The physician Bian Que told Duke Huan of Cai: “Your Lordship has an illness in the skin. If it is not treated, it may go deeper.” “I have no illness,” said the duke. When Bian Que left, the duke said: “Doctors like to treat people who are not ill, to take the credit.” Twice more Bian Que warned him, and twice the duke did not answer. The fourth time, Bian Que saw him and ran.
The illness had reached the marrow. Five days later, the duke was in pain and sent for Bian Que, who had already fled. The story is in the Han Feizi. It gave the idiom 讳疾忌医, to hide an illness and avoid the doctor, and in a wider sense to cover up faults and fear criticism.