Jinyi Spring

Chapter 81 Family affairs in the Ming Dynasty
The Third Master Ming, Ming Changren, is twenty-four years old. He was injured in the thigh during a battle a few years ago and could not stand. It seems that he was also injured in that area. He has a strange temper, rarely comes out to see people, and is not married.

The reason why the gentlemen are of such different ages is mainly because the old lady followed the old Duke in the war in her early years. During that time, she had several miscarriages and sometimes suffered from gynecological diseases that required recuperation.

The Duke of Dingguo had two sons.

The second young master, Ming Shanfeng, is fifteen years old and studying at the Imperial Academy. Spoiled by his elders, he is rather dissolute and neither good at literature nor martial arts, far inferior to his elders and elder brother.

Cai Yuxiu focused on the eldest son, Ming Shanyue, and the third master, Ming Changren.

Ming Shanyue is twenty-one years old. At the age of fifteen, he went to the battlefield to resist the invasion of the Western Yuan Kingdom. He became famous for his bravery in pursuing and killing the rebels for thousands of miles. He was one of the most feared generals of the Western Yuan Kingdom.

After defeating the Western Yuan Kingdom, he served under the Second Master Ming for two years, guarding the northwest border before returning to the capital to take up his post this year.

Previously, he was a third-rank military officer in the army, but now he is a fourth-rank garrison commander. Although his rank has been reduced, he actually has more power, and even powerful ministers dare not easily offend him.

Originally, only girls avoided him, but now even men are avoiding him.

Because of his unusual destiny, his elders began searching for a suitable girl for him when he turned twelve, until he was engaged to Miss Zhen two months ago. He has had a total of seven fiancées.

Of the seven girls, four died of illness, and three others, after falling seriously ill, broke off their engagements, only to miraculously recover afterward. Aside from families wanting to sell their girls, or girls who were truly unsuitable, no one was willing to marry him.

Cai Yuxiu lowered her voice even further. "Master Ming is the late-life son of the old Duke and his wife. I overheard my grandfather and father talking, and he is not at all like what's being said outside; he wasn't injured in that place."

"The injured area is three fingers' distance from that spot, so it shouldn't affect his offspring, but for some reason he is..."

She blushed and was too embarrassed to continue.

Feng Chuchen understood.

Ming Changren was not only lame, but also impotent.

The second son was too busy with official duties to get married, the youngest son couldn't get married because of a physical defect, and the eldest grandson couldn't get married because of his destiny. It's no wonder the elders of the Ming family were saddened.

Cai Yuxiu instructed, "I trust you. I've only told you these things, so you mustn't tell anyone else."

Feng Chuchen hurriedly swore, "If word gets out, my mouth will rot." Then she asked, "Are you familiar with the aunt of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion?"

Cai Yuxiu said, "I've met her a few times, but we're not close. Outsiders call her Aunt Xia. She's not a proper daughter of the Ming family. Her father was a seventh-rank military officer who saved the old Duke decades ago and entrusted his orphan to him before he died."

"It is said that his wife died early, leaving only a nine-year-old girl in the family who had no one to take care of her. Her name was Xia Achan. After the old Duke and his wife returned to the capital, they took Xia Achan into their home and raised her as their own daughter. The three gentlemen also regarded her as their own sister."

"Later, Madam Xia married into the Kong family. Two years after the marriage, the Kong family was convicted of a crime, the head of the family was beheaded, and the others were exiled. She was pitied by the Empress Dowager and granted a divorce. She only had a one-year-old daughter, Kong Xiyan. The mother and daughter moved back to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and have lived there ever since."

"Because the old lady and Madam Ming are in poor health, and the second and third masters are not yet married, she is temporarily in charge of the inner courtyard of the Duke's mansion. She also accompanies the old lady Ming when she goes to the palace to see the Empress Dowager."

"Mrs. Xia is a very good person, gentle and virtuous. She is liked not only by Old Madam Ming, but also by the Empress Dowager. However, Kong Xiyan is domineering, willful, and has a bad temper."

