Chapter 70

Old ailment, blood clot!

Even if Luo Shixin was not well-versed in medical knowledge, he knew the severity of the situation. However, he cast a doubtful glance at the old doctor, questioning the reliability of his words. Without diagnosing the pulse or inquiring about the condition, without using the four diagnostic methods, how could he diagnose the cause of the illness just by touching the head?

"You, doctor, don't speak nonsense. The princess lives well and eats well; how could she have an old ailment? Just by touching her a couple of times, what can you diagnose?" Pei Qingyi, worried and agitated, did not bother to discern the truth or falsehood upon hearing bad news, and immediately lashed out in anger.

The old doctor's sparse goatee trembled with anger, and he huffed, "Believe it or not, the words are here."

Luo Shixin hurriedly stepped forward and said, "The young lady is worried and agitated, and doesn't understand. Please forgive her, Doctor."

"Hmph!" The patient was Princess Pingyang, and the old doctor did not dare to overreact. He smoothly continued, "I have been practicing medicine for fifty years. I may not be the most skilled, but my basic medical experience is not something ordinary people can match. I heard from the general that the princess had fainted before, with no symptoms or signs, mysteriously fainting, even the princess herself did not understand why."

Luo Shixin nodded, "That is indeed the case."

The old doctor said, "The imperial physicians in the palace are considered the best in the world, and I admit I cannot compare. Fainting is a serious condition in our field, and it usually only occurs when a disease has reached a severe stage. Given the princess's status, I firmly believe that no disease could develop into a serious condition in her body. Therefore, I initially judged that the princess's mysterious fainting without symptoms or signs was due to an old ailment, and it was in her head. Only an old ailment hidden in the head could escape the notice of the imperial physicians. When I first saw the princess, I had a hunch, and indeed, I found a blood clot at the back of her head upon examination."

The old doctor's analysis was logical and well-supported by his experience, making even a layman like Luo Shixin understand.

Pei Qingyi, being a person from the martial world, had a basic understanding of first aid and could discern the reasoning. She hurriedly bowed and apologized, "I was rash, and my words were offensive. Please forgive me, Master Doctor. I wonder if Master Doctor can use your skills to save our princess."

The old doctor did not hold it against Pei Qingyi, but shook his head, "The illness is in the head, and with my limited medical skills, I am powerless. The only thing I can do is use acupuncture to help the princess unblock her meridians, so that her condition does not worsen in the short term."

Pei Qingyi stepped back three steps, disappointed, "How can this be!"

Luo Shixin deeply looked at the still unconscious Pingyang, vaguely remembering that historically, Princess Pingyang had died around the time Li Jiancheng was suppressing Liu Heita. Now, with the change in history, Liu Heita had been captured earlier, and the time frame was roughly the same. He couldn't help but sigh and muster his spirit, "Thank you, Doctor."

The old doctor lightly pricked several acupoints on Princess Pingyang's head with fine silver needles, and after a while, he withdrew and exhaled, beads of sweat covering his forehead.

"Thank you, Doctor!" Luo Shixin immediately instructed the female knight to move Princess Pingyang onto the carriage, leaving Pei Qingyi to look after her inside.

Luo Shixin had the old doctor sit in the front of the carriage and personally drove it to Zuren City.

The county magistrate of Zuren City had already prepared a clean and quiet room, waiting for the news from Su Dingfang and Mo Huer.

Li Yi, upon receiving the news from Mo Huer, was so shocked that he almost fell off his horse. He didn't care about his feud with Luo Shixin and quickly gathered all the renowned doctors in Dingzhou, riding ahead to Zuren City to investigate the situation.

With the old doctor's diagnosis, the subsequent doctors had a clear direction and carefully examined the back of Princess Pingyang's head, reaching the same conclusion.

This was also confirmed by the three generals under Princess Pingyang: Li Zhongwen, Xiang Shanzhi, and Qiu Shili.

Li Zhongwen, dispirited, said, "How can this be? Wasn't it all fine before?"

After hearing their detailed account, Luo Shixin finally understood the situation.

It turned out that when Li Yuan rebelled against the Sui Dynasty, Chai Shao left Pingyang and went to Taiyuan. Princess Pingyang, dressed as a man and calling herself Li Gongzi, sold the local properties to provide relief to the famine-stricken people, quickly recruiting a few hundred people. At the time, the Sui Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, and there were countless rebel armies. A few hundred people were not enough to cause a significant impact.

Princess Pingyang, aware of her limited strength, contacted the anti-Sui rebel armies, recruiting them through persuasion, and almost without bloodshed, she incorporated the forces of He Panren, Li Zhongwen, Xiang Shanzhi, and Qiu Shili.

Princess Pingyang, born into a military family, was skilled in military strategy. With a larger force, she began to reorganize, enforcing strict military discipline. However, the so-called rebel armies were mostly bandits taking advantage of the chaos. Faced with various constraints, some of them rebelled and attacked Pingyang.

Although Pingyang was prepared and quickly suppressed the rebellion, she still received a blow to the back of her head.

At the time, as a rebel, Pingyang lived in a harsh environment and did not receive proper treatment. Afterward, with no apparent issues, she did not pay much attention to it.

"That was five years ago. So, the princess's old ailment has recurred after five years!" Qiu Shili's face was pale, and his voice trembled.

A doctor surnamed Jia, hearing their account, sighed, "That's what makes it so terrifying! Because of the lack of timely treatment, the old ailment has remained in her head, and even the princess herself may have forgotten about it. Over time, the blood clot has grown larger, eventually leading to dizziness and serious consequences."

The three generals hurriedly asked if there was a solution.

Doctor Jia shook his head in difficulty, "Among all diseases, brain diseases are the hardest to treat. One mistake could cost a life, especially an old ailment that has persisted for five years. I am not skilled enough to help. After much discussion, we can only propose a treatment to promote blood circulation and unblock the meridians. It can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. In my opinion, the princess should be sent back to Chang'an as soon as possible. Perhaps the imperial physicians there can help."

"Imperial physicians!" Li Yi suddenly thought of someone and said, "I remember the former imperial physician Lu Wenming retired last year and is now living in Yizhou. Lu Wenming's medical skills are extraordinary, and he is considered the best in the world. All the current physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau, over two hundred of them, respect him as their teacher. If he comes out of retirement, the princess can be saved." He immediately instructed his subordinates to go to Yizhou to invite the former imperial physician Lu Wenming.

A day later, Su Dingfang, who had gone to Yizhou to find the doctor, returned first with Lu Wenming.

As Lu Wenming walked into the courtyard, all the doctors discussing the condition fell silent and watched him with respect.

Lu Wenming, like a proud peacock, walked into the room under their gaze.

After a while, Lu Wenming came out with a solemn expression and shook his head, "The princess's old ailment, I cannot treat. In my view, the only person in the world who can save the princess is Sun Simiao."