Chapter 11: Mastery of Medicine

“Miss Tang is skilled in medicine?”

Prince Lin’s train of thought left Axi somewhat bewildered. He instinctively replied, “It was Miss Tang herself who said so.”

Prince Lin lowered his gaze, his thick, long eyelashes concealing the emotions in his eyes.

After waiting for a month, the divine healer Feng never appeared. Instead, a Miss Tang who knew medicine suddenly emerged. There had to be some connection. But how skilled could a mere sixteen-year-old girl be? Prince Lin couldn’t help but find his own thoughts somewhat laughable.

Tang Chaochao took Xu Jiaye and Xu Luowan directly back to the General’s Mansion, ordered the servants to detain them, and then went to the backyard.

Song Rongzhi had been waiting inside the mansion for quite some time before finally seeing her daughter return. She hurried to Tang Chaochao’s courtyard. Now that she only had this one daughter left, as a mother, she feared something might happen to her.

Tang Chaochao smiled broadly upon seeing her mother.

“Mother, you’re here.”

Calling her once or twice felt awkward, but after that, it came much more naturally.

Song Rongzhi took her daughter’s hand.

“Are you hungry? I’ve made some soup for you; it will be ready soon.”

Tang Chaochao recalled that she had only had a simple breakfast before going out. After dealing with the captives all day, she was indeed a bit hungry, and she nodded instinctively.

Having a mother was actually quite nice. Previously, when she was gathering herbs in the mountains, she lost track of time. Returning to the Taoist temple, there was not even a hot meal waiting for her, and the old Taoist priest was often away for months at a time. Since the age of eight, she had been fending for herself in every way.

Sure enough, before long, a maid brought over a bowl of soup. Song Rongzhi took it and ladled out a portion.

“This is mutton soup I made myself; it’s the warmest comfort in winter. Try it and see if you like it.”

Most people disliked the gamey taste of mutton, but Song Rongzhi’s soup had none of that. Tang Chaochao took a sip, her eyes lighting up. She had to admit, her mother’s cooking was quite good.

Watching her daughter drink with satisfaction, Song Rongzhi felt joy in her heart. The only odd thing was that her daughter always wore a Taoist robe, which seemed strange, but as long as her daughter liked it, she was happy.

Looking up, Tang Chaochao noticed the pale complexion of Song Rongzhi’s face. Since her return yesterday, she had sensed her mother’s frail health from her appearance. She then drank the soup in one go.

“Drink slowly, there’s more here,” Song Rongzhi said immediately.

Tang Chaochao waved her hand, putting down the bowl, then said to her mother, “Mother, stretch out your hand.”

Puzzled but obedient, Song Rongzhi extended her pale hand as instructed.

Tang Chaochao rolled up her sleeve and began to take her pulse. Song Rongzhi was momentarily stunned, then smiled.

“I didn’t expect my Chaochao to understand medicine, but Mother has an old ailment and must rest quietly.”

Tang Chaochao said nothing, concentrating on the diagnosis. Soon, she withdrew her hand and lowered her mother’s sleeve.

“You are right, Mother. Your weakness comes from an old illness contracted during childbirth, along with cold in the womb, which makes pregnancy difficult.”

Song Rongzhi was even more surprised. Her infertility was something Tang Wu had consulted many doctors about. Only the imperial physician had mentioned her womb’s coldness, making pregnancy unlikely. When asked if there was a cure, the imperial physician only shook his head.

“Madam’s condition requires rest and careful nurturing. Perhaps with time, improvement may come.”

Despite taking numerous tonics, her health had shown little improvement. Tang Chaochao poured herself another bowl of soup.

“Mother, stop taking your old medicine starting today. I will prepare a new prescription for you. In the short term, perhaps six months; at most a year. Your health can be fully restored.”

Song Rongzhi was stunned. Her daughter said she could heal her.

Tang Chaochao added thoughtfully, “Also, reduce the tonics. Even the best remedies can overwhelm a weak body. Your condition doesn’t suit strong tonics now. If you like, I can give you some medicinal recipes later.”

Her daughter spoke so casually that Song Rongzhi instinctively thought her ailment must be common. Whether she believed it or not was irrelevant; the important thing was that her daughter cared for her.

After Tang Chaochao finished eating, Song Rongzhi left with the prescriptions.

In the study, Tang Wu heard of this and brought the household physician to Song Rongzhi’s courtyard. It wasn’t that he doubted Tang Chaochao, but when it came to his wife’s health, it was best to have the prescriptions examined.

The household physician examined the prescription carefully.

“Marvelous! Marvelous! In my thirty years of practice, I have never seen such precise prescriptions. If Madam follows this, she will surely recover within a year or so.”

Before leaving, the physician asked who the divine healer was who wrote the prescription; he wished to apprentice under them. Tang Wu listened and promptly showed him out, staring long at the poorly written prescription in his hands.

He knew the old Taoist who took Tang Chaochao away was no ordinary man. That he was a divine healer who had imparted such exquisite skills to his daughter was remarkable. The key was that his daughter had actually learned them.

Song Rongzhi smiled softly.

“I didn’t expect our Chaochao to be so remarkable.”

Tang Wu nodded, admitting even he had to acknowledge his daughter’s extraordinary talents—not only her rare martial skills but also her ability to heal.

Along with the recent events on the street, which his subordinates also reported to him, he realized his daughter was brave, insightful, and gifted in both strategy and combat.

Tang Chaochao was unaware that by temporarily healing her mother, she had earned her father’s newfound respect.

She approached the woodshed door. The guard immediately saluted upon seeing her.

“Second Miss.”

Tang Chaochao nodded, and the guard opened the door for her. Inside were only Xu Jiaye and Xu Luowan, their attendants dismissed. Hostages were to be treated as such.

Tang Chaochao regarded the two bound figures with satisfaction. She pulled over a stool and sat directly in front of Xu Luowan.

Xu Luowan looked disheveled. Since awakening, she found herself tied to the wooden pillar, struggling until her clothes were wrinkled and her hair tousled. No trace of her noble bearing remained.

Seeing Tang Chaochao enter, she screamed immediately.

“Tang Chaochao! How dare you treat me this way! Once I return to the capital, I will have my father report your father to His Majesty. Kidnapping the daughter of a court official and assaulting a lady of the General’s Mansion—no matter how mighty your father is, there will be severe punishment!”

Xu Jiaye found his cousin’s words reasonable, but she clearly did not understand the situation. For one, their lives were now in Tang Chaochao’s hands. Furthermore, Tang Chaochao’s reason for detaining them was a bargain made by his father to clear the suspicion of plotting against the General’s Mansion’s young lady. If Tang Chaochao dared to release his father, she would not fear the matter being known by the Emperor.

His cousin truly was less clever than he by a wide margin.