Chapter 84

Lanlin Hall.

Lying on the bed, Liu Hong's face turned slightly pale, he looked weak, and his spirit was a little listless.

The attending physician had already taken the patient's pulse and prescribed a prescription. He stepped aside and respectfully reported to Liu Che, and the conclusion he gave was: heart disease.

Liu Che frowned. "Hong'er has never had any heart disease since he was born. How come he suddenly has one?"

The attendant physician knelt on the ground, not daring to look up. "Your Highness's heart disease isn't serious. Some illnesses are hidden beneath the surface, unnoticed on a daily basis. They can only be diagnosed after a flare-up."

There are many hidden diseases in the world, and some diseases are indeed like this, and cannot be diagnosed until they occur.

Liu Che sighed and reluctantly accepted this statement.

Liu Hong, however, was uneasy. He hadn't anticipated the consequences of a 10% health loss would come so quickly, especially with regard to heart disease. Heart disease in modern times can often only be alleviated, not cured, let alone in the Western Han Dynasty, where medical care was extremely low.

This condition has almost no cure under the current circumstances. The system was right; it truly is a lifelong affliction, irreversible.

Liu Hong lowered his head, looking very depressed.

Liu Ju had no idea what he was thinking, assuming he was worried about his health. He patted him on the head in a friendly manner, "Don't overthink it. The doctor said it's not serious. Just rest up and don't overwork yourself. It won't be a big problem."

Not a big deal?

At the moment, it doesn't seem to be a serious problem. But who knows how the condition will develop in the future? With this kind of intermittent illness, who knows when the next flare-up will occur?

Thinking about the deducted luck points. If nothing happened on a normal day, like a normal person, but it happened just when he was on the verge of life and death...

Liu Hong felt suffocated just thinking about the consequences, and suddenly came to his senses. Although 10% is not a lot, at a critical moment, 1% may affect the outcome.

Unfortunately, the decision has been made and cannot be reversed.

Seeing his indifferent expression, Liu Ju said again: "Don't be unhappy. Sometimes your mood can also affect your body. People who eat all kinds of grains are bound to have some illnesses.

"Look at me! I still have a headache, and it hurts sometimes. But I'm still alive and well. I can eat, drink, and jump around. My mind is sharp, my body is strong, and whether it's literature or martial arts, I'm better than those who are healthy, right?

"Everything will work out in time. This isn't a serious illness, so just let it run its course. There's no need to worry too much. Listen to the Crown Prince. Is he going to cheat you?"

Liu Hong: …

His expression was complicated, and he didn't know how to react for a moment. After a long while, he pulled the corners of his mouth and said obediently, "Okay. I understand. Thank you, Prince Brother."

Liu Ju nodded with satisfaction. He was a good and obedient child.

Neither of them expected that this simple sentence would reach Liu Che's heart and startled his imagination.

Headache, heart disease...

He looked at Liu Ju, then at Liu Hong, and then at Liu Ju again. Four words inexplicably emerged in his mind: "Extreme wisdom will lead to harm." His heart suddenly tightened.

Liu Che stepped forward, comforted Liu Hong with a few words, and then said, "Have a good rest. Put aside your studies for the next two days. Your health is more important."

Liu Hong obeyed.

Liu Che took Liu Ju away. He was very worried along the way and held Liu Ju's hand tighter and tighter.

Liu Ju was puzzled and asked, "What happened to my father?"

Liu Che suddenly came back to his senses: "Does your head still hurt recently? The doctor is still here, I will ask them to take a look at you again."

"No need. I just checked Ping'an's pulse yesterday. Did your father forget?"

Of course Liu Che hadn't forgotten. He was just worried.

He had few children, and Liu Ju and Liu Hong were both exceptionally intelligent. Liu Dan, however, had just turned two years old and could barely speak a complete sentence, appearing somewhat duller than his two older brothers. However, he had a good appetite, was sturdy, and clearly in better health than his brothers.

