SFS Chapter 498 Consultation
Chapter 498 Consultation
In the stillness of the night, a carriage quietly stopped in front of the Imperial Tutor's residence.
The coachman lifted the silk curtain, and a figure dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with floral patterns stepped down from the carriage, took three steps at a time, stepped up the steps, grasped the copper ring of the vermilion gate, and knocked on the gate.
The main gate of the Imperial Tutor's residence was usually closed, but today there was a sudden knock. The doorman hurriedly opened the door, and upon looking over, exclaimed in surprise, "Imperial Physician Fang, what brings you here? Has the master's condition worsened again?"
The gatekeeper was worried about the Imperial Tutor. He had not only forgotten that Physician Fang had knocked on the door without any manners, but he himself also disregarded etiquette and hurriedly invited Physician Fang to enter the mansion through the main gate: "Please come in quickly, don't delay the master's treatment."
"The Imperial Tutor's condition has not worsened; I've only come to take his pulse." Amidst the servant's puzzled expression, Physician Fang took out a token and handed it to him: "There is another distinguished person who, upon hearing that the Imperial Tutor is ill, has come to inquire about his condition."
The gatekeeper recognized the token, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly opened the half-open gate, wanting to go into the mansion to inform the steward, but was stopped by Physician Fang.
"When important people visit the sick in private, there is no need to make a big show of it."
The servant nodded blankly, and then saw Eunuch Liu get off the carriage, and then help a tall man out of the carriage.
The man had a dark complexion and large bags under his eyes, giving him a gloomy appearance. Despite this, he still exuded an air of nobility that was imbued with imperial power.
The Northern Qi emperor's gaze was sharp, fixed directly on him.
The doorman shrugged and stared in fright, then knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling as he greeted them.
The Northern Qi emperor did not punish the gatekeeper for looking up at the emperor, but instead gave Physician Fang a deep look, suspecting that he had been whispering with the gatekeeper for so long to buy time for the imperial tutor.
Physician Fang lowered his head even further.
The Northern Qi emperor withdrew his gaze and stepped into the Imperial Tutor's residence.
Eunuch Liu helped the Northern Qi emperor to the small courtyard where the imperial tutor lived.
Throughout the journey, the Imperial Tutor's Mansion has been simple and elegant, without any extravagance or opulence.
The Northern Qi emperor saw all this and felt even more strongly that the imperial tutor was indifferent to wealth and power and did not contend with the world.
Is such a person truly related to the remnants of the previous dynasty?
"Your Majesty, we have arrived," Eunuch Liu reminded him.
The Northern Qi emperor gathered his thoughts and looked at the tightly closed courtyard.
Just then, the courtyard door opened, and Yan Yi came out carrying a bowl of cold medicine.
Upon seeing the Emperor of Northern Qi, he paused for a moment, then quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Tutor is seriously ill and unable to get out of bed. He is unable to come and greet you. Please forgive him."
"I am visiting the Imperial Tutor privately; there's no need for these formalities." The Emperor of Northern Qi pointed to the medicine bowl: "What's the purpose of this medicine?"
Yan Yi said in a low voice, "The Imperial Tutor can't drink the medicine, so I'll heat it up a bit more."
The Emperor of Northern Qi nodded slightly: "Go then." With that, he went inside.
There was no one in the outer room, so the Emperor of Northern Qi followed the sound to the inner room and found the Imperial Tutor lying on the bed with his eyes closed. He had a high fever, which made his cheeks red and his lips cracked.
The servants inside did not recognize the Northern Qi Emperor, but they recognized Eunuch Liu and Physician Fang. They bowed to them and then withdrew.
Only Yan Er remained.
The Emperor of Northern Qi inquired, "What is the situation with the Imperial Tutor?"
Yan Er's eyes were red: "The Imperial Tutor developed a high fever after leaving the palace that night. No matter what medicine he took, it was ineffective, and he remained unconscious."
At this point, he choked up: "Imperial Physician Fang said that if the Imperial Tutor's high fever doesn't subside, he will have to prepare for his passing."
The Emperor of Northern Qi frowned, quite surprised that his imperial tutor was so seriously ill.
He didn't quite believe Yan Er's words, but the Imperial Tutor had indeed lost a lot of weight since the last time he saw him in the palace; he was just skin and bones.
He was especially struck by the memory of the conversation he overheard between the servant and Physician Fang inside the carriage.
When the gatekeeper saw Physician Fang, he mistakenly thought that the Imperial Tutor's condition had worsened, and disregarded the rules, allowing Physician Fang to enter through the main gate.
To date, no one other than him has ever made the Imperial Tutor open the main gate.
But he still hadn't found the answer, because apart from the Imperial Tutor and the Empress, he couldn't think of a third person who could so accurately understand his thoughts.
The Northern Qi emperor said in a grand manner, "It has always been Physician Fang who treats the Imperial Tutor. It is probably because the Imperial Tutor has adapted to his medicine or treatment methods. I will find a few more doctors for the Imperial Tutor. Perhaps one of them can cure the Imperial Tutor."
Yan Er froze, looking at the Northern Qi Emperor with some surprise, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something.
Upon seeing this, the Emperor of Northern Qi immediately instructed several eunuchs: "Go and invite a few physicians over." After a pause, he summoned a bodyguard: "Go and summon all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to examine the Imperial Tutor's pulse."