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

Inside the pavilion, Li Chunfeng rested his wrist on the stone table, while Shen Chang'an placed three fingers on his cunkou (a point on the back of the nose), probing with spiritual energy before withdrawing his hand after a moment.

"Sir, your pulse is weak and feeble, indicating a deficiency of both qi and blood, and a severe depletion of vital energy. This is not an ordinary illness; it seems..." He paused for a moment, "...as if you have been attacked by some kind of backlash."

Li Chunfeng's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze toward Shen Chang'an became even more serious.

"Dr. Shen has a good eye." He didn't deny it, but said in a low voice, "I wonder if there's a way to treat this?"

"I do have a method," Shen Chang'an nodded. "I will first perform acupuncture on you two to unblock your meridians and replenish your vital energy. Then I will prescribe some herbal decoctions for internal and external nourishment. In seven days to half a month, you should be able to recover most of your strength."

He took out the wooden needle box from the medicine chest, opened the lid, and nine silver needles were neatly arranged, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Li Chunfeng looked at the silver needles, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Yuan Tiangang also frowned slightly.

Li Shimin saw their concerns and said, "Gentlemen, please rest assured. I have personally witnessed Doctor Shen's acupuncture skills. It was he who relieved Her Majesty the Empress's ailment with acupuncture."

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang exchanged a glance and nodded in unison: "Then we'll have to trouble Doctor Shen."

Shen Chang'an gestured for Li Chunfeng to turn around, revealing his back. He inserted silver needles into acupoints such as Feishu and Shenshu, and slowly injected Qingmu True Qi along the needles.

Li Chunfeng felt a warm current flow into his body from the tip of the needle, slowly traveling along the meridians.

Wherever the airflow passed, the chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue of the past few days gradually dissipated.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shen Chang'an removed the silver needle.

"How are you feeling, sir?"

Li Chunfeng stretched his body, his eyes lighting up: "My chest tightness has mostly subsided, and I feel much stronger. Doctor Shen, your acupuncture technique..."

"It's just a trivial skill."

Shen Chang'an smiled and put away the silver needles, then performed another acupuncture treatment on Yuan Tiangang.

Yuan Tiangang's reaction was exactly the same as Li Chunfeng's—after the acupuncture, his pale face regained color, and his spirits improved considerably.

"We will remember Dr. Shen's great kindness." Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang stood up and solemnly bowed.

"You're too kind, gentlemen."

Shen Chang'an returned the greeting, "I will prescribe some medicine for you both. Please take it as prescribed and come back for a follow-up visit in seven days."

He took out paper and pen from the medicine box, wrote down two prescriptions, and handed them over.

Li Chunfeng took the prescription, examined it carefully, and then put it away in his sleeve.

After treating Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang's injuries, Shen Chang'an turned to Empress Zhangsun.

"Madam, let me take your pulse first."

Empress Zhangsun placed her wrist on the stone table, and Shen Chang'an placed three fingers on her cunkou (a point on the back of her neck), closed his eyes, and probed in with spiritual energy.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his brows twitching slightly.

That subtle change was noticed by Li Shimin, who had been paying close attention to his expression.

Li Shimin's heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "Doctor Shen, is there something wrong with my wife's health?"

Shen Chang'an did not answer immediately, but examined the patient for a while longer before withdrawing his hand and revealing a smile on his face.

"Master Li, there's no need to worry, Madam's health is fine." He paused, "However... I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the pavilion suddenly became heavy.

Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and he was about to say "bad news" when Empress Zhangsun gently pressed his hand down.

"Doctor Shen," Empress Zhangsun's voice was gentle and steady, "let's hear the good news first."

Shen Chang'an nodded and said seriously, "The good news is that Madam is pregnant."

The pavilion fell silent instantly upon hearing this.

Li Shimin stood there, as if he hadn't heard clearly.

Empress Zhangsun was also stunned, her fingers unconsciously touching her lower abdomen.

