When the chamberlain led Peng Yizhen in, Gu Shiba Niang had already adjusted the pillows and helped Prince Wen sit down, looking very tired.
Gu Shiba Niang returned to Peng Yizhen's side, and they knelt down together.
"You want to treat me?" Prince Wen glanced at them and asked calmly.
"Yes, Xiaomin is brave." Peng Yizhen lay on the ground, his voice was trembling but firm.
Gu Shiba Niang raised her head slightly, wanting to see Prince Wen's face. She had already thought about what she wanted to say.
"Okay." Prince Wen said.
Peng Yizhen and Gu Shiba Niang looked up at him a little awkwardly, so simple
"Doctor Peng, are you diagnosing the pulse or..." The clever chamberlain immediately stepped forward and asked with a smile.
Only then did Peng Yizhen come back to his senses and hurriedly said: "Diagnose the pulse."
Prince Wenjun graciously asked them to stand up. This short question and answer seemed to have exhausted his energy, and he slowly closed his eyes.
The three of them held their breath and kept silent, acting cautiously.
Putting his hand on Prince Wen's wrist, Peng Yizhen's expression became increasingly ugly. After a long time, he let go.
"How is it?" the chamberlain asked impatiently. He felt out of place after asking and looked at Prince Wen carefully.
Prince Wen was still leaning on the pillow with his eyes closed. If his eyelashes hadn't been trembling, he would have fallen asleep again.
"Can it be cured?" he asked slowly.
Peng Yizhen trembled slightly.
"I dare you to give it a try." He lowered his head and replied.
"You must already know some things." Prince Wen opened his eyes slightly and glanced at Gu Shiba Niang.
Of course he was talking about those powerful connections.
Peng Yizhen had no experience in dealing with these noble people, and he didn't know how to answer for a while, fearing that something he said was wrong would cause trouble for Gu Shiba Niang.
Should he say he knows or he doesn't know
"So, I can't have any accidents before mid-September." Prince Wenjun did not ask him to answer, but continued, his eyes falling on Peng Yizhen with an unquestionable expression.
"Yes." Peng Yizhen replied hurriedly, "Xiaomin understands."
Prince Wenjun hummed, closed his eyes and stopped talking.
Peng Yizhen raised his head carefully and said boldly: "Then please allow me to give you permission to administer acupuncture to the prince first. The prince's illness has been delayed for too long, and we really can't delay it any longer..."
King Wenjun expressed his kindness.
"Please ask the prince to undress..." Peng Yizhen lowered his head and whispered.
Hearing this, Gu Shiba Niang hurriedly lowered her head and retreated. Standing in the study, she could see the beautifully laid out garden outside the window. But at this time, she was not in the mood to look at the scenery. In fact, she had not been in the mood to appreciate it since she was reborn. landscape.
In the space of a cup of tea, Peng Yizhen retreated.
"How is it?" Gu Shiba Niang asked in a low voice.
Peng Yizhen wiped the sweat from his forehead and lowered his voice: "It's hard to say..."
I knew this was not going to be easy. Such a big cake would not fall from the sky specifically to hit them.
"How sure are you?" After a moment of silence, Gu Shiba Niang asked in a low voice.
"Fifty percent..." Peng Yizhen did not hesitate.
Half... Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but be surprised.
"It also includes your medicine..." Peng Yizhen added.
Gu Shiba Niang's surprise was nothing but shock.
"Moreover, the prince's illness has been chronic for a long time, and the dosage of medicine needs to be increased." Peng Yizhen said in a low voice, looking at Gu Shiba Niang, "Mrs. Gu, how sure are you?"
Gu Shiba Niang naturally knew how to prepare several ingredients of Longhu Tang, but the difficulty was the arsenic in it, and it was a large dose that had never been seen before. To change such a large dose of arsenic from highly toxic to non-toxic, this kind of This has never been done before.
"Two percent." She said slowly.
