Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 361 Surely it couldn't be that Li Shimin died prematurely.

Inside the Lizheng Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Li Shimin was looking down at the memorials on his desk, his expression calm and composed.

"died?"

Only when Huang Chun's bowing figure came into view did he slowly raise his head, his voice carrying a hint of composure.

"Yes."

Huang Chun bowed his head and clasped his hands, his tone respectful but unable to hide a hint of solemnity.

"Lu Ziye and Lu Hong were assassinated the night before last while staying at the inn. The Dali Temple has sent people to investigate thoroughly. Lu Guize fell into the Wei River and drowned today while being escorted."

Li Shimin tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze falling on Huang Chun, and asked calmly, "Are the accompanying bailiffs and jailers involved?"

Huang Chun was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "Your Majesty, no one was implicated. The murderers who assassinated Lu Ziye and Lu Hong have not yet been caught. When Lu Gui fell into the water, the accompanying servants tried their best to rescue him, but they were unable to save him. The subsequent investigation also found no dereliction of duty."

Li Shimin's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, then slowly relaxed, a cold smile playing on his lips: "His methods are still too soft."

He closed the note in his hand and instructed Huang Chun: "The bailiffs who escorted Lu Ziye and Lu Gui, as well as the jailers guarding the prison, need not be investigated. Send them all to Shazhou to guard the border."

Huang Chun felt a chill run down his spine.

He understood that His Majesty was implying that Wen He was too soft-hearted.

Leaving these people behind would inevitably allow them to be used by the five clans and seven powerful families in the future, becoming a pretext for retaliation.

However, His Majesty did not take drastic measures, but simply exiled the man to the frontier, thus eliminating the potential threat and giving Wen He a way out.

He dared not say more and quickly bowed to receive the order: "Yes, sir."

Li Shimin gave a light "hmm," then changed the subject, remembering something else, and asked with a hint of doubt, "By the way, what was that brat doing in Huazhou yesterday? Didn't he say the matter in Zheng County was settled?"

"Your Majesty, the county magistrate, along with several Xuanjia guards and Qi San, hurriedly went to Huazhou yesterday, saying only that he was going to pick someone up, but did not mention who."

Huang Chun answered truthfully, his tone also carrying a hint of confusion.

"This matter is a private affair of the county magistrate, so I did not inquire further."

"Pick someone up?"

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, his fingertips pausing on the table, a sense of suspicion rising in his heart.

The first thing that came to his mind was the three scholars Wen He had met in Zheng County.

But then he shook his head, thinking that Wen He didn't need to be so serious.

Those three scholars looked mediocre and had nothing particularly outstanding about them. If they were truly talented or destined for historical fame, Wen He would have recommended them to him long ago.

They wouldn't have waited until now to personally pick him up.

'If he's not a scholar, then who is he going to Huazhou to fetch?'

Li Shimin's gaze fell on the courtyard outside the palace, his thoughts racing, yet he still couldn't figure out Wen He's intentions.

He knew Wen He well; he never did anything pointless. This time, he had made a special trip to Huazhou to pick someone up, so there must be an important reason.

at the same time.

The entrance to Santianba Village, Zheng County, Huazhou.

As soon as Wen He dismounted, he quickly stopped a passing villager, his tone urgent: "Fellow villager, has a doctor surnamed Sun visited our village recently?"

The villager was startled by the attire of Wen He and his group.

The armor of the Xuanjia Guards gleamed coldly, and the long sword at Qi San's waist was particularly eye-catching, clearly indicating that he was an important figure.

He composed himself and nodded quickly: "Yes! There is a Taoist priest named Sun who arrived in the village half a month ago and is staying in the dilapidated temple at the east end of the village!"

"Is his name Sun Simiao?"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat, her voice trembled slightly, and the joy in her eyes was almost overflowing.

He had been searching for Sun Simiao for so long, from Chang'an to Huazhou, gathering information everywhere, and this was the first time he had gotten so close to his target.

He had already set his sights on Zheng County.

However, it was delayed because of something that happened before.

But the villager shook his head and replied somewhat embarrassedly, "I don't know his full name, I only know that everyone calls him 'Master Sun,' but his medical skills are truly amazing."

“A while ago, Old Zhang from the village was writhing in pain from a headache. He consulted several doctors, but nothing worked. Master Sun gave him a few acupuncture needles and prescribed some herbal medicine, and he recovered in less than three days. Also, Li Xiaoer from the west end of the village suddenly fell ill a few days ago and was almost dead. Master Sun saved him too!”

