The Splendid Brocade of the Painting Physician – Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Seeking Medical Treatment

At the beginning of spring in the second year of the Heqing era, within the Yingyang Commandery of Northern Qi.

At midnight, a shrill scream suddenly pierced the air from within the grand Zheng Family mansion, located east of the Sishui Pass. This scream, like a stone shattering the surface of still water, caused the originally tranquil night to abruptly transform into a scene of eerie horror, as if ghouls and demons were roaming about.

The elderly Madam Zheng Lu was startled awake from her sleep. She hurriedly summoned her maid to drape a cloak over her shoulders and, supported by two elderly women, rushed to the courtyard where the scream had originated. The room was packed with servants trembling and kneeling on the ground. Within the bedroom, lying on the bed, was a young man with a twisted mouth and slanted eyes, his entire body convulsing uncontrollably. His mournful cries filled the entire room.

Seeing her once lively, intelligent, and handsome grandson reduced to such a state, the elderly Madam’s heart was torn with grief. She slammed her cane on the ground and angrily questioned, “What happened? Wasn’t he doing well just two days ago? Wasn’t he almost fully recovered? How have you been taking care of him?”

The maids were terrified and scrambled to answer. One of them managed to raise her head and replied with a trembling voice, “In response to the elderly Madam, Young Master was indeed much better two days ago. He could eat and drink, and even went horse racing with the young masters from the Yang and Li families. But for some reason, today…” The maid seemed to have thought of something and looked up. “Elderly Madam, Young Master, he must be possessed by an evil spirit!”

“Possessed by what evil spirit? A righteous person fears no shadow. Our Zheng family descendants have always been devoted to Buddhism, practicing kindness and charity. How could any evil spirit dare to harm us? Someone, quickly summon a physician!”

An older woman received the order and was about to leave when a voice interrupted, “Mother, I’ve already sent for one. Physician Zhang, who used to live in the alley next to us, has moved away. The house is now empty.”

The speaker was her daughter-in-law, the mother of her grandson, Lady Li.

The elderly Madam’s heart sank, and then she became angry. “Is there no other physician we can call upon besides Physician Zhang?”

Although she said that, the Zheng family had always been treated by Physician Zhang. While he wasn’t their exclusive imperial physician, it was unlikely they would find a more skilled physician in the entire city of Yingyang.

It was now the middle of the night. Where could they possibly find a more skilled physician? The elderly Madam was filled with worry, her face reflecting panic and despair. She stumbled to the bedside and embraced the young man who seemed to be struggling on the verge of death, weeping.

“My dear grandson, please don’t leave your grandmother behind. You are the apple of my eye!”

Hearing the elderly Madam’s cries, the women in the room doubled their weeping. The mournful cries echoed throughout every corner, causing the flowers to tremble, the trees to wither, and the entire courtyard to once again descend into an eerie terror that was even more terrifying than silence.

The elderly Madam seemed to realize something was amiss and stood up again. She shouted sternly, “Stop crying! He’s not dead yet! Everyone, go out and search! Even if you have to turn the entire city of Yingyang upside down, find every physician! If anything happens to Fourteenth Young Master, I will bury you all with him!”

This order made the servants kneeling on the ground turn pale with fear. They trembled and were speechless. Just as they were getting up one by one, about to rush out, a young maid suddenly spoke, “Elderly Madam, I know of another physician in Yingyang City. She can definitely cure Young Master’s illness.”

“Then quickly bring her here!” The First Madam Li immediately ordered.

But the maid stammered with a trembling voice, “I’m afraid she won’t come.”

“It’s her good fortune to be able to treat a member of our Yingyang Zheng Clan. What’s…”

Before Lady Li could finish her sentence, the elderly Madam raised her hand, signaling her to cover her mouth, and then gestured for the maid to continue.

The maid then explained, “A month ago, when Young Master was playing at Sishui Pass, he passed by Peach Blossom Valley and happened to encounter a woman and a young servant. Although the woman was wearing a veiled hat, a gust of wind blew past, allowing Young Master to catch a glimpse of her face. He was struck by her beauty and wanted to take her as a concubine. However, the woman not only refused Young Master’s advances but also pointed out that he was suffering from a serious illness.”

“Absurd! Just because she said he had a serious illness, you conclude she’s a divine physician?” Zheng Lu slammed the table and interrupted again.

The maid immediately shook her head. “No, Elderly Madam, First Madam. Later, Young Master inquired about the woman and heard that she had cured many villagers suffering from a plague. The villagers called her a divine physician.”

“She also told Young Master that after a month, his old illness would relapse, his mouth would twist, his eyes would slant, his whole body would convulse, he wouldn’t be able to eat or drink, he wouldn’t be able to move, and he would be… living a fate worse than death.”

