Thank you to Yuki for the ko-fi~ ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-
After the winter solstice, the flow of people to Huai’en Temple remained unabated. Even the nobles of Jinyang, when worshiping the Buddha, reduced their attendants, using simple and light vehicles; otherwise, just entering the temple would take a considerable amount of time.
Besides the nobles, many common people came with solemn expressions. A young woman, with a headscarf on and holding a young child, slowly climbed the high steps along with the crowd. After entering the temple, guided by a welcoming monk, she arrived at the corridor of the west hall. After waiting for a full cup of tea, it was finally her turn to offer incense. Not daring to be negligent, the woman quickly lifted her son and gracefully stepped forward to the main hall.
At this moment, the main hall was filled with swirling incense smoke. Monks chanted lowly, and candlelight flickered. The golden Buddha in the hall had lowered eyebrows and was forming hand seals, as if capable of soothing the pains of the world. The devout woman knelt in front of the Buddha, offered incense and candles, and performed respectful bows. On the side, the small child knelt on a cushion, curiously examining a large painting on the nearby wall.
Although the child couldn’t fully comprehend the painting at his age, the fierce-looking demons, compassionate Buddha, and various creatures depicted were vivid and captivating enough to capture the child’s attention.
After finishing her prayers, the woman noticed her son absorbed in the wall painting and couldn’t help but ask with a smile, “Ai Fo, do you like this painting?”
This was his nickname, indicating his mother’s piety. Ai Fo nodded and whispered, “Why does the person kneeling in front of the Buddha look different from the others?”
Although the demons in the painting all had fierce and grotesque features, the one kneeling in front of the Buddha exuded a sense of tranquility, similar to the Buddha himself. The child couldn’t understand and asked.
The patient mother explained, “That is the Vajra under the Medicine Buddha’s seat. Only the Buddha has the power to subdue deities and demons, illuminate the three realms, and guide sentient beings.”
“Like the Hu people who live in the neighborhoods?” the little boy asked in his innocent understanding. At his young age, the Hu people were the strangest individuals he had encountered.
“Exactly like the Hu people,” the woman gently touched her son’s head.
Jinyang had various Hu residents, including Hu monks, Hu merchants, and even Hu generals. However, these people mostly lived in the city, interacting with the common folk. They shared a common language and similar clothing, and, despite some cultural differences, celebrated festivals together and visited each other. She had experienced the terrifying days of constant warfare, but these people were significantly different from the enemies who attacked Jinyang.
This was the result of the influence of the Buddha’s teachings.
The little boy nodded as if he understood, “The Buddha’s divine power is unparalleled, and he shows compassion to all living beings.”
The woman smiled, “Exactly.”
Holding her son’s small hand, the woman once again made a devout bow and followed behind the monk, heading towards the rear Buddha hall. Today, a renowned monk was lecturing in the temple, and she didn’t want to miss it.
※
“The supplements can be stopped, but my lord must not underestimate the importance of diet. Also, moderation is advised in intimate matters,” after examining the pulse, Jiang Da nodded with satisfaction.
As a private physician, Jiang Da had known about the relationship between the two early on. Although he didn’t entirely approve, he hadn’t opposed it either, only advising repeatedly to be cautious and cherish their health. This sounded somewhat awkward.
With a thicker skin, Liang Feng pretended not to hear, “What about strengthening the body? Can I increase physical exercise?”
“In this cold weather, just avoid catching a cold,” Jiang Da understood that being active was better than remaining idle. If the lord’s physique were more robust, it would be beneficial for him.
Liang Feng liked hearing this. With Jiang Da’s approval, the people around him should ease up a bit. Always being so fragile wasn’t a solution. He might not achieve an eight-pack, but he needed to train until he was proficient in horseback archery.
“That’s great. By the way, how is the progress of the medicinal encyclopedia?” Since the doctor was here, Liang Feng casually asked.
Jiang Da’s eyes immediately lit up, “The main categories have been determined, and the outlines have been drafted. If completed, it may be no less than the ‘Shennong Bencaojing1Classic of the Materia Medica or Shen-nong’s Herbal Classics. A Chinese book on agriculture and medicinal plants, traditionally attributed to Shennong. Researchers believe the text is a compilation of oral traditions, written between about 206 BC and 220 AD. The original text no longer exists, but is said to have been composed of three volumes containing 365 entries on medicaments and their description.‘!”
