Chapter 5: Chapter 4: Apprenticeship in Medicine, The Imperial Concubine's Strangeness

Liang Xin had a dream. In the dream, he led thousands of troops and horses back to the modern era to carve out territories and become a hegemon of a generation. Additionally, he had built a massive harem within his palace, filled with many beautiful women—all of them famous actresses. There was the goddess Hui Min, Sister Qingxia, and of course, the likes of Teacher Cang...

At the end, Liang Xin felt something cold on his face, and he suddenly jolted awake.

The first thing that entered Liang Xin's vision was Xiao Chunzi's overly fair face. Seeing Liang Xin wake up, Xiao Chunzi immediately handed him a towel: "Brother Fu, you're awake. Here, wipe your face. While you were sleeping just now, you drooled so much that you soaked the pillow."

Liang Xin reached out to wipe the dream-drool from his face, then took the towel from Xiao Chunzi and asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

"A whole day. Brother Liang, you are truly amazing; you didn't even flinch after drinking eighteen bowls of poison. Imperial Physician Chen examined you and said your constitution is special—it is likely a rare, once-in-a-century immunity to all poisons."

"Immunity to all poisons?" Liang Xin touched his chest, thinking it must be the power of the He Shi Bi at work.

"Xiao Chunzi, Xiao Fuzi." Eunuch Xu, the head of the Imperial Pharmacy, pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing that Liang Xin was awake, Eunuch Xu smiled: "Aiya, Xiao Fuzi, you're finally awake. Hurry up and get ready; Imperial Physician Chen has personally brought the Empress's rewards."

"Rewards?" Liang Xin flipped up from the bed. After dressing himself neatly, he followed Eunuch Xu and Xiao Chunzi out.

In the backyard of the Imperial Pharmacy, Imperial Physician Chen stood with two young eunuchs. Each young eunuch held a red-lacquered wooden tray containing five gold ingots, each estimated to weigh at least five taels.

Under Eunuch Xu's guidance, Liang Xin and Xiao Chunzi bowed to Imperial Physician Chen. Then, Chen said, "Xiao Fuzi, Xiao Chunzi, these gold ingots are rewards from Her Majesty the Empress. Express your gratitude first."

Xiao Chunzi's eyes went straight as he stared at the gold ingots, swallowing continuously. Hearing that there were gold ingots, he also felt he had a share and immediately knelt to the ground to kowtow in thanks without a second thought.

Liang Xin felt nothing toward wealth; after all, his food and drink were provided in the palace, so having money meant having nowhere to spend it. Liang Xin knelt to pay his respects somewhat reluctantly, and his lukewarm performance actually made Chen Yuding nod inwardly. Chen Yuding thought to himself that this boy was unmoved by wealth, which meant his character was quite good.

After waiting for Xiao Chunzi and Liang Xin to put away the gold ingots, Chen Yuding looked at Liang Xin and said, "Xiao Fuzi, I have asked the Empress for a favor for you, allowing you to become my apprentice. Are you willing to take me as your master?"

"Take you as my master?" Liang Xin was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening. He quickly nodded and said, "I am willing, I am willing..." Liang Xin suddenly knelt to the ground and shouted loudly, "Master, please accept this disciple's bow!"

Liang Xin kowtowed three times to Chen Yuding. Chen Yuding reached out to help him up and said, "Since you are my disciple, you no longer need to use the title Xiao Fuzi. What is your real name?"

"Reporting to Master, this disciple's real name is Liang Xin."

"Liang Xin?" Chen Yuding nodded. "Good. We who study medicine must hold benevolence in our hearts; it all comes down to these two words: 'conscience.' From now on, use your real name, Liang Xin."

"Thank you, Master." Liang Xin was greatly pleased; he had never liked the name Xiao Fuzi.

