Ink Burns

Chapter 315 Case Study
Although He Shuiguang and Madam He Shanyue were born from the same mother, their appearances, personalities, and preferences were completely different.

Shan Yue can keep chewing on something in her heart, chewing it thoroughly until it's juicy and dry, then stretching her neck to swallow it calmly, whether it's sweet or bitter.

Shui Guang, in the first half of her life, has never thought about a single thing more than twice.

She's always been a female warrior who lies in bed and falls unconscious the moment she closes her eyes.

For her, the eve of the eighth year of Yongping was nothing more than an ordinary night of hugging, kissing, and exchanging sweet nothings with a man—Shui Guang thought frankly. After the fireworks faded, she covered herself with the blanket, closed her eyes, and fell asleep quickly, but as soon as she closed her eyes, it was like falling into a soft ball of cotton, which soon turned into a swamp from which she could not get out.

The swamp was surrounded by dead trees, and she was stuck in it. At first, she was laughing carefree, but after a while, she realized that the dark swamp soil had somehow risen above her chest.

She was like a kitten with its neck stuck, and all she could do was meow and look up at the sky.

At the critical moment, a slippery serpent dangled from a withered vine, flicking its tongue and biting her armpit, pulling her out of the mud.

As soon as it landed, the serpent transformed into a thin, wiry young man.

It was foggy, and I couldn't see faces clearly.

But for some reason, she felt that this was "Xiao Fang," whom she had just kissed that evening.

"Xiao Fang!" she rushed over.

"Xiao Fang" caught her smoothly and embraced her affectionately, but her voice had somehow changed into a high-pitched, delicate female voice: "Shui Guang—"

She looked up.

Xiao Fang's face became clearer—it was still the same face, but with drawn eyebrows, powdered cheeks, and lipstick, she was clearly a charming version of the female "Xiao Fang".

Shui Guang didn't think it was a big deal.

The woman named "Xiao Fang" is quite pretty too.

Before she could exchange tips on eyebrow drawing with the female "Xiao Fang," she heard her sister's heartbroken and furious shout from the withered forest: "He Shuiguang! How could you have chosen a female snake!"

Shui Guang's calves suddenly spasmed and twitched, startling her awake!

Shui Guang was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. She patted her chest to calm herself down while secretly warning herself: Finding a eunuch is not a heinous crime, but this matter must be kept secret from her eldest sister at home.

If she really wants to confess, she should wait until she leaves the palace safely and cuts ties with Eunuch Fang before admitting her guilt to her sister. A child might be scolded for wetting the bed, but not for wetting the bed a few days ago!

After three autumns have passed, her older sister might scold her a few times for being "absurd," "little devil," or "little monkey," but that won't do anything more.

Snowflakes drifted outside to celebrate the New Year, while the lights flickered in the backyard of the Imperial Medical Academy. The little girl, Shuiguang, having overcome the mountain of "older sister" in her heart, confidently rolled over and lay down, comfortably beginning her happy time with "Xiao Fang."

The first month of the lunar calendar is a quiet time for the Imperial Medical Academy.

The reason is simple: masters and servants alike avoid seeing doctors and taking medicine, fearing it will bring bad luck for the entire year; furthermore, the imperial court takes a break from the first month of the lunar calendar until the Lantern Festival, and the six palaces and six departments resume normal operations.

The Imperial Medical Academy staff took turns resting. Knowing that Shui Guang was close to Linde Hall, Chief Physician Lin had specially reserved leave for her to visit relatives from the first to the eighth day of the lunar new year. However, on the morning of the first day, Wu Min, the chief eunuch of Linde Hall, personally came through the snow to say: "Doctor He has just started working in the palace and has already taken someone else's first month leave. This will give people something to talk about, which is not good. Chief Physician, you don't need to give him any special treatment."

Although Lin Yuanzheng didn't know the intricacies involved, he still wrote down that after so many years of hard work, he would "reluctantly" and "painfully" enjoy this rare January holiday.

The water's luster remained within the palace walls.

Xu Quyan would come to see her every day, mostly after dusk, when the palace gates were closed, and no one was allowed to communicate with each other. The place was deserted and silent.

