Chapter 2443 - 2417: That’s Not What I Meant

The wife of State Duke Pi wasn’t suffering from any major illness. As she had grown older, she encountered seasonal changes, which naturally caused some discomfort.

After examining her, Manbao prescribed some medication and performed a series of acupuncture treatments. She advised her to eat less meat and more vegetables as spring was approaching.

Then she strolled leisurely from the residence of State Duke Pi to another street to visit the residence of State Duke Zhao.

The people at State Duke Zhao’s residence were stunned, not expecting Zhou Man to be the visitor.

Liu Sanniang, serving as Manbao’s assistant, couldn’t help but glance at them, "What, isn’t this task on your State Duke Zhao’s list?"

The steward of State Duke Zhao’s residence immediately reacted, bending over as he spoke, "Yes, yes, Imperial Doctor Zhou, please come inside."

The wife of the heir apparent at State Duke Zhao’s residence lay on the bed. The maid from her courtyard ran ahead to report, "Madam, the imperial doctor has arrived."

The wife of the heir apparent then said, "Please come in."

She signaled the maid to lower the bed curtain.

The maid did not act immediately and instead leaned in to whisper, "It’s Imperial Doctor Zhou..."

The wife of the heir apparent: ...

It was somewhat unexpected, as it was because of Zhou Man that she had been punished twice. Moreover, the illness stemmed from Zhou Man.

Manbao quickly made her way through the inner courtyard, reaching the room. Seeing no one guiding her inside, she turned to look at the stewardess.

The stewardess’s expression stiffened slightly; she immediately lifted the curtain and entered first to announce, "Madam, Imperial Doctor Zhou has arrived."

Last time, they had been negligent. This time, they couldn’t afford to be careless.

The people inside reacted promptly, with the wife of the heir apparent calling out loudly, "Quickly, please invite her in."

She used the maid’s hand to sit up, leaning against the pillow as she coughed a few times.

Manbao and Liu Sanniang entered, first greeting her with a smile, then asked, "Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

The wife of the heir apparent looked somewhat pale, but overall she seemed fine. She replied a bit awkwardly, "I just feel tightness in the chest, keep coughing, and I can’t sleep peacefully at night."

The maid beside immediately added, "Our madam has seen a doctor, and they said it’s a cold. Medication has been taken, but there’s no improvement. She fainted again upon waking up this morning, so we invited the imperial doctor."

Manbao glanced at her complexion again, then took her pulse. After feeling her pulse, she asked, "What did you eat for lunch, Madam?"

"Our madam is unwell and hasn’t had much appetite, so she didn’t have lunch."

Manbao asked, "What did you eat for breakfast then?"

"For breakfast, just a bit of porridge made from coix seed."

"How much is a bit?"

The maid froze for a moment, then replied, "About three spoons."

Manbao then asked, "What did you eat last night?"

"Last night, a bowl of cubilose porridge."

Manbao: "Only had cubilose porridge?"

"And medication," the maid said, "The medication is harsh on the stomach, so madam couldn’t eat anything else."

Liu Sanniang couldn’t help but lift her head to look at them.

Manbao couldn’t help thinking, it’s like she’s trying to be a celestial maiden, living on air and dew alone.

Releasing her hand, Manbao said to the maid, "Don’t worry, your madam fainted from hunger. Go ask the kitchen to cook some porridge, chop some minced meat to cook in it, add some oil, salt, and scallions, then bring it over once it’s ready."

The maid was taken aback and couldn’t help but look at her madam.

Since Zhou Man mentioned her fainting was due to hunger, the wife of the heir apparent blushed. Seeing the maid dawdling not willing to leave, she snapped, "Why are you standing there? Didn’t you hear what Imperial Doctor Zhou said?"

The maid immediately bowed and left.

With her stomach empty, even if Manbao wanted to perform acupuncture, it wouldn’t be possible. So, she went ahead to write a prescription. After finishing, she handed it to the wife of the heir apparent, saying, "This is to dispel cold and stop coughing and should be taken after meals!"

Manbao emphasized, "Rest assured, eat first, then take the medication. No matter how bitter the medicine is, it can’t ruin your appetite for two hours straight. Also, don’t worry, I added some appetite-stimulating herbs, after taking my medicine, you’ll definitely be able to eat."

The wife of the heir apparent: ...Somehow felt she was being sarcastic.

Manbao sat and waited until their servants finally prepared the duck porridge and brought it up for her to eat.

The wife of the heir apparent took a mouthful of warm duck porridge, and sure enough, saliva started flowing, and her appetite was stimulated!

Under Zhou Man’s gaze, the wife of the heir apparent finished a bowl of porridge, exhaled after finishing, and then delicately wiped her lips with a handkerchief, declaring, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, I’m done eating, we can proceed with acupuncture now."

Manbao: "You don’t need acupuncture."

Manbao said, "Look, after eating, you started sweating, right? This is the food replenishing your body’s yang energy, pushing the cold out. If you can’t eat, just eat duck porridge, it’s quite enjoyable."

After three days, guarantee everything you see you’d wish to devour it in one bite.

Not eating is also an illness, whether it’s spleen and stomach weakness or a mental affliction, it’s an ailment that needs treatment!

Manbao left the prescription behind and departed.

The wife of the heir apparent gritted her teeth, turned to her maid and instructed, "Prepare a red envelope to send to her."

The maid then whispered, "Previously, we prepared a five-tael red envelope..."

"Switch to a larger silver ingot."

The maid understood, hastily taking out the pouch previously prepared for the imperial doctor, and recalled there was no large ten-tael silver ingot in the cabinet, thus quickly stuffed another five-tael ingot inside, then rushed to catch up with Manbao, smiling as she pressed the pouch into her hand before she reached the second gate.

Manbao politely demurred, "This is part of my duty."

After all, seeing patients for nobility is also part of their Imperial Hospital’s responsibilities. If they accept a task list, they must come see.

"Indeed," the maid smiled, "But Madam felt bad for troubling Imperial Doctor Zhou to travel all this way, so we prepared carriage fare for you, or you could treat yourself to a cup of tea with the money. Please accept, or I’d have difficulty explaining later."

Although imperial physicians visiting homes for diagnosis is an obligation, it’s customary to offer carriage fare for any home visit.

Should the visiting imperial physician refuse it, that’s very problematic, either you’re offending the palace, or you’re upsetting the Imperial Hospital.

Manbao feigned a modest refusal twice before accepting, and left with Liu Sanniang.

Liu Sanniang didn’t understand what Master was trying to achieve, so she couldn’t help but ask upon leaving, "Master, why did you visit her to diagnose?"

She had looked at the prescription earlier, aside from being bitter and sour, it held no issues; it was a very well-made prescription.

Manbao: "Imperial Doctor Zheng assigned this task list."

Liu Sanniang: "...If Imperial Doctor Zheng hadn’t assigned you?"

"Then I wouldn’t come," Manbao replied, looking puzzled, "Why would I force myself to go?"

Liu Sanniang looked completely baffled.

Manbao then tossed the heavy pouch in her hand and said, "Silly, this was their chance to make amends, and my visit was merely to return the favor, it’s nothing."

"But you didn’t do anything."

"Precisely by not doing anything, am I returning the favor. If I did something, then that would be slapping the face of our Imperial Hospital, potentially breaking the law, and risk being sent to the County Governmental Office or Ministry of Justice for a few days’ tour."

Liu Sanniang: "...Master, you think too much. That’s not what I meant."