The World's Number One Medical Hall

Chapter Thirteen: Ajiu Tests the Medicine, and the Ming King Recognizes Her Loyalty

In a secluded hall not too far from Mo Bai's room, the air was filled with the fragrance of medicine.

Dressed in a long robe, Master Zhang sat cross-legged in front of the furnace, his eyes fixed on the medicine pot that was slowly churning under the fire.

He would occasionally pick up a feather fan and gently wave it, and the flames would suddenly become much brighter.

Normally, he wouldn't have to do such rough work as decocting medicine himself. However, today, with the matter concerning the imperial family, the situation of the Ming King has changed several times, leaving him unsure of what to do.

He dared not make any more mistakes, so he was careful in everything from taking the medicine, judging its quality, to determining the dosage, and finally controlling the use of both the fire and the heat.

As the medicine was nearing completion, his furrowed brows finally relaxed slightly.

However, his eyes suddenly tightened again, and he looked up sharply towards the doorway. There he saw a young man in hemp clothing staggering, panting heavily, and running towards him with a look of fear and unease.

Master Zhang's gaze sharpened slightly, and a thought flashed through his mind. He remembered seeing this young man once before in the Ming King's room; he seemed to be a servant of the Ming King's mansion.

"Master Dan... Master Dan... Sixth Master, he..." The man was flustered and panting heavily.

Master Zhang's expression immediately changed. Without saying a word, he lightly slapped the ground with his palm, standing upright. Before the young man could approach, he asked urgently, "Is the King of Ming unwell?"

"Sixth, Sixth Master, no, it's no good, please ask the alchemist..." The young man's voice trembled with nervousness, unable to finish his sentence.

Master Zhang Dan was already uneasy, and today's events were extremely strange. Even with his many years of medical experience, he truly couldn't understand them.

Previously, he had exhausted his vital energy for the sake of the Ming King. Even if he was truly on the verge of death, he should have taken a breather. However, the Ming King repeatedly surprised him.

Normally, one would definitely want to get to the bottom of things, but right now, there's no time to delve into it.

The life and death of the Ming King is a matter of great importance. If anything goes wrong, he cannot bear the responsibility. He has no choice but to deal with it first.

His figure flashed instantly, and he was already outside the door at lightning speed, not at all like an elderly man in his seventies.

However, just as he was about to slip away, he paused slightly, turned back, glanced at the medicine pot, and said urgently, "You stay here and add fuel to the fire in the stove. Simmer for another ten minutes. If I haven't returned by then, take the medicine pot down and carefully bring it to my room! If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was gone.

To be honest, this move was somewhat rash, after all, it concerned the life and death of the King Ming, and who knew if this young boy would tamper with the medicine?

However, Master Zhang dared not delay for even a moment. His first priority was to protect the life of the Ming King. If the Ming King had made a mistake, what use would this medicine be?

Moreover, he had some trust in the young boy because he had seen him kneeling in the King's room praying to Heaven to save the King's life.

As his figure receded into the distance, a deep tension flickered in the boy's eyes as he looked at the medicine jar. Taking another deep breath, he steadied himself and walked step by step to the jar. His gaze wavered for a moment, and he muttered something unintelligible.

But it was obvious that he was hesitant and nervous. After a moment's hesitation, he looked up and glanced towards the door.

Suddenly, he pulled out a small leather bag, no bigger than the palm of his hand, and with trembling hands opened it, to his surprise, steam was slowly rising from it.

His heart pounded, yet he seemed to hear Sixth Master's voice again: "Take nine wild jujubes, boil them, remove the residue, and while the liquid is still hot, put it into a medicine pot. Remember, under no circumstances should any residue be left!"

"Sixth Master..." Ah Jiu's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he ripped open the lid of the medicine jar, pouring all the medicine from the leather bag into it.

Steam rises, and boiling water simmers.

Ah Jiu closed the lid, sat down with trembling hands, and although she had finally done it, her heart was still pounding wildly.

With a pale face, he picked up the wood at hand and added fuel to the fire...

Master Zhang instructed that the medicine be picked up in ten minutes, but just as Ajiu finished adding the medicine, they heard a rumbling sound of footsteps approaching.

Ajiu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately looked up, only to see a group of soldiers rushing in, their eyes filled with cold indifference as they looked at Ajiu.

Ah Jiu dared not make a sound, so she squatted by the fire, staring at them with a hint of fear.

