The Martial Doctor

"The problem with Xu Lin isn’t impossible to solve. Since he doesn’t learn, let’s make sure he remembers this time," Lin Miao chuckled, speaking with a smile, but there was something chilling about it.

"How can he remember?"

"Doesn’t he want to gamble? Let’s make him gamble enough all at once, make him lose everything till he’s ruined," Lin Miao smiled slightly.

"Huh?"

Xu An and Xu Qixi looked at each other, not understanding what Lin Miao meant.

"Mr. Xu, he thinks no matter how much he loses, you’ll bail him out. He believes you won’t abandon him, so even though he restrains himself a bit, he’ll eventually relapse. Serious illnesses require drastic measures," Lin Miao said.

"Only when you’re financially ruined, and he has nowhere to go, will he possibly wake up. You can’t bear to do it because you’re family, but I am different. I’ll make him wish he was dead," Lin Miao continued.

Upon hearing this, Xu An’s heart couldn’t help but tremble. Yes, he was his son after all, and it’s hard to take action. Outsiders wouldn’t care about such things.

"Rest assured, I’m not asking you to really lose everything. Just transfer your assets publicly. If you’re not comfortable leaving them with me, you can leave them with Qixi. However, this matter must not be exposed, otherwise, all efforts will be wasted," Lin Miao said.

"But you’ll need to endure some tough days ahead, renting a house, earning money to pay debts, it’s best if..." Lin Miao glanced at Xu An as he spoke.

"Best if what?"

"You ’die’ once."

"Die once? What do you mean?" Xu An was a little confused.

"Mr. An, Mr. Lin’s intention is that you have to fake your death once so that Mr. Xu Lin completely gives up hope," Xu Qixi finally understood. This is what it means to use strong medicine for serious illness.

"But if I die, where will I go?"

"Don’t worry, I’ll arrange it. I guarantee Xu Lin won’t find you, and you can take your wives with you."

"Can they come with me too?"

"If you’re gone, your wives will be too sad, so they’ll follow you. Is that a hard thing?"

"But what about my two grandsons and daughter-in-law?"

"Your two grandsons will be temporarily adopted by Patriarch Xu Zheng, as for your daughter-in-law, I’ll arrange for her to be sold by Xu Lin to pay off debts."

"Ah..."

"If he can come to his senses, this won’t be necessary, but if he’s forced to this extent, then he’s beyond saving. I suggest you directly confine him, don’t let him have a chance to leave home again," Lin Miao stated.

"That’s, that’s pretty harsh." Xu An was a bit stunned after listening.

"Of course, all this requires your consent for me to proceed. Otherwise, I’ll truly become the bad guy," Lin Miao explained.

"Mr. An, if Xu Lin keeps going like this, he’ll drag this whole family into the abyss sooner or later. It’s because you feel guilty towards him that you keep enduring. He’s fifty years old; if he doesn’t change now, he’ll never have a chance in his lifetime." Xu Qixi had tolerated it for a long time, but it was a family issue for Xu An, and as a grandniece, it wasn’t her place to interfere.

"Alright, I should be ruthless too. Otherwise, this family will fall apart because of him sooner or later!" Xu An gritted his teeth and said.

"The first step is you becoming critically ill..."

Xu An, having been a doctor all his life, had seen countless patients who were critically ill and unable to be treated. Pretending to be one was certainly not difficult for him.

But this also required someone to cooperate.

The partner was obviously Lin Miao. He had to play the part of an "incompetent doctor" who issues a "critical condition" diagnosis for Xu An.

Of course, it was necessary to keep everyone in the household from realizing it was a ruse, to ensure the play seemed real and flawless.

But the Xu Family was a family of medicine, with a rich heritage, and to conceal the truth, there needed to be a bigger cover-up. Xu Qixi was one, but there was also a need for a heavyweight person.

That person was Xu Qixi’s father, Patriarch Xu Zheng of the Xu Family.

Only with Xu Zheng’s cooperation could the ruse be successfully executed.

Furthermore, outsiders needed to be convinced, with a performance of a father being angered to worsening illness by his son until there’s no treatment possible.

