Duke of Zhenguan

Lin Chuan is drunk again!

A group of people drank and chatted from noon until midnight.

Because Li Shimin and a group of civil officials were present, the drinking was relatively refined, but it took far too long.

Originally, Cheng Yaojin had asked him to be in charge of pouring wine along with the brothers Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang.

However, Li Shimin was very satisfied with the daytime examination and made him sit in the last seat.

Of everyone in the room, except for Lin Chuan, the lowest rank was county duke. From the moment Lin Chuan sat down, he was destined to leave sideways.

Fearing that he might get drunk and ramble on in front of Li Shimin, he kept telling himself not to speak before drinking, so he drank silently.

Until they are drunk.

The next morning, Lin Chuan, who had been sleeping until late morning, was woken up.

Lin Chuan got out of bed in the same spot where he woke up yesterday morning, looked at Cheng Chun standing beside the bed, and asked with a smile:

"Cheng Chun, it's you again?"

"Young Master Lin, Madam has sent me to bring you some clothes!"

Cheng Chun explained in a low voice, and then stepped forward to continue:

"Young master, your father said he will help you get leave so you can go and treat the Duke of Yi's injuries without worry. The eldest son of the Duke of Yi's mansion is waiting for you in the front yard!"

Lin Chuan then remembered that he had promised to help Qin Qiong treat his injuries yesterday.

"My lord, let me help you get dressed!"

Before Lin Chuan could even refuse, Cheng Chun had already picked up the clothes. Lin Chuan had no choice but to open his arms and let Cheng Chun help him put on the brand-new outer robe.

After washing his face, Lin Chuan arrived at the main hall in the front yard. Before he even entered, a burly young man came out to greet him, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.

"My name is Qin Huaidao, greetings to Brother Lin!"

"My name is Lin Chuan. I greet Brother Qin!" Lin Chuan cupped his hands in greeting.

"Brother Lin, my father has had breakfast prepared. Let's go and have some together!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you!"

The Duke of Yi's mansion was located in Guangde Lane on the other side of the West Market. After borrowing a horse from the Cheng family, Qin Huaidao and I arrived at the gate of the Duke of Yi's mansion in less than a quarter of an hour.

Lin Chuan was somewhat flattered as he looked at the open main gate and the Qin family steward standing respectfully outside.

Following the steward to the main hall in the front courtyard, Lin Chuan saw Qin Qiong, dressed in casual clothes, and his wife, Madam Jia, greeting him at the door. Lin Chuan quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Uncle Qin and Aunt Qin!"

"Haha, no need for formalities! Please come in!" Qin Qiong waved his hand and led Lin Chuan inside.

After they sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries, the butler came to inquire that the meal was ready. Qin Qiong then led Lin Chuan to the dining room.

Seeing Qin Huaidao pick up the wine jar and start pouring wine, Lin Chuan quickly advised:

"Brother Qin, we still need to treat Uncle Qin later, so let's not drink this wine. Besides, Uncle Qin is injured and shouldn't drink alcohol!"

Upon hearing this, Jia immediately waved her hand at Qin Huaidao:

"Young Master, listen to Lin Langjun!"

Since Lin Chuan has been invited to treat the illness, we should naturally listen to him, Qin Qiong said with a smile.

"Then I won't drink it!"

After finishing his meal, Lin Chuan followed Qin Qiong, Qin Huaidao, and Qin Fu, the Qin family steward, to a side hall in the front yard.

Qin Qiong took off his shirt, revealing his upper body covered in scars.

The moment Lin Chuan saw Qin Qiong's upper body, he gasped in shock. His chest and back were covered in so much flesh that there wasn't a single patch of unscathed skin.

"Uncle Qin is truly a brave warrior!" Lin Chuan exclaimed softly.

Qin Qiong's bravery was unparalleled in the three armies. His bravery is evident from his posthumous title "Zhuang" (meaning "strong" or "majestic").

"Heh, I think so too. Lin Chuan, you don't need to worry too much. I've been fighting for years and have escaped death several times. It's already a blessing from heaven that I'm still alive. It doesn't matter if you can't be cured. I won't blame you!" Qin Qiong said with a smile.

"I will definitely do my best!"

Lin Chuan said in a deep voice, and after examining Qin Qiong, he felt a noticeable bulge on Qin Qiong's shoulder blade.

