Duoduo blinked her big eyes. You can only test me on what you have taught.
Master Zhang stroked his beard and asked the first question.
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians, what are they? And what acupoints are on each of them?
Right from the start, Master Zhang posed a very difficult question.
Duoduo lowered her head in thought for a moment before slowly speaking.
There is the Ren Meridian, Du Meridian, Chong Meridian, Dai Meridian...
It took Duoduo the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to recite all the acupoints.
Master Zhang stroked his beard, his eyes filled with immense satisfaction.
Not bad. It seems you have memorized the meridians and acupoints thoroughly.
Then let me test you further. If the Ren Meridian is blocked, what are the symptoms?
Master Zhang had only mentioned this in passing during class.
The Ren Meridian starts at the Huiyin acupoint and ends at the Chengjiang acupoint. It mainly regulates the qi of all the yin meridians in the body...
Duoduo rattled off the answer smoothly, repeating exactly what Master Zhang had said without missing a single word.
Master Zhang nodded once again.
Master Zhang took out a silver needle and gestured to Duoduo.
Try doing an acupuncture puncture on the Hegu acupoint.
Duoduo took a handkerchief from her pocket, wiped her fingers first, and only then picked up the silver needle.
Master Zhang looked very pleased.
Master, should I puncture your hand? Duoduo asked uncertainly.
Yes.
Master Zhang extended his hand.
Duoduo took Master Zhang's hand and pierced it swiftly and accurately.
Yangxi! Quchi! Shousanli...
For every acupoint Master Zhang named, Duoduo inserted a needle.
Initially, Master Zhang had intended to dampen Duoduo's confidence a bit.
After all, studying medicine was not something that could be mastered overnight.
Many people could not fully comprehend it even if they spent their entire lives on it.
However, as she correctly passed his increasingly difficult tests one by one, Master Zhang was secretly astonished.
In truth, he had heard Li Jin say that Duoduo had an extremely high aptitude.
Master Zhang had not thought much of it.
Sometimes, having a natural talent was not enough to learn medicine.
Of course, it was not impossible for talented individuals to learn faster than others.
But this level of speed seemed to be much, much faster than he had ever imagined.
What Duoduo learned in one sitting was equivalent to what others might spend years studying.
Duoduo flawlessly pulled out the silver needles and placed them back on the cloth bag.
Master Zhang looked at Duoduo, stroked his beard, and pondered for a moment.
Princess, you have already performed acupuncture on someone!
Master Zhang's statement was a certainty.
Duoduo nodded.
I have punctured Father, and I have also punctured Lingfeng.
You performed acupuncture on the Prince? Master Zhang was startled.
The Prince of Pingyang had a precious and noble body. How could he just let anyone stick needles into him?
Duoduo nodded in confusion.
Father caught a cold and his fever would not go down, so I gave him acupuncture.
Master, I did it exactly as you taught me. I did not do it blindly!
Master Zhang accidentally plucked out one of his beard hairs.
And the Prince? Is he in good health?
Duoduo tilted her head. Why was Master Zhang so nervous?
Father is perfectly fine! Master, do you not have confidence in your own medical skills?
Hearing Duoduo's words, Master Zhang pulled a long face.
Hold out your hands!
Duoduo hid her hands behind her back.
I did not do anything wrong, so why should I be punished?
You have not even finished your apprenticeship. You have only learned the bare minimum, and yet you dare to perform acupuncture on people?
You disregarded human life. Tell me, should you not be punished?
Duoduo shook her head. Master, you are wrong!
I only did it to save someone! Father was in a critical condition. If I had not given him acupuncture, his life would have been in danger!
I saved Father and I saved Lingfeng. Even Master Li praised me.
Why do you want to punish me? I will not accept it!
Duoduo's eyes widened, her face full of defiance.
Ahem, Master Zhang, I can testify to this!
Li Jin walked in from outside the door.
The situation at the time was indeed too critical.
Moreover, I was the one who told the Princess to perform the acupuncture, and she did an excellent job.
Master Zhang, you should be happy to have such a brilliant disciple!
Li Jin took all the blame upon himself.
Master Zhang glared at Master Li. The Princess has only just started learning theoretical knowledge. How could you let her perform acupuncture?
If something had gone terribly wrong, would she not be too terrified to ever use a needle again?
You are ruining a student. Li Jin, you have gone too far!
Li Jin rubbed his nose.
Master Zhang, I admit that I was at fault in some regards.
However, as the Princess's teacher, are you not doing a rather poor job?
I clearly told you that the Princess has an incredibly high aptitude.
If I were you, I would have already taught her everything I knew without holding back.
On one hand, you care for her and fear that she might be devastated by a setback and never recover.
On the other hand, you hide your knowledge and refuse to teach her. Do you not have a single clue as to why the Prince invited you here?
Seeing the two masters arguing, Duoduo became very anxious.
Duoduo held out both her hands. Master Zhang, I was wrong. Go ahead and punish me!
Looking at Duoduo's sensible demeanor, Master Zhang stroked his beard.
Seeing as the Princess knows her mistakes and is willing to correct them, I will let it go this time.
Master Zhang, why be so contradictory? Just tell the Princess directly that you could not bear to hurt her, and be done with it.
Unable to stand Master Zhang's pretenses, Li Jin bluntly exposed him.
Master Zhang was so infuriated by Li Jin that his beard bristled.
Li Jin hurriedly backed away.
A gentleman uses his words, not his fists! I am doing this for your own good!
Oh, right. From now on until we enter the capital, the Princess will study medicine with you.
And remember to teach her everything you know. Do not hold anything back!
Li Jin said this as he quickly ran outside.
Following closely behind him was a disciplinary ruler thrown his way.
Yingniang had not dared to say a single word the entire time, terrified that the disciplinary ruler would fall upon her father.
Seeing the ruler fall to the ground, Yingniang breathed a sigh of relief.
Duoduo quickly ran to the door and picked up the ruler.
Master, it is broken!
Duoduo carefully placed the ruler on the table.
Master Zhang casually tossed the ruler into a nearby box.
Did you just say you wanted to learn how to take a pulse?
Duoduo's eyes lit up, and then she nodded vigorously like a little chick pecking at rice.
Master, I will definitely study hard!
If you want to learn how to check pulses, you must first know what each type of pulse feels like.
Master Zhang explained the theory first before letting Duoduo practice.
Master Zhang spoke eloquently and with passion, while Duoduo listened with utmost concentration.
Yingniang grew drowsy listening to it.
Have you memorized it?
Mhm. Duoduo nodded.
Alright, check her pulse now. Master Zhang pointed at Yingniang.
Suddenly seeing Master Zhang pointing at her, Yingniang jolted in fright and stood up.
Master, I am sorry, I was wrong!
Pfft!
Duoduo burst into laughter.
Sister, Master wants me to check your pulse.
Check my pulse? But I am not sick. Yingniang expressed her resistance.
Hold out your hand!
Master Zhang tapped the table with the broken ruler.
Seeing how scared Yingniang was, Duoduo rolled her eyes in thought.
Master, how about I check your pulse instead?
