Tang Dynasty: Slacking off in the Imperial Kitchen, exposed by Si Zi

Chapter 212: Death and life?

Chapter 212 Resurrection?

Two imperial physicians were busy grinding ink and preparing medicine nearby, their hands trembling with activity.

The box of silver needles was opened, and they scattered all over the floor.

"The pulse is thready and rapid, indicating weak heart yang and stagnation of qi and blood in the chest area..."

Chen Yao's voice trembled.

"I request that a decoction of ginseng be used for emergency treatment to stabilize the condition first..."

Li Shimin squatted by the bed, holding Empress Zhangsun's hand.

"Guanyinbi, don't speak, the imperial physician is here."

Empress Zhangsun shook her head.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but after taking a half breath, a muffled sound suddenly came from her chest.

cough!

This is not an ordinary cough.

It was a dry cough that seemed to pull you upwards from the bottom of your lungs, and after coughing it out, the last bit of color went out from your face!

"Quick! Ginseng soup!!"

"Your Majesty, the medicine hasn't been brewed yet—!!!"

"Then let's fry it fresh!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up and grabbed Chen Yao by the collar.

"I want you now."

The palace doors were pushed open.

Su Mu walked in carrying a clay pot.

He glanced around at the scene inside the room.

The floor was covered with dregs of medicine, scattered silver needles, and six or seven eunuchs and palace maids huddled in a corner, shivering.

Su Mu walked straight to the bed.

He did not bow.

He reached out to feel Empress Zhangsun's pulse.

Chen Yao was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to stop him.

"open."

Su Mu didn't even turn his head.

Li Shimin released his grip.

He took a half step back, his mouth agape, but said nothing.

Su Mu placed three fingers on the Empress's wrist.

The pulse is very weak.

Jump twice, stop once, jump three times and stop again.

The rhythm is completely messed up.

He changed his position and pressed down on the three parts of the cun, guan, and chi.

The pulse at the cun position is weak and floating, the pulse at the guan position is wiry and hesitant, and the pulse at the chi position is deep and thready.

Su Mu withdrew his hand.

"No need for ginseng decoction."

Chen Yao was getting anxious.

"Mr. Su, at this moment, your heart's yang energy is about to collapse; only ginseng decoction is the best treatment."

"Her heart couldn't take the ginseng soup."

Su Mu's tone was flat, but every word he spoke was firm and impactful.

"It's true that the pulse is thready and rapid, but did you feel the Guan pulse? It's wiry and hesitant. The liver qi is stagnant and transforms into fire, which disturbs the mind. There's a blockage of stagnant qi in the pericardium. Giving you ginseng soup at this time is like stuffing firewood into a blocked furnace."

"If the fire can't rise, it will suffocate the person inside."

Chen Yao's hand was suspended in mid-air.

"Then—what should we do?"

Su Mu ignored him.

He placed the casserole on the small table beside the couch, lifted the lid, and put in the ginseng rootlets, poria cocos slices, lotus seeds, and fox nuts one by one.

Then open the cloth bag.

The rice grains were poured into the palm of my hand.

It's not ordinary rice; the grains are smaller than regular japonica rice, slightly yellow in color, and have a translucent glutinous film on the surface.

This is a secret recipe of aged rice produced by the system.

Rice aged for more than three years changes from cooling to neutral in nature, making it most nourishing for the spleen and stomach.

Su Mu grabbed two handfuls of rice and threw them into the clay pot.

"Hot water."

A palace maid ran over carrying a copper kettle, her hands trembling so much that she spilled water all over the ground.

Su Mu took the copper kettle and poured the contents into the clay pot himself.

The water level should be just about two fingers above the ingredients.

"Where's the charcoal stove?"

"The palace—it's not in the palace."

"Go move it."

The palace maid rushed out.

Li Shimin stood to the side, his throat so dry it felt like it was on fire.

"Su Mu, what are you doing?"

"Cook porridge."

"Are you cooking now?"

Su Mu looked up at him.

"Your Majesty, do you trust me or the ginseng decoction?"

Li Shimin shut his mouth.

The charcoal stove was brought in.

The small copper stove, stuffed with several pieces of silver-boned charcoal, had flames leaping high.

Su Mu placed the casserole on the table.

The fire was too intense.

Su Mu looked around and his gaze fell on the entrance of the hall.

Li Lizhi stood there.

