The Emperor’s Decision

　　There were too many citizens that had come to complain about the eighth prince. Not to mention beating all of them, but they could not even fit inside Xu Jing Yuan’s courtroom. There were people standing out in the streets, and it still felt crowded.

　　Xu Jing Yuan calmed the citizens with a bright smile, and he expressed that he attached great importance to this case. He then decided that he would immediately go into the palace and have the Emperor make a decision on this matter. The citizens that had come to file this complaint also had some spirit, as they followed behind Xu Jing Yuan’s carriage. Xu Jing Yuan entered the palace, and they just remained kneeled outside the palace. There were even people that spent money to hire writers to write in large letters “Your Highness the eighth prince, return my life!” The family of the dead raised these words high above their heads and cried loudly.

　　The imperial guards at the entrance of the imperial palace had been placed under Xuan Tian Mo’s command; however, Xuan Tian Mo was unable to completely swap them out for his own people in such a short period of time. That was a monumental task, and his power was still lacking in the capital, and he could not accomplish it for the time being. At most, he could only swap out a few of the people that were close to the Emperor. Everything else had maintained its original state.

　　Maintaining the original state meant that these people still favored Xuan Tian Ming. That was why they acted as if they had not seen anything, with all of the people kneeling and crying, even if they were supposed to chase them away. They even hoped that some more would gather. The citizens saw that the imperial guards were holding back, thus they acted out even more ferociously. Gradually, because there were countless people gathering, even more people began to gather. The group was very large, and it was very hard to see the end of the crowd.

　　At this time, Xu Jing Yuan, who had entered the palace, was kneeling outside of Zhao He Hall. The Emperor had been resting, but he was shocked by the news that Xu Jing Yuan had brought: “You said that old eighth opened a medical clinic? Nonsense!” The old emperor angrily slapped the table, “What does he know about medical clinics? Is he suited for that? Even naming it Thousand Herb Hall, isn’t he clearly opposing A-Heng?”

　　Xu Jing Yuan nodded: “Your Majesty is very correct. That’s why there was someone that died at the medical clinic just a few days after it was opened. Also, medicine that had become moldy was sold to the citizens. Now, the citizens have come to the government office to file a report. Practically… half of the city’s citizens have come to complain. This official sent someone to investigate Thousand Herb Hall and to capture that Persian doctor. All of the medicine has also been sealed up. Your Majesty, please look-” Xu Jing Yuan brought out a bundle that he had been carrying. Inside was the medicine that he had sent someone to Thousand Herb Hall to fetch, “This is from Thousand Herb Hall. This official is not clear on the matters of medicine and brought it into the palace. Would Your Majesty please call someone from the imperial physicians’ group to take a look.”

　　The Emperor nodded and gestured for Zhang Yuan to call an imperial physician. Not long later, the head of the imperial physicians’ group personally came to Zhao He Hall and shook his head toward the bundle of medicine: “Replying to Your Majesty, this medicine has very nearly no medical effect. There are also spots of mold. It’s clear that it’s just a waste product. If a patient took this, not only would they not get better, but they might get poisoned by this. May I ask, where did this medicine come from?”

　　Xu Jing Yuan said: “This was medicine brought from His Highness the eighth prince’s Thousand Herb Hall. Has my lord taken a good look? We must not falsely accuse His Highness the eighth prince.”

　　“This…” Once the doctor heard that it was something from His Highness the eighth prince’s side, he could not help but become more cautious. Picking up the medicine, he examined it for a long time then helplessly lowered his head and said to the Emperor: “This official maintains what was said earlier. This is worthless stuff that has grown moldy. It will have a bad effect on people.”

　　Crack!

　　The Emperor angrily threw the teacup on the table, and Zhang Yuan felt a bit of distress. That was part of a tea set that had just been made that was worth 1000 taels of silver. For it to be thrown like this, it was no longer a full set. It was truly a pity.

　　“Speak again about the matter of the chest being cut open!” The Emperor asked Xu Jing Yuan: “What do you mean someone’s chest was cut open? What exactly are they doing? Is this some sort of medical treatment? This is clearly just murder!”

　　The imperial physician was also given a fright, as he looked toward Xu Jing Yuan in confusion. Xu Jing Yuan was very happy with this sort of outcome, thus he seriously said: “Thousand Herb Hall has been copying Imperial Daughter Ji An’s Hundred Herb Hall in many ways. Hundred Herb Hall’s doctors were taught by Imperial Daughter and Sir Yao Xian, and they have a unique method of saving people. It involves cutting open the chest or head, or the flesh is cut open to connect bones. Even when a woman has a difficult birth, the belly is cut open to retrieve the child. Now, the Thousand Herb Hall feels that they can also perform this sort of operation, thus they received a patient with a broken sternum, and the Persian doctor was the lead physician. The patient’s chest was cut open with a blade, and as a result, the patient died on the operating table before being treated.”

　　He spoke as evenly as possible. He had wanted to make it sound bloodier to try and be a bit more provocative, but he also felt that the Emperor was getting older, and it was very likely that he could not handle that sort of stimulation, thus he could only speak about it plainly. But even if this was the case, the Emperor, Zhang Yuan and the imperial physician were left feeling extremely shocked.

　　Before the Emperor could even speak, the eunuch, Zhang Yuan, trembled and said: “This… aren’t they too bold? To cut open the person’s chest directly? Won’t the things inside fall out?”

　　The Emperor was so angry that he really wanted to give this eunuch a kick. Managing to get Xu Jing Yuan to avoid using disgusting words, the result was that Zhang Yuan’s nearly caused him to throw up. He fiercely glared at the eunuch, and as a result, the eunuch did not even look at him. He just continued to feel tangled on his own: “They really cut open someone’s chest. Is that Persian crazy? Did he use any anesthetic? This truly is just murder. It’s definitely murder! Your Majesty, His Highness the eighth prince’s Persian has come to our Da Shun and killed someone!”

