During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the people were known for their fierce and unruly nature. One old farmer, feeling that Emperor Taizu was not as good at farming as he was, spoke disparagingly of him.
Ji Xuan originally thought that such a person who disrespected the emperor was rare in the world, but it just so happened to happen right before his eyes.
At this moment, Ji Xuan did not know that Jiang Nuan was not an isolated case. Those who feared and revered the emperor were only scholars and officials. Their lives and interests were entirely at the mercy of the emperor's will, hence their fear and dread.
But the common people are completely different.
They have no desires and no fears. Living at the very bottom of society, they earn their living with their own hands. Even the emperor, who is high above them, would not stoop to harming them. They pose absolutely no threat.
There is some respect, but not much fear.
After dealing with the matter and finding that Ji Xuan posed no threat, Jiang Nuan put the matter aside completely and returned to the kitchen.
"Mother," Madam Xie quickly came over and asked anxiously, "The recipe wasn't sold, was it?"
"Not for sale."
"Thank goodness," Xie breathed a sigh of relief, "it seems these two aren't so bad after all."
She decided to add another dish for lunch!
"Why are these two so easy to talk to?" Wang's eyes flashed with doubt. "What did Mother do? I feel that they are not the kind of people who will give up so easily."
The older servants, in particular, were extremely aggressive and didn't seem like easy people to get along with at all.
Wang thought that trouble was about to befall her family.
They've even racked their brains trying to find a way out.
“Sister-in-law,” Xie Shi said with a strange confidence in Jiang Nuan, “Mother must have found a way to resolve this, so don’t worry.”
After saying that, he completely let go of the matter, humming a little tune, and happily started cooking.
“Yes, don’t worry,” Jiang Nuan comforted her daughter-in-law, who was still worried. “The matter has been resolved, nothing will happen.”
In the hall, Doctor Gu floated back all the way, unable to suppress the smile on his face.
"Master," Liu Zhiyuan walked over nervously and asked in a low voice, "What does the Emperor want with you this time?"
Liu Zhiyuan was terrified when his usually stern and steady master started laughing like a fool.
He suspected that his master had been too traumatized and was no longer normal.
Perhaps he's already gone mad...
Otherwise, why would it be so abnormal?
"It's nothing," Doctor Gu said with a slight smile. "You'll find out later."
He kept those things a secret from his apprentice because he was afraid that the apprentice would be punished.
Now that things have taken a turn for the better, and we'll need the apprentice's help in the future, there's no need to keep it a secret any longer.
"What can't be said now?" Liu Zhiyuan cautiously probed. "Could it be that His Majesty has reinstated Master?"
Upon hearing this, Doctor Gu leisurely stroked his beard and shook his head, saying, "No!"
"Then what makes you so happy?" Liu Zhiyuan asked, even more puzzled. "Tell me so my disciple can hear it too."
Just moments ago, he had looked so gloomy and dejected that he thought his master was about to give his last instructions.
As a result, in just a short while, he immediately changed his expression, and his joy was overflowing.
It's as fickle as the weather in March.
This is completely inconsistent with his master's personality.
Until he figured it out, Liu Zhiyuan felt his heart pounding with fear and unease.
Upon hearing this, Doctor Gu glanced at his apprentice indifferently and said, "You've been the Imperial Physician for several years now, haven't you noticed that His Majesty's health is in trouble?"
"His Majesty has a problem with his health," Liu Zhiyuan explained, "but it's just that he's weak. With proper care, there shouldn't be any major issues."
"You've read so many medical books for nothing," Doctor Gu scolded in dissatisfaction. "Go back and copy the entire Pharmacopoeia from beginning to end."
He anticipated that the emperor intended to conceal the truth, and that his disciple was likely unaware of the specifics.
But to his surprise, he didn't notice a single clue!
Disappointing, utterly disappointed!
"Isn't that wrong?" Liu Zhiyuan looked at Doctor Gu in surprise and guessed, "Master, could it be that His Majesty's hidden illness has flared up?"
"You're asking me?" Doctor Gu asked incredulously, then suddenly realized, "How many days has it been since you last took His Majesty's pulse?"
"Starting six months ago," Liu Zhiyuan said gravely, "the person taking the pulse was no longer His Majesty."
Everyone in the Imperial Physician's office knew about this, but dared not reveal the secret.
However, six months ago, His Majesty's health was not seriously affected; he had only caught a cold in the winter.
"The staff has been changed for half a year, and not a single person has raised any objection," Doctor Gu's face darkened. "You eat the emperor's food and bear the emperor's worries. Do you all deserve the salaries you receive?"
Suddenly, Doctor Gu understood why Ji Xuan had run outside.
Those incompetent imperial physicians are useless; instead of coming out and thinking of solutions, they're just waiting to die.
“Master,” Liu Zhiyuan said with a bitter expression, “His Majesty clearly doesn’t want us to know, so who dares to mention it?”
Moreover, they even had palace eunuchs give them a subtle warning.
He had initially suspected that the Emperor was having health problems, but considering that he had taken the Emperor's pulse several times before, and that although the pulse was weak and irregular, it was still very stable, he thought there shouldn't be any major problems, so he pretended not to know.
"Useless!" Doctor Gu sneered with a dark face. "It's you bunch of good-for-nothings who forced His Majesty out of the palace."
He knew that the Emperor wouldn't come out specifically to find him.
Although he had guessed this long ago, Dr. Gu still felt a little disappointed when it was confirmed.
Since diagnosing His Majesty's illness, he has diligently studied medicine, hoping that one day he can cure His Majesty.
If not for a twist of fate, these efforts might never have been needed before his death.
Suddenly, I felt a pang of sadness; he still overestimated himself.
"Master, how could we possibly fathom His Majesty's thoughts?"
"Forget it, I knew I couldn't count on you. Call Xiao Wu and Yu Zhu back, and I'll continue teaching them."
What should we teach?
"Process the medicinal herbs!"
“Okay,” Liu Zhiyuan said with a smile. “I just sent them to the backyard. I’ll go find them now.”
At least I don't feel like I'm making my final arrangements anymore. Good thing, the storm has passed!
Upon seeing Ji Xuan, Han Yi began to scrutinize his expression, sensing a faint joy in him. His heart skipped a beat, and he cautiously inquired, "Brother, has everything been settled?"
“It’s settled,” Ji Xuan said without hiding anything, “but I didn’t buy the formula.”
Upon hearing this, Han Yi tried his best to keep a straight face so as not to reveal anything unusual. "What do you mean by that, Brother Wang?"
“The Huang family’s wine is useful to me. Madam Jiang is willing to give up the wine, but she won’t sell the recipe,” Ji Xuan’s voice was somewhat helpless. “This matter can only be dropped.”
Between life and death, one often takes many things less seriously. Ji Xuan no longer has such a strong desire for control.
There are many things in the world that are beyond our control, so there's no need to force yourself; it's too tiring!
Upon hearing this, Han Yi relaxed completely. "In any case, your health is the most important thing, Brother Wang."
"really!"
After the dust settled, the dark clouds that had been hanging over the Huang family completely dissipated, and the sky became bright and clear!
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