Chapter 209: The Medicine Guide Arrives
Chapter 209: The Medicine Guide Arrives
The news from the Imperial Palace could no longer be kept secret.
His Majesty’s illness caused worry among his subjects.
As a result, many memorials expressing concern, such as “Your Majesty, are you well?” were sent into the palace like falling snowflakes.
“If only comforting words could cure illness,” Liu Jian sighed.
He had stayed up all night. Staring at the pile of memorials, his face was stiff with exhaustion.
He couldn’t help but mutter to Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, who were kneeling beside him, “At a time like this, some people just cause more trouble. If His Majesty were well, would they need to ask?”
“…”
Liu Jian had been awake all night, but he still had to force himself to be alert during the day. He originally intended to handle some urgent Draft Comments, but the result…
“Ah…” Xie Qian said with deep concern, “The Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Zhang also did not sleep all night. What we fear is…”
The three of them sighed again.
In truth… each of them was hiding a terrible thought, afraid to give it voice.
If this continued, what was the worst outcome?
The current Emperor was only in his thirties, in the prime of his life. But there were countless cases where deep worries led to illness and even death.
As ministers, however, they absolutely could not discuss such things now.
“Has the Crown Prince gone to sleep?” Liu Jian appeared deeply grieved. He shared a strong bond with Emperor Hongzhi—a relationship that was both ruler and subject and close friends, which was rare.
But… as the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, he always had to think further ahead than anyone else.
When Li Dongyang heard Liu Jian mention the Crown Prince, he exchanged a look with Xie Qian.
Then he replied, “He rested for just a short while this morning and then woke up. He said he wanted to leave the palace and go to the Western Hills to find Fang Jifan.”
Liu Jian tried hard to suppress the depression in his heart. He took a deep breath before saying, “At this time, the Crown Prince must remain in the palace.”
As he spoke, he lowered his head as if to hide something. He picked up a memorial and took up his brush. His mind was troubled, and he felt completely lost about what was written in the memorial.
Li Dongyang nodded. Perhaps… they needed to prepare for greater changes.
His Majesty had always been exceedingly filial. But now, even the Grand Empress Dowager could not rouse him. Empress Zhang and His Majesty were deeply devoted, yet she also could not make him alert. Then…
Lost in thought, Li Dongyang noticed Xie Qian bowing his head, using his large sleeve to cover his face as if wiping away tears.
Liu Jian’s face was pale as he lowered his head. He seemed to notice Xie Qian’s emotional state and said, “Yuqiao…”
Yuqiao was Xie Qian’s courtesy name.
“At this moment, as a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, favored by the Emperor, you should share His Majesty’s burdens and stabilize the court and the country. Many eyes are watching His Majesty, and they are watching us too. Please restrain yourself. If the sky falls, someone must hold it up. The Crown Prince… is still young. He cannot bear it alone. We must support him. Do not act on emotion. Is there any military news from Guizhou? Go and check. Binzhi…”
Li Dongyang took a deep breath. “Here.”
Liu Jian still looked down, holding his brush. He paused and then said, “Recently, disasters have struck various regions, especially the northern provinces. Relief depends on the taxes and grain collected from Jiangnan this year. Make preparations for unexpected changes. We must not take this lightly. Send a note to the Nanjing Garrison. This year’s tax grain must be delivered in full. Spread the word: if the Jiangnan Administration Commissions and Transportation Commissions dare to delay this important matter like in previous years, they should remove their Black Gauze Caps themselves and await punishment.”
Li Dongyang nodded.
Liu Jian suddenly remembered something else and continued, “Later, ask Liu Daxia, the Director of the Ministry of War’s Bureau of Operations, to come. In these extraordinary times, we must be prepared. Liu Daxia is well-versed in the Horse Administration of the Nine Garrisons. Strengthening border defenses is now an urgent priority. Have him immediately draft a set of Regulations and bring them to see me.”
Perhaps influenced by Liu Jian’s demeanor, both Li Dongyang and Xie Qian composed themselves and began to work busily.
After speaking, Liu Jian picked up his brush to start writing Draft Comments. But as he wrote each stroke, his hand trembled slightly. He tried hard to form the characters, but then he remembered something else. “Binzhi…”
He realized that at some point, the Official Chamber was empty except for him. Everyone had gone about their tasks.
Looking at the deserted Official Chamber, Liu Jian’s throat felt tight. Finally, he could no longer hold back. He wept quietly, his tears soaking his robes.
…
“Why won’t you let This Palace leave?”
Zhu Houzhao shouted angrily, pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan.
In the side hall of the Warm Pavilion, the Grand Empress Dowager had gone to attend to Emperor Hongzhi. Empress Zhang led her two children to rest briefly in the side hall.
But Zhu Houzhao, though he had hardly slept all night, was very agitated.
It was already noon. Why hadn’t Fang Jifan arrived yet?
Didn’t he say he had a solution?
If he had a way, and was so capable, why wasn’t he here yet?
The longer he waited, the more unbearable it became. He wished he could see Fang Jifan immediately, so he wanted to go to the Western Hills to hurry him along.
But Empress Zhang had forbidden him to leave.
