Dingbei Hou's doctor brother

The late spring cold snap in February was extremely cold, and hail fell from the sky, damaging many houses. The damage was worst in the outer city, where both civilians and livestock were killed or injured.

Chen Jing and Chen Yun were ordered to go to provide disaster relief, and many veteran medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau also went there.

Lu Ziqing stayed behind and waited until the hail stopped before going to the Duke of Wei's mansion.

In the room, Xiao Cong was lying on a small couch with silver needles inserted into the acupuncture points on his legs. The treatment did not last long and ended after a short while.

Lu Ziqing packed up his medicine box and said, "The Duke's leg treatment can be stopped the day after tomorrow."

Xiao Cong sat up from the small couch and pounded his legs. "Doctor Lu is truly a miracle doctor. I am deeply grateful to you."

"You are welcome, my lord." Lu Ziqing said, "My walking is not very smooth at the moment. I must practice diligently in the future and not slack off. After the treatment is completed tomorrow, I will not come again. Take care, my lord."

Xiao Cong nodded silently. The housekeeper asked, "Thank you, Doctor Lu. If you have any questions in the future, I will trouble you again."

"In the future?" Lu Ziqing hesitated for a moment, "I will not be in the Imperial Hospital in the future. If you have any questions, I will write them down first. Don't worry, Duke."

Xiao Cong's eyebrows knitted slightly. "Not in the Imperial Hospital? Doctor Lu is leaving? Why would he leave for no reason?"

"Yes, Imperial Physician Lu." The housekeeper looked at him. "If you leave, the Imperial Hospital will be without an available imperial physician. What will we do if we encounter a difficult and complicated disease in the future?"

Lu Ziqing hesitated slightly. Xiao Cong noticed his expression and asked, "Is the Imperial Physician facing any difficulties in the capital? It's better to be frank. Although I have retired, I still have some respect in the court."

Lu Ziqing smiled gratefully, "Thank you for your kindness, Duke. I have no difficulty, but I am a lazy person by nature, so it is difficult for me to adapt to the court."

Xiao Cong said, "Doctor Lu is wrong. Although the court seems to be full of twists and turns, there are also capable ministers and patriots who serve the country and the people."

"If a doctor as skilled as the Imperial Physician could stay in the palace, he would surely be able to help Your Majesty resolve all his worries and difficulties, and also benefit the people. Moreover, with Imperial Physician Lu's talent, how could he not adapt to the affairs of the court? If he had no concerns, what would he do?"

Lu Ziqing said, "I am grateful for the Duke's kindness, but I am not interested in this. I would rather visit famous mountains and rivers, study various herbs, and cure more people's illnesses. That is where I want to be. The affairs of the court are really beyond my reach."

Xiao Cong said admiringly, "Imperial Physician Lu's lofty ambitions are admirable, but it's a pity that the court lacks a talent like him."

He sighed and said, "Since the imperial physician has decided to leave, I cannot force him to stay. I hope that Imperial Physician Lu will have no worries in the future and get what he wants."

Lu Ziqing nodded and smiled slightly. When he was about to leave, Xiao Cong called him again.

"There is one more thing. I have an unwelcome request."

"Please speak, Duke." Lu Ziqing said.

Xiao Cong said, "I would like to invite Imperial Physician Lu to stay here and drink a glass of birthday wine with me as a token of my gratitude. I hope Imperial Physician Lu will not refuse."

Lu Ziqing was startled. "Birthday banquet?"

The housekeeper said slowly, "The beginning of March is the master's seventieth birthday. I would like to ask Dr. Lu to drink this light wine."

In the Imperial Hospital, Xu Shizhang was sorting out pulse records. There was a thick pile of them on the table, and Chi Musheng was also helping.

He said, "Oh, it will take forever to finish these things."

"This hailstorm is rare, and there have been many casualties. Most of the personnel have been deployed. Just grit your teeth." Xu Shizhang stared at the booklet. "Is your place okay?"

