Now I really have to marry the princess.

Li Chengqian was stunned. He hadn't expected Yang Zhengdao to be so direct, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.

After a moment's thought, Li Chengqian decided to give Yang Zhengdao a heads-up, hoping he would back down.

"Cousin, Chang Le is already preparing for marriage, and may be interested in the eldest son of the Duke of Qi."

Huh?! So early?!

Yang Zhengdao naturally knew the history: Li Lizhi married Changsun Wuji's eldest son, who was also her cousin, Changsun Chong.

Unexpectedly, they started discussing marriage in the fifth year of the Zhenguan era.

But it's not a big problem, since they're not engaged yet.

As long as the engagement remains unfulfilled, it is only natural for a beautiful young woman to be admired by a young man, and no one can argue against it.

Whether or not he marries Chang Le is not important; as long as he establishes the image of "devoted love" before her marriage is settled, that's enough.

After all, before dealing with Li Er, there was absolutely no need to offend Changsun Wuji, the head of the Guanlong aristocratic families, because of Changle.

While he was still in a daze, Yang Zhengdao had already made up his mind.

His face was full of dejection. He bowed deeply again, and when he stood up, his eyes were resolute, and his voice was firm and resolute.

"My heart remains unchanged even though the marriage is not yet arranged; my will remains steadfast even though the engagement is not yet finalized."

"This...I'm afraid..."

Li Chengqian was stunned again; he had not expected Yang Zhengdao to be so persistent.

Moreover, the reasons they gave were both reasonable and justifiable, so what else could I say?

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Having achieved his goal, Yang Zhengdao naturally decided to stop while he was ahead.

As a subordinate, how could you let your boss feel embarrassed? College students should have this much sense of observation.

Yang Zhengdao immediately broke the silence and changed the subject: "I wonder if the Sage has seen my memorial?"

Li Chengqian recovered from his astonishment, picked up his teacup, took a sip as a cover-up, and then smiled:

"My cousin's filial piety is evident, and Father has naturally granted his request. Moreover, Immortal Sun is also interested in my cousin's secret recipe and will be coming down the mountain to Chang'an soon. My cousin, please prepare yourself and wait for news."

……

Inside the Lizheng Hall at this moment, Empress Zhangsun was gently massaging Li Er's temples.

"Erlang, do you really believe the secret formula that Yang Zhengdao came up with?"

Li Er placed one hand on Empress Zhangsun's small hand and laughed, "Whether it works or not is another matter, at least this secret recipe has brought Immortal Sun down the mountain."

"But..." Empress Zhangsun paused, her face showing difficulty, "but if this secret formula really works, then what about Azhi..."

"As his father's cousin, isn't it only right that he do his duty to show filial piety?" Li Er scrambled up from Empress Zhangsun's lap, his beard and hair standing on end.

Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but chuckle at Li Er's nervous appearance, but then sighed softly.

"However, you should reconsider Ah Zhi's marriage. The power of maternal relatives can become too great, and I'm worried..."

"What are you worried about? Wuji and I are old friends. I need to find a husband for Azhi that I know well. That brat Zhengdao, don't even think about it."

"You..." Empress Zhangsun smiled and gently tapped Li Er's forehead: "When you're useful, you're Father's cousin, but when your daughter is mentioned, you become a political scoundrel."

……

Three days later, the notification from Shang Pharmacy arrived.

Yang Zhengdao dared not delay. He selected a jar of penicillin culture medium and directed Liu Zhong and others to begin filtering and purifying it with activated carbon.

In the end, they obtained a small bottle of homemade penicillin solution.

With the prepared skin test needles, he mounted his horse and headed towards the imperial city.

After passing through Yanxi Gate, they handed over the wooden contract and were led by an eunuch to the Palace Secretariat.

In front of Taiji Palace, the bluestone slabs of Heng Street have been worn smooth by time, and weeds can be faintly seen sprouting in the cracks.

The palace wall on the right is majestic and the gate is solemn, but the white plaster has peeled off.

