Chapter 77

Last time, we mentioned that Li Er released Xue Wanche, while the Shandong aristocracy was secretly stirring up trouble. Although they supported Li Er in ascending to the throne, they secretly feared that Li Er might turn against them, so they decided to compile the "Shizu Zhi" (Clan Register) to test Li Er.

The Qin王府 could no longer be stayed in; just thinking about the seventy or eighty people who had died there made it impossible for anyone to stay. At least Li Kuan would not stay there. Although he was also a murderer, he vomited for half an hour after the incident, which was even worse than Li Lizhi, for which he was laughed at by the little girl for a long time.

Li Er decided to send the people of the Qin王府 to Luoyang first, to avoid the Crown Prince's further attacks. Although he wanted to lead the troops directly into Chang'an, he thought of his previous plan and, after much hesitation, and seeing that Changsun and others were safe and sound, he abandoned the idea of a direct confrontation.

Now, the Qin王府 was in the midst of a major move. After living here for seven or eight years, Li Er's family moved out of the Chenggan Hall in the palace after Li Chenggan was born and moved into the current Qin王府. Changsun had deep feelings for every blade of grass and tree here, where so many things had been witnessed, so when moving, she developed the same problem as any other woman.

"This can still be used, take it away... That's also good, take it away... This was used by Lizhi when she was young, it has great significance, take it away..." In this way, Changsun filled five carts and was still enthusiastically selecting items to take away.

"Guanyinbi, we are just temporarily staying in Luoyang, not leaving forever. It's better to leave these things here!" After dealing with the captives and releasing Xue Wanche, Li Er found that his virtuous wife had already packed up the entire Qin王府. If the courtyards and trees had not already taken root here, they might have also been taken away. So he hurriedly persuaded her.

"Are we really going to Luoyang? Should I stay behind?" Changsun looked at Li Er, hoping to be by his side at this critical moment.

"If you don't go, who will take care of Lizhi and the others? Chenggan and Kuan, and Ke staying behind is already the limit. The army does not keep women, this is the rule, even I, as the commander, must abide by it." Li Er patiently explained to Changsun.

"I can stay outside the camp. At this critical moment, I want to face it with you." Changsun brushed the disheveled hair from her ear and looked at Li Er seriously.

"Guanyinbi!" Li Er didn't know what to say. He knew the woman in front of him very well; once she made a decision, no one could change her mind.

Thus, Changsun stayed behind, along with the three eldest sons, Li Chenggan, Li Kuan, and Li Ke. As for Li Tai, Li Er originally wanted to leave him behind, but this little fat man had no interest in military life. After being severely reprimanded by Li Er, he was sent to Luoyang.

While the Qin王府 was preparing to move, the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were in a panic. This time, they had put all their chips on the table, but it failed. Upon learning of the failure, Li Jiancheng immediately had Xue Wanche's brother, Xue Wanren, lead the remaining six guards of the Crown Prince to protect the Eastern Palace, and Li Yuanji also came here to seek refuge.

"What went wrong with this plan? Why didn't the soldiers I had hidden around the Qin王府 appear?" Li Jiancheng felt that this matter was not simple.

"How should I know? I am here to seek refuge. Brother, you must protect me!" Li Yuanji was now afraid. Although he was crazy, it was towards others. He cared a lot about his own life. Otherwise, he wouldn't have abandoned Luoyang and fled to Chang'an.

"Do you have any secret assassins? We need to get rid of the Second Prince now! My men are useless!" Li Jiancheng was very angry. If he had known there would be such a flaw, he should have acted earlier, even forcing the emperor, which would have been better than the current situation.

"What assassins do I have? They are all flatterers. They boasted a lot in the past, but now they have all run away." Li Yuanji complained, his eyes wide and spittle flying.

"Should we confess to the emperor?" Li Jiancheng was afraid. Li Yuan had always favored him before. But now, with this incident, it was uncertain... But at this moment, preserving their lives was the most important.

"I've already tried that, but it didn't work. The emperor is said to be seriously ill and needs rest, and won't see anyone. I think he is just avoiding us. We might as well directly mobilize the six armies we control, and die with a few others. First, we will attack the Second Prince's camp. If we can kill him, it would be best." Li Yuanji's eyes gleamed as he spoke.

"That won't work. The six armies are too far from the palace, and there are other ten armies in between. Such an action would be too conspicuous and would be exposed immediately, making it impossible to succeed." Li Jiancheng rejected this suggestion.

