Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly relapse with her old illness?

After the initial shock, Yanshu and Emperor Yuwen Lan immediately hurried to Ci’an Palace to check on her.

Upon arrival, they found the Empress Dowager lying in bed, her eyes tightly shut, her brows furrowed, looking quite pained.

Beside the bed, Zhang Shengkang was taking the Empress Dowager’s pulse. Upon seeing them, he immediately saluted.

At this sight, both of them paused for a moment.

Zhang Shengkang was not a trustworthy person, and both Yanshu and Emperor Yuwen Lan knew it well. However, the Empress Dowager trusted him deeply and always summoned him to diagnose her whenever she felt unwell.

Of course, Zhang Shengkang was not the primary focus right now. Emperor Yuwen Lan quickly ordered everyone to stand at ease and then asked, "How is the Empress Dowager?"

Zhang Shengkang answered, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is suffering from her usual headwind ailment."

Yanshu, somewhat suspicious, asked, "When I came to visit this morning, the Empress Dowager was fine. How did she suddenly relapse?"

After hearing this, Zhang Shengkang quickly explained, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager’s illness is very sensitive to external weather conditions. In the past, her relapses were usually triggered by the cold in autumn and winter or wind exposure. I’ve heard the Empress Dowager went hiking yesterday, so it’s very likely that the cool wind on the mountain aggravated her old illness."

Yanshu still looked doubtful.

Was that really the cause? Yesterday didn’t seem cold, and Dan Gui Mountain wasn’t very high, nor was the wind strong. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager had worn a hat when she got off the carriage, so she shouldn’t have been exposed to any wind.

...Could Zhang Shengkang have poisoned her?

Just as she thought this, she suddenly heard a mocking voice in her mind from Zhang Shengkang: [What? You think I poisoned the Empress Dowager? Heh, do you really think I’d be that foolish?]

Yanshu: "…"

Well, it seemed like he wasn’t messing things up after all.

On the side, Emperor Yuwen Lan, who had also been listening silently, frowned in thought.

Since learning about Zhang Shengkang’s questionable character, he too had suspected that the Empress Dowager’s illness might be linked to him. However, after secretly reading his thoughts a few times, he had never found any indication that Zhang Shengkang had harmed the Empress Dowager.

It seemed that, in this case, Zhang Shengkang was not involved.

At that moment, hearing Zhang Shengkang’s explanation, Emperor Yuwen Lan turned to the Empress Dowager and said, "Mother, how are you feeling now? I was too hasty yesterday, and caused you this suffering."

Yanshu also looked guilty, saying, "This was my idea, it’s my fault."

Upon hearing their words, the Empress Dowager reluctantly opened her eyes and sighed, "It’s not your fault. I am the one who is useless, don’t blame yourselves."

She then tightly furrowed her brows again and closed her eyes, looking very pained.

Seeing this, both of them felt a tightening in their hearts.

Yanshu hurriedly asked Zhang Shengkang, "What should we do now? How can we help the Empress Dowager recover faster?"

Zhang Shengkang replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager should focus on taking medicine and resting for now. She must stay in her room for the next few days and cannot be exposed to wind."

He seemed to be worried that Yanshu wouldn’t believe him and quickly added, "This headwind ailment is very stubborn. For many years, the Empress Dowager has always treated it this way when it flares up. There’s no way to completely cure it."

Yanshu had no choice but to nod.

Well, that made sense. In less than a year, she had already seen the Empress Dowager suffer from this illness three times. It seemed indeed difficult to treat.

But this was her beloved, perfect Empress Dowager! To see such a wonderful person suffering so much—it broke Yanshu’s heart.

Just as she was thinking this, Zhang Shengkang sneered inwardly: [If I didn’t intervene, the Empress Dowager would probably suffer even longer each year. You should know, Emperor, I am indispensable!]

Hearing this, Emperor Yuwen Lan was about to frown, but then he heard Yanshu’s angry voice in her mind: [What? This old dog dares to call my man that?! The title little emperor is mine alone to use!]

Hmph, "indispensable"? This old scoundrel was getting too arrogant. He needed to be taught a lesson! She couldn’t believe that even Jiang Taiyi wouldn’t be able to treat the Empress Dowager!

Emperor Yuwen Lan was thinking the same. Based on previous cases, Jiang Nianqi’s medical skills were not inferior to Zhang Shengkang’s, and he should be able to treat the Empress Dowager’s stubborn illness.