Wen He's eyes lit up instantly.

With such medical skills and the surname Sun, he is most likely Sun Simiao!

He suppressed his excitement and bowed to the villagers, saying, "Thank you for your directions, folks. But how do I get to the dilapidated temple at the east end of the village?"

The villagers quickly pointed to the depths of the village alley: "Go along this road, turn left at the end, and you'll see a dilapidated temple. Master Sun has been treating patients there these past few days!"

"Thank you!"

Before Wen He finished speaking, he mounted his horse and gave instructions to the Xuanjia Guards and Qi San.

"Quickly, go to the dilapidated temple at the east end of the village!"

When Wen He and his group rode their horses to the dilapidated temple at the east end of the village, they could see a circle of villagers surrounding the temple gate from afar, with voices rising and falling, interspersed with a few suppressed sighs.

He dismounted, quickly squeezed through the crowd, and his gaze instantly fell on the open space in front of the temple.

An elderly man in a faded Taoist robe was squatting on the ground. His hair was white but neatly combed. He held a small, gleaming knife in his hand and stared at the unconscious villager on the ground with a furrowed brow.

The villager's face was ashen, his right trouser leg was cut open, and his exposed calf was wrapped with blood-stained strips of cloth. Underneath the cloth, one could vaguely see blackened, rotting flesh, and even the air was filled with a faint, fishy stench.

"Master Sun, is there any hope for his leg?"

Among the villagers watching, someone couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"He was bitten by a wolf a few days ago. We saw a doctor who said there was no hope. If you can't help him either, this child is really doomed!"

Sun Simiao did not look up, but slowly untied the blood-stained strips of cloth, completely exposing the rotting flesh to everyone's eyes, the edges of which had turned black and oozed pus.

He took out a small bottle of herbal juice from his medicine box, carefully applied it to the knife, wiped his hands with a clean linen cloth, and said in a deep voice, "If the rotten flesh is not removed, the poison will travel up the blood vessels, and even a god cannot save him then. We can only try to cut off the rotten flesh first, and then apply medicine to stop the bleeding and promote tissue regeneration. Whether he can live or not depends on his own fate."

As soon as he finished speaking, his hand holding the knife was as steady as a rock. He precisely avoided the blood vessels and carefully cut away the blackened, rotting flesh bit by bit.

The villager on the ground was convulsing in pain, but he never woke up. Cold sweat streamed down his face, soaking the dry grass beneath him.

The surrounding villagers held their breath, not daring to even breathe loudly, staring intently at Sun Simiao's movements, their eyes filled with tension.

It took Sun Simiao less than half an incense stick's time to clean up all the rotten flesh.

Then he took out an oil paper packet from the medicine box, which contained yellowish-green medicinal powder. He sprinkled it evenly on the wound and finally wrapped it carefully with clean linen.

He straightened up, rubbed his aching back, and looked at the villager who was still unconscious. He couldn't help but sigh, "His wound is too deeply festering. Although I have removed the rotten flesh and applied medicine, whether he will wake up or not depends on fate. It's a pity that this place is too far from Chang'an. Otherwise, if we had alcohol to disinfect it, the chances of him waking up would be even greater..."

"It contains alcohol!"

A clear voice suddenly came from behind the crowd, interrupting Sun Simiao's sigh.

Everyone turned around at the sound and saw a young man in a blue robe walking quickly forward, carrying a bulging wine naan in his hand, followed by several attendants dressed in tight-fitting clothes and with long swords at their waists. He looked quite distinguished.

Wen He squeezed past the villagers who were watching and went straight to Sun Simiao. He didn't rush to introduce himself, but simply raised the naan bread in his hand and spoke sincerely.

“Old man, I heard you said you needed alcohol for disinfection. I happen to have some with me, which may come in handy.”

Nowadays, everyone at Baiqi (a Chinese sports website) carries alcohol.

Wen He would also have someone carry it with her when she went out, just in case.

I didn't expect to need it so soon.

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao paused slightly in his grip on the medicine box, and looked up at Wen He with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He had been practicing medicine for decades, and last year, while traveling around Chang'an, he heard about it from an old friend who worked at the Imperial Medical Academy.

Recently, a substance called "alcohol" has appeared in Chang'an. It is several times purer than the fire wine commonly used by the people. It is used to treat external injuries and kill foul air. Its effects are far superior to ordinary medicines. However, this substance seems to be controlled by special personnel and is rarely seen in ordinary places.

