Translator – Xiao He Lian
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Chapter 42.1
Early the next morning, Lu Yan and Bai Daonian arrived at the East Palace1(The palace where the Crown Prince resides).
The copper furnace in the hall was emitting curls of green smoke, the earth dragon2(An ancient Chinese heating system) was burning vigorously, and the surrounding temperature was like summer.
The Crown prince was sitting on the couch. He was wearing a plain silk-colored dragon-patterned satin robe inlaid with gold thread, he had neat hair and an extraordinary appearance.
The Crown prince’s appearance was similar to that of his mother. In terms of appearance alone, he is indeed more handsome than the other princes, but he has been ill for a long time and his eyebrows are slightly haggard.
As the saying goes, are those who claim to be kings, Marquises, and Generals nobler than us3(Advocating for power and nobility is not something you are born with, nor is it the exclusive domain of aristocrats) and the momentum of the imperial family will never be succumbed to illness.
The Crown prince just asked a few questions and Bai Daonian answered tremblingly while kneeling on the ground.
How could Bai Daonian have imagined that the elder brother who Lord Lu was talking about was actually the current Crown prince of the Jin Dynasty.
“How long do I have left?” the Crown prince asked again.
Lu Yan frowned and said, “Your Royal Highness.”
The Crown prince covered his mouth with a handkerchief, trembled all over, coughed violently, and then said: “Shi Yan4(Lu Yan’s childhood name/courtesy name), I just want to hear the truth.”
The Crown prince paused and looked at Bai Daonian again: “Doctor Bai, there is no need to have any scruples, just tell me.”
After Bai Daonian diagnosed the Crown prince’s pulse, it was impossible not to be shocked. This pulse condition was typical of external yang deficiency and internal deficiency. On the surface, he looked okay but in fact, his body was almost hollowed out.
“Can I take a look at the prescriptions that the crown prince uses every day?” Bai Daonian asked.
The Crown prince glanced at a Eunuch and said, “Go and get all the prescription records from the past year to Doctor Bai.”
After a while, the eunuch came in carrying a collection of prescriptions.
Bai Daonian carefully flipped through the Crown prince’s medication for the past year.
At first, he had used, Pinellia ternata5(Pinellia Ternata is a dietary supplement commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat a variety of conditions, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and indigestion.), Rhizome of the Arisaema6(An herb used in traditional Chinese medicine.), Honeylocust, Fritillaria fritillaria7(Genus Fritillaria have been utilized for long due to their effects of moistening the lung, clearing heat, resolving phlegm, soothing cough, remedy for cough brought about by lung heat and dryness, a cough because of a yin weakness, sputum with blood and a low sputum dry cough), Bamboo rhubarb8(Rhubarb powder can be used to facilitate bowel movement and relief from constipation. It can also be consumed to decrease stomach indigestion and heartburn.)… Most of them were medicines for resolving phlegm, relieving coughs and relieving asthma. However, three months ago, as the condition worsened, the amount of medicine was actually doubled, including Calomel9(promotes diuresis), epimedium 10(Epimedium is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fatigue, arthritic pain, nerve pain, and sexual dysfunction. It is thought to alter levels of certain hormones and is marketed as a dietary supplement for libido.), macrophylla seeds11(macrophylla seeds have been used as a folk medicine for treatment of diabetes, hypertension, and malaria), Houttuynia cordata12(What is Houttuynia cordata used for? cordata is used against several health issues, such as cold, cough, fever, pneumonia, mumps, and tumors, due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor effects. It protects organs due to its anti-inflammatory activity.), Cordyceps13(Cordyceps is a fungus that has long been used in in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Some people use it to try to boost energy and strength, improve immunity, enhance kidney function, and improve sexual dysfunction.)…
It seems that all the precious medicinal materials in the world were used in the East Palace, but the mutual conflict between the medicines was ignored. Take epimedium as an example. This medicine has aphrodisiacs effect and replenishes qi but it must not be used together with Bamboo rhubarb, using too much will only have the opposite effect.
Bai Daonian frowned and his forehead was covered with sweat. It was not easy to tell the Crown prince about his condition.
Lu Yan whispered: “Is something wrong with the prescription?”
“There is nothing wrong with this prescription on the surface, but the two medicines in it have mutually incompatible effects and must not be taken at the same time…” He thought for a moment before saying in a low voice: “As for this prescription, if His Highness continues to take it, I’m afraid his days are numbered…”
His days are numbered…Who dares to say these words in the East Palace?
After saying these four words, not to mention the servants beside the Crown prince, even Lu Yan’s expression changed.
Lu Yan said: “Since Doctor Bai has identified the problem, can you cure the illness?”
Bai Daonian said honestly: “His Highness’s illness is not a symptom of a cold. I dare not talk about it with certainty, I only dare to say that I will try my best.”.”
The Crown prince said: “No matter what the outcome is, I will not blame you.”
Bai Daonian composed himself and said in a low voice: “There is one more thing I want to say to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The Crown prince nodded, “Please go ahead.”
Bai Daonian said: “I have been practicing medicine for many years and have seen many difficult and complicated diseases. Some people looked strong, but died suddenly due to heart palpitations. Some people were ill for a long time, but lived for a hundred years. Two years ago, I also saw a man who contracted tuberculosis and recovered without treatment…”
Hearing this, the crown prince smiled sincerely, “This is the first time someone told me something like this14(I think Doctor Bai is saying not to lose hope in an euphemistic manner).”
“Everything I said is absolutely true and there are no lies.”
“Okay, I understand.” The Crown prince said.
——
After Bai Daonian left, the Crown prince stayed with Lu Yan to have lunch with him. While eating, he solemnly said: “Shi Yan, I would like to ask you to check the whereabouts of two people.”
“Your Highness, please speak.” Lu Yan said.
“I want to find the third young lady and the young master of the Shen family.”
…
Lu Yan has been worried since he came out of the East Palace.
The canal in the west of the city collapsed and Marquis Yunyang was implicated for dereliction of duty. The Crown prince interceded for Marquis Yunyang, which immediately angered the Emperor. He was imprisoned in the East Palace for three full months… However, now that the Emperor wanted to help the Crown prince, the first thing the Crown Prince wanted to do was to find Shen Zhen.
But he was the one who hid Shen Zhen, so how could he find her?15(LOL)
Lu Yan rubbed his temples irritably, dragged his exhausted self and went to Jingzhao Prefecture.
Sun Xu was drinking tea and when he saw Lu Yan he immediately smiled, “Long time no see, Lord Lu, did your assignment go well?”
Because it was an unannounced assignment, no one in the capital knew that Lu Yan was going to Yangzhou and everyone thought he was going to Jingzhou.
Lu Yan nodded and said, “It went smoothly.”
An officer called Si Cang joined in and said, “When Lord Lu was not here, you missed on a lot of things.”
Lu Yan raised the corners of his mouth and shook his head gently.
T/N – The medicinal materials are mostly scientific names but I think the main point is their good stuff and some medicines’ contraindicate each other.