Having no other options, he returned to Empress Zhang’s side. “Empress Mother…”
Empress Zhang’s eyes were red. She said quietly, “Don’t make a fuss. Be quiet. Are the imperial physicians not here? This time, Imperial Physician Huang from the Imperial Medical Bureau is personally handling it. He specializes in treating heart conditions. His words make sense: heart conditions also require medicine. If a person is depressed, the meridians won’t be clear. Blocked meridians can lead to many terrible consequences. So, if His Majesty takes his medicine and clears the meridians, this illness can be relieved.”
“Quack!” Zhu Houzhao cursed bluntly. Then he said, “Everything is about medicine. If Imperial Father could be cured by medicine, what would we need them for? If Imperial Father ate his fill, wouldn’t any illness be cured?”
“…”
“Brother, say less. Empress Mother’s heart is also very heavy.”
Zhu Houzhao glared at his younger sister, who was nestled beside their mother. He felt like stamping his feet. Suddenly, another terrible thought crossed his mind: why did his sister resemble Imperial Father and Empress Mother so much?
Then he also grew depressed. He clasped his hands behind his back and said, “Fine, fine. I won’t say anything. I won’t say anything at all…” He slowly raised his head, looking at the ceiling, his heart filled with anxiety.
Just then.
A eunuch hurried in from outside and announced, “Fang Jifan requests an audience. Fang Jifan is at the Meridian Gate requesting an audience…”
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he rushed out immediately. He saw Fang Jifan running up, out of breath, behind the eunuch!
Zhu Houzhao stamped his foot and said urgently, “Why are you so late!”
“Delayed, delayed,” Fang Jifan pretended to be completely out of breath.
Zhu Houzhao said excitedly, “Old Fang, come. This Palace will take you…”
But Fang Jifan grabbed him. “Your Highness, wait outside. If you want to save him, no one can be inside the Warm Pavilion.”
Zhu Houzhao looked at Fang Jifan, puzzled. “…!”
“This subject will first see Her Highness.” Fang Jifan felt it was impossible to reason with Zhu Houzhao. This guy clearly didn’t understand, and now, with the urgent situation, there was no more time to waste.
So he went straight into the side hall. For some reason, even though he felt the sky was falling, his first glance was drawn to the Taikang Princess. She looked delicate and pitiable, and she seemed unprepared for Fang Jifan’s sudden entrance.
Fang Jifan bowed to Empress Zhang. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Empress Zhang looked at Fang Jifan intently. “Official Fang, you have worked hard.”
“This subject wishes to try to treat His Majesty’s heart condition…”
Empress Zhang frowned slightly. She knew Fang Jifan often surprised people, but a heart condition…
Empress Zhang said hesitantly, “Imperial Physician Huang said that to avoid worsening His Majesty’s condition, it’s better not to…”
Colleagues are often rivals…
Why did these words sound so familiar? It seemed he and the Crown Prince had said something similar…
Damn it! I, Fang Jifan, rushed to the Western Hills, toiled all night, and now I’m hungry and haven’t slept. Who is this Imperial Physician Huang? Does he have an itch for trouble?
Fang Jifan took a deep breath and said very seriously, “Just from hearing his words, this subject can determine he is a quack.”
Empress Zhang seemed uncertain. Imperial Physician Huang, with his white hair and beard, appeared more reliable.
Of course, Fang Jifan wasn’t unreliable, but…
Fang Jifan didn’t want to beat around the bush any longer. He said, “Your Highness, for someone suffering from a heart condition, a special ingredient is needed as a medicine guide. And this subject… has brought the medicine guide.”
“What medicine guide?”
Fang Jifan shook his head. “Cannot say.”
Empress Zhang bit her lip. Her feelings began to lean toward Fang Jifan’s side. She was protective and found Fang Jifan more agreeable.
So Fang Jifan played his final card. “Even if His Majesty sees this subject, it won’t harm his condition. Generally, for those with heart conditions, as long as the person appearing isn’t particularly irritating, it won’t worsen the illness.”
“…” Zhu Houzhao, standing to the side, stifled his expression.
Hmm, these words make sense. But why… do they sound a bit odd…
Empress Zhang took a deep breath and then said decisively, “Alright, then you shall go and try. Attendants, lead Jifan there.”
Before entering the Warm Pavilion, Fang Jifan hesitated for a moment and took a deep breath.
Could the Emperor really be saved?
Would his method definitely work?
Well, at this point, whatever. He would go all in.
I, Fang Jifan, am a man with strong determination!
A man with strong determination usually has decent luck.
He made up his mind and stepped into the Warm Pavilion.
The Grand Empress Dowager had already been assisted to rest.
Only a few imperial physicians and eunuchs were still busily attending. They looked up at Fang Jifan, their expressions not very friendly. It seemed they weren’t particularly welcoming of this unexpected guest.
At that moment, the Emperor seemed completely exhausted and was resting on a small couch behind a screen.
One of the imperial physicians stood up, about to say that irrelevant people should not interfere with the treatment.
Unexpectedly, before he could speak, Fang Jifan said, “All irrelevant people, get out! Don’t get in the way!”
“…” The imperial physician was immediately angered, his face turning red. He couldn’t help but declare righteously, “I am Imperial Physician Huang Zhongbing. Who are you?”
This Imperial Physician Huang seemed to think his reputation as a divine doctor was known everywhere. Merely stating his name should be enough to scare off any intruder.
Fang Jifan just lifted his eyelids. “My name is Fang Jifan. My father is Fang Jinglong…”
“…”