Chapter 16: Kneeling in Apology

Tan Qingjiu was invited back once more to the Tan residence and brought to the main hall.

Everyone from the Tan family was present. As soon as Tan Yunge caught sight of Tan Qingjiu, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes and mutter under her breath, “She acts so aloof, but the moment more money is offered, she comes running back with her tail wagging.”

“Shall I leave, then?” Tan Qingjiu raised an eyebrow.

Chen Yueru hurriedly interjected, “No, no, please don’t, Divine Healer. Don’t take offense at her words. I beg you, please tend to my husband. I fear he hasn’t much time left.”

“Rest assured, Divine Healer, if you cure my husband, you will be handsomely rewarded—far beyond your expectations.”

A cold laugh escaped Tan Yunge’s lips, but before she could speak, Chen Yueru stopped her sharply. “Tan Yunge, be quiet. Not another word from you.”

Tan Yunge froze, disbelief written all over her face. “Are you yelling at me?”

Even the collateral relatives standing by could no longer watch in silence. “Yunge, you should hold your tongue. Though you are the heir’s wife, this is a matter of life and death for your father. If you drive the Divine Healer away and our elder brother’s illness cannot be treated, you will be the one to blame for the downfall of our family.”

Tan Yunge’s face darkened instantly. She glanced up, meeting Chen Yueru’s warning gaze, and could only snort coldly to herself. “Fine, let her try. I’d like to see if she can truly cure Father’s illness.”

Tan Qingjiu glanced at Tan Yunge, the corners of her lips curling with amusement.

How interesting—they were quarreling among themselves before she’d even begun. No doubt, after today, both Chen Yueru and the other collateral relatives had grown dissatisfied with Tan Yunge.

And as for Tan Yunge, being targeted and reproached like this, she was probably seething with rage inside.

Tan Qingjiu’s lips quirked. “Take me in to see the patient.”

“Yes, of course. Divine Healer, this way.”

Entering the inner chamber, Tan Qingjiu saw Tan Yun lying on the couch. His hair was streaked with gray, his face ashen, and his breathing was labored and noisy—it seemed even the act of drawing breath was an ordeal.

Symptoms of a man near death, indeed.

After a brief glance, Tan Qingjiu opened her medicine chest and withdrew a bamboo cylinder with an iron tube attached, topped by something resembling a mask.

“What is this, Divine Healer? We’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Naturally they hadn’t—it was her own improved oxygen canister.

Tan Qingjiu mused silently, then explained aloud, “Master Tan’s breathing is heavy and strained. If he continues like this, unable to draw a full breath, it will only sap his strength further. When the heart’s energy is depleted, death follows.”

“This is pure air collected from the summit of Heavenly Mountain—much purer than what fills this room. It will help cleanse his lungs and vital organs.”

She opened the valve on the oxygen canister and took Tan Yun’s pulse once more.

Beside her, Tan Xingqi quickly fetched the silver needles from the case and handed them over.

Tan Qingjiu smiled slightly at Xingqi, accepted the needles, and swiftly began the acupuncture.

“Why haven’t you told us what’s wrong with my father before starting the treatment?” Tan Yunge snapped. “If anything happens to him, how will you answer for it?”

Tan Qingjiu raised an eyebrow. “Even if I told you, would you understand?”

“You—” Tan Yunge was furious. “You’d better cure my father. If anything happens to him—”

Tan Qingjiu ignored her, but Tan Xingqi looked up and said, “Since we arrived, you’ve repeated that threat at least three times. What, are you hoping he’ll die, just so you can blame our healer?”

Tan Yunge hadn’t expected to be scolded by a child and her face darkened further. “You—!”

“Yunge!” Chen Yueru’s expression grew even more severe. Her hand, hanging at her side, clenched so tightly her nails nearly pierced her palm. “If you have other matters at the heir’s residence, why not return there? We have everything under control here. Once the Divine Healer is finished, I’ll send word.”

Tan Yunge bit down hard, stepping back, her face livid. Wretch, wretch—it was all her fault!

Tan Qingjiu’s needles flew quickly; soon, Tan Yun’s head was bristling with silver.

She paused, then spoke. “A cerebral infarction. Simply put, a blockage in the brain’s veins. At first, patients experience tingling and numbness in their limbs. Later, the limbs may become completely immobile, and speech is affected as well.”

“In time, any emotional agitation can lead to fainting, stroke, or paralysis.”

Chen Yueru’s eyes widened and she nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, Divine Healer, you’re right. At first, my husband would sometimes complain that his arm felt like needles were pricking it, that it was numb. Later, he could barely hold a brush or chopsticks. We’ve consulted many doctors—acupuncture and medicine would relieve the symptoms for a while, but then they’d return.”

“I suppose because he’s been taking medicine all along, he’s managed to endure. But then one day, suddenly, he convulsed and collapsed.”

Tan Qingjiu’s mind raced. For cerebral thrombosis or infarction, she could use silver needles to clear the vessels and meridians, then administer medication—urokinase, plasminogen activators, and so forth…

But the fundamental cure required an intervention—a thrombolysis.

However, Tan Yun was not worthy of that.

All she wanted was for Tan Yun to regain consciousness, to have a taste of a fate worse than death.

As for the illness itself, she would simply keep him alive.

Tan Qingjiu fixed her gaze on Tan Yun. Seeing him frown in apparent discomfort, she swiftly removed the oxygen mask.

No sooner had she taken the mask off than Tan Yun coughed violently and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Father’s vomiting blood! You’ve killed my father! You’re finished!”

Tan Qingjiu arched an eyebrow. “You seem eager for your father’s death, cursing him already?”

“All I did was clear the stagnated blood from his heart and lungs. Look—what he spat up was all black clotted blood. These clots would have blocked his breathing and heart. Expelling them is a good thing.”

“Besides, he’s awake now.”

Only then did the others notice that the man on the bed had opened his eyes.

“Husband! You’re finally awake!” Chen Yueru rushed over, weeping with relief. “You nearly scared me to death.”

Tan Qingjiu stood up. “He’s awake now. I’m leaving.”

Chen Yueru and the newly awakened Tan Yun turned to her. “Aren’t you going to prescribe medicine? Is he cured?”

“Cured? Of course not. But since the heir’s wife has done nothing but question and provoke me, I suddenly have no desire to prescribe anything. If you want my medicine, it’s simple—have the heir’s wife kneel and beg my pardon.”