Chapter 56: Ouyang Xun Weeps for His Son

Upon returning to his medical clinic, Su Chen received news from outside the city.

It turned out that Old Third Song and his men had completed the construction according to Su Chen's specifications and were waiting for Su Chen to go outside the city for an inspection.

Additionally, another batch of Taibai Drunk had been brewed and delivered to Cheng Yaojin's tavern.

Operations at the clinic were also progressing smoothly, and its reputation in Chang'an City was exceptionally stellar.

Zhou Taifu had not let Su Chen down.

Su Chen remained busy at the clinic until the evening twilight before finally returning to his quarters.

"Tomorrow just happens to be the day my father leaves Chang'an City. After seeing him off outside the city gates, I can head out to check on what Old Third Song and the others have accomplished."

After settling all his affairs, Su Chen was just about to rest when he heard urgent knocking at the clinic door.

An apprentice went to open it, and Su Chen felt a premonition that something had happened.

Taking Su Gu with him, he headed out to the front.

Zhou Taifu had also been awakened by the knocking.

"Imperial Physician Zhou, you should go back to rest. It is so late and I do not yet know who is at the door, but a physician has a benevolent heart; this is likely someone seeking medical aid. I will go and take a look."

Although Zhou Taifu was no longer an imperial physician, Su Chen had grown accustomed to the title and had not bothered to change it.

Outside the door stood several anxious menservants. Their young master had developed a high fever and fallen unconscious, and the domestic physician had proven useless, leaving them with no choice but to urgently seek out Su Chen's clinic.

Su Chen stepped forward and made inquiries.

"We are from the estate of Lord Ouyang, located not far from this clinic. Please quickly send the resident physician to come with us; our young master's condition is critical."

Su Chen had heard of this before.

Not far from the clinic was the residence of Ouyang Xun.

However, Ouyang Xun currently held only the post of Palace Attendant, which was largely a nominal or idle position.

Even Su Chen's father held a much higher official rank than Ouyang Xun at present.

"Su Gu, fetch my medicine chest. I will go and take a look."

Hearing that a child had fallen ill, Su Chen decided to make the trip to the Ouyang residence.

Upon learning that this young man was the widely talked-about Su Chen of Chang'an City, the menservants did not dare to show the slightest disrespect.

They hurriedly led Su Chen toward the Ouyang estate.

After passing through several streets, they found it was indeed not very far.

Ouyang Xun's home was not particularly grand and could not compare to the Su residence in the slightest.

At that moment, Ouyang Xun was waiting anxiously inside his son's bedchamber.

When he heard the people outside report that they had successfully invited Su Chen, he felt a wave of relief.

Earlier, when Ouyang Xun had dispatched men to summon Su Chen to the clinic, he had made inquiries. He learned that Su Chen was the son of Su Dan and a direct medical successor to Sun Simiao. Despite his youth, he was considered the premier physician in Chang'an City, capable of making even seasoned medical practitioners like Zhou Taifu bow in submission.

However, at the time, Ouyang Xun had also worried that he might not be able to secure Su Chen's services.

Although he held a certain standing in literary circles, he was, after all, merely a Palace Attendant.

Furthermore, his family's financial situation was quite ordinary, and knowing that Su Dan had been appointed as the Prefect of Taizhou that very day, he naturally realized he could not compete with the Su family.

In truth, Ouyang Xun had once held high office.

Moreover, the Ouyang family was considered a prominent lineage, but Ouyang Xun had been far too close to Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan.

This had created his current predicament.

Li Shimin did not dare to heavily employ men of that generation, as they belonged to his own father's inner circle.

"Young Master Su, please come right in. Our master is waiting inside."

The menservants led Su Chen into Ouyang Xun's estate.

Along the way, Su Chen observed that although Ouyang Xun's mansion was not large, it was still far superior to the homes of ordinary citizens.

Proceeding further, they saw an elderly man of about sixty-odd years hurrying out to meet them.

Ouyang Xun had been blessed with a son in his old age, and he cherished this youngest child beyond measure. Moreover, Ouyang Tong was exceptionally clever and quick-witted.

