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

Inside the room, Shen Chang'an looked into Li Chengqian's eyes and said, "Young Master's pulse—the left cun pulse is weak, indicating insufficient heart qi; the right guan pulse is weak, indicating weak spleen and stomach; the two chi pulses are deep and thready, indicating kidney qi deficiency."

Li Chengqian remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying.

He had heard these pulse diagnosis terms far too many times.

Shen Chang'an continued, "When the heart's energy is insufficient, the mind becomes restless, which is why you experience night sweats, poor sleep, and occasional palpitations."

Li Chengqian's brow twitched slightly; Shen Chang'an had clearly hit the nail on the head.

"When the spleen and stomach are weak, the production of qi and blood is insufficient, so the young master has a pale complexion, pale lips, is easily fatigued, and often experiences abdominal bloating after eating."

"If the kidney qi is deficient, the development will be slightly slower than that of the same age, the bones will not be strong enough, and the person will be especially prone to catching a cold and getting sick during seasonal changes."

Li Chengqian picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "What you've said, even the imperial physicians have said. What's new about it?"

His tone was flat, but the meaning was clear—I know all of this, tell me something I don't.

Moreover, he specifically mentioned that the imperial physician had treated him, which made his status extraordinary.

Shen Chang'an smiled slightly, neither in a hurry nor annoyed.

"Then let me tell you something new."

He paused, looking directly at Li Chengqian: "Young Master's spleen deficiency has already affected the nourishment of qi and blood to the tendons and bones. If it is not treated in time, it may lead to bone disease in the long run—not just ordinary joint pain, but the kind that will affect walking."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian's hand paused slightly.

Cui Zhu's expression also changed.

The guard also secretly glanced at Shen Chang'an again.

His name was Guo Hu. He was a Qianniu Beishen in the Eastern Palace. His ancestors had served in the military for generations, and his father was a mid-level general in the Left Valiant Guard.

This man was tall and strong, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and he exuded an imposing aura just by standing there.

He had followed Li Chengqian for many years and had seen many experts, but he had never seen anyone like Shen Chang'an who could change a young man's attitude so drastically with just his words, without using any weapons.

"also."

Shen Chang'an continued, "The tonics you take, young master, are more nourishing than digestive. Instead of truly replenishing your body, they only increase the burden on your spleen and stomach. That's why your bloating worsens and your appetite deteriorates after each dose."

Li Chengqian put down his teacup.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "The bone disease you mentioned earlier... is something the imperial physicians didn't mention. My abdomen is bloated and my appetite is even worse after taking the medicine—"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Yes, there is."

At this point, his tone had softened considerably compared to before.

But the scrutiny in his eyes had not yet faded.

"Dr. Shen, you can tell that Ben... I trust your eyesight."

Li Chengqian changed the subject, "But being able to see it is one thing, being able to cure it is another."

Shen Chang'an understood his unspoken meaning—you're right about everything, but what can you do?

"What you say makes sense, young master."

Shen Chang'an nodded. "Since you wish to verify my medical skills, then I will do something first so you can see for yourself."

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow, showing some interest: "Oh?"

"I have a general understanding of your health condition, young master. If you do not mind, I would like to perform acupuncture on you first to alleviate your recent discomfort."

Shen Chang'an took out the green wooden needle box from the medicine box, opened the lid, and revealed nine neatly arranged silver needles, their bodies gleaming with a cold silver light under the light.

"Acupuncture?"

The boy's gaze fell on the silver needles, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"Don't worry, young master, this needle is extremely fine, and there will be almost no pain when it is inserted into the acupoint."

Shen Chang'an spoke gently, "I will only select two acupoints—Zusanli and Guanyuan. Zusanli is the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian, which can strengthen the spleen and stomach, and replenish the middle qi; Guanyuan is the Mu-Sea point of the Small Intestine, which can nourish the original qi, warm the kidneys and strengthen yang. The two acupoints together can regulate and tonify the spleen and kidneys. You will know the effect after you administer the acupuncture."

"Your Highness...Young Master, you..."

Before Li Chengqian could speak, Guo Hu, who was beside him, spoke up, but Li Chengqian waved him off.

Li Chengqian glanced at Shen Chang'an, then at the nine silver needles, seemingly weighing his options.

