Chapter 186 Taking the Blame

Consort Li couldn't possibly speak up for him now.

At this time, in the face of evidence and witnesses, even Emperor Jingyang might not be able to protect him.

The only option now was to first admit to the crime, take all the blame upon himself, and then find a way to save his life.

He believed that, with all the secrets he held, Consort Li would surely save him.

Having realized this, Imperial Physician Zhu knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was all my doing. I was blinded by my own foolishness and nearly committed a grave mistake. Please, for the sake of my many years of service in the Imperial Medical Academy, spare my life!"

The Empress frowned deeply, her voice cold and devoid of warmth.

"Zhu Rushan, Prince Ye bears no enmity against you. Why would you do this to him?"

Imperial Physician Zhu swallowed hard, his mind racing as he thought of a way to defend himself.

Soon, he came up with a reason.

"Your Majesty the Empress, five years ago, I had the honor of accompanying His Highness Prince Ye on a campaign at the Northern Pass. At the time, as the head of the military physicians, I was responsible for treating the wounded soldiers. I recall vividly that day—there were so many injured soldiers that I worked day and night without food."

"However, His Highness Prince Ye, as the commander-in-chief, not only failed to understand my hardships but also ordered me around, demanding that I follow him to the battlefield to save lives. I am merely a scholar who knows nothing of martial arts; how could I dare to go to the battlefield? When I casually refused, he threatened to charge me with dereliction of duty. I was aggrieved and thus harbored resentment against Prince Ye."

"Later, when His Highness was injured and bedridden, and I was tasked with treating him, my personal grudges crept in."

Upon hearing this, Luo Sinian could no longer remain seated. He stood up, his face cold with anger as he rebuked Imperial Physician Zhu.

"Do you know how dire the situation was during the battle at the Northern Pass five years ago?"

"My third brother led fifty thousand troops against the one hundred and fifty thousand elite cavalry of the Western Zhao Kingdom. Even the Longyue Army, as formidable as they were, could not withstand wave after wave of attacks and surprise raids. If the frontlines hadn't been so desperately short of military physicians, why would Father have sent you to reinforce them?"

"As a physician, saving lives is your duty. Forget about you not eating for a day and a night—the brothers of the Longyue Army and my third brother never ate either!"

"The city's grain supply was cut off, reinforcements were delayed, and the soldiers of the Longyue Army fell one by one. My third brother led the troops for half a month, physically and mentally exhausted. Seeing his men gravely wounded, he was anxious and thus ordered you to go to the battlefield to treat them. And you took offense? Your life is a life, but are the lives of the Longyue brothers not?"

"In such a crisis, had the Western Zhao Kingdom attacked and breached our defenses, the entire northern border of Dongchen would have been lost, and at least ten cities would have fallen into enemy hands. Did you ever consider the lives of the people in those cities? For a physician whose duty is to heal the sick, you are so selfish!"

Luo Sinian grew angrier as he spoke. Luo Junhe had fought at the frontlines, with life and death hanging in the balance.

He wasn't fighting for himself, but for the people of the entire Dongchen Kingdom.

Yet this physician defied the commander's orders and held a grudge against him.

What a dark-hearted person!

Emperor Jingyang furrowed his brow. After careful thought, he recalled that five years ago, it was he who had assigned Imperial Physician Zhu to accompany Luo Junhe to the frontlines.

And because of the great victory at the Northern Pass, Imperial Physician Zhu had been promoted upon his return. He became the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, earned a reputation as a virtuous and skilled physician, and received a reward of one hundred thousand taels of gold and silver, a thousand hectares of fertile land, and hundreds of bolts of cloth.

In short, he had gained both fame and fortune from that campaign!

So, following Luo Junhe to the frontlines had brought him no harm.

Yet he actually held a grudge against Luo Junhe because of it. That was truly unjustifiable.

On this point, Emperor Jingyang could not defend him.

The Empress's face showed clear displeasure. She looked at Imperial Physician Zhu as though she were looking at a dead man.

"You hold a grudge against Prince Ye, but why did you deliberately fabricate a lie to deceive His Majesty?"

Imperial Physician Zhu lowered his head, silent for a moment before suddenly turning to look at Ji Yuntang. A fierce hatred blazed in his murky eyes.

"It's all because of the Princess Ye!"

"Before she participated in the medical competition, I was the most skilled physician in the entire Dongchen Kingdom, respected by countless people. But after she joined the competition, the people of the capital praised her endlessly, saying that her medical skills surpassed mine. How could I bear it?"

"So, when I went to the Prince Ye's mansion to treat His Highness, I deliberately provoked and humiliated the Princess Ye. But who would have thought—she actually struck me!"

"I was furious and wanted revenge. I didn't want His Majesty to know that Prince Ye's condition had nearly been cured by the Princess Ye, and I didn't want others to think I was inferior to her, letting her steal the credit. So I concocted this lie. I wanted the people of the capital to revile the Princess Ye, to humble her!"

Ji Yuntang: "..."

She wanted to say, this reason is too absurd!

There are so many physicians in the world with better skills than Zhu Rushan. Would he have to be jealous of every one of them?

If he were transported to the modern era and saw so many top-notch doctors, what then?

Every person gets sick and dies one day—physicians are no exception.

Without him, another physician would naturally take his place. That's the law of society.

Those who refuse to follow the laws of society will eventually be eliminated by it.

Consort Li: "!!!"

Her mind was in turmoil.

Now she finally understood why Imperial Physician Zhu had been caught by Ji Yuntang—he was done in by his own stupidity.

Before sending him to the Prince Ye's mansion, Consort Li had warned him to steer clear of Ji Yuntang.

But instead of avoiding her, he had walked straight into her trap.

Wasn't that just asking for trouble?

Consort Li silently cursed him for being a fool. Even she couldn't outmaneuver Ji Yuntang. What made Imperial Physician Zhu think he could best her?

How stupid!

Emperor Jingyang was furious. He said in a deep voice, "Imperial Physician Zhu is narrow-minded, dishonest, disloyal, and unkind—these are grave offenses!"

"Guards! Take Imperial Physician Zhu and give him thirty heavy lashes. Strip him of his position and throw him into the Dali Temple prison to await his punishment!"

"Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty!" Imperial Physician Zhu wailed in terror.

Soon, two guards entered and dragged Imperial Physician Zhu away.

Ji Yuntang narrowed her eyes. This outcome was within her expectations.

But it wasn't enough!

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