Chu Fengqing lowered his eyes and bowed, saying neither servilely nor arrogantly, “Answer Your Majesty, the humble physician’s third sister is at home.”
The second prince, who was standing next to him, glanced at him and raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
The emperor nodded vaguely, and it was unclear whether he believed it or not. However, he did not ask any more questions and went straight to the point: “Floods frequently occur in the south. Thanks to Ji Qing for relieving Zhen’s worries, Zhen received good news a while ago…”
He suddenly stopped talking, followed by a heart-wrenching cough that took a long time to subside.
The eunuch who was serving him hurriedly brought him a cup of tea. The old emperor’s face turned red, and he gasped for a long time before he took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. His brows were furrowed, as if he were feeling very unwell.
One of the ministers waiting below advised: “Your Majesty should still put your dragon’s health first.”
The old emperor waved his hand impatiently, not even laying the groundwork this time, and said, “There’s an outbreak of plague in Jiangnan, the Imperial Medical is helpless, the court has posted an imperial edict seeking talented people, but no one has answered the call.”
“Someone from Imperial Medical recommended you, saying that you have excellent medical skills and can bring people back to health, so they want you to go to the south to support.”
He stopped here and looked at Chu Fengqing.
“What do you think?”
As expected of an emperor who has been in office for many years, his light words exert great pressure.
To put it bluntly, this job is a life-threatening one. If the disease can be cured, then all is well. If it cannot be cured, one is afraid that they will get the disease, and if they are lucky enough not to get the disease, they are also afraid that the court will say that they did a bad job. Anyway, there is only one way to go.
The court fell silent in an instant. Everyone lowered their heads in shock. No one dared to speak, for fear that this hard task would fall on them.
Several imperial physicians also had bitter expressions on their faces. They did not recommend Chu Fengqing, and even if Ji Yujin gave them a hundred thousand guts, they would not dare to push him forward either.
That’s his wife’s biological brother. If something happens to him, they won’t know how to compensate him.
It was the emperor himself who remembered the last time Ji Yujin was seriously ill and casually asked who cured him. They did not dare to hide anything and told them everything. However, they only wanted to invite him to discuss the prescription but did not want him to go to the “front line.”
The Second Prince, Zhao Yiyu, pursed his lips slightly and took a step forward, “Imperial Father…”
However, before he could finish his words, a cold voice came from behind him: “It is the humble physician’s honor to share Your Majesty’s worries.”
Zhao Yiyu looked back in surprise. He had explained it so clearly. No one had ever seen this plague before. The entire Imperial Medical was at a loss. Did he really think he was Hua Tuo reincarnated?!
The old emperor’s frown suddenly relaxed upon hearing this, as if a big stone had fallen to the ground. “Alright, my Ming Dynasty needs men like you who dare to act.”
“I will appoint you as the Deputy Chief of Imperial Medical. When you return safely, I will definitely reward you heavily.”
Chu Fengqing had no expression on his face and said coldly, “Thank you, Your Majesty. The humble physician’s have an unwelcome request.”
“Say.”
Chu Fengqing pursed his lips slightly and said, “The humble physician wants to ask on behalf of my sister, How is Governor Ji now? Is he alright?”
After he asked the question, he frowned. In fact, he could have asked Qing Niao privately. He was just a little confused.
However, if Ji Yujin didn’t want him to know his current situation, he had countless ways to reassure him. Chu Fengqing sighed slightly. It was really worrying.
Chu Fengqing had behaved extremely calmly since he entered the palace, except for this sentence, which he spoke a little too quickly, revealing a hint of uneasiness.
The old emperor stared at him with his cloudy eyes, and after a long while he said, “He is fine.”
Chu Fengqing’s fingers hanging at his side curled up slightly, his expression changed slightly, but his voice remained calm. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Yiyu clenched his fists tightly. What asking for his sister? The gay man even pulled his sister to cover himself. Things that cannot be presented cannot be presented. No matter how beautifully they are packaged, they are still shameful. It is really disgusting.
But for some reason he felt a little uncomfortable. Was Chu Fengqing willing to take on this job just because Ji Yujin was there? Could he disregard his own life just because Ji Yujin was there?
