Royal Gold Magistrate - Chapter 70

“What!?”

Emperor Jing leaped up in alarm and ran out of the Imperial Study, leaving Fang Zheng standing there alone, completely baffled.

After taking in the sights of the Imperial Study for a while, he slowly got up and left.

Arriving at the Imperial Clan Court, Li Yuanzhao was still leisurely playing Go with Liu Jin.

As soon as he saw Fang Zheng, he jumped up excitedly. “Awesome, Old Fang! You really stumped that old fogey Zhang Shi today!”

“What took you so long to get here?”

Fang Zheng said in puzzlement, “His Majesty called me to the Imperial Study. Then he heard the Fifth Princess was in critical condition and left.”

“Your Highness, who is the Fifth Princess?”

“What!?”

Li Yuanzhao also ran off with a shocked expression as soon as he heard.

Fang Zheng was dumbfounded again. He turned to look at Liu Jin.

“Who’s the Fifth Princess?”

Hearing the news, Liu Jin also wore a sorrowful expression. Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s question, he responded with a bitter face, “The Fifth Princess is His Majesty and the crown prince’s most beloved princess. She’s been sickly since childhood… Alas.”

“Lead the way! I’ll go take a look!”

Liu Jin’s face turned even more bitter. “Lord Fang, that’s the imperial harem. You can’t enter.”

Fang Zheng shrugged. “If the crown prince left, what’s the point of me staying here? Quit yapping! Lead the way. What are you afraid of with the crown prince there?”

“No! This servant doesn’t dare…” Liu Jin said pitifully like a little wife.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng stepped forward and put his arm around Liu Jin, whispering, “Little Jin, ever since entering the palace, I’ve admired you the most. You know what, I have a way to make that thing below grow back for you!”

“Really!?” Liu Jin’s eyes lit up.

“Would I, Fang Zheng, an upstanding man, lie to you?!” Fang Zheng said with a solemn face, looking unquestionable.

It can grow back! It can grow back!

This phrase kept echoing in Liu Jin’s mind. Slowly, his eyes reddened. He gritted his teeth and stomped his foot.

“Follow me!”

“Sensible!”

On the way, Liu Jin’s heart surged. His legs moved so fast they nearly created an afterimage.

Fang Zheng chased after him cursing the whole way. By the time they arrived, he was already panting for breath.

Inside Mingluan Palace, Emperor Jing and the crown prince watched the Fifth Princess lying on the bed with sorrowful faces. Seeing Fang Zheng arrive, both showed surprised expressions.

Emperor Jing reprimanded angrily, “Why are you here! Is this a place you should come!?”

“Your… Your Majesty… I followed the crown prince here… I don’t know what’s going on…” Fang Zheng couldn’t stop panting. Damn that dead eunuch for running so fast!

Li Yuanzhao hurriedly mediated, “Imperial Father, don’t be angry. I’m the one who asked Old Fang to come…”

“Nonsense!” After saying that, Emperor Jing fell silent, staring at the princess and sighing deeply again.

Fang Zheng caught his breath and peeked at the bed. He instantly froze, a thought popping into his mind.

The pinnacle of pure desire!

The beauty before him lay on the bed, her face charming with sorrow, her body delicate and sickly. Her eyes were tightly closed as she occasionally let out a couple of light coughs…

Her exquisite nose, skin like white snow, tiny cherry mouth, and red lips were like a lone red plum blossom in the snow, proudly alluring.

Even through the thick quilt, her slender, curvy figure could be seen.

The sight made Fang Zheng’s heart beat a bit faster…

Was the imperial bloodline always this excellent?

Emperor Jing said dejectedly, “Doctor Hu, how is the princess’s condition now?”

Doctor Hu had a Daoist, otherworldly look, constantly stroking his beard. He sighed, “The situation doesn’t look good. Just now, this humble one almost thought the princess wouldn’t make it. Fortunately, by the grace of Heaven, she pulled through this time for now.”

“As for the rest, we can only observe after the princess recuperates for a period.”

