Chapter 214: To Use or Not to Use

On the other side of the bed, Li Zhen's breathing suddenly grew rapid, a rattling sound coming from his throat.

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!" Zhu Yuanzhang cried out in alarm.

Li Wenzhong rushed to the bedside and shouted, "Father!"

The imperial physician hurried forward, took his pulse, and shook his head with a pale face, saying, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Cao… I fear he won't make it."

The words "won't make it" struck like a knife, piercing everyone's heart.

Zhu Yong looked at Li Zhen's aged face, watched him struggle to breathe in his throat, and saw a tear slowly seep from the corner of his eye.

In that instant, Zhu Yong suddenly recalled a piece of historical records he had read in his past life.

Li Zhen was an honest and unassuming man, never vying for merit, never seizing power.

When Zhu Yuanzhang enfeoffed him as a duke, he declined, saying he had no merit to deserve the reward.

When Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to adopt Li Wenzhong as his son, he said Wen Zhong was His Majesty's nephew and dared not overstep.

He simply lived his life humbly and grew old humbly.

Historical records had only a few brief lines about him, but Zhu Yong remembered one sentence very clearly:

"Zhen's nature was pure and sincere; serving Taizu from beginning to end, he committed no faults."

A man who "committed no faults" was exceedingly rare in that bloody and stormy era of the early Ming.

Zhu Yong took a deep breath and reached into his bosom.

To hell with it, I'll use it and deal with the consequences.

At worst, I'll accumulate more merit later and let the system issue a few more pills.

Just as he was about to pull out the jade bottle, he suddenly heard a voice from behind.

"Your Majesty, let me try."

Everyone turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a blue robe standing at the door, carrying a medicine chest.

It was Liu Chun, the Vice Director of the Imperial Hospital.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and asked, "Liu Chun? Why are you here?"

Liu Chun bowed and said, "I heard that the Duke of Cao was gravely ill, so I rushed over from the Imperial Hospital. In my early years, while traveling the martial world, I obtained a miraculous formula specifically for treating wind-stroke seizures. It might be worth a try."

"What miraculous formula?" Zhu Biao couldn't help asking.

Liu Chun said, "This formula is called the 'Life-Sustaining Decoction.' It combines over a dozen ingredients, including ephedra, cassia twig, angelica, and ginseng, supplemented with acupuncture to unblock the meridians.

I have used this formula to save three people before. Though I dare not claim it can raise the dead, but…"

He glanced at Li Zhen on the bed and said, "The Duke of Cao is now in critical condition. I am willing to do my best to try."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong also looked at Liu Chun.

He knew who Liu Chun was.

The most skilled physician in the Imperial Hospital, upright in character, never flattering or fawning.

Zhu Biao had once commented on him: "Liu Chun treats illnesses, not fate. He saves what can be saved and doesn't force what cannot."

A man like that probably wouldn't act recklessly.

Zhu Yong nodded.

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Fine, you give it a try!"

Liu Chun walked to the bedside, first took Li Zhen's pulse, then checked his eyelids and looked at his tongue coating.

Then he took out silver needles and inserted them into acupoints such as the central point on the nose, the Hundred Meetings point, and the Stone Pavilion point on Li Zhen.

After a few needles, Li Zhen's breathing seemed to steady a bit.

Liu Chun then took out paper and brush, quickly wrote a prescription, and handed it to the nearby physician, saying, "Go fetch the medicine quickly. Decoct three bowls of water down to one bowl. Hurry!"

The physician took the prescription and hurried out.

Liu Chun continued applying the needles, fine beads of sweat gradually forming on his forehead.

Everyone in the room held their breath, afraid to disturb him.

After about a quarter of an hour, the medicine was ready.

Liu Chun took the bowl of medicine, tested it with a silver needle, and then fed it bit by bit into Li Zhen's mouth.

After feeding the bowl of medicine, Li Zhen's breathing became noticeably steadier, and the ashen pallor on his face faded somewhat.

Another half quarter of an hour passed, and Li Zhen's eyelids twitched, then slowly opened.

"Bro… brother-in-law?" Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed in surprise.

Li Zhen's gaze was cloudy for a moment, then gradually focused, settling on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

He opened his mouth, and a hoarse voice came from his throat, saying, "Zhong Ba…"

Though slurred, he was indeed speaking.

Li Wenzhong rushed to the bedside, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Father! Father, you're awake!"

Li Zhen turned his head with difficulty to look at his son, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.