The more he thought about it, the more angry he felt. His breathing became more rapid, and his mind became more confused. In the end, he didn’t know what he was thinking. He even wondered if Chu Fengqing would marry him instead if he hadn’t broken off the engagement with Chu Yinyin. Then what was his relationship with Chu Fengqing now?
If this is true, will Chu Fengqing also disregard his own life for him too?
The slight stinging pain from his nails digging into his flesh made him sober up a little. His pupils shrank slightly, and he found himself secretly envious of Ji Yujin.
This realization made him feel a little uncomfortable. Envy? How could he be envious? Chu Fengqing was a man. Being gay was the dirtiest thing in the world. How could he be involved in such a thing?
That’s right, it’s like this.
“Lao Er… Lao Er.”
Zhao Yiyu suddenly came back to his senses when the emperor’s voice came from above. He bowed and asked, “Imperial Father, what’s the matter?”
The emperor looked at him unhappily. “What did you want to say just now?”
Zhao Yiyu gritted his teeth, dismissed his messy thoughts, and in an instant he returned to his previous gentle demeanor. “Oh, Erchen just want to say that if Physician Chu goes to the south, we must send a few more people to escort him. Erchen heard that there is a group of bandits entrenched on the official road there, killing people and seizing goods, doing all kinds of evil.”
“What His Highness the Second Prince said is very true. The servant has also heard about it.”
……
The discussion lasted about an hour, and Chu Fengqing felt that he could not stand any longer. Cold sweat began to break out on his back. He had suffered from asthma twice in the past few days and even developed an unknown high fever. His body was much weaker than before. He did not find any new symptoms after taking his pulse. They were all minor illnesses and pains that would basically be cured after taking medicine. However, his body was getting weaker and weaker.
Chu Fengqing moved his slightly stiff legs and felt pain in his joints. His expression suddenly frozen. Twenty years old…
Perhaps he had been too carefree during this period of time and had forgotten about this matter.
The divine physician who treated him back then later became his master. He taught him hand-in-hand for three years and then went out traveling again. In fact, the rumor that the divine physician said he would not live past twenty was a misunderstanding.
But it cannot be completely said to be a misunderstanding either. It’s just that twenty is a big calamity for him. His master calculated that most of the medicines he is taking now will be useless when he reaches the age of twenty. It has been so many years, and he has developed drug resistance. So he has to change the medicine. The medicine he changes to is very strong. If he can make it through, maybe he can live a smooth life in the future. If he can’t, then that’s it.
Chu Fengqing once wrote a prescription for himself, which contained two extremely toxic poisons. If the dosage was wrong, even a little bit, it would turn from a good medicine to a deadly poison.
He pursed his extremely pale lips, an embarrassment showing on his face. He didn’t want to tell Ji Yujin about this, but it seemed unfair to Ji Yujin if he didn’t tell him.
He did not listen to their discussion on how to suppress the bandits. After all, he could not help much. His only valuable skill was his medical skills. Everyone in the Yangxin Palace was arguing heatedly, but he was the only one who was daydreaming.
When the emperor could no longer tolerate the market-like Yangxin Palace and left first, all the ministers dispersed and everything would be discussed tomorrow.
Chu Fengqing was relaxed and at ease. He didn’t have to listen to their quarrel tomorrow. He felt a little relieved knowing that Ji Yujin was safe for the time being.
After walking out of the Yangxing Palace, Chu Fengqing initially followed the eunuch who was leading the way, but when he got to the middle, the eunuch was in a hurry to go to the bathroom and could not hold it any longer. He kneeled on the ground with a red face and asked Chu Fengqing to wait for a moment.
People have three urgent needs, and Chu Fengqing was very understanding and asked him to go quickly.
It took a long time to get there. It was almost spring now, and it was unbearable to be under the sun for too long, especially for Chu Fengqing. So he raised his eyes and looked around, and finally his sight fell on the base of the wall. There was a not-so-thick shadow under the wall.
He breathed a sigh of relief only after he hid in the shadows. Although he didn’t take the young eunuch’s pulse, looking at his pale face, he was afraid he would have to wait for a while.
