Tang Dynasty: Saving Lives and Helping Others, Li Lizhi Falls for Him

When Shen Chang'an saw Li Chengqian arrive, he did not get up to greet him. He simply nodded slightly, finished writing the prescription, handed it to the patient, gave a few instructions, and then stood up and bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Young Master Li, please forgive me, I am very busy with my free clinic and cannot get away."

Li Chengqian's mindset was completely different from yesterday. He felt no displeasure at all, but instead thought that Shen Chang'an was indeed a rare person who was neither arrogant nor humble and focused on the medical profession.

"You're too kind, Dr. Shen."

Li Chengqian cupped his hands in greeting and lowered his voice, saying, "I have brought an elder with me today and would like to ask Physician Shen to take a look at him."

"However, given our senior status, it's inconvenient for us to wait in line here. Would you be willing to join us for a chat after Dr. Shen's free clinic concludes?"

Shen Chang'an pondered for a moment, knowing that the only people who could get Li Chengqian to follow him were either Li Shimin or Empress Zhangsun; no one else was qualified.

Although treating the Li Tang royal family was troublesome and could easily attract unnecessary attention, the merit gained was also greater.

He also has the ability to protect himself. Although his magic power will eventually be depleted, he can still escape if he wants to.

Thinking of this, Shen Chang'an nodded: "In that case, please wait a moment, young master. My free clinic will take about half an hour."

"No rush, no rush, Doctor Shen, take your time." Li Chengqian waved his hand repeatedly.

But he didn't turn away. Instead, he stepped aside and stood with his hands behind his back next to the consultation table, intending to see for himself how Shen Chang'an treated the people.

It's not a bad thing to learn more about other illnesses; as the crown prince, one needs to plan ahead.

Seeing Li Chengqian's actions, Shen Chang'an didn't mind, sat down again, and waved to the group:

"Next."

A middle-aged woman carrying a child walked quickly forward, followed by a young man with a worried expression; they appeared to be a couple.

The child was about two or three years old, with fair skin and delicate features. He should have been innocent and carefree, but his eyes were somewhat dull. He leaned against the woman's chest and was slow to respond to the sounds of the outside world.

"Dr. Shen, please take a look at my child."

The woman's eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice trembled with tears, "My child is two and a half years old and still can't talk. He doesn't respond much when we call him. People in the village say... they say the child might be..."

She couldn't continue, and tears streamed down her face.

Shen Chang'an said gently, "Don't rush, let me take a look."

He reached out and took the child, examined him carefully, then opened the child's eyelids to look at him, gently tapped his knee to get a response, and shook a small bell near his ear.

The child's reaction was indeed much slower than that of his peers.

Shen Chang'an frowned slightly, glanced at the couple again, his gaze lingering on their faces for a moment, and then suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question:

"Are you two cousins ​​who got married?"

Upon hearing this, the couple were both taken aback.

The man stammered, "Dr. Shen... how did you know? My wife and I are cousins, we were practically family..."

Shen Chang'an nodded, then asked again, "Were your maternal grandmothers sisters?"

"Exactly!"

The man nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with astonishment. "Dr. Shen is amazing! How could you have known that?"

Shen Chang'an did not answer, but sighed softly, his tone becoming more serious:

"The problem probably lies here."

The couple looked at each other, their faces turning deathly pale.

"Dr. Shen, what...what do you mean? Is the child's illness related to our marriage?"

Shen Chang'an carefully considered his words before slowly saying, "Over the years, I have traveled around practicing medicine and have seen many similar cases. Children born to couples who are cousins ​​or closely related by blood are much more likely to have congenital defects than children born to couples who are not related by blood."

"Some children are intellectually disabled, some are born with disabilities, and some are frail and sickly and difficult to raise."

He glanced at the child in his arms and lowered his voice slightly: "Your son's situation falls into the first category."

Upon hearing this, the woman's body went limp, and she almost collapsed to the ground. The man quickly supported her, his own face ashen.

"Dr. Shen, is it really... really hopeless?" The man's voice trembled.

Shen Chang'an shook his head: "The intellectual impairment is congenital, and I am powerless to help it for the time being. However, I can prescribe some conditioning medicines to nourish the child's brain marrow, which may improve the situation."

"But to live like an ordinary person, I'm afraid..."

He didn't say anything definitively, but his meaning was quite clear.

The couple embraced and wept bitterly, and the surrounding people sighed and discussed the matter.

Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, seemed to have been struck by lightning, and froze on the spot.

Cousins...close blood ties...child born with a birth defect...

A thunderbolt suddenly flashed through his mind.

Lizhi and Changsun Chong—aren't they cousins?

Changsun Chong is the son of Changsun Wuji, who is the elder brother of the Empress Dowager. Lizhi is the daughter of the Empress Dowager. Lizhi and Changsun Chong are first cousins!

Exactly the same situation!

Li Chengqian felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, his scalp tingled, and his back was covered in cold sweat.

He rushed to Shen Chang'an almost instinctively, his voice trembling slightly:

"Dr. Shen, what you're saying... is it true?"

Shen Chang'an looked up and saw that Li Chengqian's face was frighteningly pale, with veins bulging on his forehead and his eyes filled with urgency and fear.

He was slightly taken aback, but then he understood.

Although he didn't know much about Li Shimin's descendants, he did know that in order to strengthen their control, the royal family would usually arrange marriages with powerful families or meritorious officials, and their children would later be betrothed to these powerful families or meritorious officials.

This significantly increases the probability of consanguineous marriage.

"Young Master Li," Shen Chang'an put down the child, stood up, and said solemnly, "What I have said is all based on my experience accumulated over the years of practicing medicine. I dare not say that I am 100% certain, but it is probably close to the truth."

"If you don't believe me, you can search and investigate in Chang'an City and see how many of the children born to families where cousins ​​have married are healthy."

Li Chengqian opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't utter a single word.

He nodded stiffly, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Shen Chang'an, and turned to leave.

He walked quickly, almost jogging, towards the carriage.

Shen Chang'an watched his retreating figure, shook his head slightly, sat down again, and continued to comfort the weeping couple.

"Please don't be too sad. Although the child's illness is difficult to cure completely, it's not entirely hopeless. I'll prescribe some medicine for you to take home and give to your child. Come back for a follow-up appointment in three months..."

.........