The Little Consort's
Eps. 41: Misunderstood

Physician Tao Zhun had just finished performing a routine examination of the palace of the concubines. His intention now is to go to the Kingdom Medicine Hall, take some herbs that can be used to be consumed as a multivitamin supplement that is useful for improving the health of the body of the concubines. Although the king never touched the concubines, they still had to maintain a healthy body so that one day, if the king suddenly came, they could provide the best service.

Routine checks are carried out once a month, right at the middle of the month or fifteenth day. Tao Zhun would check the pulse of the concubines one by one to ascertain whether there was any disease or poison lodged in their precious bodies or not. If there was, then Tao Zhun would mobilize his troops to help the concubine to get well soon. If there were none, Tao Zhun would give the concubines herbs that could nourish and maintain fertility.

As he was about to turn to the Royal Medicine Hall, a lady dressed in waitresses shouted as she galloped towards him. Tao Zhun stopped his steps, then squinted his eyes so that he could see more clearly who the running woman was.

"Tabib Tao! Wretch! Goddamn it!"

That woman was Xie Roulan, the personal servant of Consort An of Xingyue Palace. Recalling the name of Xingyue Palace, the healer's face turned sour. He still remembered how he was treated unfairly by the owner of the palace, who even called him a shaman. Now, his personal servant came here in a hurry, Tao Zhun was of course upset.

"What's wrong?"

"Mom... Your Majesty's bird is seriously injured! My mistress said you should treat her immediately!" exclaimed Xie Roulan with a breath of breath. His lungs were almost dry with the amount of air he had to expel to get here as quickly as possible.

"What bamboo?" Tao Zhun asked back.

"Bird Your Majesty!"

Tao Zhun pensively for a moment. A bird? The Noble Bird? What kind of bird does His Majesty have?

However, a moment later, Tao Zhun was wide-eyed. His face was panicked.

"Wine! Quickly get me there!"

Tao Zhun galloped while carrying his medical box, leaving Xie Roulan glued in front of the gate of the Royal Medicine Hall. The servant girl was puzzled to see the usually calm royal physician become panicked like one giving birth, even more frantic than herself.

While being struck by the overwhelming panic, Tao Zhun continued to gallop. Several guards and servants who passed by him greeted, but were ignored because the young man was panicking. He even ignored the greetings of the palace officials who had just finished a meeting in their respective ministries.

It would be dangerous if he was late. Dongling's future is at stake.

Actually, what has the concubine done to her king? Tao Zhun speculated that Li Anlan was seeking revenge on His Majesty the King for his confinement in Xingyue Palace. Yes, Tao Zhun did have a little share in this, as he himself reported Li Anlan's actions to him the other day.

But, does it have to really harm the king? According to him, there were many ways to take revenge on His Majesty the King. Not by harming the bird. Tao Zhun knew the bravery Li Anlan had, he knew the woman was desperately crossing Long Ji Man.

Forget about that. The most important thing he had to do was to arrive at Hongwu Palace as soon as possible, then treat Long Ji Man's bird before the wound got worse. Tao Zhun continued to run and run until his breathing was stingy and sweat flooded his service shirt.

A while later, he arrived before the gates of Hongwu Palace. Tao Zhun stopped his steps to take a breath, then dashed back inside Hongwu Palace. At that time, the situation was quiet because it was almost afternoon. Tao Zhun saw Xiao Biqi standing guard on the front porch. The young eunuch stood firmly, watching the surroundings.

Xiao Biqi directly asked,

"Tabib Tao, why are you here?"

"Isn't His Majesty's bird seriously injured?"

"Birds?"

Not yet had Xiao Biqi explained further, Tao Zhun had already barged into the main room of Hongwu Palace. As he entered, Long Ji Man seemed to be focusing on reading the royal documents on his desk.

"Your Majesty, I have come to save you!"

Long Ji Man, hearing his royal physician come, immediately frowned. He wondered why Tao Zhun had come when he had not called him at all. Moreover, Tao Zhun came with an incredible panic imprinted on his slightly handsome face.

"Didn't Concubine An hurt your bird? Let me treat him, Your Majesty."

"really. But, my stern is dead."

"Have died? With what weapon did Concubine An hurt her?"

"An arrow."

Tao Zhun immediately sat down in a doldrums. She's late. The King's Majesty's bird is dead. It's all over. This world is going to end. Tao Zhun cursed to himself who could not come any faster.

"Excuse this servant of yours who is unable to save His Majesty's future," Tao Zhun regretted as he kowtowed.

"Are you crazy?"

"I deserve to go crazy because I can't save His Majesty's precious bird."

Long Ji Man was getting more confused. Tao Zhun's words were very strange and unreasonable.

"Only an eagle, why did you get like this?"

Tao Zhun instantly fell silent. The young healer took a few seconds to digest Long Ji Man's question.

"Also, what future do you mean?"

Long Ji Man looked straight at Tao Zhun. However, a moment later, he suddenly swerved,

"Tao Zhun's! What's that stuff in your head? Do you think I've..."

Long Ji Man glanced briefly at the bottom of his cloak-covered body. Tao Zhun, the poor physician deepened and dissolved in his prostration. Really, he had misunderstood the word 'bird' thrown by Li Anlan's servant. Tao Zhun felt more and more guilty because he was stupid and did not ask first about his intentions and truth.

"Punish me, Your Majesty."

Long Ji Man threw the document he was reading forward. The document fell right near Tao Zhun's head.

Suddenly, there was a loud laughter coming from outside, until the attention of Long Ji Man and Tao Zhun was diverted to the origin of the sound. The heads of Li Anlan and Xiao Biqi poked out from behind the open door. Li Anlan could not help but laugh. The show here is great!

"Your Majesty, your bird is dead!"

"Anlan, is this you?"

"No. The Tao Zhun shaman alone was a fool. Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my responsibility for harming your beloved eagle. I'll return to Xingyue Palace. Thanks for the exciting show!"

Li Anlan immediately ran away. Along the way to Xingyue Palace, he could not stop laughing. Tao Zhun was really stupid. He could have misunderstood the meaning of 'His Majesty's bird'. The doctor's thinking was very shallow.

Meanwhile, as a result of his actions, Long Ji Man punished Tao Zhun. The poor healer was sentenced to two days in confinement at the Royal Medical Hall for introspection. His salary was also cut for half a year. His temporary duties will be delegated to other equally competent healers.

He was lucky because the king did not give him a heavier punishment. If reckoned based on the Laws of Dongling Royal Palace, Tao Zhun's recklessness today would be considered an insult to the king and the royal family. He survived because it was just a misunderstanding.

...***...