Chapter 4: Becoming an Apprentice and Learning Medicine, The Noble Consort is Different

  Liang Xin had a dream, in which he led thousands of troops and horses back to the modern era, conquering and dividing the land, becoming a generation's overlord. In addition, he also built an extremely large harem within his palace, where many beauties resided, all of whom were female celebrities. There was Wei Min goddess, Qing Xia sister, and of course, the likes of Chong teacher...

  At last, Liang Xin felt a chill on his face and suddenly woke up.

  The first thing that caught Liang Xin's attention was Xiao Chunzi's pale face. As soon as she saw Liang Xin wake up, she handed him a towel: "Master Fu, you're awake, come and wipe your face, you drooled all over the pillow while you were sleeping."

  Li Xian wiped the drool from his face with his hand and took the towel handed over by Xiaochun, asking: "How long did I sleep?"

  "One day, Brother Liang, you're really something else. You drank eighteen bowls of poisonous medicine and nothing happened to you. Chen Yuanyi examined you and said that your physical constitution is special, it's very likely that you have a rare physique that's immune to all poisons."

  "What's going on? 'A hundred poisons can't invade?' Liang Xin touched his own chest and thought it should be the power of the He Shi Bi at work."

  "Xiao Chunzi, Xiao Fuzi." The eunuch leader of the Imperial Pharmacy, Xu Gonggong, pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing Liang Xin awake, Xu Gonggong smiled and said: "Ah, little Fuzi, you're finally awake! Hurry up and get ready, Chen Yuanyi is bringing the Empress's reward personally."

  "What's going on?" Liang Xin got out of bed, dressed up and followed Xu Gonggong and Xiao Chunzi out.

  In the backyard of the imperial pharmacy, Chen Yuanyi and two young eunuchs stood together. The two young eunuchs each held a lacquered red wooden tray in their hands, with five gold ingots on each tray, estimated to be at least five taels in weight.

  Liang Xian and Xiao Chunzi, under the leadership of Xu Gonggong, paid their respects to Chen Yu Yi, who then said: "Xiao Fu Zi, Xiao Chunzi, these golden ingots are a reward from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Thank her first."

  Xiao Chunzi stared at Jin Yuanbao with wide eyes, constantly swallowing saliva. Upon hearing Chen Yuanyi say that Jin Yuanbao also had a share, she immediately knelt down and kowtowed to thank him.

  Liang Xin didn't have much feeling about money, anyway food and drink were all in the palace, even if he had money there was no place to spend it. Liang Xin somewhat reluctantly knelt down to pay his respects and thank him, but his lukewarm expression actually made Chen Yudian secretly nod in approval. Chen Yudian thought that this son was not moved by wealth, and his character was quite good.

  After Xiaochunzi and Liang Xin collected the golden ingots, Chen Yuding looked at Liang Xin and said: "Xiaofuzi, I have obtained a favor from the Empress Dowager for you, allowing you to become my apprentice. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"

  "Make you my master?" Liang Xin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood what was going on. He quickly nodded and said: "I'm willing, I'm willing..." Liang Xin immediately knelt down on the ground and loudly shouted: "Master is above, please accept your disciple's bow!"

  Liang Xin knocked three loud heads in front of Chen Yuding, and Chen Yuding stretched out his hand to help him up and said: "Since you are my apprentice from now on, there is no need to use the title Xiaofuzi again. What is your real name?"

  "Reporting back to Master, the disciple's real name is Liang Xin."

  "Liang Xin?" Chen Yuding nodded: "That's right, we medical practitioners have a benevolent heart and emphasize the two words 'good conscience'. From now on, call him back by his original name Liang Xin."

  "Thanks, Master." Liang Xin was overjoyed; he had never been fond of being called "Little Fu Zi".

  After Liang Xin bowed to Chen Yuding as his master, he naturally couldn't stay in the Imperial Pharmacy anymore. He had to follow Chen Yuding to the Imperial Hospital. Although at the Imperial Hospital, Liang Xin was still a small eunuch without rank, but as Chen Yuding's eldest disciple, his title was not inferior to that of an eighth-grade chief eunuch.

  Liang Xin was able to walk out of the infamous Taichang Cemetery, and both Yu Yaozhong and Xu Gonggong were delighted for him. Xu Gonggong took advantage of his convenience in the imperial kitchen to arrange a good meal for Liang Xin, and the three of them had lunch together, also drinking some wine.

  At noon that day, Liang Xin moved his luggage to the eunuch's quarters in the backyard of the Imperial Hospital. The eunuchs at the Imperial Hospital did not have as good treatment as those at the Imperial Pharmacy and they all slept in eight-person dormitories.

  However, Chen Yuding gave his own room to Liang Xin because he had his own mansion outside the palace and rarely slept in the palace. Therefore, due to Chen Yuding's reason, Liang Xin got a fully furnished suite at the Imperial Hospital.

  After lunch, Chen Yuding came to Liang Xin's room. Liang Xin carefully made a cup of tea for Chen Yuding, and Chen Yuding took out a copy of the "Huangdi Eighty-One Difficulties" and handed it to Liang Xin, saying: "For the next few days, don't do anything else, memorize this book for me. Three days later, I'll come to test you."

  Liang Xiao took the book and looked at it before saying: "Master, you don't have to wait three days. I will memorize this book."

  "Can you recite it?" Chen Yuding was greatly surprised: "Recite it for me to hear."

  "All the twelve channels have arteries, only taking the inch mouth to decide the life and death of the five organs and six viscera, what is it......" Liang Xian didn't pause for a moment, and smoothly recited the entire Huangdi's Eighty-One Difficult Issues.

  Chen Yuding was shocked and stared at Liang Xin, asking: "Has your disciple ever studied medicine in the past?"

