The people of Nanhao are devout Buddhists, especially the royal family and the nobility. The children of the royal family and the nobility have to go to the temple to practice for one to three years before getting married.
Jialuo entered a temple to practice Buddhism at the age of twelve. Unlike others, he has not returned to secular life until now at the age of nineteen, so that the courtiers of the Hao Dynasty are somewhat unsure of his attitude. However, it is said that the Crown Prince of Nanhao has not been appointed yet in order to wait for him to return to secular life.
Gu Jue's eyes flickered slightly, and he continued, "I heard that when Jialou was born, the sky above the imperial city was full of rosy clouds, and the people of Nanhao said that it was the Purple Star that descended to earth."
"When I was fourteen, I represented my father as an envoy to Nanhao and met him once. This man is extremely intelligent and has a photographic memory. He is very prestigious among the people of Nanhao. The people all say that he is kind and benevolent."
Gu Jue also looked at Jialuo's receding figure from the window, his narrow eyes narrowed slightly.
Yunzhan added: "The people of Nanhao came to Daqi at this time, so they must not be here to celebrate the emperor's birthday."
Nanhao and Daqi were originally equally powerful, but in recent years, Daqi lost a lot of manpower and financial resources in the continuous battles with Chidi. On the contrary, Nanhao's national strength is growing stronger day by day.
Yun Zhan clenched his fists, knowing in his heart: Another reason why the emperor of Da Qi only wanted to take back the tiger talisman and did not dare to take action against their prince easily was because of Nan Hao.
With Nan Hao, the giant tiger, eyeing the throne covetously by the side, if the emperor ordered the killing of Gu Jue, let alone whether Gu Jue would counterattack and seize the throne, even if he really succeeded, it would inevitably lead to instability in the military morale. If Nan Hao's army marched north at that time, the emperor would face a situation where he had no generals available.
Even though the emperor could not tolerate Gu Jue, he did not dare to issue this decree easily.
Gu Jue picked up the teacup beside him and said calmly, "They came here to see the strength of Da Qi."
Just like when his father sent him to Nanhao.
As they were talking, Jialuo and his group had already walked away and disappeared around the corner at the end of the street.
Gu Jue withdrew his gaze and took a sip of hot tea.
At this moment, there was a sound of chaotic footsteps outside the private room, and a young man in a dark blue robe walked in quickly, in a hurry.
"Your Highness," the young man said to Gu Jue, cupping his fists, "I just received news that something happened in Nanyang County."
"The King of Nanyang died suddenly, and the Crown Prince Qin Yao of Nanyang has disappeared without a trace. According to the princess, the Crown Prince Qin had an argument with the King of Nanyang, accidentally killed the King of Nanyang, and then fled for fear of being punished."
Yunzhan also knew that Qin Yao and Gu Jue were good friends, so he looked at Gu Jue nervously.
Gu Jue's pupils shrank slightly, and he immediately stood up, hurried down the restaurant, and ordered: "Prepare the horses, I need to go to Nanyang."
Gu Jue first went back to Prince Chen's Mansion and then set off on the same day, traveling light and leaving the capital with the emperor on his back.
So, when Chu Qianchen went to Yuanqing Temple on May 12, there was only a gray shadow waiting for her outside the peach forest.
Mo Chen, dressed in gray, looked the same as usual. He was like a shadow hidden in the darkness, cold and lonely, icy without any warmth, and dead silent without any ripples.
But the moment Chu Qianchen saw Mo Chen, he had a vague feeling in his heart: something must have happened.
Chu Qianchen moved his gaze back and saw that the pavilion in the peach forest was empty.
Where is the prince? !
Chu Qianchen's shoulders drooped a little at once.
"Miss Chu," Mo Chen stiffly bowed to Chu Qianchen, "The prince can't come today."
Chu Qianchen: “…”
The corners of her mouth behind the veil also drooped. She had deliberately gone out early today to go to Long Su Ji and bought the prince his favorite walnut cookies.
Although Chu Qianchen was wearing a veil on her face, her frustration could not be hidden by a thin veil.
An almost invisible ripple appeared in Mo Chen's usually cold pupils.