"Think about it, she's the only young lady in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Even if she's not a proper young lady, the elders spoil her, and the eldest and second young masters of the Ming family indulge her. How could she not have a big temper?"

"She's really lucky. She's not of the Ming family bloodline and is the descendant of a disgraced official. But because she's favored by the Ming family, many noble ladies don't dare to mess with her."

It turned out to be the case.

Feng Chuchen had heard of some of these things, but this was the first time he had heard about the affair between Master Ming and Aunt Xia.

Feng Chuchen then asked, "Does the Duke of Ming have other women?"

Seeing Cai Yuxiu looking at her curiously, she explained, "I'm currently treating Madam Ming's illness and want to know more about their household. I don't want to offend someone before I even know anything about it."

Cai Yuxiu said, "I heard from my parents in private that the old Duke doted on his wife and set a bizarre family rule: no descendant of the Ming family could take a concubine, and only those who had no children by the age of thirty could take a concubine to have a child. When Madam Ming got that illness, the Duke of Ming was only in his twenties."

"Many imperial physicians and doctors were consulted by the Ming family, but none could cure her illness. It was Madam Ming who felt indebted to the Duke of Ming, and thus voluntarily prepared a concubine for him, I believe named Miss Wan. This matter was kept well hidden, and many people are unaware of it..."

“The Ming family has few masters, the elders are kind, and the men are self-disciplined, unlike some wealthy families with many secrets and pitfalls everywhere. Madam Ming is excellent, and Sister Feng has special abilities; we must do our best to help her.”

Feng Chuchen nodded. "I will do my best."

Based on this, the Ming family can be considered to have a small population.

On the eighteenth, Feng Chuchen and Banxia went to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion again.

Madam Ming smiled and said, "My back doesn't feel as sore as before today."

Li Mama smiled and said, "This old servant sees that Madam's complexion is much better. Miss Feng has excellent skills; it's only been nine days."

Feng Chuchen was also pleased, saying, "It's good that things are improving."

After dinner, I said goodbye and went home.

Madam Ming was pleased and rewarded her with a piece of soft satin and a piece of nine-thread silk.

Feng Chuchen carried the medicine box, while Banxia held the silk ribbon.

Just as I stepped out of the flower path not far from the main courtyard, I saw a little girl walking towards me with two maids.

The girl was twelve or thirteen years old. She wore a scarlet short shirt and a light blue long skirt. She had fair skin, thin pink lips, slanted eyes, and lively eyes. Her chin was slightly raised. She looked like a spoiled and willful girl.

Feng Chuchen guessed who she was and pulled Banxia to the side.

As they passed each other, Kong Xiyan blocked his path, looked up and asked, "Are you Doctor Feng?"

Feng Chuchen replied, "Yes."

Kong Xiyan brazenly sized up Feng Chuchen, saying disdainfully, "Tall and thin like a bamboo pole, not at all as good-looking as Grandfather and Cousin Ruyu described. My aunt said you're a very good doctor, but judging from your appearance, you can't be that good-looking..."

She shook her head, looking incredulous.

Feng Chuchen said expressionlessly, "They are overestimating me."

After saying that, she walked around her and left, with Banxia following closely behind.

A few soft laughs came from behind.

He is indeed a capricious person.

When she got home, Aunt Wang said, "Someone from the Imperial Hospital came this morning and asked you to go there tomorrow morning."

They were probably there for CPR and stethoscopes.

The next morning, Feng Chuchen took Banxia to the Imperial Hospital.

Imperial Physician Li, Deputy Imperial Physician Fan, Imperial Physician Fang, and some veteran imperial physicians listened to her explain the theory and function of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the stethoscope.

These two "inventions" did not receive the same unanimous approval from the imperial physicians as Feng's dysphagia treatment.

