Journey to the West: The Mysterious Doctor - Starting with a Heart Transplant for Princess Sizi

I counted them.

There are over a hundred cuts of varying sizes on Eucommia ulmoides' body.

After wrapping the bandage with the last layer of gauze, Zhang Zhao took a step back and looked at the patiently again.

The swelling has completely subsided. Now, Du Zhong looks the same as before, except his face is deathly pale, his lips are white, and he has no color in his skin.

"Hmm?" Zhang Zhao asked, "Are you dizzy?"

Du Zhong nodded: "Dizzy, like he's drunk."

Okay. Typical symptoms of blood loss, but thankfully not serious; you just need to rest for a while.

"Alright, just stay put for the next few days and don't go to the front yard. Just stay in the backyard."

Eucommia ulmoides was wrapped in gauze from head to toe, looking like a mummy about to be buried.

Fortunately, he used fine linen gauze instead of silk gauze, otherwise he would have been heartbroken.

"Afterwards, remember to pay the consultation fee, treatment fee, and medication fee," Zhang Zhao kindly reminded him.

Du Zhong was still moved when he heard this and suddenly looked up, asking a soul-searching question: "No reimbursement?"

"What are you saying? Look at yourself," he pointed at the Eucommia ulmoides, "doesn't the gauze cost money? I'll have to make you some Five Wonders Narcissus Ointment later."

"You should know how precious the Five Wonders Narcissus Cream is. Do you think it's free? Our internal staff are already getting it at cost price; you want the full price?"

The two were chatting and joking when suddenly a loud noise came from the front yard.

The door was pounded on loudly, and someone shouted at the top of their lungs:

"Doctor Zhang is here! Doctor Zhang Zhao, Doctor Zhang is here!"

They're all displaying signs saying "No appointment today" and still knocking on the door. Is there some kind of emergency?

If the patient died at the door, it would be bad for his reputation. Zhang Zhao hurriedly went to the front courtyard, opened the door, and was stunned to see that it was a eunuch.

No wonder he knocked on the door like he was announcing a death.

The eunuch clasped his hands and said with a smile, "You must be Zhang Zhao, Doctor Zhang."

"Indeed." Zhang Zhao returned the greeting and made way for him. "Please come in, Your Excellency."

The two arrived at the front hall and took their seats as host and guest, respectively.

The eunuch got straight to the point: "By order of His Majesty, we request that Physician Zhang be brought to the palace to treat Princess Sizi."

Entering the palace? To treat Princess Sizi's illness?

Princess Sizi should be the Princess Jinyang of later generations. Legend has it that she was the most favored by Li Shimin.

He was sickly from a young age and died in his teens. Later generations speculated that it was mostly due to congenital heart disease.

According to the few words recorded in historical books, the symptoms do indeed match those of congenital heart disease.

There is no cure for congenital heart disease; surgery is the only option.

However, even in later generations, for a long time, congenital heart disease surgery was considered one of the most difficult and risky procedures.

During the Zhenguan era, it was a dead end.

How is a sterile environment ensured? How is the heart stopped? How is blood circulation maintained after the heart stops?

How to prevent infection after surgery? How to provide medication support?

Putting all that aside, the very first problem is how to open the chest and expose the heart.

Even if he has knowledge of cardiac anatomy, it's all for naught without modern equipment and instruments.

Technology is important, but these life-sustaining medical devices are the soul of life.

He entered the palace to treat Princess Sizi's illness, and upon successfully curing her, he naturally became one of the most renowned doctors.

After all, being recommended to the emperor, regardless of who recommended him, at least shows that the Imperial Medical Bureau had run out of options, otherwise they wouldn't have done something so embarrassing.

If he could cure the diseases that none of the imperial physicians could, then he would have the strongest endorsement, and his medical practice would be much more confident.

But what if it can't be cured? It's highly unlikely. If it can't be cured, he might have to be buried with Princess Sizi.

The potential profits are substantial, but the risks are also extremely high.

