Who said the eldest daughter is crazy? She's clearly a woman of high rank and influence in the

The young man in white paused, lowered his eyes, straightened his cuffs, and said in a gentle voice, "My surname is Lian. There's no need to mention the character 'Cao' (草). Just call me Doctor, Prime Minister."

The Left Prime Minister's brow twitched, almost confirming who it was. However, his frail and aloof appearance, dressed in a plain white robe and carrying an old medicine chest, was completely different from that of Prince Chen, Helian Jing, who "manages the Heavenly Pivot Bureau and oversees all officials."

The Left Prime Minister stood up and stepped aside to make way for him: "Doctor Lian, please come with me."

The gate to the Imperial Preceptor's bedroom was pushed open, and Xi Yueli was curled up on the bed, her face pale and her lips so pale that they almost blended into the skin of her chin.

The two imperial physicians who remained by the bedside saw the Left Prime Minister bring in a young man dressed in a plain white robe, who was even wearing a mask and dared not show his true face. They exchanged glances, and the older of them frowned and stepped forward to block him.

"Prime Minister, the Imperial Preceptor's illness is caused by a rare poison entering his body. Ordinary doctors can't even accurately diagnose his pulse, and you've brought along a self-taught practitioner..."

The Left Prime Minister did not respond. He turned his head to glance at the young man in white, then stepped aside to make room for him on the edge of the couch.

When Doctor Lian took two steps forward and sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to feel Xi Yueli's pulse on the inside of her wrist, the older imperial physician took another half step forward, his voice rising half an octave.

"Left Prime Minister! This man hasn't even revealed his true face, yet you're letting him touch the Imperial Preceptor's hand? What if something goes wrong? Who will take responsibility? Even the most renowned physicians in the royal court are helpless against this ailment; how can a young doctor of unknown origin possibly cure it?"

The short, stout imperial physician chimed in, his voice sharp and urgent: "Prime Minister, please reconsider! If something goes wrong, the entire Imperial Medical Academy will be held responsible—"

Even the doctor's fingertips were still resting on the inside of Xi Yueli's wrist, as if he hadn't heard the words of obstruction at all.

He paused for about five breaths, then withdrew his hand, opened the old blue cloth medicine box, took out a small porcelain bottle from the box, uncorked it, and poured out a dark red pill.

The older imperial physician's expression changed when he saw the pill. He rushed forward, reaching out to stop him: "Left Prime Minister! How dare you put this medicine of unknown origin into the Imperial Preceptor's mouth? What if it's some kind of deadly poison—"

The Left Prime Minister reached out and blocked his way, his calloused hand positioned across the imperial physician's chest. "What are you doing blocking me? You've been treating him for four days, and the Imperial Preceptor's pulse is getting weaker every day. If you can't treat him, then get out of the way."

The imperial physician opened and closed his mouth, as if he wanted to say something in rebuttal, but the Left Prime Minister's words left him speechless, his face turning pale and then red.

He took a half step back, but his gaze remained fixed on the pill in the white-robed young man's hand, as if he were looking at something that shouldn't be there.

The pill had already been fed to Xi Yueli's lips. Doctor Lian's movements were very gentle. When the pill touched her lower lip, he paused for a moment, and then gently supported her chin with his other hand, causing her throat to move slightly and swallow.

The imperial physicians were still standing there. The short, stout one had retreated to the doorway, while the older one stood stiffly three steps in front of the bed, his face full of anticipation for the amateur doctor to make a fool of himself.

He stood there with his arms crossed, a barely suppressed sneer on his lips. No matter how convincing the pill looked, it was still just a single-ingredient remedy.

Four days after the poison entered the body, most of the meridians had been eroded by the poison. Could a single pill really clear out the poison?

About twenty breaths later, Xi Yueli's body suddenly arched up.

Dark red blood gushed from the corner of her lips, flowing down her chin and into her collar. Her body convulsed violently, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the blankets tightly.

The older imperial physician was furious when he saw the first drop of blood.

