Chapter 6: The Pediatric Master

The sedan chair of Empress Dowager Gao stopped in front of the Funing Hall.

At this moment, the gate of Funing Hall was opened, and the ministers filed out one by one.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's entourage, the ministers were first taken aback, then moved aside and bowed deeply: "Your subjects pay our respects to Empress Dowager!"

Empress Dowager Gao, attended by Liang Weijian, descended from the sedan chair and nodded to the ministers: "Ministers, there is no need for such formalities!"

She then continued: "Since the Emperor began taking medicine, the state affairs have relied heavily on your dedication!"

The ministers all clasped their hands in response: "We owe our positions to His Majesty; we will serve with our lives!"

Empress Dowager Gao nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at one of the ministers and said: "Ministers, go about your duties!"

"Minister Sun Chaosan, stay behind!"

"Yes!" The ministers bowed again and respectfully left, leaving only an elderly minister behind.

This man was named Sun Qi, and he was seventy years old.

His father, Sun Yonghe, was a famous physician during the Ren Temple era.

Sun Qi surpassed his father in skill, not only excelling in medicine but also achieving success in literature. During the Jia You period, he passed the imperial examination and subsequently followed in his father's footsteps, entering the medical field and being appointed to the Medical Text Correction Bureau.

For decades, the Sun family, including his father and brothers, served as imperial physicians.

In the seventh year of Yuanfeng, Sun Qi was specially appointed as a Chaosan Doctor and was granted the privilege of wearing purple robes and a silver fish bag.

This treatment was almost on par with that of the Attendant Ministers.

Empress Dowager Gao and Sun Qi were clearly old acquaintances, and not just ordinary ones.

She looked at Sun Qi and sighed, "Old physician, you will have to bear with the hardship once again!"

Sun Qi bowed deeply: "To diagnose the Emperor, I dare not speak of hardship; I will do my utmost!"

Empress Dowager Gao nodded slightly and led Sun Qi towards the inner chambers of Funing Hall.

On the way, she asked, "How is the Emperor's pulse?"

Sun Qi lowered his head and sighed, "His Majesty has a wind-aphasia condition..."

Empress Dowager Gao's face darkened, and she sighed, "The late Emperor also suffered from this! What can be done! What can be done!"

Emperor Yingzong fell ill with wind disease shortly after ascending the throne, first losing his ability to speak, then to walk, and eventually succumbed to the illness, with no medicine or treatment proving effective.

"Is there no way to treat it?" Empress Dowager Gao asked again.

Sun Qi bowed deeply, "Your subject is powerless..."

Empress Dowager Gao, tears in her eyes, exhaled and said to Sun Qi, "I entrust this to you! I will go and see the Emperor!"

Sun Qi bowed again, standing up and saying, "May Your Majesty take care, I take my leave!"

He then bowed and respectfully withdrew.

Empress Dowager Gao, seeing this, quickly ordered Liang Weijian to see off this old minister of three reigns.

She herself, suppressing her grief, entered the eastern pavilion of Funing Hall.

Due to the Emperor's serious illness, the ministers had already moved his bed from the Rouni Hall behind Funing Hall to the eastern pavilion.

This was to facilitate better access for greetings and to allow the ministers of the two councils to more quickly and easily reach the Emperor to receive his commands.

As Empress Dowager Gao entered the eastern pavilion, the eunuch Zhang Maoze, who had been serving the Emperor, came forward to greet her.

"Your subject Zhang Maoze, welcomes Your Majesty!"

"What did the ministers say when they came to pay their respects?" Empress Dowager Gao asked.

Zhang Maoze lowered his head and replied, "Your Majesty, the Three Ministries have submitted a petition, requesting the relevant officials to pray for the Emperor, to set up a Vajra Dharma Hall, and to establish a shrine in the palace to burn incense..."

Empress Dowager Gao wiped away her tears.

She naturally understood what this meant.

The ministers of the Song Dynasty would not easily bow to ghosts and spirits unless it was the last resort.

When they began to pray to the spirits, it meant that human efforts had been exhausted, and they could only hope for the distant help of the gods and Buddhas.

During Emperor Yingzong's reign, from the establishment of the Vajra Dharma Hall for prayers to his death, it was only about ten days.

"I will go and see the Emperor!"

Zhang Maoze bowed and led the way, guiding Empress Dowager Gao through the layers of curtains to the Emperor's bed.

The strong smell of mugwort filled the air.

The Emperor, lying on the bed, had lost his former vigor and dignity.

His eyes were tightly closed, his face pale, and his once plump face had become gaunt, with prominent cheekbones.

Empress Dowager Gao, seeing her son in this state, could not help but shed tears again.

Zhang Maoze, standing beside her, quickly consoled her, "Your Majesty, the Emperor will surely be blessed by heaven!"

"Heaven's blessing..." Empress Dowager Gao sighed, "I hope so..."

But in her heart, she had little hope.

She had watched her husband, the late Emperor, lie on the bed in Funing Hall, unable to speak or walk, until his death.

At this moment, Liang Weijian, who had seen off Sun Qi, returned.

