The Prince of Mu is seriously ill?!
Both Xiao Jingcheng and Ye Wanmian were shocked.
How could he suddenly fall seriously ill out of the blue? Weren't things fine with the Prince of Mu just the other day?
However, Ye Wanmian soon thought it wasn't that strange.
During this journey from the capital to the south, they had endured the hardships of traveling by boat and carriage all the way. Even an ordinary person would feel exhausted, let alone the Prince of Mu, who had a weak constitution.
But Xiao Jingcheng thought this was too much of a coincidence.
Was his esteemed uncle really seriously ill, or was he just using this as a pretext to cover something up?
Moreover, it was common knowledge that the Prince of Mu had a poor constitution. He must have had imperial physicians accompanying him whenever he went out. When he fell ill, shouldn't he have called for the imperial physicians first?
Doctor Wang, who was well - informed, naturally knew that the Prince of Mu and his entourage had come to Dongli Town to investigate the case of the Crown Prince's disappearance. He had the same doubts as Xiao Jingcheng in his mind.
"Has the prince seen an imperial physician?"
The guards looked at Doctor Wang in surprise and patiently replied,
"We invited an imperial physician yesterday. But for some reason, after the imperial physician prescribed a dose of medicine, the prince's condition got even worse."
"The imperial physician said it might be related to the water and soil here in Dongli Town. So we were told to invite a local doctor to take a look."
Doctor Wang understood after hearing this.
The capital was thousands of miles away from Dongli Town, and the climate was naturally different. The Prince of Mu had lived in the capital all year round and was already accustomed to the local water, soil, and climate there. Suddenly changing his location, his body couldn't bear it.
And the imperial physicians who had accompanied the Prince of Mu to live in the capital all year round, when they saw the prince was ill, used the old treatment methods. Instead, it harmed the prince.
Stroking his beard, Doctor Wang pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll go with you."
Then he turned to Ye Wanmian and said, "Wanmian, bring your things. Let's go."
Ye Wanmian was stunned. She pointed at herself blankly and said, "Me?"
Xiao Jingcheng also looked at Ye Wanmian in surprise.
Doctor Wang blew on his beard and said, "You're my apprentice. If you don't come with me, who will?"
Ye Wanmian felt a shiver down her spine. "Hahaha, Master, I'm not skilled enough. I'd better not cause you any trouble."
Doctor Wang glared at her and said, "That's exactly why you should come and take a look. Hurry up. Don't delay the prince's condition!"
Ye Wanmian had no choice but to quickly pack the medicine chest for Doctor Wang and hurriedly followed him.
Xiao Jingcheng thought for a moment, then immediately controlled his body to catch up with Ye Wanmian and walked closely beside her.
Ye Wanmian looked at the guard worriedly, fearing that he would treat Huang Gou the way Bu Hua had. But the guard just gave a quick glance and didn't say anything unpleasant to drive them away. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Before long, Ye Wanmian followed Doctor Wang to the Liuxiang Tower.
There were already quite a few people gathered outside the Liuxiang Tower. They were all doctors from other medical clinics in the town. She had sold medicinal herbs to them before and recognized their faces.
When they saw Doctor Wang, those doctors cupped their hands in greeting. Some of them were surprised when they saw Ye Wanmian behind Doctor Wang, but they didn't ask any questions.
Ye Wanmian stood behind Doctor Wang, using him to hide her figure. She quietly looked around and tightened the sleeves of her robe.
The more you fear something, the more likely it will happen.
She had planned not to set foot here at all before the Prince of Mu and his entourage left Dongli Town. Who would have thought that God liked to play such jokes? By some strange twist of fate, she was pushed here again.
Fortunately, she had disguised her face and covered it with a handkerchief. It should be able to hide her identity to some extent.
When the last doctor was invited, one of the guards called into the Liuxiang Tower,
"Eunuch Wang, all the doctors in the town are here."
After a while, a middle - aged man with a pale face and no beard, holding a whisk, walked out. He had served the Prince of Mu for many years and carried an air of nobility. He looked down at the doctors outside and said,
"I'm sure the guards have explained the situation to you all. The prince's safety now depends on you. I hope you will do your best to treat the prince. If you can save the prince, you will surely be rewarded handsomely."
"But if you can't..."
He paused and sneered, "Be careful with your heads."
As soon as he said this, everyone's faces changed. Some of those who had never seen the world began to tremble.
Ye Wanmian looked at Doctor Wang in front of her and was secretly surprised to find that her master just looked a bit more serious and didn't show the same fear as others.
Eunuch Wang said those words to give a warning, so as to prevent some people from having ulterior motives and trying to curry favor.
His expression softened a bit, and he said, "Of course, I won't make things difficult for you. If you don't have the confidence to cure the prince, you can leave now. I won't stop you."
If you can cure the prince, you might rise to fame and fortune. But if you can't, you'll lose your life.
This choice was a gamble on a slim chance of survival.
The doctors looked at each other. After a moment, there was movement at the scene.
There were a total of seven doctors in Dongli Town. Three of them left. In the blink of an eye, only four were left, and Doctor Wang was one of them.
Eunuch Wang nodded slightly and said, "Since you've chosen to stay, you should do your best. Who will come first?"
The doctor in the blue robe on Doctor Wang's left took a step forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I'll come first, please, eunuch."
Eunuch Wang waved his whisk and said, "Follow me."
The man followed Eunuch Wang into the building. About a quarter of an hour later, the doctor in the blue robe was dragged out by two guards.
"Spare my life, spare my life, eunuch! Let me try again!"
Eunuch Wang followed him out and shouted angrily, "If you don't have the skills but still practice medicine, it's no different from murder for money. I'll enforce justice on behalf of the heavens today!"
The guards covered the man's mouth, and the pleading voice disappeared immediately. His figure also disappeared around the corner. No one knew if he had been dragged away and killed.
This incident naturally made people feel terrified. It also made people realize that Eunuch Wang wasn't joking. He really would take people's lives!
Ye Wanmian couldn't help but worry about Doctor Wang. She reached out and tugged at the corner of his robe.
"Master..."
Doctor Wang patted the back of her hand reassuringly and gave her a comforting look.
Eunuch Wang snorted and said, "Next."
Another doctor in a yellow robe gritted his teeth, carried his medicine chest, and stepped forward. He cupped his hands and said, "Let me give it a try."
However, the doctor in the yellow robe was dragged out by the guards within a quarter of an hour after he went in.
Unlike the doctor in the blue robe, he didn't cry and plead for mercy. He just looked as pale as death, his body limp, without even the strength to struggle.
Ye Wanmian saw this and felt a surge of anger rising in her heart, making her eyes extremely bright.
If even the imperial physicians couldn't cure the illness, why make things difficult for the rural doctors?
These doctors' medical skills might not be very good, but in Dongli Town, they could still solve most of the people's illnesses.
Killing a doctor meant that it would be even more difficult for some people in the town to seek medical treatment.
The royal family was indeed as arrogant as ever!
There were only two doctors left. Eunuch Wang swept a glance over them. The other doctor shivered and was about to speak when Doctor Wang in front of Ye Wanmian took action.
"Thank you, eunuch. Please lead the way."