Chapter Seventy-Eight: Saving Lives Is Like Fighting a Fire

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Cui Jianxuan, who had hurried over from behind, was taken aback when Du Shiyi said it was Jiang Jiao’s eldest son, Jiang Du, whose horse had been startled and bolted into the wheat fields. Mounted atop his own steed, Cui Jianxuan gazed at the chaotic scene in the field, then coughed dryly and said, “The Jiang family has plenty of attendants, and we’re not far from Luoyang. There’s no need for us to meddle. Let’s slip away while no one’s watching, so we don’t invite trouble!”

Though Cui Jianxuan was often sharp-tongued and ill-tempered, Du Shiyi, having spent much time in his company, knew him to be warm-hearted at his core. Otherwise, he would never have joined him in rescuing the sixth son of the Xue family on their way to visit Lu Hong. So, seeing Cui Jianxuan about to turn his horse and leave, Du Shiyi stepped forward and seized his reins, lowering his voice to ask, “Do you have some grudge against Jiang Si?”

“Of course not!” Cui Jianxuan snapped, arching his brow in annoyance as he tugged at the reins, unable to wrest them from Du Shiyi’s grasp. He muttered sourly, “That fellow’s temper is even worse than mine. He used to mock me in front of others, saying if I wore a woman’s robe… Good men die young, but troublemakers linger for a thousand years. Don’t waste your worry—he won’t die! He’s only a few years older than me, and if not for his father’s influence in front of the Sage, would he have risen so quickly in the ranks? My sister keeps telling me to learn from him. Hmph!”

Du Shiyi now understood the source of the discord and couldn’t help but smile. Before he could find words to persuade Cui Jianxuan otherwise, a commotion erupted in the wheat field: “The eldest son has stopped breathing!”

The servants of the Jiang family shouted and scrambled—some calling for a physician, others sending word back to the Eastern Capital. The scene was utter chaos. As more travelers gathered to watch from the road above, even the previously resolute Cui Jianxuan frowned deeply. Then, from the crowd, a louder shout rang out: “Isn’t Du Shiyi, the nineteenth son from Dulun in Jingzhao, right here? I’ve heard he’s skilled in medicine, and can recite the secrets of the golden needle technique without error. Why seek a doctor elsewhere or send word to the Eastern Capital, when he could help right now?”

At these words, Cui Jianxuan was still stunned, but Du Shiyi immediately scanned the crowd. The speaker was cunning, ducking out of sight as soon as he spoke, vanishing among the throng. The more Du Shiyi thought about it, the more unusual the whole incident seemed. Cui Jianxuan, realizing what had happened, cursed angrily, “Whoever did this just wants to cause us trouble!”

The moment the man in the crowd spoke, the Jiang family servants, frantic as ants on a hot skillet, snapped to attention. One, a middle-aged man dressed as a steward, called out, “If the nineteenth son from Jingzhao is here, please, for the sake of our shared hometown, save my master! The Jiang family will surely reward your kindness!”

His shout woke the rest of the Jiang family servants, who all began pleading in chorus. Facing such a scene, Du Shiyi knew he had no choice but to step forward. He whispered a few words to Cui Jianxuan and Tian Mo, then urged his horse forward and announced, “I am Du Shiyi, the nineteenth son from Dulun in Jingzhao. Please clear a path!”

The crowd, packed along one side of the road, squeezed aside to make way. Du Shiyi pushed through to the edge, where several Jiang family servants were carrying the pale, blood-stained Jiang Du. Du Shiyi immediately dismounted, stepped down from the dusty road, and strode quickly across the soft earth to Jiang Du’s side. Before the anxious steward could speak, he reached out to take Jiang Du’s pulse, then gave decisive orders: “Lift him up, lay him flat! Send someone to the Eastern Capital with news, and see if there are any other physicians among the crowd. Offer a generous reward—bravery comes from incentive! I’ve read a few medical books, but I’m not a true physician.”

The Jiang servants hurried to comply. Soon, the crowd made space, and Jiang Du was carefully laid down. Du Shiyi knelt to loosen his clothing, checked his pulse again at both wrists, and found the three vital pulses untroubled, which eased his worry. He then palpated chest and abdomen, examined limbs and spine, and finally assessed external injuries. Beyond bruises to the head and limbs, Jiang Du’s left forearm was twisted unnaturally—a clear fracture. Though Du Shiyi remembered the technique for setting bones, his greater concern was internal injuries to organs or brain. He pondered for a moment, carefully examined the crown of Jiang Du’s head, and pried open his mouth to check the color of his tongue.

