Chapter 7

When Li Zhongyi appeared again in front of Li Dahe under the lead of Huang Jingsheng, Li Dahe was greatly surprised.

Li Dahe had served as a physician in the palace for many years and had long heard about the various sinister and terrifying rumors surrounding the prison of the Dali Temple. Many people entered here, but very few left intact.

"Uncle, I am incapable and have caused you to suffer." Huang Jingsheng bowed to Li Dahe as soon as he entered, leaving Li Dahe stunned and momentarily speechless.

"Brother, you and Uncle can talk slowly. I will keep watch outside." Huang Jingsheng, worried about a leak, did not dare to stay in the cell for long. He greeted Li Zhongyi and hurriedly ran out to keep watch.

"Zhen Ge'er, this is..." Li Dahe opened his mouth wide, full of suspicion, looking at Li Zhongyi, his mind still not fully grasping the situation.

Li Zhongyi smiled and briefly explained the whole story, omitting the beginning and the end. Finally, he asked Li Dahe, "Father, do you think it's feasible to write directly to Old Master Zhao?"

Li Dahe looked at Li Zhongyi with a mix of surprise and joy, his face changing for a long time before he slowly said, "I'm afraid it won't help much. When Master Zhao gave me the house, though he didn't say it outright, there was an implication that we would not owe each other anything."

Li Zhongyi nodded inwardly. Li Dahe's analysis largely matched his previous judgment.

"What kind of person is Old Master Zhao?" Li Zhongyi felt that since Zhao Tingyin was the current prime minister, he would inevitably be more heartless in matters of human relations, so he wanted to focus on Old Master Zhao as the breakthrough point.

"When I treated Old Master Zhao many years ago, I spent some time with him. From my private observations, although he seemed warm and didn't manage household affairs much, I always had a strange feeling that he was the true master of the Zhao family, with absolute authority." Li Dahe explained a lot, then suddenly realized something was wrong, "Zhen Ge'er, you seem to have changed a lot?"

Li Zhongyi found it secretly amusing. Although the original Zhen Ge'er's body was still there, the inner core had been replaced months ago.

"Father, with such a big matter at home, as the eldest son, I should use my brain and help think of ways to solve the problem." Li Zhongyi vaguely guided Li Dahe to think in the direction that everyone should take responsibility in times of crisis, to avoid being deeply questioned by Old Li and revealing any flaws.

"Good, good, good, my Zhen Ge'er has indeed grown up." Li Dahe was greatly relieved and nodded frequently, thinking that the harsh environment had forced Li Zhongyi to mature.

Seeing his son step up to help the family deal with a major crisis, there was no reason for a father not to be happy.

Li Zhongyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With this reason accepted by Li Dahe, things would be much easier from now on.

Traditional Chinese medicine is profound and has good effects on many chronic diseases that Western medicine finds difficult to treat, including cancer.

However, due to the lack of modern diagnostic tools, the ancients did not have a correct understanding of many herbs, and even had many laughable misunderstandings.

For example, Korean ginseng was mistakenly believed to be a miraculous herb that could cure all diseases, which is a clear example of a misconception.

Li Zhongyi, in his previous life, treated leaders by consistently combining traditional and Western medicine. His methods were effective and had minimal side effects, which earned him a high status in the medical field.

According to Li Zhongyi's in-depth research, historically, the complex neurodermatitis or allergic dermatitis was often misdiagnosed as scabies, leading to ineffective treatment and prolonged suffering.

Li Dahe, a renowned physician in Shu, misdiagnosed the condition, causing Li Zhongyi to suffer, which is a clear example of a misdiagnosis.

Now, Li Zhongyi did not have a hundred percent confidence that he could cure Empress Fei's skin disease. However, he was already in prison, facing the risk of losing his head or being enslaved for life.

More importantly, if Li Zhongyi fell, the still charming and middle-aged Aunt Xue would be at great risk of being brutally violated.

To die is to face the sky, to live is to live for ten thousand years; in a narrow path, the brave will win!

Li Zhongyi had no room for retreat and could only choose to go all out and take a desperate risk.

Now, the biggest problem Li Zhongyi faced was that Huang Qing was unreliable, and he had no way to enter the palace to see Emperor Meng Chang or Empress Fei.

"Father, besides Old Master Zhao, is there anyone else who can speak on our behalf to His Majesty or the Empress?" Li Zhongyi actually wanted to know which high officials Li Dahe was friendly with.

"Alas, as a physician in the palace, how dare I have too much interaction with officials outside? I would be risking my life," Li Dahe said, regretting his overly cautious and honest nature, which was far less advantageous than the well-connected Left Attendant Gao Xinhe.

Li Zhongyi had expected this, and now he was just confirming it. He whispered to Li Dahe, "Father, the prison warden Huang Jingsheng is actually the nephew of Inner Attendant Huang. He is concerned about the thousand acres of good land that Mother owns and has specially instructed the prison warden to take good care of us. In my opinion, the prison warden is genuinely trying to help us."

Li Dahe listened silently without interrupting. Li Zhongyi continued, "In my humble opinion, we can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive. Father, you should write a letter and ask the prison warden to deliver it to Old Master Zhao. What do you think?"