"Dr. Shen,"

"What...did you say?" Li Shimin's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Madam is pregnant, about a month into her pregnancy," Shen Chang'an repeated, his tone certain.

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, grabbed Empress Zhangsun's hand, and exclaimed with wild joy, "Guanyinbi! Did you hear that? We have a child! We have another child!"

"Erlang..." Empress Zhangsun's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled slightly, "We have a child."

Li Lizhi also stood up, her face full of surprise, and said softly, "Mother...Mother, congratulations, Mother!"

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang exchanged a glance, then bowed in unison, saying, "Congratulations, Master Li! Congratulations, Madam Li!"

The pavilion was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Li Shimin grasped Empress Zhangsun's hand, so excited he was incoherent: "Good, good, good! Doctor Shen, you really are...you really are..."

He couldn't find the right words to praise her.

Empress Zhangsun gently patted the back of his hand, signaling him to calm down. Then she looked at Shen Chang'an, her gaze filled with apprehension:

"Dr. Shen, what... is the bad news?"

The laughter and chatter in the pavilion came to an abrupt halt.

All eyes were on Shen Chang'an.

Shen Chang'an was silent for a moment, his smile fading and replaced by a solemn expression.

"Madam," he said slowly, "you suffer from a chronic illness, and your body is already weak. Now that you are pregnant, your energy and blood will have to be divided to support the fetus, which will place an even heavier burden on your body."

He paused, then continued, "Children born under such circumstances are likely to... be born with insufficient endowment and be weak and sickly. Especially..." He glanced at Empress Zhangsun, "The lady suffers from a qi ailment, and the child will very likely be born with the same qi ailment. Moreover, it will be more severe than that of ordinary children."

He paused, then continued, "Children born under such circumstances are likely to... be born with insufficient endowment and be weak and sickly. Especially..." He glanced at Empress Zhangsun, "The lady suffers from a qi ailment, and the child will very likely be born with the same qi ailment. Moreover, it will be more severe than that of ordinary children."

Silence fell over the pavilion.

The smile on Li Shimin's face gradually faded, replaced by solemnity.

He thought of his youngest son, Li Shen—the child who died shortly after birth. He thought of the sickly princes and princesses in the palace. He thought of Li Zhi, who had been taking medicine since childhood…

"Dr. Shen," Li Shimin's voice was low, "you mean, this child... will be born with an illness?"

"That's possible," Shen Chang'an nodded, "and quite likely. Madam's illness is chronic and difficult to cure. If she's not extra careful during her pregnancy, not only will the baby be affected, but Madam's own body will also be unable to withstand it."

Empress Zhangsun's fingers gripped her sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning white.

She looked at Shen Chang'an, her voice trembling slightly, "Dr. Shen, is there any way... to ensure this child is born safely and with less suffering?"

Shen Chang'an pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "There is a way, but it requires the full cooperation of Madam and Master."

"Speak!" Li Shimin said eagerly.

"First, Madam needs to continue taking medication to regulate her Qi ailment, but extra care must be taken with the medication to avoid harming the fetus. I will adjust the prescription, using the gentlest medicines, focusing on regulation rather than treatment."

"Secondly, Madam needs to rest and cannot overwork herself as before. She needs to pay extra attention to her diet, rest, and emotions."

"third……"

Shen Chang'an paused for a moment, then said, "After the child is born, we need to start conditioning him from infancy. We can't wait until he gets sick to treat him; we need to build up his constitution from the root."

He looked at Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun, and said solemnly, "If these three points can be achieved, the child will still be weak, but will not die young. If properly cared for, he will be no different from ordinary people when he grows up."

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time before slowly taking Empress Zhangsun's hand.

"Guanyinbi," his voice was deep and firm, "rest assured. This child, I... I will definitely ensure he grows up safely and peacefully."

Empress Zhangsun nodded, her eyes slightly red, but she did not shed a tear.

Li Lizhi stood aside, watching her father and mother clasp hands, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She remembered what Shen Chang'an had said—that the child would be weak and suffer from respiratory illnesses…

Isn't her own body the same?