"Is the alcohol in your hand, young sir, truly the kind that came from Chang'an?"

Sun Simiao leaned forward, his nose already faintly catching the spicy aroma emanating from the cracks in the naan bread. It was quite similar to the "alcohol smell" his old friend had described, but with a touch more purity.

"Old man, you might as well give it a try."

As Wen He spoke, she opened the seal of the wine naan and poured a small amount of the clear liquid inside into a silver spoon she carried with her.

This silver spoon was specially prepared for him by Qi San. It was usually used to hold snacks, but today it became a tool for testing medicine.

"Look, this alcohol is clear and free of impurities. When applied to wounds, it can quickly kill away foul odors. It's milder than strong liquor, but more effective."

The surrounding villagers also gathered around curiously, craning their necks to stare at the liquid in the silver spoon.

This stuff looks like well water, but it smells even stronger than the village's brewed liquor. Nobody believes it can cure diseases.

Sun Simiao did not underestimate it. He took out a clean silk thread from his medicine box, dipped it in a little alcohol, and gently wiped it on the skin of his wrist. He felt a cool stinging sensation, which quickly dissipated without the burning pain of the alcohol.

He brought the cotton thread closer to the air near the wound and could clearly feel that the faint fishy smell seemed to have been suppressed. His eyes lit up immediately: "That's right, this is the alcohol from Chang'an. Its purity is even higher than the one my old friend brought to me!"

Wen He then smiled.

"I obtained this formula by chance and had someone refine some of it. I carry it with me when I go out in case of infection from external injuries. It is by chance that I can help you today."

Sun Simiao quickly cupped his hands to Wen He: "Thank you, young master! With this, the child's life is at least 30% more likely to be saved!"

Having practiced medicine for many years, he has seen many people die from infections caused by external injuries, and he knows that alcohol is a life-saving tool for doctors.

Wen He immediately signaled to his attendants to bring a clean linen cloth and poured out a little alcohol to soak it.

Sun Simiao took the linen soaked in alcohol, first carefully wiped his hands, then repeatedly disinfected the knife he had just used with alcohol before carefully unwrapping the old bandages on the villager's leg.

Although the rotten flesh had been removed, the edges of the wound were still red and there was a slight oozing. If it was not treated in time, it would probably rot again.

He gently wiped the skin around the wound with a linen cloth soaked in alcohol, his movements gentle yet precise, and carefully dripped a little alcohol onto the edge of the wound.

The unconscious villager on the ground twitched suddenly, his brows furrowed, and he let out a weak groan, but he still didn't wake up, although the cold sweat on his forehead was less than before.

Looking at Sun Simiao's skillful movements.

Wen He once again realized that he had underestimated the physicians of ancient times.

It's a pity that this era lacks the knowledge of later generations.

Performing surgery in such a bacteria-filled environment would likely have landed him in court in his time.

But Wen He did not speak up to stop her.

He was just an amateur; if he spoke rashly, he might offend Master Sun.

"The foul air has been suppressed."

Sun Simiao breathed a sigh of relief and took out an oil paper packet from the medicine box, which contained ground yellow-green medicinal powder.

"This is a tissue-regenerating medicine that I made using honeysuckle, dandelion and other herbs, plus alcohol. If you can wake up tomorrow, you will gradually get better."

As he spoke, he sprinkled the medicinal powder evenly on the wound, wrapped it again with clean burlap, and gave special instructions to the villagers standing nearby.

"Remember to come back at this time tomorrow to change the dressing. If he wakes up, feed him some warm porridge first, and do not give him any greasy food."

The surrounding villagers immediately erupted in a low cheer, their eyes filled with gratitude as they looked at Wen He.

They had just thought the young man was an amateur pretending to be an expert, but they never expected that he would actually bring a miraculous medicine that could save lives.

Wen He stood aside, watching Sun Simiao methodically treat the wound and carefully instruct the villagers, her eyes filled with admiration.

This old man not only possessed superb medical skills, but also had a compassionate heart for the people, and had no airs of a miracle doctor whatsoever.

It seems I haven't chosen the wrong person.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a middle-aged man wearing a coarse cloth jacket and trousers covered in mud suddenly knelt down with a thud.

He kowtowed repeatedly to Sun Simiao, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud, his eyes red-rimmed.

"Thank you, Master Sun! Thank you so much! This is my child. He was bitten by a wolf while cutting grass on the mountain a few days ago. We consulted three doctors, and they all said there was no hope. I was about to prepare for his funeral, but you gave my child a chance to live!"

