Miss Truth
Chapter 528 - 350: Ran Yan and Su Fu_2

Chapter 528: Chapter 350: Ran Yan and Su Fu_2

"Indeed, my son has long heard of Lady Ran’s reputation but didn’t expect her to be so formidable," Li Chengqian said, seeing Li Shimin pleased, and felt a bit more confident, his face relaxing into a light smile.

"Oh? Besides that, what else?" Li Shimin was clearly in a good mood today and asked with interest.

Li Chengqian responded, "Recently, Father Emperor appointed a new Chamberlain to the Eastern Palace who had been serving in Suzhou. Chamberlain Liu told me a lot about Suzhou, including its customs and people, and mentioned Lady Ran, saying she became a proficient doctor after a long illness and apprenticed with the Medical Saint. While she was recuperating at the Ran Family’s separate residence, she once saved a child who had been submerged in water overnight, and the people of Suzhou hailed her as a Divine Doctor!"

"Oh? Is that so? Can it be trusted?" Li Shimin’s expression became much more serious, the story seemed fantastical, but he believed that if Li Chengqian could not ensure the reliability of the news, he would not recklessly talk nonsense in front of him.

"Chamberlain Liu would not fabricate stories in front of me, right?" Li Chengqian did not directly confirm, as such stories sounded utterly fantastical, and if it turned out to be false later, he could still extricate himself.

An eunuch behind Li Shimin bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I too have heard of this matter."

"You have heard as well? Why have you never mentioned it to me?" Li Shimin had been extremely anxious over Princess Jinyang’s sudden illness recently, and at this moment, he couldn’t help feeling a bit displeased.

The eunuch spoke anxiously, "I had only heard such rumors among the lower-ranking people, feeling it was an exaggeration. As I couldn’t verify it in Suzhou myself, I dared not speak irresponsibly before the Emperor."

In the Sui and Tang dynasties, not all eunuchs were qualified to be called "Imperial Eunuch." During the early Tang, there were not many eunuchs, and the Imperial Secretariat had posts for two supervisors, two junior supervisors, four eunuchs, six senior eunuchs, followed by positions like internal attendants and temple officials, etc., each with a fixed number usually not exceeding twenty. The so-called "Imperial Eunuch" refereed to the highest rank within the Imperial Secretariat.

Li Shimin mused, "After Assistant Minister Xiao Ziqi’s term is over, I will summon him to inquire. If Lady Ran indeed possesses such divine skills, my son will no longer have to suffer from chronic illness."

Thinking of his beloved daughter’s recurring illness, a trace of depression appeared between Li Shimin’s brows. Li Shimin himself suffered from a respiratory disease, and several other princesses also inherited this condition. Perhaps because Princess Jinyang was younger, her condition was much more severe than theirs and frequently recurred. A year-round medication routine had stunted her growth, making her much smaller than other children her age at seven years old.

"Your Majesty, Prince Wei has arrived," reported an eunuch at the door.

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Let him in."

Seeing Li Shimin’s expression, Li Chengqian felt choked up and became even more cautious. His father’s favoritism towards his younger brother had far surpassed his as the Crown Prince. If this continued, his position as heir might sooner or later change hands.

"Father Emperor," Li Tai entered briskly with a face full of joy, his chubby cheeks covered in sweat.

Li Tai and Li Shimin bore a striking resemblance in facial features, except that due to his corpulence, he lacked any semblance of heroism. Moreover, unlike his siblings who enjoyed hunting, he preferred literature and art, spending most of his time indoors, his skin was pale and delicate, adding a touch of scholarly elegance.

"Why such haste, Qing Que?" After asking, Li Shimin didn’t wait for an answer and turned to the eunuch, "Zhong Rui, quickly get a handkerchief for Prince Wei."

"Yes," Zhong Rui bowed and retreated. He only needed to walk to the door where an eunuch was already prepared with items to relieve the heat.

Li Tai saw Li Chengqian and quickly clasped his hands in a salute, "Crown Prince."

Before Li Chengqian could reply, Li Shimin spoke, "Today, we father and son shall chat leisurely, not minding the formalities of sovereign and subject. Sit down and talk."

Li Chengqian humbly replied, "Exactly, my fourth brother need not be overly courteous."

Li Tai bowed once more, then sat down on the mat, took the handkerchief passed by the eunuch, and while wiping his sweat, he eagerly spoke to Li Shimin, "Father Emperor, your son has good news to share with you today."

Li Shimin chuckled, "Seeing the joy on your face, I knew there must be good tidings. Rest a bit before you speak."

Zhong Rui, the eunuch, placed a cup of heat-relieving soup on the table in front of Li Tai, "This is a new heat-relieving soup prepared by the Imperial Kitchen this summer. Please try it, Your Highness."

Li Tai took a sip, nodded, and said, "It is indeed more refreshing than before." Although he praised it, he did not continue drinking, and eagerly said, "Father Emperor, I cannot hold back this great joyous news today any longer, or it might make me ill from the suspense."

Li Shimin laughed heartily, "You may speak."

Li Tai joyfully said, "Recently, I heard of a famous doctor. Early on, I sent people to Suzhou to verify the information, and only today did I receive confirmation. Thinking that it could bring hope for the princess’s illness, I hurriedly came to inform you, Father Emperor."

"Oh? Could it be that this doctor you recommend also hails from Suzhou?" asked Li Shimin.

Although Li Chengqian’s expression didn’t show it, he felt somewhat smug inside, having finally been ahead of him once and overshadowed him. He felt quite relieved.

"Precisely," Li Tai said in surprise, "Could it be that my elder brother is also here to recommend a distinguished doctor?"

Li Chengqian, smiling with dignified generosity and the demeanor of a Crown Prince, said, "Indeed, what a coincidence. May I ask which doctor my fourth brother is recommending?"

"Father Emperor, I recommend the second son from the Medicine King’s family in Suzhou, Su Ziqi. He has entirely inherited his family’s medical skills, surpassing even the former Imperial Physician from his family. Although he is a recluse who often lives in the mountains, making him unknown to the world. I accidentally discovered recently that he was employed at the Imperial Medical Bureau, and I immediately dispatched people to Suzhou for confirmation," said Li Tai, smiling contentedly as he looked towards Li Chengqian, "The person you wanted to recommend wouldn’t happen to be Su Ziqi, would it?"

Li Chengqian inwardly cursed, Li Tai’s demeanor clearly showed that he had already known about the person he was planning to recommend, and he had just wanted to make a mockery of him earlier! And compared to the Ran Family rumor, this Medicine King’s Su Family was much more reliable.

"The Medicine King’s Su Family," Li Shimin indeed showed great interest, and couldn’t help but sit up straighter, "Was it not said that this generation’s Medicine King pales in comparison to those of the past?"

"Father Emperor is unaware. Su Ziqi is an unrecognized son of the Su Family, and his medical skills are not inferior to his father. The Medicine King once intended to pass the position of family head to him, but Su Ziqi, who loved to roam and study medical skills all over the world, politely declined," said Li Tai. (To be continued. If you like this work, please cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)