Emperor Jing looked up and let out a long sigh. “Ten years! It’s been ten years and still not cured. What wrong has my daughter committed!”

“Miaohan… Miaohan? Can she hear me speaking now?”

Doctor Hu shook his head. “This official is also not sure. The princess is still unstable… Your Majesty, it’s best to let the princess rest for now. This official will report back if there are any updates.”

Emperor Jing shook his head powerlessly. “Crown Prince, Lord Fang, leave for now. Let the princess rest in peace first…”

“I won’t! I want to stay and watch over her!” Li Yuanzhao stared at Emperor Jing with a stubborn face.

Emperor Jing looked at Li Yuanzhao’s gaze, then saw Fang Zheng looking at the princess with concern. He sighed helplessly, “Forget it… If you want to stay a bit longer then stay a bit longer. I still have urgent matters to attend to.”

With a wave of his sleeve, he left.

Li Yuanzhao dejectedly tugged on Fang Zheng’s sleeve and whispered, “Old Fang, do you have any ideas? Are there any good physicians in Taoyuan County?”

“Old Fang… Old Fang!?”

“Huh?”

Fang Zheng snapped out of it and said helplessly, “Your Highness, your subject is not a physician either. The doctors in Taoyuan County are probably no match for the imperial physicians, right?”

“First let your subject know what illness the princess has, then I’ll think if there are any solutions.”

Finishing his words, he walked up to Doctor Hu. “May I ask this esteemed imperial physician, what exactly is the princess’s illness?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Doctor Hu hesitated. “And you are?”

“Fang Zheng.”

Upon hearing the name Fang Zheng, Doctor Hu immediately showed a look of disdain and said dismissively, “Even if I explain, you wouldn’t understand…”

Fang Zheng blinked, not catching on.

Was my reputation in the palace already this bad? It even spread to the Imperial Hospital?

He stepped forward and grabbed Doctor Hu’s collar, startling the surrounding servant girls and eunuchs to retreat.

Fang Zheng said indifferently, “When I ask you a question, just answer! If you keep talking nonsense, watch out or I’ll impeach you!”

“Treating an illness for ten years without success, you useless old thing, what are you so smug about?”

Doctor Hu had never seen someone like this in the palace. Trembling in fright, he said, “It’s a lung disease!”

“Lung disease? There are many types of lung diseases. Which kind of lung disease!?”

“Aiya! Let go of me. This disease is very strange. It seems a bit like tuberculosis but it’s not. I already said you wouldn’t understand…”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng released Doctor Hu’s collar and smoothed out his clothes, smiling. “Just talk nicely! If you had said it like this earlier, wouldn’t that be fine? No civility at all!”

“…………..”

Li Yuanzhao walked over with an unhappy expression. “What are you arguing about!?”

“Old Fang, how did the questioning go?”

Fang Zheng glanced at Doctor Hu. “Still not clear.”

Seeing the crown prince arrive, Doctor Hu hurriedly said, “Reporting to Your Highness, this illness is extremely peculiar. Previously, this old official believed the princess’s condition was due to weak liver fire and prescribed a formula that did have some effect.”

“But today the princess suddenly fell ill… It seems more consideration is needed…”

Hearing this, Li Yuanzhao immediately flew into a rage. “In the past ten years, how many prescriptions have you changed! You quack, I’ll beat you to death!”

Finishing his words, he raised his fist and swung at Doctor Hu.

Doctor Hu immediately covered his head and scurried away like a rat.

Fang Zheng hurriedly held Li Yuanzhao back. As the crown prince’s tutor, he definitely couldn’t allow him to turn into someone who assaults doctors.

“Don’t be rash! Don’t be rash! Let me take another look!”

Hearing Fang Zheng speak, Li Yuanzhao angrily put down his fist.

At this time, the look in Fang Zheng’s eyes as he gazed at Doctor Hu changed.

This fellow kept changing prescriptions for ten years and the princess could still live until now. Clearly, he was a divine doctor!