"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang, they also bowed to Zhu Biao.
Zhu Yuanzhang studied the two men and sank into thought.
At this point, the Great Ming's Imperial Medical Academy still followed the old system established in Wu Year, with a remarkably small staff.
The academy currently had only two proper imperial physicians: Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian. Of the two, Xiao Jiuxian specialized in gynecology and mainly treated the consorts in the imperial harem. Each had a few apprentices assisting him, while several clerical staff handled accounts, purchasing, and the safekeeping of medicinal supplies.
Officially, only Dai Sigong, who also served as Director of the Imperial Medical Academy at the Principal Fifth Rank, and Xiao Jiuxian, who also served as Clerk Director at the Subordinate Ninth Rank, held official posts. The others were merely clerical staff, and the apprentices did not even count as formal clerks.
This arrangement had been made because the Imperial Medical Academy was an office devoted solely to treating members of the imperial family. It had never needed many people.
Even now, counting himself, his consorts, and his many children, Zhu Yuanzhang's family numbered only a few dozen.
Most of them might not fall ill even once in ten days or a fortnight, so naturally there was no need for many imperial physicians.
Besides, Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian were already among the most renowned physicians of the age. If there was an illness they could not cure, could some other doctor cure it?
That was why the Great Ming's Imperial Medical Academy had maintained such a lean staff.
But in that animated music video, both Biao'er and his dear wife had died of illness. Even Xiongying had very likely died of illness. Could this have something to do with the academy recruiting too few renowned physicians?
"Father?"
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang staring blankly at Dai and Xiao until both men grew uncomfortable, Zhu Biao could not help asking.
Zhu Yuanzhang came back to himself and said, "Both of you, examine the crown prince and Xiongying in turn. See whether they are in good health."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The two agreed, then took turns examining Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying.
Once the examinations were finished, Zhu Yuanzhang had someone escort Xiao Jiuxian outside, keeping Dai Sigong behind.
"Dai Yuanli," he said, addressing him by his courtesy name, "you speak first."
Dai Sigong hesitated slightly before saying, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince still has his old condition. His constitutional endowment in the womb was weak, and his innate vital energy never fully developed, leaving him with a somewhat frail physical foundation. This was why he was often ill as a child."
"Now that His Highness is in the prime of youth, his blood and vital energy are flourishing, so he is no different from an ordinary person. But for the sake of his long-term health, he must avoid prolonged exertion and excessive thought, as well as bending over his desk after meals. He should avoid raw, cold, and greasy foods, nourish his spleen with soft rice porridge, and eat fewer rich foods."
"With a gently warming and nourishing prescription, he can then be strengthened gradually. As the days and months accumulate and his vital energy slowly recovers, his constitution will become sound."
Zhu Yuanzhang's brows knitted tightly as he listened.
When Ma Xiuying had become pregnant with Zhu Biao, he had only recently raised his army, and his territory had still been small. The soldiers' families often had to move with the army. Not only were those journeys exhausting, but supplies had also been scarce. To set an example, Ma Xiuying had endured considerable hardship while carrying Zhu Biao.
Zhu Biao had indeed been sickly as a child, but his ailments had all been minor and quickly cured by doctors. Once he grew a little older, he was no different from other children, so Zhu Yuanzhang had put the matter out of his mind.
Over the years, Zhu Biao had still fallen ill, but only with occasional minor ailments such as chills, bloating, and indigestion. Hearing that he had recovered quickly, Zhu Yuanzhang had asked no further questions.
Only now, after hearing Dai Sigong's words and connecting them with Zhu Biao's death in his prime in that animated music video, did Zhu Yuanzhang realize how serious the matter was.
He fixed his eyes on Dai Sigong. "Dai Yuanli, you must have treated the crown prince before, haven't you? Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"
"Please quell your anger, Your Majesty." Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang seemed angry, Dai Sigong grew frightened and hurried to explain. "When this humble servant entered the palace, His Highness was already the heir apparent. Had I reported this matter to Your Majesty, I feared I might have been suspected of interfering in the imperial succession."
"Moreover, congenital weakness results from inadequate care during pregnancy. Yet few women can maintain perfect prenatal care throughout all ten months, so congenital weakness is actually a common condition."
"Most severe cases die young and cannot reach adulthood. Those with mild cases grow up to be essentially no different from ordinary people. Since the crown prince has already reached adulthood, his congenital weakness is certainly not severe. So long as he pays attention to his diet and daily habits and slowly nurtures his health, it should pose no great problem."
"If this humble servant repeatedly reported such a common condition, who would not question my motives?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's brows drew into a knot. Though he still stared hard at Dai Sigong, inwardly he already believed most of what the physician had said.