For Mo Chen, Gu Jue is the only person he is loyal to, and everyone else is not within his consideration.
He was like a long sword, a sword that only Gu Jue could use.
But today, when Mo Chen faced Chu Qianchen, he felt a little embarrassed and nervous.
He was not afraid of Chu Qianchen, he was only afraid that Chu Qianchen would get angry.
Historically, those who are gifted in certain areas tend to be somewhat arrogant, and the prince is no exception. Mo Chen is only worried that Chu Qianchen will feel that the prince is not cooperating with her treatment and will refuse to treat the prince in the future.
However, he couldn't say where Gu Jue went. After thinking about it, he could only add briefly: "The prince had something to do today. It happened suddenly."
Mo Chen was not good at speaking, and just saying these few words was more tiring for him than fighting in the battlefield.
Others may not know this, but to Amber, at least, Mo Chen's words sounded dry and even a little ferocious. She was thinking that since Prince Chen was not there, she and the girl could return to the Marquis' Mansion earlier.
But Chu Qianchen is not like that.
She knew Mo Chen in her previous life. Mo Chen had always been taciturn. The most he spoke to her in her previous life was about Yun Zhan. At other times, Mo Chen often did not utter a word for the whole day.
The few words he said today are probably the weight of his speech for half a month.
Of course Chu Qianchen couldn't be angry with Gu Jue, he was just worried: the prince was not the kind of person who would easily break a promise, there must be something more important, so important that he couldn't take care of his own health.
What exactly happened?
Chu Qianchen thought about it while giving a box of walnut crisps he had just bought to Mo Chen, "I bought an extra box of walnut crisps, you can try it."
Mo Chen didn't want to take it at first, but when his eyes fell on the Longsu mark on the paper box, he was stunned and took it subconsciously.
There are only a few famous dim sum shops in the capital, and the dim sum that Miss Chu buys every time happens to be from the ones that the prince often visits.
Is this just a coincidence, or...
Is he overthinking? Mo Chen looked at the box of walnut crisps in his hand.
Chu Qianchen frowned slightly, and couldn't help but regret that she didn't think it through. She should make some pills, so that even if the prince has something important to do and can't take the medicine, it won't have any impact.
When Mo Chen looked up at Chu Qianchen again, he saw her frowning, and thinking that she was unhappy, he cautiously asked, "Will there be any harm if the prince stops taking the medicine for a few days?"
Chu Qianchen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Of course, Gu Jue cannot stop taking the medicine, otherwise all his previous efforts will be wasted. He needs to take a few more courses of treatment before he can open up his body and remove the hidden danger.
Chu Qianchen pondered for a moment, then made the decision: "The day after tomorrow, Chenchu, you wait for me at Qingming Tea House. I will bring you a bottle of pills, and you...you find a way to deliver it to the prince."
Hearing this, Mo Chen's heart, which had been hanging in the air, was finally at ease, and he secretly sighed at the kindness of the doctor.
Since he had decided to make pills, Chu Qianchen didn't stay long and immediately said goodbye with Amber.
Amber, who was stretched as a bow, felt relieved.
Every time she faced Mo Chen, she felt so uncomfortable, as if... as if she was facing a person who crawled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
After Chu Qianchen left Yuanqing Temple, he went to Jishidiang to buy herbs.
For the waiters at Jishidiang, Chu Qianchen was a VIP among VIPs. The waiter named Shi, who was familiar with them, immediately handed over the work at hand to another waiter named Yu, and enthusiastically helped Chu Qianchen get the medicine first.
Chu Qianchen went to the window and sat waiting.
Amber didn't bother to be polite with Jishidiang and went to make tea for Chu Qianchen herself.
Just as the tea was served, a shrill male voice came from the direction of the gate: "Give me two bottles of Purple Snow Pills."
There was a sense of self-righteous superiority in the visitor's voice.
Chu Qianchen couldn't help but look in the direction of the voice.
The man who came to buy the medicine was a middle-aged man in a royal blue brocade robe with gold weaving. He had a fair face and no beard. His clothes and accessories were luxurious, and his chin was slightly raised with pride.
