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

Li Lizhi led the Japanese to the pavilion.

Inugami Mitasuki immediately spotted the young doctor sitting on the stone bench, his eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.

Shen Chang'an did not get up, nor did he invite them to sit down. He simply raised his chin slightly, his gaze indifferent.

Inugami Mitasuki remained expressionless, respectfully bowed, and said in broken Chinese, "I am Inugami Mitasuki, an envoy from Japan to Tang China. I have long admired Doctor Shen's superb medical skills and have come to pay my respects."

Shen Chang'an looked him up and down.

He was in his forties, with a dark and rough face, clearly the result of a long journey.

Wearing a round-necked robe from the Tang Dynasty, yet adorned with a Japanese-style belt, it was an incongruous and mismatched outfit.

The four people behind him were dressed similarly, all short and wiry, with their eyes darting around, looking east and west.

"Sit," Shen Chang'an squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

Just as Inu no Mitasuki was about to sit down, Shen Chang'an spoke again: "When did the Japanese envoys to Tang China arrive in Chang'an?"

"Sir, it was last autumn," Inugami Mitasuki replied. "I came to Tang Dynasty to study the laws and regulations on the orders of the Emperor of Japan. It has been more than half a year now, and I will be setting off to return home in a little over a month."

Shen Chang'an nodded, already having made up his mind.

In the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, Japan sent its first envoy to Tang China. The mission was small and was headed by Inugami Mitasuki.

This person is not well-known in history; he was merely the leader of the first group of envoys to Tang China.

"Dr. Shen provides free medical services outside the city without charging a penny. I greatly admire his kindness and skill."

Inugami Mitasuki smiled broadly, "I've heard that Doctor Shen's medical skills are superb and he can cure all kinds of diseases. I wonder if he could treat us? We've come from afar from Japan and are suffering from acclimatization issues."

Shen Chang'an glanced at the group and said coldly, "None of you are sick."

Inugami Mita's smile froze.

Shen Chang'an added, "If it's just a matter of not being used to the water and soil, drinking more hot water for a few days will be fine. There's no need to see a doctor."

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Li Lizhi stood aside, looking at Shen Chang'an's indifferent expression, her doubts growing deeper.

She had never seen Shen Chang'an treat anyone so rudely. These Japanese people had only come seeking medical help because of his reputation, so why did he treat them like this?

Inu no Mitasuki's expression shifted several times before he finally forced a smile: "Dr. Shen is right. Since we are all fine, we will not trouble you any further. However, I have long admired the medical skills of the Tang Dynasty. I wonder if I could exchange some ideas with Dr. Shen?"

"No, I don't have time." Shen Chang'an stood up, looking directly at Inugami Mitasuki, his tone calm but unquestionable. "If you have nothing else to do, please leave. I still have to provide free medical care for the people and have no time to entertain you."

Inugami Mita was stunned, and the several followers behind him exchanged glances, their expressions revealing a hint of anger.

Li Lizhi was also stunned. She did not expect Shen Chang'an to see her off so directly, without even a word of politeness.

"Dr. Shen..." Inugami Mitasuki wanted to say something more.

"See them out." Shen Chang'an turned and looked at the courtyard gate, no longer looking at them.

Inugami Mita's face finally darkened. He gave Shen Chang'an a deep look, cupped his hands in greeting, and turned to leave.

Four attendants followed behind him. One of them turned around and glared at Shen Chang'an when he reached the courtyard gate, his eyes dark and gloomy.

Li Lizhi snapped out of her daze, quickly walked to the courtyard gate, saw the group out, and then closed the gate.

Outside the courtyard gate, Inu no Mitasuki walked a distance and stopped under a large locust tree.

"Ambassador, this man is extremely rude!" an attendant said indignantly.

Inugami Mitasuki waved his hand, his face grim: "This person's medical skills are superb, and he is very famous in Chang'an. The woman who informed us... has an extraordinary demeanor, and there is something strange about this courtyard."

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"What the ambassador means is..."

"This person must have a secret." Inugami Mita lowered his voice. "If we can find out the reason for his superb medical skills and bring him back to Japan, it will be a great achievement."

The group whispered a few words and decided to send someone to sneak into the courtyard to investigate.

But it won't work during the day, there are people in the yard, so we can only wait until night.

……

In the courtyard, Li Lizhi walked to the pavilion and saw Shen Chang'an still standing there, gazing in the direction of the courtyard gate with a deep look in his eyes.

"Mr. Shen," she called softly, "do you...know those Japanese?"

Shen Chang'an shook his head: "I don't know him."

"Then why...?"

"It's nothing." Shen Chang'an withdrew his gaze and looked at her. "Lizhi, try to avoid contact with those Japanese people in the future."

Li Lizhi was slightly taken aback. Although Shen Chang'an's tone was calm, she could sense the weight in it.

Shen Chang'an did not explain the reason, but Li Lizhi knew that Shen Chang'an never said such things without a reason.

"Okay." She nodded.

Shen Chang'an sat down on the stone bench, picked up the tea that had long since gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp.

His expression had returned to its usual gentleness, as if the coldness from before had never occurred.

Li Lizhi looked at his profile, but her heart remained unsettled for a long time.

She had never seen Shen Chang'an so emotionally expressive since they met.

He was gentle and always composed in his dealings with others, remaining neither arrogant nor servile even when facing an emperor like his father.

But those few Japanese men made his expression darken, and his words carried a hint of disgust.

But those few Japanese men made his expression darken, and his words carried a hint of disgust.

Why?

Is there something wrong with those Japanese?

Li Lizhi kept the events of the day firmly in mind: the arrival of the Japanese envoy, Shen Chang'an's attitude, and every expression and word he uttered.

She decided to report to her father, the emperor, as soon as she returned to the palace.

Although she was a woman, she knew that as a princess of the Tang Dynasty, she could not pretend not to have seen these things.

"Beautiful." Shen Chang'an suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"In about a month, those Japanese will be returning home." Shen Chang'an said this in a very calm tone, as if he were talking about something insignificant.

Li Lizhi was taken aback: "How did Mr. Shen know?"

"That's what he just said," Shen Chang'an smiled, "You weren't paying attention."

Li Lizhi remembered that Inugami Mitasuki had indeed said that he would be setting off to return to his country in a little over a month.

She hadn't paid much attention to it at the time, but now that Shen Chang'an had brought it up, she felt a little uneasy.

He said this in a very calm tone.

Li Lizhi lowered her eyes and didn't ask any more questions. She knew Shen Chang'an wouldn't harm her, but those Japanese... she had probably messed with someone she shouldn't have.

She glanced up at the sky and said, "Mr. Shen, it's getting late, I should head back to the palace now."

"Be careful on the road."

Li Lizhi walked to the courtyard gate and glanced back at him.

Shen Chang'an was still sitting in the pavilion, the afterglow of the setting sun falling on him, casting a long shadow.

She looked away and got into the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lowered, and she leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes, but Shen Chang'an's expression from just now kept replaying in her mind.

"Princess," Cuizhu's voice came from the side, "Mr. Shen seems rather unhappy today."

"Um."

"Is it because of those Japanese?"

Li Lizhi did not answer; she did not know the answer, but she knew that this matter had to be reported to her father, the Emperor.

The carriage rumbled toward the palace. Li Lizhi lifted the curtain and looked out at the receding fields with a solemn expression.