Chapter 149: Li Tai Is Dead

Sun Simiao placed his fingers on Gongsun Helan's right wrist to feel his pulse and assess his injuries, his expression turning solemn.

"Young Master Gongsun, do you suffer from coughing fits at night?" Sun Simiao asked with a gentle smile.

Gongsun Helan glanced at Liu Yitiao and replied, "Yes, and usually in the latter part of the night."

"When moving or exerting yourself during the day, do you feel any intermittent pain between your chest and lungs?"

"Yes, though it is not very noticeable."

"Judging by Young Master Gongsun, you are also a practitioner of martial arts. When your internal Qi circulates normally, do you feel any sense of oppression or difficulty in your chest?"

"Yes, it feels as though my vital energy and blood are somewhat obstructed."

As Sun Simiao's questions deepened, Gongsun Helan's attitude toward him grew increasingly respectful. He felt that this elderly Daoist priest understood his body even better than he did himself. Many of the questions he asked pertained to things he usually paid no attention to, yet they truly existed and were occurring within him—which felt quite miraculous.

Liu Yitiao also felt a sense of shame on the side. This was true skill, quite unlike when he had diagnosed Empress Zhangsun earlier, where all the questions he asked were recited straight from medical texts.

"How is it, Daoist Master Sun?" Seeing Sun Simiao lower his hand, Liu Yitiao stepped forward and asked, "Is my brother's health alright?"

"Well, his lung meridian is blocked and stagnant with Yin, and his complexion is dull and dim. There are still some lingering hidden illnesses within Young Master Gongsun's lung meridian that have not yet been eradicated. Fortunately, Young Master Gongsun has internal Qi protecting and regulating his body, so it is not overly serious. Ah, wait a moment, Young Master Liu," Sun Simiao gestured to the long-browed Daoist, obtained some paper and a brush, wrote out a prescription, handed it to Liu Yitiao, and said, "Take this medicine for half a month, and avoid any strenuous movements during this period. He will be quite well."

"Thank you very much, Daoist Master." Liu Yitiao received the prescription with both hands and handed it to a nearby servant, instructing him to prepare the medicinal herbs for Gongsun Helan.

"Young Master Liu," after the servant left and Liu Yitiao sat down again, Sun Simiao asked him with some curiosity, "I have observed that Young Master Liu is proficient in the art of surgery and possesses remarkably high medical skills. Yet, regarding pharmacy, pharmacology, and the study of the internal organs, you seem, well, not particularly well-versed. May I ask why that is?"

Ah, his true skill had been seen through.

Indeed, one should never brandish a broadsword in front of Master Guan.

Liu Yitiao cupped his hands toward Sun Simiao with an embarrassed smile and said, "To be frank with Daoist Master Sun, in the realm of medicine, this junior has only mastered the techniques of surgery and bone-setting. Regarding pharmacology and internal theory, I have merely skimmed the surface; my proficiency falls short of even some traveling physicians in the countryside. That is precisely why, when treating Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince, I had to request Daoist Master Sun's assistance on the side."

"So that is how it was. No wonder," Sun Simiao nodded. No wonder he had previously felt there was something strange about Liu Yitiao—how could a dignified miraculous physician not even know acupuncture, nor be able to detect his own sworn brother's hidden ailments?

"Daoist Master Sun, please have some tea!" Gongsun Helan personally poured a bowl of tea for Sun Simiao and spoke to him politely.

Sun Simiao nodded slightly, made a Daoist salute, and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Young Master Gongsun."

"Daoist Master is too polite," Gongsun Helan put down the teapot and said respectfully to Sun Simiao, "I have long heard from my elder brother that Daoist Master Sun's medical skills are profound and mystical, and you have long been known by the title of 'King of Medicine'. Seeing you today, your reputation is truly well-deserved. Thank you for troubling yourself with my ailment, Daoist Master."

"Young Master Gongsun is too kind. Healing the sick and saving the people is the duty of our medical profession," Sun Simiao glanced at Liu Yitiao and said, "However, this title of 'King of Medicine' is something this poor Daoist cannot bear; Young Master Liu is merely over-praising me."

"Daoist Master Sun is well-versed in pharmacology, and your medical skills are nothing short of miraculous. Your research into the properties of various medicinal herbs is unmatched in the present age. The title of 'King of Medicine' is something Daoist Master richly deserves!" A bead of cold sweat rolled down Liu Yitiao's forehead. Judging by the situation, the moniker "King of Medicine" seemed to have appeared a bit too early.

Unwilling to dwell further on this topic, Liu Yitiao produced the scroll of the *Evergreen Song* and said to Sun Simiao, "Just before Daoist Master arrived, this junior was discussing the art of internal Qi with Brother Helan. Knowing that the Daoist Master has achieved extraordinary mastery in this art, this junior has some questions I would like to consult you on, and I hope the Daoist Master will not begrudge sharing your wisdom!"

"Young Master Liu is too polite. Imparting wisdom is more than I dare claim; we are merely exchanging and comparing notes. Besides, my coming here today is also to seek instruction from Young Master Liu on the arts of surgery and bone-setting, so Young Master Liu need not stand on ceremony with me," Sun Simiao saluted Liu Yitiao in the Daoist manner.

