Chapter 412

Hu Xiaotian also stepped forward: "Emperor, boundless blessings, longevity as vast as heaven—this minor ailment naturally poses no problem."

"Has that blood‑sucking worm been taken out of my belly?" Long Yelin said, already feeling his stomach less painful than before.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Your Majesty, rest assured, that worm has already been removed from the dragon's body."

Long Yelin let out a long breath, obviously relieved.

Hu Xiaotian had thought the next step would be rewarding merits, but after waiting half a day without Long Yelin speaking, could he have forgotten this? Just now he said he'd agree to anything I wanted, and I said—well, it turns out this true dragon emperor is born in the Year of the Rat, drops his paw and forgets! What about the promised reward?

Hu Xiaotian was getting anxious; Long Yelin had just finished surgery, after all his body was weak, how could he have the mood to think about this? Empress Jian saw the emperor's obvious improvement, her heart also settled considerably, she couldn't help thinking to herself: "It seems this Hu Xiaotian really does have some ability; I underestimated him." She said softly: "Your Highness, Prince Ting Sheng has been waiting outside for a long time; because your condition is like sitting on pins and needles, worrying incessantly, should we let him in?" Without Long Yelin's order, she dared not act on her own.

Long Yelin's condition improved, his mood also got much better; he nodded and said: "Come in, it's rare to have such filial devotion."

Empress Jian was overjoyed, she quickly ordered someone to announce.

Not long after, the eldest prince Long Ting Sheng hurried in, entered the palace, came to the dragon bed and fell to his knees with a thud: "Father, I have come late!"

Long Yelin glanced at him weakly, voice lacking strength: "Get up. I have nothing else."

Long Ting Sheng said: "I knew Father would have boundless blessings; nothing will happen."

At this moment, the third prince Long Tingzhen also arrived; his demeanor was completely different from Long Ting Sheng's. Upon entering Xuanweigong, he was already tear‑streaked, kneeling before the dragon window: "Father, I have come late, I heard you are ill. I am anxious and furious, wishing I could take your illness and suffering upon myself. As long as you are well, even if I must bear great blame, I would willingly accept it."

Hu Xiaotian listened from the side; the two princes were still different—Long Tingzhen's words were sweeter, he knew how to express loyalty better.

Long Yelin nodded, his expression showing some fatigue; Ji Feihua observed minutely. He said: "Both princes have already seen the emperor; the emperor's dragon body is fine, let's temporarily withdraw and let the emperor rest properly." A eunuch daring to openly drive away two princes shows how arrogant Ji Feihua has become.

The eldest prince Long Ting Sheng, hearing this, couldn't help but widen his eyes in anger: "Father is bedridden with illness. As his son attending him, do I need you to inquire?"

Although Long Tingzhen inwardly disagreed with Long Ting Sheng, when it came to opposing Ji Feihua the brothers were surprisingly in agreement; however, since Long Ting Sheng had spoken up, he fell silent, kneeling quietly in place, content to watch from the sidelines.

Ji Feihua said calmly: "I, too, am concerned for the emperor's health; his condition is not yet healed and he needs quiet recuperation. The two princes rushing in, wailing, their filial intent is commendable, but if it affects the emperor's mood it could backfire."

Long Tingzhen said: "I don't understand what you mean by 'backfiring', Prince Gong—my elder brother and I came to attend Father; isn't that right?" The two brothers had actually reached a tacit understanding in dealing with Ji Feihua.

Long Yelin waved his hand: "You may go out for now; I need to rest quietly."

Hearing their father say that, the two brothers Long Ting Sheng and Long Tingzhen couldn't help but show disappointment on their faces, but they dared not defy the imperial command; they could only suppress their resentment, rise, and withdraw. Long Yelin then added: "I have a private word with Prince Gong; everyone else must leave."

Thus everyone withdrew from Xuanweigong, further highlighting Ji Feihua's important status.

After everyone left, Long Yelin struggled to sit up, his abdomen still faintly painful; he looked at Ji Feihua and said: "Give…… me…… give…… me……"

Ji Feihua's lips curled with a cold smile: "Your Majesty, you still need to preserve your dragon body; Dakang's realm and ancestral altars cannot exist without you, nor can the several princes."

Long Yelin's face showed panic: "You…… you must absolutely not harm them……"

Ji Feihua sighed, placing a black porcelain bottle in Long Yelin's palm: "You think of them, but they may not think of you; they speak sweetly, yet in their hearts they wish you were dead."

Long Yelin didn't hear his words at all, twisted open the stopper, poured out a red pill from the porcelain bottle, and swallowed it eagerly.

