Tips for extra chapters! Thanks for all the support... The consulting doctors were all about the same age as Liu Pucheng, and the onlookers knew their names, showing they were prominent physicians in the city, authoritative enough to command public trust.
"Doctor Liu, pardon my imposition," said the doctors addressed as Doctor Qian and Doctor Huang, showing no hint of schadenfreude; after all, they were colleagues, and encountering such a situation elicited a shared sense of sorrow for a fellow practitioner.
The third, however, wore a grim expression and remained entirely silent.
Liu Pucheng nodded to them in return.
"Since we are all doctors, let's think of a solution together..." Qi Yue squeezed forward urgently.
The three doctors looked at her, momentarily stunned. Doctor Qian and Doctor Huang recognized her immediately, having once participated in treating the Prefect's son. Before they could speak, the other doctor spoke first.
"Think of a solution? Are you suggesting, young lady, that we help cure the patient?" His voice suddenly rose, loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.
Qi Yue blinked, unsure why he needed to shout, but nodded nonetheless.
"If the patient is cured, will the credit still go to Doctor Liu?" someone outside shouted loudly.
This remark sparked a murmur throughout the crowd.
"Even if cured, you won't escape the charge of being a quack doctor!"
"What were you doing before? Clinging to him and delaying treatment!"
Qi Yue glanced at the doctor and understood.
"May I ask the esteemed doctor's surname?" she suddenly asked.
Wang Qingchun glanced at the woman, a hint of frankness in his eyes.
"I am Wang Qingchun of Huichun Hall," he replied.
Qi Yue uttered an "Oh," her expression suggesting a sudden realization: So it's you.
Wang Qingchun accepted her gaze with composure.
The two doctors beside him tried to caution him about something, but it was too late; they shifted their gaze uncomfortably.
"Please, sirs, examine the patient. If there is still hope, treat him. Of course, if the fault lies with me, I will naturally accept the consequences," Liu Pucheng stated.
"Naturally, naturally," the two doctors agreed.
They all proceeded toward the room where the injured person was laid.
Because this was akin to an intensive care unit, despite the recent ordeal, the disciples in charge of the ward managed to limp over with saline solution and strong liquor.
"What is this?" the three doctors stopped short.
"The patient is critically ill and must be isolated, so we must disinfect before entering," Qi Yue explained from behind.
The two doctors hesitated, but Wang Qingchun scoffed.
"Ridiculous," he pronounced, pushing past the disciples and entering the room himself.
The remaining two doctors paused briefly before following instructions to wipe themselves down simply.
"Thank you," Qi Yue said to them.
"Not at all, Young Mistress," the two doctors quickly returned the courtesy before entering.
To avoid any appearance of impropriety, the staff of Qianjin Hall were barred from entering; both Qi Yue and Liu Pucheng remained outside the door.
Doctor Qian entered to find Wang Qingchun already examining the patient.
"Doctor Wang, you... sigh... this situation was unavoidable; why must you be so aggressive?" he murmured quietly.
Wang Qingchun snorted.
"Doctor Qian, that's not how you put it. This concerns the reputation of every doctor in Yongqing Prefecture. A quack is undoubtedly a blight upon us all," he said, looking at the other doctor. He gestured toward the outside, "Look at those common folk. If we don't give them an answer today, protecting a colleague will surely not be accepted by them."
Doctor Qian felt a surge of frustration.
"When did I say I was protecting him?" he countered, frowning. "I meant you should adopt a slightly better demeanor..."
"It wasn't I who caused the death. Why should I be nice to him?" Wang Qingchun laughed.
"Doctor Wang, out of respect for the Buddha, that lady..." Doctor Huang whispered, "She is the Young Mistress of the Dingxi Marquisate..."
What? The Young Mistress of the Dingxi Marquisate? Wang Qingchun started, shocked.
He knew Qianjin Hall likely had the backing of the Dingxi Marquisate, but that usually meant merely applying subtle pressure behind the scenes on the local officials. He never expected the Young Mistress of such a noble house to appear in person! This connection was clearly extraordinary!
But so what? If the Dingxi Marquisate dared to pressure officials, did he dare to pressure the common people? The populace's emotions were already inflamed. If the Marquisate dared to shield this Liu Pucheng, they would have to carefully weigh public opinion. He refused to believe that even the respected Young Mistress of the Dingxi Marquisate would dare to step forward and defend a doctor proven to have killed someone.
"Doctor Wang, you haven't even finished examining yet; stop proclaiming 'killed someone'..." Doctor Qian frowned. "What if he lives?"
