Chapter 45: Master of Gynecology

Princess Changle recovered remarkably fast.

After taking the prescribed herbal decoction and the Black-Bone Chicken and White Phoenix Pills, she made a full recovery almost immediately.

Her recent menstrual irregularities vanished, returning to normal all at once.

Even Princess Changle herself found it utterly miraculous.

"No wonder the women of the pleasure quarters go to him for medical treatment. I truly wronged him. Such exceptional medical skill is bound to attract invitations from many people."

With her recovery, Princess Changle's spirits lifted considerably.

She also came to believe the explanations Su Chen had given her.

Given Su Chen's outstanding medical prowess, it was entirely normal for others to invite him to treat their ailments.

Sick people could be found anywhere, after all.

News of this quickly reached Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was with Empress Zhangsun, the two of them having just finished a meal together.

They were still discussing Princess Changle's condition when a messenger arrived to report that the princess had fully recovered.

"So fast? What medicine was administered to achieve such miraculous results?"

Empress Zhangsun found it difficult to believe.

She knew that Princess Changle had visited the medical clinic just yesterday.

It was only last night that the princess had taken the first dose of the medicine.

By early this morning, she had completely recovered, full of vigor and entirely transformed from her previous state.

On one hand, this was a testament to the efficacy of the medicine; on the other hand, it was because the knot in her heart had been untied. Knowing that Su Chen had simply been visiting the pleasure quarters to treat patients, her worries evaporated, her condition improved overnight, and her complexion grew radiant once more.

"It seems Su Chen's medical skills truly command respect. Several imperial physicians from the palace have now run off to follow him, leaving behind nothing but a bunch of quacks."

Li Shimin muttered with a hint of grievance.

Su Chen had poached the best imperial physicians from his palace.

The ones left behind were incapable of treating illnesses properly, which was precisely why Princess Changle had to run over to his clinic.

Empress Zhangsun let out a soft laugh.

"Your Majesty, you were the one who approved their departure back then, so you cannot blame Su Chen for that. At the time, you probably thought they would return before long, but Su Chen possesses such brilliant medical skills at such a young age—he is truly extraordinary."

Empress Zhangsun had witnessed it with her own eyes when she was at the Niu residence.

Had she not seen it firsthand, she would never have believed that Su Chen possessed such formidable medical arts.

To enable someone with a severed leg to stand and walk again—even though it was achieved through a prosthetic limb—changed everything entirely.

At least, for the Niu family, it made all the difference.

"I am not blaming him, but there are still many things about this young fellow that I fail to understand."

Li Shimin smiled faintly; there were simply a few matters he had yet to puzzle out.

Both Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun had learned from others about the medicine Princess Changle had taken the day before.

Word had it that Su Chen had specially crafted the Black-Bone Chicken and White Phoenix Pills for Princess Changle.

It was a remedy designed to replenish vital energy and nourish the blood.

"Guanyinbi, I think you should also ask him for some of those Black-Bone Chicken and White Phoenix Pills. Since it replenishes vital energy and nourishes blood—and judging by the very name, it is specifically tailored for women—it sounds exceptionally beneficial. We should keep some stocked here in the palace as well."

Li Shimin knew this was a medicine targeted specifically at women.

Since its therapeutic effects were so remarkable, it was only fitting to keep a supply within the imperial palace.

Whenever Li Shimin caught wind of something good, his first instinct was to bring it into the palace.

"Your Majesty, why don't we do this instead? You can bestow a few characters of calligraphy upon Su Chen. If we want to acquire someone else's goods, we ought to pay for them, but simply giving money feels a bit uncouth. Instead, let him supply this medicine to the imperial palace from now on."

Empress Zhangsun considered the fact that Princess Changle would likely require long-term supplementation for her vital energy and blood.

Given the princess's historically delicate constitution, having this medicine supplied regularly to the palace would make things much more convenient, sparing them from constantly running to the clinic and avoiding unnecessary complications.

Furthermore, this would provide a fitting reason for Li Shimin to bestow calligraphy upon Su Chen.

"Guanyinbi's words are wise. But what characters should We bestow upon him?"

Li Shimin found himself in a dilemma.

Giving him something like 'Miraculous Hands Saving Lives' or 'Hua Tuo Reborn' would be far too cliché.

Besides, inscriptions praising miraculous hands or legendary physicians were usually reserved for elderly practitioners.

It hardly suited Su Chen's tender age.

Empress Zhangsun pondered for a moment.

She dipped her finger into a bit of tea on the table and traced four characters across the wooden surface.

When Li Shimin saw them, he clapped his hands in immediate approval.

"These characters are splendid! Though it rather spoils that rascal Su Chen. With these characters, he will have a protective shield to use for all sorts of things in the future."

Li Shimin laughed heartily.

He immediately ordered a plaque to be crafted bearing the four characters suggested by Empress Zhangsun.

Then, he instructed a eunuch to deliver it directly to Su Chen's medical clinic.

Su Chen happened to be at the clinic that day.

Outside, however, an imperial eunuch arrived bearing an edict.

All the surrounding townspeople dropped to their knees, and Su Chen hurriedly came out to receive the decree.

"Why has Li Shimin suddenly issued an imperial edict for me? What on earth does he want me to do now?"

Su Chen was filled with a flurry of questions.

He exchanged a glance with Cheng Chumo.

Cheng Chumo simply shook his head.

Ever since the princess had departed yesterday, they had remained inside the clinic without venturing anywhere else. When the eunuch suddenly showed up with an imperial edict today, neither of them had the slightest clue what it was about.

The eunuch unrolled the edict and recited a stream of high-flown prose.

It was filled with archaic four-character idioms, obscure and difficult to decipher, and Su Chen did not understand a single word.

He waited until the very final line.

"We hereby bestow upon you the four characters 'Sage of Gynecology' as encouragement!"

Hearing this, everyone present finally understood. Yesterday, Su Chen had cured Princess Changle using the Black-Bone Chicken and White Phoenix Pills, and today Li Shimin had sent someone to deliver an inscribed plaque.

As soon as the eunuch finished reading the edict, attendants stepped forward carrying a plaque.

Emblazoned across the wood were the four characters: 'Sage of Gynecology'.

Everyone else beamed with joy; only Su Chen wore a dark expression.

While it looked like a reward on the surface, it effectively pigeonholed Su Chen straight into the field of gynecology.

From now on, every woman in the entire city of Chang'an, young and old alike, would likely come knocking on his door.

Yet, since it was an imperial edict personally issued by Li Shimin, they had no choice but to accept it.

"It was no small trouble for you to make this trip, Eunuch. Come over and share a few cups of humble tea."

Su Chen knew how to handle worldly affairs.

If these palace eunuchs left with a favorable impression, they certainly wouldn't speak ill of him upon returning.

Inviting them to stay for tea was one thing; at the same time, he quietly instructed his men to prepare some silver.

He wasn't sure what these eunuchs preferred, but gifting money was always the right choice.

Su Chen did this to avoid trouble; it was best not to offend people connected to the imperial court.

Since he was not yet well-acquainted with Li Shimin, if these men whispered slanderous words into the emperor's ear, it would prove immensely detrimental to him.

To survive in the Tang Dynasty, one had to be cautious, tread carefully at every step, and walk as if on thin ice in order to live a long life without making major mistakes.