He broke free of the Left Prime Minister's arm and rushed forward, pointing at Doctor Lian's nose and shouting shrilly, "Look! The Imperial Preceptor is vomiting blood! This pill of yours has forced the poison into his heart and lungs! Guards! Seize him!"

The short, stout imperial physician rushed in, his voice shrill and urgent: "Left Prime Minister! He's plotting to murder the Imperial Preceptor! How dare a self-taught young doctor prescribe medicine without even taking a proper pulse?"

Two young imperial physicians also gathered around, their voices mingling as one, "Give them the detoxifying soup!" "It'll be too late if we wait any longer!"

Even amidst the shouts, Doctor Lian remained unmoved. His gaze fell on the crease between Xi Yueli's brows that was slowly loosening. He pulled her hand, which was draped over the blankets, and could see the bluish-purple color on her fingernails fading.

The older imperial physician rushed forward to push Doctor Lian aside, but the Left Prime Minister's hand once again blocked his way.

This time, the Left Prime Minister's force was three times stronger than before. The imperial physician was blocked by the barrier and staggered back half a step, bumping into the short and fat imperial physician. The two of them fell on top of each other and retreated to the door.

About ten more breaths passed, and Xi Yueli's breathing gradually calmed down from rapid spasms to a steady, long rhythm. Her lips changed from pale to slightly red, and her curled-up body slowly stretched out again.

The older imperial physician's lips trembled slightly before he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence: "...This is impossible. Such a strange poison, just one pill..."

The Left Prime Minister stood before the bed, looking down at the color returning to Xi Yueli's face, then turned his gaze to Doctor Lian, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. "Where did this medicine come from?"

The young man in white resealed the porcelain bottle and put it back in his medicine box. When he stood up, he swayed slightly and had to reach out to steady himself by holding onto the edge of the bed.

He turned his head to look at the Left Prime Minister, his face was half a shade paler than when he came in, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. "A family secret medicine, not to be passed on to outsiders."

When the Left Prime Minister saw that as Doctor Lian withdrew his hand, a not-yet-fully-healed old wound was visible under the cuff of his sleeve on the inside of his wrist bone. It was a mark left by something that had scratched him and formed a thin scab.

The Left Prime Minister withdrew his gaze, his face remaining expressionless, but as he did so, he slightly turned his body and bowed in the direction of Doctor Lian.

The gesture of his cupped hands was three times deeper than when he was polite to ordinary doctors at court, carrying an unusual solemnity.

"Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Lian. The side courtyard has been prepared. You can stay for a few days to observe the Imperial Preceptor's condition."

Doctor Lian nodded to him without much formality, then turned and sat back down on the edge of the couch. He reached out and checked Xi Yueli's pulse for five breaths before withdrawing his hand. "There are still some acupuncture points to be administered. Those who are not involved can leave now."

The Left Prime Minister sensed the weight in those words. He turned to face the imperial physicians who were still frozen in the side hall. "Gentlemen, you have heard me. The Imperial Preceptor needs to rest. Please."

The elderly imperial physician stood there, his face turning from pale to dark red, his lips still trembling, unable to utter a single word. The echo of his earlier shouts still lingered in the air, and now his old face looked as if he had been slapped in public, turning a deep purple.

The imperial physicians filed out, walking faster than rabbits. One of them tripped over the threshold as he went out, staggering a couple of steps before regaining his balance.

The Left Prime Minister was the last to walk out. He paused at the door, glanced at Doctor Lian, and then closed the door.

Only two people remained in the side hall. Twilight filtered through the paper windows and fell on the floor, casting a warm, dark gold glow on the edge of the couch and the hem of Doctor Lian's moon-white robe.

Xi Yueli's breathing was a little deeper than before, but she still kept her eyes closed. The recovery of her complexion made her features appear a long-lost softness in the twilight.

Doctor Lian sat on the edge of the bed, took out a plain white handkerchief from his sleeve, bent down, and gently pressed it to Xi Yueli's forehead to wipe away a layer of fine sweat.

He raised his right hand, removed the half-mask, revealing a face with distinct features, high and sharp brow bones, slightly upturned eyes, and pupils that were deep black in the twilight.

It was Helian Jing.