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

"What? Two thousand merit points?"

"And the reward is actually a Foundation Establishment Pill, this..."

Upon hearing the system's announcement, Shen Chang'an abruptly stopped in his tracks, frozen in place.

He stood by the official road, carrying a medicine box on his back, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide open, looking just like a fish that had been slapped ashore.

Passersby turned to look, and an old man leading a donkey glanced at him curiously, muttering, "What's wrong with Doctor Shen?"

Shen Chang'an snapped out of his daze, quickly composed himself, smiled at the old man, and continued walking forward as if nothing had happened.

But his heart was in turmoil.

Two thousand merits.

A Foundation Building Pill.

The cost of treating Li Shimin alone was equivalent to the total cost of all the free medical consultations he had performed over the years.

Moreover—Foundation Building Pill!

That Foundation Establishment Pill requires a thousand merit points to exchange for!

The system directly gave it to him as a reward, which was equivalent to him getting a thousand merits for free!

"Calm down, calm down." Shen Chang'an took a deep breath, suppressing the elation in his heart.

He walked and pondered.

Five hundred merits for regulating the Crown Prince, one thousand merits for regulating Empress Zhangsun, and two thousand merits for regulating Li Shimin—together, that's three thousand five hundred merits.

In addition to his existing 352 points, and the scattered merits that have been flowing in from the free clinics these past few days...

Breaking the 4,000 mark is just around the corner.

As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he no longer needed to spend merit points to exchange for it.

The one the system gave him was enough for him to break through the Qi Refining stage and enter the Foundation Establishment stage.

"but……"

Shen Chang'an quickly calmed down and began to think seriously.

The higher the system reward, the greater the difficulty of the task.

Li Shimin was no ordinary man; he was an emperor of all time, a true Son of Heaven.

Treating his body required not only medical skill but also extreme caution—the dosage of medicine, the pace of treatment, and the appropriate level of interaction with the emperor—none of these could be done wrong.

Moreover, the system gives a timeframe of ninety days. It's neither a long nor a short time.

He needs to significantly improve Li Shimin's health within three months in order to obtain the two thousand merits and the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"I'll need to put more effort into cultivation during this time," Shen Chang'an thought to himself. "Once I get the Foundation Establishment Pill, my cultivation should have broken through to the late Qi Refining stage. Otherwise, if I take the pill and my foundation is unstable, it will be counterproductive."

He quickened his pace and walked towards the courtyard.

I have several patients to visit this afternoon. I'll have to continue my spiritual practice when I get back tonight.

Life will only get busier.

……

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, at the Ganlu Hall.

Li Shimin returned to the palace, changed into casual clothes, and sat behind his desk, but did not review memorials as usual.

In front of him lay the prescription written by Shen Chang'an, the handwriting neat and possessing a unique charm.

But Li Shimin's brows were slightly furrowed.

It wasn't that he didn't believe in Shen Chang'an's medical skills.

The Empress's complexion has indeed improved; I saw it with my own eyes.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian was indeed in good spirits; I heard this with my own ears.

Even his own headache and fatigue were described by Shen Chang'an with perfect accuracy.

But as an emperor, he cannot listen to only one person's opinion.

"Someone come here."

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?" The eunuch hurriedly stepped forward.

"Summon Zhang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and have him come to see me immediately."

"Yes."

Before long, Physician Zhang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, rushed to Ganlu Hall.

He was about fifty years old, with graying hair and beard, and was the most senior and skilled imperial physician in the Imperial Medical Academy.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Imperial Physician Zhang knelt on the ground.

Get up.

Li Shimin handed over the prescription, saying, "Take a look at this prescription, what do you think?"

Physician Zhang took the prescription, examined it carefully for a moment, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Your Majesty, this prescription... is excellent. Gastrodia elata and Uncaria rhynchophylla calm the liver and suppress yang; Rehmannia glutinosa and Cornus officinalis nourish the kidneys and replenish yin; Salvia miltiorrhiza and Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa clear the heart and calm the mind. The combination of the principal, assistant, and adjuvant herbs is meticulous, and the dosage is appropriate. May I ask Your Majesty, which physician prescribed this prescription?"

"Not a royal physician."

Li Shimin glanced at him indifferently. "Never mind who prescribed it. I'm asking you, have you carefully examined my body?"

Physician Zhang's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "I take Your Majesty's pulse every month without the slightest negligence."

"Then tell me, what's wrong with my health?"

Physician Zhang carefully considered his words before cautiously saying, "Your Majesty is in good health, but overwork and insufficient rest have led to excessive liver fire. I suggest Your Majesty rest more, reduce overwork, and supplement with a formula to clear the liver and improve eyesight..."

