After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Chapter 89 Sudden Onset of Serious Illness (Seeking First Subscription)

It was midnight.

In his sleep, Yang Shen felt someone pushing his head.

He was startled and opened his eyes abruptly, only to find that it was Wang Shouren.

"Director Wang, you're awake?"

Wang Shouren nodded and asked, "Is there any water?"

Yang Shen sat up in bed, pointed to the teapot on the table, and said, "There should still be some, but it's cold. I'll ask Laifu to boil some hot tea for you."

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Shouren had already picked up the teapot and was drinking from it.

Yang Shen said, "Wang Sizhi, slow down. Drinking so much cold water will make you sick."

Wang Shouren finished the pot of cold tea and then let out a long sigh: "I don't know why, but I'm extremely thirsty."

Yang Shen thought for a moment: "Do you remember being drugged? It must have been the effect of a sleeping potion."

Wang Shouren suddenly realized what was happening and asked, "Where is the female assassin?"

"Li Chun took her to the county jail. I want her to die knowing why—"

As the two were talking, the door was pushed open, and Laifu came in carrying a tray.

"Young Master, Chief Inspector Wang, I saw the light was on and ordered someone to make some ginger soup."

Laifu placed two bowls of ginger soup on the table and continued, "Many people have caught colds recently. Drink some ginger soup to avoid getting sick."

Wang Shouren picked up the bowl, blew on it, and gulped down the whole bowl.

He then picked up another bowl and asked, "Are you going to drink it or not? I'll drink it even if I don't?"

Yang Shen looked at him and said, "Slow down, there's plenty of ginger soup!"

Wang Shouren remained silent, only continuing to pour ginger soup into his mouth.

Immediately afterwards, footsteps could be heard in the courtyard.

Then came Li Chun's voice: "Yang, are you asleep?"

Yang Shen called out, "You're not asleep? Come in!"

The door opened, and Li Chun strode in, followed by the female assassin.

Yang Shen yawned and asked, "How is it?"

Li Chun clasped his hands and said, "According to Yang Ban Du's method, when they arrived at the prison, one of the Zhang brothers, Zhang Hu and Zhang Bao, would be scared to death on the spot, and the other would go crazy. I reckon that even if they were cured, it would be a waste of medicine."

The woman's face was pale, and her lips trembled slightly.

Yang Shen looked at her and nodded inwardly.

This woman and Liu were sisters, so they must have some similarities.

Imagine, in the middle of the night, the Zhang brothers, Hu and Bao, suddenly see Liu Shi—

Just thinking about that scene is thrilling.

The woman suddenly knelt down.

"It was my fault!"

"My two benefactors avenged my sister, but I listened to the lies of that scoundrel Wu Youfu and almost killed them! I deserve to die!"

Yang Shen looked at her and asked, "Do you understand now?"

The woman raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed, and said, "I understand everything now! Wu Youfu deserved to die, and Magistrate Wang was a good official. Now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say. My sister's injustice has been redressed, and I can die in peace."

Yang Shen turned to look at Wang Shouren.

Wang Shouren pondered for a moment and said, "If an assassination attempt on a court official fails, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, the person should be sent to the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau)."

"You—"

Yang Shen paused, then continued, "Either kill them or release them, and then sell them to brothels. What kind of logic is that?"

Wang Shouren shrugged: "This is the law of the Ming Dynasty, not something I made up."

The woman knelt on the ground, head down, without saying a word.

Yang Shen felt a pang of pity and was about to speak when the door was suddenly pushed open.

Laifu rushed in, panicking: "Something terrible has happened! His Highness is ill!"

Yang Shen jumped to his feet: "What happened?"

Lai Fu said urgently, "His Highness said he wasn't feeling well last night and went to bed early. I just went to bring him some ginger soup and found him unconscious and burning up!"

Yang Shen's heart tightened: "Quickly, go and fetch a doctor!"

"We've already sent someone!"

Lai Fu was covered in sweat and said in a panic, "But the doctors here are probably not very capable. We should send him back to the capital as soon as possible to find an imperial physician for treatment."

Yang Shen looked at Li Chun: "Commander Li, quickly make preparations to escort His Highness back to the capital!"

Li Chun clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes!"

Everyone busied themselves with their own hands.

Suddenly, a voice echoed softly.

"That boy has a deficiency of liver fire. If his high fever doesn't subside before 3 AM, it could be dangerous."

Everyone was stunned and looked at the woman kneeling on the ground.

Yang Shen frowned and asked, "What did you say?"

The woman raised her head and said seriously, "During the day, I saw that the boy's forehead was flushed, his lips were dry, and his tongue coating must have been thick and yellow. If he suddenly develops a high fever at night, it is definitely not an ordinary cold; it is likely a case of heat entering the pericardium."

Yang Shen felt a chill run down his spine, a surge of heat rushing to his heart.

Although I don't understand it, it seems very serious.

He stared at the woman: "How did you know?"

The woman said, "I studied medicine with my master for ten years, and I can diagnose all kinds of symptoms at a glance."

