Chapter 213: Little Car

The eleventh year of Hongwu, the ninth day of the third month.

The sky over Yingtian Prefecture was gloomy, with lead‑gray clouds pressed low, as if rain were about to fall but could not.

The wind blew in from the Yangtze River, carrying a damp chill.

In Prince Wu's Residence, Zhu Yong was squatting on a vacant patch in the rear courtyard, with a strange object placed before him.

It had four wheels, a wooden body, a driver's seat at the front, and space for two passengers at the back.

Its appearance was crude, but it was indeed shaped like a vehicle; in Zhu Yong's words, it was called a "little automobile."

"Prince, can this thing… really move on its own?" Zhang Wu squatted beside him, his face full of doubt.

Zhu Yong nodded and replied, "It can; once the steam engine is installed, it will."

Chen Heng stepped forward and said, "But the steam engine from the Ministry of Works isn't finished yet; the last one broke after three days."

"It's almost ready; this time the plastic seal is installed, so it should last longer." Zhu Yong stood up, brushed the dust from his hands, and said.

He looked up at the sky, about to speak, when suddenly he heard rapid horse hooves outside.

Immediately, the gate of the Prince's Residence was pushed open, and Wang Gui hurried in, his complexion turning pale.

"Prince! Quickly! The Duke of Cao is in trouble!"

Zhu Yong's heart tightened: "Uncle Li Zhen?"

"Yes! Just now messengers from the palace reported that the Duke of Cao suddenly fell ill, cannot rise from the bed, cannot even speak. His Majesty and the Empress have already rushed over, and the Crown Prince has ordered me to come and summon you immediately!"

Without a word, Zhu Yong lifted his leg and headed out: "Prepare a horse!"

Zhang Wu and Chen Heng hurried to follow.

The party rode out of the Prince's Residence, racing straight toward the Imperial City.

Duke of Cao Li Zhen was Zhu Yuanzhang's brother‑in‑law and Zhu Biao's uncle.

Back then, Zhu Yuanzhang's parents had both died, and his siblings scattered; his elder sister Zhu Fo Nu married Li Zhen.

Later, when Zhu Yuanzhang raised an army, Li Zhen came to pledge allegiance with his son Li Wenzhong, remaining steadfastly loyal.

In the first year of Hongwu, meritorious officials were greatly ennobled, and Li Zhen was granted the title Duke of Cao.

Though he lacked illustrious battle achievements, as one of the few surviving relatives of Zhu Yuanzhang, his status was highly honored.

Zhu Yong recalled historical records he had read in a previous life; Li Zhen indeed died in the eleventh year of Hongwu.

In this life, he had thought that with his presence many things would change, but he did not expect…

"Giddy‑up!"

Zhu Yong urged his horse forward, racing through the streets of Yingtian City toward the Duke of Cao's Residence.

……

The main hall of the Duke of Cao's Residence.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat at the bedside, his expression dreadfully grim.

Empress Ma stood beside him, her eyes already reddened.

Li Zhen lay on the bed, a man in his sixties, his complexion wax‑yellow, eyes tightly shut, breathing so weak it was barely perceptible.

"Uncle? Uncle!" Zhu Yuanzhang called softly, his voice trembling.

Li Zhen gave no response.

Li Wenzhong knelt at the foot of the bed, clenching his lips hard, tears silently streaming down.

Beside him stood five‑year‑old Li Jinglong, the little boy who did not yet understand what had happened, only clutching his father's sleeve in fear.

"Dad… what happened to grandpa?" Li Jinglong asked softly.

Li Wenzhong could not speak, but he held his son tighter.

Zhu Biao stood nearby, his expression solemn.

He had already ordered someone to summon the Imperial Physicians, but judging by this, it seemed…

"Where are the Imperial Physicians? Why haven't they arrived yet?" Zhu Yuanzhang whirled around and roared.

As soon as the words left his mouth, several Imperial Physicians, panting heavily, rushed in, knelt on the ground and said, "We humbly request an audience with His Majesty…"

"Stop kneeling, quickly examine my uncle!" Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed the lead physician and pulled him up.

The physicians hurried forward, taking his pulse, flipping his eyelids, listening to his breath, working diligently for a while.