At this moment, he suddenly heard a maid inside the palace wall shouting, “Go get the imperial physician! Niangniang has fallen ill!”
Fallen I’ll?
Chu Fengqing blinked and walked towards the palace gate, but stopped after a few steps. His identity as a foreign man seemed inappropriate.
Ah, yes, he is now the deputy chief of the Imperial Medical Bureau, although it is a temporary position.
He paused slightly but still came out and spoke to the anxious palace maid. The palace maid had never seen him before and was a little undecided, so she still asked someone to call the imperial physician.
At this moment, a figure quickly ran over here, “How is mother?”
The maid seemed to have seen the backbone and said in a tearful voice, “Replying to the Second Prince, Niangniang has fallen ill again, and has fainted now.”
Zhao Yiyu’s face was dark and gloomy, without any trace of warmth. “Did you send someone to call the imperial physician?”
“Already, already! But the servant is afraid that it will be too late.”
“How about letting me try?” Chu Fengqing said softly.
Zhao Yiyu turned around abruptly and looked at Chu Fengqing. “Chu Fengqing? Why are you here?”
Chu Fengqing pointed to the corner and said, “Hide from the sun.”
Hide from the sun?!
Zhao Yiyu was puzzled. Although he didn’t know why he had to hide from the sun in winter and why he had to hide from the sun here, it didn’t matter. He just knew that Chu Fengqing was an excellent physician.
He didn’t wait for Chu Fengqing to finish and pulled him inside by his sleeve, his steps anxious and unpretentious: “You come.”
Chu Fengqing glanced at him, said nothing, and just jogged after him.
The two people entered the room, no longer caring about any taboos, and went straight to the inner room, where a gorgeous woman was lying on the bed. Although it was still obvious that she was not young anymore, but it did not affect her beauty at all.
“Excuse me.”
Chu Fengqing leaned down, touched the side of her neck with his hand, and frowned slightly the next moment.
“Go find a set of silver needles right away, the sooner the better.”
“Silver needle? Where can I find silver needles?” Zhao Yiyu was a little panicked.
Fortunately, the maid was clever and asked, “Can a very fine embroidery needle be used?”
“Yes.”
Zhao Yiyu gritted his teeth, stared at him, and whispered, “Chu Fengqing, please, save my mother.”
Chu Fengqing didn’t show much expression. “Don’t worry, human life is at stake, I will do my best.”
He felt her pulse, then pulled out a medicine bottle from his bosom. He poured out a pill and handed it to Zhao Yiyu. “Feed Niangniang. This is the right medicine for her condition.”
When the needles were ready, after a set of injections, his mother’s face gradually looked better, no longer so grim. Instead, his face became paler, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Zhao Yiyu’s expression was complicated: “Are you alright?”
Chu Fengqing shook his head. “No problem.”
He found a chair and sat down. He no longer cared about the relationship between the ruler and his subjects. He just knew that if he didn’t sit down, he would fall down.
“Niangniang is suffering from palpitations, which is extremely dangerous. She needs to keep medicine by her side at all times and take it promptly when she gets sick. You can go to Imperial Medical and ask for a bottle of heart-protecting medicine, it is quite effective.”
Zhao Yiyu nodded. “I know, the ones we had before might have been finished.”
Chu Fengqing said “En”, that was all he needed to know. He straightened his sleeves, stood up, and saluted, “The servant will take his leave.”
Zhao Yiyu looked at his back, clenched his fist, loosened it, and clenched it again, looking very conflicted. After seeing the person walk two steps, he still opened his mouth and said, “Thank you.”
“I owe you one.”
Chu Fengqing frowned when he heard this. But no, he had already broken off the engagement with his sister, and he didn’t want to have anything to do with him.
So he turned around and looked at Zhao Yiyu and asked, “Second Prince, do you have silver?”
Zhao Yiyu said, “Ah?” not understanding what he meant, but still took out a small bag of silver. Chu Fengqing took the silver and took out an ingot from it.
The rest was placed on the table. He put the silver away carefully and said in a cold voice, “The money and goods have been exchanged. It’s just a transaction.”
“Uh…”
