Chapter 62: The Burly Woman Part 1

Eunuch Gao’s apprentice, Little Shunzi, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen, led Wei Tingxia toward the Imperial Medical Bureau, his mouth never stopping the whole way.

“Physician Wei, is the Northern Border really as desolate as they sing in the plays?”

“Not bad,” Wei Tingxia replied. “Some places aren’t much to look at, but most are fine—especially for raising horses.”

“What about the military camp? What’s it like?” Little Shunzi asked again.

“Similar to the Capital Suburbs Military Camp,” Wei Tingxia answered. “But the Northern Border is different. Beyond defense, they have to handle building walls and cities too. In short, it covers everything.”

Little Shunzi nodded as if he understood, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his young face. He had never left the imperial city; the Northern Border thousands of li away was just a vague shadow in his mind.

But that didn’t stop him from chattering on.

“Marshal Yan is a master of warfare. The peace in the Northern Border today is all thanks to him.”

Wei Tingxia detected a hint of something off in those words.

He replied calmly, “Your Majesty knows how to recognize and employ talent.”

No matter how great Yan Xinfeng’s abilities, he still needed the Emperor to use him. The achievements were his, but ultimately, that glory belonged to the throne.

With those words, Wei Tingxia subtly professed Marshal Yan’s loyalty. As they spoke, the two finally arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Little Shunzi hurried ahead a couple of steps, stopped in front of Wei Tingxia, cleared his throat, flicked his whisk, and sang out toward the gate: “Physician Wei has arrived—!”

The fanfare was rather grand. Wei Tingxia was slightly taken aback.

No sooner had Little Shunzi finished than the previously quiet Imperial Medical Bureau erupted in commotion. Moments later, several elderly physicians in their fifties rushed out to greet them.

The leader wore the robes of the Court Judge, his expression solemn yet unable to hide his excitement: “Where is Physician Wei?”

The others chimed in: “Yeah, where is he?”

Seven or eight pairs of eyes scanned eagerly, passing over the people at the gate before locking onto Wei Tingxia in unison.

Little Shunzi raised a hand to quiet the crowd, strode back to Wei Tingxia’s side, bowed, and smiled: “Physician Wei may not know, but this reception was something the Court Judge begged Your Majesty for yesterday while taking the pulse—begged five times over.”

As he spoke, the Court Judge, barely containing his agitation, reached Wei Tingxia and said solemnly: “We’ve studied the Yunzhong Marquis’s chronic illness for years and been at a complete loss. To think Physician Wei performed such miraculous healing… We truly… admire you immensely!”

The physicians behind him echoed: “Yes, yes…”

Ever since the Ming Emperor’s time, a thorny problem had hung over all the physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau: the illness of the Yunzhong Marquis’s only son.

The Yunzhong Marquis had rendered great service to the state and guarded the Northern Border for years. The Late Emperor, fond of him, took special care of his son left in the capital. But Yan Xinfeng had been frail since birth, even showing signs of an early death. Many famous doctors had treated him, all concluding that this young marquis wouldn’t live past thirty.

And after he took his father’s place at the Northern Border, reports of victories were invariably accompanied by news of his worsening condition. Your Majesty grew frantic and sent physicians north multiple times, but to no avail.

The Court Judge had presided over the Imperial Medical Bureau for decades. For this matter, he had been scolded countless times by the usually kind-hearted Emperor. In desperation, he had even declared that even if the Golden Immortal came, he couldn’t cure the Yunzhong Marquis’s illness.

Little did he know, the Golden Immortal had truly arrived.

Yesterday, while taking the pulse, the Emperor had mocked him a few times. Heart steeled, he boldly asked the Emperor to send the man over so they could exchange ideas—perhaps elevating their medical skills further.

The Court Judge beamed, his wrinkled old face blooming like a flower: “Physician Wei, come in, please. The tea is brewed. Today, you and I must have a good chat.”

