119Cutting to achieve permanent cure
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 119 Cutting for Permanent Rule
"Minister Shen is utterly loyal to Us. How could We kill him because of a sick person's words?
Consort Shu, you are being utterly absurd!"
Emperor Ren mildly chastised her with a couple of sentences.
Meanwhile, Dezhong lowered his head and chose to remain silent.
Despite this, Shen Yulou remembered this eunuch and began to plot how to kill him before Eunuch He Shun returned.
Just as the group was speaking, the Empress Dowager pointed at a young Imperial Heir and started scolding him with extremely harsh words, so much so that even Emperor Ren frowned upon hearing them.
Prince Zhao Jing, who was beside the Empress Dowager, spoke up.
"Father Emperor, the Empress Dowager has been in this state for half a year. On Mount Wutai, she often verbally abused your son as well."
It was only when Prince Zhao Jing spoke that Shen Yulou noticed this Imperial Heir.
He was the same age as Zhao Ying, a little over a month older than him. Although his appearance and demeanor were slightly inferior to Zhao Ying's, he spoke politely and had a regal bearing.
If Zhao Ying's leg remained unhealed, then Prince Zhao Jing might indeed be a candidate for Crown Prince.
After all, Emperor Ren's sons were either useless and disappointing, or too young.
It was truly difficult to choose one who met the standards of an emperor from among them.
However, as soon as Consort Shu returned, she targeted Shen Yulou, clearly not wanting Shen Yulou to cure Zhao Ying, so that Prince Zhao Jing could become the sole candidate for Crown Prince.
This wretch… Emperor Ren frowned and glanced at Shen Yulou, then said.
"Minister Shen, quickly examine the Empress Dowager to determine her illness."
"As you command!"
Shen Yulou stepped forward and took the Empress Dowager's pulse. He found no other symptoms in her body, merely an excess of damp phlegm.
Her condition was typical Alzheimer's disease, commonly known as senile dementia.
This condition is very common in modern times; when people reach a certain age, their bodies become full of Turbid air (turbid qi), making them prone to such illnesses.
Shen Yulou said.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's illness is called Alzheimer's disease. It does not significantly affect her body.
However, symptoms such as forgetfulness, suspicion, hiding things, and scolding people will appear.
She needs to resolve phlegm, dispel dampness, remove turbid qi, adjust her mood, listen to more music, and get more sun. This can lead to improvement."
After Shen Yulou finished speaking, Prince Zhao Jing nodded, "Father Emperor, the Empress Dowager indeed has these symptoms. Sometimes she even forgets your son."
Emperor Ren frowned. This term Shen Yulou used was one he had never heard before.
It was not easy to bring the Empress Dowager back, and it turned out she had such an illness. Emperor Ren, wanting to show filial piety, naturally wished to first cure his old mother's illness.
Dezhong suddenly said.
"Your Majesty, should we invite the Imperial Medical Academy to also take a look?"
Emperor Ren nodded, "That makes sense. Summon Minister Li Huai of the Imperial Medical Academy!"
Shen Yulou stood to the side, rather intrigued.
Yesterday, there was a fire in the palace, and outside there was a group of experts, certainly to rescue the princess.
Logically, Princess Na Xing should already be on the run, but Li Huai has not reported it yet. Could it be that he wants to wait for the Emperor to discover it himself?
In any case, Shen Yulou had already cleared himself of this matter. Princess Na Xing was lost at the Imperial Medical Academy, so it could not be blamed on him.
A short while later, four people from the Imperial Medical Academy carried Li Huai over on a stretcher.
Seeing Li Huai in this state, Emperor Ren frowned, "Minister Li, what happened to you?"
Li Huai lay on the stretcher and said, "Your Majesty, there was a fire in the palace yesterday. Your old servant went to fight the fire, but was unexpectedly burned and cannot perform the proper salute to Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Emperor Ren was somewhat speechless, "Minister Li, at your age, why did you go to fight a fire? It wasn't a major blaze. Are you alright, Minister Li?"
