Chapter 44 [VIP]
The emperor couldn't help but go to see Gu Zhizhuo.
My mind was filled with the words Qingping had said at Taiqing Temple that day: "a cursed lone star," "the closer you are to someone, the more unlucky they will be," "it will affect other people's fate"... word by word, sentence by sentence, echoed over and over again.
Gu Zhizhuo didn't pay any attention to the emperor; he only had one thought in his mind: "Has the young master taken his medicine?"
The young eunuch continued to report: "Your Majesty, the eldest son is still spitting out blood, and he doesn't look well."
A rustling sound came from the waterside pavilion.
Zhao Yang suddenly laughed, a low, undisguised sneer escaping from her bright red lips.
He feigned arrogance, saying he looked down on his third brother.
Now look what's happened, I'm afraid I'll be left a widow forever.
As the old saying goes, "Trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice instead!"
The emperor gave her a warning look, then suddenly stood up, causing the table to shake and the candlelight to flicker.
"I'll go take a look."
The imperial physician told him that Xie Yingchen was physically weak, but not yet at the point of death. If left untreated, he could live for another four or five years. With medication, he could last another year or two.
He fell critically ill just after I bestowed the marriage upon him, before the imperial decree had even been issued?
The emperor strode over to Gu Zhizhuo, and as he did so, he seemed to remember something and turned back to say, "You will come with me as well."
At this moment, Gu Zhizhuo had long forgotten what the emperor had just said.
Although she made the medicine herself and knew exactly what the reaction would be, she couldn't remain completely rational when it came to the young master.
"yes."
Gu Zhizhu suppressed her anxiety and immediately followed the emperor, the pearl hairpins in her hair swaying.
After crossing the covered bridge, it didn't take long to reach the waterside pavilion on the east side.
Upon entering the waterside pavilion, Gu Zhizhuo smelled a strong stench of blood, mixed with a faint fishy odor, which lingered in his nose for a long time.
Gu Zhizhuo immediately spotted Xie Yingchen sitting in the corner. His eyes were closed, his skin was deathly pale, and his clothes were covered in large patches of dark red blood, almost staining his clothes red.
This scene was so terrifying it was almost shocking.
It was as if he had merged with the young master before his death in the previous life.
In her previous life, she couldn't save the young master. In his final moments, he would cough up black blood, and every time she saw it, it felt like a needle piercing her heart, reminding her again and again that she was incompetent, useless, and unable to save him.
She couldn't save the only person still alive in this world who was the best to her.
At that moment, her pupils were filled with dark red blood. She wanted to rush over immediately, but the last shred of reason told her that she couldn't go, otherwise, all her efforts would be in vain.
Her whole body was stiff and she didn't move at all. She could hear her own heartbeat, heavy and rapid.
The emperor assumed she was frightened and ignored her, shouting directly, "Summon the imperial physician!"
The waterside pavilion was some distance from the Imperial Hospital, but fortunately, the emperor had already summoned the imperial physicians when Xie Jing was injured, and two physicians arrived in a hurry not long afterward.
Even though the emperor was more worried about Xie Jing's injury, he had no choice but to urge the imperial physician to examine Xie Yingchen first.
The pavilion was in a mess, and the princes looked around from a distance without saying a word.
The imperial physician hurried over to take Xie Yingchen's pulse, while Gu Zhizhuo quietly lagged behind.
Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her hands, hidden in her sleeves, were clenched into a tight fist; she could even feel her nails piercing her flesh. It didn't hurt at all; real pain, she had already tasted in her short life in her previous existence.
Huai Jingzhi squatted to one side.
His face contorted with a perfectly convincing panic. His pale face was masked as he used a handkerchief to wipe the black blood from Xie Yingchen's mouth. Half of his panic was feigned, but at least half of it was genuine.
If Gu Zhizhuo hadn't written down on the silk paper all the possible consequences of taking the medicine, he might have seriously doubted whether Miss Gu had ulterior motives.
Even so, seeing the young master's breathing so weak, all sorts of dark thoughts kept rising up.
The young master believed her.
I am not familiar with her; we have only met once. Who knows if there is any unspeakable reason why she is showing favor to the young master?
