Chapter 74

The room was sparsely furnished.

As everyone entered, it was already quite crowded, and there was a curtain separating the inner area.

The smell of medicine wafted from inside, and everyone felt a bitter yet refreshing aroma, which instantly invigorated their spirits.

"What is this medicine?"

"Just a whiff, and one feels fully invigorated."

A group of old physicians, upon entering, caught a whiff of the medicinal fragrance and began to comment.

The young masters and misses of the Xiang family mostly looked displeased, frowning, but restrained themselves due to the rules and the presence of their elders, not showing their usual arrogance.

Qin Xianyu closed his eyes slightly and thought to himself, "It has the effect of invigorating the mind and refreshing the brain."

At this moment, the old physicians began to whisper among themselves.

"From my perspective, Lord Xiang has suffered a mental injury," an old man said. "It's like a commoner working tirelessly for several days without rest, feeling extremely exhausted and listless. However, Lord Xiang's condition is a hundred times worse. Fortunately, he has been sustained by medication, which has prolonged his life."

"I think so too," another added. "Lord Xiang's body is not seriously ill; he is just listless and unconscious, leading to poor blood circulation and gradually forming stagnation. However, this is not severe. The real cause of the illness is the difficulty in invigorating his spirit and regaining consciousness. If he can wake up, with proper care, he will recover."

"You're just talking nonsense. If he could wake up, would we be in such a dangerous situation?"

"I once prescribed a medicine to nourish the spirit, but it was like a drop in the bucket, showing no improvement. However, I believe it must have some effect, though it is minimal."

People who are obsessed with something tend to be superstitious.

These old physicians, who have been devoted to medicine for many years, behaving this way is quite normal.

Qin Xianyu thought to himself, "These famous doctors from Qingyuan Prefecture seem to have better dispositions compared to those from Fengxing Prefecture. However, there are a few decent ones in Fengxing Prefecture, like Doctor Yan, who is a good person with a good reputation. Doctors like Li are the minority."

"What are you arguing about?"

A man came out from inside, looking displeased.

This man was in his fifties, with a black beard and a somewhat stern face.

Seeing his expression, everyone's hearts skipped a beat.

"Doctor Tao, your medicine has a bitter yet refreshing aroma, which invigorates the spirit. What is the prescription? How many herbs are in it?"

The old man with white hair, absorbed in medicine, did not notice the expression on Doctor Tao's face. He said to himself, "This medicine is extraordinary. Even if one is extremely listless, it should cure the illness. I think Lord Xiang should be awake by now."

Doctor Tao's expression grew even more stern, but after a moment, it softened. Perhaps he realized that the old man was not intentionally mocking him but was merely making a logical deduction. He sighed, "I also thought this medicine would cure the illness, but unfortunately..."

"What? It didn't cure it?"

The old man looked surprised.

Qin Xianyu thought to himself, "Just by looking at Doctor Tao's expression, one can tell that something is wrong. It's strange, based on the smell of the medicine, this prescription should be extraordinary and should invigorate the spirit. Why hasn't it worked? However, without seeing the prescription or the herbs, it's hard to guess based on the smell alone."

"I have practiced medicine for several decades and have never seen such an illness or such good medicine," the old man with white hair sighed. "I thought this medicine would cure the illness, but it seems I was wrong again. In my old age, my eyesight is failing. Doctor Tao, can we see the leftover herbs?"

Doctor Tao, feeling defeated by the failure to cure the illness, waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."

At this moment, the young masters and misses of the Xiang family, as well as close confidants like Ye Qing, mostly entered the inner room.

Outside, besides Doctor Tao and the few famous doctors, only Qin Xianyu remained.

The famous doctors gathered around the leftover herbs, discussing and examining the herbs in detail, occasionally tasting the remaining medicine.

Occasionally, someone would look at Doctor Tao with a questioning gaze.

"Previously, I prepared a medicine for Lord Xiang, which had some effect, delaying the progression of his illness," Doctor Tao said, seeing that they were looking at him for guidance. "Later, I carefully examined the herbs and found one that had a significant delaying effect on Lord Xiang's illness. This herb is also invigorating."

"Which herb is it?"

"Chill Year Grass leaves."

Hearing this, Qin Xianyu was also taken aback.

Doctor Tao then sighed softly, "Chill Year Grass has seven branches, each branch producing two leaves. After picking, it regrows in seven days and has an invigorating effect. In my prescription, I first used Chill Year Grass leaves as dry grass to burn and create the flame for boiling the medicine. The smoke contains the medicinal effect."

"Besides burning, I also added Chill Year Grass leaves, along with six other invigorating herbs. Additionally, I added three more to balance the effects and avoid conflicts."

He slowly explained the names of the herbs.

The doctors listened in admiration.

Qin Xianyu was also impressed, thinking, "No wonder he is a palace physician, able to combine the herbs so well."

Doctor Tao, hearing the praise, did not show much joy, maintaining a calm expression. "A Chill Year Grass plant usually lives for eight to nine years, rarely over ten. However, there are exceptions. It is said that if the leaves are not picked for ten years, they accumulate medicinal effects and undergo a transformation, increasing their potency tenfold or even a hundredfold in a single night."