Afterward, the two of them—one old and one young, one secular and one Daoist—began to discuss and compare notes right there in the backyard of General Gongsun's residence, completely excluding Gongsun Helan and the long-browed Daoist.

Gongsun Helan took a depressed sip of his tea. This feeling of being excluded and left out was most unpleasant. Yet, he could do nothing about it, for who could understand the words that Liu Yitiao and Sun Simiao were exchanging? Even if he wanted to chime in, he had no idea where to begin.

"Daoist Master Long-brow," Gongsun Helan drew out his fan, waved it vigorously a couple of times, and then sidled up to the equally idle long-browed Daoist, murmuring, "I observe that the Daoist Master has a robust and sturdy physique; you must have practiced martial arts as well, no?"

"Young Master Gongsun has discerning eyes," the long-browed Daoist returned a salute and said, "This poor Daoist did learn a bit from my master, merely for strengthening the body and maintaining health."

"Oh?" Gongsun Helan's eyes lit up. He had finally found someone to talk to. Without caring whether the long-browed Daoist agreed or not, he pounced on him and began discussing general issues regarding martial arts.

Over the next five days, Sun Simiao came to the General's residence every single day, spending three to four hours in conversation with Liu Yitiao during each visit. Liu Yitiao learned many principles of nourishing life and circulating internal Qi from him, while Sun Simiao learned even more surgical case studies and procedural methods from Liu Yitiao.

As for Gongsun Helan, he actually struck up a close friendship with the long-browed Daoist, reaching the point where they could talk about almost anything without reservation. However, from Liu Yitiao's perspective, the long-browed Daoist was being led astray by this fellow Gongsun Helan.

A man who had originally been quite honest and earnest now spoke with a somewhat ruffian-like air.

On the evening of the fifth day, Liu Yitiao received some news from Gongsun Wuda.

The former Chief Administrator of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Wang Zikui, had been executed in public by Li Shimin.

"General Gongsun, now that Wang Zikui has been executed, has there been any major upheaval in the palace? For instance, has some imperial prince been arrested or transferred to an outer post?" Liu Yitiao sat down beside Gongsun Wuda and cupped his hands to ask for his guidance.

"Well, not yet," Gongsun Wuda took a sip of tea, glanced at Liu Yitiao, and said, "However, it won't be long."

"Oh?" Liu Yitiao looked up at Gongsun Wuda, knowing he had more to say.

"To plot against the Crown Prince and harm Empress Zhangsun—Wang Zikui is merely a minor Chief Administrator of the Imperial Medical Bureau. If there were no one backing him and giving orders, how could he dare commit such an act of treason?" Gongsun Wuda said, "His Majesty is no fool; naturally, he is aware of the intricacies behind this. If he had not uncovered the mastermind, he would certainly not have decapitated Wang Zikui first."

"Furthermore, knowing His Majesty as I do, he will never lightly forgive someone who murders his brother and his mother. Therefore, that person is a dead man walking. In these next few days, His Majesty is likely to make a major move." Gongsun Wuda set his teacup on the table, looked at Liu Yitiao, and said, "By then, nephew Yitiao can finally set your mind completely at ease."

"Hehe, on this matter, General Gongsun's state of mind is probably much the same as this junior's, isn't it?" Liu Yitiao glanced at Gongsun Wuda, and the two of them burst into hearty laughter together.

Gongsun Wuda's wariness toward Li Tai was not a whit less than Liu Yitiao's.

He had personally eliminated nearly two hundred of Li Tai's subordinates. Given Li Tai's ruthless and vindictive personality, sooner or later he would have come after the Gongsun family anyway.

Thus, another five days passed—which was the fifth day after Wang Zikui's execution.

As the furor over Wang Zikui's affair began to die down, news came from the palace that Prince Wei, Li Tai, had been dispatched by Li Shimin to take up a post in the northwest. It was said he was appointed as a general, and many courtiers went to congratulate him at the time.

Four days later, around the time Prince Wei should have reached the northwest, deeply shocking and incredible bad news arrived from the frontier: Prince Wei, Li Tai, had encountered bandits on the road and tragically perished.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin flew into a great rage and furiously ordered the generals stationed in the northwest to comb through every bandit lair in the region, slaughtering several thousand bandits to be buried alongside Li Tai as sacrifices. Afterward, he had Li Tai's remains transported back, buried him with the full honors due to an imperial prince, and interred him in the ancestral mausoleum.

To think that fellow Li Tai, a dignified Prince Wei, had lost his life in such a pathetic manner.

Regarding this, Liu Yitiao could not quite describe his feelings. Joy? Melancholy? Hard to say.

At any rate, upon hearing the news of Li Tai's demise in the northwest, he sat alone in the backyard and drank in gloomy solitude.

Li Tai, an extraordinarily formidable figure in history, had thus died at a time when he ought not to have died.

It was worth celebrating because with this fellow dead, Liu Yitiao lost a major threat, and he and his family gained an extra layer of secure protection.

However, could this be considered altering history? Would this incident cause any positive or negative impacts on the future history of China?

Hah! Liu Yitiao downed a cup of wine, let out a long breath, and then chuckled softly—the kind of genuine, hearty laugh: "Whether history is altered or not, what the hell does it have to do with me? I, Liu, am merely a small person, seeking only to live well in this world, and that is enough. As for the history of the future, let it go wherever the hell it wants!"