As soon as these words came out, the room fell into silence.
"I think it's not that none of the imperial doctors recognized the prince's illness, they just knew it was dangerous and didn't mention it..." Peng Yizhen sighed softly and whispered.
The Imperial Hospital is full of talented people and has ancient secrets and secrets. There are no records of any difficult and complicated diseases. It's just that if you become famous, you don't need to take risks anymore.
Peng Yizhen clenched his hands tightly, lowered his voice but said firmly: "No matter what profession in this world, strength is respected. If you have strength, you have dignity. Without strength or fame, you are like an ant. But for us For these people, strength alone is not enough, they also need an opportunity. Otherwise, even if they have special skills, they will be easily wiped out and eventually remain unknown. I have had enough of being looked down upon by others. This time I do my best."
His eyes were burning with enthusiasm, making his originally plain and even ugly face become radiant.
Gu Shiba Niang smiled. Ever since they stepped into Prince Wenjun's mansion, they had cut off all retreats and could only move forward.
The sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation, and the chamberlain came out.
"Ms. Gu, Doctor Peng, you are going to live in this garden these days..." the chamberlain whispered, "There are only three people in the entire county and prince's palace who know about this, so just in case, you are not allowed to leave. Half a step here…”
They had expected this when they came, so they nodded in agreement.
"My surname is Huang..." the waiter introduced himself with a smile.
"Master Huang..." The two of them hurriedly saluted.
"Don't dare, don't dare, just call me Lao Huang'er..." he said with a smile.
Of course he was just talking and they were just listening.
"Although no one can enter this garden without the permission of the prince, but just in case, you two still have to pretend to be..." As Huang Huang said, he looked at Peng Yizhen and looked at his figure. It's impossible. "Doctor Peng pretended to be a handyman cleaning the yard..."
Peng Yizhen nodded naturally.
"As for Madam Gu," Huang's eunuch smiled, which made Gu Shiba Niang feel a little scared, "I'm going to force you to be a maid..."
"Master Huang said something serious..." Gu Shiba Niang hurriedly bowed her head and saluted.
“I hope the prince can turn danger into safety this time…” Eunuch Huang glanced at the two of them and spoke softly with a hint of grief for the loss of the rabbit.
"I will definitely do it." Gu Shiba Niang said suddenly.
"Yes, it will definitely happen." Peng Yizhen also said.
A kind of passion spreads indoors, dispelling the depression of late autumn and early winter.
Peng Yizhen's family set off back to his hometown at the same time as he entered Wenjun Prince's Mansion according to his instructions. The disappearance of such a small person did not attract anyone's attention.
Since the Great Medicine Society, Gu Shiba Niang has been living a secluded life in order to maintain her health and study hard. Therefore, her disappearance has not attracted much attention, except of course Xin Chaoyang.
"Miss Gu, are you missing?" Xin Chaoyang was a little surprised when he heard the servant's report.
These days, due to the plague in the north, the medicine merchants have done a lot of business. In order to compete for a large share of the government's procurement of anti-plague medicinal materials, he is busier than before. After careful planning, the business was achieved as expected. Although this kind of thing is difficult for a victorious person. For Xin Chaoyang, it was not worth celebrating, but he still wanted to find someone to share it with. As a guest in the capital, the first person who came to his mind was Gu Shiba Niang, a fellow villager and great pharmacist.
"She said she couldn't see you?" Xin Chaoyang frowned slightly and asked again, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
It's impossible, it shouldn't be. Ever since he stood up to show his kindness to everyone in Jiankang Baohe Hall, Gu Shiba Niang remained calm and restrained, but at least she didn't brush him off in terms of face.
"The younger one didn't see Mrs. Gu. It was the Lingbao girl who said that Mrs. Gu was busy and didn't see any guests." The servant said hurriedly.
