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

After Imperial Physician Li Chen's unquestionable "Get out," the door to the inner chamber gently closed, isolating the inside from the outside. Zhang Jingwei, Sun Yaolang, Jiu'er, and Douya, who had rushed over after hearing the news, could only wait outside. The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the muffled breathing and uneasy glances between the few people.

Zhang Jingwei paced back and forth in the corridor, his hands behind his back. His official boots made a soft tapping sound on the wooden floor, and each step felt like a knock on his heart. He wanted to lean closer to the crack in the door to listen for any movement inside, but he forced himself to hold back, knowing that any interruption at this moment might affect his diagnosis.

Sun Yaolang clasped his hands together, silently praying, his brow furrowed. He clearly held great hope for his master's personal intervention, yet, knowing the intractable nature of the condition, he felt a surge of anxiety. Jiuer stood beside her mother, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. The grievance she had felt at her grandfather's reprimand had long since been replaced by worry for Huangfu Ling. Douya's eyes were red with anxiety, and she kept standing on tiptoe to peer at the closed door.

Time seems especially long at this moment.

Inside the door, the candle burned quietly.

Imperial Physician Li Chen's expression was calm. He first gently urged Huangfu Ling to relax and not be nervous. He took out a piece of clean, soft white silk and placed it on Huangfu Ling's wrist. He carefully felt his pulse again. This time, he closed his eyes and concentrated, feeling the subtle pulse with his fingertips for a longer time than before.

After a long time, he opened his eyes, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes, but he was still more solemn.

"Ma'am, please relax. I need to check something." His voice carried a reassuring calm strength.

Huangfu Ling closed her eyes tightly in shame, her long eyelashes trembling, her cheeks flushed so red they threatened to bleed. She felt the old man's cool fingers, wielding a thin layer of silk, perform the necessary examination with extreme professionalism and swiftness. The process was painless, but only an indescribable sense of shame and icy despair spread through her heart—for such an examination to be necessary, her illness must be extremely serious.

Li Chen moved quickly. After finishing the examination, he tidied her clothes and covered her with a thin blanket.

He stepped back, silently observing the young woman lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face pale yet tinged with an unnatural flush. His brow furrowed even further. He had practiced medicine for decades and had seen countless difficult and complex cases, but the onset of menopause at such a young age, and not simply due to blood stasis or deficiency, was exceptionally rare. The root of the problem seemed deeper, more complex, as if an innate vitality was rapidly fading.

Outside the door, Zhang Jingwei could hardly contain himself. Just as he couldn't help but raise his hand to knock on the door, with a "creak", the door was opened from the inside.

Imperial Physician Li Chen came out, his face as calm as water, his expression unremarkable.

"Senior!" Zhang Jingwei immediately stepped forward, his voice a little hoarse from nervousness. "How is my wife...?"

Sun Yaolang and Jiuer also immediately surrounded him and looked at Li Chen nervously.

Li Chen's gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on Zhang Jingwei's face. He spoke slowly, his voice low but every word clear, "Your Madam's condition is certainly not an ordinary case of blood blockage and metrorrhagia. It is due to a congenital deficiency in the Chong and Ren meridians, with a weak heart pulse. Furthermore, excessive worry and fear have accumulated in the past, causing depression in the heart and depleting Yin and Blood. This has led to the depletion of Tian Gui, a lack of nourishment to the uterus, and a weak heart pulse, resulting in premature aging."

Zhang Jingwei's heart sank as he listened. Although he could not fully understand these Chinese medicine terms, words such as "congenital deficiency", "exhaustion of heavenly essence", "weak heart pulse", and "premature aging" were like heavy hammers hitting his heart.

"Can it be cured?" He asked the most important question, his voice trembling slightly without him even noticing.

Li Chen pondered for a moment, not directly answering whether it could be cured. Instead, he said, "If it's simply an acquired imbalance, caused by depression, careful treatment, supplemented by acupuncture and medicine, may help. However... Madam's innate foundation is weak, and her heart meridians are frail. This is a weakness she acquired from birth, like a house with an unstable foundation and rotten beams, ready to collapse at the slightest wind and rain. A cure... is difficult. Extremely difficult."

Difficult. Extremely difficult.

Those five words were like ice water splashed on Zhang Jingwei's head, instantly chilling his hands and feet. Even Sun Yaolang's face paled a trifle. She knew that her master never made rash judgments. When he said it was difficult, it was practically a death sentence.

"Is... there really no other way?" Zhang Jingwei refused to give up and kept asking, his eyes full of reluctance and pleading.

Li Chen looked at the young county magistrate in front of him, seeing the anxiety and despair in his eyes, and said slowly: "It's not that there is no solution. It's just..."