Behind the man, a woman in patched clothes held the child's other arm, sobbing uncontrollably, her tears soaking her clothes: "Master Sun, you are a living Bodhisattva! This is our only child. If he were gone, my husband and I wouldn't be able to live..."

As she spoke, she knelt down as well, pulling the man along with her, and kept kowtowing to Sun Simiao in gratitude, unable to even finish her sentences.

The surrounding villagers echoed, "Yes, Master Sun, you are truly a living bodhisattva who saves people from suffering!"

"You cured Aunt Zhang's cough a while ago. You are a great benefactor to our Santianba Village!"

Sun Simiao quickly stepped forward and reached out to help the couple up, his tone urgent: "Get up! Get up! Healing the sick and saving lives is my duty, why such a grand gesture? The child's recovery is thanks to the alcohol this young man brought, you should thank him."

As he spoke, he stepped aside, making way for Wen He to stand in front of him.

Upon hearing this, the couple quickly turned around and were about to kowtow to Wen He again.

Wen He quickly stepped forward, reached out to help them up, and said gently, "Uncle and Aunt, there's no need for such formalities. I just happened to have some alcohol with me. It was Master Sun's medical skills that truly saved the child. Please get up quickly, so the child won't feel uncomfortable."

The man stood up, still trembling with excitement, wiped away his tears, and said, "No matter what, you and Master Sun are my family's saviors! If you ever need my help in the future, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"

The woman nodded in agreement, thanking him repeatedly, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Seeing this scene, Wen He became even more determined to invite Sun Simiao back to Chang'an.

If such a kind-hearted and highly skilled doctor could pass on his medical skills, it would be wonderful.

It will surely save more people like us who have nowhere else to turn.

The couple carefully left with their child in their arms.

Sun Simiao then turned to Wen He and said sincerely, "Young master, you not only brought life-saving alcohol, but you are also so considerate of the people. I truly admire you. Just now, you said you had something important to discuss. Why don't you come with me to the temple to talk in detail?"

“Alright.” Wen He nodded and smiled, following Sun Simiao slowly into the dilapidated temple.

The temple's furnishings are extremely simple, even rudimentary.

A faded clay statue of a deity stands in the corner, and a piece is missing from the edge of the offering table, revealing mottled wood shavings.

The ground was swept clean, but it was uneven. A layer of dried straw was laid against the wall, on which was a patched old bed. Next to it was a worn-out medicine box, with some dirt still stuck to the corners, which must have been a trace of Sun Simiao's years of traveling around practicing medicine.

Wen He looked at all this and couldn't help but sigh.

He had long heard that since the Sui Dynasty, princes and nobles had offered large sums of money to invite Sun Simiao to their homes to practice medicine, but he had always politely declined.

After Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty, he repeatedly summoned him to the court, but he simply packed his bags and left Chang'an, going into the countryside to treat the people.

Historical records also state that later, when Li Shimin summoned Sun Simiao to the capital Chang'an, he saw that the man, who was over seventy years old, still had the appearance, complexion, and gait of a young man. He was greatly impressed and said, "So it is true that people with virtue are worthy of respect! People like Xianmen and Guangchengzi actually exist in the world. How can this be mere hearsay?"

Li Shimin wanted to grant Sun Simiao a noble title, but he refused and returned to the countryside to treat the sick.

Wen He used to think it was just historical exaggeration, but today he saw Sun Simiao with his own eyes.

Although his hair was gray, his complexion was rosy, his eyes were clear like a child's, his back was straight, and even his voice was full of energy, which made me realize that the rumors were true.

These sophisticated health preservation methods are certainly beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"May I ask where you are from, young sir? Do you have a family member who is ill?"

Sun Simiao gently placed the medicine box on the offering table, turned to look at Wen He, and looked at her with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

He had just sensed that the young man had an extraordinary bearing. Although his blue robe was not ostentatious, it was made of high-quality material. His speech was also calm and composed, unlike the impetuousness of ordinary scions of noble families.

But if it really was for treatment, the boy's face showed no urgency; it seemed as if he had other important matters to attend to.

"My name is Wen He. I have come today because..."

Wen He was about to bow and explain the purpose of his visit when Sun Simiao's expression suddenly changed as if struck by lightning. He took a step back, pointed at him, and his voice trembled: "Hundred Riders Killer!"

Wen He froze in mid-air, her smile instantly turning to astonishment.

How did this title come to Sun Simiao's ears?

"You...you actually came to my door in person!"

