Chapter 13: Physical Cooling

Chen Yan's sudden words caused the Imperial Physician's hand to pause, almost pricking Princess Jinyang.

At the same time, Li Shimin, Empress Changsun, and Princess Gao Yang, among others, instantly focused their gazes on Chen Yan.

Li Shimin frowned slightly, "Zi An, what do you mean by this?"

He did not rush to anger, for from today's interaction Li Shimin knew Chen Yan was a clever person.

His actions were flawless; with just two arrangements he placed himself in an absolutely safe position.

Aside from matters concerning Princess Gao Yang, Chen Yan was in a fairly rational state.

One moment he had provoked his own anger, the next he could seek help from Empress Changsun; a few words dispersed his impending fury.

How could such a clever person, knowing they were already anxious, still interrupt the physician's treatment of Xiao Sizi?

The Imperial Physician turned his head, glancing at the handsome young man not far away while also observing Li Shimin's attitude with the corner of his eye.

Seeing that the latter had not become angry but merely inquired, he immediately realized this youth likely had an extraordinary background.

He promptly replied courteously, "Sir, I am first administering acupuncture to Princess Jinyang."

Chen Yan replied discontentedly, "I'm not blind; I obviously know you intend to administer acupuncture."

"The problem is, what are you puncturing at her water-opening point?"

"Even I know Princess Jinyang suffers from energy illness; if you needle her water-opening point and wake her, only to have the illness flare again, what then?"

The Imperial Physician startled, realizing the youth before him likely understood medicine, his face instantly darkened.

If the youth across from him had spoken up merely out of curiosity or concern,

then he could overlook it out of respect for Li Shimin and the youth's status.

But now, those later words clearly came from suspicion of his medical skill!

You must know, the Imperial Physician is the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

What is the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau?

It is the highest‑ranking medical official of the Imperial Medical Bureau, overseeing its administration and medical affairs, responsible for treating the imperial family, officials, and palace, while also supervising nationwide medical official selection and medical education.

The Imperial Physician considered himself not the foremost in medicine today, yet he was not someone a random youth could casually criticize.

He suppressed his anger and said in a low voice, "Princess Jinyang is already unconscious; I needle her Water Mouthed point to awaken her so as to cooperate with drug therapy—what's wrong with that?"

"What more problem could there be!" Chen Yan glared at the Imperial Physician, "Didn't you hear what I just said? Princess Jinyang suffers from qì illness, and her high fever and unconsciousness resulted from an outbreak; if you wake her now and she relapses, can you save her?"

Chen Yan snorted, pressing step by step, "Drugs, drugs, all you know is drugs!"

"I see you're just afraid of death, only seeking a stable treatment!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and Empress Changsun glared unfavorably at the Imperial Physician.

This qì illness has plagued Empress Changsun for years; she knows all too well the pain when it flares.

As Chen Yan said, Empress Changsun sometimes wishes she would faint when the illness flares, just to avoid enduring such pain.

Although the two of them don't understand medicine, from the conversation between Chen Yan and the Imperial Physician,

the Imperial Physician clearly seeks stability, aiming to awaken Xiao Sizi with acupuncture, yet risking a relapse of her illness.

If at that point she could be saved, that would be fine.

But if her condition worsens, wouldn't that merely subject Xiao Sizi to needless torment and ultimately aggravate the situation?

Sweat beaded on the Imperial Physician's forehead as he prepared to defend himself, but Chen Yan strode forward, lightly placing his fingertips on Xiao Sizi's wrist, feeling carefully before muttering, "The thrust is weak, the pulse force is feeble, light touch yields no clear sensation, heavy press also lacks a strong beat."

"It's rather serious..."

In his previous life, Chen Yan was a diligent medical graduate student, proficient in Western medicine and, from childhood, taught traditional Chinese medicine by his grandfather.

Owing to his talent in medicine, at just over twenty years old he had his grandfather and college instructors exclaim that there was nothing left to teach; with more practice he would surely secure a place in the medical world.

He might slack off, yet he hasn't forgotten a bit of his abilities.

After a thorough examination, Chen Yan roughly determined the cause.

As expected, Xiao Sizi likely suffered a high fever from a respiratory infection, while her body seemed long depleted, causing qi and blood deficiency that led to sudden unconsciousness.

The urgent priority is to find a way to reduce Xiao Sizi's fever.

Having made up his mind, Chen Yan immediately clasped his hands toward Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, can you trust me?"

Li Shimin gave Chen Yan a deep look, then slowly said, "You are my son‑in‑law; how could I not trust you?"

Empress Changsun opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Meanwhile, behind them, Princess Gao Yang stared oddly at the youth beside the bed, wondering what he was thinking.

Chen Yan smiled, hesitated no longer, snatched the silver needle from the Imperial Physician's hand, and passed it through the candle flame.

The first needle went into the midpoint on the radial side of the second metacarpal bone on Xiao Sizi's hand back.

"Union Valley?" the Imperial Physician murmured.

Chen Yan ignored him, lifted Xiao Sizi, felt around her back, then drew out another silver needle and passed it through the flame.

Thereafter, his motion did not cease; he inserted three needles in succession.

Beside him, the Imperial Physician saw Chen Yan's needle points and suddenly understood, "Great Vertebra, Crooked Pond, Outer Pass, Wind Pool—Sir, are you trying to first reduce the young prince's fever?"

"Old man, you've got some eyesight," Chen Yan replied, raising an eyebrow.

The Imperial Physician said nothing.

From Chen Yan's needling technique just now, the youth's medical skill is not far off.

His technique is fast, accurate, and steady, his movements flowing like clouds and water.

Speaking solely of this needling skill, the Imperial Medical Bureau would be hard‑pressed to find a few who could match him.

Therefore, his anger over Chen Yan's earlier advice has also dissipated.

The Imperial Physician is not a pedant; his earlier anger stemmed from Chen Yan being overly young, making it hard to believe his medical prowess.

Now that Chen Yan has shown this, the Imperial Physician realizes the person before him possesses genuine ability.

However, he still harbors some doubts.

"Young master, to be frank, I also considered this method before, but using acupuncture to reduce fever works too slowly; it drags on too long, the little highness might......"

"Who said I only rely on acupuncture to reduce fever?" Chen Yan pursed his lips, turned his head to look at the maid still kneeling on the ground, "Why are you still kneeling? Come over and help me support the little princess."

On the ground, Dong Xue, hearing this, cautiously raised her head.

Seeing Chen Yan looking at her, she finally realized she hadn't misheard just now; Chen Yan was calling her.

She hurriedly got up from the ground, then walked to Chen Yan's side and reached out to support Princess Jinyang.

Chen Yan said, "Your Majesty, I also need some niter, a basin of clear water, and two handkerchiefs."

Li Shimin, hearing this, although somewhat puzzled why niter was needed, also knew now was not the time to ask more questions; he nodded and said, "Wushe, go prepare it immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wushe responded, then withdrew from Fengyang Pavilion.

After Wushe left, Li Shimin was about to ask, but the Imperial Physician couldn't help himself: "Young master, isn't niter used to treat carbuncle toxin?"

"Could niter also be used to treat gas ailment, or for its antipyretic effect?"

"No." Chen Yan shook his head, looking at the cute little milk bun on the soft couch, and said helplessly, "Princess Jinyang's fever is too high; to reduce it quickly, acupuncture alone isn't enough."

"We must combine it with physical cooling!"

"......"