Jinyi Spring

Chapter 86 Wen Qian commits a crime
As October arrives, the weather gets even colder.

The benefits of giving birth at Tongji Women and Children's Hospital have spread throughout Beijing and beyond. The hospital is overflowing with patients; not only are all the wards full, but there are also more than a dozen expectant mothers with appointments, as well as pregnant women coming for prenatal checkups.

Although most of the patients were from the middle class, and there were also a few servants and wives from the Princess's Mansion and the Hu Mansion, Feng Chuchen was already very satisfied.

The expansion behind the clinic is also underway.

On the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, Madam Ming's second course of treatment was about to end.

Feng Chuchen and Banxia were both quite excited, as they could finally rest for five more days.

Even after only twenty days of treatment, Madam Ming's condition has clearly improved.

My lower back is no longer sore and stiff, and my uterus won't sag if I stand for a short time.

Feng Chuchen laughed and said, "If this progress continues, it is very possible to recover in six months."

That's too conservative; it's entirely possible to recover in three months.

Even Feng Chuchen was surprised by this progress.

Madam Ming's smile became even brighter.

Granny Li was so excited that she kept chanting Buddhist prayers, "Amitabha, may the Bodhisattva bless us so that we can invite a miraculous doctor like Doctor Feng to treat our illness."

After the treatment, when Granny Li saw Feng Chuchen off, she slipped two purses into her hand.

After Feng Chuchen finished his lunch in the west wing, Granny Hong came over and said, "Doctor Feng, I've called my daughter-in-law here. Please take her pulse."

After building up relationships for so long, I'm finally asking for a favor today.

Feng Chuchen followed Granny Hong to the back room.

This is the main courtyard's small kitchen and the servants' resting area.

Nowadays, after Feng Chuchen finishes treating Madam Ming, she is occasionally invited by old women and maids to the back room to treat them.

These are all gynecological conditions such as dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation.

Feng Chuchen only takes pulses and prescribes medicine. If they need acupuncture or other treatments, she tells them to go to Tongji Women and Children's Hospital.

Feng Chuchen doesn't charge consultation fees, so they would give her things like rulers or small ornaments.

A woman in her twenties sat inside, her face full of sorrow.

As soon as she saw Feng Chuchen, she stood up and said, "Dr. Feng, I've seen many doctors and taken bitter medicine for nearly ten years..."

With tears welling up in her eyes, she spoke at length.

Feng Chuchen could understand that it was tragic for women in ancient times to be unable to give birth to a son.

She said, "No rush, take your time."

After a careful examination, including looking at her complexion and tongue coating, Feng Chuchen diagnosed her with primary fallopian tube blockage, which was much milder than Wen Shu's condition initially.

He said, "Sister-in-law Hong's complexion is dull, her tongue coating is thin and white, and her pulse is wiry, indicating qi stagnation and blood stasis... I'll prescribe two doses of herbal medicine for you. Start taking it on the first day of your period, and then go to the maternal and child health clinic for acupuncture..."

She went to the clinic, where Feng Chuchen and Banxia would take turns administering acupuncture.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were extremely grateful and insisted on stuffing a basket containing two roast chickens into Banxia's hands.

Once inside the carriage, Feng Chuchen opened the purse given to her by Granny Li.

One contained one hundred taels of silver, and the other contained a pair of red gold twisted bracelets.

The illness wasn't finished yet; this was a reward, meaning she had satisfied the patient.

Feng Chuchen smiled, pursing her lips.

Receiving rewards without pressure is pleasant.

On the afternoon of the seventh day, Feng Chuchen was busy at the clinic when Shangguan Ruyu suddenly arrived.

He was dressed in the robes of an imperial physician, wearing an official hat, and his smile was more radiant than a blooming orchid.

The guards unloaded two potted plants from the car.

One of the pots contains Oncidium orchids, which are in full bloom.

One pot is a clivia, which has not yet bloomed, but has a dozen or so lush, green leaves.

