Dingbei Hou's doctor brother

Chapter 200: Participating in the Magic

The morning court sessions these days were still dominated by the usual topics of treasury expenditures and natural disasters in various places, which lasted for a long while.

The Guanglu Temple also made a detailed report on the Queen's affairs two months later. When it was finished, Yan Qian glanced at the newly promoted Left Censor-in-Chief, Guan Feiling.

Guan Feiling immediately stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Accurate."

Guan Feiling said, "I would like to report the Imperial Hospital Director Lu Ziqing for violating the laws of the court by privately treating common people and using sorcery to seek personal gain."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar and everyone was talking among themselves.

Xiao Yan suddenly clenched his tablet tightly, and immediately realized that it was about the Red Cloth Doctor. When he withdrew his gaze, he was met with Yan Qian's cunning smile, and then turned his head away, only to hear Emperor Sheng Zhi ask.

"Using witchcraft for personal gain? Why would Lord Guan say that?"

Guan Feiling said, "This happened a few months ago. There was a wave of rumors about the Red Cloth Miracle Healer among the people. People flocked to him for treatment, leaving many clinics without business. You can find out about this by just asking around among the people."

"I know about this because someone reported it to me. The Red Cloth Miraculous Doctor is none other than Lu Ziqing, the Chief Judge of the Imperial Hospital. Speaking of this, I have to mention that a while ago, Lord Fang was critically ill. Everyone in the court and the country knew that Lord Fang almost passed away, and it was Lord Judge Lu who saved him."

"However, the key to this matter lies here. According to the description of the servants in the mansion, when Judge Lu was treating Mr. Fang, Mr. Fang let out an extremely shrill woman's scream, which lasted for quite some time. This is not something I made up; it is known to everyone in the mansion."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yan who was standing in front of him.

"Furthermore, Marquis Dingbei was present in person when the incident occurred. Your Majesty can verify whether what I said is true."

Emperor Shengzhi listened to the ministers' discussions and asked Xiao Yan, "My dear minister Xiao, is what I said true?"

Xiao Yan hesitantly bowed, "What Master Guan said... is true."

There was another shock in the court. He caught a glimpse of the barely perceptible smiles on the Yan father and son, and heard a hint of disappointment in Emperor Shengzhi's tone.

"Go on, Lord Guan."

"Yes." Guan Feiling said.

"It was precisely because of this strange symptom that the Imperial Hospital was unable to treat Lord Fang. But when Court Judge Lu went there, Lord Fang was able to cure him. The only explanation is that Court Judge Lu used sorcery, and only sorcery can cure this kind of evil disease. The Lord Fang's mansion has even dispatched many servants to deal with this matter. May I ask Minister Fang of the Ministry of Works, am I right?"

Minister Fang was in a dilemma at the moment. He had promised Lu Ziqing not to spread the matter, but he didn't expect that it would still cause trouble.

He hesitated for a moment, then replied cautiously, "I sent the servant because my mother has always been in poor health. The servant didn't serve her wholeheartedly, and my mother was dissatisfied, so I replaced him. As for my father's treatment, it's not that I'm an imperial physician who doesn't understand the art. This... I really don't know where to begin."

Guan Feiling glanced at him and said, "It doesn't matter if Minister Fang doesn't admit it. It's already incredible that Lu Ziqing can cure a strange disease that even the Imperial Hospital can't, not to mention that he's also secretly treating patients in private clinics."

"Let's go back to the matter of the red cloth doctor. Some local gentry have already taken out evil spirits that harm people in their homes. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, I can tell you another story. However, this story concerns King Zhao and the Crown Prince. Please forgive me."

Emperor Shengzhi thought for a moment, "I forgive you for your innocence, what is the matter?"

Guan Feiling said, "The reason for the imprisonment of the Prince of Zhao and the Crown Prince's case is not for us to discuss. However, regarding the evidence of witchcraft, the Imperial Observatory confidently speculated that it was in the east. So why did the commander of the Imperial Guards find it in the west, at the Prince of Zhao's residence? Wherever this object was gathered, over such a long distance and with such strict security, could it have been teleported through the air? It could have been moved just like that?"

"Your Majesty, I only wish to clarify one thing. Judging from all his strange appearances, Lu Ziqing is definitely not an ordinary person. His intentions in coming to the Forbidden City are truly alarming and suspicious."