The lead physician lifted his head, his face ashen, and said, "Your Majesty… the Duke of Cao suffers from a wind‑type illness, with sudden organ failure, we… we…"

"What are you waiting for? Speak!" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were already red.

The physician knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, and said, "We are incompetent; the Duke of Cao… perhaps…"

Before the words finished, Zhu Yuanzhang kicked the nearby stool over with his foot.

"Useless! You're all a bunch of useless!"

Empress Ma quickly seized him and urged, "Zhong Ba! Don't do that, the Imperial Physicians have already done their best…"

"Doing their best, what good did it do? My uncle is only in his sixties!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared, but his voice already carried a sobbing tone.

He had lost both parents in childhood, his siblings scattered, some dying early.

His elder sister Zhu Fo Nu had been the kindest to him; during the famine they fled, she saved her own rations to feed him, and without that morsel he, Zhu Yuanzhang, would have starved to death long ago.

Later his sister fell ill and died, leaving only his brother‑in‑law Li Zhen.

That honest, simple man had traveled thousands of miles with his son to seek refuge with him, standing by his side through life and death, never uttering a complaint.

Now, even the last relative is about to depart?

Zhu Biao stepped forward, supporting Zhu Yuanzhang, and said, "Imperial Father, please do not be too sorrowful; Uncle…"

Before he could finish, hurried footsteps sounded from outside.

Zhu Yong strode into the main hall, with Wang Gui and several others following behind.

"Father! Mother! How is Uncle?"

Seeing Zhu Yong arrive, Zhu Yuanzhang calmed slightly, pointing at the bed and saying, "Yong Er, come quickly and look, your uncle…"

Zhu Yong walked to the bedside, lowered his head and looked at Li Zhen.

The old man lay there, his complexion sallow, lips purple, breathing intermittent.

The "wind disease" described by Chinese medicine is actually a stroke, and a severe stroke.

He reached out to feel Li Zhen's forehead; it was somewhat hot.

He flipped his eyelids again; the pupils' reaction to light was already very weak.

Zhu Yong felt a heaviness in his heart.

This condition would be critical even in later ages, let alone in the primitive medical conditions of the Hongwu era.

"What does the imperial physician say?" Zhu Yong asked.

The leading imperial physician trembled and said, "Lord Cao's stroke has affected his organs; Qi and blood are in chaos; we… we are at a loss."

Zhu Yong remained silent.

He knew the imperial physician was not lying.

With today's medical level, a stroke is basically waiting for death.

But he also understood what Li Zhen's life meant to Zhu Yuanzhang, or rather to Great Ming.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat at the bedside, held Li Zhen's hand, and murmured, "Brother‑in‑law, do you remember, back then at Fengyang we begged for food together, you gave me the last piece of cake."

You said Zhong Ba was still young and needed to eat well; later the eldest sister died, you came with Wen Zhong to find us; we said, brother‑in‑law, we would support you from now on; you said, no need, we could still go to war…

As he spoke, tears fell.

Empress Ma wiped her tears beside him, and Zhu Biao's eyes reddened.

Li Wenzhong knelt on the ground, his head banging the floor, shoulders trembling violently, yet he bit his teeth tightly and made no sound.

Li Jinglong was frightened, let out a "Wah" and cried, "Grandpa! I want grandpa!"

The child's voice was mournful, piercing the heart.

Zhu Yong stood aside, watching the scene, his heart choked.

He patted the jade bottle in his bosom, the pills from the system space, eight remaining.

These were the Nine‑Turn Resurrection Pills obtained by signing in during the Hongwu Second Year, ten in total.

One was used to save Chang Yuchun, another when Zhu Biao fell ill, the remaining eight have never been touched.

This pill can revive the dead, even the shedding‑armor wind that afflicted Chang Yuchun can be cured, Li Zhen's case…

But the problem is whether this pill can treat a stroke; Zhu Yong does not know.

Chang Yuchun and Zhu Biao were both acute cases; the pill worked instantly.

But Li Zhen's condition is aging plus stroke, a failure of bodily functions, not a simple acute illness.

Moreover, only eight pills remain, and more people will need them later.

Parents, older brother, Chang Wan, Xiong Ying, Huan Huan… Zhu Yong does not dare guarantee that no one will fall ill later.

Use, or not…

Zhu Yong fell into a dilemma.