Chapter 1331: Chapter 1309: Self-reflection

Manbao immediately followed him, and by the time the group arrived at the inner courtyard, Bai Dalang’s room was already packed with people.

It turned out that Chen Bo had been accompanying Bai Dalang to the outhouse when he saw Bai Dalang leaning against the door as he exited. Bai Dalang managed only two steps forward before collapsing to the ground.

Even someone as clueless as Chen Bo could tell something was wrong. He hurriedly rushed to help Bai Dalang up, shouting loudly for help as he did so.

The Bai Family didn’t have many servants, and those who ran over were Bai Dalang’s attendants. Chen Bo’s shouting alarmed Old Master Bai, Old Madam Bai, and Mrs. Bai, and soon even Bai Shan from next door heard what was happening.

Old Master Bai had already sent someone to Dali Village to fetch the elderly physician, while Bai Shan carried a lantern and came over to escort Manbao.

As soon as Manbao entered the room, Old Master Bai quickly stepped aside to let her examine Bai Dalang. Manbao asked a servant to bring the lamp closer, then checked Bai Dalang’s complexion under its light. Seeing the bluish hue beneath his eyes and the greenish tint on his face, she was startled.

Hurriedly, she reached out to take his pulse. Observing his dry lips and his difficulty swallowing, she ordered, “Give him a cup of warm water.”

While feeling his pulse, she turned to Bai Shan and instructed, “Have them all leave the room—there are too many people in here. Open my medical kit and take out the needles.”

Old Master Bai immediately asked Mrs. Bai to help Old Madam Bai leave the room.

Old Madam Bai was anxious. “Why hasn’t the elderly physician arrived yet? Should we try pressing the point between Dalang’s nose and upper lip to wake him up?”

Bai Shan had already opened the medical kit, removed the needle pouch, and unrolled it in front of Manbao. Quickly, Manbao drew out a needle and, in the midst of taking action, answered Old Madam Bai’s question, “He’s already awake.”

Then, she began needling. She placed multiple needles into Bai Dalang’s head and twisted them slightly. Seeing that his spirits improved somewhat, she asked, “How many times have you had diarrhea? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?”

Bai Dalang regained his composure upon seeing Manbao, his heart easing. He knew of Manbao’s medical skills. While he had never personally taken her medicine or had her treat him, the fact that she could treat the Empress and the Crown Prince spoke for itself.

Old Madam Liu had already ushered Old Madam Bai and Mrs. Bai outside, soothing their unease as she softly explained, “Don’t worry. Manbao’s medical skills are excellent. She’s someone who can treat concubines and the Crown Prince in the palace.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Chen hesitated briefly and then asked softly, “This young girl is really that skilled?”

Smiling, Old Madam Liu nodded and replied, “Let’s just wait and see what she says later. Besides, the elderly physician from Dali Village has been called for—there’s no need to worry.”

Inside the room, Bai Dalang was quietly telling Manbao about his discomfort.

Manbao reached out and pressed on his abdomen, and when she pressed the lower right area, Bai Dalang couldn’t help but cry out in pain.

Manbao furrowed her brow and asked, “After supper, you’ve had diarrhea six times?”

“Yes.”

Bai Erlang stomped his feet anxiously. “You’ve gone so many times in such a short period, and you didn’t call for help?”

Bai Dalang muttered, “I thought diarrhea usually means you ate something unclean, and that once it’s done, you’ll feel better.”

Manbao and the others: …

This was truly an incredibly erroneous assumption.

But there was no time for lecturing now. Experiencing diarrhea so frequently in such a brief span was undoubtedly not ordinary diarrhea.

Manbao inspected Bai Dalang’s eyes and tongue before asking, “Did you notice any discomfort before dinner? How many times did you visit the outhouse before supper?”

“Twice. Although the stool was somewhat loose, it wasn’t too bad.”

Manbao asked, “Did you feel dizzy?”

“A little. But I thought it was just lingering motion sickness from traveling by carriage.” Bai Dalang hesitated and added, “I didn’t have much of an appetite either.”

