Chapter 234 - 233: Seeking Medical Aid
Mrs. Chen coughed heavily, her chest heaving, her entire face flushed red. After struggling to steady her breath, she clutched Mrs. Zhen’s hand tightly and said, "Sixth Sister, don’t listen to that wretched girl’s nonsense. What’s done is done, but it was Qian’s fault at first. Your elder brother holds no grudge against you for this; he knows he’s wronged you and Yunluo and feels guilty about it, but he wouldn’t neglect Old Master Zhen’s life out of embarrassment to face you."
Mrs. Zhen was taken aback by Zhen Wenting’s words. After a while, she came to her senses and said, wide-eyed, "That’s right, how could I forget? I should have arranged to have a couple of doctors accompany us from the Capital. Now, writing back will delay things for another half a month..."
Du Yunluo was also deeply frustrated. The letter said Old Master Zhen was in critical condition, so they all thought he was beyond help, and this trip was just to attend his funeral. If they hurried, they might catch a last look at him; if delayed, they would only pay respects at the mourning hall. But unexpectedly, Old Master Zhen was still holding on, and as long as he held on, there was a glimmer of hope.
No matter how frustrated they were, the necessary things still had to be done.
Mrs. Zhen spoke briefly with Mrs. Chen and went with Du Yunluo to find Du Huaixi, hoping to have him send a letter to the Capital as fast as possible, asking Du Huaiping to find a few doctors experienced in paralysis to come to Tong City.
Upon their return, Mrs. Wang had arranged for them to stay in the same small courtyard as before.
Nanny Zhao, along with others, tidied up the place. After coming out from Yanxi Hall, Du Huaixi was resting inside.
Mrs. Zhen stepped inside and, without taking a moment to catch her breath, brought up the matter of finding doctors with Du Huaixi.
Du Huaixi nodded and urged Du Yundi to grind the ink.
Just as he was about to pick up the brush to write the letter, hurried footsteps approached from outside. Someone nearly stumbled in, saw Du Huaixi and the others in the study, and quickly pushed aside the curtain to enter.
Once the person grabbed Du Huaixi’s arm, Du Yunluo finally saw who it was.
It was Zhen Zishan.
Du Yunluo took a glance and couldn’t help but gasp; Mrs. Chen had said he always came home looking unkempt, and it had been an understatement.
Zhen Wenqian and Zhen Wenyuan followed him in and greeted everyone.
When facing Du Yunluo, Zhen Wenqian briefly called her "cousin" and then quickly averted his gaze, keeping his head down without speaking further.
Du Yunluo held no fondness for him and couldn’t be bothered to guess what he was thinking. She just looked up at Zhen Zishan.
Zhen Zishan’s eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles marred his face. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Brother-in-law, I’ve found out that ten years ago, an imperial physician retired, and his wife’s family is from the village at the foot of Qinglian Mountain. The old physician has been living in the village these years.
I went to beg him, but the imperial physician wouldn’t see me. I thought, perhaps because he’s always treated esteemed people, he looks down on a mere scholar like me. But you, brother-in-law, hold an official position, and the Du Family is well-regarded. Could you help me ask him, beg him to come treat Father?
He is an imperial physician, the best doctor in the world."
Zhen Zishan’s voice broke, almost crying as he spoke. Though not young, with Old Master Zhen in trouble, his helplessness made him feel like a child.
He had begged and knelt in that village, doing everything but the physician just refused to see him.
Having a brilliant doctor so close yet unable to bring him back was eating Zhen Zishan up with anxiety. Upon hearing that Mrs. Zhen’s family had arrived in Tong City, he hurried back, hoping that Du Huaixi might persuade the old imperial physician.
Hearing this, Du Huaixi didn’t refuse. However, since it was already late, he first suggested sending out letters seeking medical help to be prepared, planning to visit the imperial physician at Qinglian Mountain the next morning.
