today."

Mu Jin said, "It's not that Lord Ming is unhappy, it's that Young Master Shangguan is unhappy."

Peony said, "I also think it's Lord Ming who's unhappy."

Du Ruo said, "When has Lord Ming ever been happy? I can also tell that Young Master Shangguan is unhappy."

-

In the dead of night, when all was quiet, a sudden knocking sounded at the door.

Uncle Wu opened the door, listened to the old woman say a few words, and then quickly ran to Feng Chuchen's window and said, "Reporting to Miss, the seventh mistress of Minister Xue's mansion is having a difficult childbirth and requests your presence."

Minister Xue, also known as the Imperial Uncle Xue, was the nephew of Empress Dowager Xue, the elder brother of Consort Xue, the maternal uncle of the eldest princess and Prince Zhao, the Minister of Revenue, a Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, and the head of the Xue family.

With so many identities, revealing just one is enough to make one's heart tremble.

Of all the places in the capital, Feng Chuchen least wanted to go was his home; it was more dangerous than the imperial palace.

But I can't not go.

He could only say, "Alright, come out right away, call Shaoyao, and then go to the clinic to have Sister Song and Granny Feng prepare so we can go together."

Granny Feng was sent by Ming Shanyue.

The old woman from the Xue family, who was following up at the Feng residence, urged, "Hurry up, my seventh mistress is having her first child. She has been in labor for a day and a night and is almost unable to make a sound."

Feng Chuchen got dressed, and Shaoyao was already waiting outside.

A quarter of an hour later, Sister Song and Granny Feng, carrying medicine boxes, jogged over.

When Granny Xue saw four people, she asked in surprise, "You only invited Doctor Feng, why are there so many people?"

Feng Chuchen pointed to Shaoyao, "She is my assistant," and then pointed to Sister Song and her companion, "They are midwives at the clinic, they might be able to help."

"The car is at the alley entrance." The old woman ran out.

Feng Chuchen and the others lagged behind. She whispered a warning, "Be careful of Doctor Xue in the delivery room... Peony must control her temper and not cause any trouble..."

Even if she was unwilling to save the Xue family, she had to do her best.

The night was long, and the carriage sped along, jolting so violently that the people inside were thrown about.

About half an hour later, they arrived in front of a large mansion.

After getting off the car, I jogged all the way to the backyard of a small courtyard.

Several servants stood in the courtyard, while a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old paced back and forth on the veranda.

Feng Chuchen and the others entered the delivery room. The woman was standing, her hands hanging from a horizontal bar suspended from the ceiling. Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was messy, her features were distorted, and she could barely make a sound.

There was an unpleasant smell in the room, and several female doctors and midwives were busy at work, including female doctor Wei and female doctor Fan.

When Doctor Fan saw that Feng Chuchen had been invited again, she was furious. She would rather her cousin's wife die with her unborn child than have Feng Chuchen steal the spotlight here.

Feng Chuchen simply nodded to Doctor Wei, treating Doctor Fan as a background figure. After looking around again, she realized the baby hadn't been born yet and there was nothing for her to do, so she took Shaoyao to wait quietly outside the delivery room.

Sister-in-law Song and Granny Feng were still standing in the delivery room when Doctor Xue rudely kicked them out. "There are doctors here, and the most experienced midwives. You two ignorant old women don't deserve to stand here."

The last sentence was spoken very softly, and only Song Feng and the other person could hear it.

The two hurriedly came out.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the night breeze, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and the pungent aroma of burning mosquito repellent.

By daybreak, the baby still hadn't been born.

Around 9 AM, finally, the female doctor Wei's loud shouts were heard, "Almost there, inhale, exhale, push..."

Then came several exclamations, "Oh dear, quick... quick, please fetch Doctor Feng!"

If we don't hear any crying, something's wrong.

Feng Chuchen and the others rushed inside.

The female doctor was holding a baby boy in her arms. He was covered in bruises and his eyes were closed.

Feng Chuchen could tell at a glance that the child was already dead, so there was no need to burn incense.

She shook her head and looked at the unconscious Grandma Xue. Grandma Xue was bleeding profusely; one female doctor was administering acupuncture to her, while another female doctor stood by the window seeking advice from the imperial physician.

The female doctor, Wei, said urgently, "The mother is in danger. Doctor Feng, please administer a hemostatic injection immediately."

She knew that Feng Chuchen's hemostatic injections were effective.

Feng Chuchen was about to go over when she was stopped by Doctor Fan, who had already taken the dead child from Doctor Wei's arms.

"You haven't even lit this incense yet, are you unwilling to save the Xue family's offspring?"

His voice was icy, and his gaze was even colder.

If we save Grandma Xue now, she might still be able to live.

The best thing Feng Chuchen could do at that moment was to save her as soon as possible.

However, this would mean she would be accused by Doctor Fan of deliberately refusing to treat the Xue family's offspring, leading to their deaths. If Seventh Madam Xue were to die as well, she would be even more unable to defend herself.

If it were anyone else, as a doctor, she would definitely have upheld the correct judgment.

However, the Xue family harmed her mother and attempted to kill the original owner of the body, who is now her. She is not only a doctor but also a victim. Regardless of personal grudges, her stance, or her current situation, she cannot uphold her principles.

Moreover, there was a female doctor named Fan standing there, specifically looking for her faults.

Feng Chuchen didn't argue with her directly, but turned to Shaoyao and said, "Get the incense burner, quick."