Chapter 1310: Chapter 1288: Depths and Shallows
Manbao’s plan to return home for the New Year was known by the Crown Prince within two days. So, when she entered the palace to perform acupuncture for the Crown Prince, he couldn’t help but ask her, "You’re going back home for the New Year, but what about my illness?"
Manbao replied, "I’ll prescribe medicine for you, and Ms. Doctor Liu can handle the acupuncture."
"No way," said the Crown Prince, distrustful of Ms. Doctor Liu’s medical skills. With a grim expression, he added, "I only want you."
Manbao sighed. It seemed she was faced with the infamous difficult patient.
While administering acupuncture, Manbao said, "Starting today, I’ll teach Ms. Doctor Liu acupuncture hand-in-hand. Rest assured, within a month, she’ll certainly grasp it."
The Crown Prince sneered, "Whether she can or not isn’t up to you or her to decide. I’m a man of noble blood; how could I allow just anyone to treat me?"
The Crown Princess noticed the atmosphere turning tense and immediately tried to smooth things over. "Doctor Zhou Junior, after a month, how often will the Crown Prince need acupuncture?"
Manbao replied in a somewhat dejected tone, "Once every fortnight would suffice."
She continued, "I’m only returning home for a month, missing just two treatments. What’s wrong with letting Ms. Doctor Liu handle them?"
The Crown Princess smiled and said, "Doctor Zhou Junior, it’s not just His Highness who feels uneasy; even I would worry. It’s not that we distrust Ms. Doctor Liu, but acupuncture is an intricate art. Even Director Xiao says there are still many unknowns about it. How could His Highness allow just anyone to perform acupuncture on him?"
Manbao contemplated for a moment and suggested, "Why don’t you wait for me to return to continue the treatment?"
The Crown Prince gave her a sidelong glance and remarked, "Are you suggesting that I wait for you? Where does your audacity come from?"
Manbao understood his underlying message and looked towards the Crown Princess with eyes full of protest.
The Crown Princess found it amusing, but immediately mediated the situation.
After Manbao explained that pausing acupuncture wouldn’t greatly impact the Crown Prince’s health and the Crown Princess repeatedly persuaded him—mentioning that the young girl had been away from home for a long time and surely missed it, especially since her father had been vindicated this year and would likely return for ancestor worship—the Crown Prince finally relented. However, his mood remained sour, and he still refused to allow Ms. Doctor Liu to perform acupuncture on him.
Once Zhou Man left, the Crown Prince sat down, took a sip of tea, and snorted. "They say she’s clever, but she’s also incredibly naive. How dare she suggest sending someone who has barely learned acupuncture to my side? Doesn’t she realize that if anything goes wrong, she’ll bear the blame first?"
The Crown Princess stood by the window, watching Eunuch Wu escort Manbao away. Once they were out of sight, she turned around and smiled, "Your Highness, she’s only thirteen this year and grew up in the countryside. Her simplicity is understandable."
Ms. Doctor Liu was permitted to administer acupuncture to the Empress because no one would dare harm the Empress. She had the Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the legitimate princesses supporting her, along with the Zhao State Duke’s household.
But the Crown Prince was not the same. Even within the Zhao State Duke household, factions were divided—some supporting him and others siding with the Third Prince.
He had been receiving medical treatment for nearly two months, during which countless people had been purged from the Eastern Palace, including those smuggling poison and those luring him into indulgent drinking and revelry...
During this period, the Crown Prince had indeed succumbed to temptation and indulged on occasion, but he always regretted his actions afterward. Each time, he’d drag out those who had served him the alcohol for punishment...
Even Zhou Man’s medicine chest had been tampered with three times. Yet each time, Zhou Man managed to identify the swapped items without letting it weigh too heavily on her mind.
The Crown Prince didn’t know whether to praise her for her exceptional skills and daring or scold her for being recklessly bold.
In any case, if he had to switch to someone else for acupuncture, the Crown Prince would rather forego the treatment altogether. After all, not everyone could possess Zhou Man’s talents—the ability to discern swapped needles that had been poisoned.
Walking alongside Eunuch Wu, Manbao had already brushed off the matter from her mind. She followed him to a side courtyard within the Eastern Palace.
This area was close to the main gate of the Eastern Palace, belonging to its outskirts. In the side courtyard of a small palace, several eunuchs and palace maids stood quietly with their heads lowered.
When Eunuch Wu led Manbao inside, Ms. Doctor Liu, Doctor Xiao, and Shao were already present.
Upon seeing Manbao enter, they immediately stepped forward to pay their respects.
Ms. Doctor Liu softly spoke, "Doctor Zhou Junior, as per your instructions, we’ve divided this large room into two sections. The left side is for the eunuchs, and the right side is for the palace maids, separated by a large folding screen."
"Each side has four wooden beds, separated by curtains."
Manbao nodded in approval.
Doctor Xiao pointed toward a small room next to the large one and explained, "That’s the consultation room."
Manbao entered to have a look around. Finding the place tidy, she nodded in satisfaction and said, "Let’s begin then."
Eunuch Wu immediately asked with a smile, "Doctor Zhou Junior, is there anything else you need besides these items?"
Manbao replied, "We’ll need hot water and utensils for boiling needles. If there aren’t enough needles, used ones must be sterilized through boiling before reuse."
Eunuch Wu assured her there was no problem, pointing out a small kitchen in the courtyard where water could be heated. As for the staff, the eunuchs and maids coming for treatment—or rather acupuncture trials—could handle the chores.
With everything ready, Manbao entered the small room and got started.
Eunuch Wu was the first to follow her inside. Initially, Manbao didn’t realize his intention and glanced outside, saying, "Let them come in one by one."
Eunuch Wu then sat on the stool with a smile and said, "Doctor Zhou Junior, why not take a look at my pulse first?"
The realization dawned upon Manbao, and she nodded, "Alright, please have a seat, Eunuch Wu."
Ms. Doctor Liu and Doctor Xiao exchanged glances and quickly found excuses to leave. Shao followed them out, leaving only Manbao and Eunuch Wu in the room.
Manbao didn’t stop them, instead focusing sincerely on checking Eunuch Wu’s pulse.
After feeling his pulse, Manbao switched to consultation mode, asking, "How old are you this year, Eunuch Wu?"
Eunuch Wu replied with a cheerful smile, "I’m getting old, already thirty-two."
After examining his face, Manbao hesitated and asked, "Do you feel discomfort anywhere in your body?"
As someone of his age and a eunuch, it was impossible for him to be free of ailments. He might not have acute issues, but his body likely suffered from various pains.
Manbao recorded his pulse diagnosis and casually wrote him a prescription. "Please wait in the next room; I’ll come over later to administer acupuncture."
Eunuch Wu happily glanced at the pulse record on her desk and asked, "Doctor Zhou Junior, may I keep this pulse record?"
Manbao hesitated momentarily before handing it to him, aware that palace protocols and taboos were always strict.
Eunuch Wu gratefully accepted the pulse record, folded it, and tucked it into his robes. Then, he checked the prescription Manbao had written for him.
The prescription, of course, was also handed to Eunuch Wu.
However, instead of leaving, Eunuch Wu stepped aside and instructed the palace attendants waiting outside to enter one by one for their consultations.
Manbao began teaching the three others how to conduct diagnoses just as Doctor Ji had taught her before. They would examine first, write down their pulse records, and Manbao would review their findings, comparing the results and providing guidance.
This method was slow. On real patients, it wouldn’t be practical to pause and discuss after each examination. But since these palace attendants were only here for acupuncture trials, it was feasible.
Thus, while the process was much slower, the teaching results were significantly better.