Behind him followed a respectful attendant in blue.
The waiter surnamed Yu said to the middle-aged man with a smile: "Sir, the Purple Snow Pills are available. There are 20 pills in a bottle of Purple Snow Pills. One bottle is enough for us to eat."
The waiter reminded the other party kindly, but the attendant in green clothes shouted sharply: "I told you to take two bottles, so take two bottles!" What he said was almost like saying, I have plenty of silver.
Yu worked at Jishiditang. The people who came to the clinic were mixed, and he had seen all kinds of people. Hearing this, he didn't care and quickly went to get two bottles of Zixuedan.
The middle-aged man in a blue robe picked up one of the bottles of Zixuedan, opened the lid, poured out two Zixuedan pills, looked at them, and smelled them.
He looked left and right and smelled it. Except that the color of Zixuedan was a little purple and it was made into pills, the smell was almost the same as Zixuesan.
"Is your Purple Snow Pill really that good?" the middle-aged man asked sharply, frowning, his expression and tone revealing undisguised doubt.
The green-clothed attendant said in a pretentious manner: "If someone gets sick from eating this, you won't be able to bear the consequences!!"
The staff of Jishiditang were used to this kind of questioning. The staff member surnamed Yu was not annoyed at all. He raised his chin with a smile and said complacently, "Gentlemen, this Zixuedan is a medicine. It is used to clear away heat and detoxify, calm spasms and extinguish wind, open the mind and calm shock. Of course, it cannot be taken carelessly. Why not bring the patient to our Jishiditang and let the doctor take the pulse and diagnose the disease first. As long as it is suitable for the disease, the medicine will definitely cure it."
"Our Purple Snow Pill has been improved. Its effect is far better than other Purple Snow Powders. The demand is exceeding the supply."
"Master, if you don't believe me, go ahead and ask around. Or, Master, try somewhere else first before coming back."
The guy was full of confidence, as if to say, "You will come back sooner or later."
The middle-aged man looked at the Zixuedan again and again, hesitating again and again.
There was no need for him to ask any more questions. He had already inquired in advance and came to Jishidiang.
The middle-aged man finally asked, "How much are these two bottles?"
As he spoke, he hid the Purple Snow Pill in his sleeve pocket, thinking: The young master has been ill for three days, and even the imperial physician's consultation has been useless. If it continues like this, I'm afraid... I can only buy two bottles and take them back to let the imperial physician take a look.
After the blue-clothed attendant paid the silver, the two men left.
At this time, the waiter named Shi also packed Chu Qianchen's medicinal materials and handed them to Amber.
When Chu Qianchen walked out of Jishidiang, he turned around and looked at the middle-aged man for a second before walking towards Songhe Street.
It was now close to noon, the sun was at its highest point, and the warm early summer sunshine poured down.
Amber couldn't help but say, "Miss, working in a clinic is really irritating. It's a good thing that Brother Yu and the others have good tempers."
If it were her, she would probably just say: It’s up to you to buy it or not!
Amber felt that she had met many nobles, and even someone as noble as Prince Chen did not look down on others with his chin like that person just now. She couldn't help but think of four words: a bully who takes advantage of his master's power.
Chu Qianchen smiled faintly, "He should be a eunuch in the palace."
Her phoenix eyes sparkled with light like countless broken gems.
amber:"……"
Amber almost stumbled, and then she thought of the young eunuch serving the Second Prince, and suddenly she understood.
Chu Qianchen said nothing more and turned the corner ahead. What he was thinking was that Zixuedan is an orifice-opening agent for treating orifice blockage and coma. It can treat heat syndromes such as yang poison, sha disease, wind-heat invading the lungs, measles, and convulsions.
However, Jishidiang's Zixuedan gained its reputation by treating pediatric convulsions, so most of the patients who came to ask for Zixuedan had similar illnesses.
So, who could that sick child be? !
Which little prince or princess is it?
Chu Qianchen guessed half right. The middle-aged man who bought the Purple Snow Pill was indeed a eunuch in the palace, and the chief eunuch of the East Palace.
