Chapter 17: The Rising Star Among Female Generals

Lin Qingqian and Ye Tianci had just arrived at the doorstep when Zheng Mei burst out of the kitchen, wielding a kitchen knife.

"Ye Tianci, our whole family wasn’t even able to attend our own celebration banquet because of you! This is all your fault! Get out of here!"

"You are not allowed to step into my house! If you dare come in, I’ll slit my throat and die right in front of you!"

She pressed the kitchen knife against her own neck, looking every bit the shrew.

Beside her, Lin Changli shouted anxiously, "Wife, don’t do anything rash! Don’t do something foolish!"

Lin Qingqian was frightened, "Mom, what are you doing? Put down the knife, please, don’t hurt yourself!"

"I won’t put it down! Absolutely not!"

Zheng Mei ranted and raved.

Lin Qingqian turned to Ye Tianci, frowning, "Maybe you should find somewhere to stay for now. Once my mom calms down, I’ll call you."

Not wanting to make things difficult for her, Ye Tianci turned to leave.

After asking a few passersby, he hailed a cab and headed to Mingshui Avenue in Shu City.

All the city’s herbal shops and medical halls were concentrated on this street.

Ye Tianci had promised to cure Lin Daonan completely, and he intended to keep his word. But first, he needed to buy some herbs to refine the Spirit Essence Pill.

Lin Daonan’s illness had dragged on for too long; only the Spirit Essence Pill could fully heal him.

"Huairen Hall!"

A grand and imposing pharmacy came into view. Ye Tianci walked straight in.

The shop was crowded with customers; business was clearly thriving.

Ye Tianci quickly selected the herbs needed for the Spirit Essence Pill and was about to pay when a commotion erupted outside.

A group of people hurried in!

There were four women, all dressed in dark green uniforms, carrying a stretcher.

On the stretcher lay a young woman, also in uniform, but hers was different—a patch of golden pine needles and a single gold star adorned her shoulder.

Her face was ashen, drained of all color, and she was unconscious. Her breathing was so shallow her chest scarcely moved—she seemed to be at death’s door.

An elderly man with a dignified air and a goatee followed closely behind the stretcher.

"Someone, hurry!"

The old man called out in a booming voice.

An elderly man in a white coat hurried forward, accompanied by a young attendant.

"Master Tang, what’s happened?" The man in the white coat asked respectfully.

The old man frowned, "You know me?"

"I am Yang Ming, the manager of this Huairen Hall. You do not know me, but I know you. May I ask, who is this?"

With a grave expression, the old man replied, "Yang Ming, this is my granddaughter Tang Qiong. She’s been injured and has lost consciousness. Treat her immediately, no matter what—you must save her!"

At his words, gasps sounded from all around.

"Granddaughter Tang Qiong? Master Tang? Could this old man be Tang Zhenguo, head of the Tang family, the leader among Shu City’s four great families?"

"Who else could it be?"

"My goodness! I’ve always heard that Tang Zhenguo is a legendary figure in Shu City. Now I’ve finally seen him in person!"

"Tang Zhenguo’s fame may be great, but he’s still just an old man. The real surprise is that Tang Qiong, his granddaughter, has taken up the Tang family standard!"

"That’s right. I heard Tang Qiong, at only twenty-three, is already one of the top ten Generals of Daxia—the only woman among them! Her future is limitless!"

"Is that Tang Qiong on the stretcher? She looks gravely injured. Will this rising star of the military die here?"

As the crowd whispered, Yang Ming grew visibly tense.

He stepped up to examine Tang Qiong’s injuries, then breathed a sigh of relief. With confidence, he said, "Master Tang, rest assured. Your granddaughter is not seriously injured. I will administer acupuncture and then give her a decoction. She will recover quickly."

He swiftly wrote out a prescription and handed it to the attendant to prepare the medicine.

Once the medicine was ready, Yang Ming had finished the acupuncture. He had someone prop Tang Qiong up, about to feed her the decoction himself.

