Chapter 22

Just as Jiang Yunzhou was treating Ning Le Junzhu, Zhou Dan, the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, had just finished examining Rong Wang.

In the rear courtyard of the Rong Wang residence, Rong Wang Zhao Xiang took a sip of tea and asked:

"Physician Zhou, I have recently often experienced blurred vision, weak limbs, palpitations, and cold sweats. Have you found the root cause?"

Since the state of Liang had no medical records of diabetes, Zhou Dan examined him and found that aside from internal heat, Rong Wang's body was normal; having found no cause, he stroked his eight-character beard and replied:

"It is likely due to the recent warming weather and Your Highness's overexertion; I will prescribe a formula to clear heat and calm the spirit, and Your Highness need only take it as directed."

Rong Wang nodded, then dismissed the attendants and whispered:

"I am getting older, and at times I feel powerless; I wonder if Physician Zhou has any medication to treat this?"

Zhou Dan thought to himself, "When Rong Wang was young he was a notorious libertine, never knowing restraint; now that he is older, lacking vigor is quite normal, as the saying goes: 'In youth one does not know the value of spring; in old age, unable to rise, one sheds tears in vain.'"

"Your Highness, did the previous medication not work well?"

After asking, Zhou Dan also felt a bit foolish, asking himself whether there was any use in asking himself.

Yin-nourishing and yang-strengthening medicines are not effective for everyone; Zhou Dan had already prescribed several doses for Rong Wang, yet they still failed to restore his vigor.

Zhou Dan pondered briefly and said:

"Perhaps those complex herbs are not effective for you; you may need some simple dietary supplements. I will go back and look for them."

Seeing Rong Wang drinking tea, Zhou Dan added:

"Your Highness, the Huashou Pavilion plans to contract several mountains in southern Muzhou to cultivate medicinal herbs, in order to stockpile quality medicines for our Liang. I do not know whether you deem this appropriate."

Rong Wang knew Zhou Dan was seeking his help to speak up later; he was not certain of the Huashou Pavilion's medical skill nor how many physicians and medicinal ingredients it had stockpiled for Liang.

However, the fact that the Huashou Pavilion's profits were growing ever more extravagant was obvious to all; Rong Wang did not directly refuse, but changed the subject:

"You Huashou Pavilion can apply to the Ministry of Revenue and the Muzhou local officials yourselves; I am not in a position to speak. Let's go, and on the way let us also examine Zhinan's health."

Zhou Dan could not press further, so he merely nodded and followed behind.

Having just arrived at the side garden, it seemed someone was visiting.

The two had just stepped onto the bridge when they heard a man inside say:

"We have found the problem; the junzhu's eye ailment cannot be cured largely because of this Huashou Pavilion's Bright-Eye Nourishing Soup."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dan's anger flared instantly, thinking, 'Who is slandering the Huashou Pavilion here?'

To be safe, Zhou Dan should go inside to clarify before speaking.

But Rong Wang was right beside him; if he did not immediately step forward to refute, he might leave a bad impression of the Huashou Pavilion in Rong Wang's heart...

Moreover, as the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, there are only a handful of physicians in Shangyang City whose medical skill surpasses his.

Hearing the voice, which sounded young and unfamiliar, Zhou Dan naturally felt emboldened to refute:

"Where did this quack come from? Dare to slander the Huashou Pavilion's reputation here!"

Hearing the shout from outside, everyone was startled.

However, they saw a middle-aged man in dark purple brocade already crossing the small bridge, followed by a tall, thin man with a furious expression and a fine eight-character beard, carrying a medicine case at his waist.

That earlier angry shout was uttered by that thin, tall man holding the medicine case.

Seeing this, the surrounding people all bowed to the portly middle-aged man.

"Your Highness!"

It appeared this person was Rong Wang Zhao Xiang.

Zhao Zhinan laughed, rose, and stepped forward, saying:

"Father, are you not supposed to be in the palace attending the emperor? How did you return so early?"

