Travels of a Female Physician in the Ming Dynasty

Renxintang has been open for some time. Although I am very busy every day, I still feel a sense of accomplishment when I see those patients recover because of my medical skills.

But having said that, although the days were busy, they were still going smoothly, until... a noble patient came.

Here's the thing -

That afternoon, the sun was shining brightly in the yard. I was just thinking of taking this opportunity to rest for a bit when Xiao Cui came running in breathlessly: "Miss, it's bad! A group of people have come to the front yard, carrying a lot of gifts. They say... they say they are from the palace."

"The palace?" I was stunned and thought: My small clinic actually alarmed the palace?

Of course, I only dared to think about this idea in my mind.

If it was really someone from the palace, things would not be so simple.

I rushed to the front yard and saw a group of servants in gorgeous clothes surrounding a luxurious sedan chair.

Seeing this scene, my heart tightened: this is not something that ordinary people can create.

The leading servant came forward and saluted as soon as he saw me come out: "Miss Yang, my wife has heard of your excellent medical skills and has come here specifically to seek treatment."

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief and thought: Fortunately, it was not Zhu Yuanzhang who summoned me.

But on second thought, the person who could let his servants have such a grand ceremony must be a remarkable person.

Sure enough, when the curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, a lady in luxurious clothes walked out. She was about thirty years old, with a dignified temperament, but her face was sallow and she looked a little haggard.

"My humble name is Yang Tong, and I'm honored to meet you, Madam." I quickly bowed, but secretly thought to myself: This Madam doesn't look ordinary!

The lady nodded slightly. Although she had a powerful aura, her words were gentle. "Miss Yang, there's no need to be so polite. I'm disturbing you today because I've heard that you're an excellent doctor, so I came to ask you to treat me."

"Madam, what's wrong?" I asked.

The lady sighed, "Alas, I've been feeling dizzy and weak lately, having trouble sleeping at night, and feeling a tightness in my chest. The doctors at the mansion have examined me several times, and they all say it's due to qi deficiency. I've taken a lot of tonics, but there's been no improvement."

Qi deficiency? Dizziness, fatigue, insomnia... This doesn't sound like a simple "Qi deficiency".

While I was analyzing the symptoms in my mind, I asked my wife to come into the inner hall and sit down.

I took my wife's pulse and found that it was a little weak, but it did not seem like a simple "Qi deficiency".

Coupled with her sallow complexion and the fact that she looked exhausted, I vaguely guessed what the problem was.

"Madam, have you been having irregular eating habits and a messy schedule recently?" I asked tentatively.

The lady was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed, there have been many affairs in the mansion recently, and I often have to work until late at night before I can rest for a while."

I understood: this is a typical "modern urban disease". Excessive stress, lack of sleep, and taking a bunch of tonics are of no help at all, but will instead harm the body.

However, I have to be careful with my wording. After all, this is ancient times, and I can't just throw out modern statements like "You're under too much pressure at work, you need to get more sleep."

So, I smiled and said, "Madam, your condition isn't simply a case of Qi deficiency, but rather overwork. While tonics are good, if you're physically exhausted, they'll only add to the burden. The most important thing is to regulate your sleep and rest schedule and relax appropriately."

The lady frowned. "Relax? But there are so many things to do in the mansion, where is the time to relax?"

I felt helpless: Madam, what you said sounds very much like a modern working person.

But I still patiently explained, "Your health is the foundation of everything. Only by taking good care of your body can you handle affairs well. You can do some relaxing activities every night, such as soaking your feet, listening to soft music... or, er, sitting quietly and meditating for a while to relax your mind. Also, eat a light diet and avoid greasy foods."

The lady nodded thoughtfully, "Miss Yang is right. But this foot soaking and meditation... are really new methods."

I smiled and said, "Although it sounds simple, the effect is amazing. You may want to give it a try. If you feel any better after these few days of conditioning, come back for a follow-up consultation."

The lady was obviously very interested in my suggestion. After thanking me repeatedly, she left with her people.

Watching her figure walking away, I breathed a sigh of relief: It is really not easy to serve aristocratic patients. If you are not careful, you might get into trouble.

However, a few days later, my wife came back. This time, she looked much better. It seemed that my "modern health care techniques" had indeed worked.

"Miss Yang, it's just as you said. I've been sitting quietly and soaking my feet these days, and I've been sleeping much better at night." The lady said with a smile.

I was secretly proud of myself: Humph, see, modern people's health wisdom is really useful.

However, I didn't have time to be happy for long, because what the lady said next made me feel a little overwhelmed.

"Miss Yang, I feel the results have been quite good these past few days. After hearing about it, several ladies in the mansion also want to come and ask you for advice on health preservation. I wonder if you could spare some time to come to your mansion and explain it to them?"

I was stunned for a moment: How could this have a chain reaction? My clinic hasn't even become the medical center of Yingtian Prefecture, but it's already become a health class for wealthy women?

But it’s not easy for me to refuse directly, after all, the other party’s identity is not ordinary.

So, I could only bite the bullet and agree: "You are too polite, Madam. I will arrange a time later and will definitely come to your house."

After seeing the lady off, Xiao Cui couldn't help but laugh. "Miss, you're truly amazing. Now you're not only a female healer, but also a health guru for the ladies. If it's just a couple of days, you'll probably be giving them a class on 'Secrets of Health Preservation.'"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't laugh at me, girl. It seems that I will not only have to treat illnesses in the future, but also work part-time as a 'health lecturer'."

A few days later, I went to the lady's residence as agreed. Sure enough, several ladies in the mansion had been waiting for a long time.

When I saw them, I suddenly had an illusion: Isn’t this just a modern “health lecture”?

So, I bravely began to explain some simple health tips: staying up late is harmful to your health, eat a light diet, and exercise regularly. These modern common sense things were considered "novel" in ancient times. The ladies listened with great interest, nodding their heads in approval.

After finishing the speech, I felt relieved: the task was finally completed.

However, before leaving, my wife specially gave me a generous gift to thank me for my "miraculous" medical skills and "witty" health advice.

After returning to Renxin Hall, I lay back in a chair, feeling overwhelmed: "Looks like it's almost time to start my 'health-preserving business'."

Xiao Cui jokingly said, "Miss, why don't you open a 'Yang Family Health Hall' to teach these noble ladies how to maintain their health? It will definitely make more money than running a clinic."

I smiled and shook my head. "Forget it. I'd better focus on running my Renxin Hall. Although noble patients have high status, serving them is really... too tiring!"

However, after this contact with the nobles, I also realized that medical skills are not only about curing diseases and saving lives, but also about knowing how to deal with people of all identities.

Although these ancient nobles lived a wealthy life, they also had their worries and illnesses.

As a doctor, I not only need medical skills, but also the wisdom to deal with various complex situations.