When the imperial physician approached, Huai Jingzhi stepped aside to let him pass. He looked up and saw that the young lady Gu, whom he had been cursing in his heart, was now standing right next to him.
Why would she come?
It seems they were brought here by the emperor.
Despite his pride in his intelligence, Huai Jingzhi was overwhelmed by the various circumstances and couldn't immediately figure out the reason.
He composed himself and silently observed Gu Zhizhuo. He looked at her tightly clenched fists and her eyes that seemed to hold no one but the young master. At that moment, he felt relieved.
The two physicians who arrived were Chen Baishu and another physician surnamed Zhang. They took turns taking each other's pulses, both of them frowning deeply. Chen Baishu then switched to his other hand and took the pulse at the neck, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
The emperor's lips curved slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.
He didn't urge him, but stood silently to the side with his hands behind his back.
"emperor."
After Physician Zhang checked the pulse again, the two physicians discussed the matter, and Chen Baishu stepped forward and reported, "The young master's pulse is like water in a cauldron, boiling over with fire, flowing out but not in, floating and weak. I'm afraid this is not good." (Note)
"How could this be?" the emperor exclaimed incredulously. "They were perfectly fine just now."
It's just an occasional cough; it doesn't seem like there's anything seriously wrong.
Chen Baishu looked reluctant. The eldest son was being cared for by the imperial physicians, and he only went to Xiyunwu occasionally when he needed a consultation. Previously, the eldest son had just suffered from a decline in yang energy and an imbalance of yin and yang, but his life was not in danger in the short term.
It's really too fast these days.
As Chen Baishu neared his death, he couldn't help but wonder if the emperor was determined to prevent him from living any longer.
Having served as a royal physician in the palace for a long time, Chen Baishu wasn't foolish enough to ask directly, or even answer directly. He simply said, "The eldest son has a pulse where Yin and Yang Qi are exhausted."
He shook his head and stood respectfully with his head bowed.
The boiling pulse is a sign of impending death; those with this pulse will die within three or four days. (Note)
The emperor remained silent.
It works so well!
He couldn't help but feel glad he had acted decisively, otherwise...
Looking at Xie Yingchen, who was now on the verge of death, the emperor could hardly imagine what would happen if his Jing'er were also coughing up blood like this. He would definitely be heartbroken.
In a few short moments, the emperor's mind raced with chaotic thoughts, yet he still spoke anxiously, "Hurry up and administer the acupuncture, administer the acupuncture, administer the medicine! This is the only bloodline left by my imperial brother. If anything happens to him, I will make you pay with your heads!"
The emperor roared, "Go now!"
"Someone, go and summon the chief physician. Or better yet, summon all the physicians on duty."
The eunuchs rushed out, and the waterside pavilion became even more chaotic.
Chen Baishu took out a needle kit from the medicine box and went over to administer acupuncture. Huai Jingzhi glanced at Gu Zhizhuo without leaving a trace, as if to ask her if the acupuncture was alright. She then blinked slightly.
Li Deshun brought over a chair, helped the emperor sit down, and gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, please don't worry. The eldest son is a lucky person and will surely be safe and sound."
The emperor had barely sat down when he suddenly said, "Zhuo girl, you sit over there."
Gu Zhizhu thought he didn't want her to interfere with the imperial physician's acupuncture, so she took a few steps back, about seven or eight steps, when the emperor suddenly called her back and said seriously, "Wait."
Hmm?
"Don't stand there, move over there, to the right."
Well?
Gu Zhizhuo turned her head and saw Xie Jing sitting not far away, clutching his bleeding arm. When their eyes met, he sneered repeatedly.
Gu Zhizhuo raised an eyebrow, too lazy to pay him any attention. Anyway, she had achieved her goal, the engagement was annulled, and this person was useless to her now.
Turning around, Gu Zhizhuo immediately understood when he saw the wariness and anxiety in the emperor's eyes.
Does he truly believe he will kill his son?!
She silently moved to the right.
The emperor was very satisfied.
After the two imperial physicians discussed the matter, Chen Baishu took out a silver needle and placed the first needle on the Baixue acupoint. He carefully and slowly twisted the silver needle, and before three breaths had passed, Xie Yingchen spat out another mouthful of black blood. His face turned deathly pale, and it seemed that he could not catch his breath.
