Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

When Sun Yaolang saw the old man turn around, tears of excitement welled up in his eyes. He quickly stepped forward, his voice choked with sobs as he bowed deeply, "Master!"

The elder, Li Chen, looked at his ill-fated female disciple, a subtle hint of pity etched in his dignified gaze. He gently supported her and sighed, "Miao'er, I haven't seen you for a few years. You've really changed... You've lost a lot of weight, and your brows are more frosted. You look much more haggard."

Sun Yaolang straightened up, gently pressed the corner of his eye with the corner of his sleeve, and said with a forced smile, "Thank you for your concern, Master. Lately... I've been a bit busier than usual."

The old man nodded, his eyes shifting slightly, as if he wanted to ask something. His lips moved, but ultimately a soft sigh emanated: "Zhi'er... Oh, forget it, let's not talk about him." He returned his gaze to Jiu'er, who was still kneeling on the ground, and spoke in a slightly softer tone, "Get up. Kneeling before the statue of the Medical Ancestor is a place for you to reflect on your mistakes and understand benevolence, not a place for you to act petty or get angry."

Jiu'er felt as if she had been pardoned. She carefully put down the hand that was pulling her ear, rubbed her sore knee, stood up, and replied with a humble look, "Grandson, I understand."

Hearing their address, Zhang Jingwei's mind suddenly became clear. This old man was not only Sun Yaolang's master, but also Li Zaizhi's father and Jiuer's grandfather - Li Chen!

At this moment, Sun Yaolang seemed to remember something and asked anxiously, "Master, you...you have been traveling around in recent years. Have you ever heard...any news about 'Medicine King Sun'?" There was a subtle hint of expectation and trembling in her voice.

Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes flashed with a complex and indescribable emotion. He slowly shook his head and let out a long sigh. "The world is vast and ever-changing. His whereabouts are as elusive as a wild crane and a wandering cloud. There are many rumors. Some say he went to the Liao Kingdom, others say he was seen practicing medicine in the territory of Goryeo. Even more bizarre is the story of an old man who looked exactly like him, gathering herbs on the cliffs by the sea in the Japanese Kingdom... These are just rumors that cannot be verified."

"Medicine King Sun"… Zhang Jingwei muttered this name to himself. This was none other than Sun Yaolang's mysterious father, a figure his intelligence organization had never been able to definitively track down. Previous conversations had confirmed his suspicions: this "Medicine King Sun" wasn't just a nickname, but his real name. He was once recognized as the Celestial Empire's foremost physician and a close friend of Li Chen. However, due to his unyielding integrity, he refused to treat the Empress of Heaven for some reason, angering the late Emperor and ultimately being exiled, his whereabouts unknown. Based on the timeline, Sun Yaolang was likely born during his father's exile. And yet, after experiencing such a catastrophic change, this Medicine King Sun chose to abandon his helpless wife and daughter, traveling alone in a foreign land, never to be heard from again. Perhaps Li Chen, mindful of their old friendship and unable to bear the loss of his loved one, took the helpless Sun Yaolang back to his side, raising him with loving care and teaching him his lifelong medical skills. With Sun Yaolang's medical talent and understanding, if she were not a woman, she would have already become a famous member of the Imperial Hospital due to the old system.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jingwei couldn't help but sigh when he looked at Sun Yaolang again. This woman had a truly miserable life. Abandoned by her biological father in her childhood, her husband was implicated in the rebellion of the School of Mind in middle age and was wanted by the imperial court. She had no choice but to take her young child, Jiuer, and hide her identity, wandering the world alone, relying solely on her superb medical skills to survive. The heartache she felt was too painful to describe.

The old man clearly didn't want to discuss this elusive old friend any further. He brought the subject back to business, turning his gaze towards Zhang Jingwei and returning to his previous calm tone: "The past is over, dwelling on it is pointless. Let's go, Magistrate Zhang, without further delay, take me to check on your wife. Her condition is urgent."

Zhang Jingwei immediately collected his thoughts, suppressed all his emotions, and replied respectfully, "Yes! Thank you for your concern, Senior! Please follow me."

……

Inside the magistrate's residence, the atmosphere was so quiet that one could hear the faint sound of wind outside the window. Huangfu Ling sat obediently on a round stool, his hands nervously folded in his lap, waiting for his fate like a primary school student.

Imperial Physician Li Chen, with a focused expression, first gently pried open her eyelids, carefully observing the color of the whites of her eyes and the reaction of her pupils. His movements were gentle and professional, with an unquestionable authority.

"Open your mouth." The old man said in a steady voice.

Huangfu Ling opened her mouth obediently: "Ah..."

