Feng Yu Heng smiled, “Yes, I died then came back to life.”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow: “Why?”
“Because there are a lot of things that have yet to be completed.”
“Do you blame your family?”
“I do, but I have no choice. Who made it so I have their blood?”
The more the Emperor looked at this girl, the more he felt she was truly amusing, thus he asked her: “If the position of the Feng family’s daughter to the first wife is returned to you, what do you think?”
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, “Daughter-in-law does not desire it.”
These words caused the gossip-loving cells in the Emperor to rise up, and he could not help but straighten his body and ask her: “I heard that your eldest is the aspect of the phoenix?”
Feng Yu Heng smiled, “Eldest sister is the Feng family’s child. She is indeed surnamed Feng. There is no mistake there.”1
“When your family returns to the capital, how do you want to greet them?”
Feng Yu Heng tilted her head and pondered a little, “If the Yao family returns from Huang Zhou, daughter-in-law will be very happy.”
The Emperor laughed out loud, “No wonder imperial concubine Yun likes you.” He then stood up and waved to the three: “Since you have come, accompany Us and sit for a while.” After he finished speaking, he led the way over to a partitioned-off heated brick sofa. “Don’t think We do not know why you have come into the palace in the middle of the night. Outside, there has been news spread that the Heng girl was burned to death in a fire. If you really do not want others to find out the truth too soon, remaining in the palace is safer.”
Xuan Tian Ming nodded, “Father Emperor is very correct.”
The Emperor rolled his eyes and sat on the sofa, “As for Hua’er you’re messing around with your younger brother.”
Xuan Tian Hua also revealed a crisp smile, “It is good to keep the Feng family from becoming too lively.”
The Emperor snorted and did not continue discussing this matter. Instead, he pointed to the seat on the opposite side and said to Feng Yu Heng: “Sit, play a game of chess with Us.”
Zhang Yuan immediately brought up a go board and distributed the pieces before standing off to the side once more.
Xuan Tian Hua also found a place to sit down. Xuan Tian Ming went and got close to Feng Yu Heng’s side, asking: “Do you know how to play?”
Feng Yu Heng supported her head, “I indeed know how, but I am not very good.”
She said she was not very good, and she was indeed not very good. After a few moves, she was being so badly beaten by the Emperor that there were almost no places left for her to place any pieces. Feng Yu Heng looked at the Emperor with a pleading look: “Father Emperor, do you feel a lack of accomplishment from winning?”
The Emperor nodded, “Your level is a little too low.” Although he said this, he continued placing pieces.
Feng Yu Heng could only helplessly continue; however, with time came some chances to break through.
As they played, it seemed as though there had been a slightly change. The white pieces were on the outside, while the black ones were on the inside. It seemed that they were completely surrounded, but if the black pieces wanted to make a come back, there was still a bit of space left.
The Emperor, however, stopped his offensive and slowed down to give Feng Yu Heng a chance to breathe.
Feng Yu Heng did not dare dally. Reining in her state of mind, she slowly began to place her black pieces towards the outside. She did not go for the spots the Emperor had deliberately left open, instead choosing some corner spots.
The silence in the room was extreme, as the only sounds in the room were of the go pieces. Even the sounds of breathing quieted down.
Xuan Tian Ming looked at the board filled with pieces and curved his lips into a bewitching smile. He understood his father Emperor too well. Choosing to play a game of go with Feng Yu Heng for no apparent reason? He clearly knew that she was not very good, yet he still did not win in a single go? It was clear that he had some other intentions.
Sure enough, when Feng Yu Heng once again broke through in a corner, the Emperor spoke: “Did you know that Da Shun is bordered by four countries?”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “On the Eastern border, it is Zong Sui. On the Western border, it is Gu Mo. At the Southern border, it is Gu Shu. At the Northern border, it is Qian Zhou.”
The Emperor put down a piece, blocking Feng Yu Heng’s escape path, “These four countries may appear peaceful, but the reality is they have their own schemes. Just like the white pieces on this board, which have tightly surrounded the black pieces. As for the black pieces, they represent my Da Shun.”
Feng Yu Heng stared at the board for a while then straightened out her black pieces. She no longer attempted to break through. She was not adept at go. This match was lost long ago.
