Chapter 212: I Am Hungry

For Emperor Hongzhi, the words of these schoolchildren truly made his heart feel much brighter.

Suddenly, it felt like the clouds had parted and the sun was shining through.

This… this was the most genuine voice.

If he excluded the ‘nonsense,’ many of the sincere expectations among them also made Emperor Hongzhi deeply emotional.

He sat down behind the Imperial Desk, narrowed his eyes slightly, pursed his lips, and looked at Fang Jifan with a half-smile.

This guy… it really was thanks to him for thinking of this.

Although Fang Jifan had a thick skin, he broke out in a sweat when he heard that Emperor Hongzhi wanted to listen to his ‘lengthy speech.’

Your Majesty, haven’t you already said everything that needed to be said? What else is there for me to talk about?

Fang Jifan then said sheepishly to Emperor Hongzhi, “Your servant has nothing more to say.”

“Then… have someone bring the meal. I really am hungry,” Emperor Hongzhi said as he touched his stomach and spoke leisurely.

Just a moment ago, he hadn’t felt hungry, but now that his spirits had revived, his stomach felt like it was on fire, very uncomfortable. A wave of hunger spread throughout his body, making him feel extremely uneasy.

“Hurry, bring me a bowl of porridge first,” Emperor Hongzhi urged while holding his stomach. The next moment, he glanced down at the piles of memorials on the Desk and then spoke.

“Later, I have many things to do. I need to review memorials and summon a few ministers to discuss state affairs.” As he spoke, his bright, piercing eyes fell on those letters, and a smile played on his lips.

“And also… reply to these seventy or eighty letters.”

“Ah…” Fang Jifan was stunned, his lips twitching slightly as he mumbled, “Reply to the letters…”

Emperor Hongzhi glared at him and snorted coldly.

“What, these children went through great trouble to write to me, making me feel better. Shouldn’t I reply? I am a reasonable person. They showed concern for me, and I should encourage them in return. Actually, it’s also thanks to them that my mood has improved.”

Fang Jifan shouted in his heart, Your Majesty, it was me, me, me who made them write the letters! I have rendered service to Your Majesty, I have exhausted my efforts for Your Majesty…

After speaking, Emperor Hongzhi no longer paid attention to Fang Jifan. He lowered his head, took out another letter, and read it very carefully. When he saw something funny, he laughed. When he saw the ‘true words’ inadvertently revealed by the schoolchild, the corners of his eyes grew blurry again, and he sighed softly.

“Most things in The World cannot escape the word ‘truth.’ But to eliminate the false and seek the true, how difficult it is. These are good children, truly good children…”

He suddenly looked up, stared at Fang Jifan, his gaze turning cold, his expression becoming stern.

“What happened here must not be spread around, including these letters!”

“Oh,” Fang Jifan replied listlessly.

…

Side Palace.

Imperial Physician Huang was crying.

Feeling that he had suffered countless insults and grievances, he knelt before Empress Zhang.

He looked heartbroken, pounding his chest.

“Your servant had no choice, I can’t afford to provoke the Newly Established Count…”

“…”

Empress Zhang looked at him with a cold face, her bright phoenix eyes full of confusion.

Imperial Physician Huang continued to pound his chest, making loud banging sounds.

“Your servant was also threatened by the Newly Established Count…”

Upon hearing this, Taikang Princess, who was nestled nearby, felt her beautiful face darken. Pouting, she said angrily, “Nonsense! How did Fang Jifan threaten you?”

“He… he…” Imperial Physician Huang said in great pain and embarrassment, “He said his name is Fang Jifan, wasn’t that threatening me?”

“…”

Imperial Physician Huang was crying bitterly, seemingly unable to explain clearly, then continued in a trembling voice.

“Your servant was afraid. I originally intended to wait outside, but upon careful thought, it wouldn’t do. His Majesty’s health is crucial. His Majesty is suffering from a heart ailment, caused by overwork and worry. It is one of the six diseases described by Qin physicians. It is said that excessive gloom leads to confusion, and excessive clarity leads to heart ailments. There is also the saying that excessive worry and overthinking lead to heart ailments.”

As he spoke, he paused for a moment, thinking it over, then continued.

“In my opinion, this illness relies most heavily on recuperation. The patient must absolutely not be disturbed by outside influences. Heart ailments affect the heart meridian. And His Majesty deals with numerous affairs daily, having become ill from accumulated fatigue, so we must be even more careful to prevent complications. I wished to treat his illness by, firstly, trying my best to minimize His Majesty’s contact with irrelevant people to avoid agitating his liver fire. Secondly, I would use astragalus, cordyceps, lingzhi, black ant winter spirit, and honeysuckle to brew a decoction for him to drink as a supplement, to soothe His Majesty’s heart meridian. In this way, after recuperating for a month, he would gradually recover.”

“If someone approached His Majesty and disturbed his well-being, it would inevitably stir his liver fire again, thus worsening his condition. If that happens… I’m afraid no medicine could cure him. I am just a lowly Medical Official, I dare not offend the Newly Established Count, but I also feared that Fang Jifan would randomly interfere with His Majesty’s treatment and cause His Majesty’s condition to deteriorate… I had no choice but to come to Your Highness, to ask Your Highness to decide.”

He shook his head, speaking methodically and logically.

His words filled Empress Zhang with fear, her phoenix eyebrows deeply knitted together.

Anxiety leads to confusion. His Majesty is the support for me and our children. If anything happened to him, even slightly, it would be over.

Thinking of this, Empress Zhang felt both sorrow and worry, but she comforted herself silently before speaking calmly.

“Medical Official Huang is a master of heart ailments, but… surely… things aren’t that serious, are they?”