Li Chen carefully examined her tongue and throat. He paused for a moment, frowning slightly as he muttered to himself, "Although her complexion appears pale, there are no red streaks under her eyes, and her throat isn't swollen... Judging from these symptoms, it doesn't look like a typical 'blood stasis' symptom, but more like... a sign of 'menopause'." He raised his head and looked at Zhang Jingwei sharply, "How long has it been since Madam's menstruation stopped?"

Zhang Jingwei quickly replied, "Come to think of it...it's been three or four months since I last had my period."

Li Chen turned to Huangfu Ling and asked, "Do you usually feel shortness of breath, chest tightness, headache, eye swelling, or other discomfort?"

Huangfu Ling thought carefully and shook her head gently, "No, Imperial Physician. Although I'm worried about my missed period, fearing it might be a bad omen, I don't feel any other discomfort."

Li Chen nodded and said with certainty, "That's it. If it were truly a severe blood stasis, with menstrual blood blocked for three months and flowing backward, it would inevitably lead to bloodshot and red eyes, a swollen and uncomfortable throat, dizziness, and even vomiting and irritability. Madam, you don't have any of these symptoms, so it's clearly not a simple blood stasis."

When Zhang Jingwei heard this, his heart sank and he blurted out, "Menopause?" He knew very well what this word meant.

Li Chen nodded solemnly, "Yes. Madam is still young, not even twenty, and she's experiencing menopause at this age. This is indeed extremely rare and strange, and definitely not a good thing."

When Huangfu Ling heard the words "menopause" and "definitely not a good thing," her face turned pale with fear, and her voice trembled: "My Lord Imperial Physician... is... is it serious? I... am I..."

Zhang Jingwei, who was standing by, saw that she was scared to death. Although he was also anxious, he suppressed it, deliberately showed a relaxed smile, walked forward, put his arm around her shoulders, and comforted her in a teasing tone: "Silly Ling'er, what are you thinking about? Don't scare yourself. In my opinion, it's not serious. I guess you have been thinking too much recently and entered menopause early. It's okay, little old woman, young master doesn't dislike you." Huangfu Ling was frightened and amused by him, and couldn't help but punched him with her pink fist.

Li Chen watched the young couple interacting, a subtle smile flickering across his eyes, but then he regained his seriousness. He pondered for a moment before stating his next diagnostic requirement: "To be on the safe side, I need to examine Madam's private parts to observe their appearance and determine the underlying cause."

"Ah? This..." Huangfu Ling's cheeks flushed instantly upon hearing this, even her ears were stained crimson. She subconsciously closed her legs and shielded herself with her hands. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito, full of embarrassment, "Although the Imperial Physician is an elder, but...but men and women shouldn't touch each other, let alone look...look at that place..."

Zhang Jingwei knew this was not the time to be bound by etiquette. He held Huangfu Ling's hand and explained in a gentle but firm voice, "Ling'er, be obedient. In the eyes of a medical expert like Li Yuanzheng, there is no distinction between men and women, only patients who need treatment. Doctors are like parents to their patients. This is to investigate the cause of the illness, and there is absolutely no intention of any blasphemy or infringement. Just rest assured."

Li Chen glanced at Zhang Jingwei approvingly, his tone tinged with emotion. "County Magistrate Zhang is sensible. Talking to intelligent people is always easier. Throughout my life as a doctor, I've seen countless high-ranking officials and nobles who, because of their adherence to the so-called 'separation between men and women' and 'rules of propriety,' refused to allow doctors to examine the private parts of their wives. This ultimately delayed their treatment and indirectly caused the death of their wives. It's truly tragic and lamentable!"

Zhang Jingwei nodded immediately and turned to Li Chen, saying urgently, "Li Yuanzheng, what do you need to prepare? Hot water, soft towels, and..."

"Go out." Li Chen interrupted him and began to clear the area in a concise manner.

Sun Yaolang, who was standing by, was stunned for a moment and pointed at himself: "Master, do I have to go out too?"

Li Chen took out some necessary instruments and cushions from the medicine box and said without looking up, "Leave the medicine box here. Everyone get out. Anyone who is not necessary should wait outside the door."

Zhang Jingwei hesitated and pointed at himself: "Should I... go out too?" He hoped to be with his wife.

Li Chen raised his head, his eyes calm but filled with unquestionable majesty, and uttered only two words: "Get out!"

The door to the inner room was gently closed, temporarily isolating all the anxiety, shyness, and anticipation. Zhang Jingwei, Sun Yaolang, Jiuer, and the others could only wait quietly outside the door, awaiting the diagnosis from the medical expert inside.

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