“What can they do if they have us surrounded.” She lightly spoke, “My Da Shun has fought alone for this fertile piece of land. For it to be coveted is normal. The four countries are doing things on their own. If the four joined together to surround the one, then they would naturally have the right to claim superiority. Or if they joined into two groups to surround one, they can caused turmoil on the frontiers of Da Shun. But in reality, Da Shun separates the four. None of them is able to see the other. On their other border, it’s either snowy mountains or endless seas. Their only ability to contact one another is through Da Shun. Smart people know to continue borrowing power. Only by relying on Da Shun can they ensure their own citizens are live a better life. If I were these four countries, I definitely would not want to rebel.”
The Emperor sighed, “Unfortunately, it isn’t everyone who is able to think like you do.” He pushed a piece forward, “We’re done here. Heng girl’s go abilities need to be trained properly. Us playing go with you was a little more tiring than simply placing the pieces.”
Feng Yu Heng was very embarrassed and quickly stood up to apologize: “I have caused father Emperor trouble.”
The Emperor smiled wryly, “Forget it. Being able to see you return to the capital safely, We can finally relax. Although We never believed you would truly die in a fire, but the news has been spread methodically outside. Even if it is not believed, it must be thought about.” As he spoke, he glared over at Xuan Tian Ming, “It’s all a result of your deeds.”
Xuan Tian Ming shrugged: “The Feng family is indeed performing a funeral, but it’s not for Heng Heng. It is for their son, Feng Zi Hao.”
“Hm?” Feng Yu Heng was stunned, “Feng Zi Hao died?”
The Emperor was also puzzled, “Feng Jin Yuan’s son to the first wife, although a good-for-nothing, there was only one. How did he die?”
The corners of Xuan Tian Ming’s lips curled up, resulting in an incredibly devilish smile: “If son said that he was personally beaten to death by Feng Jin Yuan, would father Emperor believe it?”
The Emperor and Feng Yu Heng both shook their heads.
Xuan Tian Ming did not continue to speak on it, however, as he said: “Either way, he is the court’s prime minister. Father has a reason to keep him around, and son is not informed in the matters of the court.”
Xuan Tian Hua also said: “One Prime minister Feng is involved with third brother. Third brother leads a group of countless officials. Father Emperor not taking action for now is the most steady choice.”
The Emperor glanced Xuan Tian Hua in approval. He then turned to Feng Yu Heng and continued chatting: “Since you have come to the palace to seek refuge, then accompany Us for a chat. Speaking of, We are very interested in your Hundred Herb Hall. There was word that you brought a dead person back to life?”
Feng Yu Heng though to herself that this Emperor’s train of thought was all over the place, but she also understood. She was, after all, an outsider, and she was someone of the Feng family, but Xuan Tian Ming protected her. This Emperor, in the end, still had his own thoughts about her, but could not speak too much about the matters of the court.
Thus, she simply decided to teach the Emperor about the simple differences between “heart death” and “brain death.” “Normally, when determining whether a person was dead, first it was checking the pulse at the wrist, then for breathing, then at the carotid artery. But in reality, the most important factor in determining someone’s death depended ultimately on the brain.”
The Emperor had never heard of this explanation. Even Xuan Tian Ming and Xuan Tian Hua were very curious. The Emperor asked her: “Then how is it determined that someone’s brain has died?”
Feng Yu Heng sighed. There were high-tech means and machines to determine brain death. But in this era, it would not be as precise. She pondered for a while then said: “First, you must ensure that that the doctor’s medical knowledge has reached a certain degree. Only then can the doctor begin to assess the various conditions of the patient’s body. Normally speaking, people in a coma will have no reaction to any stimulus, but this is just the first step in determining brain death. Next is to see if the patient has stopped breathing on their own. Third is to see whether or not the reactions of the brain have disappeared, for example, swallowing, blinking, and the dilation of pupils. Fourth, is at the pulse. Once breathing has stopped, cardiopulmonary resuscitation must be performed on the patient for at least 20 minutes. Only after that point, should the patient not appear to improve can they be considered as having suffered brain death.”
