Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 275 Your Majesty, please take my fine head!

"No?"

Emperor Wanli was somewhat bewildered. He looked at Zhu Yaoying, then at Liu Wan'er, whose forehead was covered in beads of sweat.

For even this young palace maid to lose her composure like this, could there really be something fishy about the prescription?
The Wanli Emperor had only a superficial understanding of medicine, and asked a question.

"Is there anything wrong with this calming and tranquilizing drink for pregnancy? It sounds like a legitimate prescription."

Zhu Yaoying shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with this prescription. It only uses mild herbs such as jujube seed, white poria, floating wheat, and albizia bark. After decocting in water, take one dose every day."

She emphasized that.

"This prescription was written by Renmin Medical Clinic, so there is absolutely no chance of any mistakes."

"So, one cannot take more than one dose in a day?" Emperor Wanli came up with a possibility.

Zhu Yaoying continued, "This medicine is mild and moderate. Taking a little more won't cause any major problems."

Emperor Wanli turned to look at Consort Wang, whose face showed signs of pain, but she kept her head down and remained silent.

Zhu Yaoying's expression gradually became serious. She turned to look at Consort Wang's personal maid and asked her a question.

"How many doses of the calming and tranquilizing drink did Your Majesty take today?"

The palace maid dared not conceal anything and answered truthfully.

"Your Highness, the medical staff has instructed that this calming and tranquilizing medicine be taken once a day. If Your Highness requires it, it can be taken twice a day."

today"

The palace maid realized something was wrong and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy.

"This servant really couldn't refuse Your Highness, and thinking that one more dose wouldn't hurt, I had the pharmacy prepare an extra dose. This servant truly didn't know..."

Zhu Yaoying's expression grew increasingly serious, and she continued to ask in a deep voice.

"Have you been wearing two sets of clothes these past few days?"

The palace maid nodded and said, "It was only after I pleaded with Her Highness that she made a scene. Otherwise, Her Highness would have thrown a tantrum. Today, seeing that Her Highness was suffering, I softened my heart."

"Why didn't you inform me?" Zhu Yaoying asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Servant. Servant"

The palace maid just kept crying.

Seeing Zhu Yaoying's anxiety, the Wanli Emperor said with some confusion.

"Yongning, what exactly happened?"

Zhu Yaoying was thinking of giving an explanation.

But then they heard Consort Wang on the bed, who seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown.

Her eyes were somewhat vacant, and she kept muttering something.

"A calming and soothing drink for the pregnant woman~"

"Your Majesty, I would like a calming and soothing drink to help with my pregnancy."

These kinds of words kept going on and on, as if the person was possessed.

"What's wrong with Consort Gong?" Emperor Wanli was startled and retreated repeatedly.

Zhu Yaoying stepped forward, grabbed Consort Wang's shoulders tightly, and held down her flailing hands, saying...

"Sister-in-law, calm down."

But Consort Wang ignored her and, with a sudden burst of strength, struggled and even kicked off the quilt.

Liu Wan'er rushed forward to help, but as soon as she got close, she was so frightened that she fell to the ground, pointing to the bedding and saying.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! You're bleeding!"

Zhu Yaoying was also startled and quickly looked down, only to see bright red blood slowly seeping out.

She was startled and called out to Liu Wan'er.

"Wan'er! Quickly send someone to Renmin Medical Clinic and tell them this is not a routine check-up. Consort Gong may be at risk of miscarriage. Tell them to be prepared!"

"This servant will go right away!"

Liu Wan'er panicked and stumbled towards the door.

The procedures for routine examinations and the handling of miscarriages are completely different.

"I did not miscarry! I did not miscarry!"

Consort Wang seemed terrified, shaking her head repeatedly while muttering the same phrase as she looked at Emperor Wanli and said in a hoarse voice.

"Your Majesty, quickly find me that calming and soothing drink to help with pregnancy. I'll feel better after drinking it, I'll feel better after drinking it!"

