Chapter 23 – Medicinal Food to Nourish Yin and Strengthen the Kidneys

Tang Chaoyang walked out of Yingtian Prefecture.

She told Widow Liu and her daughters to first go home and pack their belongings. “I will arrange escorts to take you to a place where you can stay for a while. When everything here has settled down, I’ll bring you back.”

Widow Liu, who had struggled half her life, finally felt that in her moment of despair, she had encountered a good person.

She kept saying thank you over and over.

Tang Chaoyang patted Liu Erniang’s head and watched the three of them leave.

When she turned back, she was surprised to see Ling Guyong still there. “Why are you still here?”

Ling Guyong gave her an innocent, honest smile. “Big Red Sister, my courtesy name is Guyuan.”

“Courtesy name Guyuan—symbolizing strength,” Tang Chaoyang said with deadpan eyes. “Why do you keep calling me ‘sister’? For all you know, I might be younger than you.”

Ling Guyong glanced at her current makeup and gave a faint smile. “Well…you really do age fast.”

Tang Chaoyang ignored him. Arguing about age was pointless.

She listened to the common folk around them, all discussing what had just happened.

She had the idea of opening a school, mainly to teach ordinary people how to read.

In her two lifetimes, this was the first time she felt such an urge to do something.

Her eyes brimmed with vitality.

Looking at the townspeople, Tang Chaoyang softly said, “If only all the common people could read.”

Ling Guyong found this naive notion hard to agree with. He scoffed. “Ordinary people can’t even fill their stomachs. Who would care about learning to read?”

Tang Chaoyang shot him a sidelong glance. “I know that since ancient times, the common people have relied mainly on farming. Literacy doesn’t do them much good, and only those pursuing official careers focus on studying.”

Ling Guyong raised an eyebrow when he saw the determined look in her eyes. “Since you know literacy is of little use to commoners, why do you still have such an idea?”

“Besides, if they want to learn to read, they have to attend private schools or academies. Where would they get the money? They can’t even afford ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones—much less books, which are expensive. They wouldn’t be willing to spend on them.”

Tang Chaoyang couldn’t help but shake her head and chuckle softly. “One step at a time. If one person learns to read, there will be a second, then a third. Maybe it’s useless now, but what about the future? Later on?”

Ling Guyong let out a muffled laugh. “You have quite the lofty ambition. But right now, Jin is troubled inside and out. I believe in living in the present.”

What he didn’t say was that very few women possessed such aspirations.

Tang Chaoyang nodded. “Living in the present—last time at the clinic, I accepted your payment but didn’t treat you. Do you still want to proceed with treatment?”

Both of them were well aware that the other was wearing a disguise. Neither intended to pry into the other’s true identity.

Ling Guyong thought of how she had stepped in today to save Widow Liu. Perhaps her medical skills really were better than the imperial physicians’. “Shall we find somewhere else first?”

Tang Chaoyang naturally agreed, and the two of them planned to find a restaurant and book a private room.

But just then, the sound of hooves and a woman’s scream suddenly burst from the corner of the street.

The crowd on the street scattered in panic. Tang Chaoyang and Ling Guyong happened to be near the corner.

Two sharp arrows tore through the air and struck the horse’s legs.

Tang Chaoyang’s face went pale. A strong hand clamped firmly around her slender waist.

The man beside her moved swiftly, pulling her away from the spot.

The crazed horse, its legs wounded, crashed heavily to the ground.

Once they reached a safe place, Ling Guyong released his hold around her waist. “My apologies.”

Tang Chaoyang stared fixedly at the horse lying on the ground, shrieking in pain. She had been on the brink of death. Her voice was hoarse. “You saved me.”

Not far away, a middle-aged man who had been thrown off the horse was lying on the ground.

The man convulsed a few times, then stopped moving.

Tang Chaoyang didn’t have time to be afraid. She walked over, knelt, and checked the man’s pulse—there was none.

