The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Chapter 443 The Imperial Physician's Scheme

Shen Tianjiao personally led a group to the cellar beneath Duan Furong's Shunfeng Pharmacy.

Although Shen Tianjiao had an injury on her foot, she still went down into the cellar herself to find Qiongniang.

When Shen Tianjiao appeared in the cellar and saw Du Qiongniang with her hands and feet bound, she immediately became enraged and decided to kill her.

These people truly deserve to die; killing them is the only way to quell her anger.

Shen Tianjiao walked to Qiongniang's side and personally untied the ropes binding Qiongniang. Qiongniang, who was already exhausted, sensed the movement beside her.

When she opened her eyes and saw Shen Tianjiao, she thought she was dreaming and seeing only an illusion.

"I'm about to die, I'm even hallucinating. Jiaojiao, if I can see your phantom one last time before I die, I will have no regrets."

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're still alive and well, not dead yet."

Looking at Qiongniang, who was half-dead and had little strength or spirit, Shen Tianjiao's eyes were filled with unconcealed heartache.

Qiongniang reached out and touched Shen Tianjiao's face, saying, "This face feels real."

After saying this, Qiongniang fainted completely and lost consciousness.

Shen Tianjiao panicked when she saw Qiongniang lying in her arms. She quickly turned around and shouted to Ren Dongfang, "Quick, go and call Physician Wang over."

Shen Tianjiao might not trust others, but she could still trust Doctor Wang.

Ren Dongfang accepted the order and immediately rushed out to find Physician Wang.

After finding Physician Wang, Ren Dongfang didn't say a word. He picked Physician Wang up and ran, carrying him to the cellar as quickly as possible.

As soon as Ren Dongfang put the imperial physician down, Shen Tianjiao urged him to come over and check on Qiongniang's condition.

Poor Physician Wang was carried by Ren Dongfang all the way, and before he could even catch his breath, he resigned himself to his fate and went to treat Qiongniang.

After examining Qiongniang's pulse, Imperial Physician Wang turned to Shen Tianjiao and said, "Your Majesty, Qiongniang's health is fine. She fainted because she was too weak."

"Just make some ginseng soup later, feed her some, and slowly wait for her to regain her strength. She'll be fine after a few more days of rest."

Shen Tianjiao breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Physician Wang say that Qiongniang was alright.

She turned to Ren Dongfang and instructed, "Find someone to escort Qiongniang back to the palace as soon as possible. Tell Xiahe to prepare ginseng soup for Qiongniang and feed it to her in small amounts several times a day."

"Yes." Upon receiving the order, Ren Dongfang immediately had Qiongniang escorted back to the palace.

Inside the cellar, Shen Tianjiao looked at Physician Wang and said, "There's a traitor in the Imperial Hospital."

Having spent most of his life in officialdom, Physician Wang understood everything after seeing Qiong Niang's behavior and Shen Tianjiao's personal visit to the Imperial Hospital.

"Is it that kid Lu Guanning?"

As expected of someone who has spent most of his life in officialdom, he immediately grasped the crux of the problem with his very first words.

"Judging from the current situation, it's highly likely that he's the one who's involved."

Shen Tianjiao wasn't surprised at all that Physician Wang had immediately guessed that the person with the problem was Lu Guanning.

Although Imperial Physician Wang was the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy, he was more than just an imperial physician; he had been involved in almost all the political upheavals of the previous dynasty.

How could someone who was able to participate in the turmoil of the previous dynasty and still manage to retire unscathed and remain firmly in the position of Imperial Physician be a simple person?

"He is not at the Imperial Hospital today, as he is not on duty, so he went home early this morning."

After pondering for a moment, Physician Wang said, "I will invite him to my residence. Then we can take him down without bloodshed or lifting a finger."

Lu Guanning's grandfather, Lu Guo, was a fellow apprentice of Physician Wang, and the two had a very good relationship.

If Physician Wang were to invite Lu Guanning to his home, Lu Guanning would certainly not refuse.

This Imperial Physician Wang truly lives up to his reputation; having spent most of his life navigating the officialdom, he clearly understands the importance of things.

I will never let personal feelings cloud my judgment and cause me to do anything I shouldn't.

"Okay, let's do it."

Shen Tianjiao immediately agreed to Physician Wang's suggestion.

