Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 55 Sun Simiao, the King of Medicine!

"How interesting!" Li Lizhi murmured to herself.

Princess Yuzhang did not know whether Li Lizhi was referring to paper or writing.

The two little princesses weren't interested in this and continued eating their persimmon cakes.

After calming down, Li Lizhi finally paid attention to the contents of the letter.

Xiao Ran lacked Li Lizhi's cultural background and could not write an elegant greeting.

There was no formal letter format; it was like writing a small note, simply stating that it was a return gift from Third Sister to the little princess.

"The young master said that these persimmon cakes were given to Sizi by Third Sister."

"Hehe~ It's my day~" the little princess said with a smile.

Upon hearing Xiao Ran talk about the benefits of persimmon cakes, Li Lizhi became quite agitated.

These effects were very helpful in treating Empress Zhangsun's condition.

Li Lizhi was both surprised and delighted, never expecting such a coincidence.

When I felt sleepy, someone handed me a pillow.

Just as Xiangcao returned with the persimmon cakes, Li Lizhi hurriedly said, "Quickly, let's go back to Lizheng Palace!"

Hearing that Li Lizhi's voice sounded a little hurried, Yu Shu didn't delay and drove the carriage away.

"Sister, what's wrong?"

Li Lizhi handed the A4 paper to Princess Yuzhang, saying, "Sizi, you can't eat too much of this, or you'll feel unwell."

"Sister, how about this?" The little princess, who had been wanting to eat some, put the persimmon cake she had just picked up back down.

Persimmon cakes are small to begin with, and they're gone in just a few bites.

"It soothes coughs and moisturizes the lungs." Princess Yuzhang picked up a persimmon cake. "It has such effects?"

Now I understand why Li Lizhi was in such a hurry to go back.

Empress Zhangsun did indeed need these things.

If the persimmon frost works well, Li Lizhi should bring back more for Empress Zhangsun to use.

Empress Zhangsun could be heard coughing from time to time in the Lizheng Hall, and Li Shimin, who was originally in the Taiji Hall, returned immediately.

"Your Majesty, it's just an old ailment. It's nothing serious. Just don't let it interfere with your handling of state affairs."

Li Shimin shook his head, "I'm not busy now, it won't delay anything."

Li Shimin wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't keep an eye on things.

He picked up the medicine and blew on it.

I heard that several princesses had returned.

As they approached the Lizheng Hall, they smelled a strong herbal scent, which made the little princess frown and show her aversion to it.

Herbs were one of the things the little princess feared, as they tasted bitter and unpleasant.

It was the little girl's nightmare.

"It's medicine~" The little princess frowned.

"Why are you back so soon?" Empress Zhangsun forced a smile, pretending that she was fine.

"Mother, there are delicious persimmon cakes," said the little princess of Chengyang.

"What is this?" Li Shimin had never heard of it either.

“Grandpa, I bought some at the West Market just now, and the young master also gave me some,” Li Lizhi said simply.

Li Shimin had no interest in these things; he was only concerned about Empress Zhangsun's condition.

"Father, the young master said that the white powder on persimmon cakes has a miraculous effect on coughs."

Li Shimin looked at the persimmons on the table in disbelief. "I thought they were flour!" "Father, you need to squeeze them properly when drying them, and then persimmon frost will appear. This will make the persimmon cakes taste better," Li Lizhi explained.

"Hee hee hee~ so sweet~" the little princess said quickly.

Li Shimin gently broke open the persimmon. "I've never seen this before, Guanyinbi, have a taste."

Empress Zhangsun did not want to disappoint Li Shimin and the princesses, so she did not refuse.

"That's good, you can have some too." Empress Zhangsun looked at the little princess, who clearly wanted to eat some.

“Mother, the young master said that although persimmon cakes are a good thing, they should be eaten in moderation. Si Zi Fan Yin has already eaten some.”

Li Shimin, holding a persimmon cake, said, "Wouldn't it be more effective to remove this persimmon frost?"

Li Lizhi took out an A4 sheet of paper and said, "According to what the young master said, that is indeed the case."

“This paper is so white. And this character is too.” Li Shimin’s reaction was similar to that of Li Lizhi before.

But considering it belongs to Xiao Ran, it seems reasonable.

