Travels of a Female Physician in the Ming Dynasty

After returning to the Yang Mansion, I finally had a chance to take a good breath.

Today's palace was full of trouble. Not only did I encounter a guard who was pretending to be sick, but I also had to clean up the mess for the Crown Prince and the Queen.

As a "modern doctor", I would have been an emergency doctor on call 24 hours a day in ancient times, ready to be "summoned" at any time.

I was lying on the bed and imagining the future when Xiao Cui ran in hurriedly with a small package in her hand.

"Miss, a eunuch just brought this in from outside, saying it was specially given to you by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

I was stunned for a moment. Prince? Sending me something?

There's something wrong with this plot.

I just treated him twice, why should you be so polite?

Full of doubts, I took the package and opened it. Inside was a box of very exquisite pastries and a letter next to it.

I unfolded the letter and saw the following words written in a flourish:

"Miss Yang, thanks to your care recently, your health has improved. I hope you will accept this small token of my appreciation. - Zhu Biao."

I was stunned. His Royal Highness actually remembered to write me a letter of thanks?

Were the ancient kings and nobles so polite?

But writing a letter is fine, but what does sending cakes mean? Could it be that...

I suddenly stopped the unreliable association in my mind and comforted myself: This is just the patient's normal gratitude to the doctor, there is nothing to be surprised about.

"Xiao Cui, please put these snacks away and we can share them with each other later." I waved my hand casually, but I felt a little nervous.

"Miss, this is the snack sent by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself. Don't you really want to eat it?" Xiao Cui looked at me in surprise.

"I can't eat it." I shrugged. "Just divide it up."

Xiao Cui was obviously a little confused, but she didn't ask any more questions and just took the snacks out obediently.

Life became much calmer over the next few days.

I thought I could relax a little, but unexpectedly, someone came to the palace again.

The person who came this time was not the hurried eunuch, but Cheng Xiaohu, the "guard who scammed people" from last time.

"Xiao Hu? Why are you here? Want to pretend to be sick again?" I couldn't help but teasing him as soon as I saw him.

He chuckled and scratched his head: "Miss Yang, please don't make fun of me. I'm here for serious business this time."

"Oh? What's the important matter?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince... let me invite you into the palace." He said mysteriously.

"The prince is sick again?" My heart tightened. No way, he just got better a few days ago. It's impossible for him to get sick again so soon?

Cheng Xiaohu shook his head and smiled meaningfully, "Not really. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he wants you to come to the palace for a 'special checkup'."

"A special inspection?" I looked confused. "What kind of inspection?"

"I don't know about that." Cheng Xiaohu shrugged. "His Highness just said, you'll know when you go there."

My mind was suddenly filled with all kinds of doubts.

What is the prince going to do?

Could it be that he has some strange disease and is embarrassed to tell others about it?

Or... is he doing something weird?

In desperation, I had to pack up my medicine box and follow Cheng Xiaohu into the palace.

When I arrived at the prince's bedroom, Prince Zhu Biao was sitting at the desk. When he saw me come in, he immediately stood up and gave a rare smile.

"Miss Yang, you are here."

"Your Highness, I heard that you wanted me to do some 'special examination'. Where do you feel uncomfortable?" As I looked at him, I felt more and more that something was wrong.

Zhu Biao looked well and in good spirits, and he didn't look like a patient at all.

The prince smiled, his tone teasing: "Miss Yang, don't be nervous. I came to you this time not because I'm sick, but because I have something I want to ask you."

My brows furrowed even more tightly. "Your Highness, what do you want to ask?"

Zhu Biao hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Actually, I've recently heard the palace doctors talk about your medical skills, and they think they're amazing. Especially that 'pulse listening device' you used when you treated the Empress and me... I'm really curious."

I was stunned. So he was interested in my "modern medical equipment"?

"Your Highness, what you want to know is... the stethoscope?" I asked tentatively.