Liang Weijian approached Empress Dowager Gao, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

Zhang Maoze, seeing this, bowed and quietly led the ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs out of the room.

Liang Weijian stepped forward, approaching Empress Dowager Gao and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I just passed by the hall and encountered the imperial physician Liang Congzheng..."

"Hmm?"

"Liang Congzheng told me that the fifth princess is seriously ill, and Empress De is urgently requesting the Imperial Medical Bureau's physician Qian Yi to come and diagnose her!"

Empress Dowager Gao listened and said to Liang Weijian, "I understand!"

"Go and instruct the Imperial Medical Bureau to be thorough!"

"Yes..." Liang Weijian bowed and withdrew.

Empress Dowager Gao sighed, clasped her hands together, and recited a Buddhist prayer, "Amitabha, may the Bodhisattva protect us!"

At this moment, she felt as if the house was leaking and it was raining.

The Emperor was seriously ill, and the princess was also ill.

The palace was in a terrible state!

She felt frustrated but had no one to confide in.

The old ministers of the Jia You era were all in Luoyang.

The capital was full of small-minded and opportunistic people.

Empress Dowager Gao disliked all of them and had no faith in any of them.

She even despised them to the extreme!

Unfortunately, the current ministers in the capital were mostly of this kind.

While she was worrying, Zhang Maoze's voice came from outside the hall, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince is outside, asking about the Emperor's health..."

Empress Dowager Gao's brows relaxed, and she immediately said, "Let him in!"

The Second Prince was her second son, Zhao Hao, who had been enfeoffed as Prince of Yong, and was the Empress Dowager's favorite son, without a doubt.

...

When Zhao Xu woke up again, he saw a physician in green official robes, wearing a crossed headband, who was about forty years old, sitting by his bed, diagnosing his pulse.

Memories from the past flooded his mind.

Zhao Xu remembered the name of this physician.

"Doctor Qian?" he asked softly.

The physician smiled and nodded, "Your subject Qian, greets the Prince!"

Zhao Xu nodded, "I am well!"

But his mind was a bit dazed.

He remembered the times in the new era when he visited hospitals with a background in traditional Chinese medicine, and saw the names of ancient famous physicians listed on the walls of the corridors.

Among those names, Zhao Xu had seen the name of the young physician sitting in front of him.

Qian Yi!

He was recognized in the new era as the pioneer of pediatric medicine, the founder of the pediatric branch of traditional Chinese medicine!

The Six-Flavor Rehmannia Pill, which Qian Yi developed and improved, was found in almost every pharmacy's display window in the new era.

Zhao Xu looked at Qian Yi, his eyes a bit unfocused.

Because the physician who was diagnosing him would later be exiled back to his hometown during the Shaosheng era.

Not only Qian Yi, but the entire Imperial Medical Bureau was purged.

Dozens of physicians were dismissed.

Why?

Very simple.

These physicians had close ties with Chen Yan, the Deputy Director of the Inner Palace Eunuch Office, who was a close confidant of the Empress Dowager during the Yuanyou regency.

Why were they close? Because Chen Yan's duties included overseeing the Imperial Pharmacy and the Imperial Medical Bureau, making him the direct superior and manager of almost all the physicians. It was impossible for physicians to work in the Imperial Medical Bureau without dealing with Chen Yan.

But the New Party did not care about these details; they simply dismissed everyone!

Was it absurd?

No!

This was political struggle!

No consideration of right or wrong, only of stance.

The Old Party did it, and the New Party did it too.

After a moment of reflection, Zhao Xu's thoughts returned to the present. He looked at Qian Yi and asked, "Doctor Qian, how is my pulse?"

Qian Yi removed his hand from Zhao Xu's pulse and bowed, "Your Highness's pulse is steady, and your breathing is strong. Your old illness has improved significantly. In the future, just pay attention to your health and keep warm, avoiding sudden changes in temperature."

Zhao Xu nodded, "I understand, I will be careful."

In his previous life, he had suddenly died at a young age because he did not follow medical advice, ignoring the warnings of Qian Yi and other physicians. In early spring, he played with several concubines in the imperial garden, caught a cold, which triggered his old illness, leading to a high fever and respiratory failure... and he died.

In the language of the new era, he "died from reckless behavior."

Now, having returned to his youth, Zhao Xu would certainly not make the same mistake again.

Qian Yi smiled and bowed again, about to leave.

But Zhao Xu stopped him, "Doctor Qian, why are you here today?"

Qian Yi replied, "I was ordered by Empress De to come and diagnose the princess. I met Lady Guo, who mentioned that Your Highness seemed to have a cough and wheezing last night, so she ordered me to come and diagnose Your Highness. Fortunately, Your Highness is blessed, and your pulse is steady, showing significant improvement in your old illness."

Qian Yi's words were like a stone thrown into Zhao Xu's heart.

"Princess Wunang..." he murmured, "How could I forget Princess Wunang?"

A small figure in colorful clothes flashed through his mind.

"Sixth Brother!" The little girl, whose face he could no longer remember but found very cute, had a silver bell-like laugh and a gentle, well-behaved personality.

