If I traveled back to the Tang Dynasty, all I really wanted to be was a carefree prince.

He recalled the year Li Ke was five years old when he first praised the child, saying he was "as intelligent and decisive as I am." Li Ke knelt down to decline, saying it was all thanks to his elder brother, the Crown Prince, for his excellent upbringing. At that time, he was only five years old, yet he already knew not to take credit or compete for favor.

When Li Ke was seven years old, Consort Yang fell ill. Li Ke stayed by her bedside for three days and three nights, bringing her medicine and water, never leaving her side. The imperial physician said that Consort Yang had a stomach ailment and needed to be treated slowly. Li Ke then ran to ask the imperial physician about the medicinal materials and prescriptions, asking more questions than anyone else.

I remember when Li Ke was nine years old, Empress Zhangsun's illness flared up again, and Li Ke ran to pay his respects. He stood outside the palace for a full hour, waiting until the Empress felt better before going in. Once inside, he said nothing but, "Mother, please take care of yourself."

This child has known how to care for others since childhood. From a young age, he has known not to compete or fight. From a young age, he has known his special status and that he shouldn't cause trouble for anyone.

"You've been wronged, Ke'er," Li Shimin said softly.

His voice was very low, so low that only he could hear it.

He remained silent for a moment, then picked up a pen and wrote a command on the paper:

"The Hongwen Hall, the Secretariat, and the Imperial Medical Academy shall each make a copy of any medical books they possess and send it to His Highness the Prince of Shu for review."

After he finished writing, he looked at it and added a sentence:

"Also, please look for the book 'Elbow-Side Emergency Prescriptions'. If you have a copy, please send it to me as well."

He handed the warrant to the eunuch beside him: "Send it to the Hongwen Academy and let Kong Yingda make arrangements."

"Yes."

After the eunuch left, Li Shimin picked up his pen again and continued to review the memorials.

But after writing a few lines, he stopped.

He recalled Li Ke's words: "Live on, and then protect the people I want to protect."

"The people you want to protect..." Li Shimin murmured to himself, "Does that include me?"

No one answered him.

The imperial study was extremely quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound of candles.

Li Ke was unaware that his father already knew he was searching for medical books. He was simply reading.

For three consecutive days, he went to the Hongwen Hall every day, staying there from morning till night.

He read through the entire "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica" from beginning to end, marking the modern pharmacological knowledge he could remember next to it—writing it densely on the entire page with his own shorthand symbols.

Licorice: Detoxifies, reduces inflammation, relieves cough, and alleviates pain. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that glycyrrhizic acid has adrenocortical hormone-like effects, and can reduce inflammation, reduce allergies, and protect the liver. However, long-term and high-dose use can lead to water and sodium retention, hypokalemia, and hypertension—what traditional Chinese medicine calls "prolonged use causes edema."

Ephedra: It has anti-asthmatic, diaphoretic, and diuretic effects. Ephedrine is its main active ingredient, which can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, constrict blood vessels, and raise blood pressure. Dosage must be strictly controlled; excessive use can cause palpitations, insomnia, and arrhythmia.

Coptis chinensis: Clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies. Berberine is its active ingredient, which has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and inhibits Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, and other bacteria. It can be used to treat bacterial dysentery, gastroenteritis, etc.

Artemisia annua: Clears heat and relieves summer heat, and treats malaria. This is the most important point—Artemisia annua contains artemisinin, a highly effective drug for treating malaria. However, artemisinin is not heat-resistant and cannot be boiled; it needs to be extracted at low temperatures. The method recorded in Ge Hong's "Emergency Prescriptions to Keep Up One's Sleeve"—"Take a handful of Artemisia annua, soak it in two liters of water, squeeze out the juice, and drink it all"—is the correct one.

Li Ke drew a heavy circle on the page about artemisia annua and wrote a line next to it: "Find 'Elbow-Side Emergency Prescriptions' - low-temperature extraction - for treating malaria."

Of course, no one could understand this line of text.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, Kong Yingda came to see him in person.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Shu." Kong Yingda handed him a roll of paper, "This was sent by His Majesty."

Li Ke took it and saw that it was a handwritten order, written in Li Shimin's handwriting: "The Hongwen Hall, the Secretariat, and the Imperial Medical Academy shall each make a copy of any medical books they possess and send it to His Highness the Prince of Shu for review. Also, search for the book 'Elbow-Side Emergency Prescriptions', and if you have a copy, send it to him as well."

Li Ke's hand paused slightly.

The Emperor has found out.

Not only did he find out, he also gave a special order to have someone find him medical books.

They even helped him find the "Elbow-Side Emergency Prescriptions".

Li Ke held the paper and remained silent for a long time.

He remembered his past life—he had never had a father. His parents died early, and he grew up in an orphanage. He didn't know what it felt like to be cared for by a father.

But now he knows.

"Scholar Kong," Li Ke's voice trembled slightly, "please thank my father for his grace."

"Your Highness, rest assured, this old minister will make the arrangements." Kong Yingda looked at him, his gaze now holding something different—not the previous scrutiny and incomprehension, but a gentle, loving light. "His Majesty is very pleased that Your Highness has such a heart."

Li Ke nodded and lowered his head to continue reading.

But his eyes were a little sore.

He recalled the historical record of Li Shimin—the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the killing of his brothers, and the forced abdication of his father. Cold-blooded, cruel, and ruthless.

But this man, upon learning that his son wanted to study medicine, did not say "not doing his proper job" or "wasting his time on trivial pursuits." Instead, he quietly had all the medical books brought to him.

