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

Inside the Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin slowly sat back down behind his desk, his gaze sharp as a knife as he swept over Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang.

"My two ministers," his voice wasn't loud, but it carried a sense of oppression, "did you already know about the Empress and Princess Chang Le's fates?"

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang exchanged a glance and then knelt down on the ground.

"I...are guilty."

Li Chunfeng pressed his forehead to the ground, "I did indeed perform divination for Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Princess, and I know their destinies. But..."

"But what?"

"But destiny is predetermined and cannot be changed by human effort." Li Chunfeng's voice carried a hint of bitterness. "Even if I were to inform Your Majesty, it would only add to your troubles. Moreover, the fate of the royal family is intertwined with the destiny of the nation. If I were to divulge heavenly secrets without authorization, not only would I be in danger, but I would also affect the course of the nation's destiny. I... dare not."

"You dare not?" Li Shimin sneered. "Is it that you dare not, or that you are unwilling?"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Yuan Tiangang kowtowed and said, "We two did not intend to conceal anything. It is simply... a secret of Heaven that cannot be revealed."

"If I had informed you in advance, not only would it have changed nothing, but it would have caused an even greater disaster. We, with our meager abilities, cannot bear the consequences."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin fell silent.

He knew that Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang were telling the truth.

These two men had followed him for many years, were loyal and devoted, and had never deceived him.

If something can truly be changed, they won't remain silent.

"Then why do you dare to speak now?" Li Shimin asked.

Li Chunfeng raised his head, a hint of awe in his eyes: "Because... fate has already been changed. What we two are saying now is merely stating the facts, not revealing heavenly secrets. Your Majesty may not understand the difference between the two, but we know it clearly."

"Moreover," Yuan Tiangang added, "we two ministers also want to know who exactly is capable of such means to reverse fate."

Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, and his anger gradually subsided.

Get up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang stood up, their hands at their sides, their faces still pale, but their eyes held a sense of expectation.

After pondering for a moment, Li Shimin stood up, paced back and forth in the hall a few times, and then suddenly stopped.

"Someone come here."

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

"Prepare the carriage, I am leaving the palace."

Empress Zhangsun was slightly startled: "Your Majesty, it is already afternoon. That Doctor Shen has probably already gone to make his diagnosis. Going to find him now might be..."

"I know," Li Shimin waved his hand, "but I can't wait any longer."

He turned to Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang: "My two beloved ministers, would you be willing to accompany me?"

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang exchanged a glance and bowed in unison, saying, "Your Majesty, we are willing to go."

"I will go too."

Empress Zhangsun stood up. "Your Majesty, I would like to ask that Physician Shen in person what method he used to make my health so much better."

Li Lizhi also stood up and said softly, "My daughter will go too."

Li Shimin glanced at his wife and daughter and nodded.

"Then let's go together."

He walked to the entrance of the hall, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang:

"My two beloved ministers, I have a question for you."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"That Shen Chang'an... what do you think he is?"

Li Chunfeng remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I dare not speculate. But I am certain that this person is no ordinary person."

Welcome to the fantasy world of historical fiction. The entrance is here:

Yuan Tiangang nodded: "I have never seen or heard of anyone who could change the fate of His Majesty, the Empress, and the Princess all by himself. I... would very much like to meet him."

Li Shimin said nothing more and strode out of the Ganlu Hall.

Behind them, Empress Zhangsun held Li Lizhi's hand. The mother and daughter exchanged a glance, both seeing complex emotions in each other's eyes.

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang walked side by side, their eyes filled with an indescribable expectation.

The carriage was prepared outside the palace gates, and the group, escorted by guards, drove out of the palace and headed towards the outskirts of Chang'an.

It was early afternoon, and the spring sunlight slanted across the bluestone streets of Chang'an.

Li Shimin lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the receding street scene outside the window, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Shen Chang'an.

Who exactly are you?

The carriage rumbled and headed out of the city, finally stopping three miles southeast of Qixia Gate.

Li Shimin lifted the carriage curtain and saw a sparse village. A dozen or so households were scattered at the foot of Shaoling Plain, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys and the sounds of chickens and dogs echoing around them. It looked like a peaceful place, which made Li Shimin nod slightly and realize that this was a good place.

"Is this the place?" Li Shimin asked.

"Your Majesty, this is the place."

A guard stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I have found out that Doctor Shen's residence is that small courtyard with blue bricks in front of us, called 'Jishiju'."

Li Shimin nodded and got off the carriage.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi followed closely behind, and Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang also came up. The group walked towards the small courtyard.

When the group arrived at the courtyard, they saw that the gate was closed and a plaque hung above the gate with the three characters "Jishiju" written in vigorous strokes, which had a somewhat otherworldly feel to it.

Li Shimin stood in front of the door, examined the calligraphy carefully for a moment, and nodded: "This calligraphy is well written, and its style is already formed."

The eunuch stepped forward and knocked on the door, but no one answered after a long time.

"Your Majesty, Physician Shen is not at home," the eunuch reported.

He glanced at the stone steps in front of the courtyard gate; they were clean and tidy, clearly indicating that the owner cleaned them regularly.

"Dr. Shen should be back soon, let's wait!"

Li Shimin was determined to see Shen Chang'an today; he wouldn't feel at ease until his doubts were dispelled.

The eunuch quickly unloaded a stool from the carriage, placed it in a sunny spot next to the courtyard gate, and then laid a brocade cushion on it.

Li Shimin didn't get into the carriage, but sat down outside the courtyard gate, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding fields and the distant Zhongnan Mountain, feeling quite relaxed and happy.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi also sat down nearby.

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang stood to the side, their gazes frequently falling on the small courtyard, their eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

"Grand Astrologer," Yuan Tiangang lowered his voice, "can you sense that something is amiss in this courtyard?"

Li Chunfeng nodded slightly, his gaze solemn: "It is indeed unusual. Observing the layout of this courtyard—the orientation of the gate, the height of the courtyard wall, even the vines on the wall—it all exudes a kind of… indescribable meaning."

"I felt it too."

Yuan Tiangang stroked his long beard. "This courtyard may seem ordinary, but it gives people a sense of perfect harmony. It's as if every brick and tile is placed in its proper place, neither too much nor too little."

"What Huoshanling said is true." Li Chunfeng sighed softly, "To be able to build such a courtyard in the countryside, this Doctor Shen is probably no ordinary person."

The two exchanged a glance and said nothing more, but in their hearts, they felt a growing curiosity and apprehension towards the unfamiliar Doctor Shen.