Inside the inner palace, the emperor tucked the blanket around his sleeping wife, then walked out with his hands behind his back, his face taking on a somber hue in the night.
"Are these damn imperial physicians really helpless?"
Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and asked the eunuch with what seemed like hatred. His tiger-like eyes widened in anger, and his large hands clenched tightly, making a cracking sound as his knuckles loosened.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Academy says it will take some more time," the eunuch replied cautiously.
"Damn it, that's a while longer," Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth. No one understood better than him that Ma Yun wouldn't last much longer.
Ten days, or half a month...?
The eunuch lowered his head even further, carefully considering each word he uttered:
"Empress Ma is blessed with good fortune; the virtuous are always protected by Heaven, and with His Majesty's concern, the imperial physicians dare not shirk their duties..."
As he spoke, the eunuch noticed that the emperor's complexion had not improved, and his heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Better to die than to die myself."
Then, feeling perfectly justified, he changed the subject:
"There is one thing I wish to say, but I am unsure whether I should."
Zhu Yuanzhang's tiger-like eyes narrowed, and he waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to spit it out. The eunuch, looking worried and like a dutiful servant, whispered:
"Our dynasty has only been established for a short time, and many of the medical books from the previous dynasty have been destroyed. Many of the old imperial physicians have either left or died, and those who remain may not have the most refined medical skills."
On the contrary, there are hidden talents among the common people; who knows, they might have a way to save the Empress.
These words struck a chord with Zhu Yuanzhang!
The more he thought about it, the better he felt this was. After all, how could a living person die from holding their urine?
If the palace physicians, who are just there to do nothing, can't cure Old Ma, then we should look for a cure among the common people; that's always a solution.
Thinking of this, the eunuch noticed that the emperor, who had been gloomy and had punished many people in recent days, had a rare moment of relaxation in his expression. He was overjoyed and realized that he had gotten the better of the emperor.
As for whether there really are extraordinary people in the folk who can save Lady Ma, that's none of their business!
Zhu Yuanzhang was swift and decisive, and he made arrangements in no time. The task was carried out by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which had just been renamed from the Yiluan Division.
They dared not slack off in the slightest, and issued imperial edicts one after another. From the capital to the provinces, swift cavalry sped out like shooting stars, and officials from all walks of life did their best to help. Not one of them dared to cause any trouble.
Because this emperor's knives are sharpened to a very fine point!
…………
At the city gate of Nanjing, the guards checked travel permits and salutes, which could be considered somewhat orderly.
Right there, an imperial edict was boldly posted in the center, forcing the portraits of notorious bandits and wanted criminals to be crammed together.
The matter was being discussed at a roadside tea stall where people were resting.
"Do you think anyone will take down the yellow notice today?" someone started the conversation.
"I bet there must be, this reward is too much," a businessman-looking man said, counting on his fingers.
"Silver and gold go without saying; they're enough for a lifetime of wealth and honor, a fifth-rank official position, and a hereditary fourth-rank noble title..."
As they counted down the numbers, the merchants' eyes turned red with envy; this was the ultimate path to wealth.
"Hmph, that requires some people to have the ability. The imperial edict was posted for seven or eight days, and twenty or thirty people took it down, but many didn't receive the rewards and were instead beaten and expelled."
An old scholar said dismissively, and the others echoed him.
The facts were clear: many people initially answered the imperial edict, but after entering the palace, none of them could miraculously save the Empress Ma's life.
Zhu Yuanzhang's temper became increasingly volatile. Those who came before him could still get a few bolts of cloth, but those who came after him were considered lucky if they didn't end up in prison.
The Emperor's announcement of a proclamation regarding his wife Empress Ma's illness is currently the top trending topic in the Ming Dynasty, sparking heated discussions among the public.
Suddenly a loud shout rang out, "Someone has taken the challenge!" drawing everyone's attention.
The place where the imperial edict had been posted was now empty, and standing below it was a little girl.
Er Ya—no, now forcibly renamed Bai Susu by Liu Xian Ling Xiao—looked intently at the imperial edict in her hand, her expression solemn, her small frame seemingly possessing a certain imposing aura.
This was the view of the palace eunuchs who had been drawn in.
"Liu Xian, what do you want me to do with this piece of cloth?" Su Su asked, puzzled.
Indeed, Er Ya, the former village girl, clearly did not possess the advanced skill of literacy.
White Snake Ling Xiao exhaled and replied lazily:
"Take off this cloth, and someone will take you to see my benefactor. After that, you'll just follow my orders."
"Oh," Su Su replied, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Perhaps it was a desperate measure, but the eunuch didn't even ask any questions. Whether she was truly capable or just a child who didn't know any better, he simply took her away to make up the numbers.
With a generous reward, brave men will surely come. In addition to Ling Xiao's team, three other people went together.
Upon learning that another person had come to answer the imperial edict, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned them in.
Zhu Yuanzhang was already fifty-five years old, but he did not look old. His hair was only a little white, and his appearance was average, except for his eyes, which were like those of a wolf or a tiger, with a sharp and piercing light.
"Host, so Zhu Yuanzhang didn't have a shoe-shaped face after all," he said after a careful examination.
Ling Xiao found it quite amusing; none of the emperors she had met had a similar persona, each possessing a unique charm.
The eldest nephew was the most flexible and adaptable, while the First Emperor possessed the strongest aura...
Ling Xiao still had the composure to comment on the differences between the emperors, while the others were already trembling with fear.
Zhu Yuanzhang was already in a bad mood, and seeing how these people looked like rats, he probably felt his hopes were dashed.
"I will only say one thing: if you can cure the Empress, I will give you anything you want." He did not say what the consequences would be if he could not cure her, and no one else dared to think about it.
After saying this, he led the group to Empress Ma's bedroom.
In the imperial bedchamber, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was tasting medicine for his mother when he heard that his father had brought over another so-called "folk doctor." His eyes showed great helplessness.
Countless miracle doctors have come these days, but almost none of them have been of any use. Instead, they have only made the Emperor more and more anxious.
Upon entering the imperial bedchamber, Crown Prince Zhu Biao first bowed to the emperor, but was hastily excused.
The father and son exchanged a few words about Empress Ma's illness, and upon learning that the situation was worsening, Zhu Yuanzhang became agitated, his eyes reddening as he impatiently looked at the group.
"Who will be the first to step forward and treat the Empress?"
Ah...this, the group looked at each other, oh no, what to do? Their courage suddenly vanished.
Seeing his father on the verge of exploding, Zhu Biao sighed inwardly and prepared to speak up to smooth things over in order to avoid causing further bloodshed.
Suddenly, a clear, childlike voice rang out:
"let me"
Everyone looked over and saw a little girl standing on tiptoe, speaking very seriously. The emperor and his son were even more surprised—they thought Bai Susu was some kind of medicine boy who had been brought along.
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