The Stories of Mine in the Ming Dynasty of China in 1368

"Five-stringed zither?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. "Aren't zithers all with seven strings?"

Li Qing explained, "Originally, the zither had five strings. Later, King Wen of Zhou added a 'wen' string and King Wu of Zhou added a 'wu' string, which turned it into a seven-stringed zither."

"Like this!" Zhu Yuanzhang scratched his head and asked strangely, "Do you mean that the five-stringed zither can cure the empress' illness?"

"Well..." Li Qing nodded. "There is 'music' in the character for 'medicine'. A person has five internal organs, and music has five tones. At the beginning of the invention of music, it was used for treating diseases. Combining herbal medicine with music is the true 'medicine', and the combination of the two can achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

Zhu Yuanzhang listened in a daze and muttered, "This kind of statement, I've heard it for the first time.

Xiaogui, take people to the imperial harem and the Music Bureau to look for a five-stringed zither. If there isn't one, immediately have the best instrument craftsmen in the capital make one. We must not delay Mr. Li's treatment of the empress tomorrow."

"This servant obeys the order."

Zhu Yuanzhang rarely used honorifics to others. In the past when fighting for the world, only a few scholars like Li Shanzhang and Liu Bowen enjoyed this treatment.

The reason why he was so polite was mainly that Li Qing's exposition gave him renewed hope.

And Li Qing, the reason why he explained in such detail was to make Zhu Yuanzhang understand the principle. Firstly, it could arouse his attention. Secondly, he wouldn't be misunderstood as an 'immortal'.

Although the emperor hoped that the common people believed in gods and Buddhism because it was convenient for governance, if there were really 'immortals' in front of him, he would definitely have the intention to kill.

In the past, his master, Zhang the Slovenly, once said that if one day he was sold to the imperial family, don't easily show his true skills. It doesn't matter if it's fake. Even if it's detected, it doesn't matter much. It's just losing the job.

But if real methods were shown, it would definitely cause the emperor's suspicion and bring disaster!

But in Li Qing's current situation, it's absolutely impossible not to show his true skills. He could only give Zhu Yuanzhang a preventive injection first.

If the current crisis couldn't be overcome, there would be no future!

Zhu Yuanzhang was more and more satisfied with Li Qing. His tense mood in recent days also relaxed. He smiled and said, "Mr. Li, if you have any other needs, just say it. I will not refuse."

Li Qing thought for a while and tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, can you allow this commoner to stroll around the capital in his spare time?"

"Well... OK!" Zhu Yuanzhang added, "It must be after the empress' condition is stable."

"Naturally."

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and continued to review the memorials. After finishing the memorial in his hand, he raised his head and said, "What kind of herbal medicine does Mr. Li need? I'll have someone prepare it."

"Take two taels of woad leaves and boil them with three bowls of water to make one bowl!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and waited for the following. Seeing that Li Qing didn't speak for a long time, he was surprised and said, "Nothing else?"

"No." Li Qing explained, "The empress is physically weak. Using too much medicine will only burden the body. The most reliable method at present is to condition first. After the body improves, this commoner dares to use other treatment plans."

Seeing that he was so methodical, Zhu Yuanzhang felt greatly relieved and showed a kind smile. "OK, Mr. Li has had a tiring journey. Rest early."

Saying that, he turned his head to the little yellow eunuch behind him and said, "Find a residence for Mr. Li in the palace and inform the imperial kitchen that Mr. Li's meals should be sumptuous."

"This servant obeys the order."

The little yellow eunuch didn't dare to neglect and walked to Li Qing in small steps, "Sir, please follow me."

Li Qing said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Then... this commoner takes his leave."

"Um." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and his gaze returned to the memorials.

...

"Sir, you will live here from now on!"

Li Qing looked at the rows of large bunk beds and was speechless for a moment. He didn't expect to live in this place.

--The eunuchs' duty room

There was a smell of urine in the air, which was really not good.

Noticing Li Qing's dislike, the little yellow eunuch blushed and explained, "Sir, please forgive me. Most of the castrated people have injured their urethra and have incontinence..."

Li Qing saw his sad face with tears faintly shining, and several eunuchs in the room were also feeling sorry for themselves. He quickly hid his strange expression and said, "It's okay. This place is also fine."

The little yellow eunuch heaved a sigh of relief and gave Li Qing a grateful look. Then he said to the several little eunuchs in the room, "Quickly make a clean place for the sir."

The little eunuchs agreed and immediately got busy.

Soon, a clean bed was made. Li Qing had been on the carriage for more than ten days and was indeed very tired. He didn't care much and directly lay on the bed and fell asleep soundly.

When he woke up again, it was already evening.

Li Qing stretched his limbs and his bones crackled. The fatigue of the past few days was swept away.

"Er... this sir, when will dinner be ready? I'm a little hungry."

The little eunuch in front perhaps already knew his importance and hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Sir, don't worry. I'll go and report right now."