Today, the boy had suddenly fallen into a high fever and lost consciousness. Numerous physicians had examined him to no avail, leaving Ouyang Xun with no alternative but to send for Su Chen upon hearing of his formidable medical skills.

Seeing that the renowned doctor was actually a mere youth, Ouyang Xun could not help but freeze in astonishment for a moment.

"Master, this is Physician Su."

The menservants quickly stepped forward to introduce him.

Ouyang Xun finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly invited Su Chen inside.

Su Chen had no time to waste on pleasantries.

Upon entering, he saw a child of seven or eight years old lying on the bed, his face flushed crimson and wrapped tightly inside heavy cotton quilts.

Su Chen's brows furrowed deeply.

One look at the situation told him something was terribly wrong.

He strode forward immediately.

"Change these quilts right now! These cotton blankets trap all the heat—he is already burning up like this, are you trying to suffocate your young master to death?"

Since Su Chen had arrived, naturally everything was to be done according to his instructions.

Ouyang Xun hastily ordered the servants to carry out Su Chen's commands.

After a thorough examination, Su Chen felt a jolt of secret alarm.

The child's condition was extremely ominous.

Judging by the feel of it, the boy's temperature was easily around thirty-nine or forty degrees Celsius.

"Fetch my needles."

Su Chen promptly instructed Su Gu to retrieve the acupuncture needles from the medicine chest.

In this situation, the fever had to be broken immediately; otherwise, even if the boy survived, his brain would likely be fried, leaving him mentally impaired.

Su Gu hurriedly opened the medicine chest and took out the pouch of needles.

Su Chen took the child's hand and pricked the Shaoshang and Shangyang acupoints twice.

Then, he forcefully squeezed the sites to draw out the blood.

After pressing out five or six drops of blood from each, he stopped.

"Bring me the small flask of Taibai Drunk."

This was a reserve of high-proof liquor Su Chen had kept for himself from the brewing workshop. At the moment, it was the best possible medium for physical cooling.

Hearing the name "Taibai Drunk," Ouyang Xun could not help but cast another surprised glance.

He was well aware of the current market price of Taibai Drunk in Chang'an City—a single jar cost a hundred taels of silver, an exorbitant sum.

It seemed the cost of this medical treatment would be exceptionally high.

Yet, for the sake of his young son Ouyang Tong, he was willing to stake everything.

Su Chen used the potent liquor to wipe down Ouyang Tong's armpits.

He then pressed his hand against Ouyang Tong's forehead and noticed the boy's body temperature had begun to drop slightly.

Ouyang Xun also stepped forward to test the temperature and let out a sigh of relief. Indeed, Su Chen possessed genuine expertise; no wonder he could become a junior fellow apprentice to Sun Simiao.

"Young Master Su, how is my Tong'er now?"

Ouyang Xun was deeply concerned for his son and anxious to know his prognosis.

Although the temperature had fallen slightly, this was merely a surface-level physical cooling, and Ouyang Tong's internal condition remained precarious.

Without answering immediately, Su Chen conducted another examination to confirm his initial judgment.

"Malaria. This is very troublesome."

Other physicians might have stammered and hesitated, too cowardly to directly state Ouyang Tong's true diagnosis.

Yet Ouyang Xun had already harbored a vague suspicion.

Unlike other doctors, Su Chen minced no words, informing Ouyang Xun bluntly that Ouyang Tong was suffering from malaria.

If this could not be properly treated, the boy would surely perish.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xun nearly fainted on the spot.

Fortunately, Su Gu was standing right behind him and managed to catch Ouyang Xun in time.

"My child is naturally gifted; can it be that heaven truly envies the brilliant? Why is fate so unjust, seeking to take the life of my young son? What meaning is there for this old man to live? Heavens, take me instead! Spare my son's life!"

Ouyang Xun broke down in tears as he spoke.

In those days, malaria was an extremely fatal affliction, with a survival rate of barely one in ten.

Su Chen was driven to distraction by Ouyang Xun's wailing.

"It's not as if it's incurable! What are you crying so loudly for?!"