People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 25, Alchemy, Playing with Fire
When the medical officers saw Xu Qing walking towards them, they looked at each other, unsure of what would happen next.

"Physician Wang, fellow colleagues," Xu Qing greeted.

"I have met Physician Xu."

"Xiao Xu, how is His Highness the Crown Prince? Are you confident you can cure him?" Imperial Physician Wang looked at Xu Qing expectantly.

The other medical officers also stared at Xu Qing expectantly. They already had their own conclusions, but they were unwilling to lose their lives just like that, so they could only place their hopes on Xu Qing.

Xu Qing looked at the tense crowd and felt extremely nervous himself, but he couldn't show any weakness, otherwise it would be difficult to escape this ominous situation.

"What are your thoughts on His Highness the Crown Prince's situation?" Xu Qing asked.

Everyone was taken aback, unsure of what to say.

"His Highness the Crown Prince was assassinated and fell into the water, which disturbed his mind. He also choked on the water, and the damp and cold air entered his lungs and defensive qi directly through his mouth and nose. This caused the external evil to penetrate inward and transform into heat. The cold evil is bound externally, the yang qi is suppressed, and the lungs become hot and the leaves wither," Physician Wang said first.

The others nodded in agreement; this was the result of their joint diagnosis.

Xu Qing nodded slightly, feeling a little relieved. In modern terms, Crown Prince Han's high fever and coma were caused by a respiratory or lung infection resulting from falling into the water.

Such symptoms are considered incurable in this era, and most people who die from catching a cold do so for this reason.

Xu Qing closed his eyes and fell into thought. On the way here, he had been pondering how to break this ominous situation.

Whether or not he cures Crown Prince Han, he is destined to offend either Han Yu or Ji Wuye.

If curing Crown Prince Han offends Han Yu and brings future troubles, he still has some time to prepare and deal with them. If he fails to cure Crown Prince Han or simply runs away, then he's finished.

Therefore, the only way to resolve this crisis is to cure Crown Prince Han, demonstrate his value, and deter Han Yu from easily taking action against him. In later times, given Crown Prince Han's condition, two injections of antibiotics would be enough to ensure his recovery.

But this was the Warring States period, and there were no antibiotics at all. Now, he had no choice but to use his trump card.

Although the fortune slip only offered a fourth-grade opportunity, Xu Qing felt it was a chance, and if handled properly, what he could gain would definitely be more abundant than a single fourth-grade opportunity.

As Xu Qing pondered what he should do next to maximize his benefits, the other medical officers assumed that Xu Qing was also powerless to help.

In fact, they all understood that someone like Crown Prince Han was already preparing for his funeral.

But their will to survive led them to place their hopes on a young man who was not yet of age, and upon reflection, they found it somewhat amusing.

Forget it, I'd better go home and prepare for the funeral.

Just as the imperial physicians, including Wang Taiyi, had given up hope and were preparing for the worst, Xu Qing suddenly opened his eyes.

“I’ve got it! I have an idea,” Xu Qing suddenly said.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then their faces lit up with surprise, and they all gathered around Xu Qing.

"What? Physician Xu, what did you say?"

"Xiao Xu, do you really have a way to save the Crown Prince?"

Everyone nervously questioned Xu Qing, afraid that they had misheard.

“I have a plan, but it requires taking a risk,” Xu Qing said.

"Xiao Xu, what is it?" said Physician Wang.

Everyone else shut their mouths and watched Xu Qing nervously.

The four people, including Han Wang An, who were inside the room, were on tenterhooks as they watched the Imperial Hospital staff outside the door suddenly fall silent.

"Do you think the Crown Prince can survive this ordeal?" King Han asked worriedly.

"Father, rest assured, the Crown Prince is blessed with good fortune and your great blessings. He will surely be able to turn misfortune into good luck," Han Yu stepped forward and said.

He had been observing the state of the people in the Imperial Hospital, and seeing their ashen faces, he was now 80% certain that his elder brother, the Crown Prince, was beyond saving.

Ji Wuye glanced at Han Yu, inwardly cursing his pretentious act.

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid the Imperial Medical Academy alone cannot cure His Highness the Crown Prince. It would be better to post notices seeking skilled doctors from the common people, and send someone to Jinghu Medical Manor to invite Master Nian Duan, the head of the family of physicians,” Zhang Kaidi said.

“This round trip will take a lot of time, and I’m afraid my elder brother, the Crown Prince, won’t be able to hold on until then. The quality of doctors in the folk is not good or bad, and if we rashly let them treat him, it may worsen his condition.”

"Father, please reconsider. Let's wait for the Imperial Hospital."

Han Yu's words were full of concern for Crown Prince Han. He expressed his hope that Crown Prince Han would recover, but if there was really a chance that Crown Prince Han could be cured, then he would have to say something else entirely.
"What's wrong with Fourth Young Master? I think Prime Minister Zhang's words are correct. The people in the Imperial Medical Academy have obviously run out of ideas. They might as well see if there are any good doctors in the common people." Ji Wuye retorted coldly.

He was willing to try anything to save the crown prince.

"I'm doing this for the sake of my elder brother, the Crown Prince's, health."

I don't think so.

Han Yu and Ji Wuye started arguing as soon as they disagreed.

As he listened to the two arguing, King Han An gradually became impatient.

"Shut up, all of you! The Crown Prince is on the verge of death, yet you still have time to argue! Do you even respect me and the Crown Prince?" King Han An said angrily.

"I am guilty." "My son is guilty."

Seeing that King Han was angry, Ji Wuye and Han Yu bowed and apologized, but their eyes were still full of coldness when they looked at each other.

