From street beggar to high-ranking official

"The physician Zhang's apprentice is actually the legendary healer Su Shou." Lu Li gasped.

It's no wonder he was surprised, because the name of the divine doctor was renowned throughout the north and south. Not only people in the martial arts world, but even a beggar had heard of him.

Legend has it that the legendary healer with delicate hands was a woman, and a woman of stunning beauty. The reason was that she never showed her true face. When she treated patients, she would cover her face with a white veil and a bamboo hat. Her all-white attire seemed out of place. Only her pair of clean, white hands would be extended out of the veil to treat patients.

The name "Su Shou" (素手, meaning "plain hands") comes from this.

There are countless stories, both true and false, about this divine physician, the most widely circulated being the story of how the physician with delicate hands saved Princess Zhaoyang.

Yes, she's the one who married the imperial son-in-law, Ouyang Luntai.

Rumor has it that this divine physician was fond of women and had strict rules for treating patients: those seeking his treatment must first bathe, change clothes, and put on a light white robe; if they were smelly, he would refuse to treat them.

Furthermore, the location is also particular. They prefer to treat patients in quiet rooms, and outsiders are not allowed to enter at will. The environment must also be clean, with no dust or flies allowed.

When Lu inquired about the truth of the matter, Physician Zhang confirmed it: "The physician is naturally fond of cleanliness and has a particular fondness for those with handsome appearances. He treats good-looking patients free of charge, sparing no effort; but he will either charge exorbitant prices for those with ugly appearances or drive them away without ever seeing them again."

The reason why the skilled physician took the initiative to visit Princess Zhaoyang was because of her beauty; otherwise, Princess Zhaoyang would have died of illness shortly after her marriage, and Ouyang Luntai would not have become so powerful later.

Lu Li asked in bewilderment, "With such a background, why would Physician Zhang stoop to be a lowly, unranked physician in the imperial palace?"

Even if one doesn't roam the martial arts world, simply stating in front of the mansions of kings and generals that one is a disciple of the Divine Physician Su Shou would likely earn one good treatment.

Physician Zhang nodded slightly: "Eunuch Lu is right, but my entry into the palace was more at Your Excellency's behest."

Lu Li's mind wandered to the darker side, and seeing this, Physician Zhang had no choice but to say, "It's not that my master harbors ulterior motives, but rather that his ambitions are beyond the reach of ordinary people."

"Tell me about it?" Lu Li asked curiously.

Physician Zhang took a deep breath: "What people in the world seek is nothing more than money, power, fame, and sex. My teacher is no exception; he wants to learn from the sages and leave his name in history..."

"In ancient times, Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs to open up roads; during the Spring and Autumn Period, Bian Que pioneered the four diagnostic methods of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation, and was revered as the master of pulse diagnosis; Zhang Zhongjing was revered as the Sage of Medicine by later generations; Hua Tuo left behind Mafeisan (anesthesia powder) and the Qingnang Shu (Book of the Green Bag), and the exercise Wuqinxi (Five Animal Frolics) also originated from him; and Sun Simiao, the King of Medicine, wrote the Qianjin Fang (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold), which has been continuously passed down to the present dynasty..."

Besides his writings, he also accomplished great feats. Among them, the one most admired by Physician Zhang was Sun Simiao's efforts to mobilize all medical practitioners to burn and alter the prescription for the Five-Stone Powder, so that its poison would not be allowed to linger for eternity.

Physicians find it hard to part with their prescriptions; the actions of the Medicine King are rarely seen throughout history…

A thousand words can be summed up in a single sentence. The skilled physician also wanted to leave his mark by writing a book, hoping to compile all the medical prescriptions in the world into one book.

Therefore, disciples of divine physicians are found throughout the martial arts world and the imperial court.

"I see." Lu Li suddenly realized. "This shows the doctor's benevolence. I wonder if my family will ever have the chance to witness the genius of this doctor."

Physician Zhang wanted to say that given Eunuch Lu's fierce appearance, he probably wouldn't have the chance in his lifetime, but after thinking it over again, he didn't say it.

……

On his way back to his room, Lu Li recalled his conversation with Physician Zhang.

No matter how great the miracle doctor's feats were, he didn't care; those words were just to get closer to Doctor Zhang.

Consort Wu in the palace is pregnant and has gained the emperor's favor. She is no longer the same as before. If the emperor's son is born, Consort Wu's status will probably be even higher.

