FID – Chapter 705

Chapter 705: A Quack Doctor?

“Elder Li, please don’t say that. I don’t deserve such praise. I’ve only come today to examine the situation. Whether I can treat him or not is still uncertain,” Liu Yusheng said.

She couldn’t make any promises.

After all, she was a doctor, not a deity.

Even the spiritual spring water wasn’t some miraculous panacea.

“We understand. Over the years, we’ve invited countless renowned doctors, both prominent and obscure. We’re prepared for any outcome,” Elder Li said, though his expression revealed a deep bitterness and sorrow.

That kind of helpless pain—Liu Yusheng understood it all too well.

Seeing a loved one suffer from illness felt like having your heart carved out

She could still vividly recall the heart-wrenching agony when her grandfather had been gravely injured and teetered on the brink of death.

A large group of people escorted her to the rear courtyard, practically surrounding her with care and attention.

Feng Qingbai, who had accompanied her, was completely overlooked. The dignified king had been reduced to a mere background figure.

As they walked, Liu Yusheng glanced back at the man following leisurely behind them and couldn’t help but chuckle quietly, amused by the situation.

Fortunately, this was Feng Qingbai, someone who didn’t care about such things and could maintain his calm.

If it had been someone more petty, the Li family would have offended a powerful figure.

The courtyard where Li Ruifan resided wasn’t large, but it was elegant and peaceful. Inside, several maids and servants stood waiting, ready to follow any instructions at a moment’s notice.

The air carried a strong medicinal scent, and once they entered the room, the smell intensified, mixed with a damp, unpleasant odor.

Despite this, the room’s windows were tightly shut, making the air stuffy and stagnant. With the doors and windows closed, the room was also dimly lit.

Liu Yusheng glanced toward the bed and could vaguely make out a figure lying beneath the covers, which were pulled up to the person’s chin, leaving only a head of loose hair visible.

The person seemed to be asleep, showing no reaction even as so many people entered the room.

“Open the window,” Liu Yusheng instructed. Immediately, a maid stepped forward and began to open it.

“Don’t open it, I’m cold.” The person, whom Liu Yusheng had assumed to be asleep, suddenly spoke in a faint voice, accompanied by a cough.

Hearing him say that, Elder Li raised his hand, intending to tell the maid to stop, but then he remembered that it was Liu Yusheng’s order. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Open the window!”

Miss Liu was a doctor, and a doctor’s knowledge far exceeded theirs.

Hearing the elder speak, the person in bed no longer objected and remained silent.

With the window opened, the room brightened.

Liu Yusheng stepped forward and pulled the blanket down slightly, revealing the man’s face.

He bore some resemblance to Li Ruibai, though his features were more chiseled and defined. However, years of illness had left him emaciated, his face unnervingly gaunt, and his skin an unhealthy pale.

“Please extend your hand, Young Master Li, so I can check your pulse,” Liu Yusheng said gently.

The man on the bed closed his eyes, let out a soft sigh, and extended his wrist. His hand was so thin that his bones jutted out prominently.

“My illness is beyond cure. Grandfather, why must you keep troubling yourself for me?”

Every time a new doctor was brought in, it only ended in greater heartache for his family.

He had already accepted his fate.

There was no hope for recovery.

Who could understand his body better than he did?

Yet every time he wanted to refuse further treatments, he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud and cause heartbreak to his grandfather and family.

Not far from the bedside, the gathered Li family members, hearing his words, all turned their heads away, trying to hide the sudden redness in their eyes.

Each one didn’t want the others to see how much pain they were feeling inside.

Who wasn’t afraid of disappointment? But could they resign themselves to it?

If they gave up, there would truly be no hope left.

Liu Yusheng lowered her eyes slightly, carefully feeling the faint, almost imperceptible pulse at the man’s wrist. Her expression remained calm and composed.

