"Elder Song has already taken his pulse—the pulse was likely slippery and slow. You've also examined his mouth—his tongue should be reddish with a white, greasy coating at the root, and his gums are bleeding."

  Lin Yu spoke calmly and composedly.

  Song Minghui was utterly astonished. Lin Yu hadn’t even examined the patient, yet he could describe the symptoms so accurately.

  "This condition is known as 'upper excess and lower deficiency,' or 'upper heat and lower cold.' But nowadays, many doctors only understand the surface of it, not the root. Very few can truly grasp this illness." Lin Yu continued.

  "Exactly!"

  Song Minghui nodded vigorously, his eyes brimming with excitement. "Then tell me, how should this illness be treated?"

  "Since Elder Song has already diagnosed it thoroughly, the prescription should be Scutellaria baicalensis 6g, Coptis chinensis 6g, Rhubarb 3g, and Prepared Aconite 12g. The rhubarb should be steeped in boiling water for ten minutes to remove residue, while the prepared aconite needs to be decocted over a low flame for forty minutes. Then, the two are combined, warmed, and taken together."

  Lin Yu spoke fluently, and Song Minghui’s excitement grew even stronger. His heart was filled with amazement—*Truly, heroes emerge from the young!*

  Beside them, Song Zheng couldn’t help but gape in surprise as he looked at his grandfather’s prescription. Lin Yu’s words matched it exactly!

  "To my knowledge, this illness can only be cured with this prescription. Xiao He, what’s the method you mentioned that can produce rapid results?" Song Minghui asked curiously.

  "Acupuncture. The effects are immediate. May I borrow your fine needles, Elder Song?"

  "Of course!"

  Song Minghui quickly instructed someone to fetch the needle pouch.

  Once the needle box was brought over, Lin Yu had the man remove his outer clothes and lie face-down on the treatment table. He then picked up three fine needles in each hand and swiftly inserted them into the man’s back and lower back at specific acupoints.

  "*Liuhe Divine Needling*?"

  Song Minghui couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. This needle technique was said to place extremely high demands on the practitioner and carried significant risks. It was nearly lost to time, yet the young Lin Yu could perform it so flawlessly.

  The onlookers also murmured in amazement. Though they couldn’t comprehend Lin Yu’s needle technique, the sight of him manipulating six needles simultaneously with both hands was mesmerizing.

  After about ten minutes of needle retention, the pain in the man’s back and the chill in his lower body had significantly diminished. His complexion gradually regained its rosy hue.

  "A miracle doctor! The Jishitang truly houses miracle doctors!"

  The man, who had suffered from this illness for so long, now felt as if his ailment had completely vanished.

  Hearing this, Song Minghui sighed and shook his head with a trace of shame. The outcome of today’s contest was clear—victory and defeat had already been decided.

  By the time the man stood up, he no longer felt any discomfort. Instead, his body seemed filled with energy, vibrant and revitalized, as if reborn.

  *Thud!*

  The man’s wife suddenly knelt before Lin Yu, choking back tears. "Miracle doctor, thank you for saving my husband’s life!"

  She then tugged at her husband, urging him to kowtow to Lin Yu as well.

  "No, no, this isn’t necessary."

  Lin Yu quickly helped the couple to their feet. He then took Song Minghui’s prescription and handed it to them, advising, "Just to be safe, follow Elder Song’s prescription and take one dose. That should ensure a full recovery."

  Song Minghui smiled wryly. He knew the patient was already cured and didn’t need any more medicine. Lin Yu’s words were merely to save face for him.

  His admiration for Lin Yu grew even stronger.

  The onlookers were thoroughly impressed by Lin Yu and clamored for his contact information, hoping to seek his help in the future.

  After everyone had dispersed, Song Minghui took Lin Yu’s hand and said, "Xiao He, in all my years, I’ve never admired anyone as much as I admire you today. I’m in awe. Tonight, I’m treating you to dinner—you must honor me with your presence."