Her frantic behavior caused Emperor Wanli, who already disliked her, to frown even more.

The Wanli Emperor was slightly dazed.

He heard nothing else, except for that jarring word in Zhu Yaoying's words.

Miscarriage.

"Imperial heir! My imperial heir!"

The image of his great-uncle Zhu Houzhao began to gradually appear in the mind of the Wanli Emperor; it was the portrait he had seen in the ancestral temple.

Emperor Wuzong Zhu Houzhao was smiling at him.

His smile even had a slightly sly quality.

The Wanli Emperor shivered; he had never felt anything like it before.

But lately, listening to Zhang Yunxiu's nagging and thinking about all sorts of knowledge about impotence and infertility, I've become increasingly worried.

The more I thought about it, the more something seemed off.

Damn it! He doesn't want to die out his lineage!
He was getting a little anxious and shouted at the eunuchs outside.

"Quickly, find the imperial physician! The imperial physician!"

As he continued shouting, he realized something was amiss and changed his words.

"Send a fast horse and bring Li Dongbi to Jingyang Palace immediately, without any delay!"

The eunuchs were also in a state of chaos, running around like headless flies.

Emperor Wanli was naturally flustered. One moment he wanted to go forward and check on Consort Wang, the next he was afraid of her madness, and then his mind began to conjure up images of his own fate of having no heir.

Zhu Yaoying saw this, narrowed her eyes, and after thinking carefully for a moment, she spoke.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, there is one person we must invite to Jingyang Palace."

Wanli paused for a moment, and Zhang Juzheng's rigid expression immediately flashed into his mind, clearly indicating that he had become path-dependent.

But he immediately shook his head, realizing who Zhu Yaoying was referring to.

"You mean, let Zhang Shiyuan come to Jingyang Palace as well?"

“Yes!” Zhu Yaoying nodded firmly. “This matter is of utmost importance. It seems to me that there is something strange about this prescription. If we do not send Zhang Tongzhi, trouble will surely ensue.”

Li Shizhen grasped Consort Wang's wrist, which was covered with silk. He held his breath, seemingly deep in thought.

Several female doctors who came with him assisted him with various examinations, such as those related to menstruation and other sensitive issues.

This is where the value of training female doctors becomes apparent.

Looking at the somewhat weak Consort Wang on the bed, Zhu Yaoying couldn't help but reveal a trace of worry in her eyes.

However, before that, she made a series of arrangements, especially to keep a close watch on everyone in Jingyang Palace.

Of course, the most important thing right now is the safety of Consort Wang and the imperial heir in her womb. If something happens to her, even if the truth is found, it will be in vain.

Zhu Yaoying seemed even more anxious than the emperor. Seeing that the examinations were finished, she quickly stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Dongbi, how is Consort Gong?"

Li Shizhen looked serious and glanced at Zhu Yaoying with surprise.

"Your Highness is also knowledgeable in medicine?"

"Know a thing or two."

Li Shizhen nodded slightly, bowed slightly to the Wanli Emperor, and then explained to her.

"Judging from Consort Gong's pulse, the situation is not optimistic. Medical practitioners say that a slippery pulse indicates pregnancy, but Consort Gong's pulse has now turned into a 'hesitant' and 'weak' pulse, which suggests a difficult time."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yaoying's pupils immediately contracted, and she quickly replied.

"There's something fishy about that prescription. How could ordinary medicine be so addictive, so capable of causing such a loss of control? If it's due to other drugs that Consort Gong is unwell, does Mr. Dongbi have a solution?"

Li Shizhen narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully, "The 'Antai Ningshen Yin' (a traditional Chinese medicine formula for calming the mind and stabilizing the fetus) is from a medical clinic, and the medicinal materials were also prepared there before being sent to the palace. How could there be any problems?"

"But."

