Travels of a Female Physician in the Ming Dynasty

I thought that after giving acupuncture to the "mysterious prince", I could continue to live a peaceful life as an imperial physician. After all, things in this palace are always confusing and unfathomable. I just want to stay away from those vortexes of power.

Unfortunately, things did not go as I wished. Before this idea could be realized, I was involved in another matter.

Here's what happened - I was sorting medicinal herbs in the clinic that day when I suddenly received a summons from the palace.

This time it was not Eunuch Liu, but the Queen's personal maid, Aunt Zhang.

Nanny Zhang bowed as she entered the room. "Imperial Physician Yang, the Empress requests that you come to the palace immediately. She has an urgent matter to discuss."

I thought to myself, could this be the little eunuch from last time?

I've prescribed some calming medicine, what else could go wrong?

But Aunt Zhang looked very serious, and it didn't look like she was just suffering from a minor illness.

"Madam Zhang, may I ask if there is anything urgent that the Empress may ask?"

I asked cautiously. After all, the Queen's summons was no small matter. If I didn't ask in advance, I was really afraid of accidentally stepping on a landmine.

Nanny Zhang didn't say much, but whispered, "Imperial Physician Yang, you'll know when you go there."

Tsk, this again.

It seemed I had no choice but to go, so I packed up my medicine box and went back into the palace.

All kinds of guesses were running through my mind along the way. The Queen was so anxious to find me, could it be that... something strange had happened in the palace again?

I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

When we arrived at the Queen's bedroom, Nanny Zhang took me directly into the inner hall.

The Queen was sitting in front of the couch with a tired look on her face, but when she saw me come in, a hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes.

"Your humble servant pays homage to Her Majesty the Queen." I quickly bowed.

The Queen waved her hand, indicating that I didn't need to be so polite.

She glanced at me, pondered for a moment, and suddenly said, "Imperial Physician Yang, I summoned you today because I have a private matter I would like to ask for your help."

My heart skipped a beat. A private matter?

The Empress asked me, a small imperial physician, to come for a private matter?

"Your Majesty, please feel free to speak up. If I can help, I will do my best." I answered cautiously, afraid of accidentally angering her.

The Queen sighed, her tone filled with resignation. "I've been feeling down lately and have trouble sleeping at night. The medicine the imperial physicians have prescribed hasn't been effective. I've thought about it and think you have excellent medical skills. Perhaps you could find another way to help me resolve this problem."

When I heard this, I felt relieved. It turned out to be insomnia, something I've seen a lot in modern society. Stress, anxiety, insomnia syndrome—all can be cured!

"Your Majesty, insomnia is often caused by restlessness. I can prescribe some tranquilizing medicine for you. Combined with acupuncture, the effect should be much better."

The Queen nodded, but her brow remained furrowed, clearly not entirely convinced. "It's not just insomnia... I've been having bad dreams lately, and I've always felt uneasy." She paused, as if hesitant, before continuing, "I wonder if it's because there's too much going on in the palace, and I'm overly worried, that's causing this."

As I listened, I pondered to myself.

This is not just a problem of insomnia. It seems that the Queen has a lot of pressure and worries in her heart.

"Your Majesty, if you have any worries in your heart, you might as well tell them. Although I don't understand the affairs of the palace, I may be able to help you solve your problems." I spoke tentatively. After all, the most frightening thing about this kind of worry is that it will be accumulated in the heart and not spoken out.

The queen looked at me and was silent for a moment, as if she was considering whether to tell me the truth.

Finally, she sighed softly, "Imperial Physician Yang, I trust you, which is why I'm entrusting you with this. Things in the palace are complicated, especially lately. The Crown Prince is getting older, and the Emperor's expectations of him are getting higher and higher. But you also know that the Crown Prince has been weak since childhood, and I'm really worried that he won't be able to hold on..."

I see! It suddenly dawned on me that the Queen was worried about the Crown Prince's health.

Although the prince has recovered on the surface, as a mother, she certainly cares about his health more than anyone else.

"I understand your Majesty's concerns. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's health does need more care. However, with the help of modern medicine - uh, my medical skills, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's health has improved significantly. As long as he continues to follow the doctor's advice, he should be fine." I quickly comforted him.

The Queen nodded slightly, but the worry on her face remained. "I hope so... However, the Emperor has high hopes for the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince cannot bear this heavy burden, I really don't know what to do."

I sighed in my heart. This is the trouble of the royal family. Being a prince means not only inheriting the throne, but also having to bear endless pressure.

But as a mere imperial physician, I cannot and dare not interfere in these palace struggles.

"Your Majesty, since His Royal Highness is in good health, you can rest assured. As for other worries, perhaps you can put them aside for the time being and focus on recuperating. Only when you are in good health can you better face the challenges of the future."

I tried to comfort her in a gentle tone and also gave her a way out.

The queen nodded slightly and said slowly: "You are right, I should also relax, but..." She hesitated to speak, with some complicated emotions in her eyes.

I thought to myself, "Just" again? It seems she has other concerns.

"My Lady, if you have any other worries, please tell me. I might be able to help you."

I continued to probe cautiously. Although I didn't want to get too involved in these palace secrets, this was obviously a critical moment.

The Queen was silent for a moment, then finally spoke slowly, "There's one more thing... I've heard some unusual activity in the palace lately. Some say one of the Crown Prince's attendants has been behaving strangely lately. The imperial physicians can't figure it out. I don't know if this is true, but I can't help but feel a little uneasy."

My heart suddenly tightened, and I remembered the "strange disease" that the emperor had mentioned before. Could these two things be related?

Someone close to the prince? Behaving strangely?

This sounds like more of a mental issue than a physical one.

"Your Majesty, if you trust me, I can go visit the servant and see if he really has any illness." I suggested tentatively.

The Queen nodded: "If that's the case, I'll trouble you."

I quickly agreed: "I will do my best."

Coming out of the Queen's bedroom, I felt a bit complicated.

The prince's attendant? A strange disease?

This matter is becoming more and more confusing.

I'm just a minor imperial physician who wants to practice medicine in peace, but I always get involved in these complicated palace secrets.

When Nanny Zhang escorted me out, she specifically reminded me, "Imperial Physician Yang, you must do your best to fulfill the Empress's request."

I nodded and said, "Don't worry, Ma'am. I will do my best."

On the way back to the clinic, I was thinking as I walked. It seems that I have to prepare well this time, not only in terms of medical skills, but also in terms of being careful about the power struggle behind it.

Every blade of grass and every tree in the palace holds a hidden secret, I can't take it lightly.

But then again, what exactly is the situation with this servant with a strange disease?

You have to see it with your own eyes to know.