Chapter 2429 - 2403: Are You Angry?

In the room, there were a group of filial sons and worthy grandsons, including the filial son Zhao Liulang, who was staring at Zhou Man with wide eyes, very curious about what she was doing at the front that took so long.

If the State Duchess Zhao hadn’t kept him talking, he would have gone to the front himself to see.

Manbao’s gaze swept smoothly over him, disliking the crowd inside. She directly said to the State Duchess Zhao, "State Duchess, let’s find a quieter place so I can examine you."

Typically, when this is said, it often involves hands-on examination or disrobing, which is a convenience female doctors possess.

So the State Duchess Zhao smiled and nodded, holding an old nanny’s hand as she went to the inner room.

A group of filial sons, worthy grandsons, and dutiful daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law then temporarily waited in the side room.

Manbao didn’t feel her pulse; she directly asked the State Duchess Zhao to take off her clothes and lie on the bed, first feeling the places where it was unbearably sore, then began to feel the pulse and ask questions.

Liu Sanniang watched intently, noting down all the spots her master pressed and the questions asked.

She had previously accompanied the imperial doctors from the Imperial Hospital to examine the State Duchess Zhao. They refrained from a hands-on examination and asking certain questions, which she asked herself.

She thought she was adequately skilled, but upon seeing Zhou Man’s method today, she realized there was still some gap.

After feeling the pulse, Manbao deliberated and said to the Old Madam, "Your condition requires a combination of acupuncture, moxibustion, and medication. However, it can’t be completely cured but will relieve you, so you won’t be in such discomfort."

She said, "This is due to kidney deficiency and overwork, all because of too much exertion when young. You can supplement the kidney and replenish kidney energy. Even if it can’t be cured, it won’t be as painfully unbearable."

This was the first imperial doctor who clearly stated it could be treated—even though it was symptomatic treatment—still, it was delightful enough. Much better than other doctors simply saying to try a prescription first.

After taking the medicine, she felt an agitation in her heart, couldn’t sleep at night, and couldn’t relieve herself for three or four days, feeling unbearably uncomfortable. Even after enduring all this hardship and taking the medicine, it only provided a bit of relief. At night, when sleeping, she still felt so sore and painful in her lower back she wished she could use a knife to cut herself in half, removing her waist to feel better.

Because Zhou Man gave a definite explanation, the tiny resentment the State Duchess Zhao held for her delayed arrival completely vanished.

Manbao turned and took Liu Sanniang outside to write a prescription. She first wrote a moxibustion prescription, "She has insufficient yang energy. The previous prescriptions were also about supplementing yang and nourishing yin, which wasn’t wrong. But she’s older, less active, and blood flows more slowly, so little effect comes from taking medicine, often leading to constipation. Therefore we use moxibustion to supplement yang but must control the heat. Too light won’t be effective, too heavy will cause inflammation..."

Manbao wrote down the moxibustion prescription, indicating the acupoints, duration, and necessary medicines, etc.

Then she wrote the acupuncture prescription, "Remember, acupuncture first and then moxibustion. In this way, the meridians are opened a bit, and when moxibusting, the medicine can flow smoothly and achieve the desired effect. We use an extra set of needles, just to help reduce internal fire after moxibustion and medication, preventing constipation..."

Manbao taught Liu Sanniang little by little, finally writing down the medication prescription.

Upon seeing the medication prescription, Liu Sanniang uttered a small "eh."

"Does it look familiar?"

Liu Sanniang whispered, "It’s similar to the prescription my grandfather wrote."

Manbao nodded, "Imperial Doctor Liu’s prescription is very good; it’s just a pity he can’t do acupuncture and moxibustion. Otherwise, he could probably have come up with this set too. I removed two ingredients and replaced them with these two, and it’s almost there. This medication prescription can be tried first to see her reaction. If there’s dryness, we’ll change it next time."

"What about the acupuncture and moxibustion?"

"The acupuncture and moxibustion prescriptions don’t need much change. For this illness, it’s roughly these acupoints, just a matter of sequence and medication used."

Manbao handed over the written three prescriptions to her, stating, "Copy a set for the Zhao Family’s people and let them prepare the medicine."

"Yes." Liu Sanniang sat down to copy the prescriptions.

Manbao then went in to bid farewell to the State Duchess Zhao, indeed to take her leave. She told the State Duchess Zhao, "It’s lunchtime now; it’s not good to do acupuncture or take medicine on an empty stomach, but it’s also not good when full. You should have lunch, take the medicine, rest for a while, and I’ll come for acupuncture at the shens time."

The State Duchess Zhao immediately said, "Imperia Doctor Zhou, why not stay for a meal? The kitchen made lamb stew today; you might like it."

Manbao thanked her with a smile and said, "Thanks to the State Duchess Zhao, I seldom get the chance to leave the imperial village, so I want to visit my parents."

The State Duchess Zhao was taken aback for a moment and then said, "Of course, Imperia Doctor Zhou has been busy with state affairs for a long time and should go see your parents. I’ll have my Zhao Liu see you off."

Manbao agreed with a smile.

As she got up to leave, she glanced at the State Duchess Zhao’s bed and said, "If you’re willing, it might be better to remove two mattresses. Sleeping on a soft bed feels comfortable, but seriously, a hard bed is better for your back. Once you’ve gotten used to it, you’ll feel the benefits."

The State Duchess Zhao was taken aback, and Manbao had already bowed and stepped away.

Liu Sanniang had already finished copying the prescriptions. She showed them to Zhou Man, and after confirming they were correct, both signed the prescriptions before handing them to the Zhao Family’s old nanny, "Prepare all the medicine on the prescription. The decocted medicine should be given to the Old Madam after a meal two ke after taking it, and the moxibustion medicine should also be prepared in advance, start decocting by the time it’s 1 p.m..."

The old nanny was a bit flustered and quickly said, "Imperia Doctor Zhou, it’s okay with the decoction, but we don’t know how to decoct the moxibustion medicine."

Manbao hesitated a moment before saying, "Forget it, just prepare the medicine first, and I’ll guide you when I come."

Anyway, acupuncture precedes moxibustion, so they have time.

The old nanny finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The old nanny personally escorted Manbao and the others out, and once they reached the courtyard, a group of filial sons and worthy grandsons surrounded them.

Knowing that explaining further would be too much for them to understand, Manbao briefly mentioned that she could provide some relief for the Old Madam. After dealing with them, she took her leave.

The heir’s wife was surprised and quickly said, "Imperia Doctor Zhou, we’ve prepared food in the mansion, why not have some first?"

Manbao politely declined, smiling, "No need, I already told the State Duchess Zhao I’ll return in the shens time, goodbye."

The old nanny promptly said, "Liulang, the Old Madam wants you to escort Imperia Doctor Zhou out."

Zhao Liulang, who had been standing at a distance, hesitant to push forward amid the wives and daughters-in-law, immediately responded, stepped forward, and escorted Zhou Man out.

However, Zhou Man didn’t go directly to the front courtyard but first turned to a guest yard. Seeing only the doormen and rough servants, she frowned slightly, pointed at the doorman, and asked, "Where are my clothes, shoes, and socks?"

The doorman was startled and quickly ran off to find the previous housekeeper nanny.