Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 473: Li Shimin Takes the Elixir - True Fatherly Love and Filial Piety (Part )

In the Tai Chi Hall.

Li Yifu stood on the right side of the hall, lowering his head and looking carefully into the hall.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling stand on the left.

The palace supervisor Lu Huairang stood in the hall, and behind him and on both sides stood Yin Wencao of Louguan Dao and Master Xuanzang of Da Ci'en Temple.

As for Narosavarman from India, the emperor never liked him and never summoned him alone.

A little Taoist boy and a little novice monk each held a mahogany tray with a green porcelain bottle on it.

Li Chengqian withdrew his gaze from the porcelain bottle and looked at Dou Lu Huairang, saying, "My dear Dou Lu, how did the eunuchs test this elixir?"

The emperor asked directly, and Li Yifu couldn't help but twitch his lips.

What to test? Of course, to test whether it is toxic.

The emperor asked the question almost directly in front of Master Yin Wencao and Master Xuanzang.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling on the opposite side looked calm. They were both old foxes.

Dou Lu Huairang bowed gently and said, "Your Majesty, the eunuchs tested these pills using a three-month-old rooster, a six-month-old rabbit, and fish from the Wei River. Both are non-toxic."

"All that's left is to test the medicine on people." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "How much of each medicine have you refined?"

"Three pills each." Dou Lu Huairang bowed.

"That's right." Li Chengqian nodded, then looked to the side and said, "Li Yifu, remember this: from now on, when anyone in the palace takes pills, the number of finished pills must not be less than three. The emperor is not someone to be used for drug testing."

Some people spent a lot of materials, but in the end they only managed to refine one pill.

What do you mean by relying on God for success?

In fact, no one knows what the effect is. In essence, the emperor is still testing the medicine.

Hearing Li Chengqian's unreserved exposure of the embellishment and beautification of matters like alchemy, all the ministers in the hall could not help but lower their heads slightly.

The emperor was always a good person, but when he encountered something he didn't like, he would become very sarcastic and mean.

This kind of thing has happened more than once or twice.

"Your Majesty, let's send it to the retired emperor first and try the medicine." Changsun Wuji stood up and bowed seriously.

"Alright." Li Chengqian stood up, looked at Yin Wencao and Xuanzang, and said calmly, "I trust the Immortal and the Master, but I hope the one refining the medicine can also gain your trust. Otherwise, the consequences will be something you two won't be able to bear."

"Your Majesty is benevolent and filial, and I will certainly lend my full support." Master Yin Wencao nodded gently and saluted.

The Taoist alchemy has been done countless times, so naturally they are confident that they can keep the emperor healthy without any impact.

"Amitabha!" Xuanzang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, although Buddhism is not good at alchemy, the Maitreya Sutra and Nalanda Monastery also have alchemy techniques. Although it may not lead to the attainment of Buddhahood, it will not hinder one from maintaining good health and living out one's years in peace."

Xuanzang's teacher, Master Jiexian, the abbot of Nalanda Monastery, is now 120 years old.

Occasionally, I also take some elixirs.

After Xuanzang met Narālāsāpāmī, he realized that he was also proficient in this art. The two had discussed this for a while before.

Even in the White Horse Temple, there are monks who occasionally make elixirs.

Yes, it's hard to believe, but it's true.

Xuanzang had no choice but to accept it, and in some aspects, even Xuanzang himself admired Nalo'er Sapomei's understanding of Buddhist principles. This led to Nalo'er Sapomei's journey to refine the elixir with the support of the Buddhist community in Chang'an.

Compared with others, Xuanzang saw clearly that this time Buddhism was more of an experiment.

In today's Tang Dynasty, although Buddhism is not suppressed as severely, Taoism is naturally superior to Buddhism.

Emperor Gaozu and the retired emperor had both issued decrees to make the final decision.

Although the emperor did not do anything, his favorable impression of Buddhism was limited. He even did not summon Xuanzang alone many times.

Of course, Li Chengqian had not met many people from the Taoist sect.

After all, he had just ascended the throne, and was more focused on gaining an in-depth understanding of local government affairs, especially the affairs of local governors.

But the emperor was benevolent and filial.

Therefore, Buddhism hopes to develop the art of alchemy, preferably with the hope of gaining the emperor's favor.

In this way, even if we cannot defeat the Taoist sect, we can still be on equal footing with them.

As for failure, it would only cost Luo Ershuamei's life.

……

In the Ganlu Palace, Zhang Ananda personally called two young eunuchs and asked each of them to take a pill.

The two of them then stepped aside.

Li Shimin glanced at the two of them, then looked at the nervous Li Chengqian and asked, "Why, is the Emperor worried that there's something wrong with this elixir?"

"Yes!" Li Chengqian answered very directly. He bowed slightly and said, "Father, I believe in medicine, I believe in curing diseases, and I even believe in diet therapy to replenish qi. As for elixirs, I think they can be used to stabilize the five qi in the body, strengthen the five internal organs, and make people strong, but I don't believe in any kind of becoming an immortal or a Buddha." "You believe in medicine, but you don't believe in Taoism and Buddhism." Li Shimin did not give face to Yin Wencao and Xuanzang, and directly expressed Li Chengqian's thoughts.