However, the sick person was not a prince or princess, but the crown prince’s eldest son and the emperor’s eldest grandson, who was only three years old this year.
Ever since the emperor's eldest grandson fell ill, the atmosphere in the East Palace has been extremely depressing. The air seemed heavy and condensed, and the atmosphere was silent and gloomy.
The emperor's eldest grandson had been ill for three whole days. It was originally thought that it was just a minor illness and nothing serious. The imperial physician Lian, who was good at pediatrics, prescribed some medicine for him, but he did not get better after a day and a night. Later, the imperial physicians consulted together and prescribed more medicine, but he still did not get better and his condition became more and more serious.
It was Imperial Physician Lian who mentioned that Jishidiang in the capital had launched a new medicine called Zixuedan, which was more effective than the commonly used Zixuedan, so Crown Prince Gu Nanjin took the initiative and ordered the eunuch Du Gonggong to go to Jishidiang to buy the medicine.
After Eunuch Du presented the Zixuedan to Gu Nanjin, Gu Nanjin instructed the eunuch to give it to a few imperial doctors for research.
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
Doctor Lian and several other imperial physicians each took out a Purple Snow Pill and began to study it using their own abilities.
Eunuch Du continued, "Your Highness, I have inquired around Jishidi Hall. These days, Zixuedan has saved many children with convulsions. Yesterday, there was a girl who had a high fever for several days. She was about to die because she was breathing in more than out. After taking Zixuedan, she came back to life."
To be honest, Eunuch Du still has doubts about whether the Zixuedan is so magical.
After all, the eldest grandson is the prince's only child and the legitimate son. The emperor now has only this one grandson, and nothing must happen to him.
The imperial doctors standing by also heard what Eunuch Du said and started talking among themselves. Some praised him, some seemed to be thinking about it, and some, such as Imperial Doctor Wang, disagreed.
When Doctor Wang heard about Jishidiang, he became angry.
In March, General Ming Xiyang invited him to his home for treatment because of hematemesis. He prescribed a prescription, but who would have thought that Ming Xiyang only took one prescription and then turned to the so-called miracle doctor at Jishitang. Later, he even went to the Imperial Hospital to make trouble, saying that he was a quack doctor, which made him lose face in the Imperial Hospital. Other imperial doctors said that he was not even as good as a folk quack doctor!
Doctor Wang was really right but couldn't explain it clearly. It was obvious that the prescription he prescribed was suitable for the disease, but because it took a long time to take effect, Ming Xiyang attributed the credit to that miracle doctor.
Later, Doctor Wang also heard about the miracle doctor saving Yun Zhan. In his opinion, how could a person with a cut neck vein be saved? Yun Zhan probably only had some skin broken on his neck.
Those ignorant people only know how to spread false information, praising a quack doctor as being as great as Hua Tuo!
Thinking of this, Imperial Doctor Wang suddenly stood up, walked to the side of Eunuch Du, and bowed respectfully to Gu Nanjin, "Your Highness, I have just analyzed this Zixue Pill. Judging from the ingredients, it is no different from the ordinary Zixue Powder."
The other imperial doctors around also agreed with this and nodded slightly.
They all tasted the Purple Snow Pill, but they couldn't tell what extra medicinal ingredients were added to it.
Doctor Wang pursed his lips in disdain and continued, "I don't know what kind of medicinal ingredients Jishidiang added to the Zixuedan to make its color different from ordinary Zixuesan. I think the emperor's eldest grandson is a royal family, so we should not try this pill of unknown origin. What if..."
What if the emperor’s eldest grandson does something wrong? What should we do?
After listening to Eunuch Du's words, Gu Nanjin originally wanted to give it a try, but after hearing what Doctor Wang said, he couldn't help but hesitate.
Gu Nanjin raised his eyes and looked at the other imperial doctors in the back, "Imperial Doctor Lian, Imperial Doctor Xu, Imperial Doctor Fu... What do you think?"
The other doctors looked at each other, and Doctor Lian was the first to speak up: "Your Highness, I think we can give it a try."
