The Martial Doctor-Chapter 79 - 78: The Arresting Department Pays a Visit
"The issue is not serious, just a slight infection from the wind chill. It seems that you’ll need to go out less in the future." Early in the morning, Yu Zhu came to report that Sun Youwei was feeling unwell, and Lin Miao hurried over. After checking her pulse, he found it was just an external wind chill.
The pulse is floating and tight, headache, no sweat, these are symptoms of external wind evil.
It’s not a big issue.
A dose of Ephedra Decoction is enough to cure it.
"Yu Zhu, I’ll go prepare the medicine, you take care of Senior Sister." Lin Miao instructed, and went to make the Ephedra Decoction for his senior sister.
Ephedra Decoction is composed of ephedra, cinnamon twig, licorice, and apricot kernel, which has the effects of inducing sweat to release the exterior, warming the meridians, and moisturizing the lungs to stop cough.
Having caught wind chill, Sun Youwei probably did not sleep well last night. After drinking a bowl of Ephedra Decoction, she quickly broke into a light sweat, and being somewhat exhausted, dozed off after being wiped down with a hot towel.
"Yu Zhu, take good care of my senior sister. Once she wakes up from this sleep, she should be fine." Lin Miao instructed, "When she wakes up, let her eat something that stimulates her appetite."
Sun Youwei’s usual dietary restrictions had all been discussed, so there was no need for a special explanation.
"Good morning, Mr. Lin." Xia Zhu had accompanied her father, Xia Yuan, home last night, and came over early this morning, after all, having already apprenticed to Lin Miao, naturally she needed to listen to her master’s teachings now.
"Hmm, come with me to the study." Lin Miao nodded.
"Mr. Lin, what’s wrong with master’s wife?" Xia Zhu originally had little regard for Sun Youwei. If she weren’t Lin Miao’s senior sister and fiancée, she wouldn’t have been worthy of the title "master’s wife." But after last night’s herbal medicine competition, she discovered that this "master’s wife," who appeared unwell, had formidable abilities.
Just this skill of "distinguishing herbs," she couldn’t match it; presumably, in the entire Dongshan City, there’s no one superior.
This young couple may have come from a small place, but without true skills, they certainly wouldn’t be able to establish themselves in Dongshan City.
"It’s nothing, just caught a wind chill."
"Mr. Lin, wind chill isn’t a minor illness, should we call a physician to have a look?" Xia Zhu exclaimed in surprise.
"Xia Zhu, have you forgotten that I am a physician?"
"Right, sorry, Mr. Lin, I meant, since you are currently a trial medical officer, before the ’medical officer’ order is issued, if you need to prescribe a formula..." Xia Zhu explained hurriedly.
"A wind chill is a minor ailment, no need to bring a physician to prescribe. A dose of Ephedra Decoction will suffice, and we have all these herbs at home." Lin Miao understood Xia Zhu’s intention.
"Got it." Xia Zhu nodded; she was worried that the household lacked medicine, even if there was a prescription, without a stamped medical officer’s order, the pharmacy wouldn’t sell it. If overpriced medicine was bought, especially at this time, if it was caught by someone with intent, the problem would be significant.
"Xia Zhu, since you’ve apprenticed to me, I need to teach you some things. However, I lack any teaching experience, and you’re not a child, so medicine enlightenment is inappropriate for you. I’ve thought about it, you should take this book ’Pulse Science’ for now. If there’s anything unclear, feel free to ask me, or you can ask your master’s wife." Lin Miao took out the ’Pulse Science’ book he wrote for Sun Youwei from the drawer and handed it to Xia Zhu.
"’Pulse Science’? What is this?"
"It is compiled by your master based on your grandmaster’s lifelong experience, different from the currently popular pulse science. If you want to learn acupuncture, you must first master this." Lin Miao added the title of ’grandmaster’; since the man is gone, there’s no way to verify.
"Acupuncture, is this the miraculous medicine that saved Xiaolian?" Xia Zhu asked excitedly.
"Hmm, it’s a profound medical skill, you need to understand its principles to learn it properly, just read it for now." Lin Miao said; he truly didn’t know how to teach disciples, as he was mostly self-taught.
But this self-study was based on his ability to comprehend, as he grew up immersed in that environment.
For others, understanding concepts like yin-yang, five elements, internal organs, five circulations, six qi might be impossible.
If starting from scratch, that would be troublesome; Lin Miao simply didn’t have the time.
With Xia Zhu’s family background and solid foundation, she had the ability to learn on her own, just like his senior sister, as long as she was willing to learn, his supervision wasn’t necessary.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin." Xia Zhu accepted happily.
"Go find an unoccupied room in the front courtyard for your usual studies. If you need anything, ask the steward Mr. Xie to help arrange it." Lin Miao instructed, as a master, he should indeed prepare for his apprentice.
Bringing in apprentices is certainly necessary, but given his lazy nature, teaching them with patience might be difficult; having Xia Zhu as a senior sister was quite favorable since she could teach them on his behalf in the future - a good arrangement!
"Master, the Arresting Department has sent people to see you." Lin Miao was just considering how to apply for this temporary "consultation" qualification from the Medical Bureau when suddenly Mr. Xie knocked on the door to report.
"The Arresting Department, I have no connection with them, what do they want with me?"
