Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 100 Unparalleled National Scholars
The Duke of England's Mansion, back garden.

Li Ji sat quietly at the stone table next to the rockery, on which was a chess game.

He just sat there looking at the chessboard without saying a word for more than an hour.

Suddenly, a big furry hand picked up a chess piece and placed it on the chessboard.

Li Ji looked up slightly and saw Cheng Zhijie coming to his side without him noticing.

"Is it because Zhangsun Wuji has retired that you feel you have no rival?" Cheng Zhijie grinned.

Li Ji sneered faintly, picked up the chess piece dropped by Cheng Zhijie, and put it back into the chess box.

"How did you come?"

Cheng Zhijie sat down opposite him and said calmly, "I know you look down on me. I was indeed confused about Zhangsun Wuji's matter."

Li Ji was slightly stunned. He knew that Cheng Zhijie was extremely stubborn by nature. Sometimes he would never admit it even if he knew he was wrong.

This is also the reason why he looks down on Cheng Zhijie.

Now that he was willing to admit his mistake, Li Ji guessed that he must have something to ask of him, otherwise he would not be so humble.

"Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Cheng Zhijie smiled and said, "I can't hide it from you after all. Yes, I came to you because I really have something to ask of you."

Li Ji was surprised and asked, "When you were first transferred back to Chang'an, you were in a difficult situation and did not ask me for help. Now that you have safely overcome the crisis, what else do you need from me?"

Cheng Zhijie was silent for a moment, then asked, "Do you know Sun Simiao?"

Li Ji smiled and said, "Not only do I know him, I also have some friendship with Mr. Sun."

Cheng Zhijie nodded and said, "That's why I came to you for help because I know this. This is a letter Sun Simiao wrote to me. Take a look."

He took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it over.

After reading it, Li Ji's face changed slightly. He was stunned for a long time and let out a sigh.

"Lord Sun is truly a great man. Did you give me this letter so that I could pass it on to His Majesty?"

Cheng Zhijie said, "Yes, you should know that if I give this letter to Your Majesty, it would be like an excuse for myself, which is not appropriate. That's why I'm asking for your help."

Li Ji smiled and said, "You've been very thoughtful. Okay, since it's related to Lord Sun, I promise you."

Cheng Zhijie stood up, bowed and said, "Thank you." Then he turned around and walked away.

Li Ji changed his clothes, ordered people to prepare a carriage, and drove to the palace.

He had the privilege of riding a horse in the palace. After entering the palace, he rode his pony around the Liangyi Hall, then dismounted and walked to the Ganlu Hall to ask for an audience with the emperor.

After the eunuch reported, he entered the main hall.

Li Zhi, who had just entered the main hall from a side door, smiled at Li Ji and said, "Mr. Li, are you here to hear about the victory from the front?"

Li Ji was slightly stunned and asked, "What victory news?"

Li Zhi was surprised and said, "The Ministry of War just received a victory report. Su Dingfang defeated the Turks in Yingsuo River, and Xue Rengui also won a small victory in Yumu Valley. Didn't you know?"

Li Ji said happily, "I have never heard of this. Your Majesty, could you please tell me in detail?"

Li Zhi directly ordered someone to bring the memorial from the Ministry of War and showed it to him.

Xue Rengui's battle was relatively simple. Not long after he engaged in battle with the Turks, the Turks retreated on their own initiative, and he did not gain much.

Su Dingfang won a great victory.

He ordered the infantry to fight head-on and the cavalry to wait on a high point two miles away. When the infantry and the Turkish cavalry were in a stalemate, he led the cavalry to charge and defeated the Turks.

After reading it, Li Ji twirled his beard and smiled, "Su Lie is indeed a fierce general!"

Li Zhi asked curiously, "Since you didn't come here for this matter, then why did you enter the palace?"

Li Ji's expression straightened, he took out a letter and handed it over.

"Your Majesty, please take a look at this letter."