Zhu Yaoying hesitated, which was precisely what puzzled her.

If it weren't for the medicine delivered by the clinic, she would never have been so relaxed. Could it be that there were spies planted from outside during the transportation process, or even inside Jingyang Palace?
However, this is not the time to explore this question.

Zhu Yaoying and Li Shizhen both understood one thing: regardless of the truth, if something really happened to Consort Wang, Renmin Medical Clinic would likely suffer a huge setback.

It's even possible that, following the wishes of the person behind the scenes, this matter could be steered towards the new policies and the affairs of Jiangnan.

Zhu Yaoying directly and clearly stated her conjecture: "Mr. Dongbi, if a pregnant woman ingests black sesame, is there also a risk of miscarriage?"

"Wu Xiang!"

Li Shizhen was immediately startled. How could he not know what this black sesame was? This medicinal herb, also known as "Aphrodisiac," had been widely discussed in the capital during the White Lotus Rebellion.

He spoke with focused concentration.

"The properties of black spice are strong, and its qi can travel through the meridians and disturb the qi and blood. If a postpartum woman ingests it, it will definitely affect the fetus."

Li Shizhen looked at Consort Wang and murmured, "If she really ingested black spice by accident, then it can be explained."

This wasn't the first time Renmin Medical Clinic had come for a consultation. Everything had been fine for the past few days, and even after drinking this calming and soothing drink for almost half a month, no problems arose.

Why is it that he hasn't come for the past few days? Does that mean something went wrong?
But others naturally wouldn't listen to Li Shizhen's explanation.

Of course, there were not only doctors from Renmin Medical Hall in the palace, but the Imperial Medical Academy also sent people after hearing the news.

Gong Tingxian, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, finished taking pulses and asking questions, and looked at Li Shizhen and the others with a cold smile.

"Hmph! There is no such thing as Wuxiang in or around this palace for a long time. You quack doctors have probably used the wrong medicine, yet you insist on blaming Wuxiang. Is such a scheme worthy of the kindness His Majesty has shown you?"

Gong Tingxian had been holding back his anger for a long time. In recent days, the Imperial Hospital had become a marginal department in the capital and even in the entire city.

It wasn't just the emperor who disliked the Imperial Medical Academy; even some princes and ministers in the past avoided seeking medical treatment there.

Almost all the money allocated by the Ministry of Revenue to the Imperial Medical Academy was diverted to Renmin Medical Clinic.

Not to mention the matter of ensuring the safety of the pregnant woman in Jingyang Palace. Although the Imperial Hospital was nominally in charge, Princess Yongning, Zhu Yaoying, was actually in the palace, and all matters were handled in accordance with the Renmin Medical Hall's practices.

Now that he has a handle on him, how can he not take advantage of it?

Gong Tingxian suddenly knelt down before the Wanli Emperor, looking utterly heartbroken.

"Your Majesty, you must not allow such quack doctors to wreak havoc on the world any longer. If they hadn't used some kind of medicine that could cause miscarriage or blood loss, how could Consort Gong's health have deteriorated to this state?"

At this moment, Emperor Wanli's eyes were already somewhat bloodshot. He remained silent for a moment, then looked down at Gong Tingxian and said.

"Tell me, is it possible to preserve my imperial heir?"

"This..." Gong Tingxian's expression froze instantly. He said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the Empress's pulse is weak and feeble, according to medical books, it is already a sign of miscarriage. Furthermore, there is bleeding; I'm afraid it's beyond saving."

"What a dog!"

Emperor Wanli was furious and kicked the man in the shoulder. Gong Tingxian rolled on the floor, but dared not make any rash moves and just kept kowtowing.

Gong Tingxian wept bitterly, pleading, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this Renmin Medical Clinic, to give Consort Gong justice, and to give justice to the unborn imperial heir!"

"enough!"

The Wanli Emperor was extremely agitated and, suppressing the urge to beat Gong Tingxian, paced back and forth in his bedchamber.