And the two brothers...

Liu Ju was the only one who thought his headache was related to a "chance encounter." Now it seems that it might be, but not entirely. How can we know if this wasn't a divine intervention?

People who are too smart will always attract God's jealousy.

Xiang Tuo died when he was just over ten years old, and Gan Luo also died young.

His...his...

Liu Che's heart ached suddenly, and he frowned unhappily. "The doctors at the Imperial Medical Bureau have been so useless these past few years. They've studied your headache for so long, and they still know nothing about it. What a bunch of rubbish!"

Liu Ju lowered his head guiltily.

His headache only occurred in the first year of his life, when he felt a little overwhelmed and tired from climbing the "ladder to heaven," but it disappeared after that. But he would occasionally pretend.

Just because the comment said, the crying child gets the milk. He was very careful not to act too serious and make Liu Che worry too much, but still gain his sympathy and pity.

More importantly, he didn't want Liu Che to think that things came too easily, so he used this opportunity to tell Liu Che that all his "inventions" came at a price and there was no free lunch in the world.

The reason why Liu Che was able to possess many magical weapons, become an emperor of all ages, and achieve remarkable political achievements was because someone was carrying the burden for him.

Liu Ju did not deny the deep affection between him and Liu Che, but the commentator was right: any relationship needs to be carefully managed and maintained. Managing and maintaining a relationship requires means, and sometimes a little bit of scheming.

Liu Ju was not a stubborn person. He did not reject the idea of ​​using some harmless tricks that did not harm the interests of others to create a more favorable situation for himself.

He secretly touched his nose, knowing that Liu Che had taken his words of comfort to Liu Hong seriously. He smiled and took Liu Che's arm and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I am very careful. If you feel unwell, I will call the doctor in time. You see, I am fine now, jumping around."

After saying that, he jumped twice.

Liu Che laughed, but still did not give up: "Those alchemists really..."

"Father!" Liu Ju interrupted, his veins throbbing. "Didn't we investigate this all back then? They're just ordinary people. At most, they know a few tricks and some alchemy techniques. They're useful, but not trustworthy."

He got angry when the alchemists were mentioned, so Liu Che quickly comforted him: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything. I won't mention them."

Liu Ju still stared intently.

This time it was Liu Che's turn to look away, feeling guilty. "Well, back then, during that scam, they chopped off several alchemists' heads and hung them outside the city gates, announcing them to the world as a warning to others. With such a severe punishment, who would dare to play such a trick on the emperor?"

"Don't worry, I remember what happened back then vividly, and I will never trust the words of an alchemist again. You also said that alchemists have their own abilities, and we just need to use the right direction. So if you want to find an alchemist, I will let you review any one I find.

"Didn't you say you were some kind of... a professional counterfeiter? I've got that in mind."

Liu Ju was reluctantly satisfied, nodded affectionately, and changed the subject.

Liu Che asked again: "Recently, there are fireworks, salt, and alcohol. Are you tired? Take a break. Some things are not urgent."

"Okay. You can rest for a while, but there are still some minor matters to be taken care of at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Don't worry, Father, I've already thought of these things, so there's no need to expend any extra mental energy. After that, you can rest for a month or two, waiting for the raw materials to arrive from the south."

Seeing that he had his own plans, Liu Che hesitated for a moment and then said, "Although Eyi and Zhang Qian haven't returned, they have sent many gifts back. There are many kinds of jewels and rare treasures. You can choose them when you have time. If you like any of them, I will have them delivered to the Eastern Palace for you."

Liu Che could not help with professional matters, so he could only show more concern and send rewards to the Eastern Palace again and again.

Liu Ju was not polite and accepted the offer: "Okay. Thank you, father."

Inside the hall.

Liu Hong looked at the figures of the father and son not far away and listened to their conversation, which he found both dazzling and irritating.

Have you forgotten that this is still in my Lanlin Palace?