Li Huai said, "I am fine. Your servant will recover after a period of rest. Your servant heard that the Empress Dowager is ill, and even lying on this stretcher, I can still diagnose her."
Emperor Ren nodded, "Then We trouble you, Minister Li."
The men carried Li Huai up to take the Empress Dowager's pulse.
Shen Yulou, meanwhile, clicked his tongue twice. This Li Huai was truly risking his life to curry favor; in this state, he could still examine the Empress Dowager?
Li Huai took the pulse for a moment, then said.
"The Empress Dowager suffers from impaired sensory orifices and phlegm-damp obstruction, which easily leads to symptoms such as forgetfulness. This is a common ailment of the elderly, Your Majesty need not worry."
Emperor Ren finally felt relieved. What Shen Yulou said was consistent with what Li Huai said, so it seemed the Empress Dowager's problem was indeed this.
"Minister Li, how do you think it should be treated?"
"There is no perfect remedy for this illness; one can only dispel dampness, resolve phlegm, and slowly recuperate."
Everyone's expressions became strange. Although both Li Huai and Shen Yulou had diagnosed the Empress Dowager's illness, Shen Yulou's treatment plan was clearly more comprehensive.
From this diagnostic plan, one could see the difference in their skill levels. Although Shen Yulou was only the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Heirs Residence and should be more proficient with young children,
based on these two instances, it was clear that Shen Yulou was much stronger than Li Huai in other areas as well.
Hearing Li Huai's answer, the Emperor naturally understood. It seemed more reliable to entrust the Empress Dowager's illness to Shen Yulou.
"Minister Li, you have worked hard. You should rest and recover well. Minister Shen, I see that Minister Li is not lightly injured. Please examine him; perhaps you have some miraculous method for a swift recovery."
"This…"
Li Huai initially wanted to say no, but this was an imperial favor. If he refused, it might displease the Emperor.
Moreover, he indeed wanted to hear Shen Yulou's advice. His lower body was severely scalded. That wretch, Princess Na Xing, had thrown a pot of boiling water into his arms. Even a young person couldn't endure it, let alone an old man like him.
That young man Shen Yulou had many ingenious methods. Letting him take a look might yield a better solution.
So Li Huai thought about it and did not refuse.
Shen Yulou walked closer, and several imperial physicians gathered around Li Huai, then loosened his clothes and examined the affected area!
Shen Yulou frowned. This wasn't a burn; it was clearly a scald!
Why was this old fellow lying?
After one glance, Shen Yulou told him to pull up his trousers, then asked in front of Emperor Ren.
"Lord Li, may I ask if Princess Na Xing is adapting well with you?"
Li Huai's expression changed slightly, and a hint of unnaturalness appeared in his eyes.
"The princess is doing very well with me, Lord Shen, you need not worry."
Shen Yulou nodded. 'Old fool, you can really put on an act. When the truth comes out later, we'll see if you die or not.'
"Minister Shen, how is Minister Li's health?"
Emperor Ren didn't think much about Princess Na Xing's matter. He thought Shen Yulou was asking this simply because he regretted handing Princess Na Xing over.
Shen Yulou said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Minister Li's injuries are somewhat serious. Your servant believes there is only one solution."
"Cut it off for eternal cure!"
After Shen Yulou finished speaking, Li Huai's face instantly changed drastically.
"Shen Yulou, you're spouting nonsense! This old man would rather die than become a eunuch!"
Shen Yulou earnestly advised, "Lord Li, you are already over sixty. Keeping it is useless. If you cut it off, you might even live longer…"
"You're spouting nonsense! Your Majesty, please don't listen to him! Your old servant will recover with some rest! Shen Yulou, this old man will never rest until I have avenged myself against you!"
Seeing Li Huai struggling on the stretcher, Emperor Ren frowned.
"Enough, quickly carry Minister Li away!"
'The older people get, the more useless they become!'
'Minister Li is, after all, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. How can he be so unstable?'
"Minister Shen, how about We entrust the Empress Dowager's illness to you