But before he could speak, they suddenly smelled the scent of medicine approaching. It was the palace maid Dan Shuang bringing the freshly prepared medicine.

Seeing this, Yanshu quickly said, "Let me do it."

She then took the bowl from the maid, sat by the bed, and began feeding the Empress Dowager the medicine.

As she fed her, Yanshu couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. This medicine smells so bitter. The Empress Dowager has worked so hard for most of her life—why should she suffer like this? I hope she recovers quickly.

Once she finished the bowl of medicine, the Empress Dowager weakly opened her eyes and said, "It’s getting late. Your Majesty, you should go rest. Yanshu is pregnant, and you shouldn’t be overexerting yourself for me."

Yanshu replied, "I have nothing pressing to do, and since the Empress Dowager is like this, I can’t rest easy. I’ll stay and keep you company."

Then, she turned to Zhang Shengkang and said, "Doctor Zhang, you must be tired as well. Go have your meal."

Seeing this, Zhang Shengkang had no choice but to lower his head and leave.

With no one else around, Yanshu quickly turned to the Empress Dowager and said, "I understand, Your Majesty. You’ve always trusted Doctor Zhang, but sometimes different doctors give different prescriptions. How about we have Jiang Taiyi come and take a look as well?"

The Empress Dowager sighed, "It’s all the same. I know my own illness. There’s nothing that can be done."

At this, Emperor Yuwen Lan also said, "Mother, you’ve seen Jiang Taiyi’s skills for yourself recently. He may not be worse than Zhang Shengkang. Let him try, your health is the most important thing."

Seeing that they were both sincere, the Empress Dowager finally agreed.

Before long, they saw the summoned Jiang Taiyi arrive in a hurry.

After taking the Empress Dowager’s pulse, Jiang Taiyi said to the two of them, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, based on her pulse, the Empress Dowager is suffering from spleen deficiency, insufficient qi and blood, liver qi stagnation, and poor circulation, which has led to a lack of nourishment to the head, causing the wind condition."

Yanshu didn’t understand much of the medical jargon. She looked at the Emperor, who also had a frown, not fully understanding.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager, who was now half-asleep, decided to call the palace maids to attend to her and signaled for the Emperor and Jiang Taiyi to go to the outer room to talk.

Once they were alone, Yanshu immediately asked Jiang Taiyi, "The Empress Dowager’s illness is chronic and has flared up every year. In your opinion, is there any way to completely cure it?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuwen Lan also nodded and looked at Jiang Taiyi, both of them full of hope.

However, Jiang Taiyi bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, the headwind condition is indeed very difficult to cure. Most treatments only alleviate the symptoms."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, both of them froze in place. Could it be that even Jiang Taiyi couldn’t help?

Yanshu, unwilling to accept this, immediately asked, “No way, didn’t you even cure that Aconite poison? How could you not be able to treat a simple headache?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Taiyi showed an apologetic expression and said, “I am incompetent, and I have disappointed Your Majesty. External injuries and acute illnesses are generally easier to treat. However, the Empress Dowager’s headache is an internal illness, a long-standing ailment, and it is indeed difficult to eliminate completely.”

Yanshu: “…”

Was there really no way to help her dear Empress Dowager?

Just as she was about to feel hopeless, she heard Jiang Taiyi add, “The last time I cured the Aconite poison, it was a desperate situation. It was the only method I could take, and I risked everything to save the person. However, while others can take risks, the Empress Dowager cannot be treated so carelessly.”

Risk?

Yanshu paused, thinking that this meant there was still hope, right?

Emperor Yuwen Lan also grasped the meaning and said, “If there is a way, please speak freely. I know you have vast knowledge and experience, you must know more than anyone else.”

When he said this, Jiang Taiyi hesitated for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty, I do know something. There was once a famous doctor in the capital, Xun Ji. He wrote a book titled Xinglin Shiyi which contains many treatments for difficult and complicated ailments. Many years ago, I had the fortune of seeing this book, and I vaguely remember that it has a method for treating stubborn headaches. Unfortunately, at that time, I could only glance at the book in haste and did not have the chance to study it thoroughly. I only remember a few of the herbs, and I cannot recall the full recipe, so I dare not rashly treat the Empress Dowager.”

Upon hearing this, both Emperor Yuwen Lan and Yanshu paused.

Did Jiang Taiyi just mention his own father?

Then, they both heard Jiang Taiyi sigh heavily in his heart: [If I hadn’t been so reckless, if I had listened more, I wouldn’t have wasted my father’s hard work…]

Yanshu silently listened to his thoughts and realized that the Xinglin Shiyi book was the very one that Zhang Shengkang had stolen.

