Chapter 44: Divine Medicine White Powder and the Hundred-Treasure Pill

Li Shimin waved his hand with a broad smile and said, “Du Chengfeng, there’s no need for such formality. I am truly pleased that you have come to seek an audience with me of your own accord. Can you tell me the reason for your visit today?”

His tone was earnest and warm, the humility and respect he showed Du Chengfeng at this moment were displayed to their fullest. The sincerity in Li Shimin’s manner left the assembled officials astonished, for in their memory, no commoner had ever been able to make the emperor lower himself to such a degree.

Ignoring the murmurs among the officials, Du Chengfeng looked steadily at Li Shimin and calmly declared, “Your Majesty, I have come today to present a treasure—one that can benefit all the people of the realm.”

“A treasure that can benefit the people of the realm?” Li Shimin’s eyes widened with excitement. “Du Chengfeng, present it quickly so I may see it.”

“Your Majesty, in order to convince everyone, may I be permitted to demonstrate its effects? The process may be somewhat unsettling, and I beg Your Majesty’s understanding,” Du Chengfeng continued in an even tone.

“Go ahead with your demonstration, I shall watch from here,” Li Shimin replied without concern.

“Very well!” With the emperor’s consent, Du Chengfeng, under the watchful gaze of the court, slowly rolled up the sleeve of his left arm to the shoulder. Then, before anyone could fathom his intentions, he swiftly drew a gleaming dagger from within his sleeve and, with decisive force, slashed his upper arm. Just as quickly, the dagger vanished back into his sleeve.

There was not a hint of hesitation in his movement—swift, precise, and unflinching. Afterward, his expression remained unchanged, composed and unruffled. Blood spurted from the wound on his left arm, quickly pooling on the floor of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

One censor, seeing Du Chengfeng produce a dagger in the imperial hall—even to injure himself—considered it a grave breach of protocol, bordering on contempt for imperial authority. He stepped forward and began to protest, “Your Majesty, this Du Chengfeng—”

Before he could finish, Li Shimin cut him off sharply, “Silence! Step back.”

In fact, the moment Du Chengfeng drew the dagger and wounded himself, Li Shimin’s face betrayed not a trace of doubt or fear, only calm resolve. He watched Du Chengfeng’s next move with focused attention.

Du Chengfeng’s daring act had also stunned the military officials nearby—men such as Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, Li Jing, and Li Xiaogong.

Li Xiaogong, having dealt with Du Chengfeng several times before, had always known him as a genius. Now, he realized he would have to add a new description to the man.

“This young man is truly formidable! Not a flicker in his expression after such a cut,” Cheng Yaojin clicked his tongue in awe.

“I’m more curious about what he’ll do next,” Qin Qiong observed.

The civil and military officials present were all equally eager to see what Du Chengfeng would do now.

At this moment, Du Chengfeng produced a small bottle of strong liquor from his breast and poured it over his bleeding wound to cleanse it. Then, he took out a special white medicinal powder he had prepared the night before—stronger even than the one he’d used to save Liu Chun.

As he carefully sprinkled the powder over the wound, the flow of blood visibly slowed and stopped, the effect apparent to all in just a few breaths’ time.

A collective gasp escaped from the warriors present, their faces exaggerated with amazement. Though none spoke, the yearning in their hearts was plain to see.

The cut Du Chengfeng had inflicted was long and deep, yet with prompt disinfection and application of this white powder, the bleeding stopped almost instantly. If such a medicine were used in the army, wounds from blades and weapons could be quickly disinfected and treated, effectively preventing infection and suppuration.

Moreover, the healing time would be greatly shortened. And this white powder’s effects were not limited to treating external injuries.

Some of the civil officials might not yet grasp the significance of this medicine, but Li Shimin and the battle-hardened generals instantly recognized its value, their eyes burning red with excitement, itching to seize the powder and study it for themselves.

Yet neither Du Chengfeng nor Li Shimin spoke, and so none dared act rashly. That did not mean, however, that they failed to understand the wonder of what they had witnessed.

The efficacy of this powder in stopping bleeding was now beyond question. Du Chengfeng’s wound was real and undeniable.

After demonstrating the effect, he did not lower his sleeve; after the explanation, he intended to display the state of the wound’s healing to everyone.

“Du Chengfeng, is this the treasure you wish to present to me?” Li Shimin’s breathing had become rapid with excitement even before Du Chengfeng could answer.

“It is, Your Majesty! I believe you and the esteemed officials have witnessed its effects clearly,” Du Chengfeng replied, his voice ringing with certainty.

“Quickly—explain the uses of this item in detail,” Li Shimin urged, his heartbeat quickening, lips trembling.

“Certainly,” Du Chengfeng replied. He then produced another bottle—this one containing white medicinal granules, stored for now in a porcelain vial. To distinguish them, he named the powder “White Medicine” and the granules “Baibao Pill.” The powder was for external use, the pill for internal use.

Holding both in his hands, Du Chengfeng began, “Your Majesty, there are two kinds of this treasure. Allow me to explain them in detail.”

“This powdered medicine I call White Medicine,” he said, lifting the vial. “Its hemostatic properties were just demonstrated before Your Majesty and the assembled officials. Its main effects are to stop bleeding, dissipate blood stasis, relieve pain, detoxify and reduce swelling, and accelerate the healing of wounds. With its use, infection from knife wounds or other injuries can be completely prevented. Ordinary blade wounds will heal in just a few days, minor bruises even quicker. Furthermore, each bottle contains a single Life-Saving Pill—if someone suffers a grave wound or severe internal injury, taking this pill can greatly increase their chance of survival and buy precious time for treatment.”

Upon hearing Du Chengfeng’s explanation, the generals in the hall could barely contain themselves.

“Your Majesty, this is a divine medicine! If it were distributed to our soldiers, so many lives would be spared. When I think of all the brothers lost to wounds, I…” Cheng Yaojin’s voice shook with emotion, unable to hide his excitement. As he spoke, memories seemed to well up, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

“Haha! Old Black, you’re laying it on a bit thick!” Yuchi Jingde, standing nearby, couldn’t help but tease him for his display of sorrow.