Lady Dongfang glanced at Yun Jinnian and initially felt that Jinnian might just have an undeserved reputation and probably didn't understand medical skills, after all, using a handkerchief to cover their nose...
But then it struck her that a doctor practices medicine by relying on inspection, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking to determine what ailment a patient has, right?
Having just come from outside, where the air was filled with a mix of scents, Jinnian, born into the Yun family of doctors, would likely have a handkerchief soaked in medicinal herbs—that would explain why she used it to cover her nose.
It was she who had been foolish all along.
Upon bringing Yun Jinnian into the parlour, several doctors who were sitting inside immediately stood up, looking at Jinnian with a mix of defensiveness and astonishment as Lady Dongfang led her in.
Was this the granddaughter of the Divine Doctor Han Xuzi that the young master had gone to fetch?
A mere girl, what could she possibly know? What a joke!
"My lady, this is..." one of the older doctors asked in a lowered voice, his eyes full of disdain as he looked at Yun Jinnian.
"This is the fourth young miss of the Yun family, whom I've asked to come treat the City Lord. Her maternal grandfather is the Divine Doctor!" Lady Dongfang replied indifferently.
"A young girl like her understands medical skills? Even if she does, would she dare to prescribe medication? My lady, you truly dare to let the City Lord use them?"
"Exactly, indeed!"
One spoke out in objection, and the others quickly echoed the sentiment.
Yun Jinnian too, looked at them, neither servile nor overbearing.
She could count the King of Wisdom and the Princess as friends, she was able to discuss scriptures with the Abbot Master of Huguo Temple, and Master Wuwang was her mentor. Her maternal grandfather was Tianchu Country's Divine Doctor Han Xuzi.
In her previous life, she had ascended step by step to become Empress; would she blush and shed tears under a doctor's disdain?
Since they didn't believe in her medical skills and looked down on her for her youth, she would just have to crush them with the very thing they scorned!
"It doesn't seem quite proper for the esteemed seniors to speak like this. I haven't even diagnosed the City Lord yet, so how can you be so certain I'm incapable? Is it because of my young age? But isn't everyone born a child before gradually growing into an adult and then old age? We all walk the same path, observing and learning along the way. The esteemed seniors weren't born with extraordinary medical skills either!" Yun Jinnian said calmly.
Yet her words strongly slapped their faces.
If their medical skills were so extraordinary, why couldn't they heal the City Lord's poison? Why did they have to turn to the Han family, asking them to bring her here?
This was clearly because they had lost all hope and had no choice!
"You..."
One of the older doctors was furiously incensed.
Yun Jinnian looked delicate and weak, but who would have thought she could speak so sharply?
"The esteemed seniors need not be hasty, hear what I have to say first. If I speak incorrectly, there's no need for the seniors to drive me out, I will leave on my own accord," Yun Jinnian once again spoke calmly, perfectly unruffled, standing up straight.
"Fine then, speak. But don't blame this old man for being rude if you're wrong!"
The speaking elder indeed had many years on him, his hair and beard both white. He wore a green robe and carried himself with the air of an immortal, but his eyes were sharp and sinister, showing he was not someone easy to get along with.
From the moment Yun Jinnian walked in, he was the one who voiced the loudest disdain for her.
"Rude? I wonder why you are being rude to me? Do I have some grievance with you, elder sir?" Yun Jinnian questioned.
"..."
"I am but twelve years old and I believe I have never had the pleasure of meeting the elder sir before. Yet since my entrance, the elder sir has been quite confrontational, showing scorn in both word and deed. The lady of the city lord asked me to come treat the city lord, which has nothing to do with the elder sir, does it not?"
Lady Dongfang listened with increasing anxiety.
She had no idea that this Doctor Hou would target Yun Jinnian in such a way, with Jinnian appearing so tender and frail, yet speaking so incisively.
She couldn't just interject recklessly, lest she offend both sides.
It was unbearably distressing.
"What is going on here?" Dongfang Huo entered with decisive strides, head held high and chest puffed out, exuding effortless charm.
"The arrival of Eldest Son Dongfang is most timely. This gentleman here has expressed much scorn and disdain toward me, even questioning my medical skills. It seems I shouldn't have come!"