The carriage drove straight into the second gate of the Chen family’s inner courtyard. The maids set up stools, and the people around them held their breath, silent, watching the carriage.
“Jiao’er…”
As the maid lifted the curtain of the carriage, a woman with her hair adorned in jade came forward, tears in her eyes, trembling as she called out.
The lady’s childhood nickname is Jiao-niang, and this affectionate and tender nickname, “Jiao’er,” is something only family members would use.
The only family member in the capital is the Zhou family.
Is this the madam of the Zhou family?
The maid took a glance at the woman, then turned toward the back.
“Miss, take your time,” she said.
So not her. The woman withdrew her hand to wipe away her tears and looked once again at the inside of the carriage.
The maid got down first and extended her hand. A person wrapped in a large green cloak stepped out, extending a hand to the maid as she lifted their foot to get off the carriage.
The hood covered her head and face, making it even more difficult to see clearly under the fading light of the setting sun.
“My dear Jiao’er,” the woman cried, pushing past the maid, stepping forward, and pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Madam, now is not the time for tears,” the maid said.
“First, we need to see Old Master Chen. Whatever needs to be said can wait until we get home,” said a middle-aged man standing nearby.
Only then did the woman wipe away her tears and step back. She looked at Cheng Jiao-niang while taking her hand.
“Good child, hurry up,” she said, pulling Cheng Jiao-niang inside.
Inside the compound, Chen Shao and several brothers from his uncles’ families were waiting to greet them. Some women stood at the doorway, also glancing in this direction.
Everyone’s expression was complicated.
They weren’t sure whether it was true, or if it was simply that their father, in his unclear state of mind, had exaggerated things, or perhaps his illness had been treatable at first but had worsened to the point that even the imperial doctor could do nothing. Could this lady possibly save him?
A mixture of speculation, doubt, and hope intertwined, but they had no other options left.
“They’ve arrived.”
Several maids came in first to announce.
Chen Shao suddenly felt as though his steps were heavy, as if he couldn’t move forward, or perhaps he simply didn’t dare to.
After waiting and hoping for so long, there was still hope. But once the moment arrived, it would seal the outcome. What if…?
Madam Zhou held Cheng Jiao-niang’s hand and stepped into the courtyard.
“Lady Cheng.” Chen Shao seemed a bit dazed as he stepped forward and greeted her, “My father…”
“The journey has been exhausting.” Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted him and said, “Please allow me to rest for a moment first.”
The people present were momentarily stunned.
“Jiao-niang…” Master Zhou coughed softly.
“My mistress is not feeling well; how could she attend to the patient?” The maid interrupted him, looking at Chen Shao and saying, “Master, you have already waited for so long. What’s a little longer?”
The door to the room was closed, and the Zhou couple turned to look at the Chen family.
“This child… you see, really…” Madam Zhou said with an apologetic tone.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. It’s only right to do so. After such a long journey, even you and I wouldn’t be able to bear it,” Madam Chen quickly said, while also inviting them, “Please, come and rest in the outer room while you wait.”
The sitting room of the Chen family’s home was somewhere they never thought they would be able to sit in.
Master and Madam Zhou naturally agreed with pleasure.
They each left their servants and maids behind to wait on them, while the group left to wait anxiously. To pass the time, they simply listened to Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao talk about the events during the journey, which also helped them understand more about the lady.
In early winter, the night fell early. The Chen family’s hall was lit with lamps, and the charcoal fire was already set, filling the room with warmth. At this moment, more than ten people were gathered, each holding their breath in silence, listening to Fourth Master Chen speak.
“…When I approached, I saw the lady pulling out a knife and cutting flesh…”
A lady, upon hearing this, was startled and quickly reached out to cover the ears of the little girl sitting in front of her.
“Dan-niang, don’t listen. You won’t dare sleep tonight,” she whispered.
“No, I’m not scared,” Dan-niang quickly pulled away, sitting up straight and staring wide-eyed at her uncle, as if that would help her see the scene as it had happened.
