Chapter 530: Chapter 188 Mediocre_2
"There are... so many birds in the tea garden..."
Qi Yutai stared into the void, as if he could see an invisible silk painting that others couldn’t, murmuring, "And that old man, he and the Light-vented are watching me... with bleeding eyes... Dad!" He suddenly became terrified, grabbed the blanket with one hand, buried his head in it, and started raving, "There are ghosts, the ghosts of the Yang Family have come!"
"Get away——"
He began to scream and curse in panic, and two servants hurried over to restrain him as much as they could.
Qi Qing looked down at the bloody imprint his son had suddenly made on his wrist and let out a heavy sigh.
"Young Master... seems to show no signs of improvement..." the Steward said apprehensively.
Despite the passing time, Qi Yutai still spoke in delirium, showing not the slightest bit of improvement.
Qi Qing shook his head.
In the room’s Incense Burner, the Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance burned quietly. There was a soft knock on the door, followed by the door being pushed open as Cui Min came in, holding a bowl of medicine.
Seeing Qi Qing was there, Cui Min bowed, "My lord."
Qi Qing waved his hand in dismissal.
Cui Min then stepped forward, placing the medicine bowl on the high table, out of Qi Yutai’s reach, and after seeing the servants restraining Qi Yutai, he let them go and himself took a Red Pill from his medical chest and allowed Qi Yutai to take it.
Qi Yutai gradually calmed down.
The Calming Pill could only help him gather his spirits and calm down for a short while, temporarily bringing a sense of peace through his stupor. Cui Min had the servant bring the bowl of medicine and, while Qi Yutai was calm, fed him spoon by spoon.
After finishing the bowl of medicine, Qi Yutai had completely quieted down, his eyelids drooping, looking drowsy. The servants cleaned up the spilled medicine on his body, helped him lie down, covered him with a blanket, and lowered the bed curtains, finally bringing some stillness to the room.
Qi Qing, watching Cui Min pack up his medical chest, eventually spoke, "Envoy Cui, Yutai’s condition has not improved."
Cui Min paused in his motions.
He turned around and respectfully bowed to Qi Qing, "I am ashamed of my inadequate medical skills and of not living up to your trust after so many days without benefit."
Qi Qing spoke indifferently, "Why should you be modest, Envoy? When ’Cui’s Medical Theories’ was released, all healers in Shengjing praised it. If you claim to lack medical skill, then no one in the Liang Dynasty would dare to claim they understand medicine."
He continued, "You have diagnosed my son before, why is this time different from the last?"
Cui Min’s palms were slightly damp. He calmly replied, "My lord, the Young Master’s illness stems from fright and shock, as a result of encountering a sudden blaze and barely escaping with his life, which startled his heart and spirit, leaving his soul unsettled. Though the Young Master suffered a disturbance of the spirit previously, the source of the shock did not appear life-threatening, so it was less grave. Perhaps this time the circumstances were more perilous, hence the severity."
He did not mention the word "madness," nor did he address the oddities in Qi Yutai’s words, treating it as just a complex and unusual condition.
Qi Qing remained silent for a while, then asked, "Envoy Cui, he is my only son."
"Yutai has been frail and tender from childhood, gentle in nature, occasionally mischievous, but also quite obedient."
"I only had this son after turning forty, and when Yutai’s mother was passing, her only worry was for him. If something happens to Yutai, I would not have the face to meet my wife in Hell."
"Therefore, I only have one question for you," Qi Qing looked at Cui Min, "Can Yutai’s illness truly be cured?"
The room was quiet, and the incoherent babbling behind the curtains was especially distinct.
The old man’s dim eyes were calm, and with age, if one looked closely, there seemed to be a faint cloudiness over them, which appeared almost illusory upon another glance.
Cui Min felt the perspiration slowly emerging in the hand concealed in his sleeve, the sweat seemingly growing, crawling from his palm up his back and then falling drop by drop from his forehead, silently disappearing into his collar.
He lowered his eyes, and where his gaze landed, the intricate patterns on the woolen carpet were vivid. Among the stone-embellished petals were dark reddish-brown spots. Sometimes when Qi Yutai fell ill, he would grab anything he could throw and hurl it around the room. Not long ago, a young maidservant was killed here.
The heavy air weighed down upon his head, and Cui Min stared at that red stain, and after a long while, he uttered two words: "It’s curable."
Qi Qing was relieved, "Good."
"The Envoy’s heart and skills are benevolent. In the Medical Officer Institute, I only trust you. The Empress had intended to promote Ji Xun to Vice Director, but it was I who dissuaded her. Doctor Ji is still too young, lacking the maturity and steadiness of Envoy Cui."
He slowly stood up, patting Cui Min on the shoulder with warmth, "Envoy, do not disappoint my complete trust in you," as he left with the aid of the Steward.
Cui Min stood still until the shadows of Qi Qing and his attendant vanished beyond the door, then lifted his head.
His spine, which had been slightly bent just moments ago, now felt stiff and sore. He wiped his forehead.
His body was drenched in cold sweat.