Chi Musheng said, "The bedroom roof was smashed through, and the landlord asked me to fix it myself, which cost a lot of money. Natural disasters are unavoidable."

Xu Shizhang stopped and looked at him, then took out ten taels of silver from his sleeve and put them on the table.

"Take it. Go back today and find someone to fix it. If it snows or rains, we won't be able to sleep."

Chi Musheng returned the silver without thinking.

"How can I ask the master for money? I still have money to repair the house. You can take it back yourself."

"Just take it if I tell you to." Xu Shizhang stuffed the silver into his hand again.

"Our Imperial Hospital's salary is low. How much silver do you earn a year? You're over thirty and still unmarried. Keep your silver and take this."

Since arriving in the capital, Chi Musheng has always been taken care of by Xu Shizhang. Apart from his father, this master is the best to him.

He was touched for a moment, "Master has helped me enough, I..."

"Do we need to talk about this, master and disciple?" Xu Shizhang said slowly, "I have no children. My only daughter died before she was ten. I'm already buried in the earth up to my neck. It won't cost me much. Just accept it."

Chi Musheng felt a surge of sadness in his heart, and his face was moved. "I will take care of Master until his death."

Xu Shizhang smiled softly, then buried his head in the booklet again. At this time, Lu Ziqing walked into the room, put down the medicine box, and went over to help organize it.

Xu Shizhang asked him, "Is Duke Wei's leg okay?"

Lu Ziqing hummed, "He can't walk freely yet. He needs to rely on crutches. He will only need rehabilitation training in the future."

Xu Shizhang nodded, and Chi Musheng continued, "Ziqing's medical skills are the best in our Imperial Hospital. He even helped Duke Wei stand up after being crippled for six years. It's truly amazing."

Lu Ziqing smiled and said, "Master Chi, please stop laughing at me. Judge Xu is still here."

Xu Shizhang also smiled. "Musheng is right. As the saying goes, a good teacher produces a good student. Now, your master's great revenge has been avenged. He has finally received justice and the truth behind his disappearance without saying goodbye has been revealed."

Lu Ziqing couldn't help feeling a little lost.

"If Master knew about this, he would rest in peace. However, I still often think of the days when I was a child studying medicine with him, as if it were just yesterday."

Xu Shizhang looked at him and said comfortingly, "Ziqing, don't be too sad. If your master saw your current achievements, he would surely be very pleased."

Chi Musheng also said: "Yes, let the past be the past, cherish the present, our mission is still long and arduous."

Lu Ziqing restrained his emotions, smiled slightly, and said something else.

"By the way, there is something I want to tell Master Xu."

"What's the matter?"

Lu Ziqing looked outside the door, seeing no one, and then he said, "I suspect the Emperor isn't suffering from liver damage. Previously, during the International Court, I accidentally treated the Emperor and found that he had obvious jaundice, vomited frequently, and had dull pain in his chest. These are clear signs of liver damage."

"Liver damage?" Chi Musheng thought for a moment and said, "Then it must have been misdiagnosed before."

Lu Ziqing said, "I don't know the emperor's diet. Taking too many medicines may also cause liver damage. Lord Xu, please go and confirm it next time. If it is true, we need to change the prescription immediately."

"You discovered it too?" Xu Shizhang said, "On the day you mentioned, I discovered it while treating the Emperor. It seems to be a liver problem without a doubt."

After listening to him, Lu Ziqing turned to Chi Musheng and said, "Master Chi, I have something to give you."

As he spoke, he took out a small medicine bottle from the medicine box and handed it to him. Chi Musheng picked it up and took a look.

"What kind of medicine is this?"

"It's an antidote." Lu Ziqing said, "This can cure all poisons."

"All poisons?" Chi Musheng was surprised. "Including the red-crowned crane? The poison?"

Lu Ziqing nodded, "As long as it's within half a cup of tea, it will be useful."

Chi Musheng's eyebrows were startled again, and he stared at the bottle carefully. "Is it so powerful? Why don't you keep it for yourself and give it to me?"