The words she had said were already very professional. Even for the three present, who could be said to be the most outstanding people in this era, they could not understand it all. But the Emperor knew how to summarize it all very well “It all relies on the doctor.”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “As a whole, that is the case. That day when I saved the dead person, I had already determined his life signs were still there. Only then did I say that I could bring the dead back to life. But in reality, how could there be such a thing as bringing a dead person back to life. In truth, it was just because he did not die at all.”
The Emperor was very interested in the things Feng Yu Heng had said and could not help but remember Mo Bu Fan’s extraordinary praise for her. He also remembered the exclusive pills sold at Hundred Herb Hall. He thought to himself, she does not disappoint as a member of the younger generation of the Yao family. Even if she is just a granddaughter, her talent for medicine was not shallow. Moreover, this Feng Yu Heng had been able to have a fortuitous encounter at a young age in the mountains of the Northwest. Her exile from the Feng family, for her, turned out to be a good thing.
“Unfortunately, the imperial physicians do not have this ability.” He sighed, “Ever since old man Yao left, We have been afraid to get sick for a long time out of fear that those failures could not treat me properly.”
Feng Yu Heng said: “That is father’s Emperor’s body being healthy. Regardless of whether there are good doctors at your side, not falling ill is better than falling ill.” She then thought a little more and came up with an idea. In regards to her desire to expand Hundred Herb Hall’s way of thinking, if she could gain the Emperor’s support, a national hospital would be more in demand than a private hospital. Thus she added: “A-Heng’s medical knowledge came from maternal grandfather and was refined by my Persian eccentric master; however, I want to make use of this for the citizens of Da Shun.”
The Emperor was very smart. With Feng Yu Heng having already said this much, how could he not understand that this daughter-in-law was asking for donations.
Thus, he waved his hand: “When everything has been prepared, We will pay for the expansion of your Hundred Herb Hall by a few times. When the time comes, a few more shops can be opened in other provinces.”
Feng Yu Heng quickly stood up and knelt: “Daughter-in-law thanks father Emperor on behalf of the citizens of Da Shun.”
The Emperor enjoyed this very much. Personally helping Feng Yu Heng up, he prepared to chat a little longer about Hundred Herb Hall with her. At this time, a eunuch came running into the hall from the outside with a folded booklet in his hand: “Reporting to your Majesty, there is a note from Lord Yao in Huang Zhou.”
Lord Yao in Huang Zhou… was that not just Yao Xian.
Feng Yu Heng rolled her eyes. Her maternal grandfather really knew how to pick his timings!
The Emperor naturally also thought this way. Slightly snorting, he received the folded booklet. After looking at it for a while, he snorted loudly: “Old man Yao has even become arrogant!”
Feng Yu Heng was very curious about the contents of the note. Seeing the Emperor like this, he did not truly appear angry. Instead, it seemed like two old friends bantering.
Xuan Tian Ming was the most direct, as he moved his wheelchair forward and directly stole the booklet from the Emperor’s hands, “Son will take a look.”
Feng Yu Heng also got close to take a look. Its contents were very simple and only contained a couple sentences: “My daughter is still just a concubine, so how could my Yao family’s younger generation have the face to go attend the imperial examination? They’re not going!”
Feng Yu Heng suffered a shock. Her maternal grandfather was really arrogant!
The Emperor took a sip of tea and sighed: “That’s just old man Yao’s personality.” Looking again at Feng Yu Heng, she only stood at Xuan Tian Ming’s side. She neither spoke nor begged forgiveness, nor did she thank him for the grace. He already knew that this was a special child, but he never thought that she could be so indifferent to the Yao family’s matters. “Zhang Yuan.” The Emperor pointed at a plate of pears, “This pear’s taste is pretty good. Find a fast horse and send two crates to old man Yao.”
Zhang Yuan bowed in compliance and began handing down orders to the eunuch beside him.
Only then did Feng Yu Heng bow to the Emperor: “Many thanks father Emperor.”
The Emperor, however, recalled another matter and asked Zhang Yuan: “Princess Xiang’s illness, has it improved?”
1: Bit of wordplay on aspect of the phoenix, which can also be read as life of the phoenix. The Feng family’s name is the character for phoenix.