The Xie family watched until Chang Yuncheng and his entourage were completely out of sight before turning back.
The Eldest Aunt’s face was filled with relief, and she hurried off to see her grandson, though a hint of dissatisfaction soon followed the thought.
“Old Madam is something else; even in this situation, she wouldn't see Yue Niang, let alone say a single kind word to her,” she muttered resentfully, her gaze fixed on the Old Madam’s courtyard not far away, where the maids stood as still and quiet as usual. “The husband and wife are clearly getting along well; what exactly are they—mother and daughter—thinking? Even if they look down on her, they should swallow their pride for the sake of our Hao Ge'er. If she had shown even a sliver of the courtesy she showed Doctor An, I would have been satisfied. But instead of thanks, she slapped our faces! What does our Hao Ge'er even mean to her…”
“Mother, please stop. Grandmother… she has her reasons for consideration…” Zhaoge’s wife interjected quietly. Unlike the Eldest Aunt, she didn’t feel the same burning anger toward Old Madam Xie; instead, she felt a strange sense of pity for the old woman.
The taste of receiving charity from someone you loathe must be the most agonizing.
“I won't concern myself with her considerations this time. All I care about now is my Hao Ge'er. I will publicly and grandly thank Yue Niang. After these next few days, once Hao Ge'er is stable, I will properly set aside the time to arrange things. With a relative who is a physician, what does that Doctor An even matter anymore?” The Eldest Aunt snorted, recalling the indignities suffered at Doctor An’s residence, filled with utter hatred. “Also, did those other doctors all receive their consultation fees properly? Our family is not lacking in money; they must all be paid generously, and we must show utmost respect on the surface. We must let the world know that our Xie family is grateful, humble, and courteous…”
More than showing face to those doctors, what she truly desired was to make the An family look foolish.
Zhaoge’s wife, unaware of her mother-in-law’s true intentions, merely pursed her lips into a slight smile and nodded her assent.
The Eldest Master entered Old Madam Xie’s room. She was lying on the couch, seemingly asleep. The Eldest Master glanced at the attendant girl nearby, who quickly signaled to him that the Old Madam was awake.
“They left?” Old Madam Xie asked with her eyes closed.
The Eldest Master promptly affirmed. He hesitated for a moment.
“Mother, regarding the matter of the Xie gift…” he asked quietly.
Old Madam Xie opened her eyes and sat up, offering a small smile.
“Your wife was bad-mouthing me behind my back again, wasn't she?” she commented.
“That woman is truly insolent. Mother, rest assured, I will discipline her properly…” the Eldest Master said awkwardly while performing a bow.
“Enough, I can’t be bothered with her,” Old Madam Xie sighed, pausing in silence. “I will not be sending her a Xie gift.”
The Eldest Master was startled.
“Our Hao Ge'er wasn't cured by her,” Old Madam Xie stated.
The Eldest Master couldn't help but look up, his expression awkward.
“Didn't she say it herself? It was the credit of those other doctors. As for her contribution, it was merely saying a few smooth words to appease those doctors,” Old Madam Xie said slowly.
The Eldest Master faltered slightly, muttering, “Yes…”
“Yes,” he replied, lowering his head.
Under the deliberate arrangement of the Eldest Aunt, those doctors received substantial consultation fees, and the Xie Estate's steward personally delivered thanks. This drew considerable attention. Although the doctors involved in the treatment maintained their dignity and wouldn't deliberately boast of their success, their disciples certainly couldn't be controlled.
The arrogance of these young disciples was truly troublesome…
Soon, the news spread that these few doctors had successfully treated someone whom even the elder Doctor An could not cure.
Gradually, the stories surrounding these doctors grew more numerous. Eventually, rumors even circulated that these doctors had encountered an immortal who had imparted some kind of divine technique, and they were merely hiding their true abilities. Otherwise, how could they dare to treat the child whom the elder Doctor An could not, and succeed where he failed?
As the rumors widened, even patients who had previously sought treatment at these medical halls began to boast, acting as if being treated by these doctors was a fortune earned over several lifetimes, and receiving care there was akin to acquiring immortal qi.
“You don’t know… back then, I…” In a teahouse, an old man was speaking with great animation, spittle flying, surrounded by a crowd of eager listeners. “I was coughing so badly I could barely stand holding onto the wall. I went to Doctor An, but no matter what, he couldn't cure me. Finally, out of desperation, I came to Doctor Xu, and just one dose of medicine fixed me. Truly a miracle worker…”
The surrounding people nodded in admiration.
“Indeed, a miracle doctor…”
A few people at a nearby table overheard this and couldn't help but slam the table.
“That shameless old coot! How was he dying from a cough? He just drank a few too many pints of wine and hurt his throat! He wasn't even seeking treatment at our establishment; he was trying to haggle over the price at the counter, trying to wheedle the pharmacy apprentice into giving him some cough suppressants for free. Who would dare agree? In the end, he ran over to that Doctor Xu’s place and spent less than a copper coin on a few doses of herbs. He would have recovered in a few days even without taking the medicine—and now that’s being called a divine skill?” a young disciple exclaimed angrily.
Another reached out and pulled him back.
“Forget it. Don’t make trouble; let’s just go back,” the older disciple advised.
The few of them glanced one last time at the crowd still chattering loudly, then stood up with dark faces and left.
Such incidents multiplied, becoming increasingly exaggerated and marvelous, causing the reputations of those few doctors to soar rapidly.