“…Then she wrapped the patient up with those rags and rotten straw…”
“Such a severe injury, with blood flowing from the knife cuts—wouldn’t this only worsen the poison?” Master Zhou interjected, asking.
He was from a military background and was quite familiar with injuries caused by knives, swords, and other weapons.
“No,” Fourth Master Chen shook his head and took a sip of water.
“Uncle, hurry up and tell us—did the person get cured?” Dan-niang urged.
Chen Shao gave a soft sound of acknowledgment.
“Dan-niang, do not be impolite. Your uncle has been through much hardship,” he admonished.
The child didn’t understand, but the adults could all see the expression on Fourth Master Chen’s face and knew that the person must have been cured.
“Uncle, you’ve worked hard,” Dan-niang quickly said, offering a gesture of respect.
Fourth Master Chen smiled and nodded.
“Thank you, Dan-niang,” he said, then continued, “Afterward, we prepared an even stranger medicine, and by the next morning, the patient woke up.”
“How amazing!” Dan-niang exclaimed happily.
The people present also let out a slight sigh of relief.
“Moreover, ten days later, they even caught up with us,” Fourth Master Chen continued, “He could eat meat, drink wine, walk with support, sit up with assistance, speak and sing—he had completely recovered and even helped us drive off a pack of wolves.”
From death’s door to full recovery, from being saved to becoming a savior—all in the span of just ten days. It was truly a miraculous transformation. The people present couldn’t help but exchange amused glances, and a few of the younger women even shook hands in celebration.
“Truly a divine doctor,” Chen Shao repeated, looking toward the Zhou couple and bowing.
The Zhou couple exchanged a glance. Although they had been suspicious ever since they first heard about the matter, hearing the full account again today not only failed to dispel their doubts but only deepened their confusion.
This foolish child, how did she become a divine doctor?
Could it be that there really are divine matters in the world?
“At the time, the Taoist priest said our Jiao-niang would have great fortune in the future, but no one in the family believed it, and they were even unwilling to send her to the temple,” Madam Zhou said, though still confused, it didn’t stop her from talking about the past. As she spoke, she couldn’t help but raise her hand to wipe away tears. “I never expected it to actually come true. It’s just so tragic for my sister. If she were still here today, how happy she would have been.”
Although they didn’t know much about Cheng Jiao-niang at first, by now, the Chen family had inquired thoroughly, and they even sent someone to Bing-zhou.
There wasn’t anything particularly unusual to report. Aside from the fact that it was astonishing enough for a fool to recover, she was also said to be able to heal.
“I think perhaps she got hold of some immortal prescription,” one of the cousins whispered to Chen Shao.
Chen Shao nodded. That seemed plausible.
Hopefully, this immortal prescription could save his father’s life. As for how the lady recovered, it didn’t matter.
“This is a family matter, no need to discuss it. The most important thing is to quickly treat Old Master Chen,” Master Zhou said.
As soon as his words fell, the sound of maids was heard from outside.
“Master, Lady Cheng has arrived.”
The people in the room couldn’t help but straighten up, kneeling as they stood. The door was opened, and a lady stepped in.
She removed her hooded cloak, revealing a delicate face before the crowd. Her long, ink-black hair hung down to her waist, and she wore a blue satin overcoat with a simple white flower-patterned inner dress. The outfit was simple, neat, and extremely understated, yet under the light, it made her appear brilliantly captivating, almost blinding to look at.
What a beautiful face…
That was the first thought of everyone, regardless of age or gender.
So young…
That was the second thought of the Chen family’s elders.
Doctors need experience, so how could someone so young have the necessary experience? If it weren’t for being at their wit’s end, or the miraculous treatment they had just heard about, this sight alone would have made them lose hope immediately.
“Where is the patient?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked, standing at the door.
The people in the room came to their senses and hurriedly stood up.
“Miss, please follow me.”