Since Yingtian Prefecture was nearby, the constables soon arrived. Tang Chaoyang’s gaze fell on the two arrows embedded in the horse’s legs.

She stood up. “Let’s leave here first.”

Ling Guyong gave the fallen horse a cool glance, then followed her to the restaurant.

Tang Chaoyang washed her hands and called to the waiter, “Bring us a few of your signature dishes.”

When the waiter left, Tang Chaoyang looked up and saw the surprised expression on Ling Guyong’s face.

She thought for a moment and immediately understood why he was surprised.

She laughed. “Did you think that after what just happened, I wouldn’t be able to eat? Did you forget—I’m a physician.”

It was normal for a doctor to witness life and death.

In her previous life, she had traveled to many places and seen countless corpses. There was no way she’d lose her appetite because of it. She wasn’t that delicate.

Ling Guyong curved his lips. “I stand corrected.”

Tang Chaoyang motioned for him to extend his wrist.

Although she had already taken his pulse once, she still wanted to check it again. “That ‘Ajiao’ you’ve been taking—you’d better stop. Don’t keep using it.”

Ling Guyong froze, looking baffled. “Ajiao? What’s that?”

Everything he consumed had been tested for poison before he took it. He truly had never heard of this Ajiao.

Tang Chaoyang had once traveled to a neighboring country in her past life. In a remote village there, she had encountered a plant called opium poppy.

“Ajiao is the white sap that oozes when you cut open the mature seed capsule of the opium poppy. This plant…looks a bit like the corn poppy.”

The locals believed it was highly nourishing and called it ‘Ajiao’ in their dialect.

“If you take this Ajiao long-term, you’ll become dependent on it. Your health will deteriorate. One day, when you stop taking it, you’ll grow irritable and deranged, losing your sanity like a madman.”

“You’ve probably been consuming this Ajiao for several years.”

Just as her words fell, the waiter arrived with the food, knocking lightly on the door.

“Dear guests, please enjoy.” The waiter smiled, then closed the door and left.

Ling Guyong lowered his eyes. His gaze was filled with murderous intent.

Tang Chaoyang picked up her chopsticks and began eating, letting him digest the diagnosis slowly.

Ling Guyong rested his forehead on one hand, not rushing to interrupt her meal.

When she had eaten her fill and set her chopsticks down, he finally asked, “Can this poison in my body be treated?”

Tang Chaoyang nodded. “Yes. You have to stop taking Ajiao and quit this drug. During this time, I’ll use acupuncture and medicine. If we’re quick, your body can recover in a year. If slower, two years.”

“And one more thing—since you’ve been taking Ajiao for several years, it might affect your fertility…specifically, your essence.”

If not for his formidable self-control, Ling Guyong would have erupted with fury on the spot.

If it affected his essence, it meant he would have no descendants—which would inevitably shake the court and the stability of Jin.

Just who could have silently schemed against him for so many years?

Tang Chaoyang spoke calmly. “If you’d married and had children early, you wouldn’t have to worry about this issue. Though society values having many heirs, if there’s no other way, so be it. Don’t worry—this doesn’t affect your ability in the bedroom.”

For some reason, Ling Guyong’s ears turned faintly red. He coughed lightly, feeling a bit awkward.

The Empress Dowager had always arranged women to serve his bed, but he had never really paid them any attention.

In the past, all his energy had been focused on vying for the throne. He simply hadn’t cared.

But now, as the Emperor, the ministers were all eyeing his empty harem.

The selection of consorts would begin in half a month. All the factions were eager to make their moves.

Ling Guyong pondered a moment before answering her. “I have not yet married, nor do I have any children.”

Tang Chaoyang could only sigh. “Then you’ll have to leave it to heaven’s will. You can try medicinal food to nourish yin and strengthen the kidneys, and medicinal meals to regulate your body. But whether it can restore your essence—I can’t guarantee.”