As Yanshu had predicted, by starting with the outrageous actions of Zhang Shengkang and his son, gradually revealing this man's true nature, the Empress Dowager found it much easier to accept. When the Emperor issued the order to arrest him, the Empress Dowager showed little emotional disturbance.
However, Zhang Shengkang's imprisoned apprentice, upon seeing his wife dishonored, became extremely angry. After confessing the truth about the switched medicines, he continued to reveal many unknown facts about Zhang Shengkang. He disclosed how Zhang had used his position as an imperial physician to collect disciples and amass wealth by opening pharmacies throughout the capital, colluding with medicine merchants to inflate prices, driving out other medical establishments in an attempt to monopolize the capital's medical industry. He also revealed how Zhang's pharmacies used inferior medicines while charging exorbitant fees, showing complete disregard for the lives of poor patients.
Since this was a case personally assigned by the Emperor, the Ministry of Justice didn't dare to be negligent. Upon receiving these reports, they immediately continued their investigation, uncovering more and more evidence.
Within just a few days, news about the Zhang family spread throughout the capital. Officials and commoners alike had heard about Zhang Shengkang's misdeeds, and it became the talk of the town.
Yanshu wasn't idle either. She seized this opportunity to visit the Palace of Benevolent Peace to share the biggest scandal about Zhang Shengkang with the Empress Dowager.
When she arrived, the Empress Dowager had just finished her acupuncture treatment, with Doctor Jiang carefully removing silver needles from her head and placing them back in his needle case.
Yanshu thought the timing was perfect and said to the Empress Dowager, who was lying on her couch, "Your Highness, I heard that the Carefree Scholar has written a new story. I've just finished reading it. Would you like me to share it with you?"
The Empress Dowager, who was feeling bored, immediately replied, "Of course! Tell me quickly, what kind of story is it this time?"
Yanshu sat down beside the couch and, while watching Doctor Jiang collect his needles, began, "Coincidentally, this time the Carefree Scholar wrote about a physician. It tells of a doctor in the capital who was renowned for his exceptional medical skills. He could treat all sorts of difficult illnesses and saved countless lives, earning him the title of Divine Physician among the common people. This Divine Physician had a son and an apprentice. The son was younger but clever, though somewhat playful; in contrast, the older apprentice appeared more steady and hardworking."
At this point, Yanshu deliberately paused and glanced over to see Doctor Jiang's hands noticeably hesitate while collecting his needles.
In his heart, he thought, "Could this... be about my father?"
Seeing that he had caught on, Yanshu continued, "This Divine Physician was broad-minded and never discriminated between his apprentice and son. In fact, he taught everything he knew to his studious apprentice, without any reservation, hoping that after completing his studies, the apprentice would follow in his footsteps to heal and save people."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager nodded, "Indeed, he was a good doctor and a good master."
Looking at Doctor Jiang, though he didn't pause again, he reflected in his heart that yes, his father was exactly such a person, who had placed complete trust in Zhang Shengkang. If only...
Just then, Yanshu's voice continued, "Unfortunately, this old doctor had misjudged his apprentice. This apprentice was actually someone who coveted power and position, and because the young disciple was more talented than himself, he harbored jealousy, believing that his master was withholding knowledge from him."
"After completing his apprenticeship, this person became a physician for a noble family and quickly gained the family head's favor using the skills his master had taught him. However, since his master's abilities were still superior to his own, he feared his master would threaten his position. He devised a sinister plan, secretly switching the medicine his master had prescribed, causing the patient's condition to worsen and die. He then instigated the victim's family to create a scene outside his master's clinic, falsely accusing his master of causing death through malpractice."
At this point, Doctor Jiang's brows furrowed slightly, while the Empress Dowager exclaimed in shock, "Heavens! How could someone do such a terrible thing? This was to his master who had shown him such great kindness!"
Yanshu explained, "Because this apprentice was determined to become the most highly regarded physician in the family head's eyes. But his master's skills were always superior to his, and even though his master had no interest in seeking wealth and status, there was still the talented younger disciple to consider. He feared that when the younger disciple grew up and completed his training, he would take away his livelihood, so he forced his master to leave the capital to eliminate any future threats."
At this point, Doctor Jiang couldn't help but scoff inwardly, thinking that old scoundrel assumed everyone was as despicable as himself.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but curse, "This person truly has a heart worse than wolves and jackals! What happened next?"