Outside Xuanweigong, Hu Xiaotian and Li Yifeng exchanged quiet pleasantries; after meeting they finally had a chance to speak privately, Li Yifeng not pressing Hu Xiaotian for details of his recent experiences, seeing his current attire he could roughly guess what he had been through, Li Yifeng still felt regret for this young man's fate, thinking back to how this beloved son of the Minister of Revenue once enjoyed countless favors, achieved success young, was arrogant and extravagant, in the capital he was as pleased as a spring breeze; now the once high‑official noble who was once attended like stars surrounding the moon has fallen to serving others in the palace, lowly and despised—not even a man anymore—besides sighing, he also felt it a great pity, for in his impression Hu Xiaotian is not an ignorant playboy; at least in medicine he possesses considerable unique expertise, his medical technique differing from most people's, performing surgery, before Li Yifeng had met Hu Xiaotian he had never seen anyone use such a treatment method, which can be said to have opened a whole new field in Li Yifeng's medical understanding.

Li Yifeng wore a fawning smile: "Lord Hu, your skillful hands bring back spring, relieving the emperor's illness—you are truly a divine physician of our age." As the head of Yiyuantang, he did not hesitate to flatter Hu Xiaotian with obsequious bows, for everyone had witnessed Hu Xiaotian curing the emperor's illness, relieving his pain, and would surely receive imperial rewards, perhaps even rising swiftly to high office; if he gained the emperor's favor, this boy's prosperity would be imminent.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "What divine physician? I merely happen to know a few folk remedies."

Li Yifeng thought to himself that it wasn't that simple a folk remedy; this kid was hiding his talent. If he could learn even a move or half‑form from Hu Xiaotian's medical art, Yiyuantong would surely stand out among the three major medical halls and never be trampled by Xuantian Guan again. Li Yifeng said: "Lord Hu, if you have free time, come often to Yiyuantang to sit and we can exchange medical techniques."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have one more matter I'd like to ask Mr. Li for help with."

Li Yifeng said: "Lord Hu, just give the order; as long as I am able, I will certainly devote my full effort."

"It's not a big deal; I just want you to help me craft a set of surgical instruments, and later I'll draw some diagrams for you." Hu Xiaotian, following Quan De'an's instructions, had always concealed his medical skill; but after treating the emperor today, he reckoned his fame would soon spread and he could no longer hide the fact that he knows medicine. In the future, people will surely come seeking treatment; ordinary folk refusing is fine, but if it's nobles and officials, he must give them face, so he is preparing in advance, just in case.

Li Yifeng said: "Fine, I'll take care of this; Lord Hu, you just need to draw the diagrams, I'll hand them over to the Heavenly Works Workshop to have their finest artisans make them." Li Yifeng was delighted; helping Hu Xiaotian also lets him learn a lot, he said that today's surgical set was made according to Hu Xiaotian's diagrams. He also had his own calculations: although Hu Xiaotian was the lead surgeon today, the assistant was himself, so when he spreads the word, his share of the credit for curing the emperor will also be his, he'll share in the glory—haha, today he truly picked up a great bargain.

Hu Xiaotian saw the two princes retreating dejectedly; upon meeting them he felt he must greet them, so he approached and respectfully said: "Your servant pays respects to the Highness of the Eldest Prince, and to the Highness of the Third Prince."

Since the incident at the Yan Shui Pavilion, the Third Prince Long Tingzhen has borne a grudge against Hu Xiaotian, completely ignoring him as he walked past. Hu Xiaotian felt bored and inevitably embarrassed; having just clashed with Empress Jian, and knowing that the Eldest Prince Long Ting Sheng is her biological son, he likely won't receive a friendly look either—it seems his warm face will be met with repeated slaps.

But the fact turned out opposite to Hu Xiaotian's expectation; the Eldest Prince Long Ting Sheng was actually quite courteous to Hu Xiaotian, smiling and saying: "Hu Xiaotian, my father's affairs owe much to you."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Your Highness is too kind; being able to relieve the emperor's worries and cure his illness is my honor."

Long Ting Sheng smiled, nodded, and said: "Later I will petition the father emperor and mother empress to bestow generous rewards upon you."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself that he couldn't count on the mother empress rewarding him; if Empress Jian, that old woman, doesn't harm him, that's already good. Hearing Long Ting Sheng cough twice, Hu Xiaotian said: "The medicinal materials the Highness needs have been prepared and sent; I don't know if Your Highness has received them."

Long Ting Sheng said: "Thank you for the trouble; speaking of this, I now owe you a favor."

At that moment, Empress Jian in the distance waved at him; Long Ting Sheng smiled, rose, and departed. Hu Xiaotian watched the Eldest Prince's retreating back, secretly marveling—so it's said rumors are unreliable; in the rumors Long Ting Sheng is hot‑tempered and lacking wisdom, yet his actual conduct is very approachable and affable. Still, one cannot rule out that he is deliberately putting on an act to win Hu Xiaotian over.

Just now Hu Xiaotian had talked back to the emperor in front of Empress Jian, already angering her; seeing her son speaking with Hu Xiaotian made her displeased, so she immediately summoned him to her side and whispered a complaint: "Why bother with him? This fellow, relying on Ji Feihua's power, is arrogant and rude, contemptuous of everything; just now he actually slandered this palace in front of your father the emperor—it really makes me furious." (To be continued~^~)