The Innocent Heart - Chapter 95

Yue Pengzu’s consultation was not interrupted by the minor interlude; his demeanor remained steady, unswayed by the previous criticism or the current excessive courtesy. He seemed focused solely on the patients and their ailments—nothing more.

After gaining an understanding of the man’s pulse and asking several questions, Yue Pengzu asked with a serious expression, “When it flares up, does the pain travel and wander unpredictably? Does it often occur in the upper limbs, shoulders, or back, accompanied by an aversion to wind and sweating?”

The man nodded frantically upon hearing this. “Yes, yes! Physician Yue, that is exactly it. What kind of illness do I have? Is it truly caused by some vengeful ghost haunting me?”

Yue Pengzu chuckled and shook his head at the man’s words. “It is not caused by any vengeful ghost. You often travel in areas where wind and sand rage; this is an ‘Ailment of Wind-Bi’ (Rheumatism) caused by external evils invading the skin, joints, and meridians.”

The man only nodded as if he half-understood, then asked, “Oh… then can this illness of mine be cured?”

“Is it flaring up right now?” Yue Pengzu was in no hurry to prescribe medicine. He inquired further and, learning that the man’s limbs were currently in unbearable discomfort, he took up his brush and wrote a prescription.

“Take one large hornet’s nest, or three or four small ones, and burn them to ash. Add one bowl of single-clove garlic and one and a half qian of Baicaoshuang (plant soot); pound them together and apply to the painful area. It will provide relief within the day, and results will be visible within a few days. However, during this time, you must avoid raw and cold food and try to avoid overexertion.”

He gave a series of earnest instructions before handing the written prescription to Chen Gui, who had been waiting nearby as his master had ordered. “I must trouble Manager Chen to fetch the ingredients on this prescription; I shall then prepare the dressing.”

Perhaps because Yue Pengzu had been gentle throughout, his questioning meticulous, and his conclusions convincing, the man’s agitation—born of pain—receded. A look of shame appeared on the man’s face, perhaps out of regret for his previous behavior.

“Master Yue, you truly ask in great detail. Fine, I believe you this time. You will surely be able to cure my illness,” the man said after a long pause, scratching his head somewhat hesitantly.

“Do not be too quick to reach a conclusion. Although the ‘Wind-Bi’ ailment is not difficult to treat, it is not something that can be achieved overnight. Come tomorrow to fetch the medicine and apply it first. If there are still problems, I shall adjust the prescription.”

His attitude was humble and cautious—countless times better than Wu Sheng, who began with obscure and intimidating talk to scare people.

“Please do not find me bothersome, Master Yue… I have one more question. This prescription of yours—is it expensive? As you know, we soldiers have very little coin to our names. If it is too costly, then… forget it. We are just rough men; we have no use for those exquisite and precious materials.”

By the end, his tone sounded self-deprecating, yet clearly carried much helplessness.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he asked, Chen Gui—standing to the side—seemed to have been waiting for exactly this question. Before Yue Pengzu could even answer, Chen Gui raised his chin and shouted at the top of his lungs:

“My Young Lord has said that while Physician Yue is conducting consultations these days, as long as you come to him for an examination, the Young Lord will cover all the costs of the medicine!”

His tone was full of pride.

Upon hearing this, the man’s face lit up with joy, and he rose with a thousand thanks. The soldiers watching nearby also began to whisper and discuss among themselves; soon, some grew eager and stepped forward, wanting Yue Pengzu to examine them.

In an instant, the courtyard that the soldiers had previously avoided out of caution gradually became bustling with activity.

As Guan Yueyao had not yet fully recovered, she was an idle observer with nothing better to do, so she stayed by Yue Pengzu’s side to watch the excitement. Unfortunately, today was not a rest day; the soldiers still had to drill and change guards. It wasn’t until noon, when the soldiers finished their drills, that the courtyard truly became crowded.

Previously, those seeking consultation were mostly soldiers who had been granted leave due to injury or illness. Thus, while there were always two or three people coming and going, the courtyard did not feel overly congested. But now, through word of mouth, everyone in the camp had learned that the grandson of the Grand Princess of Guantao had brought a physician from Juyang City who was even more capable than Wu Sheng—having broken a fever in just one night.

And now, this Physician Yue was conducting a free clinic in the camp; any small ailment or pain could be brought to him. Most wonderful of all, the consultation was free, and even the cost of medicine was fully covered by the wealthy Young Lord of the Chen family.

Before long, a long queue formed in the small courtyard. Those with illnesses sought treatment, and those without came to watch the spectacle. Even Li Ting was drawn by the commotion and sent someone to investigate.

“This is truly good. If everyone develops the habit of seeking a doctor for their illnesses instead of praying to gods and ghosts, I imagine there would be far fewer unjustly killed ‘ghosts’ in the world,” Guan Yueyao said to her friend with no small amount of gratification as he returned to her side after drills.

“If you truly wish to change people’s perceptions, I fear it will take much more effort. Only when the Son of Heaven and the Empresses in the Palace no longer seek witch-doctors and sorcerers when ill will the perceptions of the common people truly be altered. As the saying goes: Whatever those above favor, those below will surely pursue to an extreme. It was because the King of Chu loved slender waists that many in the city starved to death,” Huo Qubing remarked, his gaze seemingly fixed on a more distant point.