As he finished speaking, Xiao Yan came out to speak, "Master Guan, you have said so much, but have you witnessed Lu Ziqing performing your so-called sorcery?"

"This..." Guan Feiling was speechless for a moment, and glanced at Emperor Sheng Zhi, "Your Majesty... naturally I have never seen it, but..."

"Since Lord Guan didn't witness it with his own eyes, how dare he speak so confidently in the court?" Xiao Yan said.

"Lu Ziqing is merely gifted, his medical skills surpassing those of ordinary people, yet he is unreasonably accused of witchcraft. Isn't Lord Guan trying to create panic? Doesn't he want to make things worse for Elder Fang?"

Guan Feiling seemed anxious when he heard this and was about to explain when Yan Qian stood up and spoke.

"Marquis Dingbei is wrong. Your close personal relationship with Lu Ziqing is well known to everyone in the court and the country. It's hard to guarantee that you are not biased. Just because you haven't witnessed it yourself doesn't mean others haven't seen it."

He bowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, since you two gentlemen insist on different stories, why not summon the local gentry to the palace to testify, and then have Judge Lu testify in front of Your Majesty and all the ministers. This way, I believe the truth of the matter can be fully revealed."

Emperor Shengzhi ordered in a deep voice, "Then summon the witness and Lu Ziqing to the palace."

Lu Ziqing had another sleepless night last night, and his eyes were a little dark. He was standing by the stove in the medicine room and wanted to doze off.

Chi Musheng put the soaked herbs into his stove and looked at him. "Did you not sleep again? You look so bad?"

Lu Ziqing fanned the fire and pinched the sleepiness from the corners of his eyes, "My heart fire is too strong, and I always can't sleep well."

"Another excessive internal heat?" Chi Musheng added water to the stove. "You're an imperial physician yourself, and you can't cure this? If you have any difficulties, please tell me."

difficulty?

Lu Ziqing pondered over these two words thoughtfully. After a while, he asked inexplicably and strangely.

"Um...if you're talking about giving gifts, what does it mean to give someone a hairpin?"

"what?"

Chi Musheng didn't react for a moment, and then he said "Oh" and looked at him with interest.

"What's going on? Did you give it to them? Or did they give it to you?"

Lu Ziqing naturally avoided the gossipy gaze and covered it up by saying, "It's not that I don't know anything about this. I was just asking to learn more. No one sent it."

Chi Musheng smiled half-believingly, "Why ask? Giving a hairpin is of course a token of love. Who do you want to give it to?"

"Then..." Lu Ziqing asked again: "What if it's a man giving it to another man?"

"Ok?"

Chi Musheng's look suddenly turned into one of surprise and suspicion. He hissed meaningfully and moved closer to him.

"This question? Why does it seem a little unbelievable when you ask it? It's..."

"No." Lu Ziqing ignored what others were going to say and tried to deny it, then said, "I just...didn't you say something about getting married before? I was bored and thought of this question, so I asked casually."

Seeing his uneasy expression, Chi Musheng smiled and said, "Okay, it's the same when a man gives a hairpin to another man. It's just that homosexuality is not very popular in this dynasty, but it does exist. It's just..."

He looked at Lu Ziqing and said jokingly with interest, "Hey, you know what? With your outstanding appearance and elegant demeanor, you will definitely be liked by others. Isn't there anyone..."

"No no."

Lu Ziqing's ears turned red and he immediately denied it. He tried to hide his panic by grabbing the medicine jar, but suddenly retracted his hand because he was burned.

"Go rinse it with cold water." Chi Musheng wrapped the medicine jar with a cloth. "It's so hot, why don't you keep an eye on it?"

As he was speaking, someone came in from outside. It was Feng Qi.

When Chi Musheng saw him, he went up to greet him, "Eunuch Feng, what brings you here?"

Feng Qi glanced at Lu Ziqing as he approached and said, "The Emperor has ordered Lu Ziqing to come to the palace immediately without delay."

After receiving the order, Lu Ziqing exchanged a glance with Chi Musheng. When he arrived at the courtyard, he met Xu Shizhang. After Xu Shizhang understood the reason, he followed him into the palace.