That's it. Xin Chaoyang nodded and waved his hand. The servant hurriedly stepped back and sat on the bamboo chair. He reached out and picked up a chess piece. His hands felt cool. The girl's face with a slight smile appeared in front of his eyes. A clear hint of shyness flashed through.
Maybe...he saw it wrong...
"Master, Master..." A servant called out irritably.
Xin Chaoyang, whose thoughts were interrupted, put down the chess piece and looked over.
"Master, this is a letter from the eldest master." The servant held up a letter and handed it over respectfully.
Chaoyang took the letter and scanned it several times, his expression changed slightly, and he suddenly put the letter on the table with his backhand.
The servants on the side glanced at him curiously.
Xin Chaoyang noticed it immediately, looked slightly condensed, and waved his hand.
The servant didn't dare to look any further, so he shrank his head and hurriedly exited.
Xin Chaoyang didn't know how long he sat there until he heard the sound of rain outside the window. He stood up, walked to the window, and opened the window. The autumn rain rushed in with thick moisture and a slight chill.
He stood by the window, looking at the courtyard shrouded in rain and fog. There were maids holding umbrellas and laughing as they passed by, and a boy ran past quickly with his head in his arms. He stood there motionless for a long time, until he was embraced by the night.
For Xin Chaoyang, his life is paved with countless choices. Choice is the simplest thing for him, but this time, the things mentioned in his father's letter made him feel a little difficult for the first time.
"Actually, what's so rare about this?" He suddenly clapped his hands gently, as if he was dissatisfied with himself for spending so long being distracted, "It's just a matter of weighing the pros and cons and the probability of success or failure..."
As soon as these words were spoken, it seemed that all the obstacles in his mind were gone.
"Come here, hold the lamp," he called.
The maids who had been waiting outside the door immediately filed in, lighting lamps, pouring tea and joking, and the deserted room suddenly came back to life.
At this time, in the dark study room of Prince Wenjun's Mansion, the rainy night in late autumn did not add any desolation to the place.
"Doctor Peng is really amazing..." Huang Neishi whispered softly, while neatly pouring tea for Prince Wen.
Although it was just a single acupuncture, Prince Wen today did not fall into drowsiness after an hour or two like in the past. He was sitting on the bed, feeling a little tired because he had been sitting for too long.
He just took a shallow sip of the tea, moistened his lips, and pushed it away.
"Bring me the documents from these days..." he said suddenly, looking at the dancing candlelight.
"The Prince cannot worry about this now..." Gu Shibaniang's voice came from the door. She was wearing the clothes of a maid in the Prince's Mansion, holding a bowl, and spoke in a low voice.
"Yes, yes, Prince, since Mr. Yang and the others are here, Prince, don't worry, let's take good care of him..." Huang Huang said immediately.
Prince Wen didn't speak any more and closed his eyes slightly.
"Prince, take your medicine." Gu Shiba Niang said, looking at the chambermaid on the side.
But the chamberlain did not come to take it as she expected.
"You can eat after taking the medicine, right?" he asked.
Gu Shiba Niang nodded.
"Then I'll prepare something to eat..." the chamberlain said happily, bowing to Prince Wen and retreating.
Gu Shiba Niang looked at the medicine bowl in her hand and had no choice but to step forward.
"Prince, Doctor Peng said you should wake up more..." she reminded tactfully.
Prince Wen then opened his eyes.
"The more tired I am, the more I feel like sleeping, and the less I want to sleep..." Gu Shiba Niang lowered her gaze and knelt down.
"Sit down." Prince Wen said.
It was indeed impossible to give medicine while kneeling. Gu Shiba Niang thanked En and stood up as instructed, sitting down slightly next to the bed.
"It's a bit bitter..." She said softly, glanced at Prince Wen quickly, then lowered her head and handed over half a porcelain spoon of medicine.
The medicine spoon was slightly tilted. King Wenjun remained motionless, moved his body slightly, and took a sip of the medicine.