Little Shunzi smiled and cupped his hands at the side: “Then this one will take his leave first.”

Wei Tingxia was helpless and could only let the group of physicians surround him as they entered the Imperial Medical Bureau.

His face expressionless, he tapped 【System 0188】: “Save me quick.”

He knew nothing of medicine. His curing Yan Xinfeng relied entirely on the prescriptions from 0188; at most, he had added some clever tweaks during application to enhance the effects.

If these physicians wanted to discuss medicine with him, he might lead them astray.

0188 responded calmly: [Leave it to me.]

……

……

Meanwhile.

After entering the Imperial Study, Yan Xinfeng hadn’t even knelt to pay respects when the waiting Yongkang Emperor caught his arm.

“No need for such formality, Cai Yun. Get up!”

Yan Xinfeng straightened his knees and bowed: “Long live Your Majesty.”

“Ah, enough, enough,” the Yongkang Emperor released his hand. “Four years without seeing you—why such grand ceremony? It makes us seem distant.”

Yan Xinfeng said: “Four years without seeing Your Majesty, and you remain as ever.”

The Yongkang Emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this.

He was the Late Emperor’s eldest son, surnamed Li, given name Yun—a round face, slightly plump build, eyes narrowing into slits when he smiled. Temperament warm and kind, unpretentious; even in dragon robes, he seemed casual.

Smiling, he paced behind the desk and sat: “Take a seat.”

Yan Xinfeng sat in the armchair beside him.

Just as he settled, Li Yun spoke: “How is the Northern Border now?”

“Very quiet,” Yan Xinfeng replied. “Shuo Kingdom hasn’t made any big moves—just occasional petty raids, nothing serious.”

Li Yun nodded: “You’ve beaten the fear into them.”

At this, he sighed deeply: “When you first went to the Northern Border, Mother Empress couldn’t sleep for several nights, worried you’d suffer from the climate and not endure. Every Mid-Autumn, she’d urge me to write asking after you. If your reply was late, she’d fret.”

Yan Xinfeng lowered his gaze slightly: “The Empress Dowager’s affection is deep, but the Northern Border must be guarded. Besides, I’ve never replied late.”

“So far away— if the messenger rests a bit longer, to her it’s late.” Li Yun smiled. “Truth be told, not just her—I’ve worried often too.”

When he first ascended, he had plenty of civil officials but only Yan Xinfeng as a general, unlike his two brothers with broad military influence.

If Yan Xinfeng died, he’d be essentially isolated in the military. Even if the two vassal kings had no rebellious intent, rooting his own power would take years.

And who knew what the landscape would be after those years.

So Yan Xinfeng staying alive was truly a good thing for Li Yun.

With that thought, he leaned back, arm on the rest, feigning great curiosity.

“I heard from the gate captain that when you returned, you brought a physician, carefully tended in the carriage. Was it he who cured your poison?”

“Something like that,” Yan Xinfeng answered.

Li Yun frowned: “What do you mean ‘something like’? Don’t you know if the poison was cured?”

With that, he scrutinized Yan Xinfeng’s complexion and movements thoughtfully: “Indeed, much better. Not like before.”

Yan Xinfeng looked up: “What was I like before?”

Li Yun: “Hard to say. Just… unnerving to look at.”

“Unfit for the eyes?”

“What do you mean? With your bone structure, even emaciated, you wouldn’t be unsightly…”

Li Yun sensed something amiss.

“No,” he sat up straight. “You never cared about that before.”

His gaze sharpened: “Only lads eyeing a girl care about their looks. Cai Yun, who’ve you set your sights on?”

Growing up together had its downsides.

Yan Xinfeng’s casual question let the Emperor spot the anomaly, promptly assuming elder-brother authority to press, eager to investigate the nonexistent girl’s background.

“……”

Yan Xinfeng fell silent.

What could he say? The one he fancied wasn’t a girl but a lad—and that lad might even be a demon.