When the two were together, Shui Guang was mostly preparing medicine, cleaning silver needles, or pounding medicine in a mortar and sniffing the dregs, busy but happy; behind the medicine cabinet, a thin man in the Qingque uniform of a third-rank eunuch leaned against the side table, holding a book in his hand, but his eyes were not on a single word, only on the busy figure in front of him.

In the rising steam from the medicine jar, Shui Guang's quiet seriousness was reflected, along with Xu Quyan's peaceful, clear expression, which contained a satisfied smile.

Xu Quyan lost his father at the age of sixteen and ascended the throne at the age of seventeen. He has been on the throne for nine years. Nine springs and summers have passed, and every step has been difficult. It can be said that he has been living on the edge of a knife and his life has been full of ups and downs. This New Year is the most relaxing and joyful time for him.

But then someone came to bother us.

The door was knocked on.

Xu Quyan raised an eyebrow and subtly glanced at the shadows outside the window.

Shui Guang opened the door.

He was an unfamiliar eunuch, wearing a brown sunflower-patterned robe with a round collar. His rank was not low. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he looked flustered: "Prince Yu is unwell. He had diarrhea after dinner and then vomited and had diarrhea after drinking warm tea. Now his face is pale!"

King Yu?

The current emperor has no sons, and his brothers have long since left the palace to take up their fiefs. Where did this Prince Yu come from?

She frowned, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Last December, the youngest son of the Prince of Qin entered the palace from Lingnan.” A voice came from behind, it was Xu Quyan who reminded him: “Both Princes Qin and Yue sent their three sons to the palace to hire famous teachers to educate them. After entering the capital, the three sons were enfeoffed as princes that very night. Prince Yu is the second son of Prince Qin.”

Shui Guang suddenly realized: the Imperial Medical Academy was always late to the party regarding the intricacies of the previous dynasty, but she actually knew about this matter—these three "kings," despite their titles, were actually just three little kids, the oldest being no more than ten years old, who still lived in the palace and were considered "clients" of the Imperial Medical Academy.
Xu Quyan spoke, and the eunuch with the imperial face looked over, only to be greatly surprised by what he saw!

Saint. Saint
How could a sage be here?

The eunuch's knees buckled, and he was about to kneel down when he saw the emperor leisurely spread his arms, leaning against the side table, looking at him with a warning gaze.

Only then did the eunuch realize that the emperor was dressed in eunuch robes.

The eunuch was astonished: ? Since being assigned to serve the prince of a vassal state, he had not seen the emperor for a long time. How come the emperor is now his colleague?

The eunuch was astonished and puzzled, but he remained silent.

The eunuch immediately lowered his head, like a quail that had taken a poison to make it mute. After thinking for a moment, he gave himself the antidote to speak and explained tremblingly, "It's not proper to break taboos in the first month of the lunar calendar, but Prince Yu is still young, and I'm afraid something might happen..."

Xu Quyan lowered his eyes.

Shui Guang immediately picked up her medicine box and, while pushing open the door to leave, instructed Xu Quyan: "Children's illnesses are always of unpredictable severity, and I don't know when I'll be able to return. Just go back by yourself, and lock the door when you leave. Tell Xiao Qiuyin to keep watch over the yard."

The eunuch lowered his head, his eyes widening at the intimate and natural tone.

Xu Quyan nodded gently: "Go ahead, the night is deep and the dew is heavy, don't catch a chill on your way back."

Shui Guang nodded haphazardly, but as soon as she stepped out, she noticed that the eunuch hadn't moved. She turned back and called out twice more, and only then did the eunuch move shakily, stiff as a crab coming ashore, and walk sideways out of the courtyard.

The candles in the Imperial Medical Academy's pharmacy were more than half burned, and the dripping wax clung to the candles like a frozen waterfall.

Shui Guang returned close to midnight. As she took off her chilly cloak, she pushed open the door, expecting the medicine shop to be deserted. But inside, the candlelight was steady, and a small red clay stove held a boiling casserole, steaming and releasing the unique aroma of chicken soup.

Xu Quyan was folding his sleeves to serve her soup, his handsome features and gentle face asking, "Is it cold outside?"