"I’ll talk to my father. If Uncle Xu Lin comes to his senses after this event, that’s for the best. If not, then we’ll continue to up the stakes!" Xu Qixi stated.

"Mr. Xu, let me check your pulse first," Lin Miao said.

"Thank you," Xu An nodded. Often, doctors cannot accurately determine their own illnesses because it concerns themselves, making objective judgment difficult. This isn’t a professional issue but a human nature issue.

After checking the pulse, Lin Miao asked, "Mr. Xu, what do you say?"

"I had a sudden fainting spell due to extreme anger, upon waking, felt some numbness on the left side of my body, not seriously, and used Qi-Regulating Powder, which helped alleviate the numbness slightly," Xu An explained.

"Qi-Regulating Powder mainly treats syndromes characterized by wind invading the meridians with substantial physical symptoms, involving not only symptoms like paralysis but also joint pain caused by wind invasion. Aside from minor numbness, there’s no joint pain, correct?" Lin Miao inquired.

"Correct." Xu An nodded, Lin Miao was entirely accurate.

"It’s a condition similar to a stroke, but actually it’s due to internal imbalance. This condition also has yin-yang distinctions; the solid is due to anger that leads to sudden fainting. It should be treated with the Wood Incense Qi-Tuning Beverage," Lin Miao smiled slightly, explaining.

"It’s not a stroke, but internal imbalance?" Xu An expressed surprise; he always thought it was a stroke. So, it was a false alarm.

"Distinguishing between a stroke and internal imbalance is simple. A pulse floating with warm extremities indicates a stroke, while a deep pulse with cold extremities suggests internal imbalance. Your pulse is slightly deep, your hands and feet are icy, typical of internal imbalance," Lin Miao further explained.

Xu An respectfully noted, "I am enlightened."

"You’re too kind. I’ll leave you a prescription. Use it for three days, and your condition should be fine. The other aspects need your own careful consideration," Lin Miao advised.

"Alright, I understand. If Little Lin’s help is needed, I’ll have Xiao Qi contact you," Xu An looked at Xu Qixi. Xu An understood her intentions, but her father had originally hoped she’d find a husband to bolster the Xu Family. Allowing Xu Qixi to stay with the Xu Family, whether marrying Lin Miao or not, was acceptable, considering Lin Miao’s current status and standing; he absolutely wouldn’t be a live-in son-in-law. Besides, he already had a marriage arrangement, which was also as a live-in son-in-law, but that family was no more. Whether it’s marrying in or out, the decision was his.

However, letting Xiao Qi be a concubine could be hard for the Xu Family to accept.

They had intended to find a live-in son-in-law, yet ended up sending her away. Though acceptable, becoming a concubine would be a loss of face for the Xu Family.

This depended on Xu Zheng’s courage as both a father and a patriarch.

Lin Miao left behind a prescription for Wood Incense Qi-Tuning Beverage and some aged ginseng, then took his leave.

He could help with the Xu Family’s matters, but it also required their willingness to proceed. Initially, there was no need for his intervention.

Only when matters progressed to a certain degree would his help become necessary.

...

On the official road to Li Jing, a team of over twenty escorted a carriage, swiftly racing forward. The group focused solely on traveling.

Seated in the carriage were Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze and Crown Princess Consort Yua.

Returning from Dongshan to Li Jing required at least ten days, needing arrival by the day before New Year’s because the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had to attend the New Year’s banquet.

There also needed to be time for any potential emergencies.

Thus, the journey was urgent and tense.

"Sir official, we’ve exited Lanzhou’s borders and entered Shuozhou," reported the leading palace guard, pulling the reins of his war horse, reporting.

"Noted. Can we camp overnight at a location?"

"After crossing the Cloud-Riding Ridge ahead, there’s a Shuangyun posthouse. Based on timing, we should arrive there after nightfall!"

"Alright, we’ll stay overnight at Shuangyun Posthouse," Zhao Yuanze instructed. His physical condition had never been better, which was previously unthinkable at such a pace.

"Understood."

Unbeknownst to Zhao Yuanze, a contingent of nearly one hundred elite soldiers was heading towards Cloud-Riding Ridge, targeting the Crown Prince.