Father, oh father, I'm lying here with a recent heart attack, and you just comfort me with a few words, while you only have Liu Ju's headache in your mind and eyes, right?

Just say how Liu Hong and Liu Ju are alike!

Damn. If you want to have a deep father-son relationship, at least leave the temple and stay away.

Liu Hong turned over and closed his eyes, feeling extremely suffocated, but he was helpless and could only cover his ears and steal the bell, refusing to see or hear anything.

********

Imperial Medical Bureau.

Although it wasn't wartime and there were no wounded patients to test alcohol on, trauma wasn't confined to battlefields; it was common among the general public. It would be easy for the Imperial Medical Bureau to work with military doctors and recruit a few injured patients.

But within a few days, they concluded that alcohol was indeed effective. Of the eight patients who received it, only one experienced a worsening of their condition, while the other seven did not. Furthermore, their wounds healed faster than in previous similar cases.

This news is exciting, especially for the soldiers.

Huo Qubing happily came to Liu Ju, carrying the gratitude of all the soldiers, but was told that the Crown Prince had gone to the Imperial Medical Bureau. At that time, Huo Qubing was puzzled. The alcohol experiment was already concluded, and someone else would be responsible for the follow-up. What else did he need to do?

When he arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau full of doubts, he saw Liu Ju had someone tie a rabbit to the chopping board, cut an incision with a knife, and then sewed it up with needle and thread.

Huo Qubing was stunned, his pupils trembling. The military doctors and personal physicians around him were all excited: "It worked! It worked! It's alive! The rabbit is still alive."

Huo Qubing: ...Are you devils?

The doctors rubbed their hands together. "Your Highness, this method is indeed useful. We have never thought of it before. The tools seem easy enough; tweezers and clamps can all be made. But this thread—it seems to be two different kinds. Is there any special reason for it?"

"Yes." Liu Ju nodded, "I decided to teach you the methods of wound cleaning and suturing in order to provide an additional guarantee to the people of the Han Dynasty, especially the soldiers, in addition to alcohol.

"Some wounds are relatively superficial and only require alcohol for debridement to prevent further deterioration. After applying medication, they heal easily. However, some wounds are long and deep and difficult to heal. Some wounds are so deep that the bone is visible and cannot be healed. For these wounds, alcohol is of little use.

"But we're not without other options. For example, suturing. We can remove the debris and rotten flesh from the wounds and sew them together with needle and thread.

"Keeping the skin close to the flesh can not only effectively promote the growth of new flesh, but also stop bleeding, preventing the wound from becoming too large and causing death from excessive blood loss."

When these words were spoken, Huo Qubing was stunned. The military doctors and attendants all looked serious and pricked up their ears to listen.

"You just saw how I sewed it up. It's not difficult to do. It's all about practice. The rabbit's wound wasn't deep, so I can just sew it up with ordinary cotton thread. I can remove the sutures after the wound has healed.

"But some wounds are too deep to be sutured with just one layer, so you need to sew another layer inside. And the stitches inside cannot be removed, so you have to use the right material, like this catgut."

Liu Ju held up the catgut for everyone to see: "Catgut, as the name suggests, is made from sheep intestines. Once left in the body, it can be absorbed."

"Cat gut? Absorb?"

"This...this is unheard of."

"Is this true?"

Everyone was whispering.

"I've created many things over the years, and you've never seen me tell a lie. But this is just theory; the reality still needs to be put into practice."

"Practice? This..."

Liu Ju knew what they were worried about and pointed to the rabbit on the chopping board. "Of course, we can't use humans, but rabbits can be used. As for suturing practice, a piece of pork will suffice. You can discuss the details among yourselves, and the Imperial Medical Bureau and the military medical officers will arrange the details."

Everyone bowed and said, "I obey your command."

"The wound is too deep and the stitches are too painful. It's not advisable to do it while you're awake. I have a recipe here that can relieve the pain and induce sleep. But I only have the ingredients, not the dosage of each. You can figure it out. This is your expertise, and you understand it better than I do."