  "You flatter me, Elder Song. Your medical skills are already divine. I still have much to learn from you." Lin Yu replied humbly.

  In the end, Lin Yu couldn’t resist Song Minghui’s insistence and stayed for dinner.

  Wei Gongxun, eager to return home to prepare medicine for his wife, left after collecting the prescribed herbs.

  Throughout the meal, Song Minghui couldn’t stop praising Lin Yu, while Song Zheng’s face grew increasingly sullen.

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  He felt as though Lin Yu were the grandson, and he himself were the outsider.

  After several rounds of drinks, Song Minghui finally broached the main topic. "Xiao He, to be frank, I have a favor to ask of you."

  "Please go ahead, Elder Song."

  "I’d like you to examine my niece—my eldest daughter’s daughter." Song Minghui sighed.

  Lin Yu was taken aback. With Song Minghui’s exceptional medical skills, why would he need Lin Yu’s help?

  "Elder Song, you jest. If even you can’t cure her illness, I doubt I’d be of any use." Lin Yu smiled wryly.

  "My sister is sick? Grandpa, what are you talking about? My sister is perfectly fine—what illness could she possibly have?" Song Zheng interjected in surprise. As far as he knew, his sister had no health issues beyond her somewhat cold demeanor.

  "Xiao He, you must help me with this, no matter what." Song Minghui completely ignored Song Zheng.

  "Could you describe her symptoms, Elder Song?" Lin Yu asked, puzzled.

  "Ah, it’s hard to explain. It’s better if you see her in person." Song Minghui’s face clouded with worry, and it was clear he wasn’t joking.

  "Very well. Since you’ve asked, I won’t refuse. When would it be convenient for your niece?" Intrigued by Song Minghui’s hesitation, Lin Yu agreed.

  "She’s not in Qinghai at the moment. Once she has some free time, I’ll have her come over. My niece is strong-willed, just like her mother. She’s started her own company." Song Minghui chuckled with pride. "She’s planning to open a branch in Qinghai soon."

  "Alright, just let me know when she’s available." Lin Yu said.

  As the saying goes, *With a close friend, a thousand cups are too few*. Meeting a medical master like Song Minghui, whom he deeply admired, Lin Yu drank more than usual. By the time he returned home, Jiang Yan was already asleep, though the bedside lamp was still on for him.

  Glancing at the makeshift bed on the floor, Lin Yu flopped onto the actual bed instead.

  "So fragrant."

  He chuckled softly. This was the first time he’d ever lain on this double bed.

  "You’re back. Why did you drink so much?"

  Jiang Yan, awakened by his movements, sat up and looked at him.

  "Tonight, I’m sleeping on the bed!"

  Lin Yu pointed at the ceiling with an air of finality.

  "Fine."

  Jiang Yan agreed, then got up to fetch him a glass of water from the living room and placed it on the bedside table. After that, she took her pillow and lay down on the floor.

  This action suddenly infuriated Lin Yu. The emotions he’d suppressed for so long erupted in that moment. He rolled off the bed onto the floor, pinning Jiang Yan beneath him.

  "Do you hate me that much?"

  "Ah!"

  Jiang Yan let out a short cry of surprise. She glanced at Lin Yu, then turned her head away, her hands gripping the bedding tightly, as if trying to dig her nails into her palms.

  Feeling Lin Yu’s alcohol-laced breath warm against her skin, her heart pounded with fear. She wanted to shove him away and scream at him for being shameless, but she couldn’t.

  She was his wife. Whatever he did was his right.

  She had known this day would come eventually and had tried to prepare herself mentally. But deep down, she still couldn’t accept Lin Yu.

  *Not hating him* was already the furthest she could go.

  "If you’re so miserable, why did you marry me in the first place? Why make us both suffer like this?"

  Lin Yu let out a self-deprecating laugh, finally voicing the words he’d kept bottled up, emboldened by the alcohol.

  If Jiang Yan hadn’t married He Jiaron, he would have had much more freedom now. He was a man, after all—he had needs, was attracted to women, and longed for a passionate romance.