"Ren Dongfang, take your men and accompany Physician Wang back to the mansion. Set up an ambush and capture the man."

"Yes."

Ren Dongfang walked up to Physician Wang and helped him up. "Physician Wang, I was in a hurry just now and offended you. I hope you won't take offense."

"It's alright, it's alright. You were just following orders, so how could I blame you?"

Doctor Wang smiled at Ren Dongfang and said, "Let's go, but this time we must walk slowly. I'm getting old, and my old bones can't take any more strain."

"Of course, I'll help you and we'll walk slowly."

Ren Dongfang helped the imperial physician Wang out of the cellar, and the two of them slowly made their way out.

After Shen Tianjiao saw Ren Dongfang and Imperial Physician Wang disappear from sight, she ordered the guards to return to the palace.

The reason she trusted Doctor Wang so much was that she didn't refute any of his ideas.

That's because, besides the fact that Physician Wang and Marquis Zhenbei were sworn brothers, Shen Tianjiao also knew Physician Wang very well.

This old man has always been a shrewd person. He knows very well what he should and shouldn't do, which is why Shen Tianjiao told him directly about the traitor in the Imperial Hospital.

When Shen Tianjiao returned to the palace, Qiongniang had already been fed ginseng soup by Xia He several times and was now sleeping soundly.

"Master, what, what's wrong?"

When Xia He saw that Shen Tianjiao had returned, she couldn't help but ask.

She was truly terrified when she saw Qiongniang being carried back.

How could someone who was recuperating at the Imperial Hospital have been carried back unconscious?

"She's fine, she just fell into someone's trap and needs to rest for a while. During her recovery, you'll be in charge of her daily life."

Shen Tianjiao looked at the sleeping Qiongniang and placed her hand on her pulse. Although Qiongniang's pulse was a little weak, it was very steady. She should be able to recover after resting for a while.

Only after confirming that Qiongniang was truly alright did Shen Tianjiao finally feel relieved.

Looking at Qiongniang lying on the bed, Shen Tianjiao was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. If something really happened to Qiongniang this time, she would feel guilty and uneasy for the rest of her life.

Fortunately, Qiongniang was lucky this time and nothing bad happened.

Looking at Qiongniang now, Shen Tianjiao still felt a lingering fear.

They almost lost Qiongniang.

Ren Dongfang accompanied Physician Wang back to Physician Wang's residence.

As soon as he returned to the mansion, Physician Wang instructed his family to invite Lu Guanning over from the Lu family, on the grounds that he had recently acquired a rare copy of a medical book.

There were some things inside that interested him, and he wanted to discuss them with Lu Guanning.

Lu Guanning is a medical fanatic who specializes in studying difficult and unusual diseases, including strange illnesses he has never seen before.

If Physician Wang uses something that interests him as bait to lure him in, he will definitely succeed.

Sure enough, when the messenger arrived at Lu Guo's residence and told me, Lu Guanning, what Physician Wang had said, Lu Guanning became very excited. Without the slightest hesitation, he went to Physician Wang's residence with the messenger.

"Grandpa Wang, I heard you've acquired a rare copy of a medical book?"

"Quick, bring it here, let me see what it looks like."

Lu Guanning's voice reached the house before he even entered.

Because Physician Wang and Lu Guanning's grandfather, Lu Guo, were fellow apprentices, their families were also old friends.

We often interact and keep in touch, so there aren't many rules between us.

Upon seeing Lu Guanning arrive, Physician Wang smiled as if nothing had happened and said with a smile, "Guanning is here. Come in. My rare book is in the study."

"okay."

Lu Guanning could no longer contain his excitement, and he jogged into the study.

As soon as he entered the study, Lu Guanning looked at Physician Wang anxiously and asked, "Grandpa Wang, where is this rare book? Where is it?"

Lu Guanning, who was focused on the rare book, didn't even notice that the study door was closed the moment he entered.

Before Lu Guanning could speak again, Ren Dongfang struck him down and knocked him unconscious.

Ren Dongfang originally thought that Lu Guanning, even if he wasn't a martial arts master, would at least know some fighting skills, but he never expected him to be so weak, someone who didn't know any martial arts at all.

Seeing Lu Guanning lying unconscious on the ground, Ren Dongfang said to Physician Wang, "Old Physician, we still need your help before this matter is completely resolved."