"The palace has a few ten-year-old Chill Year Grass leaves. I wrote a letter to request these leaves, and after adding them to the medicine, the illness was suppressed, and Lord Xiang's condition remained stable for nearly half a month."

Doctor Tao looked at everyone and said, "A few days ago, I heard that Fengxing Prefecture had a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass."

"What?" Bai Yao jumped up, an elderly man in his seventies, extremely agitated.

"A Chill Year Grass plant usually lives for eight to nine years, rarely over ten. How could it live for a hundred years? Even if one could live for a hundred years, how could the leaves be preserved for a hundred years without being picked or falling off?"

"This is a rare herb in the world."

"It only exists in legends."

Everyone was shocked and puzzled.

Only Qin Xianyu had a strange expression, thinking it came from Fengxing Prefecture.

Bai Yao, tugging at his beard, said, "A hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass is a legendary herb. Could it not cure Lord Xiang's illness?"

Doctor Tao shook his head and said, "If it were a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass, it would certainly cure the illness. Unfortunately, during the escort, it was attacked, and the sandalwood box was burned by fire. Although the hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass was not burned, the heat from the fire seeped into it. When it reached me, it was already dry and had lost its activity. After adding it to the medicine, its effectiveness was probably less than thirty percent."

Bai Yao, stomping his feet, said angrily, "What a waste! To burn such a precious herb with fire!"

Doctor Tao closed his medicine box and said solemnly, "This medicine, although it did not wake Lord Xiang, has improved his condition. Within three months, his condition will not worsen. However, I am limited in my abilities and can do no more. I will return to the capital and request other palace physicians to come. If any of you have methods, please share and discuss. If feasible, we can try to save Lord Xiang."

A middle-aged doctor looked at him and asked, "Doctor Tao, you were sent here, and now you cannot cure the illness. When you return to the capital, you will likely face punishment."

Doctor Tao smiled bitterly and said, "I may be spared the death penalty, but I will certainly be demoted, at least two levels."

He closed his medicine box and looked inside, sighing, "I am just a physician with limited abilities. I could not cure the illness and deserve punishment. However, Lord Xiang has worked tirelessly for the country and the people for decades, finally becoming the current prime minister, working for the welfare of the people. Now he is suffering from this illness, truly... sigh..."

He sighed deeply, closed his medicine box, and bowed to everyone.

Bai Yao was very troubled, scratching his head and said, "Since there is a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass, why not ask about its origin? If we know the origin, perhaps we can find another one, and then we can cure Lord Xiang's illness! Moreover, Chill Year Grass produces fourteen leaves every seven days, and a ten-year-old Chill Year Grass is said to have seven leaves. A hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass should have at least two or three leaves. If there are more, we can study them in detail."

"Where are there more?" Doctor Tao shook his head. "I heard that the person who brought the hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass was a young man. After presenting it, he soon disappeared, likely kidnapped by someone who coveted the herb."

"Such a rare herb is hard to come by."

"Getting one leaf of a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass is already a great fortune. How can one be greedy?"

The doctors also sighed.

At this moment, Su Wenxiu came out from inside, looked at everyone, and said softly, "As you all said, a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass is hard to come by. Getting one leaf is already a great fortune, but this leaf could not cure Grandfather. It seems to be the will of heaven."

"Despite this, the Xiang family will not give up."

Su Wenxiu's face was pale, but her eyes were determined. "I have already sent people to Fengxing Prefecture to investigate the young man's whereabouts and seek help from the governor, Liu Jun. As for here, I ask all of you to do your best. You are all famous doctors, and by pooling our knowledge, we may find a solution."

Su Wenxiu then looked at the young Taoist beside her.

The young Taoist, dressed in Taoist robes, was listening quietly, frowning, as if deep in thought.

Su Wenxiu withdrew her gaze and focused on Doctor Tao, saying, "Doctor Tao has done his best, not sleeping or eating properly for days, thinking of ways to cure the illness. Everyone in the Xiang family knows this. I will write a letter on behalf of Grandfather to the emperor, asking for Doctor Tao to be spared from punishment."

Doctor Tao bowed in gratitude.

Su Wenxiu's face was pale, and she seemed weak. She sighed softly, feeling bitter, "Where can we find another hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass?"

"After listening for so long, I finally understand the situation," Qin Xianyu said, bowing slightly to Doctor Tao and the other famous doctors. "Lord Xiang's illness can be cured with just one leaf of a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass?"

"What do you mean 'just one leaf'? It sounds like you think a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass is as common as dirt," Bai Yao said angrily. "What do you know, child?"

Doctor Tao's expression turned serious, and he said, "If we have an undamaged leaf of a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass, it will certainly cure the illness."

Qin Xianyu nodded and finally looked at Su Wenxiu, saying, "I have a leaf of a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass."

He opened his hand, and a golden leaf lay quietly in his palm.

It shimmered, as if made of gold.

The room was silent.

That golden leaf was not made of gold but was more precious than gold.

It was a hundred-year-old Chill Year Grass!

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