“Ah—I see. You mean we need a ‘spokesperson.’ True, if something has the endorsement of the Emperor, even I would probably think it must be the right way and try it myself next time.” Guan Yueyao nodded as the realization dawned on her.

People in this world, no matter the era, seemed fated to follow authority.

“Pfft. There is some truth to what you say; explained in simple terms, that is indeed the strategy. Most people do not dare to question authority. But Ayao, rather than being superstitious of authority, it is better to become the authority. Just like now—our words carry little weight. You say sorcery cannot cure illness, yet no one believes you. But if one day we become Great Generals and you say such a thing, I believe that within this camp, people would follow you in droves.”

Huo Qubing looked at the long queue before them, his tone carrying a hint of reflection.

“Sigh, it seems there is still a long road ahead to sweep away… superstition,” Guan Yueyao said, almost saying “feudal superstition” before realizing the word could only be partially spoken here.

However, superstition seemed to be a difficult word to define. In this distant era, people’s grasp of natural laws was far inferior to their counterparts two thousand years later; thus, their imagination of nature was more emotional and full of creativity. By the modern era in which Guan Yueyao was born, people had begun to understand the rules of the world more deeply, and their exploratory gaze had shifted from the Earth toward the deeper universe. Matters of “superstition” had shifted from myths and legends toward science and reason.

“What is ‘sweeping away’ superstition?” Huo Qubing asked, catching the awkwardness in his friend’s words.

“Oh, a slip of the tongue—just superstition! Qubing, look! Because of Chen Zhi’s situation, so many people are coming to see Physician Yue. It really gives a sense of achievement! But I truly didn’t realize that a doctor’s status here is so low.”

Guan Yueyao was afraid of another slip of the tongue that might lead to “rebellious” talk, so she diverted the conversation back to the matter at hand.

“It cannot be helped. From the nobility down to the commoners, everyone values shamans and dismisses healers. When ill, just as with Chen Zhi this time, it is attributed to gods and ghosts; thus, they must invite the likes of Wu Sheng to exorcise spirits. Had it not been for you, not just for Chen Zhi, but even if I had a fever, I fear I would have invited such a shaman to perform several rituals to drive out evil.” As Huo Qubing said this, he looked toward Chen Zhi’s room and felt a surge of lingering fear.

Fortunately, Chen Zhi had only caught a common cold. Fortunately, Chen Zhi’s body was strong; even though treatment was delayed for several days, he only suffered a bit more. He had not, as Yue Pengzu suggested, developed a more serious condition due to the delay. But in this world, how many are as lucky as Chen Zhi? How many have lost their lives in vain because of delayed treatment?

He suddenly felt that Ayao might be right; just as water should be boiled before drinking, sweeping away the old and inappropriate misconceptions in the minds of the people was an absolute necessity. However, this matter could only be pursued slowly and could not be rushed. Huo Qubing did not yet have enough power or experience to lead such a seemingly simple yet complex undertaking, so he could only commit it silently to his heart.

Yue Pengzu’s free clinic continued until the afternoon. By then, Chen Gui had accumulated a stack of prescriptions and needed enough time to go to Juyang to buy the medicine. Yue Pengzu had likely never experienced such enthusiastic treatment from patients; though his face showed signs of fatigue, his eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Physician Yue, you have worked hard today. Please rest. The water has gone cold; shall I have someone bring you a hot cup?” Guan Yueyao felt great respect for this dedicated doctor, and her attitude grew quite respectful. Professionals focused on their work are truly impressive, she thought. It would be great if I could be that cool in the future.

“As a healer, this is what I ought to do. Furthermore, after seeing so many patients today, I have benefited greatly as well. Speaking of which, I must thank Attendant Guan. Had it not been for your suggestion, I would not have had the chance to gain everyone’s trust, nor would I have received Young Lord Chen’s support.”

Yue Pengzu suddenly rose and bowed toward Guan Yueyao with his hands clasped. Startled, she stepped to the side, unwilling to accept the salute.

“Physician Yue, you are far too polite. You have the heart of a healer, and people are willing to believe in your skills because you broke Chen Zhi’s fever in a single night. It is your own ability; it has nothing to do with me.”

Upon hearing her words, Yue Pengzu’s expression dimmed slightly. “Even so, I must thank you for being willing to believe in my medical skills. The world favors sorcery and refuses medical treatment. Every time I see patients die in vain because of delayed treatment, my heart aches, yet I am powerless…”

“It will get better in the future! Qubing, Chen Zhi, and I—along with the soldiers who were healed by you—we will all work hard to tell our friends and family that when they are sick, they must see a doctor. Just like today, word will spread from ten to a hundred. Over time, the number of people who seek medical help when ill will surely increase!” Guan Yueyao gripped Yue Pengzu’s hand and spoke with an emotional expression.

“Thank you for your kind words. I shall continue to study my medical arts while looking forward to that day!” Infected by the future Guan Yueyao described, excitement appeared on Yue Pengzu’s face as he spoke earnestly.

If that day truly came, perhaps it really could change the fates of many people in this world.