After becoming Chen Yuding's disciple, Liang Xin naturally could no longer live in the Imperial Pharmacy; he had to follow Chen Yuding to the Imperial Hospital. Although he was still a low-ranking eunuch without a formal grade upon arriving at the Imperial Hospital, his title as the eldest disciple under Chen Yuding was certainly not inferior to an eighth-grade head eunuch.

Xiao Chunzi and Eunuch Xu were both very happy for Liang Xin that he could walk out of the Imperial Pharmacy, which was known as the "Eunuch's Graveyard." Eunuch Xu used his connections in the Imperial Kitchen to arrange a table of fine dishes for Liang Xin. The three of them ate a meal together and even had a bit of wine.

At noon that day, Liang Xin moved his belongings to the eunuch quarters in the backyard of the Imperial Hospital. The eunuchs at the Imperial Hospital did not enjoy the same treatment as those in the Imperial Pharmacy; they didn't get private rooms, but instead slept in large communal dormitories with eight people to a bed.

However, Chen Yuding gave his own room to Liang Xin, because he had his own residence outside the palace and rarely slept in the palace. Thus, thanks to Chen Yuding, Liang Xin secured a fully furnished suite at the Imperial Hospital.

After lunch, Chen Yuding came to Liang Xin's room. Liang Xin attentively brewed a cup of tea for him. Chen Yuding took out a copy of the *Yellow Emperor's Eighty-One Difficulties* and handed it to Liang Xin, saying, "Do not do anything else for the next few days. Memorize this book. I will test you in three days."

Liang Xin took the book, glanced at it, and said, "Master, there is no need to wait three days. I can memorize this book."

"You can?" Chen Yuding was greatly surprised. "Recite it for me."

"The twelve meridians all have arteries; one takes only the cun-kou to determine the methods of life, death, and the auspicious or inauspicious nature of the five viscera and six organs. What does this mean..." Liang Xin did not pause for a single second, reciting the entire *Yellow Emperor's Eighty-One Difficulties* without a hint of hesitation or awkwardness.

Chen Yuding was astonished. He stared at Liang Xin and asked, "Did my disciple study medicine in the past?"

Liang Xin took a breath and nodded, and thus, a fresh story was cooked up. In the story, Liang Xin transformed into the descendant of a medical family, who had read medical books since childhood and aspired to be a great physician when grown. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, "unforeseen winds and clouds occur in heaven," the medical family in Liang Xin's story was framed, leading to the destruction of his family. Out of desperation, Liang Xin sold himself into the palace to become a eunuch to bury his parents. Additionally, Liang Xin explained that the reason he was immune to all poisons was that he had grown up soaking in medicinal baths, giving him a constitution different from ordinary people.

Liang Xin's story moved Chen Yuding to tears. Chen Yuding grabbed Liang Xin's hand and said, "You have suffered, my disciple. You have truly suffered. Xin'er, rest assured, your master will pass on everything I have learned to you, and I will surely make you a famous physician of a generation to carry on your father's will."

"Thank you, Master." Liang Xin blinked repeatedly, trying to squeeze out a couple of tears to move Chen Yuding once more, but unfortunately, tears do not come just because one wants them to. Liang Xin blinked until his eyes hurt, yet his eyes remained dry.

Next, Chen Yuding tested Liang Xin on other medical knowledge. To Chen Yuding's surprise, the sheer amount and completeness of Liang Xin's memory regarding medical texts were astounding, and Liang Xin could even offer very profound insights into many medical principles. Of course, those insights were actually the annotations of Physician Wen.

After finishing the examination, Chen Yuding could not help but cry out inwardly: This was a disciple bestowed upon him by the heavens; he must teach him well.

"Xin'er, since you already have a fairly profound understanding of medical principles, I will now take you to integrate this knowledge through practice. Come! Follow your master to diagnose Consort Qiao."

Consort Qiao! For a modern person like Liang Xin, he wanted to meet anyone from the Northern Song Dynasty who had left a name in history. It felt like a commoner wanting to meet a real-life celebrity.

