Chapter 48 Origin of Her Blood Phobia
2123 Words
Coming out of Gu Yunxi's room, Leng Qingtang cast a sideways look to Xiao Xiaoshen and Yuan Qian under the porch, his tone unemotional, "Get up."
"Thank you, Master." The two rose slowly. They had been kneeling for two days since the night of Gu Yunxi's accident, so now getting up suddenly, they both suffered from dizziness and blurred vision.
Leng Qingtang dashed straight to the study, followed by Chiliarch Cheng Wanli.
Walking briskly, Leng Qingtang ordered his subordinate curtly, "Have the informant to investigate the eunuch who tricked Yunxi for Ming Lan. Execute him and the servants who know him with whatever reason you may fabricate!"
"Yes, Master!" Cheng Wanli lowered his head in acknowledgment.
Having heard the conversation inside Gu Yunxi's room before, he was aware of the general circumstances so he did not bother the Master further.
In the study, Imperial Doctor Jiang, who treated Gu Yunxi, was writing a prescription.
Imperial Doctor Jiang, also known as Jiang Huaian, was a medium-sized studious man around 24 or 25 years old. His squared face was smooth, fair, and chiseled. His eyes were relatively small and narrow, brimming with shrewdness. With his mustached lips lightly pursed, the man looked naturally aloof in the craven-black official robe.
In the night two days ago, he was urgently summoned by a eunuch from the Leng's mansion. At that time, Gu Yunxi had been covered with injuries and had a high fever. He had been shocked and hurried to feel her pulse after putting down the medicine box.
Today, he came back for a follow-up visit and brought for the Master a special medicine powder and Chinese herbs, which were used to make facial masks when disguising as a eunuch.
Leng Qingtang sat down, caught his breath, and took a sip of tea. Then he inquired the doctor about Gu Yunxi's condition.
Imperial Doctor Jiang replied him as writing the prescription,
"Don't worry, Master. As long as the dressing is changed on time, the injury will take no time to heal. As for the fever, it was due to fainting at the sight of blood during the fight against the wolf pack. Being in excessive shock, coupled with menstruation, she thus showed more severe symptoms. This time, I add a few more herbs to the prescription. Take medicine for some days, and the fever shall ebb after the end of her period. I'll come back to check on Miss Yun again seven days later."
The first time Imperial Doctor Jiang treated Gu Yunxi was at Youzhu Garden, so naturally he knew that she was female.
"Thank god it turns alright..." Leng Qingtang put down the teacup and stroked his sweated forehead, murmuring. Suddenly, he looked puzzled.
"Did you say period? Her period should have ended for long. Why does it start now? It's late for about ten days. Is there anything wrong with her?"
Imperial Doctor Jiang studied the tension in the Master's demeanor. Curving his lips indifferently, he smiled coldly.
"I didn't anticipate your detailed knowledge of Miss Yun's condition, Master, even her menstruation time."
Leng Qingtang heard the insinuation beneath Imperial Doctor Jiang's flat tone. His eyes sharp and dissatisfied, he answered in a deep voice,
"The girl grew up under my watch. Surely I know her better than anyone else!"
"I beg to disagree. Master, if you really like her, you might as well take her as your wife or concubine. Why hide her in men's clothing to no avail and only make it more conspicuous?"
"Jiang Huaian."
Leng Qingtang finally couldn't hold back the burst of anger and hammered the table furiously.
Jiang Huaian was mentored by a legendary doctor since his childhood and mastered great medical knowledge. However, he had a cold and straight disposition and a quintessentially arrogant genius.
He was the only one who dared to speak out to Leng Qingtang and truthfully express his thoughts.
When he treated Gu Yunxi before, he had heard from Chiliarch Cheng about her and the Master. With the Eastern Depot and Western Depot at odds, Imperial Doctor Jiang felt it was too risky for the Master to hide Gu Yunxi like this. It might even bring demise to them!
The study froze in silence.
"Well! Now you are increasingly bold. Would you like to replace me as the Master?!"
Pressed by the Master's resentful eyes, Jiang Huaian smothered the unruly sneer on his face, stood upright, and bowed to him seriously.
"Please forgive me, Master. I have one thing perplexing me for a long time and want to take the opportunity of today to ask you, Master. Only so will the treatment for Miss Yun achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"You may ask!"
Hearing it was about Yunxi's treatment, Leng Qingtang restrained the anger in his chest and groaned in response.
"I can't understand it. What is the relationship between Miss Yun and you? And why do you care so much about her?"
"Humph! I'm free to favor whoever I want. Do I need to ask for your consent?"
Clenching his fists tightly in his robe sleeves, Leng Qingtang sneered disdainfully, so angry that he wanted to punch the table into pieces.
Gu Yunxi fell down the cliff and barely managed to keep her life. The assassination, disguised as an accident, had already made Leng Qingtang overwhelmed with grievances. After Jiang Huaian's relentless question today, the fire that had been stored for a long time could finally erupt.
A few days ago, it had been Cheng Wanli who had held onto Gu Yunxi, and now it was Imperial Doctor Jiang.
It bewildered Leng Qingtang. Even a real eunuch could take an intimate woman as his nominal wife. He, a fake eunuch, was still a real man at the end of the day. Why was he not allowed to show a little affection to his favorite girl?
"Master, you should know how important the burden is on your shoulders. You cannot afford to be distracted. We've waited in the palace for many years to help you accomplish your great achievement. Considering the current situation, I fear that Miss Yun will become your weakness and encumbrance on your way. If it is really a love affair, I dare to ask you to rethink and always prioritize your great achievement!"
Finished, Imperial Doctor Jiang bowed deeply to Leng Qingtang.