There was no sound in the room, only the occasional sound of a porcelain spoon hitting the bowl. The bowl of medicine was quickly finished, and Gu Shiba Niang's initial nervousness and discomfort gradually faded away.
After finishing the last bite, she picked up a piece of candied fruit from the tray beside her and handed it over.
Prince Wen's brows furrowed imperceptibly, he hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth to eat.
After pouring tea and gargling her mouth, the waiter finally came over with a light meal, which also broke the slight awkwardness of getting along with strangers, and Gu Shiba Niang breathed a sigh of relief.
She bowed and left.
"Ms. Gu, could you please help me get a cup of tea..." the waiter called her and said with a smile.
Gu Shiba Niang responded yes and did as she was told.
"...Mrs. Gu, can the prince eat this dish?"
"...Mrs. Gu, do you really not need to eat taboos?"
The waiter asked questions from time to time, or asked her to help pass chopsticks and spoons, get a brocade handkerchief, and other trivial matters.
There are so many servants in the prince's palace, but now he is the only one serving King Wen. For him, this is not only physical torture, but also mental torture.
No one communicates, no one can speak, keeping this shocking secret, trapped in a cage, not knowing whether he will live or die tomorrow.
"Of course we must avoid eating..." Gu Shiba Niang spoke with a slight smile, "You can't eat pork..."
"Ah, you can't eat pork?" Huang Huang sighed exaggeratedly. He glanced at Prince Wen and saw that his expression was calm and his eyes were tired, but he was not tired of his chatter.
"You won't be able to eat it for two years." Gu Shiba Niang said with a smile and glanced at Prince Wen.
Prince Wen shook his head and signaled that he would not eat.
Looking at the half-eaten bowl of white porridge and the slightly swayed side dishes, Waiter Huang reached out to wipe his tears excitedly, "The prince hasn't eaten for several days, old slave, old slave is really happy..."
Seeing him shed tears, Gu Shiba Niang felt her nose was sore.
A simple meal consumed more than half of King Wenjun's energy. He leaned on the soft pillow, although his eyes were open, his energy was already low.
"The prince is tired, just lie down." Gu Shiba Niang said softly.
"Is that ok?" Chamberlain Huang had already seen that Prince Wen was holding on, and was overjoyed when he heard this.
Gu Shiba Niang nodded, "As long as you don't sleep."
"No need." Prince Wen refused.
It becomes more comfortable to lie down, making it harder to resist sleepiness.
Gu Shiba Niang understood what he meant, and remained silent for a moment. Her eyes swept across the room in confusion, and finally landed on the high bookshelf, her eyes brightening involuntarily.
"Prince, please lie down and I will read to you..." she said with a bit of joy.
"Oh, what a great idea. Our prince loves reading books the most. He has been doing so for a long time..." Huang Neishi clapped his hands and couldn't help but feel happy. In the middle of the sentence, he felt that it would be bad to mention that unlucky thing, so he quickly stopped talking and looked at Prince Wen, " I’m an old slave and I don’t know a few words…”
Seeing the two people's earnest inquiries, Prince Wen nodded slowly.
"What does the prince want to hear?" Gu Shiba Niang asked.
"Whatever." Prince Wen replied.
It can't be too taxing, but it can't be boring. Gu Shiba Niang thought about it and finally pulled out a book of strange stories from the bookshelf. Although it was a bit vulgar, it was more novel.
"In the first year of Tang Zhen's reign, a man came from Yangzhou..." A cool female voice sounded softly in the room.
Waiter Huang turned on the lamp and looked at the woman who was kneeling beside the bed, holding up a book and reading seriously. She couldn't help but rub her eyes again and slowly backed away.
"...Prince, this book says that the bottle can hold cattle and horses. Are you telling me whether it is true or not? This is too strange..."
The rustling autumn rain outside the window gradually covered the soft female voice.
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4500 words, one day off on the weekend