Behind Yan Qiao followed a middle-aged man, and upon hearing the instructions, he rolled up his sleeves and started marching inside.

“Don’t come near me! Stay away!” Shen Congyun shrieked, striking various defensive poses in terror.

The child’s parents, who were in the hospital ward, froze in place. What’s going on?

However, Yan Er paid no attention to the commotion. He went straight for Shen Congyun.

Moments ago, Shen Congyun had been trying to act tough, but the moment he realized they were coming for him, he cowered, squatting down, covering his head with his hands, and trembling like a leaf.

“Stop!”

Just as Shen Congyun braced himself for a beating, a voice rang out from the doorway.

Everyone turned to see Gao Yuan entering, with Li Runyu following closely behind.

Yan Qiao frowned. “Doctor Gao, this is a family matter. Do you intend to meddle in it as well?”

Gao Yuan replied calmly, “Doctor Yan, Shen Congyun is no longer part of your Yan family. Besides, even if he were, beating someone in a public place would be hard to explain if the police were to show up, wouldn’t it?”

Yan Qiao’s expression darkened.

Seeing Gao Yuan intervene, Yan Er hesitated to act rashly.

“Doctor Gao…” Shen Congyun cried out and scurried over to Gao Yuan, visibly shaken.

Yan Qiao’s face was as dark as ink as he said coldly, “Gao Yuan, are you determined to oppose us?”

“I have no intention of opposing you,” Gao Yuan responded. “But I won’t stand by and let you bully Doctor Shen.”

Hearing this, Shen Congyun was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. Being protected felt incredible.

Yan Qiao, however, was furious. “Bully him? Ask him who’s bullying whom! This ungrateful scoundrel betrayed my family! He tricked my daughter into marrying him under false pretenses, claiming he’d be a devoted husband. I thought my daughter had found a good match. But no, this scumbag only wanted to learn our family’s internal medical techniques.

“After he mastered them, he abandoned his wife and child, ran away, and remarried! You tell me, who’s bullying whom!”

Shen Congyun, feeling utterly humiliated, muttered softly, “I’m already divorced…”

Gao Yuan stayed silent. The entanglement between Shen Congyun and the Yan family was too complicated to resolve in a few words.

Li Runyu glanced back and forth between the two parties. This was some juicy drama!

Yan Er’s eyes turned cold as he hissed, “Because of you, my sister is now alone at home, ridiculed by others!”

“I…” Shen Congyun’s face scrunched up, tears threatening to spill.

Yan Qiao’s face was ashen as he pounded his cane forcefully on the ground. “I haven’t even sought out this scoundrel to settle the score, and yet he has the audacity to show up here! What does he think he is? He’s nothing more than a thief who’s stolen the surface of our family’s knowledge, daring to treat my patients. Where does he get the nerve?”

Shen Congyun flinched in fear.

Gao Yuan interjected, “Doctor Yan, you’re misunderstanding the situation. Doctor Shen isn’t here to take over the patient. The child has been suffering from persistent high fever, and the county hospital invited me to consult. Doctor Shen is merely accompanying me.”

Stolen story; please report.

Yan Qiao turned his gaze to the child’s parents.

The father quickly nodded.

Unexpectedly, Yan Qiao’s expression didn’t soften. Instead, he snapped, “So, you’re implying that you doubt my medical skills?”

“Not at all,” Gao Yuan replied evenly. “However, the prescription and medication you provided earlier did cause some issues.”

Yan Qiao’s eyes widened in anger.

Shen Congyun, feeling the tension rise, clenched every muscle in his body.

Yan Er barked, “Gao Yuan, you’ve got quite the audacity! No matter how skilled you are, you’re still a junior. Is this how you speak to your seniors?”

Gao Yuan replied sincerely, “Respect for seniors is essential, of course. But as doctors, our primary duty is to be truthful in front of patients and prioritize effective treatment above all else.”

“You…” Yan Er was momentarily at a loss for words.

Shen Congyun cautiously peeked up, glancing between the two. He couldn’t help but marvel—Yan Er clearly had no idea about Gao Yuan’s greatest strength. It wasn’t his medical skills, but his eloquence. The man’s words were practically blessed.

