张景岳向寓榆关客邸，一友忽黄昏叩门。张皇甚，问之，则所狎之妓，忽得急症，势在垂危，倘遭其厄，
祸不可解。因求救，随往视之。见其口吐白沫，僵仆于地，口鼻四肢俱冷，气息如绝，状殊骇人。及诊之，则
气口和平，与症不应。沉思久之，复诊脉如故，始悟其诈也。乃以仲景法试之，遂大声言曰∶此病危矣，使非
火攻，必不可活。非用如枣如栗之艾，亦不可活。又非灸人中、眉心、小腹数处，亦不可活。吾寓有艾，可速
取来。然火灸尚迟，姑先与一药，倘能咽，咽后稍有声息，则生意已复，即不灸亦可。若口不咽，或咽后无声，
速灸可也。即与一药，嘱其服后，即来报我。彼闻言已惊，惟恐大艾着体，药到即咽。少顷即哼声出，则徐动徐
起矣。次日问其由，乃知为吃醋而然也。曲中奸狡，有如是者。
景岳在都时，有金吾蓄二外家，其一则燕姬也，有母随之。一日二外家相竞，燕姬理屈，若母助其跳踉，遂致
气厥若死。乃令一婢抱持而坐，自暮达晨，绝无苏意。延治，初入室，见其肉浓色黑，面青目瞑，手撒息微。
诊其脉则伏渺若脱，亦意其危也。而治法难施，温补则虑其气逆未散，开导则虑其脉绝难胜。踌躇间，乃请复
诊，则以十指交叉抱腹，仰坦婢怀。因疑其前已撒手，今能反手，岂他人之所为乎？及诊之，似有嫌拒意，拽
之不能动，乃出其不意猛拽之，则顿脱有声，力强且劲，此非欲脱，真病明矣。因思其脉若此，或以肉浓气滞，
此北人禀赋多有之也。或以两腋紧夹，此奸人狡诈亦有之也。若其面青色微，则怒气使然，自不足怪。识见既
定，因声言其危，使闻灸法，遂先投一剂，下咽即活。金吾因询其病真耶假耶？若假何以竟夕如是，且形症毕
肖？若真何以药下即瘳，抑果药之元秘乎？曰∶元秘乃在言耳，不过借药为名，但使彼惧，病即去矣。经曰忧
可胜怒，正此谓也。然其狡诈，一至于此，使非再诊，亦几为所诳，可不审哉？
一士子为臣家所殴，遂卧病旬日，吐血盈盆。因喧传人命，连及多人，延医数辈，见其危剧之状，皆束手
远避，防为所累也。最后张见之、察其色，则绝无窘苦之况。诊其脉，则皆和缓如常。始而疑，继而悟，乃潜
语之曰∶他可欺也，余不可欺也。此尔之血耶？家禽之血耶？其人愕然，浼予勿言。遂与调和，衔感而罢。
一邻妇以妒外家诟谇，与夫反目，因而病剧，切牙瞪眼，僵厥不苏，若命在呼吸间者。其夫惊惶无措，其外家
几遭不堪，求张救之。则脉非其病，遂用前法治之，愈后其夫感谢，而不知为其所愚也。若此二人，则又人事
中之常态。使不有以鉴别，则此中变，而有以假病而延成真病者，有以小忿延成大祸者，故并记之，以资闻见。
张景岳当时客居在山海关的旅馆里，一位朋友突然在黄昏时分敲门。他神色慌张，询问原因，原来是那位朋友宠爱的妓女突然得了急症，情况危急，如果遭遇不幸，灾祸将无法解脱。于是向张景岳求救，随即一同前往诊治。只见患者口吐白沫，僵直仆倒在地，口鼻和四肢都冰冷，气息微弱仿佛断绝，样子十分骇人。等到诊脉时，发现寸口脉象平和，与病症表现不相符。沉思良久后，再次诊脉依然如故，这才明白她是装病。于是用张仲景的方法来试探她，便大声说道：“这病很危险了，如果不是用火攻治疗，一定不能存活。如果不是使用像枣子、栗子那样大的艾炷，也不能存活。而且如果不灸人中穴、眉心和小腹等几个部位，也不能存活。我寓所里有艾草，可以快去取来。然而火灸还太慢，暂且先给一服药，如果能咽下，咽下后稍微有声音气息，那么生机已经恢复，即使不灸也可以。如果口不能吞咽，或者咽下后没有声音气息，那就赶紧施灸吧。”随即给了一服药，嘱咐她服完后立刻来报告。那人听到这话已经惊恐，唯恐大艾团灼烧身体，药一到就吞了下去。过了一会儿就发出哼声，然后慢慢活动，慢慢坐起。第二天询问缘由，才知道是因为吃醋而导致的。歌伎中的奸诈狡黠，竟然到了这种地步。
张景岳在京城时，有一位金吾卫（掌管京城治安的官员）蓄养了两个外室，其中一个是燕地姬妾，带着母亲同住。一天两个外室互相争斗，燕姬理亏，她的母亲帮助她跳脚跺脚，导致她气厥昏死过去。于是让一个婢女抱着她坐着，从傍晚一直到早晨，完全没有苏醒的意思。请医生诊治，刚进房间，看见她肌肉丰满肤色黑，面色青暗眼睛紧闭，手松开气息微弱。诊察她的脉搏则沉伏细微仿佛脱失，也认为病情危重。但是治疗方法难以施展，温补则担心她的气逆尚未消散，开导疏通则担心她脉绝难以承受。正在犹豫间，于是请求复诊，却发现她用十指交叉抱住腹部，仰面躺在婢女怀里。因此怀疑她之前手松开，现在能反手抱腹，难道是别人做的吗？等到诊脉时，似乎有嫌弃拒绝的意思，拉她不动，于是出其不意猛力拉扯，顿时发出声响，力气强劲有力，这不是想要挣脱，而是真病的迹象明显了。于是想到她的脉象如此，或许是因为肌肉丰满导致气机阻滞，这是北方人的体质大多有的现象。或许是两腋紧紧夹住，这也是奸人狡诈的表现之一。至于她面色微青，则是怒气所致，自然不值得奇怪。识见确定之后，于是大声说病情危重，让她听说灸法，于是先投一剂药，咽下即活。金吾卫于是询问这病是真的还是假的？如果是假的为什么整晚这样，而且形貌症状完全相似？如果是真的为什么药一下去就好了，难道是药物的奥秘吗？回答说：“奥秘在于言语罢了，不过是借药物为名，只要让她恐惧，病就消除了。”《内经》说忧虑可以克制愤怒，正是这个意思。然而她的狡诈竟然到了这种地步，如果不是复诊观察，也几乎被她欺骗，能不审慎吗？
有一个读书人被臣子家殴打，于是卧病十天，吐血满盆。于是喧闹传播人命案件，牵连多人，请来几位医生，看到他那危急严重的样子，都束手远避，怕被连累。最后张景岳见到他，观察他的神色，则完全没有窘迫痛苦的情况。诊察他的脉搏，则都和缓如常。开始怀疑，继而领悟，于是悄悄对他说：“别人可以被欺骗，我不能被欺骗。这是你的血吗？是家禽的血吗？”那人愕然，恳求我不要说出去。于是给他调和气血的药，他衔感戴恩而罢休。
