The preparations were quite cumbersome.
Gong Juechen wrote a prescription, then handed it to An Jing and said, "Purchase all the herbs listed here in full, not one less."
"Okay." An Jing took the prescription and looked it over with Xiao Changyi, noticing it listed at least a hundred herbs. Since both of them were not very knowledgeable about it, they handed the prescription to Doctor Jiang.
As a doctor, Jiang should be able to discern some of its principles. More importantly, this was for the sake of safety.
It was their baby son, still so young. Even though Fang Shicai had said that Gong Juechen’s medical skills were rare, they still weren’t quite at ease to let this stranger treat him.
Besides, it was their first meeting with Gong Juechen. Who knew if he meant to harm their baby son?
It’s always better to be cautious.
Seeing the cautiousness of An Jing and Xiao Changyi, Gong Juechen wasn’t angry. On the contrary, he appreciated them for it. They didn’t just follow the crowd nor did they resort to desperate measures due to their anxiety. They were truly rational, which he liked.
Doctor Jiang closely examined the prescription, making sure there were no ingredients harmful to children, before saying to An Jing and Xiao Changyi, "The prescription given by the palace doctor is mild and can be used."
Only then did An Jing let Meng Zhuqing take the prescription to town to buy the medicinal herbs.
Then, Gong Juechen instructed them to prepare a medicinal tub, gauze, and other items.
Once Gong Juechen had nothing else for An Jing to prepare, An Jing asked him, "Palace doctor, how long will the treatment take to cure him?"
Gong Juechen replied, "At least half a month, or at most two months."
Gong Juechen started the actual treatment for An Yiyun’s congenital deficiency on the second day after arriving in Qilin County.
The treatment took place in the bathhouse.
A wooden tub suitable for infants to soak in medicinal baths had been hastily made the day before, and now it was filled with simmered medicinal broth; next to the tub, there was a long table with a silver needle and fin knife among other items.
An Jing wanted to accompany in the bathhouse, but Gong Juechen was worried that she couldn’t withstand seeing the treatment process, so he didn’t let her enter, though he agreed to let Xiao Changyi accompany inside.
Doctor Jiang served as Gong Juechen’s assistant.
With Xiao Changyi being inside, An Jing felt slightly more at ease, yet she remained extremely anxious, pacing back and forth at the entrance of the bathhouse.
Inside the bathhouse.
As An Yiyun was still too small to sit in the tub, Xiao Changyi had to hold him, immersing his body in the medicinal broth while keeping his neck and above out of it.
As soon as An Yiyun was placed in the medicinal broth, he cried miserably. The sound of his crying tormented An Jing so deeply it was like being cut with a knife.
An Jing wanted to rush into the bathhouse, but before she could act, Gong Juese said, "Jingjing, my brother dislikes disturbances during his treatments and might simply walk away. I won’t be able to persuade him either, so please wait outside."
An Jing had no choice but to continue waiting outside, gripping her heart in extreme agony.
An Yiyun cried intensely for a while but soon ran out of strength to cry, his cries slowly diminishing until there were none.
An Jing, unable to hear An Yiyun’s cries, became even more anxious and tormented, her pacing becoming even more hurried. She bit down tightly on her lower lip, not realizing it was bleeding.
Inside the bathhouse, once Gong Juechen was sure he could proceed with acupuncture on An Yiyun, he started the procedure. An Yiyun was in so much pain that his little face contorted, his small body convulsing, but he couldn’t even make a sound while crying.