Liu Chun said, "The Duke of Cao has just awakened and should not speak too much. I will administer acupuncture and medicine daily to gradually regulate his condition. If he can survive these seven days, his life can be saved."

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed. He grabbed Liu Chun's hand and said, "Good! Good! Liu Chun, if you can save my brother-in-law, I will reward you handsomely!"

Liu Chun bowed and said, "I seek no reward, only that Your Majesty allows me to treat the patient in peace."

"Granted! All granted!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly.

…

Half an hour later, Li Zhen's condition stabilized, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang breathe a sigh of relief. He said to Li Wenzhong, "Wen Zhong, stay with your father. If anything happens, send someone to the palace to report immediately."

Li Wenzhong, his eyes red, nodded and said, "Your servant obeys the decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Chun again and said, "Liu Chun, these days you will stay at Cao Guo Gong Fu, guard day and night; if you need anything just speak up."

Liu Chun said, "I obey."

After arranging everything, Zhu Yuanzhang led the group away from Cao Guo Gong Fu.

Exiting the gate, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long sigh and said, "If it weren't for Liu Chun today, we truly would have lost my brother‑in‑law."

Empress Ma said, "Zhong Ba, the brother‑in‑law is a man of good destiny; he'll get better."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then suddenly looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, just now I saw you reach into your chest; what were you trying to take out?"

Zhu Yong was stunned for a moment, chuckled naively and said, "I… I wanted to take a handkerchief to wipe sweat."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him for a while, asked no further, and turned to board the carriage.

Zhu Biao walked to Zhu Yong's side and whispered, "Second brother, were you just now trying to use that pill?"

Zhu Yong, knowing he could not hide from his elder brother, nodded.

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, patted his shoulder and said, "Elder brother knows you mean well, but that pill only has eight left; many will need it later."

"If Liu Chun can save him, let him; if truly cannot…"

He paused and said, "Then using it later won't be too late."

Zhu Yong said, "Elder brother, I understand."

The two brothers glanced at each other and said nothing more.

The carriage started, and the party headed toward Imperial City.

Zhu Yong rode his horse following behind, but his mind lingered on what had just happened.

Liu Chun's life‑extending soup—does it really work, or is it just luck?

He wasn't quite sure.

But he knew one thing: Li Zhen's life has, for now, been saved.

As for later…

We'll talk later.

……

Three days later, news came from Cao Guo Gong Fu that Li Zhen could already speak, though still a bit slurred, but his consciousness was clear.

Seven days later, Liu Chun announced that Li Zhen was out of danger and only needed gradual recuperation.

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and immediately issued an edict: promote Liu Chun to Imperial Hospital Envoy, reward ten thousand gold, and grant a residence.

Liu Chun declined, saying that treating illness is a doctor's duty.

Zhu Yuanzhang was even happier, saying this is a true good doctor.

When Zhu Yong went to visit Li Zhen, the old man was leaning on the bed drinking porridge.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, he smiled faintly and murmured, "Yong Er, you're here…"

Zhu Yong walked over, chuckled, and said, "Uncle, you look much better."

Li Zhen nodded and slowly said, "Thanks to Doctor Liu… also thank you all for remembering…"

Zhu Yong sat at the bedside and kept the old man company for a while.

As he was about to leave, Li Zhen suddenly grabbed his hand, his cloudy eyes filled with gratitude, and said, "Prince Wu… I know, that day… you wanted to take out what…"

Zhu Yong was stunned.

Li Zhen patted his hand, said nothing more, and just smiled.

That smile held gratitude, contentment, and a clear insight into the world.

Zhu Yong felt warmth in his heart, chuckled, and said, "Uncle, recover well; when you're better, I'll take you to see the steam engine."

Li Zhen smiled and nodded.

……

Leaving Cao Guo Gong Fu, Zhu Yong stood on the steps, watching the clouds above.

The March wind blew, carrying the scent of earth and fresh grass.

He suddenly recalled a phrase he had heard in a past life.

The greatest happiness in life is not immortality, but spending one's limited time with those who matter, completing this life together.

In this life, he has many important people.

Father, mother, elder brother, Guanyin Nu, the children, and these relatives, friends, comrades.

Being able to spend one more day with them is a profit.

"Prince Wang, returning to the residence?" Wang Gui asked beside him.

Zhu Yong nodded, turned over, and mounted his horse.

The setting sun stretched his shadow long.

Amid the clatter of hooves, the group's silhouettes faded away.

Behind them, the lanterns of Cao Guo Gong Fu lit up one after another, flashing warm light in the dusk.