As the saying goes, "Great fortune can be overwhelming." Imperial offspring are born with the dragon's fortune. His Majesty has been on the throne for twenty-three years, and more than twenty princes and princesses have been born in the harem, but only a handful have actually reached adulthood.

Aside from the current Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince, the Sixth Prince, the Seventh Prince, Princess Zhaoyang, and Consort Wu, they might be able to add another layer of grandeur to the Li family's imperial lineage.

"No matter what, our family needs to make plans early. Even if it's not today, we'll have to get in touch with the Imperial Hospital sooner or later."

……

In the territory of the Imperial Palace, Xiao Luozi, who was alone, was about to step into his room when the intact wooden door suddenly shattered into several pieces. Xiao Luozi was sent flying and rolled several times on the ground before he stood up.

"We thought we still had time, but we didn't expect Eunuch Lu's revenge to be so swift." Blood trickled from the corner of Xiao Luo's mouth, and his sharp eyes were fixed on the dark doorway, but no one came out.

"Aren't you coming out? We're going to find our godfather!" Xiao Luo shouted. He had given all his possessions to Eunuch Zhao yesterday, and if he could escape the encirclement, it wouldn't be difficult for him to survive.

No sooner had these words been spoken than several figures appeared from all directions.

None of them concealed their faces; they were all lowly eunuchs who had been struggling to rise in rank, and they must have all come with murderous intent.

"They all want to capture us and claim credit?" Little Luo mocked. "Here, I'll grant you a reward."

……

That night, while Lu Li was cultivating, a young eunuch knocked on his door.

"Who could be looking for us so late?" Lu Li got dressed, got out of bed, and opened the door, but before the door was fully open, he could smell a sweet, fishy odor coming in from outside.

As soon as the door opened, a young eunuch kowtowed to Lu Li and said, "Greetings, Eunuch Lu."

"Xiao Chuanzi, what good stuff did you bring us so late at night?" Lu Li stared at the blood-stained cloth bag that Xiao Chuanzi held up above his head.

As the cloth bundle was unwrapped layer by layer, it revealed the head of Xiao Luozi.

His hair was disheveled, his face contorted in a grimace, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable. His last expression before death was frozen on the lifeless dough.

"Not bad, Xiao Chuanzi is quite good, he actually went out of his way to bring us such a nice gift." Lu Li was not frightened when he saw the head, but instead clapped his hands in delight.

In the past, if someone was hostile to our family, we would have to go to great lengths to harm them. But things are different now; there are plenty of eunuchs in the palace who want to get ahead.

"I've long been fed up with Xiao Luo's day and night plots to harm Eunuch Lu. I've never had the chance until today. Now that Xiao Luo has done something stupid, we've finally seized the opportunity and gotten what we wanted."

A hint of bloodlust flashed in Lu Li's eyes. Even though he knew that Xiao Chuanzi was lying, he still encouraged Xiao Chuanzi with unparalleled courage and righteousness.

This is the best "first place"!

As for whether Eunuch Zhao will cause trouble for a godson...

Zhao Gonggong has already paid for Xiao Luozi's life. You know, when I went to see Zhao Gonggong yesterday, I didn't see him give me a red envelope to congratulate me.

Even the eunuchs of the Imperial Horse Stable, Xiao Jizi, and even Eunuch Chen all gave congratulatory money, so there's no reason why Eunuch Zhao should be an exception.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Eunuch Lu! Congratulations on your revenge, Eunuch Lu!" Xiao Chuanzi said, then presented another stack of silver notes.

The former is a pledge of loyalty, the latter is a congratulatory gift; the two should not be confused.

Lu Li was quite satisfied. Xiao Chuanzi was a useful fellow, and perhaps it wouldn't be bad to adopt him as a godson.

However, it wasn't just Xiao Chuanzi who brought Lu Li a surprise.

While Lu Li hesitated and pondered, Xiao Luozi arrived "one after another".

One by one, the usually inconspicuous eunuchs brought Xiao Luozi as a pledge of allegiance.

If you put all the pledges together, they make up a small Luozi.

Lu Li didn't feel nauseous at the sight of such a bloody scene. Instead, he felt a strange impulse. He wished he could personally dismember Xiao Luozi. As for the eunuchs who had joined him, he would accept them all.

I happen to be short-handed, and there are plenty of eunuchs in the palace who want to advance. Whoever can seize that opportunity will be qualified for advancement.

That very night, Eunuch Lu accepted five adopted sons!