The two of them kept waving their hands, saying it wasn't like that.
The young woman was very shy and found it difficult to speak.
It was her mother-in-law who spoke softly, "Doctor, we've come seeking a child. A boy or a girl will do, as long as it's a healthy baby."
"My daughter-in-law and son have been married for several years, and there's been no sign of pregnancy."
She sighed, "I am also a woman, and I understand my daughter-in-law's pain the most. She has seen many doctors over the years, but to no avail."
Tao Lengshuang was very surprised. After all, even in modern times, some mothers-in-law would make things difficult for their daughters-in-law, let alone in ancient times.
"Auntie, having a child is not a one-person matter. It's useless to only look at your daughter-in-law. Have your son come along. If a woman could have children alone, what would men be for?"
The mother-in-law found this astonishing, but after thinking about it, she felt it was quite right. Without men, how could children be conceived?
"Doctor, could you please examine my daughter-in-law first?"
Tao Lengshuang nodded in agreement. She took the young woman's pulse and inquired about the relevant situation, "Being too nervous or anxious is not conducive to having a child."
"It's like farming; all sorts of factors affect the harvest. Pregnancy is the same. If anything is amiss, one cannot conceive."
When she put it this way, the mother and daughter-in-law understood.
"That's true. It's not that easy to conceive a child. Although some people conceive easily, others just don't."
"I just want a child, boy or girl, it's all good."
Tao Lengshuang stated that the young woman had no physical ailments, and the main issue was to relax and not constantly think about getting pregnant. She also advised her not to take any so-called folk remedies for having children.
"If such folk remedies truly existed, would noble families not use them? They are the ones who wish for many descendants and blessings."
The mother and daughter-in-law felt that her words were reasonable. Compared to ordinary people, those wealthy families were more eager for more children. If those wealthy families didn't use such remedies, then they naturally wouldn't be effective.
Tao Lengshuang most enjoyed speaking with patients who were reasonable and obedient. She asked the mother and daughter-in-law to bring the man for a consultation and did not prescribe any medicine.
"Doctor, how much is the consultation fee?" The mother-in-law took out an embroidered handkerchief from her embrace and carefully opened it with her aged hands.
Tao Lengshuang replied that she did not charge a consultation fee. "It was just taking a pulse. If I were truly treating an illness and prescribing medicine, then I would charge a fee."
How could the mother and daughter-in-law not know they had met a kind person? After thanking her repeatedly, they prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly, two constables arrived.
"Who is the proprietor of this pharmacy? Someone has accused you of harming people," one of the constables said.
Tao Lengshuang calmly stood up. "I am the proprietor of this pharmacy. May I know who has accused me of harming people?"
The constable pointed to a middle-aged woman standing not far behind him and said to Tao Lengshuang, "She is the one who accused you, saying you killed her daughter-in-law and caused her grandson to become a monster."
Tao Lengshuang said unhurriedly, "Constable, if I truly had such ability to turn people into monsters, why would I still be here running a pharmacy to make a living?"
"Besides, it wasn't me who caused the death of her daughter-in-law. As for her grandson... I don't know if it's a grandson or granddaughter, but she is the one who caused him to become like that."
"You're spouting nonsense!" the middle-aged woman said, her eyes red and swollen, hatefully. "You said you would cut open my daughter-in-law's belly, and that's why my daughter-in-law died and my grandson became like this."
Tao Lengshuang exclaimed with exaggerated awe, her face full of admiration. "I'm so amazing, just saying these words could cause a pregnant woman to lose her life and a child to become like that."
"If I possessed such unfathomable abilities, why would I have spared your life and allowed you the opportunity to report me to the authorities?"
The onlookers felt that what she said made sense.
"Although I find the doctor's conduct rather terrifying, what she says is reasonable. If she truly had such unfathomable abilities, would she have been bullied by her in-laws and driven out of the house?"
"Hey, hey, hey, let me tell you, it wasn't like that at all. The doctor went to great lengths to help her daughter-in-law with the delivery. It was a difficult labor, and the doctor asked whether to save the mother or the child. She unhesitatingly said to save the child, saying that if the daughter-in-law died, they could just remarry, but the most important thing was that the grandson was safe."
"No way, that's too wicked. After all, she gave birth to several granddaughters and took care of the family. And this is how she's repaid by her mother-in-law's vicious words."
"Difficult labor can easily lead to the death of both mother and child. It's already remarkable that the doctor managed to save the child. And she's reporting it to the authorities? She probably wants to extort a hefty sum, which is truly despicable."
The middle-aged woman paid no mind to this, sitting on the ground and throwing a tantrum. "My daughter-in-law is gone, and my grandson is gone too. You wicked poisoner, don't think you can get away with this. Today, I will surely make you pay with your life."
Tao Lengshuang crossed her arms and said coolly, "I think it would be better if we invited a few reputable doctors to examine the condition of the deceased and the child."
"Absolutely not!" the middle-aged woman shrieked. "You wicked poisoner have your tricks; you'll surely bribe those doctors."
Now that her daughter-in-law and grandson were gone, she had to extort a sum of money so she could find another wife for her son and have a grandson as soon as possible.
Tao Lengshuang would not listen to her. She conveyed her request to the constables. "You can also have the coroner examine the body to see if I caused the woman's death."
The two constables discussed it in low voices and decided to find a coroner and doctors to assess the situation. If it could be resolved on the spot, that would be best; otherwise, they would take her back to the yamen.
Therefore, one constable remained to guard the pharmacy, while the other prepared to find the coroner and doctors.
However, he was stopped by the middle-aged woman. "Don't go, don't go! You must be helping that wicked poisoner."
The constables were not to be trifled with. He directly drew his saber and sternly said, "Are you not going to move?"
The middle-aged woman was so frightened that she fell to the ground and retreated backward, no longer daring to block him.
The constable snorted heavily and went to find the coroner and constables.
Soon, the constable returned with several doctors and a coroner.
First, the doctors examined the deceased and the child, and then the coroner performed the autopsy.
The doctors explained the situation.
"The deceased died from a difficult labor, not from being harmed by someone."
"Yes, and the deceased had taken too many medicines and tonics before her death, which greatly increased the risk of difficult labor. It's not good for a pregnant woman to eat too much or too well. Pregnant women should not eat indiscriminately."
Someone shouted, "Doctor, are the folk remedies for having boys effective?"
The doctors showed expressions of mockery.
"If such medicine truly existed, wouldn't the consorts in the palace use it? Don't you think about it, who wants sons more than you do?"
"That's right. If they don't use these so-called boy-producing folk remedies, and you foolishly use them, look at that child, that's what these folk remedies have caused."
The crowd erupted.