CH 30

C30 – Touch the Tender Spot

“Do you still want to investigate this matter? Whoever shot an arrow at your back and let their accomplice capture you will be punished severely!” Hu Jinpeng cursed through his clenched teeth.

Wang Zizhao hadn’t fallen off his horse due to enemy attack. Instead, he was betrayed by his own comrades. He was trapped, with danger lurking everywhere, and he had to dismount from his horse to avoid being fatally wounded.

The assassins that he had encountered on his journey back to the capital had confirmed his suspicions. In Ye City and In Chee-ker City, there were people who were after Wang Zizhao’s life.

“We don’t need to investigate further. We just have to take care of those few individuals one by one,” Wang Zizhao declared with a cold expression. If Tang Yue were present, he would feel that his prior feelings of sorrow had been in vain.

How could he, a person who refused to be controlled by fate, allow these adversaries to succeed?

There was a knock on the door. The butler reminded him, “Master, Yueyang Marquis has been waiting for a long time.”

“Are they getting impatient?” Wang Zizhao asked.

“No, Master,” the housekeeper replied, bowing respectfully even though there was a door between them.

Wang Zizhao nodded towards the bamboo slip on the table. “Go and fetch the walking stick that the Yueyang Marquis gave me. I will go and meet them.” The moment he saw the item, he knew where it had come from. Yueyang Marquis lacked the courage to come in person.

Even though he had only met him twice, Tang Yue had made a deep impression on Wang Zizhao. This young master was different.

Hu Jinpeng had seen it earlier too. He even murmured that Yueyang Marquis was not considerate. Why would he give something like this?

Did the mighty Prince Zhao’s Mansion not have enough servants to assist him? Why did he require a cane?

After the items were brought over, Hu Jinpeng realized that they were not like any crutches he had seen before. They were made of high-quality pear blossom wood with an inverted triangle shape. The handrails and corners were wrapped in thick cloth, indicating that the maker had put in great care.

Wang Zizhao gazed at the crutches for a long time. Then, he pushed away Hu Jinpeng’s help and stood up with the support of the crutches.

His legs were not entirely damaged. It was his poor treatment that had made it difficult for him to walk properly.

The first few steps were very challenging. Since his legs were unable to exert force, he had to rely on his waist to generate power. After taking a few more steps, he became accustomed to the support of the crutches and started walking more steadily.

However, despite his slow pace, Wang Zizhao arrived at the garden just as Tang Yue was becoming weary from waiting.

Tang Yue grumbled internally, “The prince is not a princess, why is he taking so long?”

But all of his complaints dissipated when he saw Wang Zizhao making his way over with his walking stick.

In the sunlight, Wang Zizhao wore a simple and loose black robe that made him appear even skinnier than before. His pointed chin and delicate facial features added to his charm.

He took slow, deliberate steps, refusing any assistance despite his obvious struggle. Sweat dripped from his forehead and clung to his long eyelashes, making him look even more fragile.

Every time Tang Yue saw him, he felt that Wang Zizhao was the most captivating person he had ever laid eyes on, due to his appearance and demeanor.

Father and son exchanged bows, and Yueyang Marquis expressed his gratitude before both parties fell silent.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Tang Yue stuck his head out from behind Yueyang Marquis and asked, “Ninth Prince, is your walking stick still helpful?”

The Marquis of Yueyang felt an overwhelming desire to slap his son. Why did he have to say that?

Nevertheless, Wang Zizhao was genuinely pleased. He nodded and responded, “Very good. The young master is indeed considerate.”

Tang Yue wanted to remind him that he was older, but he held back. Why did he call him “young master” so deferentially?

He glanced at Wang Zizhao’s legs, but they were concealed by the wide hem of his clothing. He couldn’t even catch a glimpse of his shoes.

“May I see your leg?” He invited Wang Zizhao for a second time to treat his ailment.

“Yue Er! Don’t be impolite!” The Marquis of Yueyang gently pushed his son’s head back and said with a smile, “My son is inexperienced, Your Highness. Please forgive him.”

Wang Zizhao pondered for a moment before nodding once again. “Very well.”

Although the Marquis of Yueyang had never interacted with Wang Zizhao before, he had heard plenty about him. He was surprised to find that the Ninth Prince was a personable and amicable individual.

Tang Yue comforted his nervous father, assuring him that even if he couldn’t cure the patient, the situation could not be worse than it already was. He had to give it a try.

He stood up and approached Wang Zizhao, squatting down to hold his father’s ankle.