Chen Baishu quickly checked his pulse. The skin his fingers touched was extremely cold; if it weren't still soft to the touch, it would have been like that of a dead person.
Black blood left scattered traces on Chen Baishu's official robes.
Chen Baishu swallowed hard, holding the silver needle tightly, not daring to insert it a second time.
Gongzi Chen's yang energy is almost exhausted. He can only last for three or four more days at most. Even if acupuncture is administered, it will be useless and may even cause him to die faster.
No doctor could save him.
"emperor."
Chen Baishu bowed and had no choice but to explain the situation.
The emperor's face darkened.
Without a doubt, all the disputes and conflicts in the court today are caused by Xie Yingchen. Because he, the former grandson of the crown prince, is still alive, it is difficult for the court to be of one mind. There are always people trying to gain the credit for supporting the emperor, and factional strife is constant.
It's not that he can't tolerate Xie Yingchen.
It was for the sake of the nation and its people!
The Great Qi Dynasty is in a time of peace and prosperity, a time of tranquility and peace, which is the Emperor's wish. Xie Yingchen is the Emperor's personally appointed grandson, and it is only right that he should make sacrifices for the prosperity of the Great Qi Dynasty and the well-being of its people.
In the emperor's original plan, Xie Yingchen's condition would gradually worsen. The emperor would then move him to a residence outside the palace at an appropriate time, and after a year or two, he would die. After that, the emperor would posthumously grant him the title of a prince and adopt a child from the imperial clan into his name, thus ensuring the continuation of that lineage.
But now, it's too fast, and it's sudden.
If Xie Yingchen were to die so inexplicably in the palace, I would face suspicion and accusations from future generations.
Not only in later generations, but even in the imperial court, those so-called "Crown Prince Party" members would not let the matter rest.
After pondering for a moment, the emperor ordered, "Someone, take Chen'er back to Xiyunwu first."
"Summon Prince Jin, Prince Li, Chief Minister Song, Duke of Wei..." He finished in one breath, then added, "Summon the Immortal Qingping to the palace."
Upon hearing the words "Qingping," Gu Zhizhuo's brow twitched.
Gu Zhizhu hesitated for a moment, then decided it was better not to try and find out from his cheap senior brother; the fewer people who knew the truth about this matter, the better.
Senior Brother Qingping is not skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, so he shouldn't be able to diagnose the problem from the pulse diagnosis.
Moreover, he was extremely tactful; even if he noticed something, he wouldn't say it directly. He would only say what the emperor wanted to hear and was willing to hear.
The emperor issued a series of orders and then instructed the eunuchs to bring the imperial carriage directly to the palace.
In Xie Yingchen's final moments, the emperor was generous with his favors.
The eunuchs carefully carried Xie Yingchen onto the imperial carriage, and the group went directly out of the waterside pavilion.
Apart from the imperial physician, no one else went along.
This time, the emperor didn't even call Gu Zhizhuo again. He was afraid that it was too effective. If Xie Yingchen died on the way, it would be really difficult to deal with!
Gu Zhizhuo stood there, silently lowering his eyes.
First, it will vomit black blood.
This blood is the residual poison that has accumulated in the young master's body for a long time. The safest way is to slowly remove the poison over a year or two, while simultaneously nourishing the body's foundation. This is the least harmful way to treat the body.
This poison is very potent.
The young master was extremely lucky to survive the poisoning, but the lingering poison constantly drained his lifespan, causing him to suffer from chronic illnesses. Therefore, he could not withstand this potent medicine, which led to his severe decline in vital energy.
This pill will enhance Yang energy after the detoxification process.
His pulse will gradually improve in four to eight days.
Even though Gu Zhizhuo knew all of this, she was still panicked and afraid. She wished she could stay by the young master's side and see him wake up with her own eyes, instead of just standing here far away, anxiously waiting for her fate.
Are you satisfied now?
Xie Jing's mocking voice rang out behind him. Gu Zhizhuo turned around and found Xie Jing standing close by, his handsome face displaying an indescribable emotion, a mixture of mockery and annoyance.
Gu Zhizhuo clapped his hands lightly: "Satisfied. Very satisfied."
She glanced deliberately at his still-bleeding arm, her provocation obvious.
