Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

During these long, stressful, and detail-filled days, everything seemed governed by an invisible order, with everyone operating like a machine, following a predetermined trajectory. Some were completely focused, meticulously completing the tasks at hand; others seemed absent-minded and perfunctory. But no matter how they approached these trivial matters, the days continued to pass by relentlessly like flowing water.

Amidst this oppressive and tense atmosphere, Li Ruoyue welcomed an unexpected guest—Luo Cheng. This Luo Cheng was none other than the Fourth Prince's study companion, the man who had once righteously upheld justice on the bustling streets. He appeared at Li Ruoyue's door, atop a fine horse, looking slightly exhausted. His face was pale, and his stature slightly unsteady, as if he had endured the hardships of a long journey.

Finally, Luo Cheng slowly approached the gate and gently jumped off his horse. Due to his frail body, he almost lost his balance when he landed, but he still managed to keep his footing, then reached out and gently knocked on the closed gate.

"Knock, knock, knock..." A series of rapid knocks on the door suddenly rang out, breaking the original tranquility of the yard. Lu Zhu, who was busy in the house, was a little surprised when she heard the sound. She put down her work and walked quickly towards the gate.

When Luzhu arrived at the door, she was filled with doubts, wondering who would be knocking at the door at this time. With this curiosity, she reached out and gently pulled the bolt, then slowly pushed the door open.

As soon as the door opened, Luzhu saw a pale, frail young man leaning against the door. His eyes were slightly closed, and his breathing was a little rapid, as if he might collapse at any moment.

Seeing this, Luzhu was startled and quickly stepped forward, asking with concern, "Excuse me, who are you? What happened?"

The young man struggled to open his eyes, revealing a pale, feeble smile. He replied in a weak voice, "Young lady, I am Luo Cheng, the current Fourth Prince. My guards were chatting with Baili Xi some time ago when they happened to hear that your young lady is a skilled doctor. I've also witnessed your sister treating the common people from afar, and I've long heard of her superb medical skills. Today, I've suddenly felt unwell, and my condition has worsened. That's why I've come to bother you. I beg you to diagnose and see what's wrong."

Lu Zhu carefully looked at the frail young man in front of her. Seeing his pained appearance, she couldn't help but feel a trace of pity in her heart. She said softly, "In that case, please come in." As she spoke, Lu Zhu carefully helped Luo Cheng up and slowly led him into the yard.

Luzhu carefully supported the pale-faced Luo Cheng and slowly walked into Li Ruoyue's pharmacy, which was dedicated to developing pills. The room was filled with a dazzling array of jars and herbs. The air was filled with a rich medicinal aroma, and the unique scent penetrated Luo Cheng's nostrils. He took a deep breath and felt instantly refreshed.

Luo Cheng slowly sat down on an old wooden chair, his eyes scanning the neatly arranged bottles and jars and the bundles of fragrant herbs before him. He secretly thanked himself for coming here first. If he had blindly sought out those ignorant doctors as before, he might have wasted even more precious time!

At that moment, Li Ruoyue, dressed in plain clothes, glided gracefully to Luo Cheng's side. She gently said, "Stretch out your hand. Let me feel your pulse." Without hesitation, Luo Cheng quickly extended his right hand and gently placed it on the table. Li Ruoyue deftly retrieved a soft pulse pad and gently placed it beneath Luo Cheng's wrist. Then, she extended her slender fingers and placed them on Luo Cheng's pulse, concentrating on sensing the subtle pulses conveying information about his internal health.

As time went on, Li Ruoyue's brows, once relaxed, gradually furrowed, and her expression grew solemn. Luo Cheng, who had been closely watching her changing expression, couldn't help but feel irritated when he saw her reaction. Could it be that... I'm already terminally ill, beyond repair? At this thought, Luo Cheng's heart sank, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Amidst this uneasiness, his heart raced like a fluttering deer, even his pulse seemed to become extraordinarily sensitive, faintly transmitting to Li Ruoyue the faintest hints from within his body. Concentrating intensely on the subtle changes taking place within his body, Li Ruoyue instantly sensed something amiss. So, she softly said to him, "Relax! Only then can I accurately diagnose your current condition. Don't be so nervous. Relax a little..."

Luo Cheng quietly listened to Li Ruoyue's gentle words of comfort. His heart, once tense as a bowstring, gradually relaxed, returning to a relatively stable state. At this moment, Li Ruoyue spent a moment carefully observing and perceiving, then softly instructed, "Come, give me your other hand." Luo Cheng obeyed, slowly extending his left hand to Li Ruoyue.