The other three or four imperial doctors also expressed their opinions:
"Your Highness, I think this is inappropriate. It is best to be cautious."
"Your Highness, why not find another child with convulsions to test the medicine on, and then give it to the eldest grandson."
“…”
The imperial doctors had different opinions and could not reach a consensus for a while.
Eunuch Du frowned slightly, thinking that these imperial doctors were useless. If they could not cure the emperor's eldest grandson, why would the prince place his hopes on quack doctors from the folks?
All the imperial doctors lowered their heads and secretly glanced at Gu Nanjin out of the corner of their eyes.
Whether to take the Purple Snow Pill ultimately depends on the Crown Prince's opinion.
The main hall fell silent and still.
After a moment, Gu Nanjin made the decision, "Doctor Lian, go and feed the medicine to the emperor's eldest grandson!"
Doctor Lian immediately accepted the order.
Doctor Wang disagreed, but he did not dare to say anything about the prince's decision. After all, they were helpless with the emperor's eldest grandson's illness, and they could not stop the prince from trying to save his life.
Doctor Lian took another bottle of Zixue Dan and then entered the emperor's eldest grandson's bedroom.
There was a gloomy atmosphere in the bedroom.
A boy about three years old was lying motionless on the couch, his face as pale as gold paper, his lips dry and pale, and his breath barely surviving.
The Crown Princess sat beside the couch, holding tightly the boy's hand that was exposed from under the quilt. She looked worried and haggard. Because of the illness of the Emperor's eldest grandson, the Crown Princess had not rested well for three nights and looked several years older.
Imperial Physician Lian first respectfully bowed to the Crown Princess, and then fed the Emperor's eldest grandson three Purple Snow Pills.
After taking the medicine, the emperor's eldest grandson still did not wake up.
The palace maid beside him carefully applied a cold compress to the emperor's eldest grandson's forehead and moistened his lips with cotton soaked in water.
It was unknown how long it had been, but the Crown Princess's joyful shout suddenly rang out from the bedroom: "Doctor Lian, take a look, the Emperor's eldest grandson's fever seems to be subsiding a little. Feel his forehead and hands, are they cold?"
"Please wait a moment, Princess Consort. I will examine the Emperor's eldest grandson." Doctor Lian said.
Gu Nanjin in the main hall also heard the noise in the bedroom and quickly got up, wanting to go in and take a look, but at this moment, someone came outside the hall.
A middle-aged eunuch in his forties, holding a silver-white whisk, walked slowly towards the main hall with two young eunuchs.
That was Eunuch Ni, the chief eunuch beside the emperor.
Eunuch Ni suddenly arrived at this time because he was following the emperor's orders.
"Your Highness, the Emperor heard that His Highness the Crown Prince was ill, so he specially bestowed a pill." Eunuch Ni said politely to Gu Nanjin.
One of the eunuchs behind him was holding a tray with a three-inch black wooden box on it.
Most of the royal family of the Great Qi Dynasty believed in Taoism, and the current emperor was no exception. He not only often went to Taoist temples to burn incense, invite Taoists to preach and answer questions, and open the furnace to refine elixirs, but he also had the habit of taking elixirs.
After a pause, Eunuch Ni added, "Your Highness, this is the Nine Returns Golden Pill refined by Taoist Master Xuan Jing."
"The Emperor said that after his eldest grandson takes the elixir, he will soon get better, and he is waiting for me to report the good news!"
The emperor gave the elixir to show his love for his eldest grandson. Gu Nanjin smiled and said, "Father, you are so kind. I will let Jiaer take the Nine Returning Golden Elixir right away."
Upon hearing this, the several imperial doctors present all had strange looks on their faces. They exchanged glances secretly, wanting to say something but stopping themselves. In the end, no one dared to speak.
The atmosphere was a bit weird.
Gu Nanjin brought Eunuch Ni into the bedroom, and the Crown Princess personally fed the emperor's eldest grandson Gu Yuanjia the water made from the Jiuhuan Golden Pill.
Everyone was standing by Gu Yuanjia's bed. The Crown Princess was still holding Gu Yuanjia's hand. Imperial Doctor Lian had a complicated look on his face as he stared at Gu Yuanjia silently.