In the middle of the conversation, Bai Dalang clutched his stomach again. His face turned pale as he said, “I need to relieve myself. You all should leave for a moment.”

A servant immediately brought a chamber pot only for Manbao to stop him and ask, “Is it clean?”

The servant paused, then replied, “No.”

“Go get a clean one,” Manbao said, turning to Bai Dalang. “Bear with it a little longer.”

Bai Dalang was in such pain that he couldn’t speak.

The servant ran out quickly and soon returned with a clean pot, at which Manbao stepped aside to let Bai Dalang relieve himself, exiting the room.

Shortly afterward, Bai Dalang was finished, and Manbao entered to examine the contents of the pot.

Bai Dalang’s face flushed red, and he wanted to grab the blanket to cover his embarrassment. Even Old Master Bai was slightly ill at ease. Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, though visibly disgusted, stepped forward to take a quick glance. With just one look, their expressions turned grim. “This…”

Manbao solemnly told Bai Dalang, “You’re passing blood in your stool.”

Bai Dalang froze momentarily, then muttered, “How could this happen?”

While removing Bai Dalang’s clothing, Manbao spoke to Bai Shan. “I’ll recite a prescription. Go and gather the necessary herbs, brew them, and bring them immediately. Here’s the recipe: three qian of kudzu root, two qian of roasted Chinese peony, two qian of Coptis chinensis…”

Bai Erlang promptly helped his brother remove his clothes, exposing his abdomen. Manbao then took out needles and inserted them into Tianshu, Xiawan points…

Bai Shan repeated the prescription aloud, confirmed it with Manbao, and then left.

Old Master Bai nearly collapsed upon hearing that Bai Dalang had blood in his stool. After taking a look himself, his mind was spinning. Hearing the names of the herbs Manbao listed, he wasn’t sure whether the family had them on hand. He stomped his feet in frustration and stormed out. With an ashen expression, he summoned the servants and ordered, “Bring the kitchen staff here! I need to know exactly how tonight’s meal was prepared!”

Manbao continued needling Bai Dalang, and the severe pain in his abdomen, as well as his frequent urges for relief, subsided slightly.

His face pale, Bai Dalang looked at Manbao and asked, “What illness is this…?”

“It’s dysentery,” Manbao replied, frowning. “This disease mostly occurs in summer and autumn, due to the heat and eating unclean food. But now the weather is so cold—how could you catch this? Your body is overwhelmed with hot toxins, which is why the illness struck so suddenly.”

Seeing the worry in his gaze, Manbao reassured him, “Don’t worry. I will stay here tonight to administer acupuncture. You just need to sleep peacefully. Once the medicine arrives, drink it and get some rest.”

Bai Dalang truly felt some relief, but he still couldn’t sleep. He simply watched Manbao administer more needles, piercing positions on his abdomen, legs, and arms.

Perhaps the acupuncture was already working, as Bai Dalang’s episodes were no longer occurring every quarter hour.

Leaving the needles in place, Manbao heard noise coming from outside and went with Bai Erlang to investigate.

Old Master Bai was in a fit of rage, convinced that the kitchen staff were entirely to blame for Dalang’s condition.

The kitchen staff were kneeling on the ground with pale faces, but after racking their brains, they couldn’t pinpoint anything unusual.

To Old Master Bai, this was nothing more than excuses. Manbao listened for a while before quietly whispering to Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, “It’s likely caused by the food during the journey.”

Bai Erlang blinked and asked, “But we all ate the same food on the road, didn’t we?”

Manbao explained, “People’s bodies are different. Just because the food was the same doesn’t mean everyone will fall ill. The fish he ate this evening might have been a trigger.”

Bai Erlang asked in confusion, “Was the fish not clean?”

Manbao shook her head. “I’m not certain. It might not necessarily be due to contamination. How should I put it? The situation can be quite complex. But the root cause certainly wouldn’t be just tonight’s supper.”

Manbao felt somewhat guilty, sighing as she said, “He was already unwell during the journey. It’s a pity I didn’t realize that. It seems my medical skills have much room for improvement.”