"That I do not know."
"Invite them to wait in the living room, I’ll be there shortly." Lin Miao instructed; presumably, the Arresting Department had come in connection with the Dongshan East Market murders of Dong Hu and Zhao Wu, otherwise, why would they seek him out?
A moment later, in the Lin Family’s living room, Lin Miao met with three officials from the Arresting Department.
"Captain Han Chunyang from the Arresting Department greets Mr. Lin." Han Chunyang slightly bent over. Although he was an official, he felt somewhat out of place in front of Lin Miao, who was already a mid-level figure in society as a "physician."
"Captain Han, you’re too polite. Please, have a seat." Lin Miao invited, "Your two comrades behind you, please also take a seat."
Hot tea was served.
"Captain Han, it seems I have no dealings with the Arresting Department. May I know the reason for your visit today?" Lin Miao clasped his hands and asked.
Han Chunyang waved his hand, and one of his men pulled out two sheets of mulberry paper from his chest pocket, then unfolded them facing Lin Miao.
"Mr. Lin, do you recognize the two people in these portraits?"
"I don’t have much of an impression..." Of course, Lin Miao recognized them; they were Dong Hu and Zhao Wu. But these were portraits, not photographs. Plus, the artist’s skill wasn’t great, only achieving about seventy to eighty percent resemblance. And he had only met them face-to-face at the very end; at other times, he hadn’t really seen them. He could say he didn’t know them but couldn’t answer immediately.
The Arresting Department came to find him, presumably having investigated his whereabouts and knowing he was just in the East Market when these two were killed there.
They must have interrogated the driver from the rental carriage company he used.
"Mr. Lin, please try to recall them. One was wearing a blue satin jacket with black trousers and boots, the other a green cotton robe..."
"Captain Han, are you sure I’ve met them?" Lin Miao counter-questioned.
"They’ve been following you, didn’t you know?" Before Han Chunyang could speak, one of his men jumped in and questioned him.
"Following me? What would they be following me for?" Lin Miao asked with a bewildered expression.
Han Chunyang glared harshly at his subordinate and said, "Mr. Lin, are you aware of a recent heinous murder case in the East Market?"
"Yes, I was at the scene then, nearly scared me out of my wits. So, it was these two who died?" Lin Miao nodded.
"Honestly, one of them does look familiar, just like this one..."
Lin Miao pointed at Dong Hu’s portrait and said, "At the time, I had just finished shopping in the East Market, was leaving through the South Gate, and was heading home. Suddenly someone shouted ’Murder!’ from behind. I turned around and saw this person lying on the ground, dressed just as described. I was terrified and sprinted to catch a carriage and hurried home."
"The government issued an announcement calling for clues to be provided to the Arresting Department. Why didn’t Mr. Lin go?" Han Chunyang reproached.
"I had no idea about any clues. If I went to the Arresting Department, I wouldn’t know what to say; it would just cause more trouble!" Lin Miao chuckled in explanation.
"But someone saw you brushing shoulders with that person?" Han Chunyang stared at Lin Miao and asked, "And then he fell down, clutching his throat?"
"The East Market was too crowded. I was carrying two bolts of silk and some other items. How could I have noticed these things?" Lin Miao wasn’t foolish. It’s true he brushed past Zhao Wu, but he didn’t get close to Dong Hu; they were at least four or five meters apart. After hitting the target with the sewing needle, he moved away from three to four meters out, not brushing shoulders at all.
That Captain Han was deliberately tricking him, trying to see his reaction. If he flatly denied it, it would only increase suspicion.
But he didn’t deny it; he just emphasized the crowd and what he was carrying. In that situation, who would observe so closely?
This answer had no flaws.
A trace of disappointment flickered in Han Chunyang’s eyes. Was his suspicion unfounded?
"Captain Han, can you tell me who these two are and why they were following me?" Lin Miao wouldn’t just let the other interrogate him; the best strategy was to counterattack and take the initiative.
"Well..." Now Han Chunyang found it difficult to answer. He knew some situations but could he say it in front of Lin Miao?
If something happened because of this, who could contain it?
"Is it due to case reasons and not convenient to answer?" Lin Miao continued, "Then I’ll have to seek Old Master Pei for help in asking about it."
Han Chunyang was instantly alarmed. If he asked Pei, could Han still escape unscathed?
"Mr. Lin, there’s no need to trouble Old Master Pei for such a trivial matter." Han Chunyang quickly mustered a flattering smile.
"I initially thought this case had nothing to do with me, but with this visit from the three of you, it feels like it does relate to me. These two followed me and were then killed in the East Market. You’re suspecting I’m the murderer, right?" Lin Miao’s attitude changed instantly.
Anyone with half a brain could understand what was going on.
"If I say I don’t know them, Captain Han thinks I’m lying, yes or no?" Lin Miao stood up and said, "If that’s the case, I’ll just go with Captain Han to the Arresting Department to sort out the entire affair distinctly, right or wrong?"
"Mr. Lin, we’re just here to understand the situation today, not suspecting you..."
"Captain Han’s intention isn’t just that today. If I don’t go, won’t that dirty water be permanently splashed on me?"
The situation must be resolved quickly and decisively.
To hesitate now would be a sign of weakness.