"That's all?" Li Shimin's voice was unreadable.

Physician Zhang's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat: "This... Your Majesty is not very knowledgeable and would appreciate your guidance."

Li Shimin did not answer, but instead handed over another prescription—a treatment prescription written by Shen Chang'an, but the diagnosis on it was folded up, revealing only the prescription.

"Take another look at this prescription. What illness does it treat?"

Physician Zhang took the prescription, examined it carefully, and his expression gradually changed.

"This...this prescription follows the principle of calming the liver and suppressing yang, nourishing the kidneys and replenishing yin, and is aimed at...the syndrome of liver yang hyperactivity and kidney yin deficiency." His voice was somewhat hoarse, "Your Majesty, could it be...?"

"Take my pulse." Li Shimin placed his wrist on the imperial table.

Physician Zhang took a deep breath, placed three fingers on the cun-kou (radial artery) point, and examined the patient intently for a moment, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"Your Majesty's pulse... the cun-kou pulse is wiry and forceful, the guan pulse is floating, and the chi pulse is deep. It is indeed a sign of liver yang hyperactivity and kidney yin deficiency." His voice lowered, "I...I was not aware of it before, I am guilty."

"You weren't unaware," Li Shimin withdrew his hand, his gaze sharp. "You were afraid to speak up for fear of worrying me."

Physician Zhang knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the back of his hand, not daring to raise his head.

Li Shimin looked at him, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him.

He recalled Shen Chang'an's expression when he said those words—calm, composed, without a trace of flattery or fear.

But this Physician Zhang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, didn't dare to say a single truth.

"Get up," Li Shimin waved his hand, his tone tinged with weariness.

Physician Zhang stood up cautiously and stood with his hands at his sides.

"Do you think that prescription is usable?" Li Shimin asked.

"It's usable." Physician Zhang nodded without hesitation. "The prescription is well-balanced and the medication is safe. If Your Majesty is still concerned, I can adjust it further..."

"No need," Li Shimin interrupted him. "I ask you, if I follow this prescription, will my liver yang hyperactivity improve?"

"Of course there are," Physician Zhang quickly replied, "but..."

"Just what?"

"However, this illness did not develop overnight and requires long-term treatment. We cannot rush things. Moreover..." Physician Zhang hesitated for a moment, "And if His Majesty truly has signs of liver yang hyperactivity as the prescription suggests, then in addition to taking the medicine, he also needs to pay attention to his diet and daily life, eat less spicy and greasy food, get more rest, and avoid overexertion."

Li Shimin remained silent.

Shen Chang'an had said exactly the same things that Physician Zhang had said, word for word.

The only difference is that Physician Zhang spoke after looking at the prescription, while Shen Chang'an spoke after taking the pulse but before writing the prescription.

High judgment.

"Alright, you may leave." Li Shimin waved his hand.

Physician Zhang felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly took his leave.

When he walked out of Ganlu Hall, his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He glanced back at the palace gate, muttering to himself: Who exactly is the person who prescribed the medicine for His Majesty? No one in the Imperial Hospital has that ability.

……

Li Shimin sat alone in the Ganlu Hall, remaining silent for a long time.

He recalled what Shen Chang'an had said: "If it is not treated early, the symptoms will worsen significantly within five to ten years."

Five to ten years.

It's not that he's not afraid.

But what bothered him even more was that the Imperial Medical Academy, which he had worked so hard to maintain, was no match for a young man who was providing free medical consultations outside the city.

Physician Zhang, Physician Wang, Physician Li... each one of them was a renowned physician of the time, but after so many years of taking pulses, not one of them dared to tell him the truth.

On the contrary, Shen Chang'an, a complete stranger, spoke frankly on their first meeting.

"A doctor's duty..." Li Shimin murmured, repeating these four words, his gaze deep and unwavering.

Outside the window, the setting sun cast a golden glow upon the Ganlu Palace.

Li Shimin pulled himself out of his thoughts, picked up his brush and wrote a handwritten edict, which he handed to a palace attendant: "Send this to the Eastern Palace, and tell the Crown Prince to take a gift of thanks to that Doctor Shen when he goes outside the city tomorrow."

"Yes."

The eunuch accepted the order and left.

Li Shimin leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and the face of the young doctor appeared in his mind.

Be neither arrogant nor humble, and remain unperturbed by favor or disgrace.

He possesses superb medical skills and noble medical ethics.

If such a person could be employed by the imperial court…

He shook his head, putting the idea aside for the time being.

The most important thing right now is to get my body in good condition.

As for Shen Chang'an...

There is ample time.