Xiao Ran's things were just different from others, and Li Shimin and the others got used to it.

It's normal for things to be different; if they were the same as those of the Tang Dynasty, that wouldn't be normal.

"Summon the Imperial Physician! Take a look at this persimmon frost!" Li Shimin also took a bite of the persimmon cake.

Imperial Physician Zhang Baozang, who had just returned, was summoned back to the Lizheng Hall.

Li Shimin instructed Zhang Anan to give the persimmon cakes to Zhang Baozang. Upon seeing the persimmon frost, Zhang Baozang was astonished and asked, "Your Majesty, how was this made?"

Zhang Baozang's reaction clearly indicated that he knew something about it.

"Persimmon cakes are simply dried persimmons; nothing else needs to be added." Li Shimin didn't know this before, but Princess Yuzhang and Li Lizhi had just mentioned it.

"No, it's not persimmons, it's this white stuff on top. Why is there so much of it?" Zhang Baozang was clearly very excited.

"What great use is this persimmon frost?" Li Shimin asked, even more curious.

“Persimmon frost, that name seems quite fitting.” Zhang Baozang gently twirled the persimmon frost between his fingers, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: “Your Majesty, when I was traveling in my early years, I once met the old master Sun Simiao. During our chat, he mentioned that ‘dried persimmons are sweet and warm, non-toxic, and mainly used to clear nasal and ear congestion and stop coughs.’ He also pointed out that the white frost on the surface of persimmons has even greater effects.”

"Years ago, the old gentleman happened to see an old man in the mountains eating persimmons. He noticed the white frost covering the fruit and tasted it. He found it refreshing and soothing in his throat and realized that it was a wonderful thing that could clear heat, moisten the lungs, stop coughs, and soothe the throat!"

Zhang Baozang's Adam's apple bobbed as he pointed at the persimmon frost and said, "But the old gentleman only knew the appearance of it back then, not the reason why, and didn't know how to make the white frost grow more."

"Looking at these persimmon cakes now, the white frost is as thick as winter snow. They must have been dried using some clever method. Such a fine product is exactly what Her Majesty the Empress is symptomatic of lung dryness and shortness of breath!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin, Li Lizhi, and the others were overjoyed.

Zhang Baozang was also an experienced imperial physician, while Sun Simiao was an old immortal who was indifferent to fame and fortune, and his medical skills far surpassed those of Zhang Baozang.

This knowledge about persimmon frost is not recorded in medical books and classics, so it is normal that Sun Simiao knew it and others were unaware of it.

Sun Simiao focused on collecting folk remedies and experiences, and had in-depth research on the properties of various herbs and medicines.

This is the King of Medicine!

Based on what Xiao Ran said and what Zhang Baozang said, it can be basically concluded that persimmon frost is indeed a good thing for treating qi-related ailments.

"Can it cure the Empress's illness?" Li Shimin asked excitedly.

Zhang Baozang lowered his head and pondered for a moment, lightly dabbing his fingertips on the persimmon frost a few times. When he raised his eyes, his expression had turned solemn: "Your Majesty, persimmon frost is sweet and cool in nature, and enters the lung meridian. It does have the effect of clearing heat and moisturizing dryness, relieving sore throat and resolving phlegm. It can relieve cough and dry throat caused by lung dryness and qi stagnation."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the herbal medicine on the table. “However, this alone is not enough to cure the root of the disease. The onset of this illness may be due to insufficient lung yin or phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs. It is necessary to identify the syndrome type and then combine persimmon frost with lung-moistening herbs such as fritillaria and ophiopogon japonicus, and then supplement with platycodon grandiflorus to promote lung function and licorice to harmonize the body. Only then can they complement each other.”

Zhang Baozang bowed respectfully, his tone calm and steady: "If this frost can be used in the medicine, I will adjust the prescription and formulation to help Her Majesty alleviate her cough and asthma. However, the effects of the medicine will eventually require time to adjust, so Your Majesty and Her Highness need not worry."

Zhang Baozang dared not guarantee anything. While persimmon frost did have some effect, it was still just a medicinal ingredient, not a panacea, and could not cure all ailments.

Li Shimin was still somewhat disappointed, "So be it!"

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang, along with several palace maids, scraped the persimmon frost off the persimmon cakes.

(End of this chapter)