Volume One, Chapter Five: Liu Bowen’s Fatal Illness and the Unveiling of His Seven-Year Feigned Death

“*Cough, cough… Your Majesty, the Empress… why are you here?*
*Cough, cough… this old servant pays respects… to Your Majesty… cough, cough…*”

Liu Bowen coughed intermittently as he spoke.

Liu Bowen was a man of vast knowledge and remarkable foresight, once an official during the Yuan dynasty.

He served as the strategist for Zhu Yuanzhang, advising him in the founding of the Ming dynasty.

After Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne and proclaimed himself Emperor, he bestowed upon Liu Bowen the title of Earl of Sincerity and appointed him as Vice Censor-in-Chief and Imperial Historian. He also contributed to the formulation of the calendar and the establishment of military laws.

“I am Liu Ruolan, daughter of the Earl of Sincerity. I pay my respects to Your Majesty, the Empress. My father’s health is frail, so I beg your forgiveness for not kneeling,” Liu Ruolan said, supporting her father.

Liu Ruolan, appearing about seventeen or eighteen, was well-mannered and elegant, with an air of refined grace. Meeting Empress Ma, she showed neither arrogance nor servility, every gesture embodying the demeanor of a noble lady.

“Ruolan, steady the Earl of Sincerity. Doctor Xia, please examine him swiftly,” Empress Ma instructed.

“Let’s bring the patient inside. I will examine him first,” Xia Jingtian said.

Following Liu Ruolan’s support, they entered the clinic. Liu Bowen sat down as Xia Jingtian began his examination.

Xia Jingtian inspected Liu Bowen’s tongue coating, listened to his internal organs with a stethoscope, and took his pulse with practiced precision.

“Your Majesty, this doctor is so young—can he truly be a miracle healer?” Liu Ruolan asked, puzzled.

To her, Xia Jingtian seemed no more than in his twenties, hardly fitting the image of a divine physician.

“Seven days ago, my eldest grandson, Zhu Xiongying, was critically ill with smallpox. When brought here, he had no heartbeat or breath. Yet, Doctor Xia revived him. Look, he’s lively now, and the pustules have already scabbed over,” Empress Ma said, holding her grandson Zhu Xiongying in her arms.

Liu Ruolan looked at the boy happily clutching a toy car, his face marked with healing scabs.

“Your Majesty, I have studied some medicine with my father and read medical texts. Smallpox is incurable and contagious. Holding the crown prince like this is very risky,” Liu Ruolan warned.

As Liu Bowen’s daughter, influenced by her father, she was well-read and knew that smallpox was both deadly and transmissible.

“I contracted smallpox from Xiongying long ago, but it was cured. Rest assured, Doctor Xia possesses miraculous healing skills and will surely cure your father,” Empress Ma smiled confidently.

At that moment, Xia Jingtian finished his examination.

“Liu Lao, do you suffer from constipation, loss of appetite, frequent coughing, and phlegm in your throat?” Xia Jingtian inquired.

“Yes, cough… I have all these symptoms. To be honest, Doctor Xia, I have some knowledge of medicine. Cough… I developed a cold caused by wind and chill seven years ago, which has relapsed repeatedly and never healed. I have calculated my destiny, cough… my days are near the end. No need to trouble Doctor Xia; my illness is beyond cure. Liu Bowen has been dead for seven years!”

Liu Bowen coughed weakly, his spirit waning as he gave up hope.

“Doctor Xia, please save my father at all costs. I will give you all the valuables I have,” Liu Ruolan said anxiously, removing the bracelets and earrings she wore.

“Ruolan, how did you fall into such hardship that you must part with your own jewelry for your father’s treatment?” Empress Ma asked in surprise.

Liu Ruolan glanced at her father and motioned for her not to speak. Then, gritting her teeth, she replied, “Your Majesty, my father and I left our hometown of Qingtian seven years ago and have been living anonymously in the mountains where no one knows us. We earn money by selling my father’s calligraphy and paintings in the city. Without funds for treatment, my father’s condition worsened. Recently, a clinic suddenly appeared in our courtyard, so I brought him here for care.”

“Earl of Sincerity, you helped Zhu Yuanzhang found the Ming dynasty and revised its laws, your merits are undeniable. And now, you say you entered the clinic because its door appeared in your courtyard? Remarkable indeed—the clinic’s entrance connects directly to the imperial palace of Yingtian Prefecture,” Empress Ma sighed.

Xia Jingtian shook his head silently. It was nothing more than a common cold caused by wind and chill, yet it was being treated like a fatal disease.

In ancient times, such colds were frequent but considered complex and difficult to treat.

The Temporal Divine Doctor System appeared again before Xia Jingtian’s eyes.