"It was cold—but not cold—the old man somehow found a well-fitting fur cloak, stuffed a warm hand warmer into my hands, and even called a sedan chair to escort me all the way to the door. He was incredibly respectful! Even the snow on the road seemed to have been swept clean, and it wasn't cold at all!"

The treatment for this house call was quite good. Shui Guang clicked her tongue in amazement, and only then did she realize what was happening: "Why haven't you left yet?"

"After a long night of hard work, I returned to find a cold and desolate house—if it were me, I would probably only feel lonely and indifferent." Xu Quyan's eyes showed no sign of tenderness and longing: "Putting myself in your shoes, I will definitely wait for you to come back."

Shui Guang laughed: "Why are you acting like a timid little wife!"

Looking down, I saw that the chicken soup in the bowl still had golden oil floating on top, and it smelled so good that I rubbed my nose.

Shuiguang scooped up a spoonful, took a warm bite, and shrugged comfortably, squinting her eyes and saying, "It smells so good—! Did you make this yourself?"

Xu Quyan nodded peacefully, not drinking any himself, but watching the soup simmer in the water. The void in his heart felt as if it had been filled: loving someone is like this—you don't need to ask for anything in return, you only need to keep giving. Even if it's just being a mediocre ruler making soup for your beloved woman in the middle of the night, it's still satisfying. He had never understood why a wise ruler like Li Shimin would categorize his sons into different classes, giving his children the titles of Blue Sparrow and Pheasant, as if he wanted to bestow upon them all the most precious and rare things in the world.

Now he understands.

It's because of different mothers.

To love someone is to love everything about them, including their appearance, their joys and sorrows, their past and future, everything and everyone connected to them, and especially their descendants.

continue.

Thinking of this, Xu Quyan lowered his head slightly, and a trace of madness and regret finally appeared beneath his calm and gentle face.

"How is Prince Yu?" Xu Quyan asked.

Shui Guang was awakened by a bowl of chicken soup, and used the clay pot as a cooking pot to cook, adding some noodles and vegetables: "It's nothing serious. The child has been traveling a long way and is tired from the journey. He is also a little unwell due to the change in environment after arriving in the capital. In addition, the food prepared by the Imperial Kitchen for the past few days has not been very refined. In this cold weather, serving him a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup, the coldness in his mouth and the coldness on his body combined, it is normal for the child to have an upset stomach."

"Consort Shu?" Xu Quyan frowned. "What happened at Yonghe Palace?"

The food is ready quickly.

After tumbling in the golden chicken soup, Shui Guang scooped it out and, while eating, gossiped about everyday matters: "You're right next to the emperor, and you know nothing?"

Xu Quyan shook his head.

Shui Guang raised her chin: "Call me 'sister' and I'll tell you."

Smart children usually learn to speak quickly. A girl from southern Anhui, who had been in Beijing for only a few months, was already speaking Beijing dialect fluently and clearly.

Xu Quyan chuckled: "Sister?"

He murmured two words to himself, his eyelids drooping slightly, yet revealing a hint of ambiguity: "I'm more than eight years older than you. If I really want to call you 'older sister,' there's only one place where I'm willing to say it."

The warm, moist outer skin seemed to have been torn open, revealing a very narrow and small part of its damp and sticky nature.

Shui Guang didn't understand, but possessing the instinct of a small animal to seek advantage and avoid harm, she immediately straightened her back and changed the subject: "The Consort Shu has been giving the kitchen a dietary therapy prescription these past few days—"

The little girl shrugged her shoulders, her gossiping manner practiced, her clever eyes darting around: "Everyone's saying that the Emperor is probably bringing princes and their offspring into the palace to have an heir through adoption. Consort Shu is anxious, taking medicine and drinking soup, wishing she could have a baby by tomorrow for the New Year."

Xu Quyan was not very willing to talk to Shui Guang about his concubines.

I felt a mix of shame and fear.

But Shui Guang went on and on: "Nobody understands what she's so anxious about—what's the use of the emperor not going to sleep and just drinking soup and taking medicine? Speaking of which, the emperor hasn't been to the harem for quite some time now. I heard that the official records are full of white silk, even cleaner than my pockets."

