Chapter 9: Saburo’s Knowledge of Medicine

Du Residence.

Li Shimin’s personal Left and Right Imperial Guards had temporarily taken over the defense of the Du residence. From the main gate, the guards lined up in two rows stretching all the way to the main house in the rear courtyard, leaving only a narrow passageway between them.

Seeing the Emperor himself arrive at the Du residence with his imperial physicians, and in such a grand formation, every servant and maid in the household wore an expression of dejection, their faces filled with sorrow and anxiety.

At this moment, the sickroom where Du Ruhui lay was already crowded to the brim.

Emperor Li Shimin stood with his hands clenched, half a zhang from the right side of Du Ruhui’s bed; beside him, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Changsun Wuji all stood in silent attendance. On the left, Madam Du, Du Chuke, and Du Ruhui’s two sons kept their distance, a full zhang from the bedside.

An elderly imperial physician was at the bedside, examining Du Ruhui.

No one spoke; everyone’s expression was shrouded in gloom and complexity, the air itself heavy with oppression.

Suddenly, as the physician withdrew his hand, Li Shimin hurriedly inquired, “How is Keming’s condition?”

The elderly physician immediately rose and bowed respectfully to the Emperor, shaking his head with a sigh. “This old servant is powerless. Forgive me, Your Majesty. The Chancellor’s old illness has relapsed and now deteriorated beyond hope. I have done all that I can.”

With these words, a chill like icy water swept through all present.

Madam Du’s tears, which she had desperately tried to hold back, now slipped down her cheeks in secret.

It was as if the last straw of hope had been snapped by the physician’s verdict.

She sobbed softly, her tears flowing without end.

“Go and rest for now…” Li Shimin sighed helplessly, not blaming the old physician for his failure.

This physician was the most skilled within the imperial palace; if even he was helpless, there were likely few in the world who could save Du Ruhui now.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The elderly physician bowed and stepped aside obediently.

“Keming, wake up, Keming…”

Li Shimin called softly as he approached the bed, grasping Du Ruhui’s hand, his face etched with exhaustion and grief. In a broken voice, he murmured, “Is Heaven truly so cruel as to take you from me?”

His tone was laden with helplessness.

Fang Xuanling and the others could only shake their heads, their faces heavy with sorrow.

After a moment of silence, the elderly physician seemed to recall something and suddenly spoke: “Your Majesty, if one man could be found, perhaps there would still be a sliver of hope for the Chancellor.”

“Who? Speak quickly!” Li Shimin drew a deep breath and fixed his gaze on the physician.

Madam Du, too, ceased her sobbing and looked toward the physician with everyone else.

The old physician didn’t equivocate, but answered solemnly, “The Medicine King—Sun Simiao!”

It was said among the people that Sun Simiao, the Medicine King, was a miracle doctor who could work wonders, able to bring the dead back to life and treat any illness.

The physician was well aware of Du Ruhui’s importance to Li Shimin, and thus dared to speak so boldly.

Li Shimin sighed again, shaking his head with a pained expression. “The Medicine King wanders the world, never fixed in one place. I have already sent men far and wide to search for him, but not a trace has been found…”

Li Shimin knew well of Sun Simiao; he had long since dispatched men in secret to seek him, but to no avail.

At these words, everyone’s faces grew even graver, their sorrow deepening.

...

At that time, Li Yi, accompanied by Li Jing and Eunuch Gao, had arrived outside the Du residence.

Seeing the upright imperial guards flanking the main gate, each with a long sword at his waist, Li Yi’s heart skipped a beat.

“The Emperor’s Imperial Guards truly live up to their reputation,” Li Yi reflected to himself.

There was a stern air about these guards, reminiscent of the soldiers he had seen in his previous life.

Led by Eunuch Gao, the guards allowed them to pass unhindered, and Li Yi and Li Jing entered the residence without delay.

Soon, they reached the doors of the main house at the rear courtyard.

Eunuch Gao stopped and bowed to them. “Master Li, please wait here a moment while I announce your arrival to His Majesty.”

“Thank you, Eunuch,” Li Jing replied with a grave face.

Li Yi simply returned the bow.

“You are too polite, Master Li,” Eunuch Gao replied with a smile, nodding also at Li Yi.

He then entered the room and reported to Li Shimin: “Your Majesty, the Minister of War, Lord Li, has arrived.”

“Let him enter…” Li Shimin nodded, his face still clouded with grief.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eunuch Gao hurried outside and invited the two to come in.

Thus, Li Yi followed Li Jing into Du Ruhui’s sickroom.

The moment he crossed the threshold, Li Yi was struck by an almost tangible sense of oppression.

“It’s stifling in here,” he thought, arching his brow.

He saw beside the bed a middle-aged man in a splendid dragon robe, clutching Du Ruhui’s hand, his face drawn with exhaustion and grief.

Around the room, aside from the Du family, several high officials in ceremonial garb stood in silence, each bearing a heavy expression.

Li Yi quickly lowered his gaze, not daring to look about too freely.

“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty,” Li Yi and Li Jing said in unison, bowing.

“No need for ceremony, Physician,” Li Shimin replied with a casual glance at Li Jing. Catching sight of the unfamiliar Li Yi behind him, however, his eyes narrowed slightly, carrying an inscrutable depth.

But he quickly withdrew his gaze, paying no further heed to Li Yi.

His mood was too dark to dwell on such matters.

Yet Li Jing, who had long served Li Shimin, understood at once the meaning behind that glance.

Among all present, apart from the Du family, the rest were Li Shimin’s most trusted aides. Ordinary people would have no chance to enter the Du residence at such a time.

Clearly, Li Shimin was displeased with Li Jing’s boldness in bringing Li Yi, but, surrounded by so many, he suppressed his anger.

Li Jing was well aware of the strange glances cast their way.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Having thanked the Emperor, Li Jing spoke up: “Your Majesty, this is my third son, Bóān. Not long ago, he received guidance from an immortal in a dream and has learned a little of the healing arts. Concerned for Keming’s safety, I brought him here without permission. I beg your forgiveness.”

“Hmm…” Li Shimin replied absently, not taking it to heart. Since Li Jing had spoken thus, would he take offense? That would be petty indeed.

But as he processed Li Jing’s words, several crucial phrases leapt out at him.

Li Shimin’s brow furrowed as he turned to Li Yi in surprise. “Physician, your third son knows medicine?”

Everyone else in the room, shocked in their hearts, also turned their gaze upon Li Yi.

In that instant, countless complex looks fell upon Li Yi, sharp as sword-blades.