Wang Qingchun smiled.
"Won't live?" He extended a finger toward the injured man lying on the pallet. "Look at him. Is there any hope left?"
Doctor Qian and Doctor Huang looked over, and even without taking a pulse, their faces fell.
As the three doctors emerged from the room, people inside and outside the hall crowded forward.
"How is it?" the hunter's family member rushed forward, still clinging to hope.
"A case of putrid carbuncle," one of them said after exchanging a look with the other two. "Incurable. Prepare for the end."
At these words, wails and cries erupted immediately.
"Quack!"
"Murderous quack!"
"Pay with your life!"
A deluge of shouts crashed in from outside the door.
Liu Pucheng and the others had already anticipated this outcome and lowered their heads without protest.
The crime of a quack killing someone? Ruin Doctor Liu? No, absolutely not!
Qi Yue, who had been frowning in thought, was interrupted by the overwhelming noise.
"Even if it's incurable, it doesn't mean it's our fault!" she shouted loudly.
Her statement only seemed to agitate the family and the onlookers further.
"He's clearly dying, and you still try to argue!"
The clamor rose again.
"The patient's condition was already delayed by you," Qi Yue ignored the din and raised her voice again toward the family. "I wanted to treat him at the time, but you refused, insisting on going elsewhere to seek treatment..."
She paused here, then exclaimed loudly, "Yes, you sought treatment elsewhere! When the man got worse, only then did you bring him here. How can you blame us for ruining him?"
The family was momentarily stunned, and the onlookers, just learning of this detail, began whispering inquiries among themselves.
"So you imply we are the ones who ruined him?" Wang Qingchun questioned.
Qi Yue turned to him.
"You?" She hadn't quite registered the implication.
"There's nothing to hide. They were under my care, but afterwards, upon hearing Doctor Liu had returned, they stopped letting me treat him," Wang Qingchun stated calmly.
"This man was already gravely ill when he was brought to you. Didn't you know that?" Zhang Tong shouted. "Doctor Wang, speak with a clear conscience and be fair. This injury was severe from the start; how can you blame it all on us doctors?"
Doctor Qian and the others had only just learned this, and their expressions toward Wang Qingchun grew solemn.
The crowd inside quickly relayed the exchange, and the people outside began to debate heatedly.
"When we examined him, he was perfectly fine," Wu Shan shouted from outside. "If we had continued the medicinal decoction we prescribed, he would be well by now!"
"You say he was fine, we say he was critical—everyone claims they are right! Do you think whatever you say is the truth?" Hu San jumped out and cursed Wu Shan. "Let me tell you, you clearly ruined the man and are trying to frame our Qianjin Hall! When this person arrived, he was already beyond help. My seniors advised the Master not to accept the case, but the Master couldn't bear to refuse treatment when someone was dying before his eyes, so he insisted on trying. Truly, kindness goes unrewarded! We should have sent you away from the start!" He ended by pointing at the family members.
The family members were silenced by his words and felt a pang of guilt. If that were the case, perhaps it was true that...
This revelation left the spectators confused. Was it a quack doctor who killed him, or was death simply inevitable?
"Who says he's beyond help? There's clearly still a chance; my prescription was correct," Wang Qingchun declared with a cold smile, turning to Liu Pucheng. "Doctor Liu, your treatment method was incorrect, wasn't it?"
Liu Pucheng, who had been silent, finally looked up when he heard his name.
"I..." he began to speak.
Wang Qingchun cut him off.
"When I examined the patient's wound just now, there were clear signs of being cut by a blade, and the incision was larger than the original wound. Was that your doing?" he asked.
Liu Pucheng nodded.
"Yes. His muscle tissue was rotting; it needed to be cleared, otherwise, the carbuncle toxin would spread to the heart and lungs..." he explained.
Wang Qingchun interrupted again.
"How should carbuncle poisoning be treated?" he inquired.
Liu Pucheng paused, momentarily stumped by the question.
"Using cupping therapy to draw out toxins and pus, preparing a decoction of stewed rehmannia root, water buffalo horn, Siberian Coptis root, and treated milk vetch, supplemented by moxibustion," Wang Qingchun recited himself, then looked at the other two doctors. "Is that correct?"
Indeed, Doctor Qian and Doctor Huang nodded in agreement.
"Doctor Liu, how did you treat it?" Wang Qingchun turned back to Liu Pucheng, asking slowly.
"That is the secret technique of our Qianjin Hall; why should we tell you?" Zhang Tong interjected.