Frustrated at being outargued, Yan Er shifted the focus to Li Runyu. “Even Doctor Li hasn’t said a word, so why are you making such a fuss?”

Li Runyu waved his hands dismissively. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s listen to Doctor Gao. He’s talented, and I enjoy hearing him speak.”

This remark nearly made Yan Er lose his balance.

Even Yan Qiao stared at Li Runyu in astonishment. Wasn’t Li Runyu supposed to be on his side? Why was he suddenly siding with Gao Yuan? He hadn’t expected this betrayal from someone he thought was reliable.

Shen Congyun glanced at Li Runyu, then at Gao Yuan. He understood now—Gao Yuan wasn’t just a doctor; he must’ve been some kind of political strategist. The way he won people over was faster than an old lady collecting eggs from a henhouse.

Realizing he was outnumbered, Yan Qiao reluctantly conceded, “Fine. Since you think I’m wrong, why don’t you show us how it’s done?”

Gao Yuan paused, casting a brief glance at Shen Congyun. Initially, he’d had no intention of directly clashing with Yan Qiao, but it seemed inevitable now.

Having made his decision, Gao Yuan said confidently, “Ask the patient’s family whether the previous treatment had any effect.”

Yan Qiao and Yan Er turned to the child’s parents, who exchanged uneasy looks.

“No improvement at all?” Yan Qiao asked, his voice low.

The parents shook their heads.

Yan Qiao’s expression stiffened.

Even Li Runyu found this surprising and went inside to assess the child’s condition.

Gao Yuan explained, “Not only was there no improvement, but the overly cooling medicine you prescribed harmed the child’s middle Yang energy. This caused an obstruction in the lungs and worsened the condition. Without your treatment, the child’s illness wouldn’t have escalated to this point.”

“What!” Yan Qiao roared in fury. Gao Yuan wasn’t just criticizing his treatment; he was accusing him of worsening the patient’s condition.

Shen Congyun shrank back instinctively.

Gao Yuan, however, remained calm. “Not all cases of high fever require cooling treatment. It’s not just about lowering the temperature, even if it means using costly ingredients like rhinoceros horn or antelope horn. The patient’s overall condition should always be considered first.”

Yan Qiao frowned slightly.

From inside, Li Runyu added, “The patient has an underlying issue with excess dampness.”

Gao Yuan nodded subtly. Li Runyu’s observation was spot-on.

Yan Qiao appeared momentarily stunned.

Unable to contain his frustration, Yan Er snapped, “If you think we’re wrong, then what medicine did you use?”

“Guizhi Ginseng Decoction combined with Erchen Tang,” Gao Yuan answered.

Yan Er laughed derisively. “What? The child’s fever is over 40 degrees, and you’re using warming methods? Aren’t you afraid of worsening the condition? If your treatment works, then I’ll…”

Before Yan Er could finish his boast, Yan Qiao hurriedly stopped him, realizing the potential consequences of rash promises.

Gao Yuan explained, “The child exhibits high fever without sweating, wheezing, phlegmy breathing, swollen limbs, and a distended abdomen. The tongue is pale with a greasy, dark coating, and the pulse is deep and soft. These symptoms suggest an internal imbalance caused by excessive dampness compounded by external cold.

“The initial use of bitter and cold herbs harmed the Yang energy, exacerbating the condition. My formula aims to warm the spleen and stomach, resolve dampness, and restore balance. It’s not guaranteed to work, but it addresses the root cause.”

Yan Er was momentarily stunned.

Yan Qiao’s face grew increasingly grim, having already realized his earlier mistake.

Softening his tone slightly, Gao Yuan added, “Of course, this is just my hypothesis. Until we see results, I can’t claim anything definitive. My prescription might not work either.”

Before Yan Qiao could respond, Li Runyu called out, “The patient is starting to sweat lightly and passing gas. Listen.”

“Pfft… Pfft pfft… Pfft…”

The Yan family’s faces turned progressively darker.

Gao Yuan gave Li Runyu an exasperated look. Was this really the time to make such a spectacle?