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

Li Chengqian stumbled back to the carriage.

Li Lizhi was standing by the carriage looking around when she saw him return. She smiled and went up to him, "Brother, how did it go? What did Doctor Shen say?"

Li Chengqian glanced at her, his heart filled with mixed emotions, and for a moment he didn't know how to speak.

"Royal brother?"

Seeing that his expression was off, Li Lizhi asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"

"No...it's nothing."

Li Chengqian forced a smile. "Dr. Shen said the free clinic will be a while longer. I'll go tell Mother."

He lifted the carriage curtain and climbed inside.

Empress Zhangsun was leaning against the carriage wall, resting with her eyes closed. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes and saw her son's pale face. She frowned.

"Chengqian, what's wrong?"

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Lizhi outside the carriage, lowered his voice, and recounted in detail what he had overheard at Shen Chang'an's consultation table, in a volume only his mother could hear.

"Cousin marriage...child with congenital defects..."

Empress Zhangsun's expression changed little by little, from doubt to shock, from shock to solemnity, and finally to a deep worry.

"You mean, Lizhi and Chong'er..."

"Mother, Doctor Shen said this is the experience he summarized from countless cases, and it's pretty accurate. Moreover, he told us to go to Chang'an City to investigate and see what kind of children were born to those families where cousins ​​had married."

Li Chengqian lowered his voice to a very low tone, "Your subject believes that this matter is of utmost importance and requires careful consideration."

Empress Zhangsun remained silent for a long time.

Her fingers unconsciously clenched her sleeves, her knuckles turning white, her mind racing.

Although the news that consanguineous marriage is harmful was a big shock to her, they had been engaged for over a year, so much time had passed and there was no rush now.

"Don't tell Lizhi yet."

She finally spoke, her voice steady but trembling slightly, "This matter has not yet been verified, so don't let her worry unnecessarily. I will discuss it with your father after we return to the palace."

"Your subject understands."

Empress Zhangsun took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and leaned back against the carriage wall.

"You just said that Dr. Shen summarized his findings from countless cases?" she suddenly asked.

"Yes. He said it was based on his years of experience practicing medicine."

Empress Zhangsun closed her eyes and murmured, "Just who is this Shen Chang'an? How does he know such secrets..."

She didn't say anything more, but her respect for the young doctor deepened.

Outside the carriage, Li Lizhi had somehow appeared beside the curtain and asked softly, "Mother, Imperial Brother, what are you talking about?"

Empress Zhangsun opened her eyes and gave her daughter a gentle smile: "It's nothing. Your brother said that Doctor Shen's free clinic is almost over, and asked me to wait a little longer."

"Oh." Li Lizhi, unsuspecting, obediently stepped aside.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Chengqian exchanged a glance, both mother and son seeing the same thought in each other's eyes—

This matter must be thoroughly investigated.

……

Half an hour later, the last patient left with profuse thanks. Only then did Shen Chang'an stand up, stretch his stiff shoulders, sling his medicine box over his shoulder, and walk toward the blue-curtained carriage.

Beside the carriage, Li Chengqian and Li Lizhi had already alighted and stood respectfully on either side of the curtain.

Upon seeing Shen Chang'an approach, Li Lizhi gave a slight curtsy: "Dr. Shen, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Miss Li, you're too kind." Shen Chang'an returned the greeting, his gaze falling on the carriage curtain.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a woman slowly stepped out of the vehicle.

She wore a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a light blue shawl over it. Her hair was simply styled with a single jade hairpin. There were no superfluous decorations on her body, making her look simple and elegant.

But Shen Chang'an could tell at a glance that beneath this simple attire lay an extraordinary temperament.

She had a dignified and beautiful appearance, with a gentle and graceful air about her. She resembled Li Lizhi in some ways, but had a more mature charm.

His complexion was slightly pale, his lips were a little lighter in color, and there was a faint bluish tinge under his eyes, indicating that he had been suffering from illness for many years.

She stood there, back straight, with dignified bearing, her gaze calmly surveying Shen Chang'an.

Seeing the respect that Li Lizhi and Li Chengqian showed to this woman, Shen Chang'an understood that this was Li Shimin's wife, Empress Zhangsun.

"This humble woman, Li, greets Doctor Shen." Her voice was gentle and unhurried, carrying a warm and welcoming quality.

Shen Chang'an bowed and said, "Shen Chang'an greets Madam Li."

His gaze lingered on the woman's face for a moment, and he had already made some guesses in his mind.

"Dr. Shen, it's not convenient to talk here. Could we find a quiet place?" Li Chengqian suggested from the side.

Shen Chang'an nodded: "There is a teahouse nearby that is quite quiet. If you gentlemen do not mind, you may have a chat there."

"Thank you for leading the way, Dr. Shen."

The tea house is located not far from the free clinic. It is a simple bamboo shed with a few wooden tables and bamboo chairs, where passersby can rest and drink tea.

There was no one else in the teahouse at the moment. Shen Chang'an invited the three of them to sit down, and then sat down himself.

"Is Madam Li here for a medical consultation?" Shen Chang'an asked bluntly.

Empress Zhangsun nodded slightly: "I... have suffered from asthma for many years, sometimes better and sometimes worse. I have seen many doctors, but there has been no cure. I heard that Doctor Shen is highly skilled in medicine, so I came here to seek his treatment."

"Madam, please extend your hand so I can take your pulse."

Empress Zhangsun placed her wrist on the table, revealing a section of her fair arm.

Shen Chang'an placed three fingers on his cunkou (a point on the back of his mouth), closed his eyes, and quietly circulated his spiritual energy.

[Spirit Eye Technique] Silently activated.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, withdrew his hand, and pondered for a moment.

"Madam, I have a few questions I would like to ask you."

"Dr. Shen, please speak."

"Does your wife's asthma often flare up at night or in the early morning?"

Empress Zhangsun was slightly taken aback: "That's right."

"Does the attack involve chest tightness, palpitations, or even persistent coughing and wheezing?"

"Yes."

Do you get tired easily, and feel short of breath after walking a little?

Empress Zhangsun glanced at him, her gaze becoming more serious: "That's indeed the case."

Shen Chang'an nodded and continued, "Madam's pulse is weak and floating at the cun position, and deep and thready at the chi position. This indicates a deficiency of both the lungs and kidneys. The lungs govern qi and respiration; the kidneys govern the intake of qi and are the root of qi. When both the lungs and kidneys are deficient, qi has no master and cannot be properly inhaled, hence the shortness of breath."

He paused, then added, "In addition, the lady's tongue coating should be whitish, and her tongue body should be swollen with teeth marks. This is a manifestation of qi deficiency combined with dampness."

Empress Zhangsun slightly opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue.

Shen Chang'an glanced at it and immediately made up his mind: "Just as I thought."

"Dr. Shen," Empress Zhangsun's tone became more serious, "is my illness curable?"

"It's curable."

Shen Chang'an's answer was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.