Sun Simiao took two steps back, his back almost pressed against the cold wall. He looked at Wen He with the same wariness and fear he felt when he saw a tiger coming down from the mountain or a wolf emerging from its den.

"You little devil, what grudge do you hold against me? Why are you so determined to pursue me and kill me?"

Wen He was completely stunned. She stood there for a long while before she belatedly realized what was happening.

So, the hundred cavalrymen who had been ordered by him to search for Sun Simiao's whereabouts in various prefectures and counties around Chang'an had found nothing.

It turned out that he couldn't find them at all; the old Taoist priest thought they were there to arrest him and was deliberately hiding from them. He quickly waved his hand and explained urgently, "Master Sun, you've misunderstood! I've never met you before, we have no grudge against each other, why would I harm you?"

Sun Simiao clearly didn't believe it, his brows furrowed even more, his tone full of vigilance: "Misunderstanding? Since last October, your hundred riders have been searching for my whereabouts everywhere. I stayed in Huazhou for less than half a month before they chased me and forced me to move to another place."

"I just cured a few villagers in Tongzhou a while ago, and then I heard that the Hundred Cavalry went there, so I left overnight. Now you've come to my door in person, and you still say you're not here to arrest me?"

He paused, then, as if remembering something, added, "I've also heard that those Hundred Riders do shady things for the court, investigating people's privacy and arresting dissidents. They're ruthless. If you weren't trying to harm me, why would you go to so much trouble to find me?"

Wen He was both annoyed and amused, and helplessly rubbed her temples.

He never imagined that his desire to find talented people would turn into a bizarre chase because of an outrageous nickname.

Seeing Sun Simiao's alarmed expression, he had no choice but to lower his voice and patiently explain, "Master Sun, the Hundred Riders are indeed responsible for investigating cases, but they only target criminals and never lay a hand on innocent civilians."

“I have come to you with an important request, not to harm you. I would like to ask you to return to Chang’an and do something great for the people of the world.”

"And do I look like the kind of villain you're describing?"

Wen He was speechless. She shook her head with a smile and said helplessly, "Master Sun, we have no grudges against each other. Why would I harm you? I came to you to invite you back to Chang'an. I want to open a school for doctors in Chang'an and would like to invite you to be the principal."

"The principal of a medical academy?"

Sun Simiao frowned slightly, repeatedly pondering these two unfamiliar words, his eyes filled with doubt.

He practiced medicine for decades, traveling all over the country, and had only ever seen private schools that taught children to read and write, but had never heard of a school that specifically taught people to study medicine.

As for "principal," that's completely unheard of. What kind of title is that?
However, Wen He's invitation eased his tense nerves a bit.

If the boy in front of him really wanted to harm him, he wouldn't have bothered to come up with such a novel excuse. Besides, when the boy took out the alcohol to save the villager, the concern in his eyes didn't seem fake.

He thought to himself.

Judging from the young man's demeanor, he seems to be a kind-hearted person, perhaps...

I really misunderstood.

"The headmaster is actually similar to the headmaster of a rural private school, responsible for managing school affairs and teaching students medicine."

Wen He quickly explained, afraid that he would refuse because of the unfamiliar title, her tone full of expectation.

“If you are willing to take on the role of ‘headmaster,’ I will cover all the expenses of the school. You don’t need to worry about medicine, books, school buildings, or the cost of hiring teaching assistants. You can just focus on teaching the students.”

He knew that Sun Simiao was indifferent to fame and fortune, so he knew he couldn't persuade him with money or official positions.

That's why Wen He used such a noble principle to persuade him.

This is not just about teaching and nurturing students; it's about something that will go down in history.

If he can train thousands of doctors, thousands of years later, he, the "King of Medicine," will truly become the "God of Medicine" in the eyes of all those who study medicine.

It is said that medical students in later generations will have to memorize the Hippocratic Oath, and he will make a Sun Simiao Oath.

He refused to believe it and began to devote himself to the study of medicine from the Tang Dynasty onwards.

Medicine in later generations will not be as advanced as it was in the time before him.

Sun Simiao fell silent, his gaze falling on the herbs drying outside the temple, his expression complex.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his tone tinged with apology: "I appreciate the young master's kindness, but I am not knowledgeable enough to take on the role of 'headmaster'; moreover, I am used to a leisurely life and have long been accustomed to practicing medicine. If I were to be bound by school affairs, I would feel uncomfortable."