Yang Shen quickly weighed the situation in his mind. The way the woman had knocked Wang Shouren unconscious did indeed seem to be someone well-versed in medicine.

"Can you cure it?"

The woman nodded: "I need to see the patient to be sure."

Li Chun immediately stepped in front of him: "No! Your Highness's precious life cannot be entrusted to someone whose background is unknown."

'

Yang Shen said, "She was seeking revenge against Wang Sizhi and me, it has nothing to do with Your Highness. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, why not let her give it a try?"

Li Chun's expression turned serious: "Yang, this is no joke!"

Wang Shouren then said, "It would be safer to return to the capital first and seek out an imperial physician."

Yang Shen thought about it and realized that he had been a bit too hasty.

Zhu Houzhao was the crown prince; if anything happened to him, everyone present would be doomed.

So he nodded and said, "Then let's go back to the capital!"

The woman suddenly spoke up: "If it is indeed a case of heat entering the pericardium, the consequences will be very serious if treatment is not timely. At best, it will damage one's mind; at worst, it will render one unable to have children for life."

Yang Shen's mind went blank.

Zhu Houzhao did indeed have no sons in history!

Everything that happened today seems to be preordained!

Thinking of this, he resolutely said, "Commander Li, immediately arrange for this person to treat His Highness!"

Li Chun hesitated and said, "How can this be done—"

Yang Shen didn't have time to explain and hurriedly said, "If anything happens, I'll take responsibility!"

Li Chun finally agreed, saying, "Since Yang has put it that way, I'll listen to you!"

The woman stood up: "Take me to see the patient."

"Follow me!"

Yang Shen put on his clothes, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The snow was still falling, and the footprints in the yard had been covered.

Yang Shen asked, "I don't know your name yet?"

The woman followed behind: "Liu Qing!"

"Miss Liu Qing, how confident are you about what you just said?"

"We can only make a diagnosis by seeing the patient."

Yang Shen asked no more questions and quickened his pace.

Zhu Houzhao's room was on the east side of the courtyard, with two guards standing at the door.

Upon seeing Yang Shen approaching, the guards made way.

Yang Shen pushed open the door and entered, a wave of heat hitting him.

A charcoal brazier was burning in the room. Zhu Houzhao lay on the bed, his face flushed and his lips chapped.

Laifu followed behind and whispered, "I covered His Highness with two blankets so he could sweat it out."

Liu Qing walked quickly to the bedside and first reached out to feel Zhu Houzhao's forehead.

Then he lifted his eyelids to take a look, and then pinched his mouth open to observe his tongue coating under the oil lamp.

Yang Shen was very nervous and asked, "How is it?"

Liu Qing's expression was solemn as he said, "It is indeed a case of heat entering the pericardium. If it is delayed for another two hours, even if it can be cured, it will leave many symptoms."

Li Chun's expression changed: "Don't you know medicine? Hurry up and help!"

Liu Qing said, "I need acupuncture and a prescription. I always carry my acupuncture kit with me, but your people took it away."

"Commander Li, give her back the needle case!"

Yang Shen called out, then asked, "What kind of medicine do you need? I'll have someone fetch it!"

Liu Qing recited a string of medicinal names: "Gypsum, Anemarrhena, Licorice, Japonica Rice —"

Yang Shen listened for a while, then turned to Lai Fu and asked, "Did you write it down?"

Laifu nodded as he wrote, "I've got it, I've got it!"

"Go get the medicine quickly!"

Laifu dashed out in a flash.

Commander Li handed over a small package.

Liu Qing took it and opened it; inside was a row of silver needles.

She looked at Li Chun: "Uncover the patient's blanket and take off his clothes."

Li Chun stood by the bed, somewhat hesitant.

Yang Shen said, "Do as instructed!"

Li Chun stepped forward, lifted the quilt, and then pulled off Zhu Houzhao's undergarments.

Liu Qing picked up a silver needle and heated it over the oil lamp.

Then, using my left hand to measure the location, I inserted the needle tip into the acupoint.

Zhu Houzhao frowned, but did not wake up.

Liu Qing picked up the second needle.

One needle after another, and in the blink of an eye, seven or eight needles had been inserted.

The room was quiet, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire being heard.

Yang Shen stared at her movements, his palms sweating profusely.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhu Houzhao suddenly stirred.

Then he slowly opened his eyes.

"Hmm—Yang, the study companion?"

Zhu Houzhao looked bewildered and asked in a hoarse voice, "What are you doing in my room?"

Yang Shen finally felt relieved, and his legs felt weak.

Liu Qing said in a low voice, "The fever has subsided a bit, but she still needs to take medicine."

Zhu Houzhao then noticed the unfamiliar woman standing by the bed and was taken aback: "Who is she?"

Yang Shen said, "She is a physician, and she is treating His Highness."

Zhu Houzhao murmured, "Is I ill? No wonder my head is spinning—"

The voice grew softer and softer, and the eyes closed; it looked like the person was about to fall asleep again.

Liu Qing pressed him down: "Don't sleep yet, take your medicine first."

"oh----"

Zhu Houzhao mumbled a response, still half-asleep.