Seeing the two of them, Han Wang'an was about to say something more when he saw Xu Qing leading a group of physicians into the house. Xu Qing entered the house, glanced at the confrontational Ji Wuye and Han Yu, and bowed to Han Wang'an.

"Your Majesty, I have discussed this with the Imperial Physician, and I believe that His Highness the Crown Prince can still be saved."

"What!?"

Han Wang'an, Ji Wuye, Han Yu, and Zhang Kai stared wide-eyed at Xu Qing, all four of them astonished by his words.

Putting aside their positions and focusing solely on the Crown Prince's condition, they knew that Crown Prince Han's condition was beyond saving. Now, Xu Qing was telling them that Crown Prince Han could still be saved, which was tantamount to telling them that Xu Qing had the ability to bring the dead back to life and heal flesh and bone.

"Are you sure? Xu Qing, do you even know what crime it is to deceive the emperor?" Han Wang'an said coldly.

"Deceiving the emperor is a capital offense. Have you thought this through?" Ji Wuye, Han Yu, and Zhang Kaidi questioned in unison.

All four were long-time high-ranking individuals, and at this moment, their auras were fully unleashed, their oppressive power pouring down upon Xu Qing.

Faced with the intimidating presence of the four men, Xu Qing felt nervous, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. But for the sake of his life, he still gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. His Highness the Crown Prince's illness can indeed be cured."

"What plan do you have to save the Crown Prince? Speak quickly!" Ji Wuye asked loudly.

"Alchemy! When I was studying, I met a Taoist master who taught me the art of alchemy," Xu Qing said.

"As long as Your Majesty trusts me and there are enough medicinal herbs, I will be able to concoct a elixir to alleviate His Highness's illness."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, all around fell silent.

Han Wang'an, Ji Wuye, Zhang Kaidi, and Han Yu looked at Xu Qing with uncertain expressions as they considered the solution he proposed.

The four were no strangers to alchemy. Many powerful and wealthy people in various countries were obsessed with alchemy, hoping to prolong their lives through it.

However, most of those who claim to have mastered the art of alchemy are charlatans and quacks; only a very few are true masters of Taoism or Yin-Yang philosophy who possess the real knowledge of alchemy.

Xu Qing had encountered a Taoist master, but no one could say for sure whether the other party was a Taoist master or a charlatan from the Fangji school.

Even if we take a step back and assume that Xu Qing encountered a Taoist master, given Xu Qing's current age, they still wouldn't believe that he had mastered the art of alchemy.

Looking at Xu Qing's slightly immature face, the four of them had some doubts.

Sensing the doubts of the four, Xu Qing sighed helplessly, but things had come to this point, and he had to persevere, otherwise, if Crown Prince Han died, his life would be in danger.

“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince cannot be saved by conventional methods. If we want to save him, we must take a risky approach,” Xu Qing said in a deep voice.

Han Wang'an still had some doubts, and Han Yu, seeing the doubt on his face, stepped forward and said...
“Father, my elder brother, the Crown Prince, is of noble birth. How can he take such a risk? Elixirs are dangerous, and the true and false alchemy techniques in the martial arts world are hard to distinguish. We must not take this risk.”

Xu Qing glanced at Han Yu and couldn't help but curse inwardly.

“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is now critically ill and beyond the reach of medicine. Perhaps we should let Physician Xu give it a try,” Zhang Kaidi said.

"I agree with Prime Minister Zhang's words," Ji Wuye said.

Crown Prince Han is already terminally ill; even if we try other methods, it will probably be of no use. Perhaps we should let Xu Qing give it a try—what if it succeeds?

Han Wang'an glanced at Han Yu, then at Ji Wuye and Zhang Kaidi, and asked...

"Xu Qing, are you really confident you can save the Crown Prince?"

"I dare not speak presumptuously, but I am confident that I can alleviate the Crown Prince's symptoms and buy him more time to save him," Xu Qing said.

"Very well, then go ahead and do it. Just tell me what you need. As long as it can save the Crown Prince's life, I will grant it," said King Han An.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. This humble official needs the medicinal herbs from the pharmacy."

Xu Qing listed a number of medicinal herbs, including but not limited to ginseng, lingzhi, deer antler, etc., all of which were available in the medicine storehouse.

"Imperial Physician Order: From this day forward, all members of the Imperial Medical Academy shall obey Xu Qing's orders. Whatever medicine he needs or whatever he commands you to do, you must obey unconditionally," Han Wang An ordered.

"Yes, sir," said Physician Wang, bowing respectfully.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will go and prepare to start the alchemy process immediately."

"Go."

Xu Qing bowed to Prince Han An, then turned and led the Imperial Hospital staff away.

Han Yu watched Xu Qing's departing figure, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He couldn't let Xu Qing ruin this hard-won opportunity.

"Your Majesty, I have military affairs to attend to, please excuse me and I shall take my leave now," Ji Wuye said.

"Military affairs are of utmost importance, General, you should go first." King Han An said casually, his mind was entirely on the Crown Prince, and he didn't care at all what Ji Wuye was up to.

"My minister retire."

Ji Wuye glanced at Han Yu before leaving the palace.

After leaving the Crown Prince's residence, Mo Ya appeared beside Ji Wuye.

"Mo Ya, send out all the birds to keep an eye on Han Yu and his retainers. You personally lead a group to protect Xu Qing of the Imperial Hospital. Make sure Han Yu's people don't come into contact with him or get close to the Imperial Hospital."

"promise."

(End of this chapter)