The prince nodded, his eyes full of curiosity. "Yes, I have never seen such a wonderful tool that can diagnose illnesses so accurately. Miss Yang, can you teach me, or rather, tell me how this 'pulse listening device' works?"

I was speechless.

What a curious baby! He is even interested in modern medical equipment.

However, after thinking about it, I think it’s okay. After all, the stethoscope is not a high-tech product, so it’s no big deal to explain it.

"Your Highness, this stethoscope isn't actually that complicated." I chuckled softly. "Its function is to amplify the chest and heart sounds, allowing the doctor to hear the patient's breathing and heartbeat more clearly and thus diagnose the condition."

When the prince heard this, his eyes lit up immediately: "So amazing? Then... can I try it?"

I was stunned for a moment and couldn't help laughing in my heart: Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince going to experience what it feels like to be a doctor himself?

"Of course you can, but Your Highness, you have to find a 'patient' to try it on. You can't hear your own heartbeat." I joked.

Zhu Biao clapped his hands and immediately turned to Cheng Xiaohu and shouted, "Xiaohu, come here!"

Cheng Xiaohu walked over with a confused look on his face: "Your Highness, you called me?"

"You be the patient and let Miss Yang teach me how to use this 'pulse listening device'." Zhu Biao said with anticipation.

Cheng Xiaohu's expression suddenly became strange: "Uh... Your Highness, I'm not sick."

"It's okay, just pretend." The prince waved his hand, obviously not taking it seriously.

Cheng Xiaohu looked at me helplessly, and I shrugged, indicating that I could do nothing to help him.

So, the unfortunate guard was forced to lie down and became the "practice subject" of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Next, I patiently taught Zhu Biao how to use a stethoscope.

He was learning very seriously, nodding as he listened, and occasionally exclaiming "So that's how it is."

As for Cheng Xiaohu, he lay there with a look of despair on his face, glancing at me resentfully from time to time, as if to say, "Miss, you are trying to trick me."

After some "professional teaching", Zhu Biao finally nodded with satisfaction: "It is indeed a wonderful thing. Miss Yang's medical skills have really opened my eyes."

I smiled, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief: I finally dealt with this curious Crown Prince.

However, just as I was about to say goodbye, Zhu Biao suddenly approached me mysteriously and said in a low voice, "Miss Yang, do you know that the emperor has been very interested in you recently?"

I was stunned: "Your Majesty... is interested in me?"

Zhu Biao nodded, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Father has heard of your extraordinary medical skills. Especially after treating the Queen and me several times recently, he has become even more curious about you. He has also asked me several times recently who you are."

My heart tightened, and I instantly had a bad feeling. Zhu Yuanzhang was notoriously suspicious and shrewd. If he had any unnecessary suspicions about me, I would be in big trouble.

"Your Highness, please stop joking." I forced a smile, trying to defuse the awkward situation.

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "I'm not kidding. Father is indeed very curious about you and even wants to meet you in person."

My mind instantly exploded: Meet me? Zhu Yuanzhang wants to meet me? This is the founding emperor! If he doesn't like me, my life will be over.

"Your Highness, this...isn't this too exaggerated?" I forced a smile, but my heart was already beating wildly.

Zhu Biao, however, looked nonchalant and patted my shoulder: "Don't be nervous, Miss Yang. Your father is merely curious. Just proceed as usual and don't worry too much."

I felt helpless: It's easy for you to say, but this is Zhu Yuanzhang. If I'm not careful, my head will be gone!

On the way back home, I couldn't calm down.

Zhu Yuanzhang wants to see me? Is this a blessing or a curse?

My mind was full of questions, but I didn't dare to think too much.

Forget it, let's take a step by step.

Anyway, I have traveled through time and space and have seen many storms and waves. How can I be scared by an ancient emperor?

But I couldn't help but pray silently in my heart: God bless me, please don't let me get into any big trouble...