"Just what? Senior, just tell me what you want! No matter what rare medicinal materials you need or how much money it costs, I will never frown even if it means bankrupting you!" Zhang Jingwei expressed his opinion hurriedly.

Li Chen shook his head. "It's not about money. Madam's illness is long-standing and cannot be cured by ordinary medicine. She needs to take ginseng that's over a hundred years old to sustain her vital energy, Tianshan Snow Lotus to clear away internal heat, and East China Sea pearl powder to calm her mind and spirit. This will strengthen her body and prolong her life, perhaps delaying the loss of her vitality. But this is like painting rotten wood; it's not a cure, and it needs to be taken year-round, which is incredibly expensive."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep and solemn, and he lowered his voice, "If we want to eradicate the root of the disease, strengthen the heart meridians, and restore vitality to the uterus... perhaps the only way is to obtain the legendary holy medicine - 'Qilin Blood'."

"Qilin blood?" Zhang Jingwei was startled. The name sounded extraordinary. Sun Yaolang also looked puzzled, obviously having heard of it but not knowing much about it.

"Yes," Li Chen nodded, his tone tinged with awe. "This isn't genuine Qilin blood. It's a rare and precious medicine created during the reign of Emperor Taizong. The then-chief of the Imperial Hospital led a group of medical officers and spent ten years painstakingly refining it, gathering all the world's treasures. Because it's amber-colored, red with a hint of gold, and its medicinal properties are extremely yang and pure, it has the miraculous effects of warming the heart meridians, replenishing the innate, and stimulating the original vitality. Hence the name 'Qilin Blood'. The method for refining this medicine has long been lost. As far as I know, only a few bottles remain in the Imperial Palace. They are considered the most precious treasures in the palace and are never used without due care. They are never bestowed upon anyone except for saving the emperor or when a member of a noble family is on the verge of death."

These words instantly made the glimmer of hope that had just risen seem out of reach, even more hopeless than before. While century-old mountain ginseng, Tianshan snow lotus, and East China Sea pearl powder were incredibly valuable, they weren't completely out of Zhang Jingwei's reach given his current abilities and financial resources. But this "Qilin Blood," hidden deep within the imperial palace, was a royal secret. How could a mere county magistrate like him covet it? It was simply harder than ascending to heaven!

Inside the room, Huangfu Ling had already quietly opened her eyes, listening to every word of the conversation outside. When she heard the words "difficult. Extremely difficult," her heart sank. And when she heard the words "kylin blood," "palace secrets," "palace treasure," and "required to save the emperor," her last shred of hope was completely shattered. It wasn't just difficult; it was the end of all her options.

Tears silently fell from her eyes, soaking the pillow. After all... could she still not leave him a child? Perhaps she couldn't even walk with him? A tremendous sadness and despair gripped her, leaving her breathless.

Outside, Zhang Jingwei also fell silent. The imperial palace, the most precious treasure in the palace… this was far beyond the reach of a county magistrate. He couldn't even imagine how to ask for it, or from whom. Should he ask his father-in-law, the Marquis of Bei? But while the Marquis of Bei was powerful, he couldn't buy the secret imperial medicine with military merit. For a moment, he felt powerless.

Li Chen sighed as he watched his gaze suddenly dim. Throughout his medical career, the most painful experience was knowing there was a cure, but being unable to do anything due to worldly barriers.

"Perhaps..." Li Chen pondered, trying to find a path that was not completely impossible, "It's not completely impossible. His Majesty is young, and the Queen Mother is in power. If you can accomplish extraordinary achievements, perhaps you can win the Queen Mother's favor, and perhaps... there is a chance to beg for a reward." But he himself knew that these possibilities were very slim.

Zhang Jingwei suddenly raised his head, a fire in his eyes rekindled. No matter how slim the chances, this was finally a direction! Despair only stirred his inherent stubbornness and fighting spirit. What if it was the Imperial Palace? What if it was the palace's most precious treasure? As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would fight for it, and seize it!

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!" Zhang Jingwei bowed deeply to Li Chen, his tone becoming remarkably firm. "I know what to do! Please prescribe the tonic immediately. I will spare no expense to prepare it as soon as possible! As for the 'Qilin Blood'... I have my own way!"

His words were filled with a desperate determination that moved both Li Chen and Sun Yaolang. They didn't know what this young man meant by "having his own way", but the glint in his eyes was impossible to ignore.

At that moment, behind the door, Huangfu Ling quietly wiped away her tears. Hearing her husband's resolute, determined words outside, the cold despair in her heart seemed to be infused with a faint warmth and immense bitterness. He had never given up on her, even when hope seemed so slim. But that "Qilin Blood"... How could she let him take such a monstrous risk for her?