He paused, looked at Wen He and laughed self-deprecatingly, then added, "My greatest ambition in this life is to take my medical skills wherever I go and treat the poor who cannot afford medical care. I feel at peace and at ease living such a life."

This is a clear rejection.

Wen He was not surprised.

He had long known Sun Simiao's character from historical records. Li Shimin later offered him titles on several occasions, but he politely declined them all. It wasn't until his later years that he allowed his disciple to serve in the court.

This doctor's heart was always with the people, with those who needed him.

So Wen He's self-deprecating humor wasn't out of disappointment, but rather because she felt she hadn't explained herself clearly.

Sun Simiao must have thought that he was just making up an excuse to lure him back to Chang'an.

He chuckled and shook his head, bowing to Sun Simiao with increasing earnestness: "Master Sun, what if this school only teaches medical skills to the poor?"

Sun Simiao suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

“Look, there are too many poor people in the world. Even if you travel all over the world practicing medicine, you can only save a limited number of people.”

Wen He pointed to the village outside the temple, her voice full of seriousness.

"But if you could teach a hundred or a thousand students who know medicine, and have them go to the countryside and remote places to treat the people like you, how many people could you save?"

He paused, then added, "Moreover, this school doesn't have strict rules. If you want to stay and teach, you can stay as long as you like. If you want to go out and practice medicine, you can leave at any time. No one will restrict you."

"After the students complete their studies, they will not be forced to enter the court as officials. They only need to remember their original intention of healing the sick and needing to help the people."

These words were like a pebble thrown into Sun Simiao's heart.

He has practiced medicine for many years, and he knows all too well that his own strength is limited.
Countless nights, he watched people die because they couldn't afford medical treatment, and he regretted that he could do so little.

Human resources are limited.

How much can he do?

Wen He's suggestion has shown him another possibility.

Instead of relying on his own efforts, he allowed medical skills to take root and sprout among the people, benefiting more people.

Sun Simiao's eyes gradually brightened. He looked at Wen He, his tone becoming more serious: "Young master, is what you say true? Does the school only accept poor people? After completing their studies, students can practice medicine freely without being restricted by the government?"

"Absolutely no lies!"

Wen He nodded quickly, her tone firm.

"I opened this school only to enable more people to learn medicine and heal the sick. I am not doing it for fame or fortune. If you are willing, you can decide everything about the school. You can decide what kind of students to take in and what kind of medical skills to teach."

Sun Simiao did not answer immediately, but turned around and walked to the offering table, picking up an old medical book from the medicine box.

The pages were yellowed and the edges were worn and curled, clearly indicating that it had been read repeatedly.

He gently stroked the pages of the book, his eyes filled with emotion: "When I was young, I studied medicine because I was sickly from childhood. So I was determined to learn medicine to save myself. In my youth, I began to practice medicine in my hometown. I advocated and practiced the medical ethics of 'great doctors are sincere and dedicated' to treat patients. No matter if they are rich or poor, young or old, friend or foe, I treat them all the same. No matter if it is windy or rainy, hot or cold, hungry or thirsty, I will respond to their requests and do my best to save them."

Wen He listened silently.

Before he could finish speaking, he slowly raised his head and looked at Wen He, his eyes showing a hint of determination: "Young master, I can agree to your request, but I have one condition."

Wen He was overjoyed and quickly said, "Please speak, Master Sun. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse!"

"The students of the school must be personally selected by me. I must choose those who are kind-hearted, hardworking, and truly willing to heal the sick. I cannot accept rich kids who are only after profit."

Sun Simiao spoke solemnly.

"In addition, a 'medical clinic for the benefit of the people' should be set up in the school. Students can practice at the clinic on weekdays and treat the poor people of Chang'an without charging a penny."

"no problem!"

Wen He agreed without hesitation, her tone full of certainty.

"I agree to both conditions. Don't worry, I will return to Chang'an immediately to prepare for the school, select a site, prepare medicines, and purchase books. Whenever you wish to depart, I will immediately send someone to escort you, ensuring you suffer no hardship whatsoever!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao was genuinely stunned, his eyes filled with astonishment.

The conditions he just proposed, though seemingly simple, actually contain many hidden difficulties.

Personally selecting students means spending a lot of time discerning their character, and a slight misstep could result in recruiting someone with ill intentions.

Setting up a "benefit-the-people medical clinic" without charging a penny requires a continuous supply of medicinal materials and manpower, which is by no means an easy task.

He thought Wen He would hesitate or even bargain, but he didn't expect the boy to agree so readily without the slightest hesitation.