Feng Chuchen now has a refined taste for orchids and could tell that these two pots were rare treasures. Especially the Oncidium orchid, which could be worth over a hundred taels of silver.

Shangguan Ruyu said, "I know Miss Feng loves flowers, so she specially asked my father for these rare ones."

"They're so beautiful, how can I possibly ask your father for flowers?"

Shangguan Ruyu liked seeing Feng Chuchen's bright smile.

"Hehe, Miss Feng taught me so many amazing skills, she's my master. How could my father be stingy with just two pots of flowers? He also told me to learn from Miss Feng and become a good doctor."

When Feng Buji got home from school, he said with a smile, "Brother Shangguan hasn't come to my house for many days. I miss him terribly."

"Haha, running between the Imperial Prison and the Ministry of Justice, he's really busy."

"I'll treat Brother Shangguan to lotus leaf chicken tonight."

"Good brother, I'll treat you to donkey rolls made by the imperial kitchen another day."

Feng Chuchen gave Aunt Wu a wink, signaling her to cook more good dishes.

Aunt Wu beckoned Peony to go into the kitchen to get busy.

Now that Shangguan Ruyu often comes to the house, the maids have become used to seeing beauties and are no longer as surprised as before.

The three entered the main room. Feng Buji went to the west room to do his homework, while Feng Chuchen and Shangguan Ruyu sat in the main hall.

Shangguan Ruyu raised a new question, "Miss Feng, I stitched up a prisoner's wound the day before yesterday, with four layers of stitches, and he is recovering well. Today, another prisoner's tendon was severed. How should I stitch it up properly?"

"Jin" refers to tendons. Feng Chuchen had never had this kind of surgery in her previous life, but she knew some of the theoretical knowledge.

The tendons in the fingers of prisoners are easily injured because finger-crushing torture was one of the most commonly used forms of punishment in ancient times.

If a prisoner's finger is pinched, surgery is not an option. Treatment usually involves medication and topical application. If the finger heals, it's considered lucky; otherwise, the finger is either crippled or rendered useless.

Feng Chuchen asked about the person's injuries and then briefly explained how to suture them, the post-operative care, and how to prevent adhesions.

He then dipped his fingertip in tea and traced lines on the table, explaining, "In special cases requiring tendon reattachment, a hollow, hard tube from a feather can be used as a sheath. The severed tendon is guided inside and aligned, then sewed with mulberry bark thread. However, this method only has a 30% success rate." Shangguan Ruyu had learned through practice, progressing from novice to expert; the surgery was undoubtedly simple and brutal. Even at its simplest and most brutal, it was still better than the ancient shoe-sole-making surgery.

Feng Chuchen reiterated, "You must take the surgery seriously. Before the surgery, you must give the patient anesthesia. People who do not need surgery should not be overtreated."

There's also the method of splinting tendons.

Shangguan Ruyu was so happy that she stood up and bowed again.

He assured them, "I'll do as you say. I'll give every person who's going to have surgery some anesthetic. The prison has a limited supply of anesthetic and good medicine, and if we run out, I'll buy more with my own money. The prisoners are all eager for me to treat their injuries..."

The two began to study the "feather tendon grafting method".

A guard suddenly ran in and reported, "Second Master, the Marquis of Wuyi has been captured by the Flying Eagle Guards, and the Marquis's residence has been surrounded."

Not only was Shangguan Ruyu startled, but Feng Chuchen was also taken aback.

The Marquis of Wuyi's mansion is the Wen family. Wen Shu is Shangguan Ruyu's fiancée, and they will get married in six months.

Shangguan Ruyu asked, "What happened?"

The guard said, "They say that Marquis Wuyi fabricated evidence, framed loyal officials, and embezzled military funds. It seems to be related to Minister Xiao of the Ministry of Works."

Shangguan Ruyu had previously reminded Wu Yibo that he should not completely listen to the Xue family and should find a way to protect himself.

Unexpectedly, he was still pushed out.

