Long ago, there was a famous doctor named Bian Que who traveled widely to collect herbs and treat patients.
One day, while passing through the State of Guo, he heard of the prince's sudden death. Bian Que inquired about the case from an official and determined that the prince was not dead but suffering from a strange illness. He insisted he could revive the prince.
Despite initial refusal, Bian Que's persistence convinced the official to report to the king. With no other options, the king allowed Bian Que to try. Using acupuncture, the prince responded immediately. Bian Que then applied a medicinal hot compress, and the prince sat up at once. Before departing, Bian Que left twenty doses of medicine. The prince made a full recovery within twenty days.
This story is the origin of the idiom "起死回生," used to praise a doctor's exceptional skill.