Chapter 46: The Gentle Young Master

This skill was a conclusion Feng Chuchen had reached in her previous life after observing a hysterosalpingogram; it was also one of the most formidable skills she had fully inherited from her grandfather.

The father and son watched with eyes reddened by envy, yet they could not replicate it even if they tried...

Madam Wen's expression shifted slightly, and Wen Shu lowered her head with tears in her eyes.

Wen Shu had begun treatment since her first menstruation two years ago. Fearing that news of this illness would hinder her prospects for a good marriage, the Wen family had not dared to summon an imperial physician. Instead, they had hired folk doctors skilled in gynecology, paying them high hush money.

Especially after a marriage alliance with a noble family was arranged this year, they were even more desperate to cure her quickly and even more terrified of the illness becoming public knowledge.

Feng Chuchen not only identified the source of Wen Shu's ailment but also saw that she had been undergoing treatment. Most incredibly, she knew simply by feeling the pulse that the pain in Wen Shu's lower left abdomen was particularly severe.

Suppressing her inner excitement, Madam Wen said, "I did not expect Miss Feng to possess such exquisite medical skills at such a young age. Alas, when Shu'er was five, she mischievously fell into a pond. It was late autumn then, and despite taking many medicines, it left a lingering root of illness..."

She went on to describe which doctors they had consulted and what medicines had been administered.

Feng Chuchen felt confident that with the right medicine and acupuncture, there was a ninety percent chance of curing Wen Shu. At the fastest, it would take six months; at the slowest, two years.

The remaining ten percent of uncertainty lay with the will of Heaven.

But she could not say that.

Hesitatingly, she said, "I have studied medicine under my eldest aunt since childhood and enjoy reading medical texts. My aunt says my skills are quite good, but I have never truly treated this specific illness. I cannot guarantee a cure."

Madam Wen said, "That is already quite extraordinary. If you can cure Shu'er's illness, we will reward you handsomely."

Feng Chuchen replied, "I would not dare ask for heavy rewards. Since I am to treat her, I will certainly give my utmost effort. There is no need for daily medicine; she should begin taking it on the day of her menstruation, taking two doses over six days."

"Starting on that day or the next, she will undergo three consecutive days of acupuncture and moxibustion, along with two sessions of bloodletting via pricking. Since Miss Wen is currently on her period, we can begin the treatment today..."

Madam Wen nodded repeatedly with a smile. "Yes, yes, Shu'er's period happened to start yesterday. In the future, whenever her period arrives, we will send a carriage to fetch Miss Feng. To save you the travel time, would it be better if you stayed here at our manor?"

Her attitude was extremely humble.

Feng Chuchen said, "Since my younger brother has already come here, I will stay for three more days. I have many matters at home, so in the future, I will simply take a carriage for the acupuncture sessions."

The two discussed that, moving forward, they would use Madam Tang's migraines as a pretext to invite Feng Chuchen for consultations. Then, using the excuse that Wen Shu and Feng Chuchen were close friends, they would invite her to Wen Shu's courtyard to treat her privately.

Feng Chuchen took Wen Shu's pulse once more and picked up her brush to write a prescription.

Madam Wen was extremely surprised. "Miss Feng's handwriting is truly beautiful."

She looked at Feng Chuchen intently several times and said while holding her hand, "Miss Feng and Shu'er are of similar age; please play together often in the future."

Wen Shu chimed in, "Come, Miss Feng, come to my courtyard to play."

Feng Chuchen smiled and said, "Alright. I have a beautiful doll; I'll go back and get it to give to Fourth Miss Wen to play with."

In reality, she was going back to get her silver needles and moxibustion sticks.

When Feng Bu-ji heard that his sister was going to treat Madam Wen's headache and could not come home today, he was very disappointed.

Leaning against his sister's embrace, he acted spoiled, saying, "I miss Sister Banxia, Sister Shaoyao, and Da Tou."

Feng Chuchen hugged him and said, "So many days have already passed; it doesn't matter if we wait three more. Tomorrow, we'll go shopping."