Suddenly, the system chimed in, [That’s right, it’s the same book.]

Yanshu hissed, [So Zhang Shengkang has this book? He could have cured the Empress Dowager’s ailment, but he deliberately refused to treat her?]

The system responded with a sigh, [If he cured the Empress Dowager, then what would he have left to gain from her trust?]

Yanshu couldn't hold back her anger and muttered, [That damn Zhang Shengkang is too hateful!!! How could he treat my dear Empress Dowager like this? He has no conscience!!!]

At that moment, Emperor Yuwen Lan, hearing her outburst, felt equally enraged.

—Just like with him before, Zhang Shengkang knew how to treat the illness but didn’t. All he cared about was seeking credit. How despicable!

Small-minded people, indeed, were small-minded, not worth an ounce of trust.

Of course, after the anger subsided, Emperor Yuwen Lan realized that what mattered most now was how to obtain the Xinglin Shiyi book.

At that moment, Yanshu suddenly asked Jiang Taiyi, “So, if we can find this Xinglin Shiyi book, would you be able to treat the Empress Dowager?”

Jiang Taiyi responded, “I should have a ninety percent chance of success.”

Ninety percent chance?

Yanshu raised an eyebrow. Medical professionals rarely made bold claims, so the fact that Jiang Taiyi said this meant there was indeed hope.

Just then, Emperor Yuwen Lan asked Jiang Taiyi, “Do you know how we can find this book?”

Yanshu was momentarily stunned, thinking, Doesn’t he know that the book is with Zhang Shengkang?

But before she could react, Jiang Taiyi answered, “I heard that Dr. Xun Ji was slandered by evil men and died full of resentment. As for the book, its fate is unknown…”

As he spoke, Jiang Taiyi sighed heavily in his heart: [Forget it, saving lives is more important.]

Yanshu was stunned again—did this mean Jiang Taiyi was going to reveal the connection between Xun Ji and Zhang Shengkang?

But didn’t he fear exposing his own identity change?

That would implicate him in treason!

Though he had pure intentions, Yanshu didn’t want to put his family in danger.

In a flash of inspiration, she immediately exclaimed, “I’ve heard about this! Dr. Xun Ji was highly skilled in medicine and could treat all kinds of difficult ailments. I heard Zhang Shengkang was his disciple.”

Jiang Taiyi was stunned, “...How did Your Majesty know this?”

Emperor Yuwen Lan: “…”

However, Yanshu didn’t answer directly. Instead, she continued, “It seems that Dr. Xun Ji’s death was also related to Zhang Shengkang. Ah, perhaps the book is currently in his possession!”

Jiang Taiyi was stunned again, “This… This… How did Your Majesty hear about this?”

Before he could say more, Yanshu waved her hand, “Alright, don’t worry about it. The Emperor and I will handle it. You go and prepare yourself. Once we find the book, treat the Empress Dowager properly.”

Jiang Taiyi: “???”

Emperor Yuwen Lan: “…”

Unable to bear seeing Jiang Taiyi’s confused expression, Emperor Yuwen Lan finally spoke, “As the Empress said, go back and wait. Don’t ask about the rest.”

Only then did Jiang Taiyi respond, “Yes.” He bowed and left.

Emperor Yuwen Lan cleared his throat, about to speak, when Yanshu quickly said, “Your Majesty, this Zhang Shengkang is too wicked! He clearly has the method to cure the Empress Dowager, yet he refuses to do so. It’s disgraceful! How can he live with the Empress Dowager’s trust like this?!”

Emperor Yuwen Lan hummed in acknowledgment, about to speak, when Yanshu continued, “But since the Empress Dowager trusts him so much, if we suddenly act against him, it may startle her. She’s not in a condition to bear any sudden shocks, and we might end up alerting Zhang Shengkang and have him destroy the book. So, we must get the book first and treat the Empress Dowager’s illness.”

Emperor Yuwen Lan hummed again, but before he could speak, Yanshu added, “I’ve figured it out. The Xinglin Shiyi is in Zhang Shengkang’s study, in the third row of the north wall bookshelf, in the second slot from the left. Tonight, have the Jinyiwei retrieve it—no, I mean, return it to its rightful owner.”

Emperor Yuwen Lan: “...Alright.”

With his beloved wife by his side, there was no problem he couldn’t solve.

Also, from now on, he probably wouldn’t even need to speak anymore.