"Young master, do you know how much wealth is needed to accomplish these things?"

Sun Simiao couldn't help but press for more information, his tone tinged with worry.

“Just take the Huimin Medical Clinic for example. The monthly cost of medicines is not small. There are also the students’ food and lodging, and the repair of the school. Over the course of a year, it will cost at least several hundred strings of cash. Although you have a pure heart, these real difficulties are probably much more complicated than you think.”

Seeing that Wen He was still young, he feared that the young man might only be driven by enthusiasm, unaware of the trivialities and expenses involved. If he couldn't persevere, he would be letting down the poor people who were waiting to study medicine.

Wen He saw his concerns, smiled and waved his hand, his tone relaxed yet confident: "Master Sun may not know, but my family has some business dealings with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, mainly dealing in new agricultural tools and improved seeds, which bring in several thousand strings of cash every month."

"In addition, the family also owns several shops and some farmland. Although the tenants are exempted from rent and interest, and are only required to pay some grain in lieu of payment each year, it is enough to maintain daily expenses and support the school and clinic without much difficulty."

"You... waived the farmers' rent interest?"

Sun Simiao looked as if he had heard a fairy tale, his eyes widening in disbelief.

In those days, landlords and powerful families were always harsh on their tenants, not only charging exorbitant rents but also frequently imposing various interest rates. Many farmers were ruined and died because they couldn't pay their rents.

As a scion of a prominent family, Wen He was willing to voluntarily waive these obligations, which is something that ordinary people could not do.

Wen He smiled and nodded, her tone calm: "Farmers work hard to grow crops, and in years of disaster they harvest nothing. If we charge them high rents, their lives will be too difficult. My family doesn't own much land. By waiving the interest, we only lose some income, but it will allow them to live a stable life. It's a good deal."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Simiao suddenly bowed and gave Wen He a respectful salute.

Wen He was startled and quickly stepped forward to support him, her tone urgent: "Master Sun, what's the matter? You are an elder and a doctor, how can you be so polite to me?"

"I am ashamed!"

Sun Simiao straightened up, his face full of shame, and his tone sincere.

"For a physician, the most important thing is to be able to recognize a person's character and understand their heart. But this time, I have truly misjudged you. I had heard of the name 'Hundred Riders Killer' before, so I assumed you were a ruthless person and even spoke ill of you. I am truly ashamed!"

He paused, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Wen He.

"Not only are you willing to invest a huge sum of money to establish a medical school, but you also care about farmers and have waived their rent and interest. This heart and this kindness are purer than many people I have met in my many years of medical practice. I hope you will not take offense at my previous misunderstanding and rudeness."

Sun Simiao knew that Wen He had no reason to fabricate such a lie.

As for the matter of the farmers renting out their land, he could find out the truth by asking any of the Wen family's tenants later.

The fact that the boy was willing to speak these words so frankly shows that he is open-minded and is definitely not the "evil star" he had previously imagined.

Upon hearing this, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle and quickly waved her hand.

“Master Sun, there’s no need for this. It’s not your fault. I didn’t think things through beforehand. I only sent a hundred riders to search for your whereabouts without explaining why, which caused you to misunderstand. If anyone was being abrupt, it was me who was abrupt first.”

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up and I have agreed to your request, may I ask if you would be willing to accompany me to Chang'an?"

Wen He took half a step forward, her eyes filled with urgency.

He was genuinely afraid that Sun Simiao might hesitate again. After all, the old Taoist was of a detached nature and disliked being bound by anything. If he changed his mind at the last minute, it would be difficult to find him again.

Sure enough, upon hearing Wen He's words, Sun Simiao showed a hesitant expression.

"What other difficulties do you have?"

Suppressing her anxiety, Wen He patiently asked.

He knew that Sun Simiao was not one to go back on his word, and that he must have something on his mind.

Seeing how nervous he was, Sun Simiao couldn't help but chuckle.

“There is no other difficulty, but when I arrived in Santianba Village half a month ago, I promised the villagers that I would stay for a few days to examine all the elderly and children in the village, so that they would not have to travel far to seek medical treatment. Since I have made a promise, I cannot break my word. I will leave with you immediately.”

"Oh, so that's what it was about!"

Wen He immediately breathed a sigh of relief, her heart finally settling back into her stomach, and waved with a smile.

"No problem, no problem! I'm on leave these days and don't need to go back to Chang'an for work, so I'll stay here with you, Daoist, until you finish treating the villagers, then we'll go together!"

