Chapter Seventy-two Unintentionally

  Chen Yi looked at Sun Simiao with discontent, expressing his dissatisfaction with the proposal, and also hoped that Wu Zetian would veto Sun Simiao's proposal.

  Having just arrived, it's been less than a few months since coming to the Tang Dynasty, and the situation is not entirely clear. His own identity has not been fully understood, yet he was thrown into the imperial palace to diagnose Emperor Li Zhi's illness. This seems like a joke! Chen Yi strongly disapproved of Sun Simiao for not consulting him before privately making such a suggestion!

  Sun Simiao saw Chen Yi's dissatisfied eyes, but didn't take it to heart. Instead, he deliberately revealed a mischievous smile that was extremely out of place for his age. Chen Yi felt suffocated and almost couldn't catch his breath. He really didn't understand what the old man meant by doing this!

  In Chen Yi's expectation, Wu Zetian also spoke up, but it wasn't the meaning Chen Yi had hoped for. "Sun Daochang's proposal is very good! Since you want to return to Zhongnan Mountain to make medicine for the emperor, this palace has no reason to stop you, so go as soon as possible and try to develop the medicine earlier, then come back to Chang'an! Chen Yi, just follow Sun Daochang's proposal and stay in the palace!" As she spoke, her eyes were already looking at Chen Yi. "Your medical skills have also been seen by this palace, and you haven't disgraced Sun Daochang's reputation or recommendation. In the following days, you will stay in the palace and carefully examine the emperor's body! This palace hopes that you can bring us surprises, and when the time comes, there will be a heavy reward!"

  Wu Zetian's words made Chen Yi feel uncomfortable for a moment. This woman was too arrogant, and her tone had a strong meaning of not allowing others to have different opinions. Subconsciously wanting to refuse, but after meeting Sun Simiao's meaningful gaze, he also retracted his words of refusal and respectfully replied: "I humbly obey the imperial edict of Your Majesty, I am willing to listen to everything!"

  Wu Zetian listened and nodded slightly, without continuing to express anything to Chen Yi. Instead, she turned to Sun Simiao with an expressionless face and lightly opened her vermilion lips, saying: "Sun Daozhang, you temporarily go prepare your luggage, if you're going back, then hurry back to Zhongnan Mountain, the palace is waiting for your early return!"

  Sun Simiao naturally heard that Wu Zetian wanted to ask Chen Yi alone, and immediately paid his respects and bid farewell: "Your Majesty, this poor Taoist is retiring!" He said, without waiting for Wu Zetian's response, he turned around and smiled meaningfully at Chen Yi before leaving the palace in big strides.

  Chen Yi felt a surge of resentment at being abandoned, but could do nothing about it, and could only glare angrily at the back of Sun Simiao to vent his anger.

  "Chen Yi, speak with me on the side!" Wu Zetian looked at Chen Yi's strange expression without any emotion and walked lightly back to where she was sitting earlier. Chen Yi had no choice but to follow behind her and stood under the hall where Wu Zetian sat, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor.

  After Wu Zetian sat down, she carefully looked at Chen Yi for a while, and a subtle expression of praise appeared on her face, but it disappeared in an instant. She continued to ask questions in a calm tone: "Chen Yi, I heard that you are from the Jiangnan region, specifically from Yuezhou. Is this correct? Your medical skills are so excellent that Sun Daochang has repeatedly praised you. I want to know if your ancestors were doctors for generations? Have you made a name for yourself in the Yuezhou area?"

  "Your Majesty, I am indeed a native of Yu State in Jiangnan Province, but my ancestors were not doctors. However, there are several medical books passed down from my ancestors at home. These books contain many methods for diagnosing and treating illnesses. In my free time, I often read them, which has led to me being scolded by my elders. Nevertheless, I enjoy reading such books, and although they are frowned upon by the public, I still sneak a peek when no one is around and ask nearby doctors for guidance. Later on, I even used the methods described in those books to cure many patients... This time, I met with Master Sun and discussed many medical theories with him. It's precisely because I shared many novel ideas with Master Sun that he was so surprised by me!"

  "Oh?! It turns out that you've only obtained a few ancient, mysterious books and acquired extremely refined medical skills. How strange!! It's truly the will of heaven, the will of heaven...". Wu Zetian looked stunned, but also very interested, and asked: "What are those few ancestral medical books you mentioned?"

