Medical case clues
There hasn't been a happy event in the imperial city for a long time. Local separatism and disrespect for the emperor have always shrouded the capital in a cloud of sorrow, as if it were in name only.
The eldest princess's choice of a husband seemed to be a good omen that washed away the dark clouds of the dynasty. Even the common people in the capital were filled with joy. The streets and alleys became more and more lively, and ordinary people talked over and over again about strange stories that they had heard from somewhere.
"I have a relative in the Ministry of Rites who said that there hasn't been a happy event in the royal family for a long time. To bring good luck to the eldest princess, His Majesty wants to exempt the capital from taxes!"
"Agricultural tax or commercial tax? Amitabha, I sold a few acres of thin land in the suburbs before moving to the inner city to start this small business. I don't want to miss out on good things."
"Just wait and see! Your Majesty and the Princess truly have a deep brotherly bond. This is probably a first for all dynasties. Your Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler! There's still a war going on in the east, but luckily we're living right here at the foot of the Imperial City. Hehe, we're safe from the flames of war."
A stream of news was sent to the Princess's Mansion. For the important ones, Pei Zhaoying worked day and night to review them urgently.
Pei Zhaoying pinched the thin paper with her overly slender fingers and read ten lines at a glance.
She was too thin, and although she wanted to take some supplements, her appetite was limited. Lu Yunqi said that Pei Zhaoying was too weak to take any supplements, and that she needed to be nourished carefully through three meals a day before taking any strong medicine.
Pei Zhaoying had all the news from the court to the people in his hands, and he found it extremely funny.
She was the one who was pushed out for sacrifice, and the reputation of being a "benevolent monarch" and "generous" fell into Pei Heng's hands.
No wonder Pei Heng and his mother were testing her bottom line, and were not afraid to break up with her, so that he could use it as an excuse to show his favor and win people's hearts.
Lu Yunqi was admitted to the Imperial Hospital as a commoner. With her young experience, she was pushed into doing a lot of dirty and tiring work. This experience helped her develop the ability to read people's expressions and she knew that being depressed all day long would lead to poor blood circulation, which would be detrimental to one's condition.
She knew that Pei Zhaoying's injury was closely related to her own life and property. Every time she came to the mansion to give acupuncture, she not only used all her skills, but also told jokes in various ways to make Pei Zhaoying happy, and deliberately avoided the marriage that everyone congratulated.
Seeing that Lu Yunqi was a perceptive person, Qiluo let her talk and make fun of her.
After Pei Zhaoying smiled, Lu Yunqi carefully began to speak out those boring medical advice:
"Your Highness, please eat more, be more open-minded, avoid overwork, and take your medicine on time! Once the flesh and blood on your legs grow back, you may have a chance in the future."
Lu Yunqi looked at Qiluo, and Qiluo nodded, indicating that she was taking the medicine regularly. Only then did Lu Yunqi feel relieved.
Pei Zhaoying stretched out her arm and wanted to touch her calf, but her fingers stopped at the embroidery on the dress and did not press any further.
She had seen the muscles in her legs atrophy, like a terrifying skeleton, reminding her that she had only crawled halfway out of the hell, and her lower body was still buried there, and she didn't know when she would be able to escape.
Lu Yunqi was afraid of upsetting Pei Zhaoying, so he smiled and changed the subject:
"Hahaha, I will do my best. Once I've cured Your Highness, how about returning the Ru Zhou Sword that Your Highness was 'keeping' for me?"
"How could you, a medical officer, be so obsessed with such a sharp blade? I've seen your hands, and there's no sign of martial arts training at all."
Lu Yunqi then excitedly recounted how the former master of the Ru Zhou Sword had been a chivalrous and righteous man, which had so captivated her that she had become bewildered and made a foolish move. Finally, she added:
"The only time in my life that this humble official used any devious means was when Your Highness caught him. Your Highness truly has a keen eye."
Her compliments were not very clever, and Pei Zhaoying was not someone who liked to listen to flattery. However, every time she saw women like Lu Yunqi jumping around in this difficult world, the empty space in her heart was slowly filled with regret, so she was always more tolerant of Lu Yunqi.
Lu Yunqi packed up his medicine box and took his leave. Someone came to announce that Lord Xiao Bo, the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, had arrived.
