“Good, amazing!”
The doctor that Second Master Cheng tirelessly sought out for several days praised in admiration.
The patient was so sick they almost died. What’s so good and amazing about that?
Was this doctor trustworthy?
First Master Cheng looked at Second Master Cheng, who felt somewhat embarrassed.
“Doctor Liao, please take a look at Si-lang and see how he is doing,” he said quickly.
He had gone to great lengths to bring this famous doctor from Zhejiang Dao, hoping it wouldn’t be all for nothing without any merit or effort being recognized.
“How is he?” Doctor Liao said, stroking his beard, “He’s fine, he’s fine.”
Fine?
He’s fine just like that?
“Doctor, how can he be fine just like that?” First Master Cheng asked urgently.
“You, do you think not being fine is better?” Doctor Liao glanced at him and replied.
What nonsense! How could the doctor speak so insolently!
First Master Cheng frowned.
“Doctor, Si-lang was still unconscious yesterday, seriously ill. Could there be a mistake?” Second Master Cheng asked hastily.
“Mistake or not, he has already been cured,” Doctor Liao said.
The two masters exchanged glances.
“How was he cured?” they asked in unison.
Doctor Liao looked at them and gave a meaningful smile.
“He was scared well,” he said. “It’s truly amazing!”
In the inner courtyard, First Madam Cheng, who had already recovered from her own illness upon seeing her son wake up, was also somewhat confused after hearing her husband’s words.
Since the doctor was still present, First Master Cheng, concerned about his wife, hurriedly came in to reassure her.
“Scared well?” she asked. “What’s going on?”
“Doctor Liao explained that too much worrying can damage the spirit, leading to liver and blood flow issues, which is commonly known as lovesickness,” First Master Cheng said.
First Madam Cheng looked very displeased.
The previous doctors had all given correct diagnoses. But of all the illnesses to have, lovesickness was truly embarrassing.
“But Si-lang hasn’t even seen the person he supposedly pines for, yet he’s recovered. How can it be lovesickness?” First Madam Cheng argued.
“Doctor Liao said that lovesickness doesn’t necessarily have to be for a person. It can be for objects, birds, flowers, insects, or even landscapes,” First Master Cheng said. Only after saying these words did he feel that Doctor Liao might truly be a competent doctor.
First Madam Cheng relaxed a bit, feeling relieved.
As long as their son wasn’t experiencing that kind of lovesickness.
“However, our son’s condition is due to lovesickness caused by someone,” First Master Cheng remarked.
First Madam Cheng’s expression turned serious once more.
“At first, he drank a herbal remedy to ease his circulation and calm his spirit. Then, he was suddenly startled. This shock helped clear any blockages, allowing his energy and blood to flow smoothly again, which ultimately led to his recovery!”
In the living room, Doctor Liao smiled contentedly and exclaimed, clapping his hands once more, “Amazing, amazing.”
Second Master Cheng, seated beside him, listened with confusion. He couldn’t grasp the doctor’s words since he wasn’t a doctor, after all.
“So, it was the right herbal remedy. Find out which doctor prescribed it and reward them,” Second Master Cheng instructed one of his servants.
The servant hurried out to inquire.
“The herbal remedy is incredibly effective, but credit is also due to another person—the maid who cleverly used a ghost mask to startle the young master,” Doctor Liao remarked. “Drinking just the herbal remedy alone wouldn’t have had much impact, but combining it with this unexpected scare made it remarkably effective!”
With that, he clapped his hands again and chuckled.
“Amazing, absolutely amazing,” he exclaimed. “Why didn’t I think of it sooner? Thoughts gather when focused and scatter when startled, yet they can also be redirected. It’s truly marvelous!”
Second Master Cheng was now convinced— Doctor Liao was indeed no regular doctor, eccentric and extraordinary!
First Madam Cheng felt relieved only after personally watching Cheng Si-lang slowly eat a few spoonfuls of ginseng chicken congee.
“Mother, I’ve worried you,” he weakly remarked.
Though still frail, he showed signs of improving spirits.
First Madam Cheng dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, watched as the maid helped him lie down to rest, and then left the room.
She indeed wanted to inquire about the young lady who had caused his lovesickness. However, she understood it wasn’t the right time for questions. They had other matters to attend to.
In the main hall of the first household, Chun Lan had been kneeling for half a day.
“Go ahead,” First Madam Cheng sat down and said calmly.
“Madam, I… I thought the young master had encountered a spirit, so I went to the lotus pond to pray. But Fourth Young Master showed no improvement. Then I remembered what the village women say, that ghosts fear wicked people, so I thought of scaring the spirit…” Chun Lan’s voice trembled as she choked up. “I am guilty.”
With that, she bowed her head in apology.
The maids nearby wore expressions of mixed emotions. It seemed luck was on her side. The doctor’s words had already spread: he credited the maid for scaring Fourth Young Master and aiding in his recovery.
She was now hailed as a hero for saving Fourth Young Master’s life. Going forward, she wouldn’t be seen merely as a maid.
“You are not to blame,” First Madam Cheng assured her with a sigh. “You have done a service.”
Chun Lan remained prostrated on the ground, crying softly, her tears a blend of relief and joy.
“However, this achievement cannot be solely credited to you,” First Madam Cheng added calmly, observing her closely.
Chun Lan’s body tensed slightly as she lay there, her heart racing with uncertainty.
“Madam,” she nodded as she lifted her head timidly, “I dare not take credit; I am at fault.”
“Then let your actions speak for your redemption. Tell me, who gave you this idea?” First Madam Cheng inquired.
These words stunned everyone in the room, leaving Chun Lan visibly shaken.
“Madam?” she asked nervously.
“Chun Lan, deep down, you’re uncertain if Si-lang will recover, aren’t you?” First Madam Cheng spoke slowly, observing Chun Lan closely. “I believe if something were to go wrong with Si-lang, you might say the mask accidentally fell and frightened him, wouldn’t you?”
Chun Lan shook her head anxiously.
“Madam, I didn’t… I didn’t dare…” she cried out.
“Stop crying for now, Qiu Kui,” First Madam Cheng suddenly called out.
Qiu Kui, who was standing outside, promptly entered and knelt down upon hearing her name.
“If it was you who scared Fourth Young Master, what should you have done in that moment?” First Madam Cheng asked.
“I am at fault. I scared the young master,” Qiu Kui immediately confessed, looking visibly distressed and speaking with a trembling voice, as if she genuinely believed she had made a mistake.
“Chun Lan, how did you handle the situation when it happened?” First Madam Cheng asked.
Chun Lan’s face turned ashen, and the other maids around her realized the gravity of the situation, their eyes shifting to her kneeling form.
“The master mentioned that at that moment, you only knelt and cried. You didn’t admit fault or provide any explanation for how the mask ended up in front of Si-lang,” First Madam Cheng said with a smile. “Was it because you wanted to wait and decide how to explain it later?”
Chun Lan clenched her lip, tears streaming down as she bowed her head, unable to meet First Madam Cheng’s gaze.
“Tell me, who told you to do this!” First Madam Cheng suddenly demanded.
Her sudden angry outburst shocked everyone present.
Chun Lan sobbed quietly, bowing even lower, fully prostrated on the ground.
When Cheng Jiao-niang’s courtyard door was knocked open, Ban Qin’s face lit up with surprise.
“Miss, you were right again!” she exclaimed. “Master and Madam Cheng are indeed not easily deceived!”