Mrs. Zhen spent a sleepless night, and upon waking, insisted on going as well. Qinglian Temple, at the top of Qinglian Mountain, worshipped the Medicine King Bodhisattva, and she wanted to bow and pray for protection.
Mrs. Wang agreed wholeheartedly; enough people were by Old Master Zhen’s side. Rather than worry at home, it was better to kneel before the Bodhisattva. Regardless of efficacy, it offered some peace of mind.
Unable to leave the estate, Mrs. Wang had a maid fetch the ready-copied scriptures for Mrs. Zhen. "At this time, without prior notice, don’t count on the spring water, but bowing at the temple should be doable. However, if it is like last year and a noble visits, they might not let you in. Sixth Sister, take these scriptures; if you need them, maybe they will help..."
Mrs. Zhen hastily had Nanny Zhao keep them well.
The carriage made its way towards Qinglian Mountain.
Mrs. Zhen leaned against a pillow, resting her eyes, while Du Yunluo pondered Zhen Zishan’s words.
If that imperial physician truly only treated nobles, she wondered if Du Huaixi could make him grant them a small favor by stepping in.
As for Qinglian Temple, if a noble were visiting today as last year and it was one she knew or could converse with, she’d surely ask them to help persuade the physician. Owing a favor was still better than watching Old Master Zhen suffer.
Upon reaching the foot of Qinglian Mountain, Du Huaixi and Zhen Zishan, along with Zhen Wenqian and Zhen Wenyuan, went to visit the old imperial physician, while Mrs. Zhen took her son and daughter further up the mountain.
This day, Qinglian Temple’s gates were open to visitors, with many worshippers coming and going, to Du Yunluo’s dismay as her hopes were dashed.
At the Medicine King Hall, Mrs. Zhen offered the scriptures she brought to the master in charge and added incense money before kneeling in earnest prayer before the Medicine King Bodhisattva, her lips moving in soft, pleading whispers.
Du Yunluo and Du Yundi knelt alongside her, sincerely praying as well.
Given their tight schedule, Mrs. Zhen hadn’t planned on lingering at Qinglian Temple. But drained from traveling, crying the previous day, and sleeplessness last night, she swayed unsteadily when rising after her devotions, alarming Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo quickly had Nanny Zhao arrange for a guest room, but Mrs. Zhen refused. Seeing she couldn’t persuade her, Nanny Zhao stopped trying, merely ensuring a room and vegetarian meal were prepared. Even if Mrs. Zhen complained, Nanny Xu wouldn’t heed it.
Seeing neither she nor her children could sway Du Yunluo and Du Yundi, Mrs. Zhen sighed and went to rest in the guest room.
If only a noble from last year had visited, thought Du Yunluo as she and Du Yundi sat in the adjoining room, careful not to disturb Mrs. Zhen’s rest.
Recalling last year’s encounter with Mu Lianxiao in the temple bamboo grove, the idea of revisiting the spot stirred within her, prompting Du Yunluo to rise and step outside.
Du Yundi watched her edge uncertainly. "Don’t wander off; mother will worry."
Standing nearby, Jin Rui couldn’t shake a persistent thought.
Perhaps their young lady was uncomfortable recalling last year’s incident in the similarly arranged temple guest room?
Feeling uneasy was only natural; after all, the young lady had been driven to frantically jump out the window. Who wouldn’t be shaken by such an ordeal?
Jin Rui vividly remembered Zhen Wenqian’s forceful door-kicking had broken the room’s door. Once inside, tables turned and chairs tumbled. Had Zhen Wenqian not succumbed to drunkenness and passed out, it was uncertain if they would’ve all emerged unscathed.
Back then, everyone had kept the incident to themselves. Jin Rui, especially, had kept silent, not letting a word slip, not even to Jin Ling. Even Du Yundi, studying at the academy, knew nothing about it.
Uncertain how to explain this to Du Yundi, and fearing the place would stir unwanted thoughts in Du Yunluo, Jin Rui said, "Mr. Si, I will keep an eye on the young lady."