Chapter 20 What I Want

Returning to the recipe of Anshen Decoction, Zhu Zaigui also revealed a pensive expression.

He just couldn't understand why such a tranquilizing medicine became popular in the palace. Was there some conspiracy behind it?
Zhu Zaiyi turned his attention back to Li Shizhen and asked, "Doctor Li, do you know why there is such a tranquilizing decoction in the palace?"

Li Shizhen hesitated for a moment, lowered his head and said in shame: "I don't know either."

Zhu Zaigui was also expecting Li Shizhen's answer. After all, Li Shizhen was not born into a family of imperial physicians, but came from the countryside. He gained recognition from everyone with his skills. Later, by chance, he cured the illness of the son of Fushun King Zhu Houkun, thus gaining the favor of Chu King Zhu Yingqi, who hired him as the "Fengci Zheng" of the palace, concurrently in charge of the affairs of the Good Doctors' Institute.

He was then recommended by the King of Chu to come to the capital and take a position in the Imperial Medical Service, becoming an alternative who entered the Imperial Medical Service under the hereditary system by relying on his real ability.

Therefore, Li Shizhen's diagnostic style and treatment methods were different from those of other imperial doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau, so Li Shizhen was not particularly happy staying in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

If it were not for the purpose of studying those precious and rare medical books kept only in the Imperial Medical Service, Li Shizhen would have resigned from his official position long ago.

Therefore, Li Shizhen really didn't know much about what was going on in the Imperial Medical Bureau.

So Zhu Zaigui did not blame Li Shizhen.

Zhu Zaigui simply said, "Then I'll trouble Imperial Doctor Li to keep an eye on it and find out why this tranquilizing decoction has become a secret in the palace. I want to find out which evildoer is trying to harm me with the lead poison."

Li Shizhen immediately bowed and said, "I obey your command!"

Zhu Zaigui didn't care about it anymore. He stretched out his arm and said, "Please ask Doctor Li to take my pulse and prescribe some medicine to strengthen my body. I am too thin now. I have been sick and weak before. I guess it's because I was poisoned by lead."

When Li Shizhen heard what Zhu Zaigui said, he did not dare to be negligent and immediately took Zhu Zaigui's pulse.

When he was taking the pulse, Meng Chong, who was standing beside him, was very nervous. He never dreamed that the calming soup that Prince Yu had been drinking was actually poison!
Gao Gong, who was standing by, was also extremely shocked. He never expected that someone would dare to give poison to the prince of the Ming Dynasty as a tranquilizer. This was simply an unforgivable crime!
If Gao Gong had not been in Prince Yu's Mansion at that moment, he would have been unable to resist writing a memorial to denounce the Imperial Medical Service, requesting His Majesty the Emperor to thoroughly investigate all the doctors in the Imperial Medical Service to find out who among them had been bribed to do such a cruel and insane thing!

Li Shizhen took Zhu Zaigui's pulse. When he just took the pulse, Li Shizhen's brows couldn't help but frowned and he was also shocked.

Yesterday, Li Shizhen also took Zhu Zaigui's pulse. Zhu Zaigui's pulse was chaotic, weak and extremely frivolous. As soon as he took his hands on him, he could feel that Zhu Zaigui was suffering from qi deficiency.

But today, when he started, Li Shizhen immediately felt the change in Zhu Zaigui's pulse.

Zhu Zaigui's pulse became a little steadier today, and the beating strength was stronger than yesterday.

So at this moment Li Shizhen was a little confused about what was going on.

He carefully felt Zhu Zaigui's pulse for a long time, but there was no change in his steady and strong pulse.

Li Shizhen released his hand and stepped back, bowing to Zhu Zaiqi and saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness. Your Highness is in good health and your pulse is strong, much better than yesterday. May I ask what happened yesterday?"

Zhu Zaigui listened to Li Shizhen's words, thought for a moment, and then replied: "Yesterday, I went to Chaotian Temple with Meng Daban. The Taoist priests in Chaotian Temple saw that I was extraordinary and took the initiative to teach me a set of Qigong training methods. I was still practicing this morning. Maybe this method has worked."

Meng Chong couldn't help but twitch his lips when listening to Zhu Zai's words. He knew everything about yesterday's situation. It was clearly the prince who threatened others to teach him the method, but today, when he opened his mouth, it became that others begged him to teach them. But Meng Chong didn't dare to say anything, so he could only stand there and hold his breath.

When Li Shizhen heard Zhu Zaigui say this, he also sighed and said, "So that's how it is."

Li Shizhen had no other meaning in what he said to Zhu Zaigui, because Li Shizhen's hometown was in Hubei, where Taoist culture was already flourishing.

Therefore, Li Shizhen also had some knowledge of some Taoist qigong practices, but the ones he knew were different from the Taoist qigong practices. They were a method of fitness summarized by medical practitioners of all generations, and they mainly involved exercising the body by simulating the movements of various animals.

So Li Shizhen had no other intentions and just thought that Zhu Zaigui had learned a profound method of cultivation.

Li Shizhen said: "Since the internal training that Your Highness has learned has such miraculous effects, Your Highness must persist in practicing it well."

When Zhu Zaigui heard what Li Shizhen said, he immediately laughed.

Zhu Zaigui said enthusiastically: "Originally, I wanted to ask Doctor Li to help me check it out, but now I feel relieved after hearing what you said."

Li Shizhen said: "The prince's pulse is steady and strong, which shows that the Taoist who taught the prince the method of cultivation is a Taoist who has attained the Tao, not an ordinary person who pretends to be a ghost. It's just that..."

Li Shizhen hesitated at this point and did not dare to continue.

After all, the current emperor is one who is keen on practicing and seeking the truth, so it is not good to say some things too directly.

So Li Shizhen stopped talking in time.

But even so, Zhu Zaigui still understood.

Zhu Zaigui said, "I understand what Doctor Li means. Birth, aging, illness and death are the laws of nature, and I do not seek immortality. All I want is to be healthy and safe."

"Since Your Majesty understands, that is a great kindness!"

Li Shizhen was deeply moved by Zhu Zaigui's words. He had been practicing medicine for decades and had seen countless patients of different types.

But most of these patients, whether they are rich or poor, young or old, their only wish after falling ill is to live forever and be free from illness and disaster.

However, people like Zhu Zaigui who directly regard birth, aging, sickness and death as the natural law of nature are still a minority.

This shows how clear Zhu Zaigui's view on life and death was, which even Li Shizhen couldn't help but sigh.

After hearing what Zhu Zaigui said, Gao Gong, who was standing by, felt waves of ups and downs in his heart. He never expected that the young Prince Yu could have such a mature and broad career.

Not only is he well-informed, but he also has such an enlightened view on the principles of life, aging, illness and death. Compared to the current emperor who is obsessed with Taoism and cultivating the mysterious world, he is simply the king of dreams!

(End of this chapter)

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