"Um, thank you for the trouble."

"No trouble, no trouble..." The little eunuch kept shaking his hand. He had always been ordered around. This was the first time he was respected, which made him moved inexplicably.

After two quarters of an hour, two little eunuchs came in carrying food boxes and set out a full table. There were only eight dishes for lunch, but he had sixteen. It could be seen how much Zhu Yuanzhang valued him.

Li Qing ate his fill and saw that there was still a lot left. It would be a pity to throw it away, so he said, "Why don't you have some?"

More than ten eunuchs swallowed their saliva but still shook their heads and refused.

There were quite a lot of rules in the palace... Li Qing didn't persuade anymore and lay back on the bed to continue sleeping.

...

The next day.

Just before dawn, Li Qing was awakened by the rustling sounds. The eunuchs put on their uniforms and started their day's work.

Li Qing stretched and turned over, wanting to sleep again when he heard outside the door: "This servant pays respects to the Crown Prince."

He knew that Zhu Biao came here surely to see him. So he had to get up from the bed and come outside.

"This commoner, Li Qing, pays respects to the Crown Prince."

Li Qing didn't know the Crown Prince, but he didn't need to. He could tell who the Crown Prince was from the attendants.

"Don't be overly courteous." Zhu Biao's attitude was gentle. "It's getting late. Please diagnose and treat the empress as soon as possible."

"..."

Isn't it early when it's just dawn?

I haven't eaten yet... Li Qing was helpless. The ancients had almost no entertainment. They slept when it was dark and got up before dawn. He still wasn't quite used to it even after being here for so long.

In the empress' bedroom, compared to yesterday's desolation, it was especially lively today. There were more than thirty princes and grandchildren who were greeting one by one.

Li Qing couldn't help sighing at the reproductive ability of the Zhu family. It was truly terrifying.

After the princes and grandchildren finished their greetings, they saluted Zhu Biao. It took quite a while for the hall to quiet down.

Li Qing made a respectful bow, then walked to the table and sat down. Gently touching the ancient zither, soothing notes immediately rang out.

Nice zither!

Li Qing secretly praised. Looking up at the princes and grandchildren, the group had no intention of leaving and were looking at him with interest.

Li Qing gave an embarrassed smile. "Well, this commoner is going to treat the empress. Please, Your Highnesses, step aside for now."

"Can the zither cure illness?"

"Just play. We won't disturb."

"Isn't this just playing tricks? This is the first time I've heard of curing illness with a zither. If you can't cure the empress' illness, I'll chop off your head."

The quiet hall became noisy again. There were the curious ones, the unbelieving ones, and the threatening ones, which made Li Qing very angry.

Zhu Biao frowned slightly and said solemnly, "Be quiet!"

Everyone immediately shut up and the hall became silent. Only then did Zhu Biao ask, "Mr. Li, can I listen to this zither?"

Li Qing nodded. "Of course you can. But this zither of mine is targeted at those who are ill. Those who are healthy will feel uncomfortable when listening."

"Just play. If I take a step back, I lose!" A prince immediately made a promise.

"Play quickly. Don't play tricks."

Li Qing stopped persuading. "After the sound of the zither starts, no one is allowed to speak!"

Then, he tuned the strings and his momentum suddenly changed.

The princes only felt that this commoner seemed like a different person. Before they could be surprised, the first note suddenly rang out.

"Zheng~!"

The note wasn't loud, but it made their minds resonate. Their hearts seemed to miss a beat, giving rise to a strong discomfort.

Before they could adjust, the second note rang out again. As soon as the note sounded, everyone's breathing rhythm changed. They felt their lungs tremble, followed by a twitch in their lower abdomen, feeling like getting a stitch.

Immediately after the third, the fourth... Every time a note rang out, one of the organs in their five viscera would resonate once, extremely uncomfortable.

A group of princes and grandchildren were stunned. They didn't expect that a piece of music could have such power. Truly... uncomfortable!

Li Qing played faster and faster. The notes were like a violent storm. Their five viscera and six bowels seemed to resonate with the zither sound, generating corresponding vibration frequencies.

Overtones, undertones, and scattered tones... Li Qing entered the state. One person and one zither seemed to be isolated from the world. Other than that, there was nothing else.

If Zhang the Slovenly were present, he would sincerely praise, "Not bad, not bad. Just entered the realm of harmony between heaven and man."

Li Qing's fingers flew rapidly, one note following another, forming a chaotic-yet-orderly tune. It started from the Qianqing Palace and spread far and wide...

"Who is playing the zither?"

After the morning court, Zhu Yuanzhang left the Fengtian Palace and heard this special tune. He couldn't help but be stunned. The tune wasn't pleasant to the ear, but it gave him a strange feeling.

It was as if someone was playing right in front of him!

"Your Majesty, could it be that Mr. Li?" Xiaoguizi said hesitantly.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. "Let's go and take a look."