The soldiers glanced around the scene and saw the young man obediently squatting there to start a fire. They didn't say anything and just stood there, letting him add fuel to the fire.

Master Zhang was cautious after all. Upon arriving at the Ming King's room, he conducted a brief inspection and immediately ordered soldiers to come and protect the medicine.

He then resumed tending to the King's vital energy, lamenting in his heart, "Today, I will surely suffer a great loss of vitality..."

……

When the King of Light slowly awoke again, his eyes were dim and he seemed still somewhat dazed. His lips moved, but he didn't make much of a sound.

Zhang Bangli had already arrived, and seeing that Ming Wang's condition was getting worse, his heart sank deeper and deeper.

When Master Zhang finished his practice, Zhang Bangli looked at the pale face of Master Zhang, his lips moved slightly, but he ultimately said nothing.

But Zhang Danshi nodded to him to show that she was reassured.

"Sir, the medicine has arrived!" a voice announced from the doorway.

"Bring it here quickly!" Zhang Bangli looked at the alchemist, who immediately replied.

The steaming medicine pot was carried into the house by several soldiers, with Ah Jiu following behind them with her head down.

Commander Zhang Dan took a breath, dragged his weary steps, opened the medicine jar, examined it carefully, smelled the aroma of the medicine, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Just as he made this move, a glint of light flashed in the eyes of the dazed Mo Bai on the bed.

Fortunately, Master Zhang suddenly felt dizzy and staggered backward. Zhang Bangli, who was beside him, reacted quickly and caught him, asking, "Master Zhang, how are you?"

"It's nothing serious, just a temporary depletion of vital energy..." Master Zhang closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, shook his head, and continued, "Quickly pour out the medicine and give it to the King of Light to drink while it's still warm!"

Mo Bai glanced at A Jiu from the bed and saw that A Jiu's face was deathly pale, clearly having suffered a great shock.

He felt a little more at ease, but his eyes returned to their dazed state.

A moment later, someone carefully poured out the medicine. Master Zhang personally carried the medicine, intending to give it to Ming Wang, but suddenly turned back to stare at A Jiu, paused slightly, and said, "Pour another bowl and give it to him!"

This sudden scene startled everyone in the room. Zhang Bangli paused for a moment, then his eyes flashed with a sharp light as he looked straight at Ajiu.

But the young man was trembling all over, his eyes filled with inexplicable terror.

His face darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Do as I say!"

The soldiers naturally dared not object. They poured out a little more medicine—not much to begin with, and it still contained some residue—and handed it to A-Jiu, staring at him sharply, and said coldly, "Drink!"

At this moment, Ah Jiu felt numb all over and her mind went blank. After all, she was still young and couldn't calm down.

At this moment, Mo Bai's heartbeat on the bed suddenly quickened. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, he glanced at A Jiu again, but A Jiu did not look at him at all, only staring at the medicine bowl.

Mo Bai was relieved in a moment. He saw A Jiu reach out with trembling hands, pick up the medicine bowl, and drink it down without saying a word, despite her fearful expression.

"Cough cough cough..." He drank too fast and choked, coughing incessantly, but dared not spit it out, even forcing himself to swallow the dregs of the medicine.

A gentle glint flashed in the depths of Mo Bai's eyes this time, before returning to complete stillness!

"Master Zhang Dan?" Zhang Bangli stared intently at Ajiu for a moment before a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes as he looked at Master Zhang Dan and asked.

Master Zhang's expression remained calm as he slowly said to A-Jiu, "Come here!"

Ajiu glanced at everyone with a look of fear on her face before cautiously approaching: "Master Dan!"

"How does it feel?" Master Zhang asked softly.

"It's hot, very hot..." Ah Jiu paused for a moment, then said honestly.

Master Zhang carefully examined his face and then said, "Stretch out your hand."

Ajiu dared not refuse, so she reached out her hand and let him take her pulse, though she was truly terrified.

But upon closer examination, Master Zhang felt that the pulse was pounding like thunder and the blood in his body was surging... These were signs of the potent medicine taking effect!

Feeling somewhat reassured, he ignored him and said to Zhang Bangli, "Is this acceptable?"

Zhang Bangli then let out a soft breath and waved his hand. Ajiu was immediately pulled aside and looked at the Ming King who was slowly taking the medicine with everyone else.