Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 85 - 48 Rescuing Lives_2
"Even with you sitting steadily, such things can still happen!" Imperial Doctor Shi’s face was stern as he motioned to the servant following him. The servant hastily handed over the medicine chest.
Imperial Doctor Shi took out a set of silver needles, and Lady Zhao lifted the thin blanket off Lady Zhang. Together with Lian Zhizhi, they removed Lady Zhang’s outer garment. Through the undergarments, Imperial Doctor Shi applied the needles to an acupoint on Lady Zhang. The room fell silent, as everyone knew that a life hung in the balance and nearly all held their breath.
Imperial Doctor Shi removed the needles.
"Sir..." Lian Shouxin wanted to ask how it went but hesitated to speak.
Imperial Doctor Shi instructed the servant to prepare paper and ink. "Get the medicine from this prescription immediately, and brew it for the patient without delay. If she can take this medicine and it stops the bleeding, the patient’s life will be out of danger. If it does not..."
Imperial Doctor Shi did not finish his sentence but concentrated for a moment before writing a prescription.
"I’ll go and prepare the medicine," said Lian Shouxin as he moved to take the prescription.
"Let me do it. I’ve brought some commonly used medicines," said Wang Youheng as he took the prescription from Imperial Doctor Shi’s hand. He checked it over, then had his apprentice bring over the medicines he had with him. Wang Youheng personally matched the medicine according to the prescription.
Imperial Doctor Shi examined the medicines Wang Youheng had brought and nodded slightly. In his prescription, aside from some rare gynecological herbs, there were also a few unusual ones not commonly used in gynecology. Wang Youheng couldn’t possibly have carried the entire stock of raw medicines, but the ones needed were all present. This was not something an ordinary person could achieve.
"Old Master Wang’s son is not bad at all," Imperial Doctor Shi mused to himself.
Lian Manman hurriedly took the prepared medicine from Wang Youheng’s hands and gave it to Lian Zhizhi and Lady Zhao to brew.
Lian Zhizhi and Lady Zhao brought in the brewed medicine and fed it to Lady Zhang. During this time, Lady Zhang had somewhat regained consciousness but was unable to speak. After the bowl of medicine, Lady Zhang’s breathing stabilized, and the bleeding from below gradually stopped.
Lian Manman had already briefly explained to Lian Shouxin about Imperial Doctor Shi’s origins and how Wang Youheng had managed to bring him here. Lian Shouxin repeatedly said they had encountered a savior. Over in the Upper Room, it was improper for the men to come, so Old Lady Lian and Lady He came to check twice but could not intervene or say anything, so they left. When Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu heard that Wang Youheng had arrived and even brought Imperial Doctor Shi, who had been a judge at The Imperial Medical Bureau, they asked the two gentlemen to rest in the Upper Room. Scholar Wang’s Family had also sent someone to invite Wang Youheng and Imperial Doctor Shi.
After taking the medicine, Lady Zhang slept throughout. Imperial Doctor Shi took her pulse once more, then nodded and said no more.
Seeing Imperial Doctor Shi’s demeanor, Wang Youheng knew that Lady Zhang’s life was saved.
"Manman, aren’t you going to thank Uncle Shi?" called Wang Youheng to Lian Manman.
Lian Shouxin, Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi came forward and kowtowed to Imperial Doctor Shi.
Imperial Doctor Shi quickly asked them to rise.
"Enough, I’ll write another prescription," said Imperial Doctor Shi as he wrote another one. "After the patient wakes up, follow this prescription for her recovery. Remember, she must rest in bed for a month and avoid all stress..."
After leaving additional medical advice and the night falling dark, Imperial Doctor Shi left with Wang Youheng. The Lian Family sent off their horse-drawn carriage out of the village, then slowly walked back.
Since they had to keep vigil through the night, Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi went to the Upper Room to move the bedscreens.
On an autumn night, everyone was enjoying the coolness outside, and the Upper Room was without electric lights and completely dark. As Lian Manman pushed open the door and entered, suddenly a figure screamed and jumped off the kang (a traditional heated bed platform).
Lian Manman was also startled, thinking to herself was there a thief taking advantage of the Lian Family’s busyness to come in and steal? Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Lian Xiuxiu.
All morning, everyone had been bustling about, and Lian Xiuxiu had been nowhere in sight. Could she have been hiding in the Upper Room all this time? Why did she look as pale as a thief upon seeing her and Lian Zhizhi? Lian Xiuxiu wasn’t usually such a coward.
With Lady Zhang’s life hanging by a thread, and Lian Xiuxiu not showing her face, Lian Manman resented her for her lack of affection, so she didn’t bother with her, choosing instead to move the kang screen with Lian Zhizhi.
"What are you two doing?" Lian Xiuxiu asked.
"We’re keeping a vigil for my mother, and father has asked us to move this kang screen to the side room," Lian Manman replied.
"Your mother, your mother has come back to life?" Lian Xiuxiu inquired.
"Of course my mother is alive," Lian Manman said irritably as she and Lian Zhizhi carried the kang screen out.
Throughout the night, Lian Shouxin stayed right by Lady Zhang’s side, while Lady Zhao and Chunzhu’s Wife kept company with Lian Manman and the other children, also standing guard nearby. Exhausted from the day’s toil, the children were all very sleepy, but none of them wanted to rest. If one became drowsy and drifted off, another child would push her awake.
Although they had the aid of Imperial Doctor Shi and Wang Youheng, they all witnessed Lady Zhang’s life ebbing away with the outward flow of her blood. They were all scared that if they fell asleep, Lady Zhang would never wake up again.
With the crowing of the dawn cocks, Lady Zhang slowly opened her eyes. Lian Shouxin and the children, with their red, strained eyes, could not hold back tears of joy.
Lady Zhang had turned back from the gates of death and was revived, but the unborn child in her womb was gone. Whether it was due to her weakened state or the shock of losing the child, Lady Zhang, upon awakening, seemed dazed and unwilling to speak.
No matter the heartbreak, life had to go on. It was the time for the autumn harvest, and due to Lady Zhang’s situation, half a day’s work had already been delayed. Early that day, Old Master Lian still led his family to the fields to work. Lian Shouxin, Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi were all to go too.
"What about my mother?" Lian Manman asked.
"I’ve already spoken to your grandmother, asking her and your old aunt to look after her," Old Master Lian said.
"That won’t do, I am not at ease," Lian Manman stated bluntly to Old Master Lian.
"What is there to be uneasy about, child?"
"Grandfather, yesterday my grandmother and my old aunt were right there, and yet my mother still had an accident."
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