The reason why the choking method is so easily accepted is that when a person is choking, there is only a little over half an hour to rescue them, and no method in traditional Chinese medicine is as effective as this one.

The old imperial physicians believed that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not as effective as acupuncture and was only suitable for laymen or midwives who did not know how to perform acupuncture.

The same applies to the stethoscope.

Vice-Premier Fan, in particular, disliked him the most.

"Using these fancy tricks is a step backward for the medical skills of the Great Yan Dynasty. Good doctors would be disgraced if they used those two things."

Fang Yuanpan and several other young and middle-aged imperial physicians, including Qin Yuyi, were quite supportive of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), saying it was particularly effective for acute cases. However, the vast majority of people wouldn't listen, believing it wasn't as effective as acupuncture and that saving the infant was purely accidental.

Dr. Li ultimately decided that CPR and the stethoscope would only be promoted locally for the time being, specifically among female doctors and midwives.

Feng Chuchen was still rewarded with fifty taels of silver.

This greatly disappointed Dr. Zhou. Feng Chuchen, however, understood. Any reform is difficult and will inevitably encounter resistance from stubborn old men. Besides, acupuncture techniques in this era are very advanced; a suffocating patient can indeed be saved through acupuncture if they encounter a good doctor.

Vice Envoy Fan then sternly rebuked Feng Chuchen, "That episiotomy you performed falls under the category of ulceration. If you haven't registered as an ulceration specialist, all will be well. But if someone dies, you will definitely go to jail, or even pay with your life."

Judge Fang said, "Episiotomy can be considered as a surgical procedure or a gynecological procedure. Dr. Feng did not overstep the bounds in using this method."

He also wanted to promote this episiotomy among female doctors, but both the Imperial Physician Li and the Deputy Imperial Physician Fan disagreed.

Although Dr. Li dared not allow the female doctor to perform lateral incisions on the noblewoman, he still greatly admired Feng Chuchen.

He comforted her, saying, "There are risks involved in childbirth. You can't shift those risks onto the doctor or the midwife. Dr. Feng, continue exploring episiotomy techniques. Once you've confirmed that everything is foolproof, I will have the female physician learn from you."

Feng Chuchen was very grateful to Judge Fang and Envoy Li for protecting her.

Judge Fang is a reformist, while Chief Justice Li is somewhat conservative; both are virtuous and good officials.

Vice Envoy Fan was a treacherous official who obstructed reforms.

Feng Chuchen, Banxia, ​​and Uncle Wu ate a bowl of noodles on the street and arrived at Mingfu at the beginning of the afternoon.

Today is the tenth day of treatment at Mingfu Hospital. Starting tomorrow, I can finally rest for five days.

Feng Chuchen felt a sense of excitement and relaxation reminiscent of a weekend in her past life.

Madam Ming was getting anxious, fearing that Feng Chuchen might not come today, so she sent Banxia instead.

Just as Feng Chuchen finished tidying up, a maid came over.

"Miss Pearl, is there anything the old lady needs?" asked Granny Li.

Pearl curtsied to Madam Ming and said with a smile, "Madam has heard that Doctor Feng is a highly skilled physician and would like to invite him to Fu Rong Tang for a meeting."

Furong Hall?
Feng Chuchen then thought again that it should be Fu Rong Tang.

The place where the old lady lives must contain the character "容" (rong).

Madam Ming smiled and said, "Miss Feng, go ahead. The old lady is a kind-hearted person, so don't be nervous."

Feng Chuchen was very curious about that heroine and wanted to meet her.

Flowers bloom and willows turn green along the way, and beautiful grasses and trees abound.

I passed a three-story pavilion with three large characters on it: "Harmony Pavilion." Facing me was a gate with three high-ranking officials on it: "Fragrant Beauty Gate."

It's truly a place where you see flowers and plants every three steps and a "容" (rong) every five steps.

The old Duke's love for the old lady was so intense that even she, a modern person, felt like she was looking at an alien.

Through the trees, you can vaguely see the lake in the distance.