After a moment, he nodded slightly: "Alright, I'll give it a try."

"Please roll up your trousers to expose below your knees, and then slightly open your robe to expose three inches below your navel."

Guo Hu immediately stepped forward, his eyes fixed warily on Shen Chang'an's hand.

Shen Chang'an didn't mind. He took out a silver needle and wiped it with alcohol to disinfect it. This was a disinfection method he had redeemed from the system. Although it was out of step with this era, it was extremely effective.

"Young master, I am about to administer acupuncture."

The boy's body tensed slightly, but he persevered and did not back down.

Shen Chang'an gently pressed the Zusanli acupoint with his fingers, and after confirming that it was correct, he slowly inserted the silver needle.

At the same time, a wisp of extremely subtle [Azure Wood True Qi] silently entered the acupoint along the needle.

Li Chengqian's body trembled slightly.

A warm current slowly spread from the needle tip, extending upwards along the calf and all the way to the lower abdomen.

This feeling... he had never experienced before.

After calmly and slowly applying the Zusanli acupoint, Shen Chang'an took a second silver needle and inserted it into the Guanyuan acupoint.

The same warmth spread from my lower abdomen to my limbs and bones, as if a warm current was slowly flowing through my body.

Li Chengqian's originally pale face gained a noticeable rosy hue.

Cuizhu's eyes widened.

Guo Hu was also taken aback.

Li Chengqian himself was even more surprised—he could clearly feel the changes in his body.

The fatigue that had lingered in my body for years was gradually fading away; my previously drowsy head was becoming clear again.

"Dr. Shen..."

Li Chengqian's voice was somewhat strained, "This is..."

"The needle is still in the acupoint, young master, you don't need to speak, just wait a moment." Shen Chang'an pressed his shoulder, signaling him to relax.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shen Chang'an gently twisted the two silver needles and slowly pulled them out.

"How are you feeling, young master?"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

His eyes changed.

He never expected that this young man would have such medical skills; just one acupuncture session had alleviated his chronic ailment.

"I feel... I have energy again."

Li Chengqian's voice sounded somewhat incredulous, "The fatigue I had felt has dissipated considerably, and it feels like my body is full of energy from the inside out."

As he spoke, he stood up and took a few steps around the private room, his steps much lighter than before.

"Dr. Shen."

Li Chengqian turned around and looked at Shen Chang'an solemnly, "Your acupuncture technique is something that none of the people in the Imperial Hospital can do."

Shen Chang'an put the silver needles back into the needle box, his tone calm: "Young master, you flatter me. This is nothing more than a trivial skill."

"A trivial skill?"

Li Chengqian chuckled, "I've seen at least eighty or a hundred doctors over the years, but you're the first one who made me feel a difference on the spot."

He sat back in the main seat, this time with his back straighter and his eyes filled with more eagerness.

"Dr. Shen, I apologize for my negligence earlier."

Li Chengqian clasped his hands slightly in a fist and asked, "With your abilities, why don't you open a clinic in Chang'an City, instead of offering free medical services outside the city?"

Shen Chang'an smiled and said, "My only wish is to save more people. The people outside the city look down on the famous doctors in the city, so I will go outside the city."

Li Chengqian looked at him, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.

"You're... kind of interesting."

He paused, leaned forward slightly, and said in a more serious tone, "Dr. Shen, since you can diagnose my illness and the acupuncture treatment just now was effective, I'll be frank—I want you to treat me. Not the perfunctory kind that comes every ten days or so, but a serious and thorough treatment."

Shen Chang'an pondered for a moment and said, "Young Master's health is not something that developed overnight, nor can it be cured with just one dose. I need to examine you every few days and adjust the prescription and acupuncture techniques according to the changes in your pulse."

"Okay." Li Chengqian nodded without hesitation. "You write the prescription, and I'll follow it."

Shen Chang'an added, "Besides medicine and acupuncture, I have two more suggestions. One is dietary therapy—food therapy is worse than medicine. I will provide a diet plan, and you can gradually nourish your spleen and stomach by following this diet."

"Secondly, there is the method of guiding the breath—I have a set of breathing techniques called the 'Six-Character Formula,' which can strengthen the five internal organs and regulate qi and blood."

"The Six-Character Mantra?" Li Chengqian asked, intrigued.

