Chapter 297: Chapter 297: What’s Left to Dote With?
Su Shuochi was even more resolute. "Divine Doctor, what needs to be done? Tell me, I’ll do it."
The tumors were not only unsightly but also had a foul odor that was difficult to even look at. He wanted to help his wife shoulder some of the burden.
"I don’t need you to do anything for now. I’m going to apply the silver needles first. These tumors will flare up intermittently.
They itch and ache constantly, day and night. If he weren’t so strong-willed, he would have been driven mad by the torment long ago.
The fact that you can endure this agony and continue to live a normal life without showing it is truly admirable."
"To be honest, Divine Doctor, these tumors suddenly appeared all over my body. He Shen Yi and many other famous doctors all said there was no cure.
They all said it was an unheard-of, bizarre illness. I was afraid people would say I got this strange disease because I’d done too many wicked things.
I was even more afraid that if people found out, they’d call me a monster. So I just endured it and acted as if I were a normal person.
After my cousin took my pulse, she told me I was poisoned. You have no idea how happy I was. It didn’t even matter if the poison couldn’t be cured.
At least I knew I didn’t have some bizarre illness—I was just poisoned."
Gu Jiaojiao: ...
’No one in this world has it easy. Even someone as outstanding as Ren Fangyu...’
’Even with his above-average intelligence, which destined him for a life beyond the ordinary, he still couldn’t escape the fate of being poisoned.’
"Fang Yu, the Divine Doctor is here now. You don’t have to worry about these tumors not disappearing. Just lie back and let her perform the acupuncture."
This detoxification needle technique Gu Jiaojiao was using was a master skill from a medical book given to her by Grandpa Gu.
It was said to have been passed down from the Song Dynasty. The technique had long been lost to the imperial court, and only the Ye family had preserved it.
’It seems the Ye family was extraordinary even a thousand years ago. This detoxification technique can force the poison out of a person’s body.’
’Even if the person has been poisoned too deeply or for too long, and the specific poison can’t be identified, it can still suppress the toxins within their system.’
The technique involved a total of one hundred and eight needles, divided into two constellations: the thirty-six Heavenly Spirits and the seventy-two Earthly Fiends.
To begin the treatment, she had to insert thirty-six needles into his back and head first. Gu Jiaojiao used the golden needles that Su Shuochi had crafted for her.
The process took a long time. Every acupoint was critical; the slightest deviation could misplace a needle, and a serious mistake could be fatal to the patient.
"Uh, Eldest Brother, look! Several of the tumors on Fang Yu’s back have disappeared!" Second Uncle Ren shouted happily.
"They really have!" Eldest Uncle Ren had been so worried seeing his son’s head covered in needles that he hadn’t had the heart to look closely.
Su Shuochi’s eyes were fixed on his wife, not even blinking, and he occasionally wiped the sweat from her brow, so he was even less inclined to look at the patient.
Hearing Second Uncle Ren’s words, he glanced down. Several of the tumors on Ren Fangyu’s back had indeed vanished.
He felt a surge of pride. ’My wife is amazing.’ But with outsiders present, he didn’t dare show it.
"That’s all for today’s treatment. You’ll need these acupuncture sessions continuously for two months, supplemented with herbal medicine. In three months, the toxins will be completely cleared out.
I can only perform the acupuncture for three days myself. After that, I will call Mr. He in the Imperial City and have him continue the treatment for you."
After speaking, Gu Jiaojiao gave Ren Fangyu some oral medicine and some herbs for medicinal baths.
"Excuse me, Divine Doctor. Since Jiaojiao is your apprentice, could we have her perform the acupuncture for my son?"
"My apprentice has learned my true techniques. She is a little bit more skilled than Mr. He. But she doesn’t have the time. In a couple of days, she has to register at Imperial University."
Gu Jiaojiao seized the opportunity to praise herself, which also conveniently explained why she didn’t have time.
