Spring warmth in the medical field

In July, the heat in Chang'an was intense. Although ice chests were placed in the four corners of the Zichen Palace, they could not dispel the oppressive heat.

Late at night, Li Zhi was reviewing memorials on the new policies for canal transport when suddenly his pen paused, leaving a long red mark on the memorial.

"Your Majesty?" Wu Meiniang, supporting her eight-month pregnant belly, rose to her feet. Seeing his deathly pale face and fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead, she immediately called out, "Summon the imperial physician! Quickly!"

(Inner monologue: This day has finally come... but this time, I will never let history repeat itself!)

The Imperial Medical Academy was approaching quickly with three imperial physicians.

After taking their pulses, everyone's expressions turned solemn.

The chief physician replied in a trembling voice, "His Majesty's illness has relapsed. This ailment is spreading rapidly, and if it cannot be cured..."

Wu Zetian took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She grasped Li Zhi's cold hand, her voice steady and firm: "Move the entire 'Huangdi Neijing,' 'Shanghan Zabing Lun,' and 'Jinkui Yaolue' to the side hall. Also, transfer two doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau who are proficient in acupuncture and moxibustion to be on duty."

Li Zhi weakly opened his eyes: "Meiniang...you're about to give birth..."

"It is precisely because I am about to give birth that I understand the preciousness of life even more." She turned to the imperial physician and said, "Retrieve all of His Majesty's pulse records and medication records from the past five years. Also, send people to the countryside to find renowned doctors who specialize in treating headaches."

(Inner monologue: Perhaps combining modern medicine with ancient Chinese medical texts could actually find a solution!)

From then on, a faint fragrance of medicine permeated the Zichen Palace.

In between handling state affairs, Wu Zetian diligently studied medical books.

She specially commissioned the creation of a human meridian model, so that whenever Li Zhi suffered a headache, he could refer to the model to find a way to relieve it.

Ten-year-old Li Hong volunteered: "Your subject can review the memorials on my behalf, so that Mother can focus on taking care of Father."

Six-year-old Li Xian has become a "medicinal herb identification expert," able to accurately distinguish between chuanxiong and baizhi.

Li Xian, who was just over a year old, also toddled around trying to hold the medicine bowl, although he would spill it eight out of ten times.

Late that night, Wu Zetian was reading the discussion on "headache" in "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold" when she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

She immediately summoned the imperial physician: "Does Your Majesty's headache worsen with the wind? Is it especially severe in the afternoon? If so, perhaps we should start by dispelling the wind and clearing the meridians..."

The imperial physician stared in astonishment at the acupoints she pointed out: "How does Your Highness know these things?"

"Experience makes one a doctor." She brushed it off casually, but in her heart she was thinking:

(I can't exactly say I learned it from Zhihu and health-related WeChat public accounts, can I?)

After half a month of in-depth research, she discovered that Li Zhi's illness stemmed from long hours of mental strain while working at his desk, coupled with a possible genetic predisposition within the Li family.

So she devised a detailed treatment plan: get up at 3 AM every day to practice the Five Animal Frolics, eat a low-oil, low-salt diet, and massage specific acupoints.

"Your Majesty, please look," she patiently explained, holding up a specially made human meridian chart, "pressing the Baihui, Fengchi, and Taiyang acupoints thirty-six times each morning can unblock the meridians and relieve headaches."

Li Zhi followed the advice and tried it for three days, and his symptoms were indeed significantly reduced.

He looked at his wife, who was experiencing morning sickness, with delight: "Meiniang is truly a miracle worker! This technique is even more effective than acupuncture from the Imperial Medical Academy."

(Inner monologue: The wisdom of our ancestors combined with modern health knowledge really works!)

In the cool autumn air of August, Wu Zetian boldly reformed the court assembly system by combining medical principles with practical experience.

During the court assembly, she petitioned: "Your Majesty is unwell; it is advisable to change the court sessions from once every five days to once every three days, with each session lasting no more than two hours. Urgent matters can be reported immediately, while routine matters should be discussed and handled by the Council of State Affairs."

This statement was immediately opposed by several senior officials.

However, officials from humble backgrounds, including Di Renjie, strongly supported the Empress, saying, "Her Majesty is absolutely right. The nation's well-being is truly a blessing."

Most surprisingly, she set about reforming the assessment system of the Imperial Medical Academy.

"In the past, the Imperial Medical Academy only sought to avoid mistakes," she said, pointing to the newly formulated "Imperial Medical Academy Assessment Regulations." "From now on, the priority will be treating and saving lives. The cure rate will be directly linked to salary and promotion."

Li Zhi's illness gradually stabilized under careful treatment.

On this clear autumn day, he insisted on taking a walk with Wu Meiniang by the Taiye Pond.

The two walked slowly, followed by their three cautious sons.

"Meiniang," Li Zhi suddenly stopped, "after Taiping is born, I will take you to Jiucheng Palace to live permanently. It is cool and pleasant there, perfect for recuperation."

She smiled, stroking her prominent belly: "I'm thinking of setting up a medical center in Jiucheng Palace, where renowned doctors from all over can exchange their experiences. Perhaps we can find a cure for this ailment."

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them. As Li Zhi watched her intently discussing the planning of the medical center, he suddenly felt that this illness had been worthwhile.

At least it allowed him to see another side of his wife that no one else knew—the empress who was decisive and efficient in the court was also just as dedicated and serious in her medical research.

——

[Mini-Drama: The Obsessed Doctor Queen]

(Records of the Imperial Medical Academy)

The Empress has recently gone mad.

The night before last, he summoned us late at night to discuss the dosage and ratio of a certain prescription in "Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold". Yesterday, he studied the accuracy of the acupuncture points on the bronze acupuncture figure. This morning, after the court session, he actually dragged everyone from the Imperial Medical Bureau to study surgical suturing techniques!

(The key is that he spoke with great clarity and expertise, even more professionally than some imperial physicians who had practiced medicine for many years.)

The most terrifying thing is that the Empress Dowager takes His Majesty's medical records and demands that the Imperial Medical Bureau report on the treatment's effectiveness at the daily morning meeting, and also requires us to keep detailed records of the patient's condition.

The imperial physicians are now more stressed about going to work than going to court, after all, the Empress is really good at reading medical records!

The day before yesterday, Physician Zhang was left speechless by the question.

However, the three princes were trained to become young doctors.

His Highness the Crown Prince can accurately identify thirty kinds of medicinal herbs, His Highness the Second Prince has already learned to massage five acupoints, and His Highness the Third Prince... is currently reciting the "Formulas for Decoctions" in a babbling voice.

Is this family planning to turn the Imperial Medical Academy into a family school?