Mrs. Gu was languidly leaning against the bed when she suddenly heard Ju'er shout, "The eldest miss has arrived."
"It's Xixi who has come." Mrs. Gu showed a pale smile on her face towards her.
Qin Liuxi looked at her complexion and frowned, "You have not yet recovered from childbirth; you should be resting in bed."
Mrs. Gu said, "Lying down for too long is also tiring. I only just sat up not long ago. Are you here to see me?"
"Please lie down, I'll perform acupuncture on you." Qin Liuxi stepped forward to help her lie down, first took her pulse, then opened a box of Golden Needles, and lifted the blanket.
Qin Liuxi gently rubbed her abdomen, saying, "This childbirth has greatly depleted your Primordial Qi. To recover well, simple dietary supplements are not enough. It must be complemented with acupuncture to dredge the meridians, guide the yang energy into the body, and replenish the Primordial Qi. Otherwise, even after you recover from confinement, you will suffer from a cold uterus and back pain, especially on rainy days."
Mrs. Gu looked at her in surprise, "You are so young yet you know so much. Who did you learn your medical skills from? We had no idea that you knew this."
"It's quite normal that you don't know, given that I've been away from home since I was young." Qin Liuxi took a Golden Needle, glanced at her, and said, "If you are not at ease, I won't treat you."
Mrs. Gu quickly said, "I'm not doubting you, our lives—the lives of the three of us—were all saved by you. How could Third Aunt not be grateful and trust you! It's only curiosity, and admiration; you're very impressive."
Qin Liuxi hummed in agreement, offering no rebuttal.
She held the needle at an angle and pierced Mrs. Gu's Guanyuan acupoint on her abdomen, shallowly at first then deeper, pressing firmly and lifting slowly nine times. This was followed by Shenque, Mingmen and several other acupoints, treated likewise, repetitively several times.
As Qin Liuxi twirled the needles, sweat began to form on her forehead. Looking at Mrs. Gu, she said, "Acupuncture, in addition to helping you expel lochia as soon as possible, is also about Solidifying Foundation and Nourishing Yuan, benefiting yang and replenishing deficiencies. It's normal to feel some heat in your abdomen from the needling, there's no need to panic."
Indeed, Mrs. Gu felt a gradual burning warmth in her abdomen, yet she felt no discomfort, only immense relief, and said, "It's true, it's miraculous, it feels like there's hot water compress on my stomach."
Qin Liuxi didn't explain that this was the acupuncture technique known as Mountain Fire Burning, naturally comfortable.
With Mrs. Gu feeling warmth, Qin Liuxi removed the needles, massaged the needle points closed, took out all the needles, and pulled the blanket up for her, saying, "You just rest well."
"Third Aunt doesn't know how to thank you enough," Mrs. Gu looked at Qin Liuxi with grateful eyes.
"I've accepted your valuables, it's only right that I treat you."
Mrs. Gu was somewhat puzzled, what valuables of hers were there?
Qin Liuxi didn't explain further and asked the wet nurse to bring the children over. She took out two jade buckles hanging on red ropes and tied them to their swaddles, saying, "Both your younger brothers, being premature and frail, are more susceptible to harm from evil forces. These two Peace Pendants, which I've obtained from the Daoist Temple, should not be removed from them in the future, they will protect them from all evil."
Mrs. Gu was deeply moved, sat up, and bowed solemnly to Qin Liuxi while still on the bed, "On their behalf, I thank my elder sister for your protection and love."
Qin Liuxi, hearing the term 'elder sister', showed no particular emotion. Meanwhile, the two little ones opened their eyes that could not yet focus and looked her way. She curled her fingertips slightly, quickly leaving.
Mrs. Gu signaled for the wet nurse to place the children on the bed. She picked up the jade buckles to look and with warm eyes, affectionately touched the faces of her two sons, murmuring, "I thought your lives were misfortunate, but it turns out mother was wrong."
Having a sister is a great fortune.