During the time she was taking his pulse, everyone in the Li family, except for the man on the bed, held their breath, their gazes fixed intently on her face, their hearts hanging in suspense, overwhelmed by nervous tension.

They were just afraid of seeing the young woman frown.

Over the years, they had developed a certain understanding: whenever a doctor frowned, it usually meant there was no hope left.

Even after Liu Yusheng finally withdrew her hand, they were still lost in thought. Blinking hard, they exchanged glances, and then joy gradually lit up in their eyes.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Elder Li stepped forward cautiously and asked nervously, “Miss Liu, h-how is it?”

The elderly man in his seventies was so anxious that his voice stuttered.

“It’s nothing serious, just some damaged tendons,” Liu Yusheng replied calmly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Just damaged tendons?”

The man lying on the bed seemed to pause briefly. Then, when he spoke again, his tone had turned cold. “Thank you for coming today, Doctor Liu. There’s no need to prescribe or treat me any further. Grandfather, please see the guest out.”

Hearing this, Liu Yusheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. “Do you think I’m a quack doctor?”

The room instantly fell silent.

Liu Yusheng’s words struck a nerve for many present.

It wasn’t that they wanted to question her medical skills—it was just that her response sounded far too casual.

If it were truly just damaged tendons, then why had the numerous renowned doctors they’d consulted over the years always acted so cautious and evasive?

Not a single one of them had ever said it was ‘just damaged tendons,’ nothing more!

“The elders in my family are advanced in age, and they should be enjoying the filial care of their descendants by now,” the man on the bed said quietly. “Unfortunately, I’ve been a disappointment and caused them endless worry for years. I don’t ask for much—I only hope that Doctor Liu can retain a bit of professional ethics and spare my family any more unnecessary suffering.”

At the door, Feng Qingbai leaned casually against the frame. Though some distance away, he heard the man’s words loud and clear.

“Shengsheng, let’s go,” he said indifferently. “There’s no point staying where you’re unappreciated and suspected of being a quack.”

If the man on the bed weren’t already lying down, Feng Qingbai would’ve made sure he stayed down for the rest of his life.

Hearing him speak, the members of the Li family turned their heads, finally remembering that Liu Yusheng hadn’t come alone—she had been accompanied by none other than the King of Nanling.

Cold sweat broke out on their backs.

They had done their research on Liu Yusheng before inviting her.

Not only was she a famed miracle doctor, but she was also the fiancée of the King of Nanling— his future Princess Consort.

How could the future Princess Consort of Nanling possibly be a quack?

Even if she were, she definitely wouldn’t be an unethical one!

“Your Highness, please calm down. Miss Liu, please don’t be angry!” Elder Li hurriedly bowed, leading the entire family in offering their apologies with sincere expressions. “It was not our intention to offend you both. It’s just that after all these years of hardship, we’ve grown weary and anxious. Hearing Miss Liu say that it wasn’t a serious matter left us momentarily stunned, and we didn’t process it properly. Please don’t take the foolish boy’s words to heart. Miss Liu, please tell us how you intend to proceed with the treatment, and we will do everything we can to cooperate!”

Elder Li was taking a gamble.

A gamble that Liu Yusheng wasn’t just some wandering quack out to swindle people.

Someone with questionable character wouldn’t be worthy of becoming a princess consort.

Liu Yusheng smiled softly, showing no concern for the words of the man on the bed or the reactions from the others just moments before.

When you care too much, it clouds your judgment—and given the Li family’s circumstances, their doubts were understandable.

“Young Master Li does indeed have damaged meridians, but nothing else is seriously wrong. However, you’ve been giving him medication all these years, haven’t you? There’s an issue with that medicine.”

The air grew tense again.

Elder Li’s expression slowly hardened. “Miss Liu, what do you mean by that? Please explain clearly.”

“When I checked his pulse earlier, I detected traces of toxic buildup in his body. The toxin comes from a medicinal herb known as Broken Bone Dragon Ginseng. This herb severely weakens the bones and meridians.”