一个邻居妇女因为嫉妒外室辱骂争吵，与丈夫反目，因而病重，咬牙瞪眼，僵直昏厥不醒，好像生命就在呼吸之间。她的丈夫惊慌失措，她的外家亲属几乎遭受不堪的待遇，请求张景岳救治。发现脉象不是真正的病证，于是用前面的方法治疗，痊愈后丈夫感谢，却不知道是被他愚弄了。像这两个人，又是人事中的常态。假使没有方法来鉴别，那么其中的变化，就有把假病拖延成真正疾病的，有小怨恨拖延成大祸患的，所以一并记录下来，以增长见闻。
Zhang Jingyue was staying as a guest in an inn at Yuguan (Shanhaiguan) at that time. A friend suddenly knocked on the door at dusk. He appeared extremely panicked. Upon inquiry, it turned out that his favored courtesan had suddenly fallen into a critical condition. If misfortune were to befall her, the disaster would be irreparable. Thus, he sought Zhang's help, and they went together to examine her. The patient was foaming at the mouth, stiffly collapsed on the ground, with cold mouth, nose, and limbs, and breath so faint as if severed; the appearance was quite terrifying. However, upon taking the pulse, the Cun Kou (radial artery pulse) was peaceful and harmonious, inconsistent with the symptoms. After deep contemplation for a long while, he took the pulse again, which remained unchanged. Only then did he realize she was feigning illness. He decided to test her using the method of Zhang Zhongjing, and loudly declared: "This illness is critical. Unless fire therapy is employed, survival is impossible. Unless moxa cones the size of dates or chestnuts are used, survival is impossible. Furthermore, unless points such as Renge (GV26), Meixin (Ex-HN17), and several areas on the lower abdomen are moxibusted, survival is impossible. I have moxa in my residence; go fetch it quickly. However, moxibustion is still too slow. For now, give her one dose of medicine. If she can swallow, and after swallowing shows slight signs of life and breath, then vitality has returned, and moxibustion may be omitted. If she cannot swallow, or if there is no sound/breath after swallowing, perform moxibustion immediately." He then prescribed a dose of medicine, instructing her to report back immediately after taking it. Hearing this, she was already frightened, fearing the large moxa cones would burn her body. As soon as the medicine arrived, she swallowed it. Shortly after, groaning sounds emerged, and she slowly moved and sat up. The next day, upon asking for the cause, it was known that it was due to eating vinegar. The cunning and deceitfulness of women in the entertainment district could reach such extremes.