Yanshu continued, "The old physician had saved lives his entire life, yet never expected that one day, he would be ruined by his ungrateful apprentice. He was filled with anger and grief, and his emotions turned into illness. Shortly after leaving the capital, he died coughing blood."
"After his father's death, the son matured overnight and began planning revenge. He first studied medicine diligently, carefully examining all the medical books and cases his father had left behind. Then he traveled far and wide, observing various difficult cases and humbly learning from other physicians to broaden his knowledge. After several years, he too became a renowned physician."
At this point, Doctor Jiang paused again.
How did this Carefree Scholar know the details so clearly?
Yanshu continued, "Meanwhile, that evil-hearted apprentice became increasingly greedy and selfish. Many times when the noble family members fell ill, though he could have cured them completely, he deliberately held back, just so they would remain dependent on him. At the same time, he used his position as the family physician to open numerous medical clinics, inflating prices to suppress competition, completely disregarding a physician's duty to save lives. He committed countless misdeeds. Fortunately, eventually, his evil deeds were discovered by the wise family head, who angrily handed him over to the authorities."
As she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, but before she could say anything, Doctor Jiang, who had finished collecting his needles, bowed and said, "Your Highness, today's acupuncture session is complete. Please remember to take your medicine later. I shall take my leave now."
The Empress Dowager didn't think much of it and nodded, letting him go.
Soon after, when no outsiders remained in the hall, the Empress Dowager asked Yanshu, "The apprentice in this story is Zhang Shengkang, isn't it?"
Yanshu feigned surprise, "How did Your Highness guess?"
The Empress Dowager smiled, "The way he falsely accused his master is exactly the same method he used to harm Doctor Jiang, isn't it?"
Yanshu quickly nodded and flattered, "Your Highness is most perceptive."
The Empress Dowager gave a bitter smile and sighed, "To think that I once trusted such a despicable person! I can hardly claim to be perceptive."
Hearing this, Yanshu hurried to comfort her, "This is not your fault at all, Your Highness! It's entirely Zhang Shengkang's doing! Please don't be angry."
The Empress Dowager sighed again and said, "I'm not angry. Such a person isn't worth my anger. Let the Emperor handle this matter as he sees fit. But speaking of which, where is his master's child now, and what is he doing?"
Yanshu paused briefly, but instead of answering directly, she said, "Well... I believe we'll have an answer to that very soon."
She then quietly asked her system, "System, where is Doctor Jiang right now?"
The system replied, "Naturally, he's gone to the Qianming Palace."
Yanshu understood and thought that what happened next would depend on the Emperor.
In the Qianming Palace.
At that time, Yuwen Lan was reviewing memorials when Fu Hai entered to report, "Your Majesty, Doctor Jiang requests an audience."
Without stopping his brush, he simply said, "Let him enter."
Fu Hai acknowledged and went to call him in. Soon after, Doctor Jiang entered the hall, knelt and paid his respects, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Yuwen Lan told him to rise and casually asked, "How is the Empress Dowager today?"
Doctor Jiang quickly replied, "In response to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's first course of treatment has been completed, and her headache symptoms have significantly improved. She will need to continue taking medicine for another month, after which she should be fully recovered."
Yuwen Lan nodded, "You deserve great credit for this."
As soon as he finished speaking, Doctor Jiang, who had just risen, knelt again and said, "Your subject doesn't deserve such praise. I have come today to beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Yuwen Lan made an interested sound and finally stopped writing to look at him, saying, "What forgiveness do you seek?"
As he spoke, "I originally bore the surname Xun. My father's name was Xun Ji, and our family once ran a medical clinic on Horse Street in the capital. Later, my father was falsely accused by his disciple Zhang Shengkang and forced to leave the capital. After my father's death, to evade Zhang Shengkang's persecution, I changed my name and wandered elsewhere. Eventually, I encountered the Imperial Medical Academy's recruitment exam and entered under my altered name. I have not previously disclosed this to Your Majesty, and for this, I am truly guilty beyond redemption."
With those words, Yuwen Lan said, "Changing one's name to enter the palace is indeed a crime against the emperor. However, considering your contributions in healing, your offense can be pardoned."
Doctor Jiang was stunned and quickly kowtowed in gratitude, "I thank Your Majesty for your magnanimity."
But then he added, "However, there is one more matter I must address."