"How is Princess Wunang?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Your Highness, the princess has a cold. I have prescribed medicine, and she has already broken out in a sweat and her fever has subsided. There should be no serious problem," Qian Yi replied, bowing.

"Is that so?" Zhao Xu was not entirely convinced.

Qian Yi was momentarily speechless.

Zhao Xu looked at Qian Yi seriously, "Doctor Qian, I am concerned about Princess Wunang's condition. It may recur. Can the physician stay in the palace?"

"This..." Qian Yi was hesitant, and he could only say tactfully, "Your Highness, I am an external official, not an internal one. Staying in the palace overnight..."

Zhao Xu's head drooped, feeling dejected, "Is that so..."

"But I am a bit afraid..." Zhao Xu lowered his head, "Afraid that something like last year might happen again..."

Qian Yi hesitated, knowing what the Prince of Yan'an was referring to.

Last year, three princesses in the palace died.

All of them were young girls like the current Fifth Princess.

Although their causes of death were different, they all occurred in the middle of the night when the palace gates were locked.

From this perspective, the Prince of Yan'an's concern for his sister was reasonable.

But Qian Yi was just a minor physician, a Linchuan Medical Officer.

Although he was a key figure in the medical system, his experience was too shallow. He had not passed the internal examination to become an internal physician, and he did not have the right to stay in the palace overnight.

According to the rules, anyone who trespassed into the palace would be executed.

But Qian Yi did not dare to refuse!

Qian Yi knew who he was talking to.

The Prince of Yan'an, the current eldest son, the future Crown Prince and Emperor.

Even though he was only eight years old, a child.

But even the ministers of the two councils might not dare to directly refuse the Prince's request.

How much more so for Qian Yi, a minor official.

Just as Qian Yi was unsure how to respond to the prince's concern for his sister,

A voice came from behind the screen, "Doctor Qian, stay in the palace for a few days!"

"I will issue an order to the relevant officials to prepare a medical office near Empress De's palace and to instruct the Inner Palace Eunuch Office to allow the physician to enter the palace quickly if Empress De has an emergency."

It was Empress Xiang's voice!

Zhao Xu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Empress Xiang walk out from behind the screen.

Compared to the morning, she had clearly redone her makeup.

She was now wearing a simple, elegant blue robe and had creatively adorned her head with silk and gold flower pins, making her more noticeable and exuding a maternal aura.

Clearly, Empress Xiang had deliberately asked someone to dress her this way.

Zhao Xu immediately understood that Empress Xiang had fallen into the trap.

So, he had to play his role well.

A well-behaved, thoughtful, and filial child.

Thus, Zhao Xu immediately got up from the bed, knelt on the bed, and bowed to Empress Xiang, "Your subject, on behalf of Princess Wunang, thanks the Empress Mother!"

"Sixth Brother, why are you so formal with me?" Empress Xiang smiled and walked to Zhao Xu, lifting him up, but she felt a bit disappointed.

"Earlier, Sixth Brother was hugging me and crying!" Empress Xiang thought to herself.

She quickly found a reason for Zhao Xu, "At that time, Sixth Brother was worried about the Emperor, feeling helpless, and finally found protection in me, so he acted that way..."

"Now that Sixth Brother has calmed down, he naturally keeps his distance from me..."

"Ultimately, he is not my own flesh and blood!"

Empress Xiang felt a sharp pain in her heart but had to force a smile.

Just as she was feeling disappointed, the prince, who had been lifted up, reached out and hooked his arms around her neck, hanging on her like a little monkey.

"I knew the Empress Mother is the best!"

The prince's innocent voice was like heavenly music to her ears.

The two small hands around her neck and the tiny body made Empress Xiang's mood soar from the depths of despair to the heights of joy in an instant.

Her heart couldn't help but race.

"His Majesty is very kind to Your Highness!" the eunuch Yan Shuqin, standing behind her, said at the right moment, bowing, "Your Highness may not know, but during the half-hour you were sleeping, His Majesty was by your side, protecting you!"

"I saw with my own eyes that His Majesty adjusted your blanket several times, showing boundless care and protection!"

Empress Xiang was very satisfied with Yan Shuqin.

She felt that this eunuch was truly perceptive and loyal.

"Your subject is mischievous, causing the Empress Mother to worry!" Zhao Xu knew what to say to make Empress Xiang happy, "When I grow up, I will be filial to the Empress Mother!"

Empress Xiang's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

She gently hugged the small prince, feeling his body warmth, "With these words from Sixth Brother today, I am content!"

...

Note: Sun Yonghe and Sun Qi claimed to be descendants of Sun Simiao. They were brought to Bianjing by Empress Cao of Emperor Renzong. There is evidence that Sun Yonghe was Empress Cao's personal physician. The important medical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, such as "Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases" and "Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Chamber," were able to be preserved and passed down to the present day largely due to the efforts of this father and son. They organized and compiled these texts, which were almost lost during the Renzong era, and then had them officially printed and widely distributed.

Note 2: "Ministers" is another term for the chief ministers, equivalent to "auxiliary ministers." "Ministers" means "shoulders" or "arms," a term used exclusively by the royal family for chief ministers, and cannot be used by outsiders.

(End of Chapter)