In the history of the Emperor Huizong period of the Northern Song, Consort Qiao was indeed a historical figure. Rumor had it she was a maidservant to Empress Zheng, who later gained the favor of Zhao Ji and was titled a Noble Consort. In Liang Xin's eyes, this was a true "maidservant's grand counterattack."

Filled with curiosity, Liang Xin followed Chen Yuding to the Yuqiao Palace. Consort Qiao's personal maid led Liang Xin and Chen Yuding into the palace. In the main hall, after Liang Xin and Chen Yuding performed their salutations, they finally saw the legendary Consort Qiao.

Just as historical records described, Consort Qiao was a beauty of peerless grace. Judging from her appearance alone, one would feel that her promotion from an ordinary maid to a Noble Consort was by no means accidental.

With an aura of dignity and nobility and a face of unparalleled splendor, Consort Qiao, who blended the qualities of both a mature older sister and a sophisticated woman, made Liang Xin secretly swallow hard.

Even more fatal was that Consort Qiao was currently wearing a layer of thin golden gauze, leaning against a table. Through the gauze, Liang Xin could vaguely see a large expanse of snow-white skin on her chest.

That high swell, combined with Consort Qiao's looks, instantly caused a reaction below Liang Xin. Liang Xin was greatly alarmed, fearing that his reaction would reveal him to be a fake eunuch. He secretly glanced sideways at his lower body and found that because his clothes were loose, no trace was visible. Only then did Liang Xin let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Has Your Ladyship's jade body been well lately?" Chen Yuding asked, standing beside Consort Qiao.

Consort Qiao shook her head and said, "Imperial Physician Chen, this palace has recently still been unable to eat or sleep, and there is often a dull pain in my lower abdomen, which makes me feel quite uncomfortable."

Chen Yuding frowned slightly and bowed, saying, "Please extend your right hand, Your Ladyship, so that this humble official may check your pulse."

Consort Qiao extended her right hand to Chen Yuding. Chen Yuding bowed slightly and sat down, placing a pulse-reading cotton pad for Consort Qiao to rest her hand upon.

Chen Yuding cautiously reached out to check her pulse. After about a minute, Chen Yuding's eyebrows lifted and a look of joy appeared in his eyes: "Congratulations, Your Ladyship, you are..."

"Imperial Physician Chen!" Consort Qiao's personal maid suddenly spoke up, interrupting him.

Chen Yuding was slightly stunned and gave the maid a somewhat displeased look. The maid smiled and said, "The Emperor has not visited Your Ladyship's Yuqiao Palace for a long time. Don't you think Your Ladyship's ailment is caused by excessive longing?"

Chen Yuding laughed, "How could it be caused by excessive longing..." Suddenly, Chen Yuding's whole body shuddered, and his expression changed drastically.

Consort Qiao said with a blooming smile, "Imperial Physician Chen, please speak freely. This palace will not hide an illness to avoid treatment."

Chen Yuding said, his whole body trembling slightly, "Your Ladyship's ailment stems from insufficient Qi and blood, and depression of the heart. You only need to take some soothing and calming decoctions and pay attention to relaxing your mind, and you will surely recover quickly."

"Then I shall trouble Imperial Physician Chen. In a moment, I will have Jinyu accompany you to the Imperial Hospital to collect the medicine, how about that?" Consort Qiao smiled gently.

Standing behind Chen Yuding, Liang Xin kept frowning. Although he hadn't personally performed the pulse reading, his ability to observe people was quite high. Chen Yuding's performance just now made Liang Xin certain that Consort Qiao had definitely contracted some unspeakable illness.

*It couldn't be AIDS, could it?* Liang Xin thought maliciously.

Chen Yuding stood up and bowed slightly, saying, "If Your Ladyship has no other instructions, this humble official shall take his leave."

"Very well. Yu'er, go with Imperial Physician Chen."

"Yes, Your Ladyship." Jinyu walked from behind Consort Qiao to her front and bowed.