Chapter 618

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A little eunuch answered: "The Empress Dowager is chatting in the Pavilion of Nurturing the Heart in the Back Garden."

Eunuch Dong laughed: "The Empress Dowager and Huo Shengnan always have endless talk."

Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered who this Huo Shengnan was; could she be an imperial princess? But then he thought again, if she were a princess, Eunuch Dong wouldn't address her like that.

Following Eunuch Dong along the right corridor, bypassing the Empress Dowager's palace, they entered the Back Garden, stepping on lush green grass, arriving at the Pavilion of Nurturing the Heart. From afar they heard a hearty burst of laughter from within the pavilion; judging by the voice, it seemed to be an old lady. Hu Xiaotian looked up and saw a white-haired old lady sitting facing him, with two palace maids standing on either side, and another woman with her back to him, her figure superb; although only a silhouette, she was unforgettable. This woman's hair was tied up like a man's, her body leaning casually against the railing, appearing quite at ease, indicating her relationship with the Empress Dowager was extraordinary—no ordinary person would dare act so casually before the Empress Dowager.

Perhaps hearing the movement behind her, the young woman turned her head. She was in the prime of her youth, her complexion not the fair complexion of typical noble ladies but a wheatish hue; her brows were dense and elegant, her brow peaks like swords, her beautiful eyes, though not large, had deep, dark pupils, clear and bright, radiant, her gaze exuding heroic spirit; her nose bridge was high, her lips full. Her looks were not those of a petite beauty, nor did they conform to the mainstream aesthetic of the era, yet she possessed a unique charm, healthy and wild. Yes, that was the beauty of wildness.

The young woman stood up straight and said to Empress Dowager Jiang: "Eunuch Dong has brought the doctor."

As she spoke, Eunuch Dong had already entered. He said respectfully: "Reporting to Empress Dowager, the people of the Divine Farmer Society have arrived."

Empress Dowager Jiang waved her hand and said: "Just let them in."

Liu Yucheng and Hu Xiaotian entered together, both kneeling before Empress Dowager Jiang with bowed heads, and said respectfully: "Commoner Liu Yucheng pays his respects to Empress Dowager." Hu Xiaotian remained silent, since everyone assumed he was merely an attendant.

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed: "Please rise, no need for such formality."

Liu Yucheng and Hu Xiaotian then rose. Liu Yucheng saluted the young woman: "General Huo is here too!" It turned out that this young woman was the famed female general Huo Shengnan of Da Yong, who was also the adopted daughter of Grand Marshal Weichi Chong, and since Weichi Chong was the adopted son of Empress Dowager Jiang, she was thus the Empress Dowager's adopted granddaughter, deeply favored by the Empress Dowager, who treated her as her own. Liu Yucheng had previously met Huo Shengnan at Weichi Chong's marshal's residence, but they were not close.

Huo Shengnan looked quite surprised: "What? Pavilion Master Liu didn't come?"

Liu Yucheng said: "My father happened to be busy, so he sent me."

Huo Shengnan said: "Since you're here, help examine the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "Come over and help me take a look; my eyes are really bothering me."

Liu Yucheng walked over, and Hu Xiaotian followed, carrying his medicine chest. Empress Dowager Jiang pointed at her eyes; Liu Yucheng leaned in and saw that the old Empress Dowager's eyes were somewhat red and swollen. He had a palace maid bring a basin of water, washed his hands, then said: "I dare to offend."

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "What offense, no offense—just hurry and help me take a look."

Liu Yucheng then carefully lifted Empress Dowager Jiang's eyelids. Hu Xiaotian understood at a glance: the Empress Dowager had trichiasis. It was a minor ailment.

Liu Yucheng said: "Reporting to Empress Dowager, it is trichiasis! Simply pluck the inwardly growing lashes, and it will be fine."

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "I certainly know it's trichiasis, but I plucked them today, and in a few days they grow back again, this repeated cycle vexes me greatly. My son said your Divine Farmer Society's medical arts are superb; I wonder if you have any method to eradicate my trichiasis once and for all, so it won't recur."

The only treatment for trichiasis that Liu Yucheng knew was this; hearing Empress Dowager Jiang's request, he felt a bit embarrassed, for while plucking the lashes is effective, it does not eradicate the root, and no one can guarantee it won't recur. Liu Yucheng said: "Reporting to Empress Dowager, the treatment for trichiasis is just this."

Empress Dowager Jiang, hearing this, felt a bit disappointed, sighed, and said: "I thought you might have some solution, but it turns out it's nothing more than this."

Huo Shengnan said: "Looks like the Divine Farmer Society is just an empty reputation."

Liu Yucheng, being mocked to his face, instantly felt embarrassed, his face flushing red. He blamed himself: "It's only because my skills are lacking that I've brought disgrace upon the Divine Farmer Society."

Meanwhile, Hu Xiaotian said: "There is actually a way to cure it completely."

Actually, since Hu Xiaotian entered, everyone had assumed he was just a medicine‑carrying boy, paying no attention to him; but once he spoke, everyone's focus instantly shifted to his face.