The elderly Madam looked at her grandson again and saw the young man convulsing even more violently as if he had seen something terrifying. Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth, he couldn’t speak, he couldn’t move. Wasn’t this a fate worse than death?

She hurriedly grasped the young man’s hand, her voice filled with grief and heartache. “Fourteenth, don’t be afraid. Grandmother will bring this divine physician to you!”

Just as she was about to leave, Lady Li reached out to stop her. “Mother, don’t you think there’s something wrong with what this maid is saying?”

“What’s wrong?” the elderly Madam asked.

Lady Li replied, “This maid said that Fourteenth Young Master wanted to take that woman as a concubine, but she refused, so she revealed that he had a serious illness.”

“You mean you suspect that this woman is responsible for Fourteenth Young Master’s illness?”

“I just think that we don’t know this woman at all, and she has a grudge against Fourteenth Young Master. We need to be cautious. Regardless of whether she’s truly as divine as the rumors suggest, what if she intends to harm Fourteenth Young Master…”

“Whether she can cure him or not, whether she’s a human or a ghost, I must see her first,” the elderly Madam interrupted.

As the hour of Zi approached, the starless and moonless sky descended like spilled ink. The gates of the Zheng mansion suddenly swung open, and a procession of people followed a horse-drawn carriage as it slowly emerged from the mansion, heading swiftly towards the west side of the city.

The carriage rumbled along, accompanied by the hurried and chaotic footsteps, passing through the entire street leading to the west of Sishui Pass, until it finally stopped at a secluded village in the suburbs, where clear springs flowed over rocks.

“Elderly Madam, we’ve arrived.”

Following the maid’s soft call, the elderly Madam opened the carriage curtain and stepped out, using an old servant’s back as a footstool. She looked at the scenery illuminated by torches: a small bridge, flowing water, emerald bamboo, pine trees, and spring apricot blossoms like snow, with peach blossoms blooming in vibrant splendor. She couldn’t help but sigh in her heart: What a picturesque scene, like a paradise hidden away from the world, with apricot blossoms and misty rain reminiscent of Jiangnan, peach blossoms by flowing water, and lush greenery providing shade. She hadn’t realized such a serene and elegant place existed here.

Led by the elderly Madam, the group, supporting each other, stepped onto the white stones emerging from the stream and made their way towards the village.

No one noticed that as the torches were lit one by one, a small figure darted through the pine forest and quickly slipped into a low, dilapidated hut.

“Qing Gege, as you predicted, they’ve come,” a young boy’s voice said.

The room was silent, sparsely furnished with only a bed, a table, a few stools, and a large folding screen that divided the room in two. A “young man” dressed in white was holding a wolf-hair brush, staring blankly at the folding screen. The flickering candlelight cast a soft, rosy glow on the “young man’s” smooth skin.

If someone looked closely, they would notice that there was actually nothing on the folding screen, or rather, there was only a painting with a few outlines sketched but not yet completed.

Perhaps this painting was waiting to be brought to life by the “young man’s” brush, revealing its inherent splendor.

“Alright, I understand,” the young man replied, setting down his brush and casually picking up the veiled hat from the table beside him.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and the silent night was suddenly filled with commotion.

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“You, go and invite that lady out. Tell her that the elderly Madam of our Yingyang Zheng Clan has come seeking medical treatment,” Lady Li pointed at the young maid in front of her and ordered.

The young maid looked at the dimly lit room, where only a faint candle flickered. A cold breeze blew past, threatening to extinguish it. The half-open door creaked eerily, sending shivers down the maid’s spine. Her legs trembled, and she dared not step forward.

“Go quickly! What are you waiting for?” Lady Li impatiently shoved the maid, who was so frail that she stumbled and fell to the ground.

“Useless thing! Whoever brings out that divine physician will be handsomely rewarded by me upon our return,” Lady Li resorted to bribery.

Several servants who had been standing idly by immediately surged towards the door, but at that moment, a lantern suddenly emerged from behind the door, swaying gently.

The servants screamed in fright, but upon closer inspection, they realized that the lantern was being held by a young boy in green attire. The boy, who looked no older than ten, possessed an astonishingly beautiful appearance, with fair skin and delicate features. The servants were instantly captivated.

Even the elderly Madam Zheng and Lady Li were stunned. They had seen their fair share of handsome young men in the Northern Lands, but the impact this boy had on them far surpassed any they had encountered before.

While everyone was mesmerized, the boy asked, “Are you here seeking medical treatment?”

His voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of water striking a stone chime. He was truly a beauty both in appearance and voice.

“Yes, yes!” the servants replied in unison. “We are servants of the Zheng family. Please inform your master that our elderly Madam has arrived.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the boy said bluntly, “I apologize, but my master has already retired for the night and is not available to see patients at the moment. It’s late and the dew is heavy, so please return quickly.” With that, he seemed about to close the door and send them away.