Xu Quyan turned his head to drink his tea.

Shui Guang bumped into his arm: "Hey, you're the Grand Eunuch of Linde Hall, you're close to the Emperor, tell me, the Emperor can't—"

Before Shui Guang could finish speaking, Xu Quyan's heart leaped into his throat, and he immediately stiffened as he retorted, "The Emperor is perfectly fine and there has never been any extraordinary rumor about him!"

Shui Guang paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Why are you so nervous? It's not like I'm saying you can't get up."

wrong.

I said the wrong thing.

Xiao Fang's condition is more serious than "not being able to get up".

He didn't have any!

Isn't this like insulting a bald man in front of a monk?

Shui Guang immediately added, "I know, if you have it, you definitely can, you'll be exceptionally good, incredibly good, and absolutely good!"

Xu Quyan turned his head away, his face ashen, unable to say a word. After a moment, he turned back, pressing his head against the white wall, his lips and teeth intertwined, locked in a tender, passionate embrace.

The court was supposed to be on holiday until the Lantern Festival, but Xu Quyan did not show up for several days after the fourteenth and fifteenth. He only sent a message through Wu Min, sending Shui Guang a pair of pearl earrings, each pearl larger than a fingernail, saying, "Since we can't eat Lantern Festival together, I can only send two Lantern Festival earrings as an apology."

Shuiguang stared at the pearl earring for a long time: it really did look quite like a glutinous rice ball.

It was late on the night of the Lantern Festival when the Imperial Hospital suddenly became very busy.

Even Lin Yuanzheng, who was on leave for the first month of the lunar year, entered the palace late at night under the stars and moon. Without time to give instructions, he picked up his medicine box, took two junior physicians and a medicine boy, and hurriedly ran out. By the time he returned, it was almost dawn.

Lin Yuanzheng was extremely anxious, his body radiating coldness. He raised his hand to drink a cup of hot tea offered by Shui Guang: "The Sage's asthma attack was sudden and severe—how was he a few days before the first month of the lunar year?"

Shui Guang shook her head repeatedly: "Every day, the pulse diagnosis is personally conducted by Physician Zhou. After nightfall, Linde Hall has not come to call for a diagnosis."

"Have you ever stopped taking your usual medication or changed your prescription?"

Shui Guang remained steadfast in shaking her head.

"How could that be?" Lin Yuanzheng frowned, his knuckles tapping the table as he reviewed the situation: "The cold weather could easily trigger asthma, but the Emperor doesn't leave the palace from dawn till dusk. The charcoal fire in Linde Hall is constantly burning, and there's also hot water steaming around, making it warm like spring. Plus, he avoids alcohol and smoke."

On the round table sat Dr. Lin's medicine chest.

A medical record wrapped in bright yellow silk was placed on top of the medicine box.

That was the pulse diagnosis of a sage.

It was a top secret of the imperial court.

Shui Guang glanced at Lin Yuanzheng: "Master, may I review the records of the Sage to find out the truth?"

Lin Yuanzheng was interrupted, and waved his hand, indicating that Shui Guang should do as she pleased.

Shui Guang carefully took out the bright yellow pulse table, unfolded the silk satin layer by layer, opened the pulse table, avoided the top-secret previous text, and began to read from last winter.

The medical records were turned page by page.

Shui Guang's complexion gradually darkened.

The pulse diagnosis in early winter states: The pulse is like a taut string, the string is tense, straight and long, like a taut sliding rope, indicating liver qi stagnation and dryness rising upwards.

The pulse diagnosis on New Year's Eve recorded: The pulse pattern is like a flat mountain, with the shape of a low, continuous mountain range.

Since entering the palace, she had only been a minor physician in the Imperial Medical Academy, and had not had many opportunities to take pulses, let alone have patients with whom she could have a consistent and continuous pulse diagnosis.

Only one person.

Fang Yueming, Grand Supervisor of Linde Hall.

From the terrible early winter to the recovery on New Year's Eve, Xiao Fang's pulse was very clear to her.

The same.

It was exactly the same as the pulse recorded by the sage.

Shui Guang's wrist went limp, and the sage's pulse table slammed to the ground with a "bang".