Wang Qingchun laughed heartily.
"A secret technique? It must be a method you're ashamed of!" His laughter ceased, and he fixed his gaze on Liu Pucheng.
As Liu Pucheng prepared to speak, Qi Yue preempted him this time.
"It is not a shameful method; I will tell you," she announced loudly. "First, thoroughly rinse the wound with clean water, then use a knife or scissors to excise the necrotic flesh. Every bit must be cut away, not a single remnant left. Afterwards, prepare a decoction of medicinal soup for rinsing and internal consumption to disinfect and fight infection. That is why you see the wound opening is much larger than the original injury."
Her explanation left everyone stunned.
"Madam Qi, this is not your..." Liu Pucheng reacted, rushing forward without waiting for support, trying desperately to stop her.
Qi Yue gave him no chance to speak, raising her hand to signal the guards. The guards understood and three of them stepped forward to block Liu Pucheng.
"Oh, so according to the Young Mistress, this is not Doctor Liu's mistake, but yours?" Wang Qingchun understood, unable to hide his shock. This Young Mistress intended to take the blame upon herself? Did this Qianjin Hall belong to her father? Was she trying to use the Dingxi Marquisate to intimidate him?
Wang Qingchun smiled knowingly, a look of utter disdain on his face. If it were merely Liu Pucheng's fault, at worst, it would be the crime of a quack killing a patient. But if the Dingxi Marquisate became involved, the matter would escalate beyond simple malpractice to accusations of trampling on human life and abusing power—issues that would certainly intrigue the Censors and investigating officials. He didn't believe a mere Marquisate would jeopardize its reputation and defy public will for a humble doctor. Regardless, since the patient died under Qianjin Hall's roof, he had nothing to fear in saying so.
"I taught this method to Doctor Liu, but it is not wrong," Qi Yue corrected him.
"He's dead, and you still claim it's not wrong?" Wang Qingchun sneered, shouting toward the surrounding crowd.
"Who says he's dead?" Qi Yue retorted with equal coldness, looking at Wang Qingchun. "You are ignorant and incapable, so you conclude I cannot save him?"
Wang Qingchun was left momentarily speechless. He looked at the woman before him, wondering if the Dingxi Marquisate was blind or insane to have married such a daughter-in-law.
"Are you saying you can cure him?" he asked. In previous times, anyone claiming they could cure an acute external infection would have been laughed at, but now...
Qi Yue's chest rose and fell, and she unconsciously bit her lower lip.
"Really. If you can cure him, I, Wang Qingchun, will kneel and crawl from the entrance of Qianjin Hall all the way to the gates of the Prefecture City..." Wang Qingchun shook his head, laughing at Qi Yue's expression.
"Done," Qi Yue accepted the challenge in one breath.
Wang Qingchun was momentarily taken aback.
"Done with what?" he asked.
"If I can cure him, you will kneel and crawl from the entrance of Qianjin Hall to the gates of the Prefecture City," Qi Yue stated, emphasizing each word as she looked at him.
This... this was just a casual joke...
Wang Qingchun froze.
"What? Don't you dare make a wager?" Qi Yue pressed.
As they spoke, the hall gradually quieted, and the people outside sensed a shift and fell silent, eagerly trying to hear the conversation inside.
Dare not? Wang Qingchun chuckled, looking at the woman. It seemed Liu Pucheng really was her father; only the profound duty to a parent could drive someone to volunteer to die for another in such a desperate manner. If you wish to die, why should I stop you?
"Fine, a wager it is," Wang Qingchun said with a smile. "But what if you fail to cure him?"
"Then I will crawl from Qianjin Hall to the gates of the Prefecture City," Qi Yue replied without hesitation.
This declaration caused an uproar in the hall. The staff of Qianjin Hall were stunned, and Liu Pucheng was equally dumbfounded. He looked at the woman standing before him, blocking his path, a woman barely the age of his own granddaughter. She was intending to shoulder the entire outcome of this crisis! If the person died, it was by her method. If she lost, she would accept the punishment. The simple act of kneeling from Qianjin Hall to the Prefecture City gates would be enough to seize everyone's attention, leaving no focus left for him, a mere doctor. All consequences of this incident would now concentrate solely on this woman. This woman... how could she be so reckless...? Didn't she know her own status? Didn't she realize what she was doing?
Others didn't know, but A'ru did. She looked at Qi Yue standing before Wang Qingchun, tightly pressing her lips together. The Young Mistress had said it herself: she had only one flaw, and that was her fierce protectiveness.