At this moment, the rage in Leng Qingtang's heart vanished.
Faithful words grated upon the ear!
After all, these people paid close attention to his every move out of complete loyalty.
On the contrary, the fact that he failed to refrain from his passion towards a petite girl made him guilty about their loyalty.
Nonetheless, one's feelings could only be grasped by oneself. To abandon the girl just because of several complaints, he couldn't do it.
Leng Qingtang no longer wished to withhold the truth.
He beckoned Imperial Doctor Jiang to look out of the yard. Assured that there were no people idling outside, he called him to stand before the table and uttered clearly word by word,
"Huaian, originally, only Chiliarch Cheng and I knew about Yunxi. I didn't tell you or the other informants for your own sake. The fewer people know the truth, the better. Yunxi... She is the daughter of Lord Protector Zheng!"
Instantly, Imperial Doctor Jiang's square face was filled with surprise and consternation. After a while, he stuttered,
"So that's why... Miss Yun is... Chief Cook Pei's daughter!"
It all made sense now. Imperial Doctor Jiang finally understood why the Eastern Depot Master, who had always been decisive, would care so compassionately about a little girl.
Leng Qingtang sat in front of the table, holding his forehead with one hand, his face looking grave.
"In the snowy night ten years ago, the Zheng family was slaughtered. The perpetrators had already escaped when I arrived with people. We found Yunxi beneath loads of corpses. She was covered with blood then, scared to muteness. Since then she had not only lost her memory but caught blood phobia as well. Her mother, Rushi... Her body was covering her, protecting her daughter with her flesh..."
The past unfolded with the suppressed voice as Leng Qingtang's eyes turned reddishly moisturized. Deep in his heart, the long-healed scar seemed torn again, throbbing faintly. A strong b****y smell filled his nose as he breathed.
"..."
Imperial Doctor Jiang was touched. He brought his hands together and bowed resolutely to the Master.
"Master, please forgive me for my offense."
Leng Qingtang closed his eyes heavily, feeling emptied and exhausted.
Quiet for a moment, he reopened his eyes, and this time his handsome features were full of resolution and decisiveness.
"For ten years, the Eastern Depot has been investigating the identities of killers, who were instructed by the Emperor. Now we have locked on several targets. Hundreds of lives of Lord Protector Zheng's family, and the previous Master. They all died for me. How can I be relieved to forsake my real mission selfishly? It's just that I will care for Yunxi no matter how. I want to compensate her for the loss of her loved ones all these years. Only in this way can I console Lord Protector Zheng and Rushi's spirits in heaven."
Imperial Doctor Jiang listened to the sincere confession with mixed emotions, and soon he firmly expressed his position.
"I understood. I will endeavor to work for you and try to cure Miss Yun's disease with all I have learned!"
Leng Qingtang nodded.
"How could she heal with the condition?"
"Miss Yun witnessed the tragedy in her childhood. In medical terms, it is a major setback that has blocked blood flow in her heart. We may try acupuncture with gold needles to release the tendons. It might alleviate the symptoms and even cure the disease."
"Gold needles... acupuncture..."
Leng Qingtang said to himself with a worried frown.
"May I ask which acupoints will be inserted with gold needles?"
"A total of 144 points on the head and upper body."
"No!"
Leng Qingtang refused to think about it after hearing Imperial Doctor Jiang's proposal.
Imperial Doctor Jiang had envisaged this reaction. Nobody but her maid and two old nannies bandaged Gu Yunxi for Leng Qingtang never let others intervene.
It was reasonable to avoid physical touch between men and women. Yet only doctors could perform acupuncture.
Imperial Doctor Jiang squinted his narrow eyes with a sly smile.
"I knew that you would not agree. But it's not a taboo for a doctor to treat the opposite s*x. My only intention is to cure Miss Yun. Why do you..."
"You know it clear that she will be mine sooner or later!" Leng Qingtang interrupted him straight with a dull face, "How can her body be inspected by another man?!"
"I do not mean to inspect. I only wish to treat Miss Yun as you asked!"
Implicated for no good reason, Imperial Doctor Jiang did not know if he should laugh or cry. What he knew for sure was that he had been wronged. Spreading his hands expansively, the helpless doctor defended himself.
Leng Qingtang's fair fingers gently tapped on the desk. Pondering for a second, he raised his eyes with a decision.
"You'll give instructions outside the room, and I'll personally apply the needles!"
"..." Imperial Doctor Jiang was startled and speechless.
Two months later, the day after Gu Yunxi's wounds fully healed.
After breakfast, Imperial Doctor Jiang arrived at the Leng's mansion as scheduled. Today was the day when he instructed the Master to apply acupuncture to treat Gu Yunxi.
Martial arts and medication had some overlaps, such as qigong, acupuncture, and healing. For a martial arts practitioner to succeed, he must first master certain medical knowledge, particularly the memorization of human body acupoints distribution.
Leng Qingtang was such a learned martial artist. He believed that with Imperial Doctor Jiang dictating the position and depth, he could apply acupuncture completely by himself. Hence, no one would have to worry about that sensitive matter anymore.
The door of the courtyard was tightly shut, leaving only the maid Qinger to serve refreshment. Under the porch were a desk and chair, where pens, ink, and paper were placed for Imperial Doctor Jiang to use.
Jiang Huaian had practiced medicine for a few years, and this was the first time he experienced such a strange form of treatment.
As the disciple of a legendary doctor, he could not apply the needles but had to rely on a layman to do it for him.
Secretly Jiang Huaian thought about his rigorous mentor, who would doubtlessly punish him by kneeling in the clinic with candle light on his head for three days and nights should he know about this.
- Writer