"My son believes that Taoism and Buddhism can bring peace and tranquility to people's hearts, thus achieving the effect of prolonging life. However, for things like elixirs, if the pharmacology is unclear and does not make sense, it is best not to take them lightly." Li Chengqian bowed slightly.

Who among those who are in good health would take pills to seek immortality for no reason?

Young people don’t even think about these things.

Only old people will go crazy when they hear others say that they can extend their lifespan by a year or two.

"You know how my health is." Li Shimin sighed and said, "Master Sun left the capital for a tour because the medicine he had was no longer effective for me. That's why I wanted to try to see if the Taoist and Buddhist elixirs would be any good for me."

Li Chengqian wanted to say something, but finally kept his mouth shut.

The health condition of the retired emperor is something that people inside and outside the palace deliberately avoid mentioning.

But in secret, people often mention it.

Some say that the emperor can live for ten years, while others say that he can live for five years.

This is basically what the imperial physician Zhang Baozang said. If the emperor takes good care of himself and nothing goes wrong, then five years will not be a problem, and even ten years is possible.

But this is the ideal state.

Without any worries, just rest in peace and take the right medicine, you will naturally be able to prolong your life.

However, the first problem was the availability of suitable medicine, otherwise why would Sun Simiao leave Chang'an?

As for not having any worries, just rest assured and recuperate.

Look at what happened to Lu Dongzan some time ago, how is this possible.

The current matter of these elixirs happened after Lu Dongzan’s incident.

……

Li Shimin looked up at Zhang Baozang and asked, "Mr. Zhang, have you reviewed the recipes sent by Master Wencao and Master Xuanzang? Do you have any questions?"

"No, it's all in the pharmacology." Zhang Baozang lowered his head slightly.

Li Shimin looked at Doulu Huairang and asked, "My dear Doulu, have the people from the Shang Pharmacy been keeping an eye on this whole process from the beginning until the pill is ready?"

"Your Majesty, yes." Dou Lu Huairang bowed seriously.

"Emperor!" Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Do you have any questions about the process of testing various medicines?"

"No." Li Chengqian lowered his head and said, "This medicine is not poisonous, but how to take it is a problem. Father can't take both medicines at the same time. I suggest that you take the Taoist medicine first. Let the Buddhists take a look at the Taoist medicine to see if there are any problems. Then we can decide when to take the Buddhist medicine to avoid any conflicting effects."

Buddhism and Taoism were refining elixirs at the same time. Normally, taking just one of the elixirs was enough, but only the emperor himself could tell which elixir was effective.

Which one should be taken first, which one should be taken later, how to take it, and when to take it?
Even after taking one medicine, whether to take a second one was decided by Li Shimin himself.

Although Li Chengqian was the emperor, he was also a son and could only give suggestions.

"Then let's listen to the emperor." Li Shimin smiled and nodded to Li Chengqian. He could see Li Chengqian's concern and worry.

"Thank you, Father." Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "Let the two families take a look at the elixir. You two can discuss the internal matters. Give me and Father some time."

"Here!" Yin Wencao and Xuanzang saluted at the same time, then went to discuss in a low voice, while also carefully looking at each other's pills.

Because Narālāsāpāmī was not in the palace, Xuanzang actually could not see much. Instead, it was Yin Wencao who studied Buddhist elixirs in detail and even read the elixir recipes.

Xuanzang looked at all this calmly.

Indeed, Buddhism is inherently disadvantaged in these matters, but sometimes it does more good than it does bad.

If there is something wrong with what Yin Wencao did or said, then the person who should be held accountable is Yin Wencao, the head of Louguan Dao.

"Your Majesty, Saint." Yin Wencao clasped his hands in greeting and said, "There is no problem with the Buddhist elixir. Your Majesty can take my elixir today. After three days, take the second pill. It should be effective. If the Saint is not satisfied, you can take the Buddhist elixir after six days, and the second pill after nine days."

Li Chengqian looked at Xuanzang and asked, "Master, do you have any objections?"

"No!" Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said, "I think it's OK."

Li Chengqian turned to look at the imperial physician Zhang Baozang and asked directly, "Mr. Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Baozang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the medicinal herbs used by the Taoist and Buddhist sects in refining the elixir this time are both very mild in nature and there is no conflict between them, so there is no problem with this arrangement."

After hearing what Zhang Baozang said, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief. He turned and looked at Li Shimin, his eyes still full of worry.

Li Shimin smiled lightly, then glanced at the two eunuchs who were testing the medicine nearby. They found that the medicine had no adverse effects at all.

Li Shimin raised his hand, and Zhang Baozang took the elixir made by Louguan Dao.

When Li Chengqian saw this scene, he couldn't help but feel a little cold. He saw Li Shimin pour the pill into his hand and was about to take it.

Li Chengqian finally couldn't help himself and knelt down, looking at Li Shimin pleadingly: "Father, can you please not use this pill?"

(End of this chapter)