[Mission issued: Cure Liu Bowen’s wind-cold infection to receive a reward.]

“Liu Lao, you only have a wind-cold infection. It progresses through three stages: early, middle, and late.

Early symptoms include chills, fever, no sweating, headache, and runny nose; it clears in three to five days.

Middle stage worsens with high fever, dry throat, sore throat, and dry cough; treatment takes about seven days.

Late stage penetrates the lungs, causing cough with phlegm, possible constipation, and loss of appetite; treatment can last around half a month.

Your condition is late-stage, but not fatal. With my method, it should heal in about ten days.”

“Really? Doctor Xia, can you truly cure my father in ten days?” Liu Ruolan asked with hope.

“Yes, I, Xia Jingtian, keep my word—guaranteed cure. See this plaque ‘Divine Physician’s Hands’? It was inscribed by Emperor Hongwu himself. I will not disgrace it. Also, I won’t charge you a consultation fee. Just help me tidy the place and cook meals; I’m not adept at housework,” Xia Jingtian said embarrassedly.

“Tidying and cooking is no problem—I usually take care of my father,” Liu Ruolan readily agreed.

Though young, she was remarkably sensible.

“Doctor Xia, you focus on treating the Earl of Sincerity. I will cover his medical expenses. However, you must keep his presence here secret, especially from Zhu Yuanzhang. No one must know Liu Bowen is receiving treatment here,” Empress Ma instructed.

Xia Jingtian understood. Liu Bowen had faked his death and lived in hiding for seven years. If Zhu Yuanzhang discovered the truth, it would be considered treason, and knowing his temperament, Zhu Yuanzhang would not forgive him again.

Xia Jingtian took out a box of wind-cold infection granules from the medicine cabinet, poured the contents into a cup, added hot water from the dispenser, stirred, and handed it to Liu Bowen.

“Drink this medicine. Sweating will bring relief.”

The granules contained ephedra, kudzu root, tangerine peel, licorice, and others. They induced sweating and dispelled wind-cold, mainly treating wind-cold infections.

Liu Bowen curiously accepted the glass, observing the medicine.

“Cough… what is this cup? So clear and bright. Cough… and why are these granules? They’re not powder, and no boiling is needed—just mix with water?”

“This clinic is unlike any you know. These are patented Chinese medicines, combining several herbs into granules so you don’t have to boil them traditionally,” Xia Jingtian explained.

Liu Bowen drank the medicine, half understanding.

Xia Jingtian then helped him change into patient clothing and arranged a bed in a three-person ward. He also taught Liu Ruolan how to use the faucet, shower, and toilet.

The young lady was curious and tried them all.

Liu Bowen felt a flush of heat and a fine sweat breaking out.

“Doctor Xia, this medicine is truly miraculous. I feel warmth and am sweating,” Liu Bowen marveled.

“This medicine expels the cold from your body through sweating. Ruolan, give your father these granules with warm water three times daily. Also, ensure he drinks plenty of water and eats hydrating fruits. Here, have some watermelon. I will prepare for further treatment this afternoon and evening,” Xia Jingtian instructed.

After finishing his instructions, Xia Jingtian went to the first-floor restroom and opened the system’s marketplace.

Spending 8,000 coins, he purchased a small steam sauna for Liu Bowen to help eliminate the cold from his body.

In the next moment, a compact steam room appeared in the bathroom.

It stood over two meters tall, about the size of a phone booth, made entirely of solid wood with a glass door in front and adjustable temperature controls.

Near noon, the weather was hot. Xia Jingtian showered and then relaxed inside the steam room, feeling very comfortable.

By evening, Xia Jingtian measured Liu Bowen’s temperature.

“Your temperature is 36.7°C, the fever has subsided. How do you feel now?”

“Cough… I feel much better. Many thanks to Doctor Xia’s medicine,” Liu Bowen said gratefully.

*Creak!*

At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhang pushed open the door and entered.

“Who is coughing? My eldest grandson is sleeping; don’t wake him!” Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily.

Liu Bowen, dressed in patient clothes, was shocked by Zhu Yuanzhang’s sudden arrival, his face draining of color as he stammered,

“Your Majesty…”

Seeing Liu Bowen in person, Zhu Yuanzhang was utterly stunned.

“Liu Ji, Liu Bowen! Weren’t you dead? How are you alive and here? Damn you, how dare you deceive me!”

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at Liu Bowen, berating him fiercely.

Xia Jingtian smiled helplessly upon Zhu Yuanzhang’s unexpected arrival.

Empress Ma had asked him to keep Liu Bowen’s presence a secret, but it seemed that was no longer possible. Now, the real drama was about to unfold!