"No problem." Doctor Wang nodded and said, "You can take him away. I have my own way of dealing with the Lu family."

"Alright, then I'll leave with my men."

Ren Dongfang picked up Lu Guanning from the ground and was about to leave.

"Hey, wait."

Physician Wang called out to Ren Dongfang.

“You can’t just take him out like that. There are too many people and too many eyes in my house. If that person sees him, things will get complicated.”

"Come with me, I'll take you a shortcut out of the mansion."

After saying this, Physician Wang got up and left, with Ren Dongfang carrying Lu Guanning in his arms, following closely behind.

Wang Taiyi's seemingly ordinary study was actually a hidden gem, a hidden world within.

The group walked along the study until they came to a small door. Doctor Wang opened the door and went out, where there was a small pond.

Doctor Wang pointed to the wall opposite the small pond and said, "Beyond that wall is my back street. It's a small alley, and few people usually go in and out."

"It's dark now. If you take him out from there, you shouldn't run into anyone."

"Thank you very much, old doctor."

Ren Dongxiang thanked Physician Wang, then picked up Lu Guanning and leaped over the wall.

After watching Ren Dongfang carry Lu Guanning and disappear behind the wall, Physician Wang turned around and went back to his study.

Upon returning to his study, Physician Wang summoned his steward and instructed him, "Go to the Lu family and tell my junior brother."

"Lu Guanning said he wants to stay at our residence for a while to study a rare medical book that we finally obtained."

Lu Guanning enjoys studying difficult and complicated diseases, and he especially loves rare medical books that are almost extinct.

Whenever he comes across a rare or unique medical book, he will study it day and night, and he will not give up until he has thoroughly understood its contents.

Therefore, when Physician Wang told the steward his story, no one in the Lu family would doubt it.

"Yes, sir. Is there anything else you wish to instruct me to do?"

The steward lowered his head, waiting for Physician Wang to give instructions.

"That's all. Oh, by the way, take some gifts and go see my junior brother. See if he's feeling any better lately."

Although Lu Guo was several years younger than Physician Wang, his health was far inferior to Physician Wang's. Several years ago, he suffered a stroke and could only stay at home to recuperate.

If Lu Guo hadn't been in poor health and his son hadn't been away, he wouldn't have let Lu Guanning take his place in the Imperial Hospital.

If Lu Guanning hadn't entered the Imperial Hospital, none of this would have happened.

Thinking of this, Physician Wang couldn't help but sigh. He wondered what Lu Guanning had done.

The imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Academy served the masters of the palace, so the Imperial Medical Academy was also known as a forbidden area of ​​the imperial palace.

Because if the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital were to be manipulated into doing things they shouldn't, it could endanger the masters in the palace.

If Lu Guanning's mistake this time is too serious, then the entire Imperial Medical Academy will face difficulties, all the imperial physicians will have to undergo a reshuffle, and there is always the risk of being replaced.

If the number of people is too large, then the Imperial Hospital will face a major crisis.

As the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy, Physician Wang was naturally the first to be punished.

Whether Physician Wang and the Wang family can escape this crisis depends on the severity of Lu Guanning's offense.

Ren Dongfang carried Lu Guanning over the wall and into the back alley. Just as Doctor Wang had said, it was very secluded and no one came or went.

After confirming that he was safe, Ren Dongfang sent a signal for his men to come and meet him.

Having received Ren Dongfang's signal, the secret guards quickly arrived at the alleyway in the back street.

Before long, a horse-drawn carriage stopped at the entrance of a back alley.

Ren Dongfang led Lu Guanning into the carriage, which headed directly towards the Shenxing Division.

To prevent the news from leaking out, Ren Dongfang must get to the bottom of things tonight so that he can take down those who slipped through the net in the Imperial Hospital.

The best way to solve the problem now is to send Lu Guanning to the Censorate.

To date, no one in the world has been able to escape the tortures of the Imperial Prison.

No matter who you are, once you enter the Censorate, you'll be skinned alive.

Someone as frail as Lu Guanning probably wouldn't even need torture to honestly confess everything he knows.

The carriage soon arrived at the entrance of the Shenxing Division. Ren Dongfang did not take Lu Guanning off the carriage, but instead ordered the carriage to go directly into the courtyard of the Shenxing Division.

We must proceed with caution now and avoid alerting the enemy, otherwise things will go wrong.