Chapter 3, treating illness also requires taking life-threatening risks

"But Young Master Feng, you are joking with your own life!" Xiao Erlang was also anxious and advised, "Young Master Feng, why don't we not take this risk? Let's wait until Prince Pingxi's health improves before we pay our respects, and then go to Qujing to take up the position of county magistrate. Even if the position is a bit lower, we can still scrape together some money. Even if we earn a little less, it is still better than losing our heads! Young Master Feng, you know very well that Prince Pingxi has killed countless people in his lifetime; killing us would be as easy as squashing an ant!"

"No need for that, no need for that, Lord Lu, please rise quickly." Liu Xuanchu clearly had no airs about him, personally assisting Feng Xiang to his feet, examining him from head to toe, and then nodding as he said: "Indeed, he is a young hero. Lord Lu is truly so young that it surprises this old man. I had thought that someone capable of discerning the root of the prince's ailment would at least be a middle-aged scholar in his thirties or forties. I never expected that Lord Lu would be so young. Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance, nor can one measure the sea by a single bucket." Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance, nor can one measure the sea by a single bucket.

"That is only natural." Feng Xiang smiled and nodded, but beside him, Xiao Erlang could not help but express his discontent. Seizing the opportunity while the captain of the guard team went up the mountain to report, he quietly tugged at Feng Xiang's sleeve and said, "Young Master Feng, is it really necessary? To have him deliver a letter, you actually gave him thirty taels of silver? How much land do we have to scrape in Qujing to earn back these thirty taels of silver?"

Mr. Liu, may I ask, the younger generation must speak without reservation and express everything without holding back," Feng Xiang honestly replied. However, the next question posed by Liu Xuanchu nearly scared Feng Xiang, who was known for his courage, half to death! Liu Xuanchu asked: "Lord Lu, are you really a spy sent by the court? If you speak honestly, I will certainly ensure your safety. But if you intend to lie, I will not deceive you either; a guillotine and an executioner have already been prepared for you outside the back door of the Pingxi Wangfu." Liu Xuanchu asked: "Lord Lu, are you really a spy sent by the court? If you speak honestly, I will certainly ensure your safety. But if you intend to lie, I will not deceive you either; a guillotine and an executioner have already been prepared for you outside the back door of the Pingxi Wangfu."

Liu Xuanchu? ! '' Feng Xiang was somewhat surprised—although Feng Xiang had a background in engineering and was quite fond of history, he had seen Liu Xuanchu's great name in historical texts. He knew that this old man, though not holding an official position, was quite skilled in both internal governance and strategic tactics, being one of Wu Sangui's most important advisors. Moreover, Liu Xuanchu was among the most steadfast in his anti-Qing and restoration of Ming stance among Wu Sangui's followers, which suggested a shared ambition with himself. Additionally, Feng Xiang respected Liu Xuanchu as both an elder and an ancient figure, so he hurriedly knelt down with twenty or thirty of his attendants, bowing his head and saying: "I, Lu Yifeng, a junior, lead my attendants to pay respects to Mr. Liu Xuanchu. May you enjoy longevity and peace."

The captain of the guard, surnamed Chen, took an unusually long time to come down the mountain this time. Feng Xiang and the others waited at the foot of the mountain for nearly an hour, yet he still did not descend to provide a response. Feng Xiang still had some patience, but the other servants, including Er Lang, began to fidget, frequently standing up to look up the mountain, fearing that a group of people would suddenly rush down and capture the fraudulent deity, Lu Yifeng, to take him up the mountain and execute him. However, the servants, including Er Lang, were relieved when, after a while, the captain of the guard finally led a thin, frail old man down. The old man appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old, with a small white braid and a face full of wrinkles. He held a dry tobacco pipe that was thicker than his wrist and wore a long robe typical of a Confucian scholar, which did not suggest he held an official position. Nevertheless, the captain of the guard treated him with exceptional respect, and the other guards also stood at attention to salute him, presenting a typical appearance of someone with significant status.

"Really? Lord Lu, you are not joking, are you?" The captain of the guard looked at Feng Xiang with suspicion, observing his ordinary, plump face that was adorned with a kind smile. However, in his distinctly black and white eyes, there was a resolute gaze, as if he was quite confident. Feng Xiang smiled and replied, "Of course, I am not joking. General Chen can just report to me. If I manage to cure the prince's illness, the general will also share in the credit, won't he?" As he spoke, Feng Xiang took out ten taels of silver from his sleeve and placed it into the hands of the captain of the guard. Feng Xiang smiled and replied, "Of course, I am not joking. General Chen can just report to me. If I manage to cure the prince's illness, the general will also share in the credit, won't he?" As he spoke, Feng Xiang took out ten taels of silver from his sleeve and placed it into the hands of the captain of the guard.

