"May I ask if any of you are feeling unwell?" Dr. Xue of the Miracle - Hand Hall finally found some free time and came to Song Yihuan.
Dr. Xue was no youngster, probably in his forties. He had a goatee and was quite thin, looking rather refined.
Song Yihuan's expression turned solemn. She stood up and pulled Song Yixuan in front of her.
"Dr. Xue, my younger brother has had a heart ailment since birth. I've heard that you have the best medical skills in Tianxiang City. I thought perhaps you could cure him, so I brought him here for you to take a look. Could you please do me this favor?"
"A heart ailment?" Dr. Xue stroked his beard and turned his gaze to Song Yixuan.
In the past few days, Song Yixuan had been well - fed and well - taken - care of in the Prince Ning's Mansion. He had grown two inches taller and put on some weight. His eyes had become more lively, but his lips still showed a purplish tint, which was a sign of a heart ailment.
Dr. Xue waved his hand and said, "This way, please."
He invited Song Yihuan and the others into the consulting room. Song Yixuan sat on the chair and skillfully stretched out his hand for Dr. Xue to feel his pulse. It seemed that he was often examined by doctors.
Seeing how sensible he was, Ji Lingchuan couldn't help but recall the day he was born. It was the Lesser Fullness.
According to the information obtained by Fuzhou, Song Yixuan was not only a premature baby but also caused Concubine Rou to have a difficult labor. He was born as a stillborn and was later revived. That was why the Marquis of Ding'an's Mansion regarded this boy as inauspicious.
On that day, one could only imagine what kind of suffering the thirteen - year - old Song Yihuan had endured. She not only lost her respected mother but also almost lost her younger brother. How could she have the mood to go to the dilapidated temple of the Imperial College to meet him?
Dr. Xue didn't know what the others in the room were thinking. He focused on feeling Song Yixuan's pulse, and his brow wrinkled tighter and tighter.
"This..."
Song Yihuan's heart skipped a beat. She immediately asked, "Dr. Xue, how is it? Is there any possibility of curing my younger brother's heart ailment?"
Song Yixuan didn't say a word, but the light of longing for a cure could be seen in his big, round eyes.
Dr. Xue thought for a while and said to Song Yihuan, "Miss, may I have a word with you in private?"
Song Yihuan guessed that Dr. Xue must have something important to say, and it was not suitable for Song Yixuan to hear. She told her younger brother to stay well with Ji Lingchuan and Gu Yunzheng, then she got up and was about to follow Dr. Xue.
Behind her, Ji Lingchuan stood up and intended to follow. Seeing this, Gu Yunzheng stopped him and said, "Lord Ling, aren't you overstepping your bounds?"
Ji Lingchuan looked at him coldly and said, "Overstepping my bounds? In terms of status, I'm half of her relative. Who do you think you are?"
Glancing at Song Yixuan, who looked dejected, he said, "Take good care of him. If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you accountable."
When Ji Lingchuan reached another consulting room, he heard Dr. Xue ask Song Yihuan, "May I ask if your younger brother was born prematurely?"
Ji Lingchuan walked behind Song Yihuan. She turned around when she heard the sound, a bit surprised that he had followed. But at this moment, she had no time to ask. Instead, she said to Dr. Xue, "Dr. Xue is right. My younger brother was born prematurely!"
"How many months premature?" Dr. Xue asked carefully.
Song Yihuan thought for a while and said, "My mother had a premature labor about a month before her due date."
"What was your mother's condition during pregnancy?"
Song Yihuan's heart sank. She said, "When my mother was pregnant with my younger brother, her belly was very big. She was tired all day, didn't like to talk, looked depressed, and often had nightmares at night."
"Is your mother still alive?" Dr. Xue asked again.
Song Yihuan shook her head and said, "My mother died during a difficult labor when giving birth to my younger brother."
"That's it." Dr. Xue sighed and said, "Ultimately, his illness was brought from the womb, which is related to your mother's symptoms during pregnancy. Usually, a baby shouldn't grow too big during pregnancy. Otherwise, the fetus will start labor prematurely and be extremely difficult to deliver. After a long time, the baby will suffocate in the womb and be born stillborn."
"Ultimately, your younger brother's illness is due to the long - term suffocation during the difficult labor. Please forgive my bluntness, but I really can't cure this illness. However, judging from his pulse, his pulse is not as weak as that of ordinary heart - ailment patients. It is weak but with strength. As long as he is well - protected, living a long life is not a problem. Miss, you don't need to worry."
But Song Yihuan sensed something wrong.
They were severely mistreated in the Marquis's Mansion. Her mother usually ate very plain food, and it was a luxury to nourish her body. Why was the baby in her belly so big?
Suddenly, Song Yihuan thought of something. Her mother's belly seemed to gradually grow bigger within a month before giving birth. Before that, she looked no different from an ordinary pregnant woman.
At that time, she was just a thirteen - year - old girl and didn't notice anything wrong. Her mother's body was getting heavier and heavier, and she was very tired. She had no time to take care of the baby.
Remembering what Gu Yunzheng had just told her that he had found some clues, she took out some silver and gave it to Dr. Xue, then planned to go back to find Gu Yunzheng.
Who would have thought that as soon as she turned around, her arm was grabbed.
Ji Lingchuan looked down at her and said, "Since you're here, let Dr. Xue feel your pulse too."
"Why should I let him feel my pulse? I'm not sick." Song Yihuan was eager to find Gu Yunzheng and didn't notice anything wrong. She only felt that the palm on her arm was terribly hot and the strength was so great that she couldn't break free at all.
"My mother is not acclimated to the local environment since she came here and is in low spirits now. Xuan'er is in a special condition. If you fall ill too, who will take care of him? You'll be very busy in the next few days. Let the doctor feel your pulse. It's just for peace of mind."
Song Yihuan thought he was right, so she calmed down and sat in front of Dr. Xue to let him feel her pulse.
Dr. Xue felt her pulse and said, "Miss, your qi and blood are abundant, and your body is healthy. There's no major problem."
Song Yihuan heaved a sigh of relief. She didn't stay any longer. She lifted her skirt and left the consulting room to find Song Yixuan and Gu Yunzheng.
Ji Lingchuan followed not too far behind her, looking at her back with a dark and deep gaze.
Song Yixuan was lying obediently on the table, waiting for Song Yihuan. When he saw her come back with Ji Lingchuan, he sat up straight and cast a hopeful look at Song Yihuan.
Song Yihuan felt a pang in her heart. She reached out and stroked his head and said, "The doctor said that your health has improved a lot recently. As long as you're well - protected, you'll get better and better in the future."
Hearing this, Song Yixuan smiled and held her hand. He said softly, "Yes, Xuan'er will definitely stay with Fourth Sister well."
Remembering her purpose, Song Yihuan looked up at Ji Lingchuan and asked,
"Brother Ling, could you please take Xuan'er out for a walk first? I have a few words to say to Brother Gu."