Jiang and Qi exchanged glances, and the latter sighed, saying: “Brother Jiang has told me about that prescription. The medicinal ingredients can indeed be gathered, but…”
Yuchi Jingde was impatient by nature. Upon hearing him pause, he urgently said: “But what? Hurry up and speak! Don’t keep beating around the bush!”
Imperial Physician Jiang said: “That is a method of fighting poison with poison. The chance of recovery is only twenty percent, while the remaining eighty percent is… death!”
Twenty percent chance… it was practically a life-or-death gamble.
Everyone finally understood why they clearly had the prescription and medicinal ingredients, yet dared not treat Li Shimin. In their position, they would similarly not dare.
At this, Yuchi Jingde was also at a loss for ideas, looking at Liu Hongji and saying: “Master Liu, what do you think should be done?”
Liu Hongji paced back and forth several times, saying: “I’ve looked at the medical book you gave me. It records prescriptions for treating plague, and from what’s written in the book, it should be safer than the poison-fighting-poison method you just mentioned. Why not use it?”
Imperial Physician Jiang said bitterly: “The medical book indeed contains traditional treatment methods, but each plague is different. What worked before doesn’t mean it will work this time. In fact, we two officials have already followed the book’s recorded prescriptions, desperately searching for medicinal ingredients to brew for the soldiers. The corpse that General Du dragged away for burial tonight was one of them, and the remaining few are also in a dying state. Those medicines not only had no effect but actually had the opposite effect.”
“So you’re saying there’s only this one method?”
“Yes, a decision must be made within three days, otherwise there won’t even be a ten percent chance.” After receiving Imperial Physician Jiang’s affirmative answer, the atmosphere in the tent became exceptionally heavy. Although Liu Hongji and others all hoped for Li Shimin’s recovery, the twenty percent probability was really too low—it was practically equivalent to gambling with the life of a nation’s ruler!
Just at this moment, faint sounds came from the bed. Following the sound, they surprisingly discovered that Li Shimin had somehow awakened.
Du Ruhui nervously said: “Your Majesty, you’re awake. How do you feel?”
Li Shimin nodded slightly, saying weakly: “What you were just discussing… I heard it all.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Hongji quickly comforted: “Your Majesty, don’t worry. Imperial Physicians Jiang and the others are highly skilled in medicine and will surely find a way to cure your plague. You’ll be fine.”
Li Shimin endured the waves of itching on his body, saying: “I know my own body best. Three days… is already the limit!”
“No, Your Majesty is blessed by heaven. How could you die young? Trust this minister—you’ll recover soon.” By the end, Du Ruhui couldn’t help but redden his eyes.
“Your Majesty…” Liu Hongji had just said two words when Li Shimin raised his hand to stop him. “I’ve thought it over. Rather than waiting to die like this, it’s better to take a gamble. At least there’s still a thread of hope.”
Liu Hongji understood that he intended to use Imperial Physician Jiang’s medicine. Actually, he had the same thought, but thinking of that high eighty percent failure rate, he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.
He was very clear that once something happened to Li Shimin, this battle would be lost, and the Great Tang Empire would collapse with it, while Li Jiancheng would become the ultimate winner, controlling this empire he had long coveted!
Li Shimin caught his breath and looked around at everyone, saying: “I know what you’re worried about, but I… only have this one path to walk, and moreover… I believe I can definitely endure it, then lead you to capture Luoyang!”
Yuchi Jingde clenched his fists tightly without speaking. Although Li Shimin spoke with certainty, it was still only a twenty percent chance, which was truly heart-stopping.
“Imperial Physician Jiang, please go brew the medicine for me!” Hearing Li Shimin’s weak voice, Imperial Physician Jiang said with complex emotions: “Your Majesty, have you… truly decided?”
Li Shimin nodded with difficulty, saying to Liu Hongji and others: “Listen carefully—regardless of the outcome, you must not blame the two imperial physicians. This matter is a natural disaster and cannot be blamed on them.”
Seeing Li Shimin’s mind was made up, Imperial Physician Jiang could only grit his teeth and say: “Very well, this minister will go with Imperial Physician Qi to brew the medicine now. Your Majesty, rest assured—we two ministers will exert all our medical skills to fully protect you.”
After the two left, Du Ruhui said: “Your Majesty, this minister has already investigated the source of the plague. This matter is not a natural disaster but a man-made calamity.” With these words, he immediately recounted the entire affair in detail.
After hearing his account, Li Shimin said painfully: “It’s me… it’s the sins I’ve committed!”
“It’s Li Jiancheng who’s utterly devoid of conscience! It has nothing to do with Your Majesty!” Du Ruhui’s words didn’t make Li Shimin feel any better. He said in anguish: “If not for my momentary soft-heartedness, unable to bear killing him, there wouldn’t have been so many incidents one after another, so many deaths. It’s me who caused their deaths, it’s me!” By the end, he coughed violently, his pale face showing an abnormal flush. With great difficulty, he stopped coughing, but his breathing became even weaker, like a candle in the wind that might be extinguished at any moment, causing everyone great worry.
Liu Hongji comforted: “The dead are gone. Even if Your Majesty grieves and blames yourself, they cannot be resurrected. If Your Majesty truly wants to do something for them, please hold on, endure this trial, and stop Li Jiancheng from continuing to harm the people!”
Li Shimin stared at him for a moment, then nodded: “You’re right. Hold on—I must hold on!”
His words caused Liu Hongji to breathe a slight sigh of relief. Although willpower might not be able to overcome everything, having strong willpower was always a good thing.
At the third watch, Jiang and Qi finally entered carrying the brewed medicine. As they handed it to Li Shimin, they hesitated: “Your Majesty, have you truly decided?”
One couldn’t blame them for being indecisive—this bowl of medicine was simply too weighty, heavy as Mount Tai wouldn’t be an exaggeration. If Li Shimin couldn’t endure the toxicity in the medicine, it would be a dead end. Just thinking that the current sovereign might die from their medicine made their legs tremble.
Faced with their words, Li Shimin had only two words: “Bring it!”
Trembling continuously, Imperial Physician Jiang placed the medicine in Li Shimin’s hands as he struggled to prop himself up. The latter glanced at it only once before drinking it down in large gulps. Since he had decided to gamble this once, there was nothing more to hesitate about.
Seeing him drink the medicine, everyone’s expressions became extremely tense. The most exaggerated was Yuchi Jingde—the moment Li Shimin swallowed the medicine, he immediately stared with eyes wide as copper bells at Imperial Physician Jiang: “Quickly check His Majesty’s pulse to see if the plague poison has been neutralized.”
Du Ruhui shook his head: “Do you think this is an immortal elixir? How could it take effect so quickly? Wait.”
After wiping the medicine stains from his lips, Li Shimin said: “You’ve all been here so long and are tired. Go back—having the two imperial physicians here to care for me is sufficient.”
Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde immediately said: “This minister isn’t tired. Even staying here for three days and three nights would be fine.”