Chapter 53: With certainty, he’s wrong (1/2)

Han Yunxi was indignant.

‘Don’t spread the Dao to those who will not learn it, don’t knock on doors for those who don’t want treatment’[1] was reason she still understood. It was Emperor Tianhui who wanted her diagnosis, so why did it sound like she was the one coming over to lie to them? When did she fished for fame and compliments? When did she gain renown by deceiving the public? Weren’t those rumors outside spread by people intentionally?

The two little eunuchs that were about to approach her stopped, too scared to make any sudden moves. The empress dowager and empress couldn’t believe their eyes. Wasn’t this girl was too bold, acting so unbridled before the emperor? Meanwhile, Long Feiye’s lips rose up into an attractive curve.

In the silence, Han Yunxi opened her mouth and spoke word by icy word. “Your majesty, I don’t care who it was that diagnosed him with a pregnancy pulse. I’ll say it once more, the crown prince seems to have a smooth pulse, not a pregnancy one. If you called me here just here to corroborate someone else’s results, then you found the wrong person!”

These words left Emperor Tianhui speechless. The pregnancy pulse had been verified long ago, so he’d invited Han Yunxi here to treat just such an illness. After the crown prince’s stomach swelled, Han Congan had prescribed a pill for miscarriage, but it had no effects whatsoever. Han Congan didn’t even know where to start for treatment, so he only took the crown prince’s pulse daily and fed him fortifying decoctions for his body. Emperor Tianhui couldn’t help but fear that someday the crown prince really would give birth to a baby!

Yet he never expected that Han Yunxi would find something else besides a pregnancy pulse.

Seeing the emperor still looking as wrathful as before, Han Yunxi continued to speak. “Your majesty, it’s impossible for a man to be pregnant. Yunxi dares to guarantee with her life that his highness, the crown prince, doesn’t have a pregnancy pulse. The focus of his disease must be in his stomach, perhaps in the form of a giant sarcoma[2]. That’s why it looks like he’s with child and ended up with that kind of pulse reading. If it’s not treated, the growth of the sarcoma will put the crown prince’s life in danger!”

These words shocked everyone on site!

This woman actually dared to speak with so much self-assurance?

Han Congan had treated the disease for seven years convinced that it was a pregnancy pulse, and that there was a baby in that stomach. Han Yunxi, ah, Han Yunxi, why would she call it a stomach sarcoma instead?

Long Tianmo suddenly turned around. He couldn’t help but admit that he didn’t hold any expectations for Han Yunxi, but these examination results revealed a sliver of hope in his gaze. If it wasn’t a pregnancy pulse but a strange illness, or Han Yunxi’s sarcoma, then his entire life could turn around! The truth was, a verified pregnancy pulse–even if it was cured–would lead to a dark mark on the rest of his life. Once it was exposed, he’d be ridiculed by everyone under Heaven. If it was some sort of toxic tumor, then that was well within the norm. He wouldn’t have to take so much pains to guard against spying and investigations from other imperial sons. Seeing Han Yunxi’s stubborn face, Long Tianmo suddenly felt like believing her.

Meanwhile, the empress’s expression grew complicated. Of course she wanted her son to be better because he was her everything. Yet she really had no way to completely believe Han Yunxi, much less have her do well at this task.

“Yunxi, but…your father checked his pulse everyday from the past seven years. He’d couldn’t have been wrong all this time?” the empress asked with worry.

These words reminded Han Yunxi at the same time it did Emperor Tianhui and crown prince, thoroughly smashing their hopes to pieces. A trifling pulse was nothing to an ordinary doctor, much less Han Congan. Han Yunxi’s gaze grew complex before she carried on with determined.

“Then it’s his mistake!”

This…

“Yunxi, how about, you stay a few days, and observe some more?” the empress sounded her out.

“I’m 100 percent sure that he’s wrong.” Han Yunxi’s voice wasn’t very loud, but it left no room for doubts. Seeing her earnest and certain expression, even the empress was moved.

Then Long Tianmo spoke up. “Imperial Father, call for Han Congan to confront her.”

Emperor Tianhui stalled for a few moments before replying for real. “Someone, call Han Congan here!”

While they waited, silence reigned. Everyone was filled with doubt and anticipation as they looked towards Han Yunxi. As a medical professional by trade, she was used to such gazes. She acted as if no one was there and sat quietly to one side, her mind earnestly searching for examples and cases she’d studied before. The crown prince’s illness was extremely odd, but strange as it was, it wasn’t without precedent. In her memories she recalled a case from her school days. There were about 100 such similar cases recorded in modern medical history texts, though it was seldom seen.

She’d harbored doubts ever since testing the pulse, and seeing the crown prince’s stomach only made her diagnosis more definite. That sarcoma talk was just something she used as an excuse. As for the exact nature of this disease, she knew very clearly that it couldn’t be spoken out loud. Once she did, she’d lose her life for sure. The problem she faced now was how to defy Han Congan.

Han Congan arrived very quickly.

He was a man around 50 years old, with a grayish beard like a goat’s and gray robes. Though he intentionally tried to be low-key in the palace, it was hard to conceal his impressive, dignified bearing as the head of his household. This was the first time Han Yunxi had saw her ‘father’ since traveling back in time.

Han Congan entered and paid respects to everyone, even Han Yunxi, whom he called Qin Wangfei. Han Yunxi sounded cool and detached when she replied, “You’re excused.”

Towards this father, she not only felt foreignness, but hate. In all her life, the one thing she absolutely despised were men who envied woman. Han Congan was one such man. That year, Lady Tianxin died during labor. Why did she give birth to an ugly daughter afflicted with the commonest of poisonous scars? Something even an average medical practitioner could recognize was left unchecked and untreated. Sooner or later, Han Yunxi would find the answer to these questions.

The empress couldn’t wait to speak her piece. “Han Congan, Qin Wangfei firmly believes that the crown prince has a malignant tumor in his stomach. What do you think?”

Han Congan originally thought that Han Yunxi would be at a loss before this strange illness, which was why Emperor Tianhui had summoned him. Somehow things had turned out this way instead. He gave Han Yunxi an incredulous glance. This damned girl was too bold. Even if she studied her mother’s personal medical texts, she only learned some poison arts from it. But she dared to make such a diagnosis?

Han Congan shook his head. “Qin Wangfei, do you have proof for your malignant tumor?”