The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 609

However, this Imperial Guard would never prescribe medicine or a recipe for Xia Yan. He followed Xia Yan and Huang Jin to the main hall. Xia Yan sat down, calmed his breathing, and then extended his right hand.

The Imperial Guard checked Xia Yan's right pulse, and it was exactly as he had expected. Xia Yan had a pulse of yin deficiency and excessive fire. At this moment, the yang energy in Xia Yan's body was like a fire, constantly scorching his body fluids and kidney water. Of course, Xia Yan's symptoms were not obvious, just a little bit. In theory, as long as he was properly treated, it would be easy to cure.

But what were the Imperial Guards doing here? They were there to worsen his symptoms.

"Lord Xia is somewhat deficient in Yang energy. Does he sometimes feel physically weak?"

The Imperial Guards looked at Xia Yan and pressed their faces close to clear a path.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yan was speechless. He wanted to say no, but he couldn't bring himself to say it in front of Huang Jin.

After all, he had personally said in court, in front of Jiajing and all the civil and military officials, that he was no longer capable of doing his job.

If we deny it now, wouldn't that be deceiving the emperor?

"I did have some before, but after some treatment recently, it's much better now."

That was all Xia Yan could say.

The Imperial Guards shook their heads upon hearing this.

"Lord Xia only knows one side of the story. The yang energy in the human body is finite. Once it's used up, it's gone. It needs to be replenished in time. What Lord Xia is feeling now is just an illusion. However, your condition is not serious. I can prescribe some nourishing medicine for you."

The Imperial Guard looked at Xia Yan and then fell silent.

"Go and fetch the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Xia Yan immediately understood and gave instructions to the servant beside him.

Soon, the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were brought over, and the Imperial Guard picked up the brush and began to write the prescription.

The prescription was standard, with ginseng as the main ingredient, and even included a very hot herb like epimedium. It seemed to be for tonifying the kidneys, but in reality, it was just accelerating the depletion of Xia Yan's body fluids and kidney essence. When Xia Yan first took the medicine, he would feel unusually vigorous, thus losing his guard. But after taking only a few doses, Xia Yan's body fluids and kidney essence would be completely drained, as if he were being roasted over a fire.

By then, it would be too late for Xia Yan to make amends.

It must be said that the prescription this person gave, which seemed to be very nourishing, was actually extremely dangerous, and the key point is that ordinary people could not see any problems with it.

Even if you showed it to the pharmacy owner, without considering Xia Yan's physical condition, you would have to admit that this prescription is very nourishing.

As the saying goes, ginseng can kill without fault, and aconite can save without merit. Most prescriptions would not find fault with this prescription, since both ginseng and many of the other herbs are very precious.

Not to mention today, throughout history, most doctors are quacks. They usually can't see anything wrong and will prescribe some kind of highly tonifying medicine. Once the medicine is prescribed, the patient's family can tell at a glance that it is a highly tonifying medicine. Even if the patient dies, they will not think that it is the doctor's fault.

Xia Yan took the prescription and looked at it again and again. Although Xia Yan did not understand pharmacology, he saw that the ginseng and other medicinal materials on the prescription were all highly nourishing and seemed to have no problems.

Even something like epimedium is not uncommon; these high-ranking officials and nobles consumed it frequently.

After looking at it for a while, Xia Yan couldn't see any problems, so he handed the prescription to his housekeeper.

"Go and get the medicine according to the prescription."

As Xia Yan spoke, she gave the butler a wink.

The steward immediately understood, took the prescription, and left the Xia residence, heading straight for the pharmacy.

"Shopkeeper, prepare the medicine according to the prescription."

The butler placed the prescription on the counter and said.

"Isn't this Butler Li? Why have you come to get the medicine yourself?"

Upon seeing the steward of the Xia family, the shopkeeper hurriedly offered his compliments.

"My husband isn't feeling well, we just called a doctor. Could you take a look at this prescription and see if there's anything wrong with it?"

The steward handed the shopkeeper a five-tael silver ingot.

The shopkeeper discreetly pocketed the silver, then picked up the prescription with a broad smile and began to examine it carefully.

"There's nothing wrong with this recipe; it's a nourishing one, and a very good one at that."

After the shopkeeper finished reading, he said...

The butler was immediately relieved upon hearing this.

"Then let's get one dose first. If it works well, we'll get a few more later."

"Got it."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper turned around and began to prepare the medicine.

This medicine is not cheap; the ginseng and other medicinal herbs inside are all extremely precious. However, Xia Yan doesn't care about the money. The more expensive the medicine, the more at ease he feels about taking it.

Soon, the steward returned to the Xia residence with the medicine.

"Sir, the medicine has been prepared."

The butler approached Xia Yan, Huang Jin, and the others respectfully.

"Let this doctor check if there's anything wrong with the medicine."

Xia Yan looked at the Imperial Guards in front of him and said.

Xia Yan knew very well that with Huang Jin here, he would never be able to cheat or shirk his responsibilities.

Upon hearing this, the steward handed the medicine packet in his hand to the Imperial Guard.

"The herbs are correct. You can find someone to decoct the medicine. Boil three bowls of water down to one bowl."

The Imperial Guard handed the medicine packet back to the steward.

"Go and have someone bring over the stove for decocting the medicine, we'll decoct it here."

Xia Yan glanced at Huang Jin and noticed that Huang Jin's gaze was fixed on the medicine packet. He said helplessly.

After the medicine was decocted in front of everyone, Huang Jin frowned as he smelled the aroma emanating from it.

Even Xia Yan found it hard to accept this indescribable smell.

"My lord, as the saying goes, good medicine tastes bitter, so you should drink it while it's hot."

The Imperial Guards spoke earnestly and persuasively.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yan took the bowl of medicinal soup from the butler, took a deep breath, and then downed it in one gulp.

The worst thing you can do when taking medicine is to sip it slowly; otherwise, you won't be able to drink it at all, and it will taste worse and worse.

It's actually better to gulp it down.

Immediately afterwards, Xia Yan took a bowl of sweet water from the housekeeper, drank a sip, and her complexion improved.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Zhou. I thank you on my behalf."

Xia Yan's face turned ugly.