  Knowing that others would ask this question, Chen Yi had already thought of how to answer. Without any panic, he replied: "Your Majesty, I came to Chang'an with those medical books, but due to an unexpected event, I encountered a sudden change and fell off a cliff, injuring myself. Luckily, I was rescued by Master Sun and managed to save my life. However, many of my memories were lost, and the attendants who accompanied me are nowhere to be found. All the gifts I brought have also been lost, including those few medical books that I had with me."

  Chen Yi believed that Sun Simiao had already told Wu Zetian about his affairs, and Wu Zetian must have known about his fall from the cliff. Therefore, many inexplicable things were pushed onto this accidental event, regardless of whether others believed it or not. Anyway, "the dead cannot testify"!

  "So that's how it is, what a pity!" Wu Zetian's eyes shone with an unusual light as she stared at Chen Yi, "This palace observes your demeanor, not that of an ordinary family's son. This palace also wants to know, what did your ancestors do? Who are your parents? Why have you come to Chang'an this time? Is it to participate in the spring examination?"

  "Ah! The household registration has arrived, thinking of this, Chen Yi felt a bit worried. What if Empress Wu ordered the officials to investigate his background according to what he said, but they couldn't find any records? That would be troublesome... However, she had the ability and didn't need to exert much effort to clarify the situation... Nevertheless, he replied according to his own "settings": 'Your Majesty, I lost many memories after falling off the cliff last time. Although I've remembered a lot over this period, it's still unclear, and thinking about it gives me a headache. Vaguely, I recall that my ancestors were eunuchs during the previous dynasty, but due to war and disaster, our family declined, and we fled from our original home to the area around Yuezhou, where we lived in hiding. Three years ago, both my parents passed away, and after the mourning period ended, I wanted to participate in the imperial examination, but got lost on the way, mistakenly entered Liangshan, and unfortunately fell off the cliff, missing the spring exam... Fortunately, I was rescued by Master Sun and have been staying with him ever since!'"

  This explanation made Chen Yi feel reasonable and rational, and he also laid many ambushes. Unless someone knew him inside out, it was impossible to show any more doubts. If there were situations that didn't match what he said, he could also explain them with other reasons.

  "So that's how it is! Your background is indeed quite unusual, I won't ask any more questions." Wu Zetian listened with a skeptical expression, but didn't ask any further about this matter. Instead, she changed the subject: "Chen Yi, I want to know, what are the chances of the Emperor's illness being cured?"

  "The common people dare not make a definitive statement, and need to wait for further diagnosis and treatment before making a judgment!" Chen Yi said honestly: "However, the common people can also say that it is unrealistic to completely cure Your Majesty's illness. If we can control Your Majesty's condition, prevent relapses during the easy-to-get-sick season, and live like normal people, then that would be considered a successful treatment."

  Wu Zetian listened and didn't get as angry as Chen Yi worried, but instead sighed, "What you said is already more optimistic than Sun Daolong, the palace hopes that you can really do it, don't let His Majesty and the palace down!"

  Chen Yi let out a sigh of relief, it seemed that Sun Simiao's earlier pessimistic prediction was still effective after all. Otherwise, if he had been so unconfident today, he might have provoked Wu Zetian. After putting his mind at ease, he also said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will definitely do my best!"

  "That's good! Since Sun Daochang has recommended you, I think you must have great abilities!" Wu Zetian finally showed a faint smile and gestured with her hand: "Chen Yi, come to my side, I have some personal matters to ask you."

  "Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Yi walked up to the steps of the hall and stood about two paces away from Wu Zetian, waiting for her orders.

  "This palace has been feeling weak and tired lately, with aching waist and legs. Do you think this palace will also contract some kind of illness?" Wu Zetian lowered her voice and asked Chen Yi: "It's only after the New Year that it's like this. The imperial physician has examined me, but there's no result. My spirit has been getting worse and worse, and I often have nightmares at night, which wake me up. Sun Daolong said it was due to yin deficiency. This palace wants to hear your opinion..."

  Because her voice was low, Wu Zetian leaned forward slightly as she said these words, so that Chen Yi could hear more clearly. However, this small movement of hers brought great trouble to Chen Yi. Due to the position of their bodies, when Wu Zetian leaned forward, the wide lapel of her loose-fitting blouse fell downward, revealing a large expanse of chest muscle. And Chen Yi, standing beside her, inadvertently caught sight of the undulating landscape within the opening of her collar...