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The servant of a retainer in the Prime Minister of Qi's household entered the palace after attending court. Chunyu Yi (Cang Gong) saw him eating outside the inner gate and observed an aura of illness on his face, immediately informing the eunuch Pingping. Pingping was skilled in pulse diagnosis. Chunyu Yi showed him the case and informed him of the retainer's servant's condition, saying: "This is an injury to Spleen Qi (Spleen energy). By spring, there will be obstruction in the diaphragm leading to inability to eat or drink. According to pulse methodology, he will die from hematochezia (blood in stool) in summer." The eunuch Pingping immediately went to inform the Prime Minister, saying: "Your retainer's servant is ill; the condition is severe, and death is imminent." The Prime Minister asked: "How do you know this?" Pingping replied: "When you entered the palace in the morning, your retainer's servant ate heartily outside the inner gate." Chunyu Yi immediately summoned Pingping, pointed to the servant, and said to Pingping: "A disease presenting like this leads to death." He then summoned the servant and told him: "Your servant is ill." The servant replied: "My servant has no illness and feels no pain." In spring, he indeed fell ill, and in April, he died from hematochezia.

The reason I could predict his illness is that Spleen Qi circulates through the five Zang organs. The site of injury and its interaction manifested the complexion of Spleen injury. From afar, the complexion appeared withered and yellow; upon closer inspection, it resembled the cyan color of death. Many physicians did not recognize this as Spleen injury, mistakenly attributing it to intestinal parasites. Thus, he died in spring because the Stomach Qi should have been yellow; yellow corresponds to Earth Qi. Since Earth cannot overcome Wood (Liver), he died in spring. The reason for dying in summer is explained by pulse methodology: "When the disease is severe but the pulse is clear and compliant, it is called Neiguan (Inner Obstruction). In Neiguan diseases, patients are unaware of where they hurt; their hearts are anxious yet they feel no pain. If combined with another factor... [text fragment regarding prognosis]..." Here, it explains that although the pulse at the time of examination was compliant, the person was still fat. This servant's illness resulted from profuse sweating, followed by moxibustion (fire therapy), and exposure to strong winds while going out. (Above from *Records of the Grand Historian*)

Those who experience a sweet taste in the mouth suffer from Pi Dan (Spleen Heat Disease), which is the overflow of the five Qi. Those who experience a bitter taste in the mouth suffer from Dan Dan (Gallbladder Heat Disease).

Those who feel hungry after eating suffer from Wei Dan (Stomach Heat Disease); Stomach heat causes rapid digestion. Facial edema is called Feng Shui (Wind Water Edema); edema of the lower legs and shins is called Shui Zhong (Water Swelling); yellowing of the eyes is called Huang Dan (Jaundice).

Xu Shuwei, when young, prayed for success in the imperial examinations. One night, he dreamed that a deity told him: "If you wish to pass the exams, you must rely on hidden virtue (Yin De)." Xu Shuwei reflected that his family was poor and lacked resources for charity, but medicine could benefit people. Thus, he devoted himself to studying medical texts and eventually mastered their subtleties. Regardless of the patient's status, he rushed to treat them urgently. As the number of lives saved increased, his reputation grew. He dreamed again of the same deity, who gave him a poem: "Medicine brings hidden merit between Chen and Lou. / Inside the hall, shouting 'five' and 'six' in dice games marks the year he ranked sixth among Jinshi. / The first place was Chen Zuyan, the next was Lou Cai. / Upon appointment, due to the promotion grace similar to the fifth rank, he returned home. / Not a single word of the poem was inaccurate." That year, he passed as the sixth-place Jinshi. The first place was Chen Zuyan, and the next was Lou Cai. When official appointments were made, the grace of promotion allowed him to receive the rank equivalent to the fifth place, and he returned home. Not a single word of the poem proved false. This illustrates the urgency of saving others from illness.