He couldn’t scare the Emperor to death.

Seeing him stay mum, Li Yun sighed: “You’ve been a tight-lipped gourd since childhood—couldn’t pry a word out with three sticks. And you think you can chase girls like that? You’d scare her off!”

“No,” Yan Xinfeng refuted calmly. “He’s not scared. He even smashed me with a pillow.”

Li Yun pondered: “Such a bold temper—must be a Northern Border girl.”

Having dug out a scrap of info, he wanted to probe more, but Yan Xinfeng was done talking.

“Did Your Majesty summon me back just to ask about marrying the Marquis’s wife?” he said. “The Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet is near. Shouldn’t we consider other matters? Leaving an outsider in the capital—does Your Majesty sleep soundly?”

At those words, Li Yun’s smile widened: “So you’ve returned.”

Their eyes met.

Smart people didn’t need to spell it out.

……

Imperial Medical Bureau.

A little eunuch and palace maid fetching medicine for nobles entered and saw a crowd chattering in the corner, deep in discussion. They were mostly rank-two or higher medical officials, even including the Court Judge, faces flushed with excitement.

Such a sight was unprecedented for these palace workers, who couldn’t help stealing glances.

Peering through the throng, they saw a clear-featured young man sitting calmly amid the white-haired old physicians, lips curved in a smile as he listened.

“Six years ago, this old man took the pulse of the Yunzhong Marquis once,” an old doctor with a white beard slammed his skinny palm on the table, rattling the teacups. “No exaggeration—that pulse was flickering like a candle in the wind, hanging by a thread! Who’d have thought dead wood could bloom again… Sir, you are a true divine healer!”

He praised Wei Tingxia effusively, then sighed heavily: “This old one’s sixty-two, past the age for retirement. If Your Majesty sends me to the Northern Border again, alas—who knows if these old bones will break on the way there or be buried on the return!”

His words drew nods from the surrounding old officials, faces somber.

The road to the Northern Border was perilous, the climate harsh—unbearable for their frail, aged bodies.

Even if they went, they’d likely fail, returning only to face blame for incompetence. Why bother?

Wei Tingxia’s arrival was heaven’s grace—not just for the Yunzhong Marquis, but for them too.

After half an hour of such praise, Wei Tingxia felt a bit embarrassed.

“I just got lucky,” he said softly. “The Marquis has deep blessings; otherwise, he couldn’t have seized that sliver of life.”

His modest words won even more favor.

The physicians’ hearts scratched like cats’ claws, dying to ask what miraculous method had reversed the inevitable, healing what they’d deemed a hopeless case.

But the Yunzhong Marquis’s status was lofty, his condition complex, involving deep secrets—perhaps even palace intrigues.

Considering the current tangled situation, his return to the capital was surely more than just for the birthday. Having served decades in the Bureau, they’d seen all sorts of intrigue and knew what to ask and what not.

Thus, the topic naturally and cautiously shifted back to familiar ground, the mood lightening.

As they discussed variations of an ancient formula for severe wind-cold, a clear voice with the distinctive eunuch cadence announced from outside:

“Imperial Edict arrives—!”

The hubbub ceased abruptly, like boiling water flash-frozen.

Everyone turned to look. Eunuch Gao, ever at Your Majesty’s side, stepped in, gaze sweeping the crowd before precisely landing on Wei Tingxia, a perfectly deferential smile on his face:

“Greetings, Physician Wei. By His Majesty’s oral decree: Grant Wei Tingxia to proceed immediately to Grand Brightness Hall to dine in attendance.”

……

……

When Wei Tingxia reached Grand Brightness Hall, he spotted a figure standing at the entrance from afar.

“Why wait here?” he asked, approaching.

The waiting Yan Xinfeng extended a hand, steadily supporting him up the final step.

“Came out to meet you,” he said flatly. “The imperial kitchen’s dishes are exquisite, but you might not like them. The palace has fine melons and fruits.”