Actually, Imperial Physician Huang was directly scared off by the name ‘Fang Jifan’ and didn’t dare to provoke him further.

But he felt unwilling to just wait obediently outside if Fang Jifan went in.

If His Majesty’s condition worsened, he didn’t want to be blamed for it later. If the worst outcome occurred, it would be even more terrible. Not only would his reputation be ruined, but the Imperial Palace would certainly reprimand him. After thinking it over, he felt he needed to explain things to Empress Zhang.

After saying so much, his meaning was: Fang Jifan insisted on treating the illness himself, so don’t blame me. If something goes wrong, go find Fang Jifan.

Therefore, when Empress Zhang inquired, he naturally didn’t dare to be negligent. After carefully considering his words, he answered earnestly.

“I dare not accept the title ‘master’; I merely have some experience in treating heart ailments. But, Your Highness, I hold no illusions about this. I dare not slander the Newly Established Count, but… I dare say with certainty that His Majesty’s condition will worsen… it’s only a matter of time. If Your Highness doesn’t believe me… perhaps in a little while, a Eunuch will come with urgent news…”

Empress Zhang’s face was filled with worry, her bright eyes even showing a hint of faint fear. Frowning, she asked subconsciously, “Truly… is it that serious…”

When Zhu Xiurong heard Imperial Physician Huang speak so gravely, and given that it concerned not only her Imperial Father’s safety but also Fang Jifan, she panicked immediately, her eyes brimming with tears. “You… are talking nonsense…”

“Your Highness…” Hearing Her Highness scold him, Imperial Physician Huang grew anxious. Why was this little girl always opposing him? She probably didn’t know of my reputation as a divine healer, Huang Zhongbing.

His face flushed red, he said with utmost seriousness.

“Your servant has studied medicine for thirty years, read all the medical texts under heaven, and cured countless patients. Who in The World doesn’t know, who hasn’t heard of me, Your Highness…”

At that moment, a Eunuch from outside interrupted Imperial Physician Huang: “Your Highness… Your Highness…”

Hearing this urgent call, Empress Zhang’s face instantly turned as white as paper, her heart felt as if stabbed, and her delicate body trembled. Had… had Imperial Physician Huang’s prediction really come true?

His Majesty’s condition… had probably worsened again…

If that were the case… how would we, mother and children, live…

In an instant, overflowing tears streamed from her phoenix eyes, and her whole body shook.

Zhu Xiurong was also stunned. Thinking of her Imperial Father’s poor health, and her Empress Mother gripping her hands tightly, clearly unable to control her agitated emotions.

Her eyes couldn’t help but grow bewildered.

In a young girl’s heart, it’s inevitable to have admiration for certain people, like Fang Jifan. Zhu Xiurong often thought that Fang Jifan always protected her, but this protection didn’t feel the same as that from her Imperial Father and Empress Mother…

In any case, she had confidence in Fang Jifan, but helplessly, since Imperial Physician Huang’s prediction seemed to have come true, she also felt somewhat panicked. Her sparkling, brilliant eyes welled up with tears.

What should we do?

When Imperial Physician Huang heard this, he didn’t feel secretly happy either. Deep inside, he felt profound worry. He had come to report this also out of concern for His Majesty’s well-being.

Now, hearing that something had indeed gone wrong, immediately… his fear of Fang Jifan vanished without a trace. His tears also dried up, and he actually shouted loudly.

“This is bad, this is bad! I knew it would go wrong! Treating an illness, how could we let a quack do it? No, the Newly Established Count isn’t even as good as a quack…”

As he spoke, a Eunuch entered the hall and prostrated himself on the floor: “Your Highness…”

Empress Zhang nearly fainted. She tightly grasped Zhu Xiurong’s small hands, suppressing the fear in her heart, and spoke sorrowfully.

“Speak.”

“Your Highness, His Majesty wants a meal served. He wants to drink porridge…”

“…”

Empress Zhang’s expression froze, her face full of disbelief as she looked at the Eunuch kneeling on the ground.

“This…”

She thought she had misheard, her face full of astonishment.

Zhu Xiurong, beside her, reacted first. Knitting her eyebrows, she asked seriously.

“Im-Imperial Father… wants to drink porridge?”

Imperial Physician Huang was a bit dumbfounded. He suddenly had a feeling as if his signboard had been smashed.

Although a doctor should have a benevolent heart, still… this… this…

How could this be possible?

That Fang Jifan didn’t understand, and he was obviously acting recklessly.

Yet in the blink of an eye, His Majesty’s illness was cured.

He thought he had misheard and couldn’t help asking, “His Majesty recovered on his own?”

Faced with the astonishment of Empress Zhang and the other two, the Eunuch answered truthfully.

“His Majesty listened to Fang Jifan’s advice and got better. He said he was hungry in his stomach and wanted a meal served. He specifically asked for porridge and said the porridge Your Highness personally cooks is delicious.”

Imperial Physician Huang felt as if struck by lightning. Heavens… this is a heart ailment! Without any medicine, he just recovered like that?

How is this possible?

He simply couldn’t believe his ears and therefore looked at the Eunuch before him with increasing disbelief.

Hearing the Eunuch’s words, Empress Zhang could be sure that His Majesty had recovered. Overjoyed, she cried, “Yes, yes, yes, This Palace has already prepared it. Quickly, take it to him.”

At that moment, she couldn’t be bothered with Imperial Physician Huang anymore. Taking Zhu Xiurong by the hand, she hurried to the Warm Pavilion. Zhu Houzhao had also heard the news and came rushing over excitedly: “Imperial Father, Imperial Father…”