Li Zhi ordered Wang Fusheng to take it over. After reading it, he was slightly moved.

This turned out to be a letter written by Sun Simiao to Cheng Zhijie.

Sun Simiao told Cheng Zhijie that the strange disease in Shazhou had a low mortality rate but a long incubation period and could cause weakness in the limbs.

If the infection reaches the army and the troops become ill after entering the Turkic territory, it will cause endless harm.

He then informed Cheng Zhijie, hoping that he would slow down the march and wait until he cured Shazhou's strange disease before the army could pass through Shazhou.

Li Zhi took a deep breath and said, "I never thought that Divine Doctor Sun could do such a great thing without telling anyone. The last time I saw him, he didn't even let anyone know."

Li Ji sighed, "Sun Gong has always been like this."

Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Is this letter from General Cheng to you?"

Li Ji said, "That's right."

"Why doesn't he give it to me himself?"

Li Ji smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please think about this. If he gave it to you personally, wouldn't that be tantamount to defending himself, saying that his slow march was due to this letter?"

Li Zhi was stunned for a moment and then burst out laughing.

"Yes, it's normal for him to have such concerns."

Li Ji said, "Your Majesty, don't be fooled by his rough appearance. Once you get to know him, you'll realize he's more cunning than anyone else."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Mr. Li, can you give me some advice?"

Li Ji bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please give your instructions."

Li Zhi said, "I want to thank Mr. Sun, but I don't know how. Does Mr. Li have any good ideas?"

Li Ji pondered and said, "Lord Sun dislikes fame and gain. If Your Majesty grants him an official title, he might flee Chang'an."

Li Zhi sighed, "This is precisely what I'm worried about, so I'm asking for help from Mr. Li. I wonder what Dr. Sun's hobbies are?"

Li Ji said, "As for his preferences, I don't know, but I know he has a great ambition."

"what?"

Li Ji said, "Mr. Sun has always wanted to write a medical book. This way, even after he passes away, he can still benefit the world."

"Is he still compiling a medical book?" Li Ji asked, "He has already compiled one, called 'Thousand Gold Prescriptions', but as far as I know, he is currently compiling another medical book that is even more detailed and comprehensive than 'Thousand Gold Prescriptions'."

Li Zhi asked curiously, "Why did Mr. Sun name his medical book 'Thousand Golden Prescriptions'?"

Li Ji smiled and said, "Because he believed that human life was worth more than a thousand gold coins, and a good prescription could sometimes save many lives, he named it 'Thousand Gold Prescriptions'."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I understand. I know the best way to thank him."

Seeing that the emperor didn't say anything, Li Ji didn't ask any more questions.

Li Zhi asked, "Lord Li, would you be willing to go with me incognito?"

Li Ji smiled and said, "I'm very happy to do so."

Dayefang, Sun's residence.

Sun Simiao had a total of thirteen disciples, eleven of whom had already become apprentices. All of them followed their master's example, traveling around the world and practicing medicine to save people.

The only people following Sun Simiao were two disciples.

One is Meng Shiyi. Although his medical skills are quite good, his mind is unstable.

Sun Simiao ordered him to devote himself to studying medicine for another three years before allowing him to leave the Sun residence.

The other one is Fei Shisan, who is Sun Simiao’s last disciple. His medical skills are not yet up to par, so he has been staying in Sun’s house to study medicine.

That afternoon, Fei Shisan was sweeping the yard when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

He went over and opened the door, only to see a pale-complexioned young man standing outside.

Fei Shisan's physiognomy skills were quite advanced. He could tell at a glance that this person had too much yin energy and was afraid that he was sick.

Behind the Yin man, there was another young man with an elegant face and holding a Sichuan fan. His face looked extremely noble, but he looked a little sick, and it was estimated that he was not in good health.

The last person was an old man, who looked tall and thin, with a gentle expression. However, his eyes flashed with a fierce look.

Fei Shisan suspected that this man had killed quite a few people.

