The next day, Feng Liao led people to the courier station to invite Shen He over for treatment, but unexpectedly Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong, the young man who was actually Princess Qingyang in disguise, and Wang Lin, the registrar at the Third Prince’s side, also came along with Shen He.
“Lord Shen is feeling unwell. I have some knowledge of medicine, and I just went to visit him. Only then did I learn that His Highness had sent Lord Wang to visit, and that Lord Han had also sent someone from his household to extend an invitation, so I came along as well. Lord Han doesn’t consider me an uninvited guest, does he?” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong seemed completely unaware that he had been staying in Tanzhou for rather too long. He cupped his hands in salute and walked into the mansion together with Shen He.
With Registrar Wang Lin and Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong present, some exploratory questions couldn’t be asked of Shen He. But Han Qian also couldn’t drive Wang Lin and Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong out, so he could only greet them with a smile and welcome him and Princess Qingyang into the mansion.
The Du family siblings had studied medicine from childhood. Apart from the eldest, Du Yijun, the others were all still under twenty years old. Fortunately, after Han Qian had been poisoned by Yao Xishui, over these past few years he had deliberately had Zhao Ting’er collect information from medical texts and pharmacopoeias regarding various types of poisons, even attempting to refine some poisons himself. All of this had been passed on to the Du family siblings.
After establishing the medical care battalion, apart from requiring the Du family siblings to boldly explore human anatomy with the physicians to improve surgical treatment capabilities, Han Qian also had them raise rabbits for drug testing.
Though the Du family siblings were young, in certain aspects of medicine they were much stronger than traditional physicians.
Besides Han Qian having sold quite effective anti-miasma wine in Xuzhou very early on, after the medical care battalion was established, the Du family siblings and the physicians treated large numbers of wounded and sick. Even though they were young, they had accumulated some reputation.
When Han Qian got up this morning, he had specifically instructed the Du family siblings that when diagnosing Shen He’s illness, they should consider poisoning but couldn’t let Shen He detect this. In the end, they could just prescribe a remedy for treating cold and be done with it.
Everything had been arranged properly, but unexpectedly Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong and his sister, along with Registrar Wang Lin, had also come along.
Wang Lin was following the Third Prince’s orders, but for Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong to dare to proactively come to treat Shen He, it shouldn’t be as simple as merely having some medical knowledge.
This being the case, if the Du family siblings still followed the prior arrangement to treat Shen He, they would inevitably reveal their hand.
Han Qian invited Shen He, Wang Lin, Wang Yong, and Princess Qingyang dressed as a man to sit in the room. After chatting idly for a moment, when Zhao Ting’er had someone bring tea, Feng Liao passed over a letter.
Han Qian opened the letter. Though it appeared to be an official document, it had actually been written by Feng Liao just now outside.
Feng Liao suspected that the Marquis Changxiang had detected symptoms of poisoning in Shen He during the earlier ceremony, and his visit today should be to further confirm this matter.
Feng Liao had no opportunity to speak directly, so he could only use a letter to inform Han Qian.
Han Qian calmly closed the letter, thinking that Feng Liao’s guess was very reasonable. No matter how skilled Marquis Changxiang was in medicine, Tanzhou City was not lacking in highly skilled physicians. As the second son of the Prince of Shu, he had no need to show such solicitude toward Shen He.
Han Qian handed the letter back to Feng Liao and said: “Have Du Qiniang come diagnose Lord Shen.”
He trusted that after Feng Liao went out to give new instructions, Du Qiniang wouldn’t reveal too obvious a flaw when she came in.
“The Defense Commissioner’s essay ‘Discussion on Epidemic Waters’ has an extremely profound understanding of gu poison—it can be said to far surpass the physicians of this age. And there are also rumors that anti-miasma wine has emerged from the Xuzhou medical hall, with miraculous effects in curing miasma sickness. Lord Han’s learning is profound—surely your medical skills must also be extremely high,” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong didn’t wait for the Du family siblings to arrive before beginning to discuss Shen He’s condition with Han Qian. “In Lord Han’s view, what kind of ailment has invaded Lord Shen’s body?”