Xie Jing was so angry he felt like his teeth were itching.
He had worked so hard, leaving himself battered and bruised, and finally he could rightfully pursue Ke'er. This should have been a joyous occasion. Ke'er had always refused him because of her noble character; she refused to be a concubine. But now, she could finally be his legitimate wife.
He had just seen Gu Zhizhuo come with his father, the emperor, and asked one of the eunuchs accompanying the emperor.
The Emperor actually betrothed Gu Zhizhuo to Xie Yingchen!?
Xie Yingchen is now dying.
He came here to mock her, to laugh at her for wasting her efforts, to see her regret it, but she was still so arrogant and haughty!
She didn't even try to hide her dislike for herself!
All she did was hurt her face, and she retaliated several times over. Is it really necessary for her to keep being so unforgiving?!
Xie Jing scoffed and coldly mocked, "Once Father Emperor issues a decree, even if Xie Yingchen dies, you will not be able to remarry. Those old fogies in the court will not allow you to remarry either. You will be a widow, no, you will have to marry him while holding a rooster, and spend your whole life guarding his memorial tablet!"
I'm better than a dead person, right?
"You went through all that trouble only to end up like this, now you regret it, don't you?"
"What a pity, Xie Yingchen is dying soon, the dead will never return..."
"Ouch!"
Xie Jing's words were cut short by a scream, drawing the attention of many onlookers.
Xie Jing quickly shut his mouth, not wanting to show weakness in front of others.
Gu Zhizhuo stomped hard on his instep with her embroidered shoes adorned with butterflies, her heel stomping repeatedly.
Xie Jing winced in pain, but he endured it and managed not to make a sound.
"If you can't speak properly, then speak less. Otherwise, the pain won't just be in your foot," Gu Zhizhuo said softly and slowly. "Do you think that just because our engagement is off, I can't control you anymore?"
A veil covered half of her face, so Xie Jing couldn't see her expression, but the coldness in her eyes was impossible to ignore.
If before she displayed a wickedness that manipulated him, now, an emotion so cold it seemed to want to kill him surged deep within her eyes, almost bursting forth.
Xie Jing didn't even dare to meet her gaze. The thought had barely crossed his mind when he was overwhelmed with embarrassment and indignation.
He forcefully pulled his foot back from under her feet, grunted twice, and stormed off.
He was just a short-lived wretch!
Gu Zhizhuo will regret it! But it will be too late for regrets, the Third Prince's consort can only be Ke'er.
Even if she came back to beg him, he wouldn't give her another second glance!
Gu Zhizhuo didn't turn her head; she kept her eyes fixed on the direction of the imperial carriage until it disappeared from sight.
A large group of people escorted the emperor to Xiyunwu.
Before long, the chief imperial physician arrived, and all the imperial physicians on duty in the entire Imperial Medical Academy came. They all surrounded Xie Yingchen, took his pulse one by one, and then gathered together for a consultation.
There is still only one result.
"Your Majesty, the eldest son is already terminally ill and may not survive more than five days."
The imperial physician wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and reported in a trembling voice.
After Gongzi Chen returned to the capital, he was taken care of by him. He would take the emperor's pulse every day, and the emperor would review the pulse records daily.
Many people in the court said that the emperor treated Prince Chen like a father, but in fact the emperor had hinted to him that Prince Chen's condition was gradually worsening.
Therefore, based on the Taiping formula, he added a little more cold-natured medicine. In theory, this should only cause him to gradually weaken over the next year or two, and there should be no danger to his life.
This shouldn't be happening!
It shouldn't have deteriorated so quickly; it shouldn't have reached this incurable state until at least the end of next year.
That's too fast.
"Save him!" the emperor solemnly ordered. "No matter what medicine you use, you must save Chen'er for me."
"today……"
"Chen'er must not be harmed, do you hear me!"
The imperial physicians readily agreed and quickly went inside for another consultation.
The imperial physician understood the emperor's meaning: the emperor was saying that at least nothing should happen today. That was still manageable.
Before long, the prime minister and his entourage also arrived one after another.
Master Qingping arrived rather late. Taiqing Temple was outside the city, so they rushed him over on horseback. Qingping, who wasn't that old, was almost shaken to pieces.
