Upon hearing the question, Ye Qingcheng was not surprised. She calmly nodded and gave an affirmative answer.
"Yes, I felt something was wrong with the child's complexion at the full moon banquet that day. It might be congenital heart disease."
"Congenital heart disease?"
The general's wife was bewildered by this unfamiliar term, looking at Ye Qingcheng with even greater confusion.
"It's a heart condition carried from the womb."
Ye Qingcheng paused, considering how to phrase it in ancient medical terms. She had forgotten that ancient and modern medical terminology differed greatly.
The moment she heard the word "heart condition," the general's wife, who was still on her way, let out a low cry and her vision went black, almost fainting.
Fortunately, Ye Qingcheng was quick and supported her, preventing a disaster.
Heart conditions were almost synonymous with terminal illnesses in the current dynasty. Even if the child was saved now, he would constantly face the risk of losing his life in the future.
Unlike Su Qingcheng's panic, General Shangguan was fuming, his beard bristled in anger.
"My son is still so young, how can he endure silver needles? Do you even know how to treat illnesses? If not, don't pretend to understand! My child is not someone anyone can casually handle!"
General Shangguan's tone was filled with distrust towards Su Qingcheng. He had no intention of letting her treat his son. Allowing her into the house was only because of his wife.
Previous renowned imperial physicians or miracle doctors had all said the child was too young to withstand medicinal treatment.
When Su Qingcheng proposed acupuncture, General Shangguan's disbelief grew, his face showing utter disgust and refusal.
The general's wife tried to pull the general away, but she was merely a woman, no match for the robust General Shangguan.
Hearing this, Su Qingcheng understood his meaning immediately, and a surge of anger rose within her.
Her medical skills being questioned made her feel uncomfortable. She roughly pulled her hand back from the general's grasp.
With a blank expression, she returned the silver needles to her medical box. Su Qingcheng decided not to argue with General Shangguan. She tidied her belongings and stood aside, crossing her arms and looking at him coldly.
"If the General insists on not trusting me and doesn't want me to treat the young master, I won't force it."
Su Qingcheng spoke in a calm tone, her face betraying no emotion.
"However, I must be clear: based on my observations just now, within half an incense stick's time, the young master will experience difficulty breathing, followed by cyanosis all over his body. In severe cases, it could be life-threatening!"
When she had approached to examine her eldest son's pulse earlier, Su Qingcheng had already noticed that his condition was very serious and he could die at any moment.
Newborns were already extremely fragile, and he had not received proper treatment for these days of illness. They had only been prolonging his life by following the instructions of those doctors and using rare and precious medicinal herbs, which had little effect.
If the situation hadn't been so urgent, she wouldn't have resorted to using silver needles to control the condition, which had led to General Shangguan's doubts.
But her good intentions were met with ingratitude. It was impossible not to be angry!
However, these words sounded like a threat to General Shangguan, deliberately exaggerated.
Moreover, since the child fell ill, although the condition had been precarious, it had never reached a point where death was imminent.
This back-and-forth only deepened his disbelief in Su Qingcheng. He even felt she was cursing his child!
General Shangguan flew into a rage, veins bulging on his face. His eyes fixed on Su Qingcheng with hostility.
If it weren't for her status as the Wangfei, he would have already ordered people to beat Su Qingcheng soundly and throw her out!
"Wangfei, if you have no ability, don't curse my child! Today, no matter what, I will not let you touch a single hair on him!"
The general was clearly enraged. The general's wife, who had intended to persuade him, stopped herself mid-sentence.
In fact, the wife also found Su Qingcheng's words to be somewhat alarmist. After all, while the child had been in poor condition lately, he had never been diagnosed as being close to death.
"Guards! Please escort the Wangfei out of the General's Mansion!"
General Shangguan, still fuming, felt he couldn't bear to see Su Qingcheng for another moment. He roared, ordering her expulsion from the mansion.
Several strong guards entered the room in response. Their attitude was respectful, but they clearly intended to "escort" Su Qingcheng out.
With a cold smile, Su Qingcheng offered no objection. She picked up her medical box and walked towards the door.
Given General Shangguan's resolute attitude, Su Qingcheng knew that staying longer would be futile, as he would not heed her words.
If that was the case, it would be better to let them learn a lesson.
She walked calmly behind the guards, step by step, out of the General's Mansion, showing no sign of being driven out.
However, after she left, General Shangguan still felt unsatisfied, and a hint of worry about her words gnawed at him. He quickly called out again:
"Guards!"
His personal attendant immediately entered the room, obediently awaiting his command.
"Take this general's token and go to the palace. Invite imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to examine the young master!"
General Shangguan took a token from his waist and tossed it to the attendant, his eyes revealing unconcealed worry.
Even though he didn't believe in Su Qingcheng's medical skills or her words, her pronouncements had undeniably planted a seed of doubt in his heart.
The attendant took the token and, without delay, left the mansion, heading towards the imperial palace.
Meanwhile, Su Qingcheng, having just stepped out of the General's Mansion, heard the loud slam of the gates closing behind her!
The entire General's Mansion had received orders not to allow her to step foot inside again!
Facing such treatment, Su Qingcheng felt both angry and resentful, regretting why she had gotten involved in this troublesome affair, only to be unrewarded and exhausted.
She glared angrily at the gates of the General's Mansion and turned to leave. However, after only a few steps, she stopped.
Her fists, hidden in her sleeves, clenched and then relaxed. She let out a long sigh and changed direction, sitting down on the steps in front of the General's Mansion.
No matter how General Shangguan treated her, no matter how much doubt and mistrust he harbored, she couldn't just watch a vibrant young life perish and walk away.
Although Su Qingcheng was angry, she was even more concerned about the eldest son's health, fearing that if she left, the child, who had been in the world for less than a hundred days, would die.
As a physician, she could not and would not risk a life for her own pride.
Therefore, she could only sit on the steps and wait quietly.
Soon, the gates of the General's Mansion opened again. The person emerging was the attendant who had been dispatched to the imperial palace.
As he passed Su Qingcheng, the attendant merely glanced at her, appearing somewhat surprised, before mounting his horse and riding away without saying a word.
However, the guards who followed to see him off were different. Seeing Su Qingcheng shamelessly sitting by the entrance, their expressions immediately changed.