This way, if her identity was ever exposed, they wouldn’t read too much into it.
"Since you put it that way, Divine Doctor, can I also go to the Imperial City?" Ren Fangyu asked. He happened to be going to the Imperial City for his studies anyway.
"You may. Starting tomorrow, my apprentice will perform the acupuncture for you. She is exceptionally talented. You could say the student has surpassed the master."
"My wife is very skilled, but that’s a credit to your excellent teaching, Divine Doctor. On her behalf, I thank you."
"Enough with the flattery. You may all leave now. I have new medicinal formulas to research."
It was only then that Eldest Uncle Ren realized his nephew-in-law was overly familiar with the Divine Doctor.
’This Divine Doctor is young and beautiful. Although his niece is not bad herself, she still pales in comparison when standing next to the Divine Doctor.’
’Since they both have the surname Su, there probably isn’t anything romantic going on, right?’ he thought, still uneasy. He couldn’t help but ask, "You and Shuo Ci seem quite close, Divine Doctor."
Su Shuochi: ... ’I got carried away just now!’
Gu Jiaojiao knew the man was no good at talking his way out of things. "Yes, we are quite close. If you go back five generations, we’re paternal cousins."
The woman’s clear, bright voice was as pleasant as a spring breeze, giving Eldest Uncle Ren the strange illusion that it was Jiaojiao who was speaking.
"No wonder you were willing to take Jiaojiao as your apprentice, Divine Doctor."
"I don’t choose my apprentices based on family ties. The main reason is that Jiaojiao is naturally gifted and learns everything I teach her quickly."
"That is certainly true. Jiaojiao has been bright and clever since she was a child. As long as she’s willing to learn something, she picks it up fast."
What Eldest Uncle Ren didn’t say out loud was that Jiaojiao had been pampered and spoiled since childhood and had never liked to study anything.
Su Shuochi led the three members of the Ren family slowly toward his office, showing them some of the production sites along the way.
Gu Jiaojiao went into a private room inside the lab to take a shower, then entered her personal space to change into a fresh set of clothes.
When she arrived at Su Shuochi’s studio, he hadn’t yet returned with the three from the Ren family.
She waited a short while before Su Shuochi returned with them. The sun had set, so she got ready to drive home.
Since Gu Jiaojiao had taken her two uncles and eldest cousin and left, the only people remaining in the Ren family’s living room were Old Master Ren, Ren Cuiping, Song Zijin, Sheng Yueyue, and a few bodyguards and secretaries.
Ren Cuiping watched Sheng Yueyue’s dramatic wailing but remained completely unmoved. She even felt a trace of annoyance.
"Aren’t you so capable? What are you crying for?" Ren Cuiping’s words were devoid of any emotion.
Sheng Yueyue’s tears fell even harder. "Mom... you... what right does an abandoned woman like you have to talk to me?"
Ren Cuiping was so furious she almost reeled backward. She had never dreamed that in her own daughter’s heart, she was just an "abandoned woman"!
Seeing her mother swaying on her feet, Sheng Yueyue realized she had gotten too worked up and had blurted out what she was really thinking.
She quickly lowered her head and dabbed at the non-existent tears in the corners of her eyes. "I’m sorry... Mom... I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted you to understand that we’re both pitiful people."
"Hmph!" Ren Cuiping sneered. "Pitiful people? We’re both pitiful people?
Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You just resent that I’m divorced and can’t help you anymore.
The only reason I got divorced was because of you in the first place, Sheng Yueyue! Let me tell you something.
Don’t think that just because I’m getting old, I’ll fall for your sweet talk! For the rest of my life, I’m done doting on you."
Rebuked by her mother, Sheng Yueyue was filled with contempt. ’You’re divorced yourself. What do you even have left to dote on me with?’
But she didn’t say this out loud. After all, her father-in-law had instructed her to curry favor with the Ren family.
"Mom, how could you accuse me so wrongly...? How could I ever resent you?" she said, sobbing.