Yuwen Lan responded simply, "Speak."
Doctor Jiang then said, "I wish to accuse Zhang Shengkang of betraying his master and falsely accusing my father."
Yuwen Lan's reply was straightforward, "Zhang Shengkang's case has already been handed over to the Ministry of Justice. You may go there to file your complaint, citing my decree."
Doctor Jiang felt a weight lift from his heart and quickly kowtowed in acknowledgment before standing up and departing hastily for the Ministry of Justice.
In the Palace of Benevolent Peace, Yanshu, having learned the situation through the system, felt relieved.
It was nearly noon, and the Empress Dowager had already taken her medicine. She decided it was time to take her leave.
Before she could rise, a palace maid entered to report, "Your Majesty, Consort Wang has arrived."
Consort Wang?
Yanshu was momentarily puzzled. Wasn't she the one who used to patrol at night?
It had been quite a while since they last met.
The Empress Dowager nodded, "Let her in."
The maid complied, exiting the hall. Soon, Consort Wang entered the room.
It was said that after incurring the Emperor's wrath last year, Consort Wang had been patrolling for several months, enduring the cold from winter to almost summer. It was only after the Empress Dowager intervened that she was allowed to stop.
Since then, she had mostly feigned illness and avoided attending various banquets, so Yanshu hadn't seen her in a long time.
Upon entering the hall, Consort Wang first bowed to the two, saying, "I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort. I heard that Your Majesty has not been well recently, and I am deeply concerned. I was afraid of disturbing Your Majesty's rest if I came earlier, so I delayed until now. Please forgive me. I wonder how Your Majesty is feeling now?"
The Empress Dowager nodded, "If you had come two days later, I would have been completely recovered."
Yanshu thought, "Heh, her majesty is quite humorous."
Consort Wang, however, was extremely embarrassed and quickly added, "I am ashamed."
Yanshu thought, "Being ashamed is of no use. Coming after the first treatment phase is over, of course, the Empress Dowager would be upset."
As a loyal follower of the Empress Dowager, she could only hastily add, "Please be at ease, Your Majesty. Doctor Jiang said you are almost fully recovered and only need to continue taking medicine for another month."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly without saying more. Yanshu, however, could hear Consort Wang's thoughts—
"It's almost lunchtime, why is the Noble Consort still here? Everyone in the harem has been killed by her. Now that I've been seen by her again, will I have a way to live? Is she planning to find a way to kill me next? I didn't want to come but had no choice. Is the heavens deliberately trying to make me die?"
Yanshu was puzzled, "What do you mean everyone has been killed by her? Does Consort Wang attribute the deaths of Consort Zhou, Consort Ning, Consort An, and Consort Li to her as well?"
She felt both speechless and amused and couldn't help but speak to Consort Wang, "It's been a long time, Consort Wang. How have you been these days?"
Consort Wang shivered and quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am well."
In her heart, she was terrified, "Oh no, oh no! She actually spoke to me first. She must be planning to deal with me!"
Yanshu listened silently and couldn't help but play a prank, "It must have been hard for you to patrol for so long. I've always heard you weren't feeling well. Could it be that you were overworked?"
Consort Wang shivered again and quickly said, "I dare not. I've been weak since childhood, and recently, I've had both a cold and gastrointestinal issues, but it has nothing to do with patrolling."
In her heart, she thought, "This wicked woman, does she want to pin the blame on me in front of the Empress Dowager? May the heavens curse her to a miserable end!"
Yanshu listened silently but smiled on the surface, "Then take good care of yourself. It's almost winter, and the weather is getting colder."
Consort Wang nodded frantically, but in her heart, she was already crying, "Is she planning to make me patrol again? This woman is truly ruthless!"
Yanshu secretly raised an eyebrow; she hadn't thought that at all.
Alas, since this woman had already labeled her as evil, no matter what she said, the other party would interpret it negatively.
She had no intention of wasting more words with her and said to the Empress Dowager, "It's almost noon, so I won't disturb Your Majesty any longer. I'll take my leave now."
The Empress Dowager nodded, "Go and rest."
Then she turned to Consort Wang, "There's nothing more here. You can leave too."
Both acknowledged and left the hall together.
Yanshu didn't bother with Consort Wang and took a sedan chair back to Ganlu Palace. She then instructed Rendong to send the novel she had been reading to Qianming Palace.