The two argued, but an imperial edict arrived. The eunuch who announced it read the edict with a high and mighty air: "The emperor decrees: The Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji shall attend the court meeting in ten days. During this period, they shall remain in the Eastern Palace and reflect on their mistakes, and shall not leave without permission. This is the imperial command!"

The cold and icy edict made Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji realize the situation was not good. After the eunuch left, the two discussed further.

At the same time, Li Er also received the imperial edict for the court meeting in ten days. This made him feel somewhat strange. His father, Li Yuan, had been on the verge of death, making Li Er think he was about to pass away. Now, he could actually convene a court meeting? However, since the edict had been issued, it was a done deal, and there would be no further trouble.

Several days had passed since the Qin王府 was surrounded. The men Li Er sent to find Sun Simiao had returned, accompanied by an old man, none other than the long-lost Medicine King Sun Simiao. This old Taoist looked more spirited, with silver-white hair and beard, but his skin was smooth and rosy like a child's. The term "white-haired and rosy-cheeked" perfectly described this old man.

"Mr. Sun, I must trouble you again!" Li Er was very respectful to Sun Simiao. He had sent people to find him twice, and both times it was because he needed help. He should have gone in person to show his sincerity, but both times he was dealing with a mess and couldn't spare the time.

"This is what I promised to the Qin Prince, how can I say it is a trouble!" Sun Simiao said politely.

"I believe Mr. Sun already knows that this time it is my father, the emperor, who is suffering from a strange poison. I hope you can help save him." Li Er said.

"Healing the sick is the duty of a doctor. It is also an honor for me to treat the emperor. In my life, I have treated two emperors, but one died early, and the other was cruel. This time, treating the third emperor, I wonder what the outcome will be!" Sun Simiao sighed. He was a renowned doctor in the Sui Dynasty, having treated both Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, and Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang. Now, revisiting the past, he felt a deep sense of nostalgia.

"Little Li Kuan, I greet you, Grandpa Sun!" Li Kuan also came to pay his respects. This old doctor had some weight in Li Kuan's heart.

"Thank you, young master. Now, the alcohol is benefiting the people!" Sun Simiao smiled kindly at Li Kuan.

"I only did a small thing, and I was paid for it." Li Kuan did not take credit. Although the alcohol was now being sold in large quantities, the high cost had not decreased much, so the price was still high. However, as a medicine, it could be used for a long time by a few families pooling their resources, so it was still somewhat widespread.

"Regardless, in the past two years, I have encountered many patients whose wounds were saved from infection by this alcohol, which is a great virtue." Sun Simiao was stubborn and would not back down once he made up his mind.

"I will accept it with gratitude!" Li Kuan did not pretend, since Sun Simiao insisted, he would let it be. After all, it was just an old man bowing to him, even if the old man had a special status.

"Mr. Sun, please rest for a moment. We will enter the palace to treat my father in the afternoon!" Li Er arranged a vegetarian meal and a place to stay for Sun Simiao and then said.

"I can endure a bit of travel. Since it is still early, let's go to the palace to see the emperor first!" Sun Simiao once again refused Li Er's kindness, proposing to treat the emperor first. Such a pure doctor is almost extinct in modern society!

Li Er had no choice but to arrange the affairs and accompany the old Taoist to the palace.

The palace is always the most magnificent building in the world. The Tang Dynasty's palace was built on the foundation of the Sui Dynasty's palace and then moved in. This was a regret of Li Yuan, who did not build a new palace and lived in the old one left by his predecessors.

Li Er led Sun Simiao through layers of checkpoints and inspections before finally arriving at Li Yuan's bedroom, the Zhaohuo Palace. This was the largest palace in the entire palace complex, larger than the Taiji Hall, Taiji Palace, and Liangyi Palace, which were used for government affairs. The Taiji Palace was the location of the court meetings, the Taiji Hall was equivalent to the later Shangshu, where the emperor worked, and the Liangyi Palace was where the emperor met ministers.

Sun Simiao entered the Zhaohuo Palace and frowned. How could this palace be so dark and damp? Is this a place for people to live? Living in such an environment for a long time, even a healthy person would fall ill, let alone Li Yuan, who was already poisoned and weak. This was simply a death sentence.

Sun Simiao went straight to Li Yuan's bed, did not bow first, but instead looked at Li Yuan's face and then felt his pulse. He then turned around without a word, with an angry expression on his face.

"Mr. Sun, how is my father's condition?" Li Er asked.

"Prince Qin, please forgive me, I am powerless! For an emperor like this, I swore long ago not to treat him. This is their own doing!" Sun Simiao said, a bit angry.

PS: Thank you for the rewards every time I have a book!

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