She had just arrived, her outer robe draped over her inner garment, her hair disheveled, and her face still bearing the marks of the pillow.

"come over."

Su Mu waved to her.

Li Lizhi paused for a moment, then quickly walked over.

"Turn down the air vents under the charcoal stove."

Su Mu pointed to the copper flap at the bottom of the charcoal stove.

"Use this to control the heat. Turn it up to about one finger's width. The flame should not be higher than the bottom of the casserole."

Li Lizhi squatted down and fiddled with the copper flip cover with both hands.

"Turn it off a little more."

"Too small and it will die..."

"No, Silver Bone Charcoal isn't that easy to extinguish. Keep it closed to half a finger's width."

Li Lizhi bit her lower lip and carefully adjusted the air vent.

The flames dimmed, transforming from leaping into a layer of blue flames clinging to the furnace wall.

The water in the clay pot began to bubble with tiny, fine bubbles.

Su Mu picked up a bamboo chopstick and slowly stirred it.

"This porridge needs to be simmered over low heat; you can't rush it. Simmer it until all the rice grains have bloomed and a layer of rice oil floats on the surface."

"Just keep an eye on this fire, turn it down when it gets too big, and turn it up again when it goes out. Don't let the fire fluctuate, because porridge is most susceptible to damage from uneven heat."

Li Lizhi nodded. She squatted down beside the charcoal stove, holding the copper lid with both hands, and remained motionless.

The hall fell silent.

A soft bubbling sound came from the clay pot.

The rice grains tumbled in the water, while the ginseng rootlets and poria cocos slices sank to the bottom, and the lotus seeds and fox nuts floated in the middle layer.

The delicate aroma of herbs wafted from the clay pot.

It wasn't the bitter, pungent smell of medicine from the Imperial Medical Bureau; it had a warm, rice-scented aroma.

The pine-like aroma of Poria cocos, the sweetness of lotus seeds, the powdery texture of Euryale ferox, and the subtle aftertaste of ginseng rootlets are all enveloped in rice water and blended together.

Chen Yao squatted down and watched for a long time, his mouth growing wider and wider.

"Ginseng rootlets are not included in the main prescriptions in the pharmacopoeia — Poria cocos with lotus seeds works by draining dampness and strengthening the spleen — Euryale ferox strengthens the kidneys and reduces urination —"

These four ingredients together are not a prescription for treating palpitations!

Su Mu's hands never stopped stirring the porridge.

"Who said I'm treating heart palpitations?"

Chen Yao was taken aback.

"Palpitations are a symptom, but the root cause lies in the spleen and stomach."

Su Mu scooped up a spoonful of porridge, checked its consistency, and then poured it back in.

"The Empress's lung disease has been dragging on for more than ten years. Long-term medication, which is bitter and cold, has damaged her spleen. Once the spleen and stomach collapse, the production of qi and blood loses its source, so what will make the heart beat? You keep treating the heart, replenishing heart yang, and clearing the heart meridians, but the more you treat it, the more blocked it becomes."

"Because you didn't leave any way for the spleen and stomach to survive."

Su Mu placed the bamboo chopsticks on the edge of the pot.

"This porridge doesn't treat the heart, but it nourishes the spleen. Once the spleen and stomach can process and transform food, qi and blood will naturally be generated, the heart's supply will keep up, and the rhythm will naturally return."

Chen Yao knelt on the ground and didn't get up for a long time.

Li Shimin knelt beside the bed, holding Empress Zhangsun's hand. The Empress's breathing was shallow and rapid, and cold sweat was still seeping from her forehead.

The rice grains in the clay pot slowly expanded and cracked.

The porridge soup changed from clear to milky white.

Li Lizhi stood guard over the charcoal stove, her eyes fixed on the height of the flames, her fingers burning red but she didn't let go.

About half an hour later.

Su Mu lifted the lid of the casserole.

A thick layer of rice oil floated on the surface of the porridge.

The oil is delicate and has a pearly sheen under the light.

"alright."

He took a small celadon bowl and scooped half a bowl out with a bamboo spoon.

Only scoop out the rice oil and the thin porridge on top.

The dregs of the medicine and the whole lotus seeds and fox nuts were all left in the pot.

"Let the Empress drink the rice gruel first, three mouthfuls at a time, holding each mouthful in her mouth, counting to ten before swallowing."