After breakfast, Jiang Chan took the children to see Song Bingqing. “Yesterday’s bath worked very well. She should wake soon. Let her eat first, then continue the bath two hours later.”
Song Qin was anxious for his daughter. “Will she sleep this long every day? She didn’t eat or drink all yesterday. How could she endure that for long?”
Jiang Chan raised an eyebrow. “No. Yesterday was the first bath, so the medicinal effect was stronger. She’ll gradually adapt, and sleep less afterward.”
As they spoke, Song Bingqing slowly woke. With his superior martial arts, Song Qin noticed first. “Doctor Xianyue, Bingqing is awake.”
Jiang Chan came over to take her pulse. “Much stronger. The bath is clearly effective. Continue in two hours.”
Song Qin hurriedly instructed the servants to prepare. Song Qiyu sat by the bed, repeatedly asking how his sister felt. The room was filled with familial warmth.
Watching them, Jiang Chan felt no particular emotion. Although her ties with her real-world parents were weak, the parental love Jiang Sen and Lin Shi had given her in the first world more than made up for what she lacked.
“Sister, how do you feel?”
Leaning against the headboard, Song Bingqing sipped porridge. “Very well. I’ve never felt this comfortable. My chest always felt heavy before. Now it’s much easier.”
“Your medical skills are truly exceptional, Doctor Xianyue.” Putting aside the initial agony, the rewards were wonderfully sweet. Her smile widened.
Jiang Chan’s lips curved too. Honestly, seeing someone improve firsthand was a doctor’s greatest source of satisfaction.
“No need for thanks. I charged a consultation fee.” She spoke casually, making Song Qiyu’s mouth twitch. No wonder people called Xianyue eccentric.
That fee was truly exorbitant. She had demanded a third of the Song family’s annual earnings. Thinking about it hurt. But the thought of Song Bingqing recovering made him forget his reluctance.
After the day’s treatment, Jiang Chan took the two children back to the clinic. Finding it empty, she smiled in satisfaction. At least he knew when to leave.
A month later, in Song Bingqing’s bedroom, Jiang Chan withdrew her hand under everyone’s anxious gaze. “Your daughter has recovered completely. From tomorrow, I won’t need to come.”
Song Qin burst into laughter. Song Qiyu could not suppress his smile, and even the maid Xiaohuan beamed.
“Although she’s a little older than ideal, she can still learn martial arts. This month of baths has cleared all her meridians. Her progress should be rapid.”
This further announcement stunned the Song household. Her recovery had already delighted them. What did it mean that she could now practice martial arts?
It meant she could strengthen her body and prolong her life. Song Qin was so excited that he stammered. “Doctor Xianyue, is that true?”
Even the normally calm Song Bingqing looked at her with eager anticipation. Facing those burning gazes, Jiang Chan sighed helplessly. “Why are you looking at me? I’ve said it. If you don’t believe me, try it yourselves.”
Honestly, did they think the marrow-cleansing baths were for nothing? Even if this was only a simplified version of a marrow-cleansing decoction.
After lunch, Jiang Chan left carrying a fortune. The Song family had been generous. Besides a third of their annual earnings, they gave her many medicinal ingredients.
Most were the same herbs used in Song Bingqing’s baths. Looking at them, her eyes curved with pleasure. She needed medicinal baths herself, as did the children.
Watching Rendong and Dongqing follow closely, she thought that the younger children underwent marrow cleansing, the better. Their martial progress afterward would be rapid too.
To Jiang Chan, Song Bingqing and Feng Feiyang were merely passing acquaintances. Once their affairs were settled, she put them aside. She had no intention of becoming Song Bingqing’s close sister. Being free on her own was wonderful.
Back at the clinic, she took a medicinal bath that very evening. It hurt so badly she wanted to swear. Even she, a martial artist, struggled to endure it. Song Bingqing, a sheltered young lady, had actually borne it.
The bath worked exceptionally well. She felt the toxins leaving her body little by little. Xianyue’s blood was full of poison, which was hardly good. How could such a toxic body bear children?
Although it had made her immune to poisons, it was a case of harming others at great cost to herself. Jiang Chan had long intended to clear those toxins away.
Xianyue was deeply poisoned, though her condition was considerably better than Song Bingqing’s. Jiang Chan took baths for more than ten days before finally removing all the toxins.
To her delight, however, Xianyue had consumed countless herbs over the years to suppress that poison. Their properties had permeated her flesh and bones. Jiang Chan was now immune to all poisons.
This unexpected benefit put a spring in her step and made her more patient in teaching Dongqing and Rendong. Young as they were, they had accumulated little impurity. Their baths were finished after three or four days.
Outwardly, little changed, apart from darker hair and brighter eyes. Xianyue’s lips had originally been slightly blackish. Now they were red again, making her even more attractive.
Before long, the New Year approached. With only three people in the clinic, Jiang Chan planned to take her disciples out to buy gifts. Instead, as the holiday neared, people began bringing all sorts of things to the clinic.
Farmers brought produce such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. Wealthy people sent pastries and fabric. There were few of the latter, however. Jiang Chan had charged many rich patients heavily. They were hardly likely to befriend her.
Nor had she kept all that silver for herself. She gave much away. When providing free village consultations, she generously helped any household struggling to get by.
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