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

At 3:45 AM, the last patient left, expressing his deepest gratitude.

Shen Chang'an stood up, stretched his stiff shoulders, and began packing his medicine kit.

Cuizhu trotted over from the carriage, curtsied, and said with a smile, "Dr. Shen, Madam requests your presence for a follow-up examination."

Shen Chang'an nodded, slung his medicine chest over his shoulder, and followed Cuizhu toward the carriage.

Beside the carriage, Empress Zhangsun had already alighted, and Li Lizhi stood beside her.

The middle-aged man stood to the side with his hands behind his back, calmly observing Shen Chang'an.

Only when he got closer could Shen Chang'an truly see Li Shimin's face.

He was dressed in a black casual suit, with a jade belt around his waist and a turban on his head, looking no different from the head of an ordinary wealthy family.

But on that angular face, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like cold stars, a high nose, and slightly pursed lips, even in casual clothes, one could not conceal the aura of an emperor who looked down upon the world.

He was tall and strong, with broad shoulders and a straight back. Standing there, he resembled a long sword drawn from its sheath, sharp yet restrained.

This person has long held a high position and possesses great authority.

This was Shen Chang'an's first impression.

"This humble woman, Li, greets Doctor Shen," Empress Zhangsun spoke first, her voice gentle.

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

"And this is...?"

Empress Zhangsun turned to the side, her gaze falling on the middle-aged man. After a moment's thought, she said, "He is my husband. He came with me today. Doctor Shen, please don't take offense."

"Master Li," Shen Chang'an greeted him with a proper bow.

Li Shimin nodded slightly in return, his gaze lingering on him for a moment before he said calmly, "Doctor Shen, you are so young, yet your medical skills are so remarkable. May I ask who your teacher is?"

"Reporting to you, sir, I am a disciple of a wandering physician, and my reputation is merely a hollow one," Shen Chang'an said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Li Shimin hummed in agreement and did not press the matter further.

Li Lizhi stood to the side, remaining silent.

She wore a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a light blue shawl over it. Her hair was simply styled with a single jade hairpin, giving her a clean and elegant look.

Her face was slightly pale, but her expression was excellent, with an indescribable ease in her eyes. The melancholy that had long shrouded her face seemed to have faded somewhat.

Shen Chang'an noticed that her gaze would occasionally fall on him, carrying an indescribable emotion.

But he didn't think much of it and turned to Empress Zhangsun: "Madam, please come with me. Tables and chairs have been prepared over at the tea house. The environment is quiet and peaceful, making it convenient for pulse diagnosis and acupuncture."

"Thank you for your help, Dr. Shen."

The tea house was still the same bamboo shed as last time, but this time Cui Zhu had already decorated it in advance—a clean tablecloth was laid on the table, along with a teapot, teacups, and several plates of snacks.

The four took their seats. Li Shimin sat next to Empress Zhangsun, Li Lizhi sat opposite her, and Shen Chang'an sat next to Empress Zhangsun so that it would be convenient for him to take her pulse.

"Please extend your hand, Madam."

Empress Zhangsun placed her wrist on the table.

Shen Chang'an placed three fingers on Cun Kou, closed his eyes, and silently activated [Spirit Eye Technique].

The spiritual energy probed into her fingertips and slowly traveled along Empress Zhangsun's meridians.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, withdrew his hand, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Madam's complexion is much better than it was seven days ago."

Shen Chang'an's tone carried a hint of relief, "The pulse is stronger than last time. The cun-kou pulse is no longer floating and weak, and the chi pulse is also slightly fuller. This shows that the approach of tonifying the lungs and kidneys is correct."

"Really?" Empress Zhangsun's eyes lit up slightly.

"I dare not speak presumptuously."

Shen Chang'an took out a green wooden needle box from his medicine chest. "I will administer another acupuncture treatment today to consolidate the effects of the last one. I will prescribe a new formula in seven days and adjust the ingredients."

He took out a silver needle, disinfected it with alcohol, located the Taiyuan acupoint, and slowly inserted it.

A wisp of [Azure Wood True Qi] entered the needle, and Empress Zhangsun let out a soft "hmm," her brows relaxing.

Li Shimin sat to the side, his eyes fixed on Shen Chang'an's hand.

He saw that after the silver needle pierced the empress's arm, the empress's complexion visibly regained a touch of color.

This……

His pupils dilated slightly.

What did he see?

The Empress's complexion did indeed change the moment the needles were inserted into the acupoints.

"Dr. Shen, this acupuncture technique..." Li Shimin couldn't help but start speaking, but stopped halfway through his sentence.

Shen Chang'an knew what he wanted to ask, and smiled slightly: "Don't be in such a hurry, sir. Let me finish the acupuncture for the lady, and then we can talk about it in detail."

Li Shimin nodded and said no more.

Shen Chang'an applied the acupuncture needles to the Taiyuan, Taixi, and Feishu acupoints in turn, infusing each needle with a wisp of Qingmu True Qi.

After the three acupuncture needles were applied, Empress Zhangsun's originally pale complexion regained some color, and her breathing became much smoother.

"How are you feeling, Madam?" Shen Chang'an asked.

Empress Zhangsun closed her eyes, savored the sensation for a moment, and when she opened them, her eyes were full of admiration: "It's even better than last time. My chest is no longer tight, my breathing is smoother, and I feel much lighter overall."

Shen Chang'an put the silver needles into the needle box, took out a piece of paper from the medicine box, and wrote down a new prescription.

"I'll adjust the prescription—increase the dosage of ginseng and astragalus to tonify the lungs and strengthen the exterior; and add rehmannia root to enhance the kidney-tonifying effect. Madam, take seven more doses and come back for a follow-up visit in seven days."

He wrote down the prescription and handed it over with both hands.

Empress Zhangsun took the prescription, examined it carefully, and nodded.

"Dr. Shen's medical skills are indeed well-deserved." She turned to look at Li Shimin, a smile in her eyes.

Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "Doctor Shen, now that you're here, would you also be so kind as to examine me?"

Shen Chang'an glanced at him, a slight thought stirring in his heart.

The mighty Emperor of the Tang Dynasty would actively seek medical treatment? Could it be that the imperial physicians in the palace were truly incompetent? Or was it that Li Shimin couldn't allow those physicians to know about his health condition?

Or rather, it is precisely because Li Shimin does not know Li Shimin's identity that he is the one Li Shimin needs most.

His expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands and said, "You're too kind, sir. In that case, please extend your hand."

Li Shimin nodded, and like Empress Zhangsun before him, placed his wrist on the table.

Shen Chang'an placed three fingers on Cun Kou and probed in with spiritual energy.

Upon this examination, his brow twitched slightly, but he did not speak immediately. Instead, he examined the patient for a long time before withdrawing his hand.

Because of Li Shimin's status, Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun, and Li Lizhi all stared at Shen Chang'an's face, wanting to see his reaction.

Seeing Shen Chang'an frown, Li Shimin knew that he must have many health problems.

So before Shen Chang'an could speak, Li Shimin looked at Li Lizhi and said, "Chang...daughter, go out for some fresh air first, and come back in after I've finished treating you!"

As he spoke, Li Shimin almost forgot that he was hiding his identity.

His purpose in doing so was simple: to prevent too many people from knowing about his physical condition.

After hearing her father Li Shimin's words, Li Lizhi hesitated slightly, then bowed to her parents and left the room.