It should be so. The captain of the guard nodded and said: "When I arrived at the entrance of the royal mansion, I asked the guard at the gate to escort me inside. Shortly after, the second prince stormed out of the mansion, furious, saying that you should quickly get lost and not embarrass yourself here, lest he be scolded again by Prince Pingxi. Moreover, judging by the second prince's demeanor, he seemed to be extremely angry."

"General Chen, please rest assured. I am only twenty-five years old, still quite young, and I am not ready to die yet," Feng Xiang said with a smile. "Therefore, General Chen, you can just pass on the message; I would not joke with my own life."

"Mr. Liu, you flatter me; I am merely fortunate," Feng Xiang feigned modesty and then asked, "Mr. Liu, may I inquire whether Prince Pingxi would agree to meet with me once, so that I may diagnose and treat his ailment?"

"There is no need to say more, of course." Feng Xiang laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation. The captain of the guard gritted his teeth and briefly explained the duty of guarding the mountain road before personally heading up Wuhua Mountain to report. However, after waiting for about half an hour at the foot of the mountain, Feng Xiang saw the captain of the guard come down looking dejected, who then said to Feng Xiang: "Lord Lu, it's not that I don't want to help you, but the Second Prince has ordered you to leave quickly."

You do not understand this again," Feng Xiang replied with a sly smile, "As long as he can deliver that letter to the hands of the Prince of Pingxi, my fifty taels of silver will be equivalent to the effect of five thousand taels. In this day and age, there are plenty of people who carry a pig's head but cannot find the temple door to worship the gods. We are fortunate to be able to achieve great things with a small amount of money, which is already quite good. " Er Lang and the other servants exchanged glances, truly unable to comprehend what their young master was thinking, but feeling helpless, they could only follow Feng Xiang.

"Hi! That old traitor Wu Sangui really has quite the arrogance!" Feng Xiang felt somewhat helpless. Whether or not he met Wu Sangui was originally of little concern, but if he did not seize this opportunity to present himself before Wu Sangui and leave a deep impression, it would be difficult to gain Wu Sangui's trust and be favored for important positions. Given Lu Yifeng's background, family heritage, and connections, achieving his ideals would be nothing but a pipe dream. To make matters worse, it is now the sixth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. In two years, Ao Bai will fall, and within six years, Wu Sangui will raise an army against the Qing. At that time, as a seventh-rank county magistrate with no military power or authority, how much of a role could he possibly play in the grand struggle against the Qing?

"Young Master Feng, have you thought this through? Treating Prince Pingxi is no joking matter." Although he was forcibly dragged to Wuhua Mountain by Feng Xiang, as he watched Feng Xiang about to negotiate with the guards of the Prince Pingxi's residence, Xiao Erlang, who was quite loyal to the Lu family, still grabbed Feng Xiang's sleeve and said nervously, "Young Master Feng, if you manage to cure Prince Pingxi's illness, that would be one thing, but if you fail, the consequences are unimaginable. Losing your official position might be considered a light punishment, but if things go wrong, it could cost you your head! Young Master Feng, do you understand this?"

"Why did the Second Prince tell me to get lost?" Feng Xiang was somewhat confused. In Feng Xiang's memory, Wu Sangui's second son, Wu Yingqi, although of average talent, was undoubtedly loyal and filial. Even when Wu Sangui, claiming to be the Emperor of the Great Zhou, was about to pass away, he entrusted the throne to his eldest grandson, Wu Shifan. Wu Yingqi had never expressed any resentment, but continued to loyally assist his nephew, persisting in the struggle against the Qing until the very last moment, even volunteering to treat Wu Sangui's illness. How could Wu Yingqi tell himself to get lost? In his confusion, Feng Xiang hurriedly asked, "General Chen, why did the Second Prince not allow me to treat the Prince of Pingxi? Does he not believe that I can cure the illness of the Prince of Pingxi?"

Lord Lu, this is Mr. Liu Xuanchu." The captain of the guard team interjected, saying: "Mr. Liu is the chief advisor under the prince, highly trusted by the prince. Why aren't you quickly bowing your head?

"You are here to treat the prince's illness?" The captain of the guard, surnamed Chen, was taken aback, quickly looking around and lowering his voice to speak to Feng Xiang: "Lord Lu, this matter is no laughing matter. I am doing this for your own good. The prince has not only been unwell physically these days, but his temper has also been quite poor. Last night, he even killed a servant of the royal residence. If you speak carelessly and fail to cure the prince's illness, not only will you lose your head, but I will also be implicated!"

