Why did she have medical knowledge?
“Ban Qin, didn’t you mention that doctors must begin their studies from a young age to be able to treat people?” Cheng Jiao-niang said as she slowly sat up, an action that was still slower than usual for her. “Since I’m considered foolish, I naturally wouldn’t have learned this.”
Ban Qin stared at her, equally confused.
She recalled that stormy night three months ago when lightning struck and destroyed half of the Taoist temple. Fortunately, she and her mistress were living in the temple’s most rundown house, which allowed them a chance to escape. However, a bolt of lightning struck the big tree in front of their house, causing it to explode at their feet. Her mistress screamed for the first time in her life before losing consciousness.
When she woke up, she was different—no, she was better.
Her eyes could move, she no longer drooled, and she could even speak.
“Miss, it seems that the Taoist priest was right after all. It was indeed very fortunate to have you leave home and stay at the temple,” Ban Qin said, a bit excited.
Is that so?
Cheng Jiao-niang pondered, but due to her stiff muscles, her face showed no expression.
“But even if that’s why I got better, it shouldn’t mean that I can suddenly cure illnesses out of nowhere, right?” she said slowly.
That’s true, Banqin frowned, deep in thought. It really was strange.
“Ah,” she suddenly clapped her hands, as if something had come to mind, “it’s not strange at all.”
Cheng Jiao-niang turned her gaze toward her, and because of her slow reaction, she still looked somewhat dazed.
“Miss, since the immortal healed you, it’s no big deal that you can now cure illnesses and bring people back from the brink of death,” Ban Qin said, her eyes shining.
Huh? Cheng Jiao-niang was momentarily stunned. Could this be a divine skill bestowed by the immortal?
“Miss, this isn’t strange at all. Do you know about Yang Da-nian from Jian-zhou?” Ban Qin asked. Then she smacked her head, realizing that Cheng Jiao-niang, being simple-minded, wouldn’t know. She had heard this from one of Old Madam’s visiting maids. Life in the temple was dull, so this bit of gossip had stayed with her. “He couldn’t speak for years and then suddenly started composing poems. And there’s more. In Jinxi, there was a farmer’s child who, at the age of five, suddenly began to recite poetry.”
Huh? Cheng Jiao-niang was dazed again, but this time out of amazement.
How incredible!
“Yes, yes, Miss. The elders all say that the immortal has enlightened them,” Ban Qin said joyfully, holding Cheng Jiao-niang’s hands. “Miss, you’ve been enlightened too. You originally had one soul missing from your three souls and two spirits missing from your seven spirits. Now the immortal has finally restored them to you.”
Ah! Is that so? Cheng Jiao-niang stared straight ahead.
“Miss, that Taoist wasn’t a fraud after all! Maybe the master didn’t abandon you on purpose either!” Ban Qin exclaimed in sudden realization, unable to contain her excitement. “Miss, why don’t we go back to the temple? The master will surely come back to fetch you.”
Huh? Will he? Cheng Jiao-niang wondered, but her actions couldn’t keep up with her thoughts. One expression hadn’t yet formed before the next thought emerged, so in the end, no expression appeared at all.
“We’ve already come this far, so it’s not good to go back. We might as well continue home to avoid any trouble,” she finally said slowly.
Ban Qin nodded. Since her once-dependent mistress had recovered, it felt like she now had a reliable guide. Although her mistress occasionally relapsed, Ban Qin felt an immense sense of security!
Cheng Jiao-niang remained silent, her expression wooden.
Having observed her habits over the past few days, Ban Qin understood that she was contemplating and preparing to speak, so she waited without prompting.
“How much money have we saved now?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Ban Qin diligently kept track of their finances, counting the money twice daily and committing the total to memory.
“With the money we got from the Zhang family this time, we now have ten taels of silver,” she immediately replied.
Renting a place, seeking medical treatment, buying supplements, and meals—all required money. Every time she earned some, it seemed to vanish quickly. But this was routine. When funds ran low, they halted, earned more, and the cycle repeated, gradually getting closer to the Cheng family each passing day.
Perhaps encountering those relatives and returning to her birthplace would help Cheng Jiao-niang untangle her jumbled and enigmatic memories.
“We have enough for a journey,” Cheng Jiao-niang declared. “Go to the carriage house immediately. We’ll depart tonight.”
Immediately? Tonight?
Ban Qin was taken aback. While they never lingered in one place for long, their previous journeys were always planned over several days—deciding to leave one day, organizing the next, and setting off the day after. Departing immediately after making the decision was unprecedented.
“Miss, you should rest a bit more,” she said uneasily. “There’s no need to rush.”
Cheng Jiao-niang slowly moved her face. She intended to shake her head, but found it too difficult, so she gave up.
“Because of the lady next door’s illness, we’ve already stayed here a few days longer than usual…” she said. She had many things to say, but her tongue wouldn’t cooperate, forcing her to keep it brief. Finally, she said, “Staying longer might not be good.”
Not good? Why not? Ban Qin was puzzled.
Cheng Jiao-niang said no more and just looked at her.
Although her eyes had regained some vitality, upon closer inspection, they still seemed like a pool of stagnant water.
Ban Qin quickly lowered her head.
“Yes, I’ll handle it right away,” she said, standing up and hurrying out.
The house returned to silence, and at some point, the rain outside had stopped. The damp scent mingled with the cool breeze, creating a comforting atmosphere. Cheng Jiao-niang lay down, letting her mind go blank, slipping into a tranquil, dazed state.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to think, but she couldn’t. Whenever she tried to grasp and organize her memories, she would get headaches and feel confused, sometimes even regressing into a foolish state. Instead, by keeping her mind empty and thinking of nothing, her health gradually improved, and her episodes of confusion became less frequent.
Ban Qin was efficient. She returned shortly after, thanks in part to the money they had on hand. She remembered how, when they first left the Taoist temple and traveled a short distance to Bingzhou City, it had taken them seven days.
“Miss, I’ll pack our things,” she said. “The carriage from the carriage house will arrive tonight. Let’s eat first so we won’t need to stop along the way.”
Cheng Jiao-niang remained on the couch and responded with a hum.
Ban Qin happily stood up, but just as she did, she heard someone speaking loudly outside the door.
“Hey, is the divine doctor here?”
Ban Qin opened the other half of the door. She saw two men and a woman outside. When the woman sitting on the door saw her, she groaned loudly.
“Oh dear, young lady, please save me,” she shouted.
Ban Qin frowned. With such energy, she didn’t look sick at all, and besides, the mistress had said they would no longer take patients.
“Our mistress can’t treat your illness. Please go to the clinic,” she said, turning to leave.
With a loud slap, one of the men placed his hand on the door behind her.
“Why can’t she treat it? You treat others, why not us? Do you think we can’t pay?” the man shouted.
Ban Qin looked at the man, who appeared fierce and menacing, but she wasn’t afraid.
After all, her mistress was a divine person enlightened by an immortal.
“No, it’s because my mistress only treats those on the brink of death. Your lady doesn’t seem to be…” she started to say.
Before she could finish the sentence, the man turned and kicked the woman squarely in the chest.
Ban Qin and the woman screamed simultaneously. Unlike Ban Qin, the woman spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, motionless.
“Now, since the person is near death, can you treat her?” The man turned around, once again slamming his hand heavily on the door. He looked at the maid before him, whose face had already turned pale, and spoke with a menacing tone.
This wasn’t a visit for medical treatment; it was an attempt to cause trouble!
Ban Qin took a step back, but quickly remembered her mistress inside, and returned to her original position. Her small face turned pale as she bit her lip.
Was this what her mistress meant by “not good”?
