Li Man'er carefully poured the medicine into a bowl and handed it to the young eunuch.
The young eunuch took the medicine bowl into the inner chamber. After the eunuch who tasted the medicine confirmed it was not poisonous, Eunuch Xia then served it to Emperor Chenghua.
The Grand Princess had submitted to punishment, and the Empress Dowager was also ill. Emperor Chenghua was likely overcome with grief, and his old illness recurred. The prescriptions from the Imperial Hospital had been used for some time without improvement, so Li Man'er was summoned to the palace.
Li Man'er wrote a new prescription for Emperor Chenghua and taught Duan Xu the method of acupuncture, asking him to administer the treatment to the Emperor. Their master-disciple relationship was thus solidified.
After taking the medicine, Emperor Chenghua felt much better. However, he had questions and decided to keep Duan Xu behind.
Duan Xu knelt by the side, feeling anxious. He vaguely knew what Emperor Chenghua wanted to ask and was even more fearful.
"Duan Xu."
"Your servant is here."
"You are also getting on in years. Rise and answer me."
Duan Xu quickly thanked the Emperor, rose, and sat on a nearby chair, nervously awaiting the Emperor's question.
"Duan Xu, I recall you entered the palace during the late Emperor's reign."
"Yes."
Emperor Chenghua paused for a moment. "By that calculation, you are a few years older than I am."
Duan Xu felt even more uncertain and could only brace himself to reply, "Yes, this servant is a few years older, older."
Sweat was about to break out.
"You say you are old, yet why are you not as capable as a young girl?"
Duan Xu immediately knelt to beg for forgiveness, "Your servant's skills are lacking, this servant is ashamed."
"I didn't ask you to kneel, but I just can't understand. You say Anning is so young, yet you are not as good as her."
"Princess Anning's medical skills are indeed exceptionally profound. This servant has heard that Princess Anning's abilities were not taught by ordinary mortals." Duan Xu felt more confident and began to follow Li Man'er's strategy to deceive Emperor Chenghua, "This servant has heard that the Princess is a disciple of the Xuan Yi Men (Mysterious Medical School). The word 'Xuan' is thought-provoking."
"Xuan Yi Men?" Emperor Chenghua asked, slightly surprised. "Wasn't it said that her medical skills were learned from Ning Daocheng when she was at the Ning family?"
Duan Xu then said, "Your Majesty, this old servant has something to say, though I am unsure if it is appropriate."
"Speak."
"Ning Daocheng is known as the 'Mad Doctor,' and his master was the Divine Physician Qiu. Both their medical skills were extraordinary, truly rare talents in this world. However, as far as this humble servant knows, Princess Anning only stayed at the Ning family for a few years. She was brought back by Marquis Tie Dan when she was ten. The art of medicine and healing, can it be mastered in just two or three years? This servant… dares to surmise that Xuan Yi Men likely possesses truly profound medical knowledge."
Not even a breath could be heard in the hall. Emperor Chenghua lay within the bed curtains, his thoughts unknown.
Fine beads of sweat covered Duan Xu's forehead. His legs trembled, and he could barely remain kneeling.
After a long while, Emperor Chenghua finally said, "What you say has merit."
Duan Xu prostrated himself on the floor tiles, not daring to breathe.
Emperor Chenghua, however, said, "I recall you already have four grandchildren?"
"Yes."
"You old fellow, you are quite fertile."
Duan Xu did not know why Emperor Chenghua's train of thought was so peculiar, nor what he meant. He could only feign deafness and ignorance.
"Your small house is probably no longer enough. I shall bestow a new residence upon you another day."
Duan Xu immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude for the imperial favor. Seeing Emperor Chenghua wave his hand, he then left the hall, sweat pouring down his face.
The weather was indeed getting hotter by the day.
Emperor Chenghua lay on the bed, contemplating for a long time. Suddenly, he became interested and called for Eunuch Xia to help him bathe and change his clothes.
"Summon Master Du'e to the palace. I wish to discuss Buddhism and the Dao with him."
Eunuch Xia dared not delay and immediately dispatched someone to invite Master Du'e. About two hours later, Master Du'e arrived at a leisurely pace, as if he did not take the imperial decree seriously at all.
"Oh my, Master, why are you so late? His Majesty has been waiting impatiently."
"I had matters to attend to, matters." Master Du'e did not possess an air of immortal grace or a benevolent smile. He looked like a greasy middle-aged man with a shaved head.
"His Majesty is waiting impatiently. Please follow this humble servant inside!"
"Oh, oh." Master Du'e then switched to a more dignified demeanor and entered the hall with Eunuch Xia.
Emperor Chenghua had become much thinner after these two bouts of illness. His old clothes appeared somewhat loose on him.
He was currently standing by his desk, writing with a brush. Seemingly pleased with what he had written, the corners of his mouth curved upwards; he appeared quite content.
The first glance Master Du'e cast upon him actually revealed a hint of sympathy. "Amitabha, His Majesty's complexion is indeed better than before." However, the faint blackness between his brows had gathered from dispersed to concentrated, which was not a good sign.
"Master is an outsider, why do you also speak such flattering words? Is it merely because I am the Emperor?"
"This poor monk speaks the truth. A few days ago, His Majesty could not get out of bed, and now he can pick up a brush and write. Is that not a great improvement?"
Emperor Chenghua put down his brush and walked out from behind the desk. "Master, please be seated."
Master Du'e recited Buddha's name again and then sat down below Emperor Chenghua.
"Serve tea."
Eunuch Xia had a young eunuch bring tea in, then closed the door, waiting outside.
"His Majesty summoned this humble monk, is it to inquire about Princess Anning?"
Emperor Chenghua smiled. "Master indeed possesses celestial insight."
"Not so!" Du'e replied. "This humble monk merely has fewer worldly obsessions than ordinary people and more clarity than those outside the monastic life."
"I am not clear-minded?"
Du'e's eyes were very calm, revealing no ripples. "Your Majesty, this humble monk has told you long ago that Princess Anning is not an anomaly!" She merely has strong backing.
"But you also said earlier that my lifespan would end this year…" Emperor Chenghua said, "What if Princess Anning cures me?"
"Then it will be this humble monk's error, and no one else's." Du'e stated, "Your Majesty's destiny is changing. This may perhaps be a good thing."
Du'e looked again at the space between Emperor Chenghua's brows and said, "Destiny transforms into malevolence; everything has its own natural course."
Emperor Chenghua carefully pondered these words and then asked, "Master, is my ninth brother truly not the one destined to inherit the throne?"
Du'e shook his head. "The true successor has not yet appeared."
Emperor Chenghua sighed mournfully. "It seems all my sons are useless. Enough, let us not discuss these matters. It has been a long time since we played chess. Today, we must have a clear winner."
"This humble monk obeys."
After leaving the palace, Duan Xu rushed back to his residence. He drank cold tea, bathed and changed, and then ate a meal.
After eating, he went to the back courtyard to rest and did not leave.
Today was not his scheduled duty, but he had been summoned. After the ordeal and fright, he felt exhausted and very drowsy. He soon fell asleep.
The spy assigned to follow him observed for a while before leaving the Duan family.
Before it was completely dark, the back door of the Duan family was pushed open a crack. A shadowy figure slipped out and vanished into the alley.
Li Man'er carefully examined the information on the note and casually set it aflame, tossing it into the charcoal brazier.
The game had just begun.