The First Madam Li was dumbfounded. This boy must have never heard of the prestigious Yingyang Zheng Clan. As the saying went, “Wang, Lu, Cui, Zheng, Wang, Xie, Yuan, Xiao,” whether in the Southern or Northern Lands, the Yingyang Zheng Clan was a prominent family, on par with the most esteemed clans. They were figures that these lowly commoners could only dream of reaching. Even hermits had never been known to remain indifferent upon hearing their name. Moreover, this boy appeared to be nothing more than a servant of low status. Judging by his attire, his master’s status couldn’t be that high either.

“Hold on, boy, listen to me! We are here to summon a physician, not to beg for medical treatment. Today, your master will come whether she wants to or not! Someone—”

Lady Li felt the need to show this ignorant and clueless child some authority. At her signal, two of her personal guards brandished their staffs and strode towards the boy.

However, before they could get close, both guards felt a sharp pain in their abdomens, as if they had been kicked with great force. Their bodies flew backward like kites with broken strings.

Seeing the two bodies crash to the ground before her, Lady Li screamed and widened her eyes in disbelief. She stared at the boy, who was standing with his foot raised, his face contorted in anger.

He actually knew martial arts!

“So you’re not here for medical treatment, but to cause trouble? I’m afraid we can’t accommodate you. Please leave!”

The boy once again issued an order to leave. This time, Lady Li didn’t dare utter a word. However, the elderly Madam Zheng, maintaining her composure despite her simmering anger, cupped her hands in a salute towards the boy and said in a humble and amiable tone, “Young Master, as the saying goes, a physician has a heart like a parent. I’ve heard that your master is also a kind-hearted person who has treated many villagers suffering from plagues. Why would she refuse to lend a helping hand today and save a life? As the Buddha said, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda. This would also accumulate merit for your master. If you can cure my grandson’s illness, I, with the full support of the Zheng Clan, will help spread your master’s reputation, making her medical skills renowned throughout the land!”

She had said all this to convey a simple message: this was an opportunity for both fame and fortune.

The elderly Madam believed that such an enticement would be enough to sway anyone. After all, what was the point of living if not to leave a legacy? However, to her surprise, the boy retorted, “Saving a life is indeed more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda, but what if the one being saved is a wolf? Releasing a wolf back into the mountains will only cause more suffering for other living beings. Elderly Madam Zheng, do you say we should save him or not?”

The elderly Madam was taken aback. She had never imagined that in her long life, she would end up debating Buddhist principles with a child.

What did he mean by releasing a wolf back into the mountains, to save or not to save?

Seeing the elderly Madam’s hesitation, the boy’s lips curled into a slight sneer, and he turned to slam the door shut. But just then, the elderly Madam shouted, “Wait—” It was no longer a question of whether it was a wolf or not. Her mind suddenly became clear, and she decided to get straight to the point. “Young Master, has my Fourteenth Young Master offended your master in any way?”

The boy replied, “More than just offended. Your Fourteenth Young Master has not only seized fertile land, bullied innocent people, and abducted young women, but he also once attempted to assault my Qing Gege. Why should my Qing Gege save him?”

The elderly Madam’s face paled. So they had indeed made an enemy.

“Then the illness that my Fourteenth Young Master is suffering from, is it your master’s…”

Before the elderly Madam could finish her sentence, the boy interrupted with a frown, “What? You still suspect that that lecherous fool’s illness is related to my Qing Gege?”

Who was he calling a lecherous fool? Her grandson was clearly “as handsome as Pan An and as talented as Zi Jian.” Even the Emperor had praised him as “intelligent and insightful.” The elderly Madam frowned in displeasure, but she had to restrain herself as she was asking for a favor.

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from within the dark and silent hut, “Fenghuang, come in for a moment.”

Fenghuang? Was that the boy’s name? How could such a lowly servant be given the name “Fenghuang”?

As the women stared in astonishment, the boy swiftly entered the hut. A short while later, he emerged, his face sullen. “My Qing Gege has agreed to treat your lecherous fool. Bring him here quickly!”

“Bring him here? But… shouldn’t she come to our mansion? We have a carriage…”

Lady Li interjected, but she was immediately met with a glare and a sharp rebuke from the boy, “Are you the ones seeking treatment or are we? The patient’s family is acting more arrogant than the physician. If you don’t want to bring him here, then get out!”

Lady Li was once again speechless. The servants stifled their laughter, while the elderly Madam, suppressing her anger, maintained her composure and replied calmly, “Alright, alright. I’ll have someone bring him here immediately.” She then instructed her servants, “Quickly, go back and bring Fourteenth Young Master here!”

Several guards and servants acknowledged the order and were about to leave when the boy called out again, “Wait! My Qing Gege has one more condition if you want your lecherous fool to be cured.”

A condition? What condition?

The hearts of the group, led by the elderly Madam, leaped to their throats. They knew it wouldn’t be that simple.