Chapter 50: Miracle

“Hoo…” Although it seemed unreliable, Zhou Rong did understand the saying “long illness makes the patient a doctor”. Long illness makes a patient a doctor… hmm… there was indeed such a saying, but… was it reliable? He coughed and looked at Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Fang Jifan with a cold face. “Fang Jifan, this is no place for jokes.”

Under the emperor’s stern gaze, Fang Jifan still spoke with full confidence. “Your Majesty, please rest assured. Trust your servant. Am I the kind of person who is unreliable?”

“…” Emperor Hongzhi fell silent.

Because he saw the words ‘unreliable’ clearly written on Fang Jifan’s forehead.

Empress Zhang’s tears fell continuously as she sobbed quietly.

Women, they’re so troublesome…

Fang Jifan shook his head inwardly. Yesterday, Empress Zhang had been dignified and unruffled by honor or disgrace, but when it came to her children, she lost all composure.

He hesitated no longer and directly rolled up his sleeves. “Please arrange for someone to bring me ink and brush. I need to write a prescription.”

The imperial physicians all looked up at Emperor Hongzhi again.

Emperor Hongzhi finally let out a sigh. “Fetch the ink and brush.”

Fang Jifan had this confidence because he had read a related thesis. It said that the Princess’s illness was not incurable. Under the conditions of the Ming Dynasty, it could be completely cured using some readily available medicines.

He bent over and swiftly wrote out a prescription in one go, then handed it to Zhou Rong.

Zhou Rong glanced over it; it contained common medicines. But it didn’t specify the administration, so he said to Fang Jifan, “May I ask, Young Master Fang, how should this medicine be decocted and taken?”

Fang Jifan tilted his head and thought. It seemed the thesis didn’t cover that. So he said seriously, “I don’t know either. Figure it out yourself.”

These words nearly choked Zhou Rong. How shameless! How dare you pose as a physician like this? A disgrace to the medical field!

But he truly had no other choice. He could only ponder it carefully for a moment before running off to discuss it with the other imperial physicians.

Fang Jifan then said, “We need to reduce the fever. Quick, loosen her clothes, get damp cloths to wipe her body. Why are you all just standing there? Can’t you even handle this small task? A life is at stake. Why don’t you take the Princess’s life seriously at all?”

After a flurry of activity, Fang Jifan realized he was the one who was superfluous. A group of eunuchs and palace maid officials, with looks of disdain, simply ushered him out. Fang Jifan suddenly understood: the Princess needed to cool down, so naturally, he had to be swept out the door. Damn, isn’t this kicking the bridge after crossing the river?

Several imperial physicians went to prepare and decoct the medicine. Since they needed to reduce the fever, Emperor Hongzhi also had to obediently leave the incense pavilion.

Seeing Emperor Hongzhi’s worried expression, Fang Jifan forced a smile. “Your Majesty, please be at ease. I am not boasting. Once my medicine is administered, the disease will be cured upon taking it.”

Truthfully, Fang Jifan wasn’t entirely certain about the efficacy of the medicine, but whether it would cure the disease immediately couldn’t be rushed anyway.

Since staying here any longer was pointless and seeing that it was getting late, Fang Jifan requested permission from Emperor Hongzhi to take his leave.

At this moment, Emperor Hongzhi was wholly consumed with worry for his daughter’s condition. Seeing his daughter’s life hanging by a thread, Fang Jifan’s prescription was most likely unreliable, and the imperial physicians were at a loss. Yet, he still managed to speak to Fang Jifan as gently as possible. “Minister Fang, thank you for your efforts.”

Fang Jifan then bowed and slowly walked out of the palace.

Actually, he felt that Emperor Hongzhi was a man of genuine character. As the emperor, even in such a desperate situation, he was still relatively kind to him. If it were someone else, they would probably have threatened him, saying if anything happened to the Princess, he would be held accountable, and so on.

As Fang Jifan was leaving, he glanced at the distraught Emperor Hongzhi. His face, worn from overwork, looked even more burdened with worry. He stood there, his shoulders slumped under the heavy pressure.

Two days passed like this.

Emperor Hongzhi had barely slept for two nights. He sat despondently outside the incense pavilion. Several doses of medicine had been administered, yet his daughter remained unconscious.

He looked up at the moon, and countless sorrows swelled in his heart.

In his youth, he was a child unloved by his father and without a mother. Though of imperial lineage, he had to tread carefully in the cold palace, fearful of accidentally falling victim to Consort Wan’s schemes.

But now, he had children of his own. His son, Zhu Houzhao, now gave him some slight peace of mind. But his daughter, Zhu Rongxiu, it seemed… was likely not going to make it.

The cold brought by the Little Ice Age was especially biting at night. Unconsciously, Emperor Hongzhi felt his eyes grow moist. He sighed but did not forget to comfort Empress Zhang, who sat beside him, her eyes slightly swollen from crying.

Emperor Hongzhi gently patted Empress Zhang’s back. “Yue’e, you haven’t slept for over ten hours. I am here. Xiurong is blessed; she will surely turn the corner.”

Empress Zhang shook her head faintly. She tried hard to force a smile, perhaps afraid that continuing to sob would add to the emperor’s worries. She let out a breath and said quietly, “Several imperial physicians have already said Fang Jifan is not a doctor. His medicine is most likely useless. Physician Zhou has already hinted very tactfully that Xiu’er… probably… won’t make it through.”

Emperor Hongzhi said angrily, “These quacks still dare to wag their tongues and talk nonsense! I will not let them off lightly!” But then he sighed heavily again. The Emperor of the Great Ming, at this moment, bore no resemblance to The August Supreme. A bean-sized tear rolled down from the corner of his eye. “I only wish I could take Xiurong’s place. She’s just a child. I have suffered many hardships in my life. If Heaven has any pity, let all the suffering fall upon me alone. Why must it be inflicted on my daughter…”

He couldn’t continue, choking up. He just held Empress Zhang’s hand, his own trembling.

Just then, a eunuch rushed out from the incense pavilion. His voice shattered the silence under the moonlight. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Highness! The Princess… she’s awake… she’s awake!”

“Awa… awake!” Emperor Hongzhi shot to his feet in disbelief.

Not even bothering with Empress Zhang, he hurriedly rushed into the bedchamber. Inside, countless imperial physicians and eunuchs crowded around the phoenix bed. He heard his daughter’s achingly familiar voice: “I… I’m hungry…”

“Quick, quick, bring some rice porridge…” Zhou Rong seemed to suddenly come back to life. For these past two days, he had felt his head might not stay on his shoulders much longer, mourning daily as if bereaved. But now… it was as if hope had suddenly returned.

“It really was a brain illness after all. Amazing! Medical texts say those with brain afflictions are beyond cure. That seems too hasty a judgment now.”

“A miraculous doctor!” someone marvelled.

“Long illness makes the patient a doctor, and yet he’s more skilled than us who have immersed ourselves in medical principles for decades…”