"The sounds 'Xu,' 'He,' 'Hu,' 'Xi,' 'Chui,' and 'Xi' correspond to the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and triple burner," Shen Chang'an demonstrated simply. "Practice once in the morning and once in the evening every day. It doesn't require much effort and can be done indoors."

After listening, Li Chengqian stood up, straightened his clothes, and solemnly bowed to Shen Chang'an.

"Dr. Shen."

These three words carried a much heavier weight than "Dr. Shen" from before.

Shen Chang'an quickly stood up and returned the greeting: "Young Master, you flatter me."

The young man waved his hand, his gaze lingering on Shen Chang'an for a moment before suddenly turning to look at Cuizhu, his tone tinged with emotion:

"My sister has found me an extraordinary person this time."

Cui Zhu quickly bowed: "Young master has discerning eyes."

Li Chengqian smiled and looked at Shen Chang'an again, his gaze now holding something beyond scrutiny—curiosity.

A young man in his early twenties possesses such precise medical skills and can perform such acupuncture techniques.

What is his background?

But at this moment, Li Chengqian was not in a hurry to ask further questions.

What he cared about more was whether Shen Chang'an could really cure his illness.

"Dr. Shen, then we'll do as you say." Li Chengqian sat down again, his tone resolute and unwavering. "I entrust my body to you."

Shen Chang'an cupped his hands in greeting: "I will do my utmost."

After saying that, he took out a pen and ink from his medicine box and began to write.

The brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes, completed in one go.

A moment later, a recipe and a cookbook were written.

Shen Chang'an presented the prescription and dietary therapy with both hands: "Young master, these are my prescriptions and dietary therapy methods."

Li Chengqian took it and examined it carefully.

His handwriting is neat and elegant, and his prescriptions are meticulous and thorough; one look and you know he is an expert.

He handed the prescription to Cuizhu to put away, then glanced at Shen Chang'an and suddenly said, "Dr. Shen, from now on, don't refer to yourself as 'commoner.' In front of me, just refer to yourself as 'this humble one.'"

Shen Chang'an was slightly taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "I thank you for your kind offer, young master."

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction.

Sunlight streamed into the private room through the window, illuminating the boy's face and giving his pale cheeks a touch of color.

It's not the reflection of sunlight, but a genuine abundance of qi and blood.

That acupuncture technique really worked.

Shen Chang'an packed his medicine kit and got up to take his leave.

As they reached the door, Li Chengqian suddenly spoke again:

"Dr. Shen."

"Is there anything else you require, young master?"

"My sister said you've cured a lot of people, and I believe her." The boy paused. "But you just said my body needs time... I'm not in a rush. You prepare well, and I'll give you that time."

As the crown prince, he needed a perfect plan, and he had to eliminate even the slightest mistake.

Shen Chang'an turned around and saw the young man sitting upright in the main seat, with sunlight shining golden light behind him.

At this moment, the aloofness and arrogance on his face remained, but there was something different in his eyes.

That's something called respect.

Shen Chang'an bowed and turned to leave.

Cuizhu saw him downstairs.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Cuizhu suddenly whispered, "Doctor Shen, I'll leave the young master's situation to you."

Shen Chang'an glanced at her and smiled gently: "Don't worry."

Cuizhu gave a slight curtsy and watched him leave.

As Shen Chang'an walked out of Zuixianlou, the setting sun had already dipped westward, turning the surface of Qujiang Pool a golden hue.

He shouldered his medicine box and slowly walked back along the bluestone path.

The system's voice quietly sounded in my mind.

[Ding—The progress of the target body conditioning task has been updated.]

[Diagnosis complete, acupuncture treatment implemented, target's condition shows significant improvement]

Rewards will be distributed once the target's physical condition continues to improve.

……

Shen Chang'an's lips curled up slightly.

Today's step can be considered a solid one.

Although that acupuncture technique only used two needles, each needle was infused with [Azure Wood True Qi].

This vital energy, remaining within the boy's body, will continuously nourish his spleen and kidney energy, with effects lasting for at least three to five days.

At that time, the boy will truly feel the changes in his body—not just talk, but a real physical sensation.

Only then will he truly trust himself.

As for now...

Shen Chang'an glanced at the setting sun on the horizon and quickened his pace.

We still need to refine medicine tonight.