  But he couldn’t. He already had a wife.

  What made it even more torturous was that this marriage was in name only. And to add to the agony, his wife was breathtakingly beautiful.

  Though the alcohol had numbed his body somewhat, he could still feel the warmth and curves of the woman beneath him, her fragrance intoxicating.

  At such close range, her face was as flawless as ever—not a single imperfection, no matter how critically one looked.

  He didn’t know what his true feelings for this woman were.

  *Hatred?*

  But she was his wife.

  *Love?*

  But when he came home so late, she hadn’t even called to check on him, as if they were strangers.

  Jiang Yan remained silent, her head turned away. Two silent tears rolled down her cheeks and onto the pillow. She seemed to have resigned herself to what was coming. She closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

  "You’d look beautiful if you smiled. It’s a shame I’ve never seen you smile."

  But in the end, Lin Yu only chuckled softly, wiped the tears from her face, and returned to the bed.

  "You have the right to do anything. I... I can comply." Jiang Yan’s voice trembled, even carrying a hint of fear. But she had to say it. She knew the current situation was unfair to He Jiaron.

  "I won’t do anything. Not until you let go of him."

  Lin Yu smiled nonchalantly, though his heart ached inexplicably.

  *Had he fallen for this woman?*

  *Impossible. It must just be the desire to conquer.* He tried hard to convince himself.

  Hearing this, Jiang Yan’s heart jolted. She turned to look at Lin Yu on the bed, stunned. She had never told him about the person in her heart—how did he know?

  She wanted to ask how he’d found out, but Lin Yu’s soft snores had already begun.

  What she didn’t realize was that when someone’s heart belonged to another, no matter how well they hid it, the truth would always surface.

  Two days later, under the persuasion of his daughter and wife, Jiang Jingren reluctantly donated the *Mingqie Manuscript* to the Qinghai Museum, renowned as half of the cultural relics world.

  After appraisal by top national experts, the *Mingqie Manuscript* was highly likely to be an authentic work of Wang Xizhi. Even if it wasn’t, it was at least a pre-Sui Dynasty replica, unparalleled in its fidelity and preservation.

  The entire country was stirred. Countless people wanted to see this rare treasure.

  Under immense pressure, the Qinghai Museum announced that the manuscript would not be displayed for three months, citing the need to construct a dedicated exhibition hall to manage the crowds.

  As the donor, Jiang Jingren was granted special privileges. The museum awarded him a medal and five lifetime passes, allowing him and his family to visit and view the *Mingqie Manuscript* and other collections anytime, free of charge.

  Overnight, Jiang Jingren became a celebrity in Qinghai’s antique circle, his fame even surpassing Tang Zongyun’s. Visitors flocked to his door daily, leaving him no choice but to turn them away.

  In recognition of his contribution, the city government promoted him two levels at once, elevating him from deputy division chief to deputy department chief.

  Flush with success, Jiang Jingren knew he owed it all to his son-in-law. His attitude toward Lin Yu warmed considerably, and he began urging Lin Yu and Jiang Yan to hurry up and give them a grandson.

  But since that night, the atmosphere between Jiang Yan and Lin Yu had grown awkward, with little communication between them.

  Lin Yu even regretted his actions. If not for the alcohol, he wouldn’t have said those things.

  One morning, before Lin Yu could wake up properly, his phone rang. It was Shen Yuxuan.

  "Hey, Jiarong, where are you? I have something important to tell you!" Shen Yuxuan’s voice was urgent.

  "I’m at home."

  Lin Yu replied drowsily, then suddenly remembered the dark aura he’d seen between Shen Yuxuan’s eyebrows the other day—a sign of impending disaster. Had it come to pass?

  He sat up abruptly. "Did something happen to you?"

  "I’m fine, but the Guanyin statue you gave me—it’s... Ugh, it’s hard to explain over the phone. Let’s meet up." Shen Yuxuan’s voice was laced with panic.