“River winds are cold at night, summer heat invades—I think Lord Shen most likely caught a chill while taking the boat. But my medical skills are only half a bucket of water, really not reliable at all. After the physician in my mansion examines Lord Shen and prescribes a remedy, it will certainly cure Lord Shen’s illness with the medicine,” Han Qian casually made up an answer.
Normally Han Qian only instilled in Zhao Ting’er and the Du family siblings some scattered concepts about medicine, hygiene, and epidemic prevention that ordinary people a thousand years later would have. He himself didn’t have the energy to conduct systematic, in-depth research into medical skills and pharmacology, so naturally he had no qualifications to discuss Shen He’s symptoms in depth with Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong.
And Shen He absolutely couldn’t imagine that he had been poisoned. After all, his spirits had been quite good while in Jinling, so he was more inclined to believe Han Qian’s casual nonsense.
Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong frowned slightly.
Wang Lin looked around the room’s decorations with interest, as if his only task was to visit Shen He on behalf of the Third Prince. Since Han Qian was finding someone to treat Shen He and he had come along to take a look to fulfill his duty, as for what illness Shen He actually had, he had no interest whatsoever.
After a moment, the fair-complexioned Du Qiniang walked over, startling both Shen He and Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong.
Du Qiniang was the eldest daughter of the Du family. Unlike her brother Du Yijun who had focused more on pursuing official rank in earlier years, she had studied medicine under her father the longest and was the most dedicated. Following Han Qian for over two years, she had also absorbed many entirely new ideas and concepts. Her accomplishments in medicine could already be called that of a famous practitioner.
At this time, when Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong discussed Shen He’s ailment, it was Du Qiniang who answered on his behalf, and moreover all of her answers hit the mark and were substantive.
Of course, Du Qiniang had also just received word from Feng Liao. Though she discussed Shen He’s symptoms in depth, she avoided as much as possible any mention of poisoning. In the end, she and Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong couldn’t reach a clear conclusion. After all, there were too many difficult and complicated diseases that were hard to treat in this era. They could only first prescribe a remedy to nourish the body.
At noon Han Qian held a banquet in the mansion before sending off Shen He, Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong, and Princess Qingyang. At the mansion gate, he deliberately kept Wang Lin to talk a while longer, discussing several memorials that needed to be sent to Jinling.
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“Elder Brother, what did you discern?” Princess Qingyang sat in the carriage and glanced through the window at the deep and spacious Advisory Military Counselor’s mansion. Seeing Han Qian standing at the gate seeing off Prince Tan’s Registrar Wang Lin, she turned back to ask the Marquis Changxiang.
“Shen He clearly shows signs of poisoning. I believe Han Qian also had some suspicions, which is why he brought Shen He to his mansion to have his medical officers conduct further diagnosis. But Han Qian has too many concerns, or perhaps because we were present, he didn’t speak plainly,” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong said with furrowed brows.
“However, I see that Han Qian truly has no real substance—I really don’t know why the Third Prince is so devoted to serving under him!” Princess Qingyang said disdainfully.
“Some people only need to be good at employing others. Even if Han Daoxun is planning behind the scenes, the fact that Han Qian can step forward to stand at the Third Prince’s side and contend equally with Li Pu and Shen Yang means he cannot be taken lightly,” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong said. Though he was convinced that Han Daoxun was the greatest strategist behind Yang Yuanpu, during this period of staying in Tanzhou and gathering information from various sources, he had also confirmed that Han Qian was not mediocre.
Of course, Princess Qingyang’s disdain for Han Qian was based on confirming that Han Qian had no accomplishments in matters like poetry, song lyrics, music, chess, calligraphy, or painting—sometimes his use of classical allusions was even riddled with errors and omissions.
Now knowing explicitly that Han Qian wasn’t skilled in medicine either, Princess Qingyang couldn’t understand why Marquis Liyang Yang En had praised him so highly originally.
On the other hand, this Registrar Wang Lin at Third Prince Yang Yuanpu’s side, who had once served as Censor, had poetry and prose that could all be called first-rate. His manner of speaking was also quick-witted and interesting, and he was handsome and elegant. In comparison, even Han Qian’s appearance was ordinary.
Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong had originally had some other doubts, but before he could think deeply, Princess Qingyang had diverted the topic. He couldn’t help but shake his head and smile, thinking that girls always cared more about such things.
Of course, Wang Yong himself was extremely confident that his poetry was unrivaled in Sichuan and Shu. His and Qingyang’s mother had died of illness in earlier years with symptoms extremely resembling poisoning. Being exceptionally intelligent, he had also worked hard on medical skills. Since Han Qian was clumsy in this art, it was inevitable that he would look down on him somewhat.
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After sending off Shen He and Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong, Han Qian talked with Registrar Wang Lin at the mansion gate for a while.
Feng Liao was anxious to return to the small hall to inquire about the details of Du Qiniang’s diagnosis, but saw that Han Qian and Wang Lin kept chattering endlessly.
Wang Lin had once served as Censor, but after impeaching Xu Mingzhen was demoted to a minor clerk in the Capital Prefecture. Only after receiving Shen Yang’s recommendation did he come to serve at the Third Prince’s side. But he had always been arrogant about his talents, and his relationship with Han Qian’s side had always been cold. Feng Liao didn’t know what Han Qian had to deal with regarding him.
Of course, though Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong didn’t recognize Feng Liao, Wang Lin knew who Feng Liao was. Having seen him at Shen He’s place, Wang Lin had ordered Feng Liao about, which made Feng Liao quite displeased with Wang Lin.
Just as Wang Lin was about to take his leave, he suddenly sighed: “Lord Shen’s chill seems rather severe!”
“Ha, I thought Lord Wang was indifferent to it,” Han Qian laughed heartily.
“I don’t like Shen He as a person, but Shen He has His Majesty’s great trust—Wang Lin cannot help but care a little,” Wang Lin said.
“Evil heat has entered Lord Shen’s body. A few doses of medicine should cure him completely—there’s nothing to worry about,” Han Qian said breezily.
“Since Lord Han says so, then I’ll report it to His Highness this way,” Wang Lin said, then gestured for his attendants to bring his horse. He mounted and cupped his hands in farewell before departing.
“Why is my lord considering Wang Lin now?” Feng Liao asked in puzzlement.
“Have I? I don’t think so,” Han Qian said.
Seeing that Han Qian was unwilling to say more, Feng Liao didn’t pursue the question. At this moment, he was more concerned about what poison Du Qiniang had diagnosed in Shen He.
Han Qian returned to the small hall with Feng Liao and Xi Ren, and saw that Du Qiniang was still waiting there. He asked: “What did you discover about Lord Shen’s condition?”
“…Lord Shen’s symptoms suggest he has been poisoned, and poisoned for quite some time, but it’s difficult to confirm what kind of poison was administered. There are some symptoms of Heart-Devouring Vine, but in some ways it doesn’t quite match. However, Lord Shen just said that while in Jinling, apart from having no appetite and losing some weight, his spirits didn’t show the listlessness of poisoning. There are many things that Qiniang cannot understand,” Du Qiniang truthfully stated her judgment of Shen He’s symptoms, but the information she provided was already sufficient.
“Shen He obviously couldn’t have been poisoned after leaving the capital—could it be that the Anning Palace side secretly administered poison to Shen He while also secretly giving him medicine that could suppress the poison’s onset? This would cause the poison to penetrate deep into Shen He’s bone marrow, but on the surface it wouldn’t show. But after Shen He left Jinling, the symptoms of poisoning became prominent?” Zhao Ting’er speculated.
Feng Liao’s eyes lit up. He felt that Zhao Ting’er’s speculation might hit upon the truth of the matter, thinking to himself that both women at Han Qian’s side were extraordinary.
Feng Liao also deduced it should be so. If the poisoner was doing the same thing to Emperor Tianyou, then they could more precisely control when Emperor Tianyou would die from the poison.
“Alright, you may go now. Don’t let anyone else know about today’s events,” Han Qian said to Du Qiniang, letting her withdraw.