My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Doctor Li saw the little girl’s lips regained some color and nodded, "Not bad."

After speaking, he lifted her eyelids to check, asked her to stick out her tongue, and after taking her pulse, said, "Let’s give another acupuncture treatment."

He calculated the hour with his fingers, administered a few needles, and after a while, removed them.

Nanny Zhao hurriedly asked, "Should we change the prescription?"

"No need, she can continue with the current prescription for a few days," Doctor Li walked out, performed the ritual of incense to purify his hands, and only then noticed Sixth Lady Gu following beside him, saying, "Tomorrow I won’t be visiting; the young lady should take this prescription for a few days to strengthen her body before we consider changing it. She’s been suffering for too long, her lungs are weak and need nurturing. She cannot handle medicine that’s too potent, so you must carefully watch over her and prevent exposure to cold."

Sixth Lady Gu’s face turned even worse.

Upon reaching the hall, Doctor Li sat down without waiting for any invitation, saying, "I’ll prescribe a bathing solution; you should boil it and wipe the child with it, to prevent scars."

Nanny Zhao immediately said, "Thank you, Doctor Li, for being so thorough."

She instructed a maid to fetch pen and ink.

Doctor Li then told Sixth Lady Gu, "The Marchioness inquired about the Sixth Madam’s condition and is concerned; she prepared some incense pills and asked me to bring them during my visit. These pills can release stress, help one sleep at night, and boost energy during the day."

Xiao Dong promptly offered the incense box he was holding.

Sixth Lady Gu accepted it indifferently, and Xiao Dong’s eyes flashed with a trace of displeasure.

Doctor Li observed this, maintaining a neutral tone, said, "One pill can be taken around 3:00 PM each day, and if there’s any improvement, you can request more."

Sixth Lady Gu forced a smile, saying, "Please convey to the Marchioness my gratitude for her concern."

Doctor Li replied, "Of course, Sixth Madam, I’ll certainly pass on the message."

An attendant brought pen and paper, Doctor Li wrote a line, and then said, "This medicinal solution should be applied to the young lady every three to four hours to temporarily relieve itching."

He then stood up, "I need to check the room over there, so I won’t linger."

Nanny Zhao expressed gratitude multiple times and escorted him from the room, then said to Sixth Lady Gu, "The Marchioness is thoughtful, even sending incense pills. Would you like to try them today?"

This hour is just right.

Sixth Lady Gu casually opened the incense box to take a look, then tossed it aside, saying, "Seeking fame and fortune, what does she know about making incense pills?"

"This doctor is siding with her, that’s why he speaks for her like this. Just a few pills and she shamelessly asks someone to deliver them."

"This morning, you heard what Sixth Master said outside the wall; he was praising her like a blooming flower, saying she wants to send me incense pills to restore my health. Ha, she sent just these? It’s so laughable."

Nanny Zhao couldn’t help but advise, "The old servant believes Doctor Li’s medical skills are indeed better than Imperial Physician Liu’s. The young lady and Qin recovered a lot, especially Qin, who nearly didn’t make it. Perhaps the incense pills may have some effect."

Sixth Lady Gu said, "It’s the foxes who have centuries of craft, as if talking about strange stories; she’s merely showing off her talents while stepping on me to gain favor from everyone. Wouldn’t I be a fool if I believed it?"

"Medical incense is difficult to make, how could a girl in her teens know how? I said her incense pill prescription for the Old Madam was surely bought elsewhere. Doctor Li is her associate, and I bet these incense pills came from him, so I won’t use them."

Nanny Zhao hesitantly said, "If these incense pills are from Doctor Li, then they might actually be useful."

Sixth Lady Gu dismissed it, "I don’t even take his medicine, why should I use his incense? Once the mansion opens, I’ll invite a familiar Imperial Physician instead."

Nanny Zhao sighed, only hoping the mansion opens soon.

Doctor Li, accompanied by Xiao Dong, checked on Qin afterwards and prescribed a cleansing solution, saying, "I also prescribed this solution for Sixth Lady Gu; brewing them together could save effort."

Aunt Huang shook her head lightly and said, "It’s not troublesome, how troublesome could it be?"

Nanny Zhao waited at the courtyard gate to see the two out, asking, "Where’s the servant from yesterday? Is something wrong?"

Doctor Li looked puzzled, as if unsure whom she was asking about.

Xiao Dong cheerfully replied, "He’s attending to the sick Imperial Physician Liu and also helping us watch over the pills."

"Oh," Nanny Zhao said, "He looked somewhat familiar, and I wanted to chat if he came today thinking he served before some master."

Xiao Dong said, "Seems he was from the outer courtyard."

Nanny Zhao said, "No wonder I couldn’t remember for a long time."

Xiao Dong chuckled.

Outside the courtyard gate, Xiao Dong stuck out his tongue, saying, "That was close."

Doctor Li laughed, "Why? Your senior sister is mischievous, always causing trouble, don’t learn from her."

Xiao Dong nodded, "I noticed Sixth Lady Gu is very displeased with Senior Sister; if she knew Senior Sister acted this way, who knows what trouble it would cause."

Doctor Li took the opportunity to advise him, "As medical practitioners, we enter various situations, often witnessing the private affairs of mistresses within the inner chambers. You must develop the habit of observing everything yet refraining from speaking about it, learning to feign ignorance and keeping matters confidential to avoid bringing trouble upon yourself. Additionally, always learn to seek fortune and avoid misfortune; some patients we should not need to visit, otherwise risking getting silenced."

Xiao Dong opened his mouth in surprise.

Doctor Li said, "Your senior sister’s grandfather was once renowned as the Dean of the Imperial Hospital. The Chen family, having managed well for many generations with Imperial Physicians, faced calamity when he treated the Empress Dowager, becoming embroiled in palace intrigue, and eventually others took advantage of the situation, resulting in their downfall. You’ll realize the danger once you become an Imperial Physician."

Xiao Dong solemnly said, "I understand, didn’t Senior Sister say that later I should focus on maintaining Master’s Renhe Hall?"

"You’re so unambitious, only thinking of preservation instead of expanding the family business. Why focus on this small broken clinic?"

Doctor Li poked Xiao Dong’s forehead irritably.

Xiao Dong quickly held his head, ran far away, shouting, "Master, it hurts, I know my mistake."

Doctor Li: "..."

Silly as a fox, he couldn’t bear to look.

Qin Yuan tidied up, bringing Hong Ye and Cui Ming to visit the Old Madam.

They were still at the incense burner in the courtyard when Xiao Hong ran over hastily, pouting, eyes full of joy, saying, "Madam, it’s been days since I last saw you."

Qin Yuan smiled, saying, "I’ve been thinking of you."

Xiao Hong beamed with delight, circling around them.

Hong Ye teased her, "You only think of Madam, but not of me."

Xiao Hong said, "Thinking of Madam is the same as thinking of you."

"Such a clever tongue," Hong Ye sighed, "between Hong Mian and you, both are so eloquent, trying to surpass me."

"Who is Hong Mian?" Xiao Hong immediately became alert, asking, "Did Madam’s Wutong Garden take in a new person?"