"It is my ignorance and lack of knowledge," Qi Yong said, immediately changing his attitude. "I hope Doctor Gu will forgive me."

"It's nothing." After saying this calmly, Doctor Gu began to carefully take the pulse.

With his eyes slightly closed, Doctor Gu placed his hand on Ji Xuan's wrist, carefully feeling it for a quarter of an hour before letting go.

"Imperial Physician Gu," Qi Yong asked anxiously, "how is His Majesty's pulse?"

Those imperial physicians, every time they took my pulse, said I was born weak and needed to nourish my body. They kept giving me all sorts of precious medicinal herbs, but the more they nourished me, the weaker I became. It was all useless.

"Your Majesty," Doctor Gu asked earnestly, his expression serious, "have you come here to save your life or to pray for a child?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan paused, turned around and said, "Qi Yong, go out and guard the door, don't let anyone in."

"Yes, this servant will not let in a single fly."

After Qi Yong left, Ji Xuan stared straight at Doctor Gu and asked, "What if I want both?"

“That’s impossible,” Doctor Gu said with his eyes closed. “His Majesty was born weak and suffered from severe depletion in his childhood. His body is like a sieve, unable to absorb any amount of precious medicine.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan was slightly taken aback. "Is there no other way?"

"Please forgive my poor medical skills."

"As you say, what does it matter if I want to save my life or have a child?"

"If Your Majesty chooses to save your life, I can administer acupuncture and medicine to protect Your Majesty's heart and pulse and preserve a sliver of hope."

What are the consequences?

Upon hearing this, Doctor Gu spoke gravely, "He's confined to his bed, his life hanging by a thread with medicine."

"In that case," Ji Xuan remained calm, "how many years can it extend one's lifespan?"

"It could take anywhere from three to five years!"

"So short?"

"This humble citizen has done his best!"

Even Dr. Gu was powerless.

From the day he left the capital, he diligently studied medical books, all for this day. However, human strength has its limits, and even after searching through various classic texts, he could only extend his life by five years.

After they finished speaking, they fell silent.

After a long silence, Ji Xuan asked coldly, "If I were to ask for a child, how much time do I have left?"

"About nine months."

“Nine months,” Ji Xuan said thoughtfully, “that’s a bit short.”

He was already exhausted and near death when his son was born; it was far too risky.

However, three or five years is but a blink of an eye, and after his death, the Great Zhou was still in dire straits.

It seems that no matter which option is chosen, it is not perfect.

"If I am not mistaken, Your Majesty is experiencing palpitations with every step you take right now, and when you are overjoyed or sad, you feel a sense of suffocation."

"What Gu Qing said is correct."

Ji Xuan was not surprised that the ancient physician knew these things.

It's not surprising that someone who could so easily reveal the secrets they were trying so hard to hide back then knows these things now.

"Your Majesty," the ancient physician said with a sorrowful look at Ji Xuan, then spoke with grief, "this is a sign that the lamp is about to burn out!"

He was well aware of the consequences of Ji Xuan's death.

However, they were helpless in the face of this, and no matter how hard they tried, they could only extend their lives by three to five years, which was of no use in preventing the Great Zhou from falling apart.

At that moment, he suddenly understood a saying: Great doctors heal the nation, while lesser doctors treat illnesses.

These words did not cause Ji Xuan much of a stir.

"If one prays for children, how many will one be able to have?"

“One, and I can’t guarantee it’s a man or a woman,” Doctor Gu explained dejectedly, his head bowed. “This humble servant will use a secret medicine to stimulate His Majesty’s vital energy, and with acupuncture, His Majesty can have one night.”

"However, this method depletes His Majesty's vitality and is detrimental to his lifespan."

"How much time do I have left to live?"

"One year!"

"Only one year," Ji Xuan said wistfully, "Three months of life in exchange for a child..."

Is it worth it?

It's worth it in some ways, and not worth it in others; it all depends on whether a crown prince can be born, and whether the crown prince can survive.

This is a high-stakes gamble.

"I will consider it and give you an answer later."

He dared not make a hasty decision.

It was not only because of their attachment to the world, but also because of their concern for the country.

Outside the room, Qi Yong, who was guarding the door, felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

“Eunuch Qi,” Liu Zhiyuan said in a low voice, holding the medicine, “I have already prepared the medicine. Please take it over.”

He himself would absolutely not dare to go in.

Since Master has kept that incident a secret all along, it means that it was too dangerous; only a fool would get involved.

"Leave it for now," Qi Yong said somewhat irritably. "His Majesty has important business to attend to; we'll drink it later."

"I see," Liu Zhiyuan immediately agreed obediently, "In that case, I will go and brew another batch."

Go!

Upon hearing this, he immediately left, went to the hall, and poured himself a whole cup of tea to calm his nerves.

"Father," Liu Yuzhu asked curiously, "who were those two people just now? I've never seen them before?"

He felt that his own father was like a mouse seeing a cat when he saw those two.

A deep-seated fear, completely different from when facing his master.

"Why ask so many questions? You're just a little kid, go play somewhere else."

"But Master hasn't returned yet..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhiyuan paused slightly, pursed his lips, and said softly, "Don't worry, your master will be back soon, everything will be alright."

I don't know if these words were meant to comfort my son or myself.

After saying that, he poured himself another cup of tea.

"Really?" Yu Zhu looked her father up and down carefully. "Dad, why do I feel like you're acting strange today?"

They were as restless as startled sparrows.

Fearing a scolding from his father, he dared not utter these words. With Doctor Gu absent and no one to protect him, he dared not act as recklessly as usual.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Liu Zhiyuan scolded. "Go teach your junior aunt how to organize medicinal herbs. You've studied medicine for over ten years, don't tell me you can't even do this simple thing."

"Yes, yes," Liu Yuzhu replied meekly, not daring to refute, "I will go and teach my junior sister right away."

After saying that, he quickly jogged away.

He felt that his biological father was in great danger, like a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

In another room, many people were crammed together, and the atmosphere was somewhat somber.

"Brother Han Yi," Boss Huang spoke first, "what's the background of Young Master Wang?"

"They come from a prominent family in the capital, with a very deep background," Han Yicai paused, then continued, "I feel they are from a noble family, at least an earl."

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so confident, not even afraid of the current Grand Secretaries.

"What is such a distinguished person doing here?" Huang Lao Er wondered. "What is he planning?"

Upon hearing this, Han Yi lowered his head in shame.

"Is it because of the alcohol?" Jiang Nuan asked softly.

"Auntie, I'm sorry for what I did."

Regardless, failing to keep his promise is a dereliction of duty on his part.

"Buy the wine or the recipe?"

"formula!"

"What? They actually want to buy the formula?" Huang Lao Er jumped up, his anger blazing. "Mother, it hasn't been that long, and someone's already eyeing this. Do they really think our family is easy to bully?"

At this moment, Huang Lao Er felt somewhat dissatisfied with Han Yi.

That person is disloyal; it hasn't been long, and he's already spread the word. He's completely unreliable!