The next morning, Nan Shiying arrived at the Liu Manor punctually.
When Liu Zijing heard the servants report her arrival, he personally led Liu Cheng and others to greet her. The person standing at the foot of the steps was thin and delicate. Had Liu Cheng not whispered in his ear, Liu Zijing would have thought she was a young gentleman who had just come of age and run away from home.
"Lord Liu!"
Nan Shiying cupped her hands towards Liu Zijing. A resolute light shone in her eyes, and her calm and composed demeanor effectively concealed her somewhat immature face.
Liu Zijing's anxiety vanished in an instant.
"Young Master Feng, please come in!"
He stepped aside and gestured for Nan Shiying to enter.
They passed through the front courtyard and entered the inner courtyard. Liu Zijing led Nan Shiying into Liu Wanjun's bedchamber!
Nan Shiying glanced at Liu Wanjun and asked, "What did the imperial physicians say?"
Liu Zijing replied with a sorrowful expression, "The imperial physicians told us to be prepared for the worst!"
Nan Shiying hummed, washed her hands, pulled over a stool, and sat beside Liu Wanjun. She reached out to take his pulse. This pulse... Nan Shiying's expression changed slightly.
"Young Master Feng, what is it?"
Liu Zijing's heart skipped a beat, and every muscle in his tense face twitched uncontrollably.
Feng Luan did not reply, only frowned.
Liu Wanjun's pulse was not indicative of illness; it clearly showed signs of poisoning!
"When did Lord Liu fall ill?" Nan Shiying suddenly asked.
Liu Zijing, who was now willing to say anything, replied, "After the morning court yesterday, before noon!"
The timing was quite precise.
"Did Lord Liu eat anything after leaving the court?"
"No, my father went into his study after returning from the court. He only had tea during that time!"
"Then..."
Nan Shiying's voice paused, and she swallowed the rest of her words. She was actually just curious about when Liu Wanjun had been poisoned, but some things made no difference whether one knew them or not.
No wonder Ji Jinmo only asked her to wake him up!
Seeing Feng Luan's serious and hesitant expression, Liu Zijing's heart was in his throat. Could his father's illness truly be beyond all remedy? Even the direct disciple of the Medicine King Valley was helpless?
He forced his mouth open, hoping that the subsequent disappointment, or even despair, would allow him to escape facing it. Yet, he still asked, "Young Master Feng, is my father's illness truly incurable?"
Nan Shiying looked up and glanced at Liu Zijing. The Liu family, led by Liu Zijing, all wore expressions of utter grief.
"It can be cured!"
She stood up and said to Liu Zijing with a detached expression, "Help Lord Liu turn over!"
"Ah?"
"Oh!"
Liu Zijing, his face filled with excitement, turned and ordered, "Didn't you hear Young Master Feng? Hurry and turn Master over!"
The maids quickly came forward. Two of them worked together to turn Liu Wanjun over, and then, at Nan Shiying's command, they removed his clothes, revealing his emaciated and rough skin.
Nan Shiying took out her needle pouch, retrieved silver needles, and her movements were as swift as lightning. Liu Zijing and the others couldn't even see her actions clearly; they only saw afterimages of her hands. By the time they looked again, Liu Wanjun's back was already covered in silver needles.
Then, she flicked her hand casually.
All the silver needles began to vibrate.
"Done!"
After completing this, Nan Shiying said to Liu Zijing, "Ink and paper!"
"Quick, get paper and ink for Young Master Feng!"
After the servants brought the paper and ink, Nan Shiying wrote down the prescription: "Remove the needles after half an hour. Boil the medicine after removing the needles. Boil three bowls of water into one. Take once a day. I will come again tomorrow morning to administer acupuncture to Lord Liu. He will be fully recovered in at most three days."
"Good, good!"
Liu Zijing received the prescription with both hands, overcome with emotion.
He looked at Nan Shiying as if she were his savior, a living Buddha.
"Young Master Feng... no, Divine Physician Feng, our Liu family kneels to thank the divine physician for your great kindness!" Liu Zijing, holding the prescription, knelt directly on the ground.
The entire Liu family knelt and expressed their gratitude.
Liu Cheng secretly glanced at Feng Luan, finding it impossible to reconcile the person before him with the one from that other day. The illness that had baffled the imperial physicians, he had resolved so casually, as easily as saving a cat that had climbed into a treetop.
"Lord Liu, there's no need for this!"
Nan Shiying gently helped Liu Zijing to his feet. After giving some further instructions, she said, "You can have someone remove the needles in half an hour. Lord Liu will wake up before drinking the medicine. We'll discuss the specifics tomorrow. Alright, I'm leaving now!"
Nan Shiying had no intention of staying at the Liu Manor to remove the needles for Liu Wanjun, nor did she intend to supervise the boiling of the medicine. The entire Liu family, from top to bottom, did not voice any complaints about her actions; instead, they respectfully saw her out of the manor.
The carriage was already waiting outside the gate!
Nan Shiying refused the Liu family's kind offer and left the manor on foot.
It was only after Nan Shiying's figure had completely disappeared that Liu Zijing and the others quickly returned.
Liu Zijing had never experienced such a long half-hour. The doctor hired by the Liu family removed the needles, the maids helped Liu Wanjun adjust his clothes, and then carefully turned him over.
After an unknown period, Liu Wanjun let out a groan.
To Liu Zijing and the others, this sound was almost like heavenly music.
Liu Wanjun slowly opened his eyes.
"Father, Father, how do you feel? Are you better?"
Liu Zijing knelt beside Liu Wanjun, holding his hand and asking with concern.
Liu Wanjun slowly turned his head. After an initial moment of confusion, his gaze gradually cleared. The pain and weakness he felt clearly informed him of what had happened.
"I..."
Having not spoken for nearly two days, Liu Wanjun's voice was extremely hoarse. He coughed, cleared his throat, and weakly asked, "What happened to me!"
"Father, you were ill."
Liu Zijing said, "After the morning court yesterday, Liu San found you fainted in the study."
"Father, how do you feel now?"
"Better!"
Liu Wanjun finished speaking and said no more. Seeing this, Liu Zijing dared not ask further questions. He could only instruct the servants to take good care of him and drove out all unnecessary personnel from the room, leaving only himself and Liu Cheng behind.
The next moment, he thought of something and instructed Liu Cheng, "Cheng'er, go to the kitchen and watch the servants boil the medicine. Keep a close eye on it!"
"Yes, Father!"
Upon receiving the order, Liu Cheng hurried towards the kitchen.
His grandfather had finally woken up, and they absolutely could not afford any further mishaps!