5 A New World (1/2)
Waking from a fitful sleep, An Fei found herself in the study room again, nestled comfortably on the linen bed. With a quiet yawn, she stretched her limbs before laying on her left side as she hugged the pillow, occasionally scratching her ears.
There seemed to be a commotion just outside the curtains, the arguing voices both male, one aged and one still relatively young.
It seemed that the Physician Gao had returned, this time with an ardent passion that refused to cower.
”Minister Wei, Minister Wei,” the aged voice heaved a large sigh, the sound of hands brushing against coarse fabric echoing throughout the study.
”Did this physician not tell you repeatedly, do not agitate the fourth miss? She is but a child! One that has only opened her eyes to see the world for the first time fourteen years after birth. And look at what you're doing! Taking her out for a stroll in the autumn season, did the Lord think such an action qualified as doting affection?”
The shaking of a large cloth could be heard, slightly displacing the curtains. ”Only with this thin blanket, not even a proper hand warmer or clothing, does the fourth miss appear invincible now that she has finally awoken!?”
”This…” Wei Xuan's voice could be heard, the man lacking all of his previous vigor and imposing demeanor. ”What should be done? A recovery should be possible, right?”
”What recovery?” the physician snorted. ”What Minister Wei should be grateful about is that the young miss won't suffer much from this, just a few bouts of dizziness. However, recovery is impossible.”
With his statement, the entire study's atmosphere became gloomy as the occupants remained silent for a few moments. Opening her mouth, An Fei was about to speak when the old physician spoke again, his voice uncertain and lacking strength.
”Minister Wei, this old practitioner must first apologize…the fourth miss' condition isn't that impossible to cure…”
”What!?”
”What did you say!?”
Interrupting the physician's words were Minister Wei and a female, the matured voice befuddling An Fei for a moment. However, her gaze swiftly hardened, hatred coursing through the scarlet irises as her breathing spiked. Her body trembling once more, the heart began to accelerate its pulses as her vision began to fall under the scarlet haze.
Having learned her lesson, An Fei pursed her lips together as she clenched the linen blankets nearby, taking deep breaths until the symptoms had fully receded. Fortunately, other than a slight rustle of clothing from her abrupt movement, the rest of her actions were barely imperceptible in sound.
”This physician will say it here now. This old man had returned to my books earlier and after much searching, discovered a method that could possibly treat the fourth miss's condition with the heart. However,” the physician's voice became solemn, no longer as passionate.
”There will be failure every eight of ten attempts. If Minister Wei and Second Madam Luo wishes not to hear, this physician will stop now.”
”Continue. Speak without worries, physician.” Wei Xuan's voice could be heard, calm and even. ”Second Madam and I wish to heard Physician Gao's thoughts.”
”Very well,” Physician Gao replied. The slight shuffling of feet could be heard until the aged voice rang out once more.
”This method involves the fourth miss ingesting a thousand-years aged Eight-Petaled Violet Yin Herb, preferably with one with a half-moon glow emanating prior to extraction. This is to resolve the fourth miss' body being devoid of natural Yin essence; three stalks should complete the treatment, allowing the miss to live comfortably though with a slightly weaker body. However…” The physician's voice trailed off, as if in deep thought.
”However? Physician Gao, is there a problem?”
”Shuyan, be good and wait patiently. Let Physician Gao think some more.”
Noticing that the physician had ceased to speak, his aged brows locked in deep thought, the Second Madam could not help but urgently call out, prompting Wei Xuan to hurriedly console and quiet the woman.
Placing a finger over her lips to quieten the anxious woman, he motioned for her to remain seated as he strode towards the curtained bed. However, just as his right hand's fingertips had brushed against the curtains, Physician Gao's mutter caused him to pause.
”…failure of the treatment can result in the fourth miss falling comatose, or losing a significant portion of her mental function. Another method that brings forth lesser risk would be to find a pure Yin-oriented cultivation manual for the miss to practice with.”
”However, finding such a manual is akin to plucking clouds from the sky with a bamboo stick, not to mention the government strictly regulates the distribution and collection of cultivation-related artifacts. Additionally, the fourth miss would require a considerable amount of talent to practice such a technique, another hurdle that can't be determined for certain.”