When Pei Zhaoying heard the name, his eyelids twitched twice as if he was guilty, thinking that he was here to take the Pisces jade pendant. He deliberately kept silent and paused before asking someone to lead him in and asked the craftsman to prepare the item.
Lu Yunqi lowered her head and hurried out, knowing full well that the royal family looked prosperous on the surface, but was actually a den of tigers and wolves. She had to control her eyes and not look around, control her ears and not listen to anything, and quickly get away from this place of trouble.
But today he made a mistake in his haste, twisted his ankle, and bumped headfirst into a tall figure, causing the medical records and needles in the medicine box to scatter all over the floor.
"It's over"—Lu Yunqi was afraid that he had offended some high-ranking official. Before he could even form his words to beg for mercy and apologize, he heard the man softly ask:
"Be careful, are you okay?"
The man looked thin, and he took the full weight of Lu Yunqi's blow without any hesitation, and he didn't move an inch to relieve the force. He just raised his arm slightly to support Lu Yunqi's shoulder and put the staggering man back in place.
Lu Yunqi recognized Xiao Bo and breathed a sigh of relief. He apologized profusely, stuffed the medical records and other things that had fallen out into the medicine box, and politely declined Xiao Bo's help.
Later, when Xiao Bo was led into the reception hall by the servants of the mansion, he was puzzled when he looked down and saw Lu Yunqi's medical records falling out.
Pei Zhaoying's name was marked on the spine of the medical record, and the paper was old and yellowed, showing its age.
The Imperial Hospital initially treated only those within the imperial court, but later expanded to include relatives of the imperial clan. When a high-ranking official fell ill, the emperor, as a sign of sympathy, would dispatch a representative from the Imperial Hospital.
The biggest difference in the process is that the minister's medical records can be retained by the minister himself.
The medical records of the emperor, his harem, and his clan members were all sealed by the Imperial Medical Bureau. Every time a patient was seen, the records were recorded on the spot and then archived to prevent some illnesses from being spread and affecting the royal reputation.
Lu Yunqi was given acupuncture treatment by the Queen Mother herself, so she naturally had to keep records.
In the despair, a little light appeared, which seemed to be within reach, and slowly I could find the clue...
As he stepped into the flower hall, the soft and fragrant breeze disturbed Xiao Bo's thoughts.
"Master Xiao." Pei Zhaoying called softly.
"I'm here." Xiao Bo bowed his head, behaving so well that it didn't seem like a member of the Xiao family. Only after Pei Zhaoying offered him a seat did he thank her and sit down.
Red tape is also a form of alienation.
Xiao Bo is simply the most standard font printed in bookstores.
Unfortunately, Pei Zhaoying was impatient, and his handwriting was crooked and crooked when he was young. He couldn't concentrate on practicing large characters, and mistook sloppy writing for cursive writing. He was too neat and meticulous, and his excessive regularity made Pei Zhaoying want to mess up the person in front of him.
"The Pisces jade pendant has been repaired by the craftsman. It took quite a while to get the details right. Now it's back to its original owner. Is Sir Xiao satisfied with it?"
Pei Zhaoying ordered someone to return the jade pendant to Xiao Bo, maintaining the demeanor of a princess. She leaned back on the comfortable wheelchair with her waist slumped. Her eyes never relaxed for a moment, and she memorized all of Xiao Bo's demeanor in her heart.
Perhaps, remembering the preferences of his advisers is what a lord should do.
Pei Zhaoying comforted herself with a few words, and looked at Xiao Bo with her eyes, and suddenly she felt a sense of control over this man.
So, just like mastering intelligence from the court and the public, Pei Zhaoying had to go over everything, both known and unknown, just like Xiao Bo stroking and playing with a jade pendant for a long time.
"Your Highness has done a wonderful job of repairing it. The cracks that were difficult to conceal have been meticulously carved to resemble ripples. At first glance, it's as if the two fish have come alive."
In addition to Xiao Bo's usual thanks, he couldn't help but show his true feelings.
The newly restored Pisces jade pendant has a shimmering feeling. It is so ingenious that it would be difficult for the craftsman to consider it thoroughly without guidance.
Pei Zhaoying's eyes suddenly lit up, and a smile slowly accumulated, flowing from her brows.
To repair jade, craftsmen usually use gold and silver inlay, which is simple and direct, and just needs to combine the broken pieces into a whole piece.
