Donations and pink hearts unlock more chapters... By the time the sun was high the next day, the Prefect and his wife had been sitting by the sickbed for quite some time.

"Mother... I'm hungry..." the Prefect's son murmured weakly.

"Good, good! Quickly, go make the young master's favorite duck broth," the Prefect's wife said, her voice trembling, hurrying them along.

"He can't eat that right now," Qi Yue said with a smile as she approached, leaning over to examine the drainage tube. "Start with some thin rice congee. In another four or five days, he can have a little bit of meat."

"The young master... loves it..." Despite his weakness, the Prefect's son protested quickly.

"Alright, alright! Go quickly and prepare the rice congee," the Prefect's wife interrupted her son immediately.

"Mother..." the Prefect's son grumbled in discontent.

The Prefect's wife now listened to Qi Yue’s every word, ignoring her son, watching Qi Yue with a mixture of gratitude.

"Does the Young Mistress have any further instructions?" she asked.

Qi Yue smiled slightly, patting the Prefect's son's shoulder.

"Rest well, call for help when you need to turn over, don't try to be a hero, and remember to take deep breaths," she said with a smile.

The Prefect's wife memorized these instructions and thanked her again. Qi Yue smiled and walked out, leaving mother and son to talk.

Liu Pucheng was carefully considering the prescription nearby. Qi Yue walked over and watched him write with serious attention.

"...Add Bai Jiang Cao..." Liu Pucheng finished writing before looking up as he noticed Qi Yue watching intently, a faint smile touching his lips. "Does the Young Mistress think this is appropriate?"

Qi Yue laughed.

"How would I know about such things? Teacher, please don't tease me," she replied, while marveling again, "Chinese medicine truly is magical."

Liu Pucheng handed the prescription to Zhang Tong and stood up.

"Can the Young Mistress rest assured now?" he asked with a smile.

Qi Yue hadn't grasped his meaning.

"Aren't you worried about running out of medicine?" Liu Pucheng chuckled.

Qi Yue managed an embarrassed smile.

"Doctor Liu, thank you," she said, her smile fading as she bowed formally to Liu Pucheng.

"You're at it again," Liu Pucheng shook his head. "How can I accept your thanks? To witness the Young Mistress's divine skill with my own eyes confirms the ancients were not wrong—there is truly nothing impossible, only things we haven't conceived of yet. I have no regrets in this life. I should be the one thanking the Young Mistress."

Saying this, he genuinely bowed.

Qi Yue quickly moved to support him.

"Whether the technique is good or bad ultimately depends on whether it cures the illness. While I possess this technique, it would be useless without Doctor Liu's assistance," she stated.

"Stop thanking each other; we are the ones who should be thanking you," the voice of the Prefect rang out from the side.

Qi Yue and Liu Pucheng quickly looked over to see the Prefect indeed bowing deeply to them.

"We dare not, we dare not," both rushed forward to steady him.

"This is a physician's duty..."

"This is what I should do..."

They both spoke at once.

"Your Excellency, please do not go to such lengths."

"Alright, then let's all stop being so formal," the Prefect said with a laugh, looking at the two people who appeared utterly exhausted from sleepless nights. "I will take my son home now. Young Mistress, Doctor Liu, please go back and rest well. You have both worked tirelessly these past days."

The doctor has worked hard for us.

Qi Yue had heard such words countless times, enough to become numb. But hearing them now sent a surge of warmth through her heart. It felt as if she had stepped back into the hospital as an intern, receiving her first patient, and hearing their gratitude for the first time.

"However, it's not quite time yet," Qi Yue said with a lingering smile.

The Prefect was startled again by her words.

"How... how much longer?" he asked, suddenly too nervous to speak properly. Is this torment not yet over?

"Although he is past the critical stage, he expended a great deal of vital energy. We must observe him a bit longer. It will be more convenient for me to monitor him right here. After another week..." Qi Yue quickly explained.

"A week?" the Prefect interrupted her confused inquiry.

"Oh, perhaps seven or eight more days, then he can go home to recuperate," Qi Yue said with a smile.

The Prefect finally relaxed a bit, nodding his thanks.

"As for the young master's diet, I will handle all arrangements. No one else should worry about it, and do not use any reckless tonics for now," Qi Yue further instructed.

The Prefect promptly agreed.

"The Young Mistress has truly worked hard; we don't know how we can repay such great kindness..." he said with an emotional sigh.

"You must also thank Your Excellency for trusting me; this is also a form of self-salvation for Your Excellency," Qi Yue remarked with a smile.

This statement pleased the Prefect immensely.

After he left and spoke with the Marquis of Dingxi, he exclaimed, "Those gossips who laughed at the Marquis are truly ridiculous... The Young Mistress possesses such divine skill, yet she is also intelligent, eloquent, virtuous, and proper..."

As he showered her with compliments, the Marquis of Dingxi couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter.

"...What does lineage or status matter? There are countless noble families in the world, but how many divine physicians are there?" The Prefect looked at the Marquis with awe. "My Lord, the Young Mistress is truly a divine being; your household is blessed."

"Nonsense, nonsense! She's just a child, she hardly deserves such praise..." The Marquis laughed heartily, appearing humble on the surface, yet his expression clearly conveyed: Yes, that's right, keep flattering her more...

