MCSCPM -Chapter 229 Stepping In to Save

Ding Heng brought the imperial physicians from the palace back to his residence.

Several physicians took turns checking Ding Ying’s pulse, exchanging worried glances, murmuring among themselves, and then shook their heads—it was clear they were dealing with a complicated illness.

Ding Heng watched anxiously. When the physicians finished, he quickly wrote out a few prescriptions.

“Master Physician, how is it?” Ding Heng asked.

The lead physician, Deng, known for his skill, looked troubled. He didn’t hide the truth from Ding Heng. “Lord Ding, let me be frank. Miss Ding’s condition has worsened. Her wound is inflamed, her fever is high, and now her old ailment has flared up. Treating her symptomatically will help, of course, but with so many illnesses combined, some medicines cannot be mixed. To recover quickly… I’ll be honest, it will be difficult.”

“Difficult? Master Physician, you are the best in the palace! No matter what, my daughter cannot be harmed!”

“Lord Ding, her body is inherently weak. Recovery is possible, but she will carry lingering effects. If she gets injured again in the future, I’m afraid…” The physician hesitated.

“Afraid of what?”

The other physicians exchanged uneasy glances. Ding Heng’s heart pounded as he grabbed Deng. “Tell me the truth! I must know exactly what will happen!”

“Lord Ding… if Miss Ding recovers this time, she must not get injured again. Otherwise… there will be life-threatening danger.”

The words “life-threatening danger” struck Ding Heng like a thunderbolt. He staggered back, face pale, utterly shocked.

Sensing the severity of his words, the physician thought for a moment and said, “Lord Ding, I heard… Prince Jing brought back a divine healer. Perhaps she might know how to save Miss Ding. We, however, have never seen her.”

“A divine healer?” Ding Heng thought. Of course—this divine healer had cured otherwise incurable plagues in Xize. If she treated his daughter, perhaps she could truly bring her back from the brink. But he hesitated—she had never appeared publicly, and the Emperor had decreed she could neither enter the palace nor remain in the capital. He understood the Emperor’s intent.

The physician noticed Ding Heng’s hesitation.

“Lord Ding, time is critical. We must act quickly.”

“I’ll find a way. Thank you, Master Physician,” Ding Heng said.

Ding Heng knew his daughter had been injured while with the divine healer. Leng Feng hadn’t mentioned it before; he likely assumed Ding Ying had gone along with Shangguan Jiaoran.

At that moment, Xiang Xu suddenly knelt on the ground, crying. “Master, I dare not hide the truth. Miss has been close to the divine healer for some time. Yesterday… Miss went to see her. I feared for her safety, so I followed and went to Shangguan Miss. Shangguan Miss went to find Miss at the divine healer’s place. As for why Miss was struck by the whip, I do not know.”

“What? You’re only telling me now?” Ding Heng was furious.

Xiang Xu pressed herself to the ground, trembling. “I truly don’t know more. But… Miss was very close to the divine healer and even brought some small items there. Their relationship seemed very good.”

“Very good?” Ding Heng sank into thought.

After a moment, he ordered, “Send a letter to Leng Feng at Prince Jing’s residence immediately.”

He quickly wrote the letter and had a servant rush it over.

Upon receiving it, Leng Feng dropped the letter in shock. Grasping his sword, he rode without delay to a private residence on the outskirts of the capital.

Yin Qingyue, seeing him arrive, quickly asked about Ding Ying.

“Leng Feng, how is Ding Ying?”

“She’s not well—very bad. Lord Ding said she still has a high fever, her wound is inflamed, and her asthma is acting up. Even the palace physicians can do nothing.”

“How did it get this serious?”

“Miss Yin, you must come with me. Right now, only you can save her. I beg you—please help her.”

Yin Qingyue’s heart pounded in her throat. She worried for Ding Ying but hesitated—if she went, she would be directly involved in the matter. She had wanted to stay out of trouble.

“Miss Yin, you can’t hesitate now! Do you want to watch her die? I beg you—please save her.” Leng Feng knelt on one knee—the first time he had ever pleaded like this before a woman.

“What are you doing? Get up!” Yin Qingyue tried to pull him up, but she couldn’t match his strength.

“If you don’t agree, I’ll stay like this,” he said.

“All right! I agree, now get up!”

“Do you really agree?” Leng Feng asked, eyes bright with hope.

“How could I not? I’m worried about Ding Ying too. Fine, I’ll go. I can’t just watch her get hurt.” Yin Qingyue said, resigned.

She had no time to disguise herself, so she covered her face with a piece of gauze. In the eyes of others, she was considered unattractive.