  Liang Xin took a deep breath and nodded, and then a new story emerged. In the story, Liang Xin transformed into a descendant of a medical family, who had been reading medical books since childhood and aspired to become a good doctor when he grew up. Unfortunately, the medical family was framed by someone, leading to the downfall of the family. Helpless, Liang Xin sold himself into the palace to become a eunuch in order to bury his parents. Additionally, Liang Xin also explained that the reason why he was immune to all poisons was because he had been soaking in medicinal baths since childhood, making his physique different from ordinary people.

  Liang Xin's story moved Chen Yuding to tears, and he grasped Liang Xin's hand saying: "You've suffered, my disciple. You've truly suffered. Don't worry, I'll teach you all that I know, and make sure you become a renowned doctor to carry on your father's legacy."

  "Thank you, Master." Liang Xin blinked her eyes repeatedly, trying to squeeze out two tears to move Chen Yuding again, but unfortunately, these tears didn't come just because she wanted them to. Liang Xin's eyes hurt from blinking so much, but there was no sign of moisture in her eye sockets.

  Then Chen Yuding checked Liang Xin's other medical knowledge, and what surprised Chen Yuding was that Liang Xin had an astonishingly good memory of the contents of the medical books. Moreover, many medical knowledge Liang Xin could also express very insightful views. Of course, those insights were all annotations by Wen Taishan.

  After Chen Yuding finished proofreading, he couldn't help but exclaim in his heart, "This is a gift from heaven for Chen Yuding's disciples! I must teach him well."

  "Xin'er, since you already have a fairly deep understanding of medical principles, next I'll take you to integrate and apply these medical knowledge. Come! Follow me to diagnose the illness of Imperial Consort Qiao."

  Qiao Guifei! For a modern person like Liang Xin, he wants to meet anyone from the Northern Song Dynasty who has left their name in history. It's just like how ordinary people want to see real-life celebrities.

  In the history of Northern Song Dynasty Emperor Huizong, Consort Cao was also a historical figure. According to legend, she was a maid of Empress Zheng, and later became favored by Zhao Ji and was promoted to be a consort. In Liang Xin's view, this is really a Cinderella-like story of a woman rising from humble beginnings.

  With a curious heart, Liang Xin followed Chen Yuding to the Jade Palace. The personal maid of Princess Zhao led Liang Xin and Chen Yuding into the palace. In the main hall of the palace, Liang Xin and Chen Yuding paid their respects together before finally meeting the legendary Princess Zhao.

  As recorded in history, Consort Zhao was a beauty with a national reputation. Just from her appearance alone, it would make people feel that she rose from an ordinary palace maid to become a noble consort not by chance.

  Her noble and elegant demeanor, her stunning beauty that surpassed all others, combined with the dual charm of a mature woman and a refined lady, made Qiao Gui Fei take a subtle breath.

  What's even more deadly is that Princess Zhao was wearing a thin gauze dress, leaning against the table edge, and through the gauze, Liang Xin could vaguely see a large patch of snow-white on her chest.

  That high bulge, combined with the beauty of Princess Qiao, instantly caused a reaction in Liang Xin's lower body. Liang Xin was shocked and feared that his reaction would reveal that he was not a real eunuch. He secretly glanced at his lower body and found that due to the looseness of his clothes, no signs were visible, so Liang Xin let out a soft sigh of relief.

  "Is Her Majesty's body at ease lately?" Chen Yuding asked, standing beside Imperial Consort Qiao.

  "Chen Royal Physician," said the Imperial Concubine Qiao, shaking her head, "this palace has recently been unable to eat or sleep at night, and there is often a dull pain in my lower abdomen, making it hard for me to bear."

  Chen Yuding slightly furrowed his brow and bowed, saying: "Please, Your Majesty, extend your right hand, I'll take your pulse for you."

  Qiao Guifei stretched out her right hand to Chen Yudian, who slightly bowed and sat down, placing a pulse-taking cushion for Qiao Guifei to put her hand on.

  Chen Yuding cautiously extended his hand to take the pulse of Princess Qiao, and after about a minute, Chen Yuding's eyebrows spread out and his eyes showed joy: "Congratulations, Your Highness, this is..."

  "Chen Yu Ding!" Qiao Gui Fei's personal maid suddenly interrupted Chen Yu Ding's words.

  Chen Yuding was slightly taken aback, looking at the maid with some displeasure. The maid smiled and said, "It's been a long time since you've come to the Yuqiao Palace, Your Majesty. Don't you think this is a case of lovesickness?"

  Chen Yuding smiled and said: "How could it be because of excessive nostalgia..." Suddenly, Chen Yuding's whole body shook violently, his face changing drastically.

  The Imperial Consort Zhao smiled and said: "Imperial Physician Chen has spoken, it's nothing but a trifle, I won't avoid the illness or be prejudiced against the doctor."

  "Your Highness, this illness is caused by insufficient qi and blood, and internal depression. Just take some calming and soothing medicine, and pay attention to relaxing your mood, you will recover quickly."

  "That's a lot of trouble for you, Imperial Physician Chen. Why don't I have Jin Yu accompany you to the Imperial Hospital to fetch the medicine instead?" Consort Qiao said with a gentle smile.

  Liang Xin, standing behind Chen Yuding, frowned continuously. Although he didn't take his pulse personally, his ability to observe and listen was not low. Chen Yuding's recent behavior made Liang Xin certain that Qiao Guifei must have contracted some untold illness.

  It can't be AIDS, right? Liang Xin thought maliciously.

  "Your Majesty, if there are no further instructions, I will take my leave."

  "Alright, Yu'er will go with Doctor Chen."

  "Yes, Your Highness." Jin Yu walked out from behind Empress Qiao and bowed before her.