"The emperor is holding court today; I happened to meet Chief Physician Zhou of the Imperial Medical Bureau, so I had him come along to examine our bodies. Zhinan, what are you doing?"

Zhao Zhinan explained:

"Nothing much; I had Elder Sister Shen of the Cang Medical Pavilion send me some medicine, and incidentally asked the physicians there to check my eyes."

Ning Le Junzhu emphasized the word 'incidentally' because she also noticed the smell of gunpowder on the scene.

If she said that Shen Qingru had brought this physician named Jiang Yunzhou specifically to treat her eyes, it would look unfounded and harm the reputation of the Cang Medical Pavilion.

Furthermore, the young physician named Jiang Yunzhou had just boldly stated that his eyes had not been cured and that this was related to the Huashou Pavilion's Bright-Eye Nourishing Soup.

If it were only among our own people, saying this would be fine; even a misdiagnosis or misspoken word would not matter, but with Huashou Pavilion personnel present, they would surely take their anger out on this physician.

She therefore prepared an excuse in advance, saying that if this physician named Jiang Yunzhou had misjudged, it was merely an unintentional oversight during the incidental examination, and would not make him a target.

After all, this Young Master Jiang was the first in many years to declare so confidently that he could cure her eyes.

After hearing the lord and junzhu finish speaking, Zhou Dan glanced at Shen Qingru and Jiang Yunzhou to the side, gave a cold snort, and said:

"Cang Medical Pavilion? I didn't realize Shangyang City still had such a clinic. Your Highness and Junzhu, please be careful not to be deceived by those swindlers. And you, young physician, why did you just slander my Huashou Pavilion's Bright-Eye Nourishing Soup?"

Without waiting for Shen Qingru's response, Jiang Yunzhou stepped forward fearlessly and asked:

"May I ask who you are?"

"Chief Physician Zhou Dan of the Imperial Medical Bureau!"

Jiang Yunzhou nodded and said:

"Oh, so you are the Chief Physician; perfect. This Bright-Eye Nourishing Soup brings the junzhu's eyes a hundred harms and no benefit; it must be stopped."

"This medicine formula was given after diagnosis by several physicians of the Huashou Pavilion; you, young man, should not speak recklessly without clarifying the situation."

Jiang Yunzhou furrowed his brow slightly:

"A physician values truth above authority."

Seeing this young physician show no fear of either the Huashou Pavilion or the Imperial Medical Bureau, Zhou Dan gritted his teeth and said:

"Good! I would like to hear what problems you find with this medicine!"

Since this involved medical inquiry and ultimately concerned Ning Le Junzhu's eyes, the lord and junzhu present did not speak much, merely listening to the two argue.

Although everyone admired the young physician's courage, those present still felt that the Huashou Pavilion's diagnosis would not be problematic.

Shen Qingru also didn't expect to meet her archrival here directly, but now it's no longer a time for mediation; however, she still believes in Yunzhou.

Jiang Yunzhou walked up to Zhao Zhinan and said:

"Since this Clear-Eye Nourishing Soup comes from Magnificent Longevity Pavilion, Sir Zhou, could you explain the medical principles behind it to me?"

Zhou Tan approached Princess of Tranquil Joy without showing any weakness and explained:

"The princess suffered a high fever as a child, which caused blindness in both eyes; after our diagnosis, her eyes were not injured, but the fever likely damaged the meridians behind her eyes. Therefore we use clear-eye medicine to treat them, and since the body's natural principles will repair the meridians, we also add nourishing medicine. This dual approach will gradually heal the princess's eyes."

Listening to Zhou Tan's explanation, Jiang Yunzhou pinched his well-defined chin and remained silent.

Zhou Tan thought he agreed with his medical explanation, and said arrogantly:

"Kid, could there be any deviation in this diagnosis and treatment?"

The crowd also couldn't find any fault, thought the medical principles and treatment were fine, and also thought Jiang Yunzhou's earlier objection was ineffective.

Meanwhile, what Jiang Yunzhou was actually thinking about all along was another problem.

How should I popularize knowledge about nerves to them?