"What's stuck in my bone is an iron arrowhead. I was shot by a stray arrow during the great battle outside Hulao Pass. There were no doctors in the army at the time, so after pulling out the arrow shaft, I just bandaged it up and then followed His Majesty into the enemy ranks!"

"I thought this little arrow would kill me, but to my surprise, the wound has healed, and I've survived until now!" Qin Qiong explained with a smile.

"To survive being hit by such an arrow, Uncle Qin is truly blessed!"

Lin Chuan said with a smile.

The arrow was pointing directly at the heart; if it hadn't been for the shoulder blade blocking it, or if it had gone any deeper, the person would have died instantly.

"That's true!" Qin Qiong laughed heartily.

"Lin Chuan, is it possible to remove this arrowhead?" Qin Huai asked from the side.

"Of course, but my medical skills are not good enough. Uncle Qin, could you please ask His Majesty to send a royal physician?" Lin Chuan said awkwardly.

"I requested His Majesty's decree yesterday. Huai Dao, you must personally go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and invite Physician Liu!"

"I'll go right now!"

After waiting for about an hour, Physician Liu, dressed in official robes and carrying a medicine chest, followed Qin Huaidao to the Qin residence.

Physician Liu is fifty years old. His family has been practicing medicine for generations, and it was only in his generation that he was able to get a position in the Imperial Medical Bureau. In addition to his superb medical skills, he is also quite adept at interpersonal relationships.

Upon entering the side hall, he bowed respectfully to Qin Qiong:

"This humble official greets the Duke of Yi!"

"No need for such formalities, Physician Liu!"

Qin Qiong reached out to help Physician Liu up, and pointed to Lin Chuan as an introduction:

"This is Lin Chuan!"

Early that morning, Li Shimin sent someone to deliver an imperial edict. Physician Liu naturally learned of Lin Chuan's name. Although he harbored doubts about Lin Chuan's medical skills, he still politely bowed to Lin Chuan.

"Greetings, Magistrate Lin!"

"Greetings, Physician Liu!" Lin Chuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

Worried that Lin Chuan might not understand the seriousness of the matter, Physician Liu cupped his hands and said to Lin Chuan.

"Master Lin, I and several colleagues have examined the wound of the Duke of Yi. Removing the arrow is not difficult, but firstly, the arrow is only close to the heart meridian. If the heart meridian is accidentally damaged when removing the arrow, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Secondly, even if the heart meridian wasn't damaged, removing the arrowhead would require reopening the wound, and such a severe wound would inevitably lead to a life-threatening illness! If it worsens, the consequences would be equally unimaginable!

"Doctor Liu, I've asked Uncle Qin. Based on his current symptoms, his heart meridian is definitely not damaged!"

"As for wound infection, I do have some methods that should prevent the wound from getting infected with the disease!" Lin Chuan replied.

Physician Liu sighed and said softly:

"Lord Lin, in my decades of medical practice, I have never heard of a disease that can be prevented!"

"I've never heard of any way to prevent 'sorrow disease,' so I probably don't know why the wound contracted it either?"

Lin Chuan asked with a smile, and before Physician Liu could shake his head, he quickly added:

"I know!"

Upon hearing this, Physician Liu stared intently at Lin Chuan and asked in a trembling voice:

"Is what Minister Lin said true?"

"really!"

His Majesty the Emperor directly instructed him to obey Lin Chuan's orders in his oral decree, which suggests that Lin Chuan's medical skills must be quite good.

Thinking of this, Physician Liu lifted his robe and knelt directly before Lin Chuan, his forehead heavily pounding the ground, and respectfully said:

"This humble official wishes to become Lin Yuanwailang's disciple! Please, Lin Yuanwailang, bestow your guidance!"

Becoming an apprentice at the drop of a hat?

Caught off guard, Lin Chuan quickly reached out to help Physician Liu up, and said with a wry smile:

"Doctor Liu, we're both treating Uncle Qin's injuries, so I won't hold back. I'll tell you everything I know, so don't worry! It's nothing important, there's no need for me to become your apprentice!"

Physician Liu stubbornly shook his head:

"Now that I have learned Lin Yuanwailang's medical skills, how can I not become his apprentice!"

"Since we're here to impart knowledge and resolve doubts, there should naturally be a master-disciple relationship! Lin Chuan, you shouldn't refuse!" Qin Qiong said with a smile from the side.