Shangguan Ruyu got up and walked out, but after leaving the room, she turned back and pointed to the two boxes on the coffee table, saying, "These are surgical instruments that I had the Imperial Household Department make. I'm giving you two sets."

He got into the carriage and sped away.

Feng Chuchen was very worried about Wen Shu.

In ancient times, there was a system of collective punishment. If the Marquis of Wuyi was found guilty, not only the men, but Wen Shu and his female relatives could also be exiled or even sent to the brothel...

Either outcome is a fall from the clouds into the abyss, especially the latter.

When Feng Buji and Aunt Wang heard about it, they were also deeply saddened.

Feng Buji's biggest concern was Wen Ying. "Ying'er is so young, will she die?"

Feng Chuchen said, "It's not a serious crime like treason, so they shouldn't die, but some paths are more terrifying than death. I hope they're alright."

Thinking that Wen Qian was framing Lord Xiao, Feng Chuchen still hoped that Lord Xiao could win.

That Lord Xiao was almost tortured to death, but in the end he was still released from prison.

High-ranking officials enjoy privileges, and their rise and fall are none of the people's business.

Ordinary people only have their own little plot of land; they should just focus on their own affairs.

Feng Chuchen opened the small box; the instruments inside were golden yellow and better made than the previous brass instruments.

Over time, the golden yellow color will gradually turn into a bluish-green color, or even black, due to oxidation.

She might not be able to use all of these things, but having two sets of these treasures still makes her very happy.

On the afternoon of the ninth day, two women gave birth at the same time, and several midwives were busy with their work.

Feng Chuchen heard Ah Xuan's voice coming from next door, "The wind rises, the clouds fly..."

Then came Big Head's voice, "Woof woof, woof woof."

Ah Xuan hadn't visited for several days, but he came again today.

Feng Chuchen went to the house with a smile, and A Xuan called out to her, "Miss, even the hibiscus cannot compare to your beauty."

Peony took half a bowl of rice from the kitchen to feed it.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was pounded on loudly, and Mu Jin ran to open it.

Duan Yan, wearing a straw hat pulled low, drove in a horse-drawn carriage.

The person who jumped out of the car was not Shangguan Ruyu, but a burly, dark-skinned man.

Calling him a man is a bit of a stretch; his face still has a youthful look, at most eighteen or nineteen years old.

It was the big, dark-skinned guy who had argued with Peony.

Peony glared at the big, dark-skinned man. "What are you doing at my house? Go home. You're not welcome here."

The big, dark-skinned man glared at him and hissed, "If you utter another word, I'll snap your neck."

The fierce look startled Peony, who took a step back.

Just as Peony was about to retort, Feng Chuchen shouted, "Don't be rude!"

Duan Yan approached Feng Chuchen and said in a very low voice, "This is Brother Hei, who serves Lord Ming. Lord Ming has an urgent matter to discuss with you."

Seeing the big, dark-skinned man's serious expression, Feng Chuchen quickly invited him into the main room.

Peony and Hibiscus wanted to follow them in, but Duan Yan blocked them from entering.

Today, the Duan inkstone looks particularly solemn, as if something major has happened. Peony dares not act rashly again.

The big, burly man said in a voice only Feng Chuchen could hear, "My master asked Miss Feng to go to the imperial prison to save someone. Even if you can't save him, it would be good to make him conscious for a moment."

"The situation is critical; only you can go alone. There are men's clothes, shoes, and hats in the carriage; you must disguise yourself as a man. Hurry!"

There is absolutely no room for negotiation.

Judging from the looks of it, this matter is even more important and secretive than the last time we went to the imperial prison to rescue Lord Xiao.

Feng Chuchen knew she had no other choice.

He asked, "Can I bring a first-aid kit?"

"No need, Young Master Shangguan will prepare it. Didn't you say you can perform CPR and wake up unconscious people without needing acupuncture or medication?"

CPR isn't some kind of miracle cure.

Feng Chuchen followed the big, dark-skinned man out of the house.

Peony wanted to go too, saying, "Where are you going, young lady? Take me with you."