"Who are you looking for?" Fei Shisan thought these three people were very strange, so he didn't give them a good look.

The young man holding the Sichuan fan was Li Zhi. He smiled and asked, "Excuse me, is this the residence of Divine Doctor Sun?"

Fei Shisan snorted and said, "That's right. If you want to see a doctor, go to the clinic across the street and get a number. When it's your turn, the master will treat you."

Li Zhi clapped his hands with his Sichuan fan and said with a smile, "Are you a disciple of Divine Doctor Sun?"

Fei Shisan rolled his eyes and said, "Why are you asking so many questions? We can't see a doctor here anyway."

Wang Fusheng said, "How dare you!"

Fei Shisan was startled at first, then he smiled and began to roll up his sleeves.

"What are you doing? Are you planning to use force? Do you know who invited our master to Chang'an?"

Wang Fusheng said, "I was just about to ask for your advice."

Fei Shisan straightened his chest and bowed towards the north.

"Hey, don't be frightened by what you heard. It was Her Majesty the Empress who invited our master to the capital! And it was to treat the Saint!"

Wang Fusheng said, "Since you are treating the Saint, you should invite us in."

Fei Shisan was stunned and asked, "Why?"

Wang Fusheng glanced at Li Zhi and saw him nod. Then he said, "The one standing before you is the current sage."

Fei Shisan's face changed drastically. After looking at Li Zhi, he turned around and ran away.

Li Zhi stepped into the yard.

Just after passing the courtyard, Sun Simiao came over with two young men. One of them was Fei Shisan and the other was Meng Shiyi.

"I, Sun Simiao, pay my respects to Your Majesty." Sun Simiao bowed and was about to kneel.

Li Zhi walked over quickly, supported him, and said with a smile: "I have come incognito, so there is no need for formalities."

Seeing that he was really the emperor, Fei Shisan knelt on the ground and said tremblingly: "I, a humble person, do not know that the emperor is in front of me. I am guilty of death, of death..."

Meng Shiyi also knelt down.

Sun Simiao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, these are two of your worthless disciples. Fei Shisan has offended Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to punish you."

Li Zhi raised his folding fan and said, "Ignorance is not a crime. Everyone, get up."

Sun Simiao turned to Li Ji and bowed, smiling, "It's been many years since we last met. Duke Ying is still as elegant as ever."

Li Ji smiled and said, "Mr. Sun, you are overpraising me. This is all thanks to the health-preserving techniques you taught me."

Sun Simiao led the three people into the hall and invited Li Zhi to sit at the head of the table.

Li Zhi asked about the names of his two apprentices and learned that the skinny young man's surname was Fei. He couldn't help but smile and nodded at Fei Shisan.

Seeing that the emperor was not blaming him, Fei Shisan quickly put on a smile.

Sun Simiao took Li Zhi's pulse again and said with a smile, "Your Majesty's pulse is stable and you are recovering very well. As long as you continue to recuperate according to my method, your headache will be cured within ten years."

Li Zhi said, "Thank you, Doctor Sun. Actually, I came here this time to ask you for something else."

Sun Simiao said, "Your Majesty, please give your orders."

Li Zhi stood up and bowed deeply to Sun Simiao.

Sun Simiao was taken aback and said, "Your Majesty, what do you mean? I am not worthy of this."

Li Zhi said solemnly, "Please take a seat, old doctor. This greeting is not for your headache, but for the people of Shazhou and the soldiers of the Great Tang. Thank you."

Sun Simiao showed a look of sudden realization, smiled slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just doing my duty as a doctor."

Li Zhi said, "I know you don't care about fame and fortune, so I won't reward you with an official title. Here is a token. From now on, you can use it to enter and exit the Shangyao Bureau's medical library at will."

Wang Fusheng took out a golden token from his sleeve and handed it over.

For someone like Sun Simiao who pursues writing books, being able to enter the palace medical library and read precious books is the greatest reward.

He took the token, his face solemn, and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)