After an unknown amount of time, a palace maid wiped Gu Yuanjia's sweat with a white towel and said hesitantly, "Crown Princess, the emperor's eldest grandson's temperature seems to have risen again."
The Crown Princess nervously touched her son's forehead with her palm and her face changed.
"Doctor Lian!" Gu Nanjin ordered hurriedly, "Hurry and check on the emperor's eldest grandson!"
The atmosphere in the hall, which had finally become somewhat relaxed, suddenly took a turn for the worse and became solemn again.
Doctor Lian was actually overwhelmed. He quickly walked to the bedside, took Gu Yuanjia's pulse, and looked a little gloomy.
The pulse under his fingers made Doctor Lian's heart sink.
Several other imperial doctors also came over to feel Gu Yuanjia's pulse, and all of them had gloomy faces.
Originally, the eldest grandson of the emperor had a significant improvement in his condition after taking the Purple Snow Pill, so he should not have taken the God-Returning Pill. Pills like the Nine-Returning Golden Pill are generally heat-related, and the eldest grandson of the emperor's convulsions were originally a fever. Wouldn't it be like adding poison to poison and adding fuel to the fire to take the Nine-Returning Golden Pill? Moreover, if there were a few herbs used in the Nine-Returning Golden Pill that conflicted with the Purple Snow Pill, then for the eldest grandson of the emperor, it would be poison, not medicine.
If this Nine-Returning Golden Pill was not a medicine bestowed by the emperor, they would have stopped the prince from letting the emperor's eldest grandson take it.
Several imperial doctors were panicked and sweating profusely.
However, although they knew that it was most likely a problem with the Nine-Returning Golden Pill, they did not dare to say it. One of the white-haired old doctors said with gritted teeth: "Your Highness, Crown Princess, it may be a problem with the Purple Snow Pill."
Gu Nanjin saw some clues from the hesitant expressions of the imperial doctors and vaguely guessed that it might be because of the Nine-Returning Golden Pill.
He felt a little regretful, but at this point, it was no use regretting.
Besides, this Nine-Returning Golden Elixir was given by the emperor after all.
He hurriedly urged: "Quick, save the emperor's eldest grandson!"
Doctor Lian and several other doctors gathered around Gu Yuanjia. Some of them felt his pulse again, some tried acupuncture, some massaged his acupuncture points, and some checked his tongue coating...
The Crown Princess had tears in her eyes, her face was pale, and she looked as if she had been stabbed and was on the verge of collapse.
The palace maid quickly supported the Crown Princess and gave her some smelling salts to smell.
Eunuch Ni was also anxious. Even though he didn't know any medicine, he could see that the emperor's eldest grandson was in a very bad condition. His face was visibly turning paler, and there was a faint, creepy aura of death in it.
Originally, the emperor only asked him to deliver the Nine-Returning Golden Pill to the emperor's eldest grandson. He thought that after the emperor's eldest grandson took it and his health improved, he would go back and report to the emperor, and the emperor would definitely be very pleased.
But now, less than an incense stick of time after the pill was taken, the emperor's eldest grandson was in critical condition and was about to die.
Eunuch Ni felt quite depressed as if he had lost more than he gained. After asking about the Zixuedan, he rushed back to the imperial study as quickly as possible.
"Your Majesty, something bad has happened! Something bad has happened to your eldest grandson!"
Eunuch Ni usually speaks and acts slowly and calmly, but today he was panic-stricken.
What?! The emperor behind the imperial desk suddenly looked unhappy, and his first reaction was to ask in a stern voice: "What's going on? Did Jiaer take the Nine-Returning Golden Pill?"
Eunuch Ni is a shrewd man who knows what's going on, so he certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to offend the emperor. After all, the imperial physician said that the problem was with the Zixuedan.
So, Eunuch Ni avoided the main point and said, "He ate it. The Crown Princess personally fed it to the eldest grandson. However, the eldest grandson also took the Zixue Pill from Jishidiang. The imperial physician said that there might be something wrong with the Zixue Pill."
(End of this chapter)