After much consideration, Li Dahe realized that, apart from following Li Zhongyi's advice and writing to Old Master Zhao for help, there was no other way.

Li Dahe did not delay, carefully deliberated, and began writing the letter to Old Master Zhao.

Li Zhongyi occasionally interjected, asking about everything related to Old Master Zhao, and Li Dahe strained his brain to provide detailed answers.

After the father and son had discussed, the two letters were already drafted. Just as Li Zhongyi was about to leave, Li Dahe called him back.

Li Dahe sighed, "Zhen Ge'er, I know you have always resented your mother, but let's not talk about money. As long as she is safe, that's all that matters."

Li Zhongyi did not answer directly but asked Li Dahe, "Father, I almost forgot. Do you think the Cao family will help us?" He deliberately left this sensitive topic until the end to see Li Dahe's true attitude towards the Cao family.

"The Cao family... let's forget it," Li Dahe hesitated for a long time, sighed, and looked extremely dejected.

Li Zhongyi understood. In Li Dahe's mind, the Cao family was clearly not a reliable relative in times of crisis.

This was enough. Li Zhongyi thought that if he could deplete the Cao family's private savings, their arrogance would surely diminish.

Back in Li Zhongyi's cell, Huang Jingsheng looked around and whispered, "Have you discussed everything?"

Li Zhongyi nodded and said, "My father has already written the letter, but it won't be easy for you to see Old Master Zhao."

Huang Jingsheng looked worried and said, "I thought of many ways while outside, but..."

Li Zhongyi thought for a moment and asked Huang Jingsheng, "Do you have a chance to see your uncle?"

Huang Qing had not given any news all day, and something must have happened in the palace. Li Zhongyi felt it was necessary to get this new information.

"My uncle is always cautious. He usually sends someone to find me when he needs something done," Huang Jingsheng explained, giving a disappointing answer.

Li Zhongyi's eyes flickered. Since Huang Qing sent someone to see Huang Jingsheng, the person responsible for the communication could be useful.

"Is it always the same person who comes to see you?" Li Zhongyi stroked his smooth, beardless chin and stared intently at Huang Jingsheng.

Huang Jingsheng nodded and said, "It's usually the old servant Huang Si who comes to see me."

"Where is Huang Si now?" Li Zhongyi's eyes lit up, thinking that following the lead might help him find the key.

Huang Jingsheng explained, "Huang Si is my uncle's most trusted servant, managing all his businesses and shops outside the palace. He usually lives in Datong Fang in the north of the city."

That made sense. Li Zhongyi recalled the contact address Huang Qing left yesterday and realized that Huang Qing must have kept Aunt Xue in Datong Fang because his trusted servant Huang Si was in charge there.

"Brother, Huang Si is crucial. Can you contact him as soon as possible?" Li Zhongyi took a sip of water and asked Huang Jingsheng slowly.

Huang Jingsheng thought for a moment and said, "Except on rest days, I need to be in the prison all the time. However, Wang Dahu is not unfamiliar with Huang Si."

Li Zhongyi felt relieved. Wang Dahu could handle such a secret matter, which showed that he was indeed a trusted subordinate of Huang Jingsheng.

"Since that's the case, I'll leave it to you," Li Zhongyi said, though he did not explicitly say it, Huang Jingsheng understood that he was asking him to arrange for Wang Dahu to meet Huang Si and feel him out.

"Sure, that's easy," Huang Jingsheng nodded immediately.

Li Zhongyi felt he could not put all his eggs in one basket and decided to use his trump card to make Huang Jingsheng fully support him.

Li Zhongyi walked to Huang Jingsheng's side and whispered, "Brother, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"You and I are brothers, what can't we talk about?" Huang Jingsheng asked Li Zhongyi without hesitation.

Li Zhongyi sighed and whispered, "When I was diagnosing you earlier, I noticed that besides the serious stone disease, you seem to have another hidden illness?"

Considering Huang Jingsheng's face, Li Zhongyi deliberately spoke vaguely. When diagnosing him, Li Zhongyi noticed that Huang Jingsheng's kidneys were severely depleted, likely due to excessive indulgence in his youth.

Li Zhongyi guessed that Huang Jingsheng not only had a serious problem with his reproductive organs but also faced significant difficulties in having children.

"You... you know?" Huang Jingsheng, caught off guard, his face turned red, his lips trembled violently, and he looked like a wilted eggplant.

In fact, Huang Jingsheng had a very serious heart problem. He was already in his thirties, had no children, and had lost his ability to perform sexually.

A few years ago, a group of bandits broke into his house in the middle of the night. Huang Jingsheng, who was in the middle of a passionate encounter with his concubine, was severely frightened.

Since then, his reproductive organ no longer responded, and no matter how his wives and concubines tried to arouse him, it remained as limp as a noodle.

The desire for pleasure is strong when one is well-fed and warm!

Seeing the beautiful concubines lying obediently on the bed but being unable to enjoy them was more painful for the powerful and wealthy Huang Jingsheng than being killed a hundred times.