Pei Zhaoying had taken Xiao Bo's personality into consideration at the time. The material of the jade pendant itself was not expensive, so it must have a special meaning that made Xiao Bo reluctant to let it go. Therefore, she repeatedly reminded him to keep its pure and transparent artistic conception and not let gold or silver contaminate the feeling of the two fishes biting each other.
"Does Master Xiao like it?"
"like."
Pei Zhaoying guessed correctly. The material was ordinary, but the meaning was affectionate. It was carefully carved by Xiao Bo's father for his wife.
Although Xiao Bo's answer was simple, his whole body was like ripples on a calm lake.
He warmed the material with the warmth of his palm, then solemnly hung it around his waist again, never letting it go.
It just so happened that Xiao Bo was wearing a green shirt with bamboo patterns today. The contrast between green and white was refreshing and refined.
She knew that Xiao Bo was a man with a heart full of waves and thunder, and she wanted to wrinkle him even more to see how much of his defenses and disguises he could let down in front of her.
The jade pendant swung, and two fish seemed to flutter onto Pei Zhaoying. Pei Zhaoying realized it belatedly and her face turned red - the jade pendant had passed through her hands and returned to Xiao Bo, just like the love between a man and a woman in ordinary society.
Pei Zhaoying couldn't dwell on this thought. She tilted her head back and drank the whole cup of tea to wash away the inappropriate thoughts.
Xiao Bo frowned:
"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"
"No problem."
Pei Zhaoying leaned back completely on the chair. She wore casual clothes in the mansion without any complicated decoration. The sleeves were short and tight, revealing a part of her fair wrist. The skin was close to the bones, making her look pitifully thin.
She wore no extra makeup, simply drew her eyebrows, had a pale face without any powder, and wore only a golden Vermilion Bird hairpin.
The Vermillion Bird was just as depressed as she was, unable to spread its wings.
She seemed like a withered plum tree that could be easily broken.
Xiao Bo emphasized his tone and said:
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself. Your Highness is ambitious, and all of us have sacrificed our lives for His Highness. If Your Highness falls ill, everything we have will be in vain."
He had seen how the praised withered plum tree was created - when a plum tree was lush and leafy, the strong trunk and branches that stretched out to thirst for sunlight were cruelly cut off, and then the whole tree was tortured by fire until it was only left with a breath of life. A little bit of life was retained in the scorched earth, and then it was dug out by the roots and sent to the homes of the powerful, or praised by literati and poets.
He was extremely afraid that Pei Zhaoying would become an artificially created corpse. Nothing was better than living a good life. Whoever wanted to turn Pei Zhaoying into a withered plum would be burned to death first.
Pei Zhaoying said yes hesitantly, secretly resenting Xiao Bo for getting into the role too quickly. This advice was like Wei Zheng's to Emperor Taizong of Tang.
Xiao Bo felt that what she said was not enough, so Qiluo smiled and reported to Xiao Bo all about Pei Zhaoying's tonic and recuperation to prove that Pei Zhaoying was indeed recovering.
Xiao Bo looked at Pei Zhaoying's expression again and again, but Pei Zhaoying shifted her gaze and refused to let him see more.
These days, she has not slept well and has been lacking energy. In addition to being troubled by nightmares, she also dreams about her childhood and her deceased parents.
Sometimes, she was enveloped in nightmares, like the wet rainy season. In her dream, she heard her mother's voice calling "Aying" and "Aying" from afar. Her mother's footprints were soaked with water with every step. She looked at her twice with her body soaked, and then jumped back into the boundless water with a "splash".
Xiao Bo didn't understand Pei Zhaoying's sudden surprise, but after careful consideration, he told her his new discovery:
"Your Highness, it is currently known that all of King Qi's former subordinates have died. We can't find anything from them. Perhaps, we can investigate what happened back then by looking at your Highness's medical treatment."
Pei Zhaoying froze, then propped herself up and recalled:
"I was seriously injured and unconscious at the time. I lay bedridden for many days before finally surviving. I was completely devastated. I have no recollection of who was in charge at the Imperial Hospital, or how many times the imperial physicians were replaced. Later, a notice was posted among the public seeking good doctors. I tried countless physicians and prescriptions, but all came back unsuccessful. I imagine many of them were impersonators seeking rewards, and their backgrounds were questionable."