I also helped him find the book "Elbow-Side Emergency Prescriptions" that he might need.

Li Ke took a deep breath, suppressing the stinging in his eyes.

He silently said in his heart: Father, rest assured. I will not waste these medical books you gave me. I will use them to save people. To save Mother, to save my elder brother, to save everyone you want to protect.

I will save you too.

Historical records say that Li Shimin died from poisoning after taking elixirs in his later years. I will stop this.

You won't die from the elixir.

Three days later, Li Ke finally finished reading through the Shennong Materia Medica.

He closed the book and let out a long breath.

Three hundred and sixty-five kinds of medicine. He couldn't possibly remember them all, but he firmly memorized the most crucial dozens—those medicines that could save lives, cure diseases, and play the greatest role in this era.

Licorice, Ephedra, Coptis, Scutellaria, Rhubarb, Aconitum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Pinellia ternata, Gypsum, Artemisia annua, Dichroa febrifuga, Panax notoginseng, Bletilla striata, Agrimonia pilosa, Lonicera japonica, Forsythia suspensa, Isatis indigotica, Isatis tinctoria...

For each medicine, he provided an explanation from a modern pharmacologist—what the active ingredient is, what the mechanism of action is, what the toxic side effects are, what the dosage should be, and how the processing method can be improved.

He hid these notes under his pillow, not letting anyone see them.

It's not that I don't trust Consort Yang, nor that I don't trust Ang Lee—it's just that these things are too ahead of their time, so ahead of their time that people of this era can't understand them. If someone were to see this, they wouldn't be able to explain it clearly.

He needs to take it slow.

First, learn the medical skills of this era, and then use the language of this era to "translate" the modern medical knowledge in his mind.

This is a long process.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

He was only eleven years old.

On the fifteenth day, Li Ke finally went to pay his respects to Empress Zhangsun.

This was the first time he had left the side hall since falling into the water. He changed into clean clothes, covered the wound on his forehead with a hat, and tried his best to look as energetic as possible.

Ang Lee followed behind him without saying a word.

Upon arriving at the Lizheng Hall, after being announced by a palace maid, they were quickly allowed to enter.

Empress Zhangsun sat by the window, holding a book in her hand, reading. She wore a light blue casual dress, with few ornaments on her head, simple and elegant, yet possessing an imposing presence that made people dare not look directly at her.

"Ke'er greets His Majesty the Empress Dowager." Li Ke knelt down and respectfully kowtowed.

Empress Zhangsun put down her book, looked at him carefully, and nodded.

"Get up," she said. "You look much better. Come and sit down."

Li Ke stood up and sat down next to her.

Empress Zhangsun reached out and touched his forehead, then looked at the wound under his hat, and frowned slightly.

"Your wound hasn't fully healed yet, why are you out here?"

"Mother, you're almost fully recovered," Li Ke said. "The imperial physician also said you can move around normally now."

Empress Zhangsun nodded and remained silent for a while.

"Ke'er," she suddenly said, "I heard you were looking for medical books at the Hongwen Academy?"

Li Ke's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "Yes. Your subject wishes to learn some medical skills."

Why?

"Because..." Li Ke thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth, "Because I want to protect the people around me. My mother's illness, my mother's health, my elder brother's... my elder brother's studies are too heavy, and he also needs to recuperate. I want to learn some medical skills so that I can take care of everyone in the future."

Empress Zhangsun looked at him with a gentle yet profound gaze.

She recalled what Li Shimin had said to her the night before: "This child has been wronged."

She asked, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then said, "He investigated the matter of falling into the water and found out that it was Consort Wei who instigated it. He didn't make a scene or file a complaint; he only said one sentence—'Live on, and then protect the people I want to protect.' Then he went to find medical books."

Empress Zhangsun remained silent for a long time.

An eleven-year-old child was murdered, but he didn't express hatred or resentment; he only thought about surviving and protecting those around him.

What kind of heart is this?

"Ke'er." Empress Zhangsun held his hand, her voice gentle but firm, "I support your desire to study medicine. But you must also remember—you are a prince of the Tang Dynasty. You have your father, me, and your elder brother. You are not alone. You don't need to shoulder everything on your own."

Looking at her, Li Ke felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

"Your Majesty, I understand," he said. "Thank you, Mother."

Empress Zhangsun smiled and patted the back of his hand.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore," she said. "You've lost a lot of weight these days. Have dinner here tonight, and I'll have the kitchen make some of your favorite dishes."

"Yes."

As Li Ke emerged from the Lizheng Hall, he let out a long sigh of relief.

The sun was shining brightly, warming me comfortably. Ripples spread across the surface of Taiye Pond in the gentle breeze, and the willows along the bank had sprouted new, tender green buds.

He stood by the pool, looking at the water, and remained silent for a while.

Fifteen days ago, he almost drowned in this water.

Fifteen days later, he stood by the water, alive and well.

"Your Highness?" Li An whispered from behind, "It's time to go back."

"Okay." Li Ke turned around. "Let's go."

He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and glanced at Taiye Pond.

The pool water shimmered with golden light under the setting sun, as still as a mirror.

"Ang Lee," he said.

"exist."

Did you know that some people drown in the water, while others learn to swim?

Ang Lee paused for a moment, not understanding the meaning of those words.

"I belong to the latter group." Li Ke smiled, turned around and left.

The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him, which swayed gently on the surface of Taiye Pond.