Chapter 22: Truly Healed

Li Xiuwei stayed in the Lizheng Palace for half an hour. Seeing that Empress Zhangsun was in no immediate danger, he departed. Not long after, the serving palace maids noticed that the Empress’s breathing had eased, her coughing had subsided, and she had even managed to sleep—a rare occurrence over the past few days.

The next day, after a meal, Li Shen arrived at the Lizheng Palace. This time, he was accompanied by the court lady Lan Yu'er. Upon hearing the maids' report that the medicine was working, he said little, simply guiding Lan Yu'er to observe the procedure he had performed the day before as he administered another injection to the Empress. He then instructed Lan Yu'er to return the medical supplies and headed off to the Guozijian.

After finishing the morning court session, Li Shimin came to visit and found the Empress sleeping, coughing only occasionally. Overjoyed to see that Li Shen’s medicine was effective and that the Empress was saved, he chose not to disturb her and returned to the Ganlu Palace to attend to his duties.

Five days passed in this manner. The Empress’s cough had all but vanished, and she was able to consume some food. From the fifth day on, the injections were handled by Lan Yu'er, as it was deemed inappropriate for him to continue, though Li Shen still visited daily to check on her condition. Three days later, the Empress had essentially recovered.

Li Shimin specifically summoned all the imperial physicians to pulse-check the Empress, despite her protests that he was making too much of a fuss. After doing so, the physicians were astonished, calling the recovery a miracle. Those who had previously treated her were particularly incredulous, attributing her health to divine protection and good fortune.

"Very well, the Empress has recovered," Li Shimin told the physicians. "Li Shen says her medication is no longer needed. However, as she has just recovered from a grave illness, she remains weak. You are to prescribe tonics to help restore her health."

The physicians felt uneasy; a child had succeeded where they had failed. Yet, none dared to speak, as the result was undeniable. They bowed in agreement and returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau to prepare the tonics.

"Is Mother really well?"

In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian asked, barely daring to believe his ears as he looked at Li Zhi and Li Mingda. When the Empress was critically ill, he had consulted the physicians and received the same grim prognosis as his father. He had felt both grief and rage—grief that the Empress was dying, and anger that the imperial physicians were so incompetent. He had held little hope when he heard Li Shen was treating her, and later, when the Empress needed rest, Li Shimin had forbidden the siblings from visiting.

The news brought by Li Zhi and Li Mingda was so unexpectedly joyful that Li Chengqian could hardly fathom it.

"It’s true, Big Brother! Min’er and I saw it ourselves. We heard Father and the physicians say Mother has recovered and that they are now preparing tonics for her," Li Zhi said excitedly.

"Yes, yes," little Li Mingda nodded, acting like a miniature adult.

"That’s wonderful! Truly wonderful!" Li Chengqian exclaimed.

"Let’s go see Mother."

"Big Brother, Father said Mother is sleeping. He told us to come back for dinner tonight," Li Zhi said, holding back the overly excited Li Chengqian.

"Ah, right, right. We mustn't disturb her," Li Chengqian immediately agreed.

It was no wonder he was so excited; Li Chengqian was undoubtedly the child Empress Zhangsun loved most. Growing up, while Li Shimin was busy with wars and state affairs, it was the Empress who cared for him and shielded him from his father’s temper. She was the bridge between father and son. Since she fell ill, the seventeen-year-old had cried alone many times. Now that she was safe, his joy was boundless.

Before long, all of Chang'an knew that the Empress had been cured by the Prince of Shen, Li Shen. The news spread from the inner palace to the court, and finally to the commoners. It soon became shrouded in myth; some claimed Li Shen practiced sorcery, others that he was a deity descended from heaven, or that he had traded his own life force to save hers. Rumors even circulated about a "magic bamboo tube" he used to draw human blood, claiming people had been seen taken to the Ministry of Justice and never seen again. The stories were bizarre and varied.

At the grand court session, all officials of the fifth rank and above were in attendance. Li Shen was not usually required to attend, but due to the impending reward, he was permitted to wait on the sidelines. Li Shimin was radiant, a smile fixed on his face. The dark clouds had lifted from his heart.

After the routine matters were settled, Li Shimin addressed the court: "My officials, you all know of the Empress’s illness. The Imperial Medical Bureau was helpless, and I was consumed by despair, neglecting state affairs. It was your diligence that sustained the nation. For this, I offer my self-reflection."

"Your Majesty is too modest," Zhao Guogong Zhangsun Wuji replied first. "The Empress is the mother of the nation, and your devotion is only natural. It shows your benevolence."

"Indeed," Fang Xuanling added, and the court followed in chorus, praising the Emperor’s virtue.

"As you may have heard, the Empress was cured by the Prince of Shen, Li Shen," Li Shimin continued. "I had issued a decree promising rewards for her recovery, and today I shall honor that promise. Li Shen, come forward."

Li Shen stepped forward, his heart racing with thoughts of land and money. Li Shimin noticed the young prince’s eyes gleaming with avarice and his hands rubbing together, and he swallowed his prepared praise. He nodded to Wang De, who stepped forward to read the decree: "The Prince of Shen, Li Shen, has been wise and filial since childhood... He is hereby invested as the Prince of Ji, granted five thousand mu of fertile land, five hundred taxable households, five thousand strings of cash, and five hundred bolts of silk..."

It was a generous reward, especially the title of Prince of Ji, which carried the status of a first-rank prince rather than the previously lower rank. The grant of five hundred taxable households was particularly significant, as such grants were usually nominal; this was a true source of personal wealth, exempt from state labor and taxes. It was a substantial reward indeed.