"We also have the medical records from the Imperial Hospital! After His Highness was assassinated, His Majesty first ordered the Imperial Physician to treat him. The initial circumstances of the injury must have been recorded in detail in the medical records by the attending Imperial Physician. Every trace of the wound remains, and we may be able to deduce the assassin's situation from the injuries."
Xiao Bo was sulking over several broken clues, but today Lu Yunqi brought up a new opportunity.
The medical records were nominally sealed by the Imperial Medical Bureau and could not be accessed without reason. With Lu Yunqi around, there was no need to leave any traces.
Pei Zhaoying looked troubled, scratching the wheelchair armrests with her nails. She smiled bitterly at the pain and said,
"Master Xiao, you may not know that the medical records are not as accurate and clear as most people think. Most imperial physicians, to avoid accusations and prevent future recurrences of past illnesses, try to be as vague as possible in their medical records. A few, under instructions, will distort or embellish the condition to achieve the noble's purposes. Therefore... even if we were to review the medical records, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to trace back to the murderer."
"Your Highness, what's wrong with giving it a try? Isn't it Your Highness who wants to investigate the old case?" Xiao Bo asked back.
With Pei Zhaoying's intelligence and the fact that she had been in close contact with Lu Yunqi many times, it was inevitable that she would want to look through her medical records when she saw them.
But she didn't...
If Xiao Bo found clues from somewhere else and needed help, she would definitely reopen the medical case without hesitation.
She was afraid, and her last thought was cut short.
I really can't turn over anymore...
Xiao Bo was so aggressive that Qiluo gave him several worried glances.
Pei Zhaoying's palms were covered with sweat. She knew that Xiao Bo wanted to hold her accountable, but she couldn't express the timidity and hypocrisy in her heart.
Xiao Bo is a sword that does not distinguish between friend and foe, and he is determined to tear off Pei Zhaoying's fig leaf.
"As you can see, I'm scared..."
Pei Zhaoying spoke in a hoarse voice and told Xiao Bo this obvious fact.
He saw it clearly, but he insisted on forcing it again and again.
She regretted not drawing a curtain between herself and Xiao Bo, exposing her ridiculous weakness completely.
How can she live up to the expectations of all the righteous people if she is like this?
Xiao Bo was angry that she did not fight for it, so he chose another wise master, and she accepted it.
She heard a faint sigh amidst her anxiety.
Just mixed with some helplessness.
The anger, blame, and contempt that Pei Zhaoying was worried about were not among them.
Xiao Bo softened his voice:
"Don't be afraid, Your Highness."
There was no barrier between them. Therefore, Xiao Bo was her strongest barrier against the outside world.
The loyal and upright ministers during the three-court trial came here and were like a gentle spring breeze, gently soaking away the deep wounds in her bones.
Xiao Bo recounted his past experiences investigating cases at the local level.
Once, a robber killed someone and dumped the body. He deduced the killer's dominant hand and other characteristics from the wounds on the body, accurately catching the thief. Another time, heavy rain washed away all traces of the crime scene. He deduced from the dirt under the victim's fingernails that the victim had been moved, and the real crime scene was not there, thus luring the killer into his trap...
Pei Zhaoying had read his resume, but she never imagined that just a few strokes contained so many twists and turns in his battle of wits and courage.
Qiluo widened her eyes and almost clapped her hands in approval, but when she remembered that she was being served nearby, she came to her senses and withdrew her hands.
The final winner of every thrilling murder is sitting below her, begging for the opportunity to fight for her.
Xiao Bo was sure that he would bring her victory again this time.
"Your Highness, trust me. As long as there are even a few words in the medical records, I will definitely be able to uncover the evildoers behind this."
Pei Zhaoying nodded.
The movement was too small, and he was afraid that Xiao Bo didn't see it clearly, so he said "Okay" in a trembling voice.
She didn't want to be a general who fled from the battlefield. However, every time she faced death, disappointment and pain continued to inflict heavy damage on the original wounds, strangling her breath.
For this reason, even Jiang Yubai, who had known her since childhood and was very close to her, was so angry at her fear of moving forward that he ran away in anger.
Xiao Bo came through all the obstacles, bringing new breakthroughs and hope, so brilliant that Pei Zhaoying felt ashamed.
"What if the medical records were deliberately falsified?"
Xiao Bo was extremely calm:
"Who else in the world could falsify the medical records of a royal relative and tamper with His Highness's medical records?"
He had prepared for the worst.
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