After about a cup of tea, Li Ruoyue finally finished her initial investigation. She frowned slightly, looked at Luo Cheng seriously, and asked, "Tell me, where have you been? How could you be so careless as to contract such a disease?"

Luo Cheng hesitated for a moment before finally disclosing his secrets and slowly recounting his recent experiences. Initially, while patrolling the border, he had stumbled upon a herd of cattle and sheep suffering from a strange disease. Their unusual symptoms piqued his interest and alarm. He decided to conduct a thorough investigation, seeking to understand the cause of the disease and whether it would affect the surrounding area.

In the days that followed, Luo Cheng made numerous visits to the border region to conduct investigations. However, when questioned about his specific activities, Luo Cheng became somewhat embarrassed. In reality, he had come here on orders from the Fourth Prince to carry out some rather ignominious, even shameless, mission. However, such matters were difficult to bring up, so he could only vaguely explain that he was merely gathering information. As for how he had contracted the disease, he explained that it was a complete accident.

Li Ruoyue listened quietly to Luo Cheng's story, knowing full well that he must have concealed some crucial details. However, she didn't expose him. After all, everyone has their own secrets, so why force others to reveal everything? Moreover, she herself had her own secrets that she didn't want others to know. Thinking of this, Li Ruoyue smiled in relief and comforted Luo Cheng, "You just accidentally contracted those diseases. It's not a big deal. Don't worry too much."

Li Ruoyue's heart sank slightly when she heard this, but she quickly recovered and said to Miss Li with a smile, "Thank you for sharing the details. I wonder how I can cooperate with you next?"

Li Ruoyue pondered for a moment, then replied calmly, "Miss, although your illness is not terminal and is not particularly difficult to treat, it will still take some time to fully recover. As the saying goes, 'Illness comes like a mountain falling, and it goes away like a thread being pulled out'! During this period of treatment, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to attend to other matters. It's best to rest and recuperate. This way, you can recover quickly and avoid leaving behind a root cause of the disease."

So, please think about whether there are any urgent matters that require your attention. If so, please tell me. I will prescribe some appropriate medication for you to take, and also write you a recipe for a medicinal bath. You can take it home and soak in it on time. In addition, so that I can follow up on your condition and deliver medicine to your home, please leave me your address. Tomorrow, I will personally visit you at your home."

Upon hearing this, Luo Cheng looked a little embarrassed and quickly waved his hands, saying, "Alas, this is too much of a bother for you, Miss Li!" Li Ruoyu smiled slightly and replied softly, "Mr. Luo, please don't be so polite. As doctors, curing illnesses and saving lives is our duty. Why would you bother me? Please let Lü Zhu know your address. I will personally visit you tomorrow to review your condition and prescribe any necessary medications."

Seeing her earnest words and sincere attitude, Luo Cheng still felt a little guilty, but he couldn't refuse any longer, so he gave up his insistence. After a moment's thought, he began to describe his home in detail: "My residence is located in a small courtyard near the Protectorate. I rented it with my own money. To be honest, my family is not short of money. I have been raised in luxury since I was a child. I simply couldn't bear to live in a crowded house with those rough and tumble men, so I moved out and found this quiet courtyard to live in. On weekdays, there is an elderly couple who help with housekeeping, cooking, and other chores."

Luo Cheng coughed lightly a few times, then, in a slightly hoarse voice, explained in detail where he lived to Li Ruoyue and told her the exact time for her follow-up visit tomorrow. After saying this, he slowly stood up and prepared to leave.

Just as Luo Cheng turned around and took a step, Li Ruoyue hurried forward, took a look at his pale and weak face, and whispered to him: "Remember to take your medicine on time. Those medicines are all good medicines for treating symptoms. Also, you must pay more attention on weekdays. Don't catch a cold again, otherwise your condition will become more serious." Luo Cheng nodded slightly, indicating that he had kept Li Ruoyue's advice in mind.

Seeing Luo Cheng's shaky figure, which looked as if it might collapse at any moment, gradually walking away, Li Ruoyue couldn't help but feel worried. She turned to look at Lu Zhu beside her and said anxiously, "You should go and see him off. I'm really worried that he'll collapse halfway through the journey." Lu Zhu heard this and quickly chased after him without saying a word.

Seeing this, Luzhu, who had been standing not far behind Li Ruoyue, hurriedly responded, "Miss, don't worry, I know what to do!" After that, she hurriedly followed the direction Luo Cheng left.