Bringing Mei’er, they arrived at the Ding residence. Ding Heng had been waiting for some time. Seeing Yin Qingyue with her veil, he thought perhaps it was due to her looks and didn’t think further. He stepped forward.

“Divine healer, my daughter…”

Yin Qingyue raised her hand, stopping him coldly. “I understand, Lord Ding. Please lead me to see her.”

“Very well.”

As Yin Qingyue followed Ding Heng to Ding Ying’s room, she noted his worry.

“Lord Ding, don’t worry. I’ll find a way to treat Ding Ying. She was injured at my place, so I share the responsibility.”

“Divine healer, thank you. This incident was caused by Shangguan Jiaoran, not you. If you can cure my daughter, I will repay you greatly.”

“No need, Ding Ying is kind-hearted. She will be fine.”

Ding Heng was struck by her elegance and calm demeanor; he could easily mistake her for a noble lady.

Upon entering Ding Ying’s room, Yin Qingyue stopped and turned to Ding Heng. “Lord Ding, you wait outside. Only a maid needs to accompany me. There’s no need for others. I’ll have the maid fetch medicines and attend to tasks.”

“Very well. Anything you command will be done.”

“Ding Ying will recover—rest assured,” Yin Qingyue said firmly, confident in her abilities.

Inside, Ding Ying lay on the bed, moaning in discomfort.

Xiang Xu accompanied them, but having caused the trouble with her loose tongue, she dared not say another word.

Yin Qingyue sat by the bed, seeing Ding Ying’s pale face, her heart ached.

“Ding Ying, it’s me, Qingyue,” she said softly.

Ding Ying stirred weakly. Seeing the veiled healer, she asked, “Why are you here? What happened to your face?”

“I’m fine. Leng Feng told me about your condition and asked me to come treat you. Don’t worry—I’ll heal you.”

“Qingyue, I…”

“Shh, don’t speak. Let me check your wound.” Yin Qingyue untied the white bandages around Ding Ying’s arm.

The wound had become severely inflamed and pus-filled. Yin Qingyue said, “The bandages can’t stay on—it’ll worsen the infection. The wound must be exposed to air.”

She felt Ding Ying’s forehead—her fever was high. “Open your mouth for me.”

Ding Ying complied.

“It’s quite serious,” Yin Qingyue observed. Touching the left side of her throat, she nodded. “Fortunately, the lungs aren’t affected. With proper care, she will recover.”

Ding Ying stared in amazement. “You didn’t even take my pulse and already know this? The palace physicians couldn’t help. How can you be so sure I’ll get better?”

“Ding Ying, don’t you remember? I’m a divine healer. With me here, you will be fine. But you must follow my instructions exactly—what to do, what not to do, everything for the next few days.”

“All right, I’ll listen.”

Turning to Xiang Xu, Yin Qingyue said, “Fetch hot water and some dry towels.”

“Right away,” Xiang Xu replied.

After preparing them, Yin Qingyue washed the medicines off Ding Ying’s wound and applied her own.

“These medicines are made from eight herbs—Ba Kui Zi, Tian Su, Dong Li Ba—they help with inflammation and cooling, which also aids your fever. Rub this powder on three times a day. It may leave a scar, but it won’t be obvious.”

“As for your fever, we can’t use typical antipyretics yet—they conflict with your wound. I’ll prepare a decoction using hollow bamboo from the snow mountains, harvested only in March. You’ll soak it daily in ice water—this will help your fever and asthma. To cure it fully, you must endure it.”

“My asthma… can it really be cured?”

“Of course—I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Ding Ying admired Yin Qingyue deeply; she seemed full of secrets, mysterious and capable.

Yin Qingyue quickly wrote a list of herbs for Xiang Xu, instructing her, “These herbs are crucial. Handle them carefully.”

“Yes, divine healer. I won’t make a mistake.” Xiang Xu took the list but suddenly burst into tears.

“Why are you crying?” Yin Qingyue asked.

Xiang Xu knelt by Ding Ying’s bed. “Miss, it’s my fault. I was worried about you, so I told Shangguan Miss about you at the divine healer’s place. That’s why you were injured.”

“You told her?” Ding Ying was surprised but not angry. She was annoyed, though. “Don’t mention Shangguan Jiaoran. She took advantage of me—good riddance to that kind of friend.”

“All right, Xiang Xu. I don’t have the energy to be angry now. Go handle the tasks.”

“Yes, Miss.” Xiang Xu sobbed as she left.

Yin Qingyue moved closer and said, “Ding Ying, you must maintain a good mood. Only then will you recover faster.”