Chapter 45: The Old Taoist Who Heals

Xing’e was about to forcefully charge out to protect the princess when someone from the palace arrived.

Yan Su’s godson, Fu Xi, hurried over. “Princess, you need to return to the palace quickly to take a look.”

“The emperor has coughed up a lot of blood, and the Imperial Medical Department is at a loss. You must come back with me now.”

Ji Jian had already taken the opportunity to reveal the truth about how Princess Ning’an had injured him.

Thanks to her precarious situation, Prince Jing had let his guard down, allowing Wen Taishi to take action and gather solid evidence against him.

The evidence provided by Ji Jian was merely the location of the soldiers Prince Jing had hidden, which still needed to be confirmed.

Wen Di, however, had seen actual soldiers, leaving Prince Jing no room for denial.

Yet, Emperor Mingde was furious about Prince Jing’s rebellion and hadn’t had time to release Ning’an.

As a trusted confidant of the emperor, Yan Su, upon seeing the emperor’s severe condition, had Fu Xi fetch the princess back. If anything happened to the emperor, he would certainly want to see her.

Li Ning’an followed Fu Xi back to the palace, breathless as she collapsed before the dragon bed. “Father, what’s wrong?”

The empress and others waited outside, while only Li Ning’an knelt beside Emperor Mingde.

Li Ning felt that her father favored her mother, as she had never been seen in front of him.

This time, she surely felt even more indignant.

Originally, she thought injuring Ji Laoyushi was foolish; who would have thought it would turn out to be a blessing?

How could her uncle have rebellious intentions?

And now, he had been caught.

Her uncle had been in Northern Yue and hadn’t returned to the border yet.

Yan Ziqi was thriving at the border, having nearly subdued the Iron Cavalry.

Fortunately, there was still the Cloud Armor Army, and the layout of the Tong family at the border wasn’t wasted.

Li Ning couldn’t help but think of Fu Minglang, who had recently been trying to gather news about Li Ning’an.

Why did everyone seem to be revolving around her?

She lowered her eyes to hide her unwillingness.

Meanwhile, Li Ning’an focused on calming herself and asked the chief physician, “How is Father?”

The chief physician, responsible for the entire Imperial Medical Department, had to come and examine the emperor after his sudden appearance and blood loss.

He replied, “His Majesty’s sudden onset appears to be poisoning, or perhaps a result of fury.”

After all, he was the emperor; they didn’t dare to use potent medicine.

The pulse showed faint signs of poisoning, but no one could guarantee anything.

Xing’e helped the princess sit on the bed; the emperor’s breathing was steady, but his complexion was poor.

Suddenly, she remembered that Water Sixth Master had gathered many doctors; perhaps someone could help.

These imperial physicians, having been in the palace for so long, had learned to speak appropriately to different audiences.

If anything were to happen to the emperor, they feared taking responsibility and wouldn’t dare to speak the whole truth, only thinking of ways to absolve themselves.

Li Ning’an didn’t speak to the chief physician immediately; she was lost in thought.

If she could find the doctor who had treated her father in her previous life, perhaps even arriving a day earlier could help him live longer.

In a low voice, she instructed Xing’e to first check the Duke of Dingguo’s residence for any suitable person.

The chief physician, upon hearing that Ning’an wanted Xing’e to leave the palace to seek rural doctors, was the first to disagree.

“Princess Ning’an, your earlier injury to Ji Laoyushi can be excused, but treating His Majesty is a serious matter. If…”

With the emperor still lying on the bed, the chief physician didn’t want to be too direct.

But Li Ning’an understood his meaning.

He simply didn’t want to take any risks.

These physicians in the Imperial Medical Department sought stability; all they cared about was preserving their own lives.

There was no more doctor’s compassion or thoughts of saving lives; they were busy figuring out how to gain favor in front of their superiors and attain wealth and honor.

“Whatever happens, I will bear the responsibility,” Li Ning’an declared.

“It’s just a pulse diagnosis; what could possibly go wrong?”

“If a prescription truly is needed, it will still be given for your consideration. After all, I don’t understand medicine; I will still rely on you all.”

With Princess Ning’an saying this, the chief physician nodded and instructed someone to follow Xing’e to the Duke of Dingguo’s residence.