In the fifth year of the Zhenguan era, the Tang Dynasty was far from the wealth and grandeur of the Kaiyuan era, with all nations paying tribute.

Finally, the eunuch leading the way stopped in front of a courtyard gate, above which hung a plaque that read "Shangyaoju" (Imperial Pharmacy).

Several medical officers were already waiting at the gate of the courtyard. The one in the lead was dressed in scarlet and glanced at Yang Zhengdao.

"I am He Guanzhong, a court physician at the Imperial Pharmacy. This is Young Master Yang."

Yang Zhengdao quickly bowed and said, "Zhengdao greets Imperial Attendant He."

"Young Master Yang, Immortal Sun has arrived."

Yang Zhengdao composed himself and followed He Guanzhong quickly inside.

In the hall sat an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a coarse linen Taoist robe.

The old man had a gaunt face and bright eyes. Although he appeared thin, he possessed a dignified and imposing presence.

Yang Zhengdao quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Junior Yang Zhengdao greets Immortal Sun."

Sun Simiao raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Young master, there's no need for such formalities. I heard that you have obtained a secret recipe that can cure carbuncles, so I've come down the mountain."

Then he invited Yang Zhengdao to sit down and talk in detail.

This is probably the directness of a professional.

Seeing that He Guanzhong and several other physicians were still standing next to Sun Simiao, Yang Zhengdao naturally dared not presume to sit down.

He immediately presented the bottle of penicillin solution and the skin test needle with both hands, and then explained how to use them.

After listening, Sun Simiao uncorked the bottle, smelled it, and came to a very simple, yet nearly truthful, answer:

"Is this derived from the pharmacological principle of using poison to fight poison?"

Yang Zhengdao nodded hastily. What did he, an ordinary college student, know about traditional Chinese medicine?

Since the old man has already made up his own story, we should naturally take the opportunity to back down.

Clearly, Sun Simiao had no intention of letting Yang Zhengdao off the hook, and gestured for him to sit down and talk in detail again.

It seemed that Sun Simiao also noticed his embarrassment, which is why he gestured for He Guanzhong and the others to sit down together.

After sitting down, Yang Zhengdao smelled the faint medicinal fragrance on Sun Simiao.

But how do we explain that next?

Antibiotics can kill bacteria and viruses? How can you say for sure?

What should I do?

Yang Zhengdao had no choice but to bite the bullet and shift the blame to his predecessors.

These are all prescriptions from our predecessors; I don't know anything else.

"Immortal Sun, Zhengdao only obtained this prescription by chance. Out of filial piety, he presented it to the Emperor. Whether it will succeed or not depends on the officials of the Imperial Pharmacy to find people to test it on."

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao sighed deeply, his disappointment evident in his expression.

Yang Zhengdao naturally guessed that the old man must have been tricked down the mountain by Li Er, and he really couldn't bear to see the old man come away empty-handed.

So he cleared his throat and tried to translate some medical common sense from later generations.

"Immortal Sun, I have heard that wounds are more prone to festering in the summer, just as bread is more prone to mold and fruits are more prone to insects in the summer. It must be because decaying matter is more likely to grow in the summer. However, this decaying matter is as fine as dust to humans and is difficult to see with the naked eye."

Yang Zhengdao became more and more fluent as he used analogies.

Sun Simiao tapped his fingers lightly on the table, but became more and more engrossed in listening.

It wasn't until Yang Zhengdao unknowingly uttered "microscope" and "microorganism" that he realized he was getting carried away and quickly stopped.

Seeing Yang Zhengdao's nervous expression, Sun Simiao couldn't help but burst into laughter. His eyes gleamed, and he even changed his way of addressing him.

"Young friend Yang, after hearing your ingenious ideas, I've decided to live a few more years. If, in my lifetime, I can see microorganisms using the microscope you mentioned, then this journey through life will have been worthwhile!"

Yang Zhengdao was also impressed by Sun Simiao's thirst for knowledge, and he rose and bowed deeply.

"Despite his advanced age, Immortal Sun continues to seek knowledge relentlessly; I admire him greatly."