When Zhang Jingyue was in the capital, a Jinwu Guard (official responsible for capital security) kept two concubines. One was a Yan region courtesan who lived with her mother. One day, the two concubines quarreled. The Yan courtesan was in the wrong, but her mother helped her by jumping and stomping in anger, causing the courtesan to suffer from Qi Jue (Qi syncope/collapse) and appear dead. A maid was ordered to hold her sitting up from dusk until dawn, with no sign of recovery. A doctor was summoned. Upon entering the room, the doctor saw she had thick flesh and dark complexion, a bluish face, closed eyes, relaxed hands, and faint breathing. Her pulse was deep, minute, and seemed absent, leading the doctor to believe the condition was critical. However, treatment was difficult to apply: warming and tonifying might exacerbate the stagnant Qi, while guiding and unblocking might be too harsh for a seemingly absent pulse. While hesitating, he requested a follow-up examination. He noticed she was crossing her ten fingers to embrace her abdomen, lying supine in the maid's arms. Suspecting that since her hands were previously relaxed, the current crossed-hands posture must be voluntary and not done by others, he examined her pulse again. She seemed to show reluctance and resistance; pulling her did not move her. Suddenly, he pulled her forcefully, resulting in a loud detachment sound. Her strength was robust and vigorous. This was not an attempt to escape but clear evidence of genuine health. He reasoned that given her pulse, perhaps the thick flesh caused Qi stagnation, a constitution common among northerners. Or perhaps the tight clamping of the armpits was part of her deceitful act. The slightly bluish face was due to anger, which was not surprising. With his diagnosis confirmed, he loudly proclaimed the severity of the illness to make her hear about moxibustion, and then administered a dose of medicine. She recovered immediately after swallowing. The guard asked whether the illness was real or fake. If fake, why did she exhibit such symptoms all night with perfect mimicry? If real, why did she recover instantly upon taking the medicine? Was it the secret power of the herbs? Zhang replied: "The secret lies in words. It was merely a pretext using medicine as a name; by instilling fear, the 'illness' disappeared." The *Classic of Difficult Issues* states that worry can overcome anger, which applies here. However, her deceitfulness was extreme. Without careful re-examination, one could easily be deceived. Is it not necessary to be prudent?
A scholar was beaten by the household of an official and lay ill for ten days, vomiting blood full of basins. He spread rumors of a homicide case, implicating many people. Several doctors were invited. Seeing his critical and severe appearance, they all withdrew their hands in helplessness and avoided him to prevent being implicated. Finally, Zhang Jingyue examined him. Observing his facial expression, there was absolutely no sign of distress or suffering. Taking his pulse, it was harmonious and slow, as usual. Initially suspicious, he then realized the truth. He whispered to the scholar: "Others may be deceived, but I cannot be. Is this your blood? Or is it poultry blood?" The scholar was startled and begged Zhang not to reveal the truth. Zhang then prescribed medicine to harmonize the body. The scholar felt grateful and the matter ended.
A neighboring woman, jealous of a concubine, cursed and argued with her husband, leading to marital discord and severe illness. She clenched her teeth, stared wide-eyed, became stiff and comatose, appearing as if her life hung by a thread. Her husband was panicked and helpless, and her natal family faced potential disgrace. They requested Zhang's rescue. Zhang found the pulse did not match the disease, so he used the previous method to treat her. After recovery, her husband expressed gratitude, unaware he had been tricked. These two cases represent common human behaviors. If not properly distinguished, false illnesses could prolong into real ones, and minor grievances could escalate into major disasters. Therefore, I record them both to broaden knowledge.