Just then, a calm voice rang out, "If you force that bowl of medicine down her throat, not only will it fail to help, but she will cough up blood, and her condition will worsen."

Everyone started in surprise, turning toward the voice.

Yang Ming was a renowned physician in Shu City, a disciple of the famous doctor Xue Huaisu, skilled in the healing arts. No one had ever dared interrupt his treatment.

Yet now, someone had spoken out in public at Huairen Hall, challenging him.

Everyone wanted to see who dared be so audacious.

All eyes were on Ye Tianci.

"Young man, what did you just say?"

"You claim that if the patient takes my medicine, she’ll cough up blood and become worse?"

Yang Ming’s expression darkened.

Ye Tianci nodded calmly, "That’s right."

Yang Ming hadn’t expected him to admit it so readily. His annoyance deepened, and he snapped, "A’Kang, who is this man?"

A’Kang, the front hall attendant, replied, "Master, he just bought some herbs and hasn’t paid yet."

"Tell him to pay and leave. No need for him to spout nonsense here!"

Yang Ming waved him away impatiently.

A’Kang and two other attendants moved to throw Ye Tianci out, but Tang Zhenguo interjected, "Wait!"

He looked at Ye Tianci, his expression grave. "Young man, why did you say that? Do you also know medicine?"

"I know a thing or two," Ye Tianci replied evenly.

He turned to Yang Ming. "If I’m not mistaken, the decoction you prepared is the Seven-Ingredient Great Cheng Soup—rhubarb, magnolia bark, immature bitter orange, and four other herbs. It treats stagnation of vital energy and blood, clears blockages, and dispels internal injury."

"On the surface, this woman appears to be injured, and her symptoms match, but in truth, that’s not the case. You have misdiagnosed her."

Yang Ming raised his brows in surprise. "You didn’t even look at her—just by smelling, you know I prescribed Seven-Ingredient Great Cheng Soup?"

"Is that so difficult?"

Ye Tianci’s tone was mild.

But to Yang Ming, his attitude was pure provocation and arrogance.

Yang Ming snorted disdainfully. "Utter nonsense! I’ve been practicing medicine for decades, saving lives—there’s no need for a young upstart like you to lecture me!"

With that, he began to force the medicine into Tang Qiong’s mouth.

Within seconds of swallowing the decoction, Tang Qiong reacted.

Her eyebrows fluttered, her breathing grew heavy, and she let out a low moan through her nose. It was impossible to tell if it was from pain or if she was about to regain consciousness.

Tang Zhenguo asked anxiously, "Doctor Yang, what’s happening to my granddaughter?"

Yang Ming replied confidently, "Master Tang, relax. Your granddaughter has taken my Seven-Ingredient Great Cheng Soup—she’s fine. As you see, she’ll wake up soon."

But Tang Zhenguo frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

At that moment, a tall and imposing young man rushed into Huairen Hall, hurrying to Tang Zhenguo’s side. "Grandfather, how is my sister?"

His name was Tang Ying, the twin brother of Tang Qiong.

Tang Zhenguo pointed to Yang Ming. "This is Doctor Yang. He’s just performed acupuncture and administered medicine to your sister."

Tang Ying’s gaze fell on Yang Ming, and his eyes brightened. "You’re Doctor Yang Ming? I heard you cured the mayor’s son in Shen City the other day. Is it true?"

Hearing his achievements spoken of in public, Yang Ming’s face glowed with pride. He tried to appear modest, "It was a small matter, hardly worth mentioning."

Tang Ying’s eyes were full of admiration. He turned to Tang Zhenguo, "Grandfather, Doctor Yang Ming is highly skilled. He studied under the great physician Xue Huaisu and has inherited his master’s expertise. With him treating my sister, she should be fine."

His words made Yang Ming’s lips curl in pride, his eyebrows high with smug satisfaction.

"He cannot cure her."

"The patient will soon bleed from all seven orifices and her body will convulse."

Ye Tianci’s calm voice sounded again, at the most inopportune moment.