Chapter Thirteen: Surely a Fraudulent Deception

News in Chang’an City spread rapidly. The matter of Su Chen at Li Jing’s residence quickly became the talk of the town. No one knew who had exaggerated, but Su Chen’s acupuncture skills were being praised to the heavens. Moreover, the so-called "Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles" was a technique only heard of by name, never actually seen. Many common folk were extremely curious.

At this moment, in Chang’an’s Changle Ward, there was a medical clinic that had so far paid no attention to Su Chen’s clinic. The doctor there had previously served in the Imperial Medical Department. Now, having grown old, he had come out to set up his own clinic, and being from the Wang family of Taiyuan, he practiced medicine there.

“Eldest ancestor, this is serious. A fraud has appeared in Chang’an City,” many from the Wang family hurried to the clinic. They refused to believe the rumors of Su Chen being a divine healer. They suspected this spoiled son of a noble family had somehow bribed or used connections to bring several imperial physicians to join him. Now he had opened a clinic not far from their own in Changle Ward and was boasting everywhere.

Wang Wei frowned. The clinic had usually been busy, but in the past few days it had quieted down considerably. He was resting here during this lull. “A fraud? That’s none of our concern. Let’s not bother ourselves with such matters.”

The Taiyuan Wang family was a prominent clan. Wang Wei was among the top doctors in the family, respected and relied upon by many.

“Eldest ancestor, you don’t know. Recently, this young man named Su Chen opened a clinic and invited several imperial doctors. Now most patients have been going there,” Wang Dan stepped forward. He was in his forties or fifties and hadn’t taken the matter seriously at first. However, reports from below showed their clinic had only a few patients these days, which was a significant income loss for the Wang family in Chang’an City. Wang Dan couldn’t sit still and came to see Wang Wei.

“If others open a clinic, that’s their business. Since they also came from the Imperial Medical Department, they are sort of my peers. I’m fine with patients going to them. What’s the problem?” Wang Wei was deeply absorbed in medicine and cared little about business. Even if no patients came, he wouldn’t mind.

“Eldest ancestor is right, but the main doctor at that clinic isn’t an imperial physician. He’s a spoiled noble youth. Who knows if he spent money or used influence? Many have been deceived,” Wang Dan knew Wang Wei’s temperament and began to explain. Anyone in Chang’an could easily find out about Su Chen. Wang Wei was ignorant of the outside world, so Wang Dan omitted the part where Sun Simiao accepted Su Chen as a junior.

The more Wang Wei heard, the more uneasy he felt. “Are you making up lies to fool me? Do you really think such a person could be a doctor at a clinic?”

Su Chen’s past deeds and this clinic were completely incompatible. Wang Wei couldn’t imagine such a person becoming a physician.

“That’s right, Eldest Ancestor. He must have used some tricks. Today rumors say he knows the ‘Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles’ and even something called ‘Dong’s Secret Acupoint,’” Wang Dan shared the latest gossip.

Wang Wei shook his head. “The ‘Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles’ was created by Bian Que long ago and has long been lost. How could anyone know it now? As for ‘Dong’s Secret Acupoint,’ that’s nonsense. I have studied countless medical texts, even the ‘Great Compendium of Acupuncture’ makes no mention of those words. Who is this Dong anyway?”

Wang Wei no longer believed the rumors. The ‘Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles’ had been lost for ages. And ‘Dong’s Secret Acupoint’ was unheard of; he didn’t know who Dong was. In Wang Wei’s mind, Su Chen was branded a fraud.

Hearing Wang Wei’s words, Wang Dan became even more certain that Su Chen was a charlatan using tricks to deceive people. They must expose his deceit and leave this spoiled noble with nowhere to hide.

“Eldest Ancestor is right. This man brazenly set up a clinic in Chang’an City, fooling many commoners. Although you disdain dealing with such villains, you should consider the safety of the people of Chang’an. We cannot let Su Chen harm the public,” Wang Dan urged Wang Wei to confront Su Chen.

Speaking bluntly would surely be rejected, so Wang Dan framed it as concern for the people. Wang Wei had spent years practicing medicine in Changle Ward for the health of Chang’an’s citizens. This was a noble cause. Now that a fraud was misleading the people, it was only right to expose him.

“Indeed, although we don’t pay him any mind, sooner or later he will be exposed. But by then, many will have been deceived,” Wang Wei agreed. Physicians were meticulous and felt deep contempt for anyone who used false medicine to cheat others.

Encouraged by others, Wang Wei left his clinic and headed toward Su Chen’s.

Su Chen’s clinic was bustling. Especially now that word spread of his treatment at Li Jing’s residence. Many knew Li Jing’s wife suffered from madness, a condition no other imperial doctor could cure, yet Su Chen had seemingly succeeded.

In truth, she was not yet fully healed; the treatment was ongoing. But most commoners believed she was cured.

Cheng Chumo squeezed in from the door. “Brother, you have quite a crowd. No clinic in Chang’an City has as many patients as you.”

Cheng Yaojin had urged Cheng Chumo to learn from Su Chen. Having been kicked out of his home early, Cheng Chumo wandered Chang’an, fearful of his father’s discovery, and finally came to Su Chen’s clinic.

Su Chen had been busy since dawn. Zhou Taifu had brought several of his students, all renowned doctors, who quickly helped out. This lightened Su Chen’s workload considerably.

“Chumo, you’re here. I was just thinking, did Uncle Cheng joke last night and not have you come to my clinic?” Su Chen smiled.

Cheng Chumo’s face flushed. Before, he hadn’t minded Su Chen, but now he felt somehow inferior in his presence.

Just as Cheng Chumo was about to speak, a commotion arose behind them. Wang Dan and others had arrived with Wang Wei, entering the clinic.

“You brat, flaunting yourself here, deceiving the people. Today, we elders will expose your tricks.”