Due to the establishment of the Medical Department in the Imperial Examination, the medical system in Bing County had been advancing rapidly. Not only had detailed sub-disciplines been established, but a medical school had also been set up to train more skilled medical practitioners. Renowned physicians gathered, and the compilation and revision of medical classics were also underway. For example, when Wang Xi compiled ‘Shanghan Lun2Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders or the Treatise on Cold Injury. It is a Traditional Chinese medicine treatise that was compiled by Zhang Zhongjing sometime before 220 AD, at the end of the Han dynasty. It is amongst the oldest complete clinical textbooks in the world,’ he had deleted the miscellaneous diseases section, leaving only the part related to febrile diseases. The Medical School, in seeking original sources, rediscovered the early editions from the Han period, and revised it into a new book titled ‘Jingui Yaolue3Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet is a classic clinical book of traditional Chinese Medicine written by Zhang Zhongjing (150-219) at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty and was first published in the Northern Song dynasty. The oldest known extant copy, believed to be bibliographically closest to the original, dates to 1340 and was printed with woodcuts in the early Ming dynasty..’ Other medical classics were also being systematically reviewed and carefully revised.
This extensive project had already consumed a significant amount of manpower. However, Gao Hong, while annotating ‘Erya’ with Guo Pu, came up with an idea to reorganize the medicinal encyclopedia.
This medicinal encyclopedia was different from the ‘Shennong Bencaojing.’ It didn’t summarize pharmacology or prescribe rules for compound medications but provided detailed information about each medicinal ingredient. This included names, illustrations, origins, processing methods, therapeutic effects, and so on. Liang Feng immediately thought of ‘Bencao Gangmu4known in English as the Compendium of Materia Medica or Great Pharmacopoeia, is an encyclopedic gathering of medicine, natural history, and Chinese herbology compiled and edited by Li Shizhen and published in the late 16th century, during the Ming dynasty.,’ a work that wouldn’t appear for another thousand years. Gao Hong, the scholarly authority, was practically a walking database. Even when appointed as a prefect, he wasn’t idle.
However, this initiative greatly benefited the development of medical science. How could Liang Feng not approve? Not only did he approve the project, but he also suggested that the physicians classify it in detail using the “outline” and “subheadings” classification method.
Today, medicine still cannot entirely detach itself from the realm of witchcraft. Even in the Imperial Medical Bureau, positions such as Immortal Scholar and Forbidden Enchantments Master are established. How to further systematize and scientificize medicine is the issue that concerns Liang Feng the most. Improving the medicinal encyclopedia, recording it by categories and subcategories, is indeed a good idea. In the future, if there is a need for additions, it will also be much more convenient.
However, no matter how Liang Feng thinks about it, Jiang Da doesn’t care much. The medicinal encyclopedia is truly a monumental work that can consume a lifetime. His master, Wang Shu, once organized ‘Shanghan Lun’ and wrote ‘Mai Jing5The pulse Classic.’ His grandfather also published ‘Shang Han Xin Lun.’ How could he not leave behind some written works? A book like the medicinal encyclopedia is destined to be printed and passed down through the ages; how could he disregard it?
Jiang Da, regardless of whether Lord could understand or not, spoke incessantly, discussing many new discoveries and existing problems in writing the book. Although this book had the cooperation of people like Ge Hong and Guo Pu, it was ultimately a pioneering work, and caution was required.
Liang Feng had no expertise in medicine, but he had some understanding of the classification system in modern biology, and he occasionally offered suggestions. After chatting for almost half an hour, Jiang Da finally came to his senses and embarrassedly said, “Lord, you should rest well. I will think carefully about the matters related to the medical canon with others.”
Liang Feng smiled, not taking it seriously. In his view, anything related to the development of medicine was a significant matter. If he could help in any way, he would do his best. The compilation of medical formulas and canons was foundational; the real benefit to the people would come when departments for maternal and child health and surgery were developed.
After seeing off Jiang Da, Liang Feng called for Qing Mei and put on hunting attire. It was better to exercise sooner rather than later; he would start by practicing archery.