Even before ascending the throne, he had understood that the health of someone in his position had far-reaching implications. The records of every treatment his imperial physicians gave him, for instance, had to be sealed in secret and kept from outsiders.
As the nation's heir apparent, the crown prince's health naturally carried enormous consequences as well. It could not be treated as an ordinary matter.
Still harboring a trace of suspicion, however, he asked, "Have you ever told the crown prince about his condition?"
Dai Sigong said, "Every time this humble servant treated the crown prince, I mentioned it and advised him to take care of his health. His Highness agreed, but also instructed me not to trouble Your Majesty over such a minor matter."
After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent for a moment.
Someone else might have suspected that Zhu Biao had concealed his condition out of fear for the security of his position. Zhu Yuanzhang, however, knew that Zhu Biao most likely truly did not want him to worry.
If mild congenital weakness was indeed a common condition, as Dai Sigong said, that made even more sense.
Coming back to himself, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "How is Xiongying's health?"
Dai Sigong desperately wished he did not have to answer, but he had no choice.
Still bowing, he steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Eldest Imperial Grandson also suffers from congenital weakness and has a rather frail constitution."
Zhu Yuanzhang sprang to his feet, his brows furrowing deeply. "How could this happen? Was the crown princess also inadequately cared for during her pregnancy?!"
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang grow angry again, Dai Sigong truly trembled with fear.
He knew that any lie at this moment could bring death upon him. Speaking the truth would give him a better chance of survival.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant heard from Xiao Jiuxian that the crown princess fell ill several times while carrying the eldest imperial grandson. His condition was most likely affected by that."
Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his fist after hearing this. "Wait outside the hall. Have Xiao Jiuxian come in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Dai Sigong withdrew, and Xiao Jiuxian soon entered.
Zhu Yuanzhang again asked about Zhu Biao's and Zhu Xiongying's health in turn. Xiao Jiuxian dared not lie either and gave answers much like Dai Sigong's.
After Xiao Jiuxian withdrew, Zhu Yuanzhang silently sat back down behind his imperial desk.
Biao'er and Xiongying both suffer from congenital weakness. Could Heaven be refusing to let me pass the throne to Biao'er's line?
But Biao'er is my eldest legitimate son. If I do not pass the throne to him, won't I be planting the seeds of disaster in the Great Ming, with brothers fighting over the throne as they did in Li Tang?
At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhang badly wanted someone to advise him. But if the matter leaked to officials outside the palace, it would likely provoke immediate disputes at court over the imperial succession.
At this thought, Zhu Yuanzhang remembered the Rebel Army Group and Liu Bang.
I wonder when the Rebel Army Group will open again. If Liu Bang has returned to Chang'an by then, I can have Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Chen Ping advise me on this.
With that in mind, Zhu Yuanzhang called a eunuch in to relay his orders.
"Have someone take Xiongying back to the Eastern Palace. Bring the crown prince and both imperial physicians into the hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon, Zhu Biao, Dai Sigong, and Xiao Jiuxian entered the hall again.
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Dai Yuanli, explain the crown prince's and the eldest imperial grandson's health conditions once more."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Dai Sigong complied and immediately explained Zhu Biao's and Zhu Xiongying's symptoms of congenital weakness again.
After listening, Zhu Biao cupped his hands and explained, "Father, I did not deliberately conceal this matter. I simply saw how many affairs of state you had to attend to and did not wish to trouble you with it."
Looking at Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "Biao'er, I had Dai Yuanli explain your condition not to blame you for concealing it, but because I want you to take it seriously, follow the physicians' advice, and tend properly to your health."
"Xiongying's health must also be carefully nurtured-you should remember what I told you earlier. As the heir apparent, whether you are healthy concerns the very foundation of the realm!"
Those were already quite severe words.
Zhu Biao even faintly suspected that Zhu Yuanzhang might be considering replacing him as heir apparent.
But that suspicion only flashed through his mind. He could feel the importance Zhu Yuanzhang placed on him, and he also understood how crucial the policy of passing the throne to the eldest legitimate son was to the stability of the Great Ming. It would never be lightly changed merely because he had mild symptoms of congenital weakness.
Gathering himself, Zhu Biao said, "I understand, Father."
"All right. You should return to the Eastern Palace as well."
"Yes, Father. I take my leave."
After Zhu Biao left, Zhu Yuanzhang personally led Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian to the imperial harem.
As they walked, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Do not mention the crown prince's or the eldest imperial grandson's condition to anyone."
Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian felt a chill in their hearts and hastily assented.
At the same time, they wondered why Zhu Yuanzhang had suddenly decided today to inquire into the health of the crown prince, the eldest imperial grandson, and even the empress.
Before either man could work out an explanation, they arrived at Kunning Palace.