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He must have fallen from the galloping horse, the fracture compounded by shock, causing him to lose consciousness!

Du Shiyi narrowed his eyes and looked up. Cui Jianxuan, following orders, had led his attendants to secure the Jiang family’s horses in the field, while Tian Mo scanned the crowd, as though searching for something. Feeling somewhat reassured, Du Shiyi glanced at the anxious steward.

“Master Du, how is my young master?”

“How did Jiang Si’s horse get spooked?”

The steward was taken aback by the unexpected question, but stammered, “My master was riding swiftly, and his mount was fine, when suddenly it went mad, dashed off the road, and plunged into the wheat field. Not long after, it threw him off.”

“Is the frightened horse among those in the field?” Du Shiyi pressed.

The steward shook his head. “No, the horse that threw him has already run off.”

Du Shiyi squinted thoughtfully, then signaled to Cui Jianxuan, who took the hint and led his men to trace the horse’s path through the wheat. With that settled, Du Shiyi returned his focus to Jiang Du. Though his golden needles were with Du Shisan-niang, for someone in shock, acupuncture was not the best remedy. Seeing the bruised head and the crowd of Jiang family servants, he decided against the simple method of pressing the philtrum, and instead sought the Hegu and Neiguan points on the arm. With a few firm presses, Jiang Du groaned.

The worried steward immediately knelt, pressing his hands to the earth and calling urgently, “Master, Master!”

Jiang Du opened his eyes in confusion, took some time to recall what had happened, and his face grew even paler. The pain throughout his body was like burning fire, and he couldn’t help but groan. At last, he croaked, “Where is the Snowhoof?”

The steward was at a loss, but Du Shiyi saw the Jiang servants searching the crowd for a physician, yet no one dared step forward. Steeling himself, Du Shiyi answered for them: “Jiang Si, rest assured. I’ve sent Cui Eleven to find it. These fields are filled with young crops—if the horse is still here, its tracks will be clear, and we’ll soon find it. Now that you’re awake, I must examine you again. If you feel pain or discomfort anywhere, tell me immediately.”

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Jiang Du had no time to accept or refuse before an indescribable pain shot through his left arm, forcing a cry from his lips. He could hardly wonder why Du Shiyi was here, for the man’s touch was unerring, each press eliciting a fresh groan. By the time Du Shiyi had finished his examination, Jiang Du was drenched in sweat from pain.

“Du Shiyi, how is it you happen to be here?”

“That’s what I should be asking!” Du Shiyi, having confirmed that Jiang Du’s spine and other vital areas were unharmed—apart from the frightening bruises, the worst injury was the fracture—felt a great relief. He replied, half smiling, “I had no idea my reputation was so grand that wherever I go, someone recognizes me! And it just happens to be at the moment Jiang Si falls from his horse and needs rescue!”

Jiang Du frowned, then summoned the steward to kneel and whispered a few words in his ear. The steward straightened, beaming, and bowed to the still lingering crowd, announcing, “My master says he wishes to thank the sharp-eyed gentleman who recognized Du Shiyi and knew of his medical skill, saving our young master! Such a debt deserves proper gratitude; please, whoever spoke up, step forward for your reward!”

A stir ran through the crowd, and three men came forward, each claiming credit. Du Shiyi smiled, questioned them in turn; two spoke incoherently, but the third, a short fellow, recounted Du Shiyi’s background in detail, including how he had copied out the golden needle technique for the Daoist Sun Taichong of Songyang Temple. As he proudly awaited his reward, Du Shiyi’s face curled into a wry, cold smile.

“The matter of the golden needle technique, aside from disciples of the Lu family and Daoist Sun of Songyang Temple, I have never mentioned to others. May I ask where you heard of it?”

Jiang Du, still lying on the ground and irate from the day’s misfortune, saw the short man struck dumb and said, “If a life-saving debt is so easily rewarded, it would be an insult to the Jiang family! Chen Qing, send word to the Chu Duke’s residence in the Eastern Capital—I intend to thank him properly!”

The steward, Chen Qing, understood, and had two servants flank the anxious short man. At that moment, Du Shiyi heard Cui Jianxuan’s voice from afar. Turning, he saw Cui Jianxuan galloping carelessly across the young wheat, his attendant leading a fine horse with an empty saddle behind him.