“Whether they become famous or not is irrelevant to us. The key is that in gaining fame, they are trampling on our heads,” the younger Doctor An said, his face ashen. “Father, haven’t you heard how people are talking on the streets? Every time they praise those people, they insult us. This is simply too much!”
The elder Doctor An sat calmly before his desk, flipping through a book, his expression composed.
“Skill is not created by praise, nor can it be destroyed by stepping on it. Ignore it,” he stated.
“Father, this is all the doing of that young madam from the Dingxi Marquisate. It’s her deliberately promoting these doctors in public, announcing they cured the Xie child, utterly humiliating us. Healing is healing; why would she instigate enmity between fellow physicians? This is going too far!” the younger Doctor An said after a moment of silence.
The elder Doctor An put down his book.
“Oh?” he asked, a trace of curiosity in his voice. “That Young Madam Qi, is that truly what is being said?”
“Father, please don't be angered. Such a petty person…” The younger Doctor An was anxious, worried that his father’s long-standing ill health might be aggravated by this sudden storm. Being unfilial by causing him distress was the last thing he wanted.
The elder Doctor An remained silent for a moment, pondering.
“This cannot stand. A doctor refusing to treat a patient is not a crime, so why should they be so humiliated? Is she simply leveraging the status of the Dingxi Marquisate so she can bully people at will? If she can use her power, why can’t we use ours? I will immediately write a letter to Court Physician Gong at the Imperial Academy…” the younger Doctor An declared indignantly.
Before the elder Doctor An could respond, a servant reported from outside.
“Old Madam Xie of Longchang Street has arrived to visit.”
Old Madam Xie was here? The younger Doctor An was surprised, then his face immediately darkened.
What? Was the gossip on the streets not satisfying enough, and now she had to come in person to deliver an insult? When would it end? Even for an official family, this was too much bullying.
The younger Doctor An’s face was pale, his anger barely concealed.
“Please invite her in,” the elder Doctor An said amiably.
Soon, the sound of a cane tapping was heard, accompanied by a strong, hearty laugh, as Old Madam Xie was helped in by two maids.
“Old Madam, please forgive my infirmity; I could not personally welcome you…” the elder Doctor An said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.
Old Madam Xie also smiled and sat down without ceremony.
The younger Doctor An offered a stiff greeting and then stepped back.
“The New Year is fast approaching. I will have Doctor An take my pulse one last time and prescribe a few doses of medicine so I won't have to bother you during the first month,” Old Madam Xie said cheerfully, extending her hand.
“Old Madam, I dare not accept such praise. Your esteemed household has a divine physician; don't mock us,” the younger Doctor An couldn't help but sneer.
“Rude,” the elder Doctor An rebuked, his face darkening.
The younger Doctor An kept his mouth shut, his face set.
Old Madam Xie laughed.
“That girl actually has very little skill; she doesn’t even know how to prescribe medicine. She just has a sharp tongue,” she remarked.
That girl? Both the elder and younger Doctor An were momentarily stunned. She couldn't prescribe medicine?
“At that time, the whole family was desperate. Everyone said the child was doomed and beyond saving, and those doctors were about to flee before even taking a look…” Old Madam Xie spoke, her expression complex.
The reason for that was indeed their refusal to treat…
A flash of awkwardness crossed the younger Doctor An’s mind. But this illness truly couldn't be cured… No, it was that they couldn't cure it… But should they insist on treating it even if they couldn't? Does failing to treat it become a sin?
If that were the case, very few practitioners in the world could continue their profession…
“Although I knew it was truly incurable, as a relative, how could I watch the child slowly die? So that girl panicked and said some things intended to provoke those doctors—words you must have already heard,” Old Madam Xie said, rising to her feet. “It was a decision made in the face of life and death; please forgive any offense, Elder Doctor An.”
With that, she let go of her cane and bowed deeply toward the elder Doctor An.
“Old Madam, you are trying to place too great an honor upon this old man,” the elder Doctor An said gravely, quickly moving his wheelchair a few steps closer. “Kang’er, quickly return the courtesy.”
The younger Doctor An was also startled by Old Madam Xie’s action. Recovering his senses, he quickly returned the bow.
“Regarding this Young Madam Qi, I heard of her divine skills a few days ago and was greatly impressed. Old Madam, you must not be so modest,” the elder Doctor An said, reaching out to take Old Madam Xie’s pulse.
“Don't laugh at me, but I know nothing about that girl,” Old Madam Xie replied. “Since you have heard of her accomplishments, you must also know her background, so…”
Although the elder Doctor An didn't fully grasp the underlying circumstances, he knew what questions to ask and what to leave unasked. He nodded with a smile and asked no further. After concentrating on the pulse reading, he picked up his brush and wrote a prescription. Old Madam Xie had achieved her purpose and did not linger, taking her leave.
Old Madam Xie's visit served two purposes: first, she spoke well of the girl to them face-to-face; second, outsiders witnessed the visit, which helped to quell the rumors to a certain extent. The younger Doctor An’s expression softened considerably.
“If it weren't for Old Madam Xie’s sake…” he still said with lingering resentment.
“Kang’er,” the elder Doctor An suddenly interrupted.
“Father, just say what you mean. We cannot indulge these wealthy households; we are not here to be their amusement. To give a blow and then a sweet treat—it’s not a game to be played,” the younger Doctor An insisted.
The elder Doctor An paused in thought for a moment.
“I think, after the New Year, I will travel to Yongqing Prefecture to meet this Young Madam Qi,” he said slowly.
The younger Doctor An was surprised and froze.
Meet that woman? A meeting between enemies?