After all, if something were to happen to the emperor, it was better to have someone to take responsibility.

He wanted to protect his own head until retirement.

However, as soon as Xing’e stepped out of the hall, she was surrounded by several concubines who questioned her decision to seek outside doctors, deeming it unreliable.

Concubine Tong Xian looked at the empress. “Ning’an is a bit impulsive; how can she not consult the Imperial Medical Department and instead seek those doctors?”

One had to know that those who remained in the Imperial Medical Department had gone through a rigorous selection process.

“Exactly, what do those doctors know? The chief physician comes from a long line of esteemed healers,” another chimed in.

“Princess Ning’an is still young and, worried about the emperor’s illness, is perhaps just acting out of desperation.”

“Your Majesty, we should call Princess Ning’an back and let the Imperial Medical Department examine the emperor thoroughly.”

Everyone spoke at once, blocking Xing’e’s path.

The empress felt the outside doctors might not be reliable, but neither did the physicians within provide a concrete prescription.

She had originally thought Ning’an was seeking a doctor for Water Sixth Master just to help Shui Yue Rong.

But now, it seemed like there was some kind of prior arrangement, as if waiting for this very scene.

But how could Ning’an know when something would happen to the emperor?

“Ning’an is worried about her father and only wishes to contribute,” the empress defended.

“The chief physician hasn’t stopped her, so it seems he trusts Ning’an. Xing’e, you should hurry,” she instructed.

“Yes.” With the empress’s command, Xing’e led the chief physician’s apprentice forward.

At the Duke of Dingguo’s residence, three doctors were sitting in the inner chamber, one of whom was an elderly man with an ethereal demeanor, dressed in gray and white robes, holding a feather duster.

He looked more like someone who could lead one to ascend than a healer.

The Duke of Dingguo was aware that Princess Ning’an intended to take a few doctors but dared not approach the old man.

The elder produced several pills, claiming they were made from rare herbs in a low-heat furnace.

The Duke felt he might be a fraud.

Since it was for the emperor’s treatment, it was better to be cautious.

Xing’e, however, thought that since he dared to come, they might as well let him meet the princess.

If he were indeed a charlatan, they could arrest him and throw him in jail, thereby ridding the people of a menace.

“Come with me, but do not speak among yourselves or look around on the way,” she instructed, leading the three men back to the palace.

Once they arrived at Qian Kun Palace, the empress and Concubine Tong Xian stood in the inner hall, while Li Ning’an had changed into a different outfit, standing next to her mother to ward off evil spirits.

Xing’e saluted and explained where the doctors were from and what they specialized in.

This was also something the Duke had informed Xing’e of; he certainly needed to assess them before allowing them to treat his son.

The empress nodded, and the chief physician, glancing at the old man, scoffed. “He considers himself a doctor?”

The old man showed no sign of fear or nervousness around nobles, unlike the other two, who trembled in their legs.

“How can one not seek a doctor?” he replied confidently.

He had traveled far and wide, saving countless people.

The ailments he had witnessed were innumerable.

Those in the Imperial Medical Department merely clung to the medical practices passed down from their ancestors, lacking any real progress.

“Allow me to examine His Majesty,” the old man said, stepping forward to take the emperor’s pulse.

Concubine Tong Xian interrupted, “Wait.”

She saw that he was merely a vain charlatan.

“Your Majesty, do you really intend to let him treat His Majesty? Outsiders cannot compare to the Imperial Medical Department.”

The physicians there had their ancestors’ reputations to uphold.

The old man waved his hand, suddenly recalling that his feather duster had been confiscated by the Imperial Guards.

“I am pure and innocent, only here to relieve suffering.”

Concubine Tong Xian snorted, “Everyone can speak sweetly; who doesn’t know how to talk? You, old man, how do we know you aren’t a remnant of Prince Jing?”

While changing clothes in the next room, Li Ning’an had overheard Hong Xiu mentioning Prince Jing’s situation.

Not only was he not guilty, but he had also become a hero.

“Only today did I learn of Prince Jing’s rebellion. Does Concubine Tong Xian think she can harm my father by saying he is his remnant?”