When Yiyan returned to the residence, this was the scene he witnessed. Liang Feng, dressed in luxurious clothing, with a wide belt around his waist and leather boots on his feet, was standing in the courtyard shooting arrows.
While it looked good, Yiyan couldn’t be at ease and quickly approached, saying, “My Lord, why are you suddenly practicing archery? It’s freezing cold, what if your body can’t handle it?”
“Do you still not know if my body can handle it?” Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, released the bowstring, and the arrow hit the target.
Yiyan blushed at his words. Indeed, the Lord’s physical strength had been gradually improving recently, but there was a significant difference between this “improvement” and the previous one. Could they be discussed in the same breath?
The arrow was shot fairly accurately, but Liang Feng didn’t show much satisfaction on his face. Instead, he adjusted the soft bow in his hand and said, “The bow is too weak; it’s not a good method for fitness…”
Turning his head, he looked Yiyan up and down and said, “Since you’re back, why not do some exercises together?”
What kind of exercise?
Before Yiyan could answer, Liang Feng reached out, dragged him into the room, dismissed the attendants, and undid the outer robe, throwing it onto the bed.
Yiyan’s heart immediately started pounding. The room was heated by a ground dragon, so it shouldn’t be too cold. However, there was no lack of business during the day in the Provincial Governor’s residence, and engaging in such activities openly might attract criticism.
But before his internal struggle was over, Liang Feng was already lying on the bed, reaching out to pat the space beside him, saying, “Sit here, help me hold down the ankles.”
Ah? Only then did Yiyan realize that the other party had only taken off the outer garment, and the inner clothes were still neatly arranged. Why would Liang Feng, who was taught by him, want to do sit-ups?
It really was a form of exercise!
For a moment, Yiyan was somewhat amused and helpless. He took a few steps forward, sat down beside Liang Feng, and used one hand to hold down the lord’s ankles, saying, “My Lord, doing too many sit-ups can strain the lower back. It’s not advisable.”
Liang Feng almost rolled his eyes at him. He had been doing sit-ups and push-ups for how many years; did he still need someone else to lecture him? What’s more enviable was the hand pressing on his feet. It wasn’t heavy, but it was as stable as steel, not allowing any sway in his posture. With just one hand…
With such extraordinary talent, he had no hope in this lifetime. Anyway, he should start with some basic exercises to increase his stamina. Regardless of Yiyan’s slightly nervous expression, he exercised methodically.
Unfortunately, before reaching fifty, Liang Feng felt like his waist was about to break. Abdominal pain, sweat drenching his back, struggling to get up again, a hand suddenly supported his back, stabilizing his figure.
“My Lord, your stamina is weak, don’t force yourself…”
Those gray-blue eyes were filled with concern. Liang Feng took two breaths and leaned on the other’s shoulder with exhaustion. Alright, let’s take it step by step. If he couldn’t match in stamina, could he at least compare endurance?
Suddenly remembering something, Liang Feng chuckled, “Did Boyuan train like this back then?”
“Yes. Drenched in sweat, the whole body sore. My Lord’s method is truly demanding.” Yiyan answered sincerely. These exercises were different from ordinary training methods, causing every inch of the muscles to ache. However, the results were significant, and Yiyan wondered how someone like the Lord came up with such a way of training.
Sliding his hand down an inch, Liang Feng touched the solid spine, “There are quite a few benefits, aren’t there?”
The phrase “quite a few benefits” was laden with deep meaning. Yiyan’s hand tightened slightly, shaking his head with a wry smile, “My Lord, be careful not to get out of bed tomorrow…”
Liang Feng burst into laughter, leaned back, and fell back onto the bed, “If you exercise every day in the future, do you think Duan Qin and the others will follow suit?”
Seeing that playful smile, a hint of a smile appeared on Yiyan’s lips. Leaning forward, he supported himself with one hand near the other’s ear, “Then the General will have to demand some compensation, won’t he?”
“How much do you want?” Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, stretched his long arm, and swept it across Yiyan’s back, “With so many accounts, be careful not to go bankrupt.”
“The more, the better, I will savor it willingly.”
With a light laugh, their lips and tongues intertwined.