Suddenly, a few long knives were pressed against his neck, causing Tang Yue to panic. The blades were cold and heavy.

Confused, Tang Yue looked up and asked, “What is the meaning of this? Who put a weapon to the doctor’s neck? It was he who offered to treat the patient, not the other way around.”

Wang Zizhao gestured for the knives to be withdrawn. “Step back,” he ordered.

Tang Yue rolled his neck and muttered, “This isn’t a movie set, for real!”

He removed Wang Zizhao’s shoes and socks, then rolled up his pants to the knees to examine his legs carefully.

His movements were swift but gentle, which surprised onlookers who had expected him to be rough.

The muscles in his legs were well-developed, and there was no sign of atrophy. The edema that had been present earlier had disappeared, but it was uncertain what would happen in a year’s time if this continued.

The hair on the young man’s legs was not too long, and his skin was slightly red, probably due to an allergic reaction after the medicine was applied. His calves were severely bent, and the bones had not reconnected successfully, resulting in a failed bone fusion.

In the case of a fracture, the most crucial aspect is to seamlessly connect the joints of the broken bones without any dislocation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) typically uses methods such as bone restoration, splint fixation, and osteopathic disinfectants for minor fractures, coupled with acupuncture and massage during the recovery period, which is effective and economical.

In comparison, for serious fractures, western medicine must also be considered. In surgery, whether to use steel plates, steel needles, or screw bolts would depend on the patient’s specific condition. This can maximize the recovery of the bones and stabilize them, achieving a perfect fusion.

Wang Zizhao’s leg injury was too severe, and he was not treated promptly. TCM alone was insufficient, and during this period, the patient did not rest in bed. The long journey had aggravated the injury.

Everyone watched as Tang Yue knelt in front of Wang Zizhao, raising and lowering his leg. If it weren’t for his serious expression, the scene would have seemed vulgar no matter how they looked at it.

“Does it still hurt now?” Tang Yue gently tapped the opponent’s knee. When the knee jumped in his calf, it indicated that his nerves were not necrotic, which was a good sign.

Wang Zizhao nodded.

“Can you show me the prescription?” Tang Yue asked.

After a brief pause, Wang Zizhao nodded, and the butler immediately went to retrieve the prescription.

Tang Yue received the prescription but realized that he couldn’t read the language of this world. He awkwardly handed it back to Wang Zizhao and said, “Ahem… Can you please read it to me?”

Everyone’s eyes focused on him. Although Tang Yue had been in many high-pressure situations before, he couldn’t help but blush.

Especially when Wang Zizhao looked at him with a mischievous expression. Tang Yue felt like leaving immediately.

The Marquis of Yueyang took a few steps back and gazed up at the sky. He thought, “It looks like the first thing I need to do when I return is to find a good teacher for my son. Otherwise, I won’t dare to bring him out. It would be too embarrassing.”

Tang Yue’s confidant cursed under his breath. “As a PhD student, I never expected to become illiterate. The Heavenly Dao is unfair!”

The butler read the prescription aloud, and Tang Yue listened carefully without missing a single word. It appeared to be a prescription for Bone Connecting powder, which was similar to the one he was familiar with.

However, Wang Zizhao’s leg had been injured for more than five weeks, and he had already absorbed the blood stasis from the fractured bones and started to form scabs. This prescription may not be appropriate.

“Considering your current stage of recovery, you can remove the dragon bones and red stone fat from the prescription. This will be more beneficial,” Tang Yue said candidly.

Wang Zizhao looked at the butler, who promptly stood up and acknowledged his mistake. “I made a mistake. The prescription was given half a month ago.”

Tang Yue’s lips twitched in annoyance. It seemed like these people were deliberately testing him.

However, he understood their skepticism. He was young and relatively unknown. Who would trust him?

After pulling up Wang Zizhao’s pants and dusting off his knees, Tang Yue stood up and asked, “May I speak with Wang Zizhao alone?”

The butler immediately objected, and even Hu Jinpeng hesitated. Yueyang Marquis also disagreed, feeling that his son’s condition was too serious to entrust to a child.

Even the royal physician was unable to cure Wang Zizhao’s injuries, so what could a mere child like Tang Yue do?

“But…” Wang Zizhao himself nodded, leaving no room for argument.

Everyone retreated to the garden, and Tang Yue felt the pressure ease. He pulled up a chair and sat across from Wang Zizhao, revealing the physician’s credentials.