Liu Yucheng inwardly groaned, not knowing Hu Xiaotian's medical skill; the patient before them was no ordinary person—she was the Empress Dowager of Da Yong, the mother of Emperor Xuekang, and one cannot speak rashly before her; if he failed, it would be a crime of deceiving the sovereign. Liu Yucheng secretly broke out in a cold sweat for Hu Xiaotian.

Huo Shengnan gave Hu Xiaotian's face a once‑over with her beautiful eyes, showing clear disdain: "Do you even know where this is?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Of course I know where this is, and I know who is before me—Empress Dowager Jiang. If I weren't absolutely certain, I wouldn't dare say such a thing."

Huo Shengnan exclaimed in surprise: "Even the junior master of the Divine Farmer Society can't do it—what could a lowly attendant like you possibly know?"

Liu Yucheng gave a wry smile to himself; he was not my attendant, but this could not be revealed.

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "Shengnan, let him speak; it's fine." The old Empress Dowager's temperament was actually not bad.

Huo Shengnan then fell silent, lifting her chin at Hu Xiaotian to signal him to explain his treatment plan.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Empress Dowager, in this world everything has its pros and cons; please forgive my boldness. Although I have never had the chance to see you in your youth, from your present appearance I can infer that when you were young you must have been a peerless beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, especially with those eyes—bright, lively, and rarely does one see eyes as large and lovely as yours."

To the bystanders, Hu Xiaotian's flattery was so slick it was downright nauseating; Liu Yucheng listened with his heart pounding, fearing that if the praise missed the mark and instead hit the horse's hoof, it would anger the Empress Dowager and have them both chopped off. Huo Shengnan felt a sour throat and goosebumps rose—what kind of person is this brat? Pure sycophancy, the face of a villain. Eunuch Dong, however, felt a striking sensation: "Flattery, flattery, never wears out—this kid is actually a kindred spirit!"

Empress Dowager Jiang widened her eyes, deepening the wrinkles on her forehead; Hu Xiaotian, seeing her expression, felt uncertain—"Damn! Did I flatter wrong?" Then he saw the corners of her withered mouth twitch into a smile, she opened her mouth, lifted her sleeve to cover it, and let out a ho-ho laugh.

Hu Xiaotian instantly relaxed—looks like he'd hit the right note.

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "You kid, do you know fortune‑telling? How do you know what I looked like when I was young? Though speaking of it, I really was a beauty in my youth." She turned to Eunuch Dong and said: "Little Dong, you tell me, isn't that right?"

Eunuch Dong said: "That's only natural—when the Empress Dowager was young she was the foremost beauty of Da Yong; no! She should be the greatest beauty in the world." The eunuch's flattery never shyed away from being nauseating.

Hu Xiaotian said: "In my view, Empress Dowager, you still possess peerless elegance, noble and graceful, magnificent and splendid. I never lie—when I just entered, although you were surrounded by many youthful maidens, my gaze was first drawn to you; your presence feels like the stars gathering around the moon, and before you, even those youthful maidens would feel ashamed."

Eunuch Dong's eyes nearly popped out; he took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and exclaimed, "Good heavens! Who is this? You shameless wretch, how dare you spout such brazen flattery?" Beside him, whether palace maid or female general Huo Shengnan, they all glared coldly—no matter how lacking they might be, they would not be outshone by an old lady; this kid is clearly just sucking up.

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed ever more happily, saying chucklingly: "The stars gathering around the moon… I'm old—how could I compare to these young girls?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Not just stars gathering around the moon—it's literally a crane standing among chickens!"

Huo Shengnan's eyes flashed with fire; this brat simply has no shame or limits, able to utter any shameless words, yet the old Empress Dowager loves this sort of talk, hearing it made her beam with laughter, doubling over—she hadn't been this happy in days.

Empress Dowager Jiang finally managed to stop laughing, caught her breath, calmed herself, and then said: "You kid are truly amusing, you really know how to cheer me up."

Huo Shengnan said: "It seems you've been talking for half a minute without saying a single thing related to the Empress Dowager's condition."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Miss, there's no need to rush; in this world, benefits come with drawbacks. When the Empress Dowager was young, her eyes were large and beautiful, but beauty often carries a price. In old age, when the skin sags, it causes the eyelashes to turn inward; conversely, people with small eyes rarely suffer this." As he said this, he glanced at Huo Shengnan—indeed her eyes are not small; in this era that venerates large eyes they are not striking, yet if she were born in modern times, such eyes would be among the most relaxed and sensual.

Huo Shengnan also caught his implication about her small eyes, and couldn't help but glare at him fiercely.

Hu Xiaotian secretly chuckled.

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "What you say does make some sense; how do we resolve it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Plucking the lashes is merely a stopgap—treating the symptom, not the root. If you want to address both symptom and root, you must lift the drooping eyelid upward; then the lashes will flip back out, and the new lashes will no longer rub against your eyes." (My novel Medical Unification will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, plus a 100% prize draw grand gift! Now open WeChat, click the '+' icon in the upper right corner 'Add Friends', search for the public account 'qdread' and follow—hurry up and grab it!)(To be continued... ^~^)

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