　　The imperial physician also nodded, saying: “This official once went to the Hundred Herb Hospital that Imperial Daughter Ji An had opened, and I have personally seen Sir Yao perform that sort of surgery on patients. At that time, the chest was also cut open; however, it did not kill anyone. Instead, it was done with thorough preparations. Not only was there some sort of infusion, but they used a sort of anesthetic to completely render the patient completely numb. With no feeling of pain, it was as though they had gone to sleep. During the operation, there was an endless flow of blood being provided. Sir Yao’s abilities are famous. After taking care of the problem with the chest, he began disinfecting and sewing up the chest. The entire process took one hour, and the patient apparently left the hospital less than a month later to return home. However, I don’t know how the Persian performed the operation that it would actually kill the patient?”

　　Xu Jing Yuan said: “How else could the chest be cut open? It was as eunuch Yuan had said. It was cut open with a blade, and they did not use any anesthetic. There was no infusion, nor was there any blood being provided. Not a single measure was taken. The person was strapped to the table, and a blade was plunged into the chest to cut it open. With just a single stab, the person died.”

　　The Emperor could understand that old eighth was agitating Feng Yu Heng. As a result, a quack Persian doctor was brought in. Not only did he sell worthless medicine, but he also treated human life as worthless. He did not even view Da Shun’s citizens as people!

　　Xu Jing Yuan once again asked the Emperor: “Your Majesty, this official has already taken it upon myself to close Thousand Herb Hall. The Persian has already been locked up in the prison. But the citizens are refusing to relent because, on the day that Thousand Herb Hall was opened, His Highness the eighth prince had personally gone to visit. The Persian doctor was one that he had personally supported, which caused the people to accept him. The medicine was also something that the people were only willing to buy because he had provided a guarantee for it. Now, the people are very emotional, and they are all shouting to have His Highness provide an explanation. There were too many people, and this official could not make a decision for this. Would Your Majesty please think of an idea.”

　　The Emperor became furious: “What damn idea?! Tear down that Thousand Herb Hall and execute the Persian. As for old eighth… little Yuan, go and deliver Our orders. Have him go to the street and kneel to apologize to the people. Have him pay 1000 taels in reparations to the family of the deceased. If they are unhappy with it, have him continue to remain kneeling and accept the beating and cursing. Then have him go to the governor’s office and receive 50 strikes!”

　　Zhang Yuan trembled, “50 strikes, that would nearly be enough to kill him, right?”

　　“It would be good if he really did die!” The Emperor was absolutely fuming. With his fiery temper, if he was not the emperor, he really would have rushed out and beaten that unfilial child himself. Instead of doing important matters, all he knew how to do was cause trouble, yet old eighth was only the owner of the Thousand Herb Hall business. The one that had truly caused the death was that Persian doctor; otherwise, he really wanted to have old eighth repay with his life! Did he not like causing a stir? He might as well get himself killed, and that would save him some trouble.

　　Xu Jing Yuan said: “He won’t die. His Highness the eighth prince’s martial abilities are exceptional. With internal strength to protect his body, 50 strikes would be like striking a normal person ten times. It would be nothing.”

　　It would have been better if he had not said such a thing. Once these words came out, the Emperor immediately changed his mind: “Then 100 times! Go! Quickly go and beat him for Us!”

　　Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes and thought to himself, now you know to want to have that damn son beaten to death? What were you thinking back then? Who was it that said that they really wanted to see old eighth and old ninth compete?! Hmph!

　　He complained internally, but there were still two officials present. He did not dare to speak wildly. Thus he quickly went to the Sheng Palace to deliver the imperial decrees. Xu Jing Yuan and the imperial physician retreated outside the hall and went to do their own work. The Emperor was left alone in Zhao He Hall to vent his anger at a group of eunuchs and palace maids.

　　This matter with Thousand Herb Hall was outside of Xuan Tian Mo’s expectations. He never thought that the Persian doctor would be so bold and actually dare to copy Feng Yu Heng’s surgery. But no matter how surprised he was, it was too late. After he had heard this news, he did not even dare to leave his palace because the entrance had been surrounded by citizens. Heads of lettuce and rotten eggs were thrown at the palace gates. The guards on duty held their heads to protect themselves. When Zhang Yuan arrived to deliver the imperial decree, his high-pitched shouts gave the people outside even more courage, as they loudly shouted for the eighth prince to come out and admit his errors.

　　As for the governor, he announced the Emperor’s decision to the people that had gathered outside the imperial palace. The people accepted this and shouted in unison: “Long live His Majesty the Emperor! His Majesty is wise!” It was just that the family of the deceased was a bit emotional and called for the eighth prince to repay with his life. But there were people that told them: “The life was taken by the Persian. His Majesty personally ordered his execution, and this is already great. After all, the eighth prince did not personally kill him. This matter was nothing more than the Persian doing it on his own with insufficient medical prowess. His Majesty being able to present his own son to come out and apologize is already giving quite a great deal of face. Do not continue to oppose the imperial family. Just accept the good that is given! At the very least, you can receive 1000 taels as reparations.”

　　The family analyzed the situation. This was true, thus they did not continue to cause a fuss and followed the governor in the direction of the Sheng Palace to wait for the eighth prince, Xuan Tian Mo to kneel and apologize.

　　The Emperor had spoken. Even if Xuan Tian Mo really did not want to, he did not have any other options, thus he kneeled on the steps outside the Sheng Palace and sincerely apologized to the people of the capital…