Of course, with the ancient medical classics at his disposal, he believed he would eventually cure Si Zi, but not now.

Now, he only treats the common people of Chang'an. He knows he's not qualified to treat the royal family.

The eunuch waited for his reply.

Zhang Zhao smiled and said, "I wonder which esteemed person recommended me? I am grateful for that person's guidance. However, I am only thirty years old and have only been a student for a few years. My experience is limited and my skills are not great."

"Furthermore, as a princess of noble birth, she is naturally cared for by the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau. These physicians are all leading figures in medicine, having immersed themselves in the field for many years, and their experience and skills are far beyond my reach."

"How dare I presume to teach someone my own foolish skills?"

He spoke very politely, with a humble tone, but his meaning was clear: he wouldn't go.

The eunuch raised his eyelids, glanced at Zhang Zhao, and said with a smile:

"Dr. Zhang is too modest. To be regarded with such high regard by Imperial Physician Jiang Jizhang, how could his medical skills be lacking? Besides,"

The eunuch smiled, his eyes narrowing into slits: "This servant has come on the Emperor's orders; there's no reason for me to leave empty-handed."

He was entrusted with the emperor's orders; if he didn't go, he would be defying the imperial decree.

Regardless of the dynasty, those who defied imperial orders never fared well.

Zhang Zhao completely extinguished any remaining hope in his heart: "Since the imperial decree is difficult to disobey, I will gladly accompany you to the palace."

Entering the palace is easy, but it's uncertain whether one can ever leave.

The eunuch laughed and said, "In that case, it's getting late, so let's set off immediately."

Just as the two were about to leave, they heard a voice from inside: "Master, what's going on?"

Du Zhong, his body wrapped in bandages, looked at Zhang Zhao with envy: "Going to the palace, Master's ancestral graves must be on fire."

The father-in-law was startled by the walking mummy: "Dr. Zhang, what is this...?"

"Someone from the palace has arrived." Zhang Zhao said calmly, "I need to go into the palace. You stay here and don't move."

-----------------

Unfortunately, it's not the right season, and there are no oranges for sale in the market. Otherwise, I would definitely buy a few to celebrate the occasion.

Zhang Zhao felt regret.

No matter where you came from, you had to walk along Zhuque Avenue to get to the palace.

The city, more than a thousand years ago, had a central main street that was almost as wide as an eight-lane dual carriageway, which was unique in the world.

The eunuch led the way, walking at a leisurely pace.

Zhang Zhao followed behind, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the street. When he saw the imperial palace at the end of the street, he felt a sudden sense of insignificance.

However, he always felt that something was wrong, a vague, inexplicable sense of unease.

A thought struck him, and he activated "Insight".

The eerie threads falling from the horizon were mostly entangled in a willow tree.

He kept this feeling to himself and didn't make it public.

The two arrived at the outside of Ganlu Hall.

The eunuch ordered him to stay put and went into the palace to report.

A monk was waiting with him.

The monk was dressed in a blue robe, with a dignified appearance. He looked to be in his early twenties but already had the air of an enlightened master.

"I presume you also entered the palace to treat the princess's illness?" Their eyes met, and the monk put his palms together in a gesture of respect: "This humble monk is Xuanzang from Jinshan Temple. Greetings, benefactor."

Jinshan Temple, Xuanzang?

Is this the one who later went on the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures? The high monk in the book who was so weak he couldn't even kill a chicken? So weak he couldn't even kill a chicken?

He looked at the monk's staff; it seemed quite heavy, suggesting it was somewhat formidable. He figured it was probably only weak enough to kill a chicken in the hands of demons and monsters.

He returned the greeting with his hands clasped: "I am Zhang Zhao, a physician of Xuanhe Hall. I greet the Venerable Master."

"This humble monk only knows how to subdue demons and eliminate evil, but for the matter of curing the princess's illness, we still need to rely on Doctor Zhang," Xuanzang said with a smile.

At this moment, a voice came from inside the hall:

"Summon Xuanzang and Zhang Zhao to an audience."