Liu Ju gestured to Fenghe, and Fenghe handed over the prescription.

The above content is very simple: Datura strychnifolia, raw Aconitum carmichaelii, fragrant Angelica dahurica, Chinese angelica, Chuanxiong, and Arisaema.

The Imperial Physician and the Military Medical Officer exchanged a glance and asked, "Where did Your Highness get this prescription from? Does it have a name?"

Liu Ju curled his lips, automatically ignoring the first question and only answering the second one: "Ma Fei San."

"Ma Fei San, Ma Fei San."

The two of them murmured for a moment, then raised their eyes at the same time and said firmly, "Your Highness, rest assured. We will do our best to perfect the prescription."

Liu Ju nodded. "There's no need to be obsessed with these six herbs. You understand the properties of herbs, which ones are effective in relieving pain and causing drowsiness, and how to combine them. You know best. You can slowly experiment, make appropriate improvements, and develop the best formula."

"Yes, I understand."

Suturing is not difficult, but anesthesia is difficult.

Liu Ju knew nothing about this, so he gave away the information he knew. The rest depended on the doctors themselves.

Liu Ju's eyes flickered slightly: "Now that we have the suturing technique, after you learn it, you can also think about whether this method has other uses."

"Other uses? Your Highness, do you mean..."

Liu Ju did not answer. Some things might not be applicable now, and he could not explain them in too much depth, but he could leave a seed for the doctor in front of him, and let them water and fertilize it themselves.

"It's not important what I point to; what's important is where you can work hard. Everyone, I don't understand much about medicine, but I do know one thing: medical skill lies in diligent study.

"A good doctor must not only be kind and have superb medical skills, but also be eager to learn and advance. Medical skills are endless. You can't just wait for others to give you everything; you need to explore on your own."

It's the same with invention.

Therefore, he cannot tolerate the other party's "borrowing" mentality. If too much borrowing becomes a habit, some "ambitions" will gradually fade.

Therefore, compared with creating inventions, it is more important to cultivate the research habits and spirit of the Han professional talents.

This was true of the Ministry of Investigation and the Imperial Medical Bureau. Ultimately, what they could offer was limited, especially as they grew old, died, and became incapable of fulfilling their duties. Only if every member of the Han Dynasty possessed a desire for breakthroughs and a commitment to further research could the legacy endure.

Everyone's expressions were startled, and they all responded respectfully.

Liu Ju waved his hand, asking everyone to disperse and go about their business. He told Feng He to take the rabbit, turned around and walked to Huo Qubing, and the two walked out side by side.

Huo Qubing glanced at the rabbit and asked, "Have you ever done this kind of suturing before? Why haven't I heard you mention it?"

"No. Today is the first time."

Huo Qubing paused and asked, "You dare to do this for the first time?"

"Why not? I was just demonstrating. The cut wasn't deep."

"Even if it's not deep, there's no guarantee. What if it fails? And from what you just said, the painkiller and drowsiness drug hasn't been fully developed yet. So this rabbit..."

"Knocked it unconscious. I wasn't so cruel as to let it wake up and feel the stitches being sutured. As for the failure..." Liu Ju looked at Huo Qubing, "Cousin, this was presented to me by the Imperial Official for roasting and eating. I figured since I had to do a demonstration anyway, I might as well make some use of it before consuming it."

The implication is: if you fail, just bake it and eat it. It won't affect the taste.

Liu Ju then instructed Feng He, "Take good care of it. See how it heals after the sutures are done. Record the situation and submit it to the Imperial Medical Bureau. As for the rabbit, release it once it has fully recovered."

"After all, you've dedicated your life to the medical cause of the Han Dynasty, so I won't eat it. Ask the Imperial Household to send another one over, along with some honey, so we can make honey-roasted rabbit! Come join us, cousin."

Huo Qubing's mouth twitched and he looked up at the sky in silence.