Madam Xie shot a cold glance at the Marquis, whose face was beaming like a blooming flower, then slowly lowered her gaze, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

"So hot~"

A'ru placed the soup tureen on the tray, quickly pinching her earlobe.

"Miss A'ru, let me handle that," a kitchen maid eagerly moved to take the tray.

"It's fine, I'll manage. You watch this basket of steamed buns," A'ru replied, personally carrying the bowl of soup out.

In the room, Qi Yue was watching Hu San and Zhang Tong help the injured man sit up in bed.

"It hurts terribly! They sliced open my belly, how can I possibly move so soon?" the Prefect's son complained, refusing to put his feet on the ground.

He looked pleadingly at his mother, whose face was tense with worry.

The Prefect's wife, however, looked at Qi Yue.

"Just walk a little, just a few steps, don't be afraid. Otherwise, the intestines inside will stick together," Qi Yue instructed.

This made the Prefect's son slightly fearful. Seeing that his mother wouldn't offer any comfort, he forced himself to take a few steps.

Qi Yue then had Hu San help him lie back down on the bed.

"The mushroom soup is ready," A'ru announced as she brought the soup bowl over.

"Is there meat in it?" the Prefect's son asked eagerly upon smelling the aroma.

"If you want meat, you'll have to wait a few more days," Qi Yue said, smiling as she took the bowl.

"Young Mistress, you shouldn't trouble yourself," the Prefect's wife quickly reached out to take it.

The Prefect's son had no choice but to drink the mushroom soup his mother fed him. After one spoonful, which he initially frowned at with disdain, his brow lifted slightly.

"Oh," he murmured, clearly opening his mouth wider for the second spoonful.

"Our Young Mistress made it herself," A'ru mentioned from the side.

"How is it? Acceptable?" Qi Yue asked, smiling.

The Prefect's son snorted but didn't answer. The Prefect's wife quickly cautioned him to be polite.

Just then, a servant outside announced that the steamed buns were ready, but did not enter the room.

A'ru quickly turned to retrieve them.

Qi Yue washed her hands and personally broke off a small piece to feed the Prefect's son.

"I made this too, try it. It's even more delicious than those meat dishes," she said with a smile.

The Prefect's son initially intended to maintain his composure, but being only a half-grown youth and having fasted for so many days, he couldn't resist the allure of the aroma. He opened his mouth and ate it.

"Truly, for the Young Mistress to personally attend to this, we really..." The Prefect's wife was overcome with gratitude, struggling for words.

"I am a physician, after all," Qi Yue laughed, breaking off another small piece to feed him. "Since I went to the trouble of healing him, I must see it through—pre-operative care is important, but post-operative nursing is equally vital. Nothing can be done casually."

The Prefect's son was weak from his illness, and the recent activity caused his wound to ache again. He stopped eating halfway through and lay on the bed, groaning softly.

"Talk to him. Talk a lot to divert his attention," Qi Yue instructed the Prefect's wife.

"Doesn't Doctor Liu have that medicine to relieve pain? Perhaps we could use some more," the Prefect's wife pleaded, her heart aching for her child.

"Pain means the wound is healing well; it's better not to use medication," Doctor Liu Pucheng's voice drifted in from the outer room as he walked in.

Everyone quickly greeted him.

Liu Pucheng looked much more refreshed after his rest, though the redness in his eyes hadn't completely faded.

"Young Mistress, you should go rest. I will watch him," Liu Pucheng offered.

Qi Yue nodded.

Even though the danger had passed, neither of them dared to be negligent, ensuring that at least one person was constantly by the patient's side.

"A'ru, you and Hu San can go as well. Zhang Tong and I will stay here," Liu Pucheng directed.

A'ru nodded and followed Qi Yue out.

"Young Mistress, I'll fetch water to soak your feet," she offered.

"No need, hurry up and take care of yourself. You've been exhausted enough these past few days," Qi Yue smiled, noticing A'ru also looked noticeably thinner.

"I'm not tired," A'ru shook her head, her eyes bright. "Young Mistress, I finally understand why you couldn't abandon someone to die."

"Oh? Why is that?" Qi Yue asked, smiling.

"Because the feeling of saving someone is truly wonderful," A'ru declared.

"It's also possible you might not save them, in which case the feeling won't be so great; it would be terrifying," Qi Yue countered.

"But the feeling of giving your utmost effort is wonderful," A'ru insisted, her expression resolute.

Qi Yue looked at her and nodded. Yes, the feeling of fully dedicating yourself to an endeavor was wonderful.

"A'ru will surely become a fine doctor someday," she said.

"How can a servant like me learn such things?" A'ru lowered her head, tinged with shyness, but then immediately looked up, "I will certainly study hard. It will be enough for me if I can assist the Young Mistress."

Qi Yue smiled faintly.

"Then A'ru will surely become a fine nurse," she said.

Nurse—A'ru heard the word for the first time, but strangely, she seemed to grasp its meaning. She smiled shyly at Qi Yue.

This was the first time in days that Qi Yue fell into a truly deep sleep... Recommended novel The East Bed

The east wind blows, the war drums pound; Transmigrated as a villainess, who is afraid of whom? Waking up, she finds herself in the dark-house political drama she read last night, and of all roles, she is the useless, idiotic, Mary Sue villainess. In the unchangeable course of the plot, she must find a chance to turn the tables and successfully dethrone the heroine. RQ