Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 210 Fishing
Imperial Physician Zhuang sighed and shook his head: "Yunze, it's not what you think, I..."

Lin Yun suddenly sat up, her eyes filled with anger: "I clearly developed a method to suppress the poison of the Dream Demon Flower, so why won't you let me use it? The medicine to reverse aging is almost complete, so why are you obstructing it in every way? Humph! Isn't it just because you're afraid I'll surpass you? You're just jealous of me!"

Lin Yun pointed to the lingering poison stain on her wrist, her voice trembling with excitement: "Now that I've been careless and been poisoned, are you happy? Are you going to do as you please? But don't worry, I won't give up! I will definitely succeed! No matter what!"

Physician Zhuang was deeply disheartened and somewhat angry: "I used to think you were just a little obsessed with medicine and a bit eccentric, but I never imagined you couldn't even distinguish right from wrong. Tell me how many lives you've taken to experiment with medicine! What use is this anti-aging medicine to the common people? A doctor should have the heart of a parent, a compassionate heart, not one driven by selfish desires!"

"Hahaha... You're so hypocritical! Everyone looks out for themselves, and you always have this 'doctors have the heart of a parent' thing on your lips, but what good does that do for us? You clearly have amazing skills, but you can't use them. What kind of free clinics do you hold every year? What's the point of treating those lowly people's minor ailments like headaches and fevers? If you can't afford medical care, then go die!"

"Slap!" Doctor Zhuang raised his hand and slapped him hard across the face. "You are not worthy to be my disciple! I have been blind all these years! Now that the poison has seeped into your bones, you have only yourself to blame. You can leave. I will no longer treat you!"

"Can't you tell who's good to you and who's bad to you?" Rong Wanyin couldn't stand it anymore. Pointing to the poison spot on his wrist, she felt a tightness in her chest. "Now that you've been poisoned, even Physician Zhuang can't save you. You can go down to the underworld and show off your intelligence to the King of Hell!"

Upon hearing that he only had half a month to live, Lin Yun was struck dumb, his whole body trembling violently, his face ashen white. He scrambled off the bed, staggered to Physician Zhuang, grabbed his leg, and cried out, "Master! Master, please save me! I don't want to die... I really don't want to die!"

Lin Yun knew better than anyone that her master was a highly skilled doctor and would never lie about this. If her master said he couldn't cure it, then he definitely couldn't.

Tears streamed down his face as he gripped Doctor Zhuang's robes tightly with both hands: "Master, I promise I'll never touch the Dream Demon Flower again, I'll always listen to you! Master, I know I was wrong... Please save me..."

Physician Zhuang sighed deeply, still unable to bear it. His withered hand gently touched Lin Yunze's trembling back: "Yunze, it's not that I don't want to save you, but the Dream Demon Flower poison has already invaded your brain. I truly have no foolproof solution." He paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes, "Back when the Sixth Prince went to Medicine King Valley, you gave him a poison-to-poison medicine, but that medicine had actually damaged the Sixth Prince's very foundation. It was only because he was young, the dosage was small, and he had access to various royal secret medicines that he was able to survive. But not everyone is as lucky as him!"

Lin Yunze, with vacant eyes, kept muttering, "No, no! I won't die! I still want to be the revered medical saint! No! You're lying to me! Yes, you're lying to me, you're jealous of me! Ah! Ah!"

Seeing that Lin Yunze had gone mad, Physician Zhuang did not hesitate to pull out a golden needle and insert it into the acupoint. Lin Yunze's body instantly went limp and he fainted.

"Imperial Physician Zhuang, is this... really incurable?" Rong Wanyin sighed, after all, it was still a human life, and she could only watch helplessly as it slipped away.

Imperial Physician Zhuang shook his head: "I can only try my best to make his remaining days less painful... As for Yunze... I will try my best to find out about the Dream Eater Flower. I will contact you again if there are any developments..."

Physician Zhuang's words clearly indicated that they were being asked to leave. The group exchanged glances, understanding the implication. Yan Mingzhang led the way, bowing and saying, "Physician Zhuang, we'll be leaving now, without disturbing you any longer."

Physician Zhuang nodded, his face full of worry.
-
On the shore of the small lake in Ning'an Palace, willows swayed in the breeze, and the clear water flowed gently. A young man sat on a blue stone slab. He had a handsome face and wore a loose, slightly worn, plain-colored Taoist robe. A jade pendant at his waist swayed lightly in the breeze.

This man was none other than the Third Prince, Guo Xiheng, born to Consort Xian. He was kind-hearted and had a good reputation. However, a few years ago, he witnessed the Crown Prince fall from his horse and was so frightened and heartbroken that his health had been poor ever since. Whenever the Empress saw him, she would think of her own son, so she did not like him and ordered him to recuperate in Ning'an Palace and not to go out casually.

The Third Prince was happy to live a carefree life. Although he had come of age, he still lived in Consort Xian's Ning'an Palace and had not left the palace to establish his own residence.

To the left of the Third Prince stood a eunuch carrying a bamboo basket containing several lively little fish.

"Wu Dai, do you think I can catch a big one with this rod?" The Third Prince raised his arm slightly, flicked his wrist, and forcefully swung the fishing rod. The goose feather-covered float slammed into the water with a "thud," creating ripples that spread outwards. "If I catch one, how about making fish soup for Mother tonight?"

The eunuch named Wudai looked uneasy, constantly glancing back at the group of people standing not far away. He licked his dry lips, gritted his teeth, and forced himself to say, "Your Highness, um... Lord Yan and the others have been waiting for a long time..."

"Tsk... sigh..." The Third Prince looked at Wu Dai with impatience, "Don't talk, look, you've scared all my fish away!"

"Third Prince..." Yan Mingzhang seized the opportunity and stepped forward quickly, cupping his hands and saying, "I am Yan Mingzhang, the Inspector General of the Imperial Censorate. I have important matters to discuss with you."

"Ha, what important business could you possibly have with me?" The Third Prince didn't even turn his head. He picked up a piece of bait, hooked it onto the fish, and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I'm just an unloved prince, ignored even if left in a corner. Life like this is good, very peaceful. You're all too noisy, you've made the fish escape..."

Although the Third Prince said this, a hint of melancholy still flashed in his eyes.

"Third Prince, are you really willing to spend your life in this dilapidated palace without achieving anything?" Yan Mingzhang stared intently at the Third Prince.

"Then what can I do?" The Third Prince finally turned around, stopped what he was doing, and looked at Yan Mingzhang. "I know you. I am not like people as gifted as you. I have nothing but the title of prince. This title brings me no benefits except danger. To live as a shadow, a shadow that no one cares about, is the best way that I, a mere mortal, can think of."