A gentle breeze rippled across the surface, shimmering golden in the sunlight.

Jinrong Lake!
A landmark scene depicting the doting wife of the late Duke Ming.

This name is known to many ordinary people.

In the past, the names of emperors and elders were taboo, but this is not the case in this era.

The old lady's maiden name was Shui Rong. There were many names with "Rong" in this mansion, all given by the old Duke.

Arriving at the front of a courtyard, there were three large characters above it: Fu Rong Tang.

Sure enough.

Fu Rong Tang is a five-courtyard building, with the main house in the third courtyard.

Before even entering the house, laughter could be heard coming from inside, with a particularly soft and delicate voice.

It is Kong Xiyan's.

Judging from the voice alone, it didn't sound like someone who was willful and domineering.

The maidservant at the door smiled and lifted the soft curtain, announcing, "Doctor Feng has arrived."

The laughter inside the room stopped abruptly.

In the east room, the late Duke Ming and an old lady sat on a daybed, while Xia Shi and Kong Xiyan sat on the right.

Ming Shanfeng was sitting on the left. Tomorrow was a holiday for the Imperial Academy, so he was going back to his residence today.

Pearl smiled at the old lady and said, "Madam, I have brought the girl to you."

Feng Chuchen knelt down and kowtowed to the old Duke and the old lady, saying, "This commoner, Chuchen, greets the old Duke and the old lady."

Madam Ming laughed and said, "Get up, come here quickly, let this old woman take a good look at you."

Feng Chuchen got up and walked forward.

A maidservant presented a brocade box, which Banxia stepped forward to accept.

The old lady pulled Feng Chuchen aside and looked at her carefully, first her face, then her figure, and even her hands.

Fortunately, she was looking at her left hand.

The old man's small hands were delicate and slender, with short, neatly trimmed nails that were not covered in nail polish, each nail full, pink and lustrous.

The old lady's goodwill grew even stronger.

She clapped her hands and laughed, "Yes, you're handsome and capable, and your hands are beautiful too. Who says women have to have long nails and paint them? Short nails look good too, all pink and delicate, clean and refreshing."

The old Duke chuckled and flattered, "Rong'er didn't like growing her nails when she was young either, she thought they were in the way. Hehe, am I right? Doesn't Doctor Feng look a lot like Rong'er when she was young?"

Ming Shanfeng said something that would invite criticism: "Whenever Grandfather sees a pretty young woman, he always says she looks like Grandmother."

The old lady gave him a reproachful look. "Don't you believe me? This child does look a bit like me when I was young."

Kong Xiyan really wanted to say "not at all like it," but her mother gave her a sideways glance, and she pouted, not daring to speak.

Xia smiled and said, "Yes, it does look somewhat similar."

The old lady was even happier. She had the maid place a brocade stool next to her, pulled Feng Chuchen to sit down next to her legs, and then took off the jade bracelet from her wrist as a reward to her.

"Such high medical skills at such a young age, and she even opened a unique clinic. I like this kind of young lady. Self-reliant, smart and capable, opinionated, and courageous like a man... Hehe, just like an old woman."

"You flatter me, Madam."

The old lady was taller than Feng Chuchen, between 1.73 and 1.75 meters. Her long face had a strong, sturdy look, but her features were delicate, with a faint scar on the left side of her forehead. When she smiled, two canine teeth were revealed, giving her a friendly appearance.

However, his skin tone was yellowish and dark, which made him look like he had a serious illness.

Like the late Duke Ming, the old lady possessed both the heroic spirit of riding a horse and the tranquility that comes with age.

Feng Chuchen also felt that she really did resemble the old lady a little bit, not in terms of facial features, but in terms of temperament.

Feeling a sense of closeness to the old lady, I smiled and said, "I've heard many of your legendary tales..."

She listed several things that any person from the Great Yan Dynasty could say.

The old Duke of Ming laughed heartily, as if praising him.