Earlier, she had only used the novel as an excuse to prompt Doctor Jiang to file a complaint quickly. In reality, the novel hadn't been sent out.
Now that the Emperor had pardoned Doctor Jiang's crime, and Doctor Jiang had gone to the Ministry of Justice to file a complaint, she no longer had any concerns and could share the novel with the readers.
As expected, after reading the novel and combining it with the rumors in the city, the readers guessed that the villain in the story was Zhang Shengkang. They began to condemn him vehemently.
Under such pressure, the Ministry of Justice hastened to handle the case without delay.
Yanshu was very pleased.
However, a couple of days later, Rendong informed her, "Your Highness, it's said that Consort Wang is ill again."
Yanshu was puzzled, "Ill again? Is it true?"
Could it be an excuse to avoid patrolling?
Before Rendong could answer, the system said, "The illness is real. She's scared of you and got sick."
Yanshu was puzzled, "When did I become so terrifying that I could make someone sick?"
The system explained, "This is called paranoia. In such people's eyes, even a falling leaf is out to kill them."
Yanshu thought, "Could this be a side effect of patrolling?"
Oh well, she couldn't be bothered. Now, she only cared about when the verdict on Zhang Shengkang's case would be announced.
The system said, "It just came out, fresh."
Yanshu's eyes lit up and she quickly asked, "Tell me!"
The system said, "Zhang Shengkang was sentenced to death and will be executed in half a month. His son and disciples, who helped him bully the market, were all sentenced to prison terms. His wife has been seriously ill for the past few days and may not survive the news. However, his new wife received the Emperor's permission to divorce and return to her family."
Yanshu nodded, "This verdict is gratifying. That old scoundrel Zhang has finally received his due!"
Alright, now they just had to wait for the execution of Zhang Shengkang in half a month.
After all, the Empress Dowager had already made it clear that no one would save him!
Half a month later.
After noon, the despicable Zhang Shengkang was executed. The onlookers all felt a sense of justice and returned home satisfied.
A member of the Imperial Guard rushed into the palace, presenting a letter to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, just before Zhang Shengkang was taken to the execution ground, he handed an epistle to the eunuch, saying he wanted to give it to Doctor Xun."
Indeed, after Zhang Shengkang's case was thoroughly exposed, Doctor Jiang, who had been living under an assumed name for many years, also restored his true name—Xun Lan.
Thus, he was now Doctor Xun.
At first hearing this, Yuwen Lan assumed it was Zhang Shengkang's last-minute repentance, wanting to write a letter of confession to Xun Lan.
However, upon further thought, he felt something was amiss.
Would Zhang Shengkang be someone to easily repent?
Curious, he took the letter and opened it to glance at it.
It contained only a few lines—
"Before the late Emperor's death, he was obsessed with Taoism, neglecting food and drink, but he particularly enjoyed drinking kelp soup daily. During that time, the Empress Dowager once asked me for Yuebai Powder.
Within half a month, the late Emperor passed away.
Does my junior brother know why?"
...
After reading the letter, Yuwen Lan was initially puzzled—
He vaguely knew that "Yuebai Powder" was used to treat various sores.
But why did this man bring up the late Emperor's death?
And why write to Xun Lan?
As he pondered further, a sense of uncertainty crept into his heart.
He decided to set the letter aside for the moment and summoned Xun Lan to his presence.
In no time, Xun Lan arrived in a hurry, likely thinking that the Emperor was unwell, as he was carrying a medical kit.
Yuwen Lan remained composed and first dismissed the onlookers before asking Xun Lan, "I was reading a book the other day and came across some medical matters I didn't understand. I wanted to consult you about them."
Doctor Xun quickly bowed his head and said, "Please command, Your Majesty."
Yuwen Lan inquired, "If one were to consume Yueqing and kelp together, what would happen?"
Xun Lan replied, "Your Majesty, Yueqing is an external medication and should not be taken internally. It contains mercury powder. If consumed with kelp, it could lead to poisoning."
Poisoning?
Yuwen Lan paused but maintained his composure, asking, "What kind of poison?"
Xun Lan explained, "It would be similar to ingesting mercury, causing chest tightness, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. If the dosage is large, it could lead to convulsions, unconsciousness, bleeding from the mouth and gums, hematuria, and even death by hemorrhage."
Yuwen Lan was taken aback.
Didn't the late Emperor die with exactly these symptoms?
