The door was pushed open with a clang, and a cold wind blew in, instantly sobering Lu Qingwan.
"Close the door. If the mother falls ill from catching a chill, can you endure her confinement period for her?"
The man quickly shut the door, and the shopkeeper from Bai Xing Lin squeezed in through the gap.
The man rushed to the bedside. Seeing his wife unconscious, he immediately grabbed Lu Qingwan's collar. "What's wrong with my wife? What did you do to her?"
"She's just temporarily unconscious. She'll wake up within three hours at most, but the longer she stays unconscious, the less she'll suffer."
As Lu Qingwan spoke, she lifted the white cloth covering the woman. The old doctor hastily turned away and covered his eyes, and the man also averted his gaze.
Lu Qingwan, however, said coldly, "Turn back and look.
The wound on her abdomen is critical. She cannot be moved for now, nor can she eat any stimulating foods. You are a doctor; you should understand this.
Also, you must take good care of her confinement period. After a month, she can engage in moderate activity.
She can only move normally after three months. If the condition is left untreated, it will become a lifelong ailment. Don't say I didn't warn you."
The old doctor's eyes were fixed on the wound on the woman's stomach, his eyeballs almost popping out. "You, you cut open the产妇's abdomen and took out the baby?"
"What else?"
Lu Qingwan gestured with her hands. "The baby's umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice. If I hadn't performed a C-section to deliver the baby, would he have been strangled to death?"
"You can save someone from this! You are a divine doctor!"
The old doctor knelt on the ground with a thud. "Master above, please accept this disciple's bow.
On behalf of the thirty-ninth generation successor of Bai Xing Lin, I implore the divine doctor to grace Bai Xing Lin with your presence and revitalize it!"
The old shopkeeper was also an experienced old doctor. He had seen patients with nuchal cords before, but in every case, both mother and child had perished.
The technique of performing a C-section and then stitching the abdomen closed was something he had never heard of. He instantly felt that revitalizing Bai Xing Lin was possible!
Cian Tang had looked down on him for being young, but the shopkeeper of Bai Xing Lin was begging him to work there. This truly meant that when one door closes, another opens!
However, "Don't call me that. Who is your master? You're old enough to be my grandfather. I don't have a disciple this old!"
"Bai Xing Lin has always served the people with benevolence and never harmed others. It is a disgrace that Cian Tang has suppressed us at every turn, making me ashamed of the ancestors of Bai Xing Lin."
The old shopkeeper, tears streaming down his face, said, "From the day Bai Xing Lin was suppressed and became deserted, I swore that whoever could revitalize Bai Xing Lin, I would take them as my master. This vow cannot be broken.
Master, you cannot let your disciple break his word!"
As he spoke, he somehow produced a teacup and smoothly placed it into Lu Qingwan's hand.
Lu Qingwan didn't know what was happening. The bottom of the teacup seemed to be supported by something, and the tea entered her mouth.
Although it only moistened her lips, she had still drunk it!
The old shopkeeper gave a silly smile. "Master, you've drunk my disciple tea. You can't go back on your word!"
"Then you might not know me very well. I am most adept at going back on my word!"
A string of ancient-looking medicine bottles was thrust into the man's hand. "These bottles contain detailed instructions for internal and external applications. Follow the prescriptions."
"I will come back to the clinic when I have time. Don't mention the matter of discipleship again, or I won't hesitate to move my practice to another clinic."
The old shopkeeper's intended barrage of persistent words was stifled. He responded aggrievedly, "Yes, Master."
Lu Qingwan stretched and was about to leave. The man, who had been kneeling beside the mother, suddenly said, "How much is the consultation fee? I'll pay you now."
"Whatever you think your wife and child are worth, that's how much you'll pay."
Lu Qingwan met the man's gaze indifferently. Seeing the scrutinizing look in his eyes, she narrowed her own. "A friendly reminder: don't try to find out my identity.
Unless, of course, you can guarantee you'll never need me in your life."
Although the man tried his best to appear ordinary, his extraordinary demeanor clearly indicated he was no commoner.
Lu Qingwan saved people out of instinct, and she didn't want to cause herself unnecessary trouble.
The man casually handed Lu Qingwan a bamboo whistle. "Your life-saving grace cannot be repaid with money. If you encounter danger, blow this whistle, and someone will rescue you from peril.
However, this whistle can only be used three times. You should consider carefully before using it."
Lu Qingwan remained noncommittal and turned to leave with a flourish.
"Miss, your wedding date with the Regent has been set for the eighth day of next month.
It is expected that the Regent will come to propose gifts in a few days.
His Majesty has also personally decreed that Prince Chen will escort all of your dowry back. This is truly wonderful!"
As soon as she returned to the Marquis's mansion, Yue'er eagerly rushed to meet her, chattering excitedly around Lu Qingwan.
"The best items from Madam's trousseau were chosen for that dowry. I thought it would all go to the second young lady!
I didn't expect His Majesty to consider even this. No wonder everyone outside calls our Emperor a wise ruler for the ages. I feel the same way now!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingwan felt a sense of impending disaster!
Once the dowry was returned, Lan Shi would surely put it back in the storeroom. When the storeroom door opened, if it was empty, wouldn't Lan Shi discover that the inventory was missing?
That was the grand gift she had prepared for Lu Si Wan. It couldn't be revealed so soon!
No, she had to think of a way!