He said angrily.

"I only want my child. You all tell me whether I can be saved or not. If anything happens to me, no one will escape!"

The emperor's wrath can cause the deaths of millions, let alone in the current situation.

The Wanli Emperor had just seen the bulging belly and felt the presence of his own flesh and blood.

To be forced to accept separation from one's own flesh and blood in an instant is something even an ordinary person would find unacceptable.

He glanced at the crowd who were all kneeling down, and his gaze lingered on Li Shizhen.

"Li Dongbi, didn't you say you were quite knowledgeable in obstetrics? Renmin Medical Clinic has been researching for so long, yet you haven't made any progress at all?"

Li Shizhen's heart skipped a beat. He knew that the emperor had already been provoked, and even if he brought up Zhang Yunxiu's influence, there was nothing he could do now.

Logically speaking, he would have exaggerated the severity of the illness, just like Gong Tingxian did.

If a problem does arise, the doctor has already stated it beforehand, so the blame will naturally be less severe.

If the danger is averted and all is well, then everyone will be happy. As long as one says that one has misjudged the situation and cries out "I deserve to die a thousand deaths," the emperor will be pleased and will naturally not punish the person.

But Li Shizhen was unwilling to do so; he had only one thought in his mind at the moment.

That means preserving Renmin Medical Clinic.

Li Shizhen carefully crafted his explanation and earnestly spoke to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, obstetrics is a newly emerging field. Since ancient times, childbirth has been a life-or-death struggle for women, and it is indeed difficult to determine whether a miscarriage will occur."

"In my opinion, Consort Gong's pulse is weak and floating, but it is not entirely a sign of miscarriage. Renmin Medical Hall has had some cases where bleeding in postpartum women is not entirely untreatable."

The most urgent matter now is to send Consort Gong to a medical clinic for careful recuperation and treatment, as this may offer any chance of saving her life.

"So, you have no sure way to save my child?" Emperor Wanli was furious. "I have given Renmin Medical Hall so much support, risking the condemnation of the world to promote modern medicine, and now you can't even save a child!"

Li Shizhen, neither humble nor arrogant, said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The development of modern medicine is not some miracle or auspicious sign. It is a gradual process that must respect the laws of objective facts. It is a long process, but the entire Renmin Medical Hall has been working day and night without daring to delay. If so..."

"How long will it take! A year or three years?"

The Wanli Emperor swept the celadon porcelain on the table, smashing it to pieces with a clang. He pointed at Li Shizhen and said...

"Li Dongbi! I appointed you to head the Great Ming Medical Academy so that you could heal the sick and save lives, not so that you could deceive the emperor!"

Li Shizhen was used to traveling in the countryside, and recently he has become even more engrossed in his research, appearing quite stubborn. He said this very seriously.

"Your Majesty! As I have said, obstetrics still requires further research. The most urgent task at present is to send Consort Gong to the medical clinic for treatment, as this is the only way to have a chance of survival."

Gong Tingxian jumped out and pointed at Li Shizhen, saying, "Li Dongbi, if something happens to Her Majesty, are you willing to take responsibility?"

With a determined look in his eyes, Li Shizhen knew that he could not avoid this disaster no matter what. He cupped his hands and said to the Wanli Emperor.

“Your Majesty, since Renmin Medical Hall was involved in the matter of ensuring the safety of the pregnant woman in Jingyang Palace, I am naturally responsible for what happened there. I beg Your Majesty to give me a chance.”

The Wanli Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "What if we can't protect it?"

His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he was already intent on killing.

"No." Zhu Yaoying saw through Li Shizhen's plan and was immediately startled, but dared not utter a sound.

"If we can't save it."

Li Shizhen's eyes flickered, and he took two steps forward and kowtowed again.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to bear this responsibility alone. Please take my fine head!"

　There is another chapter tonight

　　
　
(End of this chapter)