"Under the circumstances, anyone would have stopped me. Madam Tang, please don't hold this against me," Yun Shu said with a smile.
After she finished speaking, she looked at Tang Hui. From the moment Tang Hui had entered, Yun Shu had noticed something amiss with her complexion. Previously in the palace, she had detected hints from Tang Hui's pulse that her faintness was due to low blood sugar. However, Tang Hui likely had another condition.
"Since it's just the few of us today and we're at the General's residence, Miss Tang, allow me to take your pulse again," Yun Shu said.
Tang Hui blinked her round, apricot-shaped eyes. "I... I actually wanted Miss Yun Er to examine me as well. I..." she hesitated, finding it difficult to speak.
"Let me explain. Hui'er has been experiencing abdominal pain for the past two years, especially when her period arrives. The pain is unbearable. This condition is difficult to discuss with the elder physicians at the clinic. Even if the maids describe it, the medicine prescribed by the elder physicians is often not very effective," Madam Tang said, her face etched with worry. For unmarried women, to avoid any ill repute, their minor ailments were rarely brought to a male physician, nor would they visit a male doctor at the clinic.
Madam Gu looked at Tang Hui with affection. "I've watched Hui'er grow thinner and thinner over these years."
"I saw what Hui'er was like when her period arrived. She would break out in a sweat from the pain, and her hands and feet would be extremely cold," Gu Zhiruo added.
Tang Hui lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes. These were things only her closest confidantes knew. She desperately wanted to find someone to treat her, but... she could only bear the pain and suffering silently, tears in her eyes. She looked at Yun Shu with hopeful anticipation.
Yun Shu had seen this look in Tang Hui's eyes many times, so she instinctively nodded. Even that small nod ignited hope in Tang Hui's heart. "Miss Yun Er, I... I sometimes also have some odor. I bathe every day, but..."
"Mmm, I understand. Let me take your pulse first," Yun Shu replied, her voice carrying the cool, reassuring power of a clear spring. Tang Hui's anxious, worried, and bewildered heart immediately calmed. She had a strong intuition that Miss Yun Er could definitely heal her.
Everyone's gaze fell upon Yun Shu. Yun Shu remained silent, her eyes lowered as she took Tang Hui's pulse. Madam Tang clutched her handkerchief nervously. No mother wished for their child to suffer, and she feared that, as the clinic physician had suggested, it might affect her future fertility. For a woman, the inability to bear children would be too cruel! How would Hui'er ever marry? The thought made Madam Tang's heart ache intensely.
"Don't worry," Madam Gu said softly, trying to comfort her. Madam Tang nodded, her heart still suspended in anxious anticipation. Yet, for some reason, seeing Miss Yun Er's calm and composed profile, she suddenly felt she was being too agitated. She had to trust Miss Yun Er.
Yun Shu finished taking the pulse quickly. She released Tang Hui's wrist and raised her eyes, meeting Tang Hui's beautiful, deer-like eyes that seemed easily startled. Yun Shu immediately smiled. "There's no need to be nervous."
"Am I... am I truly going to have difficulty conceiving in the future?" Tang Hui bit her lip, mustering the courage to ask the question she most wanted an answer to. Madam Tang gripped her handkerchief even tighter.
Yun Shu picked up a nearby brush and ink, writing as she spoke. "If treatment is delayed further, it will indeed affect your ability to conceive in the future, but it's not absolute. It's not a major issue, but it cannot be taken lightly."
"Not a major issue?" Tang Hui's eyes widened in shock.
Madam Tang was astonished. "Really?!"
"I told you it wasn't a big problem. Hui'er was just too worried," Gu Zhiruo said with relief, immediately smiling.
Yun Shu nodded and handed the written prescription to Tang Hui. "Get the herbs according to this prescription and take them morning and evening. Many women neglect their own well-being, and coupled with Miss Tang's anxiety each time her period arrives, it has exacerbated the condition. In fact, many women experience similar symptoms to Miss Tang. However, some male physicians in clinics lack understanding of women's ailments, so the prescriptions they issue are often not entirely suitable. It's alright, Miss Tang. With careful self-care and by taking this medicine, you will soon recover your health."
Upon receiving the prescription, Tang Hui held it in her hand as if it were a precious treasure. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Yun Shu. "Miss Yun Er, you are my benefactor!" No one knew how she had endured these past few years.
Madam Tang was also moved. "Miss Yun Er's medical skills are truly superb! Hui'er, Miss Yun Er said it's not a serious illness, so you must not be nervous or worried anymore. Make sure to take your medicine and take good care of yourself!"
"Mmm!" Tang Hui nodded, a mix of tears and smiles on her face.
Yun Shu also gave Tang Hui some further instructions on what to pay attention to in the future. Tang Hui listened very carefully, afraid of missing anything.
Afterward, they chatted for a while longer. As Yun Shu saw them off from the residence, Gu Zhiruo looked at Yun Shu, seeming to want to say something. However, with Madam Tang and the others present, Gu Zhiruo remained silent.
Yun Shu noticed that Gu Zhiruo had something to say, and she seemed to have had something to say in the palace as well. "Zhiruo, I'll come to your home in a couple of days to perform acupuncture on you again," she said.
Gu Zhiruo immediately nodded, agreeing quickly. "Ah, okay! Shu'er, thank goodness for you!" She didn't want to keep anything from Yun Shu, especially after all Yun Shu had done for her. She would feel guilty if she did. She also felt that if Yun Shu were to find out from someone else later, how would she face her? It seemed Yun Shu had noticed her hesitations and knew there was something she wanted to say.
...
Night King's Manor.
After Grandfather Qin returned to the Night King's Manor with Xiao Jing and the others. Upon seeing Zhan Tianye, he glanced at the three little ones behind him and lowered his voice to brag to Zhan Tianye. "You've cultivated for lifetimes to have such an extraordinary maternal grandfather as me! See how my intervention has completely changed Yun Shu's and General Yun's impressions of you! You just need to keep trying and make an effort. As long as you can get Shu'er to marry you, when I pass away, I promise I won't speak ill of your grandmother or your mother to you." He stroked his beard proudly and said, "You can learn from me slowly."
Zhan Tianye looked at the triumphant Grandfather Qin. His unfathomably deep black eyes still revealed no emotion; he merely responded with an "Mm." Grandfather Qin was used to Zhan Tianye's habit of saying a lot of words, only to be met with a simple "Mm" in response, without any further elaboration. He muttered his dissatisfaction inwardly, then turned to Xiao Jing and the others. "Your great-grandfather has to go back to handle some matters and take his medicine. I'll come to see you tomorrow, alright?"
"Okay! I'll miss you, Great-grandfather!"
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
After Grandfather Qin left, Yun Xiao Jing's eyes darted around. He exchanged a look with Zhan Xiao Li and the others, then looked up at Zhan Tianye. "I don't know if I should call you 'Dad' right now?"