"General Chen, I am not here today to pay my respects to Prince Pingxi." Feng Xiang shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I trouble General Chen to send someone to inform Prince Pingxi that I am here today to treat him. I possess a miraculous medicine, and as long as Prince Pingxi is willing to use it, he will surely be cured and his health restored!"

"Indeed, young master, it is best not to take this risk," the other servants of the Lu family urged in unison. They were counting on following Feng Xiang to Qujing County to exploit the situation, and they certainly did not wish to see their support, Feng Xiang, fall. However, no matter how sincerely or insincerely these servants tried to dissuade him, Feng Xiang would not listen. He insisted, saying, "You do not understand, my starting point is so low; if I do not take this gamble, even if I become the magistrate of Qujing in the future, I will not have many good days ahead."

Of course I know this. During my university days, I was nicknamed "Bold Feng Xiang" and felt no anxiety at all. I calmly said, "If I do not take this risk, I will probably end up as nothing more than a seventh-rank county magistrate in this lifetime. Life and death, honor and disgrace, would all be determined by others. To stand out, at the very least, I must first make a name for myself, leaving an impression on those princes and powerful figures, so that I may have hope of realizing my lifelong ambitions.

Pushing aside the household servants of Erlang, Feng Xiang strode to the entrance of the mountain road at the foot of Wuhua Mountain. Coincidentally, the head of the guards on duty at the entrance today was the same squad leader who had received Feng Xiang's silver yesterday. Therefore, before Feng Xiang could speak, the squad leader took the initiative to say: "Lord Lu, I sincerely apologize, but you will have to make this trip in vain again today. The prince's condition has worsened today, and even the Governor and the Commander of Yunnan have been refused an audience. Please wait a few more days before returning."

"Is that the esteemed Lord Lu Yifeng from Dali Prefecture?" the old man with a long beard scrutinized Feng Xiang and his companions as he asked. Feng Xiang quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute, and said, "In response to your esteemed self, I am Lu Yifeng, the magistrate of Qujing. May I inquire about your honorable surname and name, sir?"

"Regardless, opportunities are fleeting; if missed, they will not return. If this village is missed, there will be no shop left. " In a moment of urgency, Feng Xiang had another brilliant idea. He asked the servants for paper and pen, and swiftly wrote down sixteen characters on the letterhead: 'The illness of the Western King lies in the heart. To cure the disease, one must first treat the heart.' Finally, Feng Xiang sealed the letter in an envelope, along with thirty taels of silver, and presented it to the captain of the guard, saying softly: 'General Chen, I trouble you to report once more. Please deliver the pulse diagnosis I provided for the prince to the Second Prince or Prince Pingxi. If they still wish to dismiss me after reading my diagnosis, I will leave immediately, without any further words.' Feng Xiang sealed the letter in an envelope, along with thirty taels of silver, and presented it to the captain of the guard, saying softly: 'General Chen, I trouble you to report once more. Please deliver the pulse diagnosis I provided for the prince to the Second Prince or Prince Pingxi. If they still wish to dismiss me after reading my diagnosis, I will leave immediately, without any further words.'

If the prince does not wish to meet you, I would not personally descend the mountain to welcome you. Liu Xuanchu laughed heartily, took Feng Xiang's hand, and said, "Lord Lu, please, I will personally lead you to meet the prince." Feng Xiang was overjoyed, quickly leaving Er Lang and the other servants to wait at the foot of the mountain, and then he eagerly followed Liu Xuanchu up the mountain to pay his respects to the infamous traitor Wu Sangui, whose notoriety was enough to suffocate half the city's populace—what a challenge this was!

Then... well, I will report it for you. The captain of the guard gritted his teeth and made up his mind, adding, However, I must say this in advance: if you cannot cure Prince Pingxi's illness, and the prince, in a fit of anger, decides to execute you, I cannot save you. Even if you become a ghost, do not come looking for me.

The journey up the mountain was not smooth sailing. Just as they were nearing the halfway point, Liu Xuanchu suddenly stopped in his tracks, glanced sideways at Feng Xiang, and asked, "Lord Lu, I have a question for you, and I hope you will answer it truthfully."

The captain of the guard felt somewhat troubled, but considering Feng Xiang's confident demeanor and the thirty taels of shiny silver, he gritted his teeth and accepted the envelope. He then said, "Alright, I will risk getting scolded and make another trip for you, but this is the last time. If the prince and the second prince still refuse to let you ascend the mountain, then please do not put me in a difficult position again"