Subsequently, under Sun Simiao's influence, the physicians of the Imperial Pharmacy became increasingly respectful to Yang Zhengdao.

He Guanzhong also granted Yang Zhengdao the title of Imperial Pharmacy Attendant and provided him with a waist pass for entering and leaving the Imperial City.

Meanwhile, with Sun Simiao's support and endorsement, the experiment on the homemade penicillin went very smoothly.

Three days later, the redness and swelling of the sores on the wounds of several eunuchs who were testing the medicine had all subsided significantly, and they had no fever symptoms.

Seven days later, the wounds of the eunuch who had been testing the medicine had healed, and there were no other aftereffects.

Only then did the Imperial Pharmacy present Li Er with a memorial requesting the use of "penicillin solution" to treat the Emperor Emeritus.

Trusting Sun Simiao, Li Er quickly approved it.

That day, Yang Zhengdao waited at the Imperial Pharmacy for news.

He was not a physician, so naturally he did not go to provide treatment.

He could only pace back and forth in front of the Shangyao Pharmacy, filled with anxiety.

It's not that I'm worried about the medicine; after all, anything produced by the system is bound to be of high quality.

Instead, they were worried about Li Yuan's penicillin allergy.

If Li Yuan is allergic to penicillin, then all that effort over the past two weeks has been for nothing.

It wasn't until noon that Sun Simiao, He Guanzhong, and a group of other physicians returned from Da'an Palace.

Yang Zhengdao knew from the expressions on everyone's faces that the matter was settled.

But she still went to greet them: "Immortal Sun, Imperial Attendant He, how are you?"

Sun Simiao looked somewhat tired, but his face was full of smiles: "It should be successful."

Ho Koon-chung added, "Young master, rest assured, the Emperor Emeritus has not experienced the adverse reactions you mentioned, and the medication is progressing smoothly. Moreover..."

He drew out the last syllable, then patted Yang Zhengdao on the shoulder with a smile.

"Moreover, Immortal Sun praised the young man highly in front of the Emperor Emeritus, so the Emperor Emeritus will likely summon the young man soon."

Just as Yang Zhengdao was about to express his gratitude, Sun Simiao waved his hand and gave He Guanzhong a look.

He Guanzhong immediately understood and led the physicians away.

Sun Simiao smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice: "Taking advantage of your contribution of medicine this time, I mentioned your concerns to the Emperor Emeritus."

Yang Zhengdao quickly bowed deeply in gratitude: "Thank you for your concern, Immortal Sun."

The concern that Sun Simiao spoke of was naturally related to Chang Le.

He couldn't wait for the whole of Chang'an to know that he was a devoted lover of Li Lizhi, so he accidentally let it slip in front of Sun Simiao.

There's no way around it; college students are definitely a cut above the rest of the world when it comes to shamelessness.

"However..." Sun Simiao hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Immortal Sun, please speak freely."

"Empress Xiao also went to Da'an Palace today."

"My grandmother?!" Yang Zhengdao cursed Liu Zhong for being nosy. It seemed that all five servants in the house were traitors.

"After taking the medicine, the Emperor Emeritus felt much better, so he asked me to stay and talk with Empress Xiao. Empress Xiao asked the Emperor Emeritus to arrange a marriage for you with either a daughter of the Dugu or Pei family."

It seems that Liu Zhong has told his grandmother everything.

Li Er would never agree to marry a daughter of the Dugu or Pei family.

This is probably because Grandmother heard about Chang Le's affairs and used this opportunity to express to Li Er that she had no intention of climbing the social ladder.

However, none of that matters; what matters is establishing an image of "devoted love."

Yang Zhengdao bowed deeply again, then looked up at the sky and sighed, his face filled with sorrow.

"Until the mountains crumble, the rivers run dry, winter thunder roars, and summer snow falls, only then will this heart be extinguished."

Seeing Yang Zhengdao's sincere feelings, Sun Simiao didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only laugh awkwardly and pat Yang Zhengdao's arm.

"Young love blossoms, a deep and unwavering affection. I understand, I understand."