When Qingping walked in, rubbing his aching back, everyone else had already arrived. The Grand Secretary and Prince Li had even gone in to see Xie Yingchen and inquire about the imperial physician's condition. Everyone's faces were filled with helplessness and gloom.
"Master, you've arrived."
Before Qingping could even pay his respects, the emperor let him go in and have a look.
Qingping wanted to say that she was not good at traditional Chinese medicine, but since she was already there, she went in anyway.
Qingping looked at Xie Yingchen's ashen face and the black blood left on his lips, then pulled his wrist over and felt his pulse.
He wasn't skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, but he wasn't completely ignorant of it either. Everyone in the Tianxin Sect was a Taoist physician, and he knew about things like Tai Su pulse diagnosis.
Hmm.
A fleeting look of surprise flashed in his narrow eyes, while his other hand silently calculated something hidden in his sleeve. Then, that surprise deepened.
strangeness.
This young master Chen's pulse has already stopped; compared to a dead man, he is only hanging on by a thread.
But this lingering breath is a sign of life! Not just life, but also a sign of destiny. If he survives this ordeal, he may very well rise above his circumstances and become a dragon in the abyss.
"How is it, real person?"
The emperor, unable to wait any longer, entered and asked in a deep voice, "Is there any hope for Chen'er?"
Qingping now moves freely in the palace, not because of her "loyal advice and courage to remonstrate," but because of the emperor's favor.
Simply put, it's about the ruler's heart.
Otherwise, if he rashly said that if Prince Chen could come back to life, he could transform from a fish into a dragon, the emperor would surely kill him afterward.
"The eldest young master's pulse is about to fail." Qingping stroked his upturned beard, sighed, and shook his head.
This is true.
As for the others, Qingping plans to wait and see.
The imperial physician had said exactly the same thing. The emperor, his face filled with sorrow, asked again and again, "Is there really no cure?"
Qingping, with his air of superiority and his mustache sticking up like a rat's whiskers, said bluntly, "The imperial physicians should have already taken my pulse."
He cautiously deflected the question back to the imperial physician.
The emperor sighed deeply.
He turned to look at Xie Yingchen on the bed. Xie Yingchen was still sleeping quietly, just like before, his eyes tightly closed as if he would never open them again.
"emperor."
A voice filled with anger suddenly rang out.
Why is the young master so seriously ill?
"When the young master returned to the capital, although he was tired from the long journey, he still arrived in the capital unharmed. The young master had been in Liang Kingdom for eight years without any danger to his life. Why is it that after only one month in the capital, the young master is now on the verge of death!"
The emperor's gaze was deep and somber.
He recognized the man; he was often seen with Xie Yingchen.
Huai Jingzhi.
Yes, that's the name. His surname is Huai. When the late emperor made his southern tour, his grandfather accompanied him. After the late emperor died, his grandfather sacrificed himself by striking his own coffin.
"Ever since the young master returned to the capital, he has been taking bowl after bowl of medicine, and one imperial physician after another has come to treat him, but his health is getting worse day by day."
At this moment, Huai Jingzhi, with his brows furrowed and eyes wide, looked like a hothead, questioning him repeatedly.
The emperor's face was ashen, and his gaze was as cold as ice.
If someone has experience navigating the complexities of court politics, regardless of their true intentions, they will begin by testing the waters.
Huai Jingzhi was practically pushing things towards a complete breakdown in relations.
Every word and phrase resonated deeply within him.
Huai Jingzhi, with his neck stiff, seemed completely unconcerned about life and death, and shouted, "Young Master often says that when we return to the capital, it will be like returning home. We won't have to be on guard and worry about everything like we did in Liang. His family is in the capital, and his uncle is sitting on the dragon throne. He can live a good life from now on."
His face was filled with grief and indignation, but he said in a firm and powerful voice, "From Liang Kingdom to Daqi, the journey has been fraught with difficulties and dangers, yet you, my lord, have remained healthy and unharmed!"
"Having stepped into this imperial city for less than two months, my life is already hanging by a thread!"
"Your Majesty, why is this happening?!"
A note from the author:
Note: Chen Shiduo's "Elucidation of the Secrets of Pulse Diagnosis"
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