"This...this isn't quite appropriate, is it?"

Sun Simiao was somewhat troubled.

Wen He was, after all, a county magistrate of Gaoyang Prefecture, a man of noble status. To ask him to stay in this dilapidated temple for a few days and accompany me on my journey of visiting villages and households to provide medical care was truly an injustice to him.

"Perfect, absolutely perfect!"

Wen He said it with absolute certainty, but secretly he was thinking to himself.

Even if they live in a dilapidated temple, or even a latrine, he'll keep an eye on them!

If he returns to Chang'an to prepare for the school, and the old Taoist priest secretly goes off to practice medicine elsewhere, wouldn't all his previous efforts be wasted?
Seeing his resolute attitude and noticing the little scheme in his eyes, Sun Simiao could only shake his head helplessly and agree with a smile: "Alright, then we'll do as the young master wishes, and I'll trouble you to stay in this village for a few more days."

In the following days, Wen Hezhen became Sun Simiao's "little follower".

Every day at the crack of dawn, he would follow Sun Simiao, carrying his medicine box, from village to village. While Sun Simiao took the pulse and diagnosed the villagers, he would help by handing out herbs and noting down symptoms. Occasionally, he would also share some candied fruit he had brought from Chang'an with the children.

The two returned to the dilapidated temple at noon, where Qi San and the others had already prepared a meal.

When night fell, there were no extra beds in the dilapidated temple, so Wen He lay down with Sun Simiao on the ground covered with dry grass, listening to Sun Simiao tell him about the strange and wonderful things he had encountered in his years of practicing medicine.

She was almost always by his side; even when Sun Simiao went to the river to wash clothes, Wen He would follow behind.

He was practically following me to the toilet.

That night, as the two lay on the hay, Sun Simiao couldn't help but tease, "Young master, do you think I'm a ginseng spirit? Are you afraid I'll disappear underground in the night?"

There is a folk legend that ginseng that has been around for a long time can become a spirit, and if it is not properly guarded, it will transform into human form and escape, never to be found again.

Upon hearing this, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle. She turned to look at Sun Simiao and said sincerely, "You are far more valuable than ginseng! Even the best thousand-year-old ginseng can only prolong the life of one person, but your medical skills can save hundreds of poor people like those in Santianba Village. This is something ginseng cannot compare to."

Sun Simiao was just joking, but he didn't expect Wen He to say such a thing.

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at Wen He.

Moonlight streamed through the windows of the dilapidated temple, falling on the boy's face. His eyes were clear and resolute, without a trace of pretense.

At that moment, Sun Simiao felt a warmth in his heart, and the smile on his lips became genuine.

He has practiced medicine for many years and has met many powerful and influential people.

The princes and nobles of the Sui Dynasty and the officials of the Tang Dynasty came to him either to cure their own illnesses or to prolong the lives of their families. No one had ever spoken of saving lives as fervently as Wen He.

Those people valued the personal benefits his medical skills could bring, while Wen He valued the vitality his medical skills could bring to the world.

"You young man, you are quite an oddball."

Sun Simiao gently patted Wen He's shoulder, his tone full of emotion.

"However, he was a good person."

Wen He heard the approval in his tone and breathed a sigh of relief.

These past few days of following him around like a shadow haven't been in vain; at least Sun Simiao truly believes in him now.

Having such a renowned medicine master by your side.

I won't be afraid of getting sick anymore.

It might even promote health and longevity.

He smiled and closed his eyes, the chirping of insects outside the window filling his ears and the fragrance of herbs wafting from his nose. Suddenly, he felt that life in this dilapidated temple was more comfortable than life in Gaoyang Prefecture in Chang'an.

Two days later, Sun Simiao finally finished seeing all the villagers who needed medical attention and left behind enough herbs.

As he packed his medicine box, he looked at Wen He and said with a smile, "Alright, I have fulfilled my promise. Now you can go to Chang'an with the young master. This time, I won't run away again."

Wen He was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Then let's set off first thing tomorrow morning!"

Early the next morning.

Wen He and the others were preparing to leave.

Suddenly, a troop of cavalry appeared at the village entrance.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a hundred riders.

Moreover, Huang Chun was the leader.

Huang Chun, who had been searching, immediately dismounted upon spotting Wen He and wailed, "Wen County Magistrate, you've made me search for you so many times!"

Wen He was stunned.

Does this matter?

Could something have happened in Chang'an?

It couldn't be that Li Shimin died prematurely, could it?

(End of this chapter)