Tomorrow was the child's "Sanri" banquet (three-day celebration), and the Wen residence had invited a female physician to serve as the midwife.

Feng Bu-ji jumped with joy; being confined in the small courtyard was too boring, and he wanted to go out to the streets to play.

Feng Chuchen took her silver needles and a doll to Wen Shu's small courtyard.

Wen Shu was lying on a canopy bed in her bedroom, with only her wet nurse and a senior maid attending to her.

Feng Chuchen rolled up her pant leg and performed bloodletting using a three-edged needle.

Seeing such a thick needle, Wen Shu hurriedly curled her legs up. "The needle is so thick, it must hurt a lot, right?"

Feng Chuchen smiled. "It will certainly hurt a little, but it should be bearable. My brother has to undergo this kind of pricking every few days, and he hasn't shed a single tear."

The wet nurse advised, "Miss, if you want to get well, you must endure some suffering."

Only then did Wen Shu straighten her leg.

After the bloodletting, Feng Chuchen applied fine needles for acupuncture, followed by moxibustion.

Once finished, Feng Chuchen sat quietly on a beautiful chaise lounge by the window.

Feeling bored while lying in bed, Wen Shu began to chat with her.

"Is Miss Feng engaged?"

Feng Chuchen smiled. "Not yet."

Wen Shu looked at her. "What kind of husband do you want to find?"

Feng Chuchen thought for a moment and said seriously, "When my eldest aunt was alive, she said that character and health are the most important..."

There was no shyness or blushing.

Wen Shu asked again, "Is appearance not important?"

A handsome face appeared in her mind.

The first time her heart fluttered for him was at the Peach Blossom Banquet this spring, when he sat under a peach tree playing the zither, dressed in white.

As the wind passed, red petals drifted down; the zither music was melodious, his white clothes were whiter than snow, and he was as ethereal as an immortal...

In that instant, her eyes saw only him.

A refined gentleman, incomparably beautiful. Possessing great talent and noble lineage...

He was nothing like the legends.

It was also at that Peach Blossom Banquet that Princess Yanghe took a liking to the charming and lovely Wen Shu.

No matter what others said, Young Master Shangguan was the best in her eyes. As long as she could marry him, everything would be perfect.

Seeing the dazed look in her eyes and the smile playing on her lips, Feng Chuchen guessed she was thinking of her fiancé.

Her fiancé must be exceptionally handsome, she must love him deeply, and the Wen family must value this marriage very highly.

Seeing her mistress like this, the maid quickly reminded her, "Miss."

Wen Shu snapped out of her reverie and looked back at Feng Chuchen. "If a man has excellent character and health, but is very ugly, would you be willing?"

The wet nurse frowned and tried to stop her, "Miss."

Wen Shu pouted her small lips and looked at Feng Chuchen stubbornly, waiting for an answer.

She felt that a girl as beautiful and capable as Feng Chuchen would not like an ugly man.

Feng Chuchen laughed. "Fourth Miss Wen was born into wealth and does not know the hardships of the common people. If people cannot even afford food, who would care about looks? Even if a man is disabled, as long as life is better after marriage, a girl from a poor family would be willing."

Wen Shu said, "Tell me about yourself. Your family certainly wouldn't be unable to afford food."

Feng Chuchen said, "As for me, of course, the man cannot be too ugly. As long as his features are decent, and his character and health are good, I can make allowances for other aspects and consider him."

In her previous life, she had placed great importance on appearance. But in this life, character and health indeed took precedence over looks.

Wen Shu asked again, "What do you think is the most important aspect of character?"

Feng Chuchen did not hesitate and spoke the truth: "Possessing both virtue and talent, having a broad mind, and not being unfaithful."

If these conditions could not be met, she would rather live independently as a single woman. She would rather not marry than marry someone with looks but no virtue, and marrying someone with neither was out of the question.

Wen Shu said in surprise, "Those are very high standards. How many men are actually faithful?"

Feng Chuchen smiled. "If I don't meet someone suitable, I will simply remain unmarried for life, just like my eldest aunt."