Chapter 1048: Western Territory, Brother Lang's Ambition to Dominate the Middle East

Lin Lang smiled and patiently explained, "My Royal Highness, this thing is called a Polaroid camera. It's a unique invention from Shanghai. With just a click, it can capture the moment and display it instantly. In the future, if my Royal Highness has any scenes he wants to preserve, he can use it to record them."

Li Zhi's face was filled with amazement. He repeatedly looked at the photo in his hand, muttering to himself, "Wonderful, truly wonderful! To think there is such a magical object in Shanghai, I have truly opened my eyes today."

When Empress Wu heard the commotion, she put down her golf club and walked over curiously.

After seeing the photo, he was also amazed: "There are such magical things in this world. A piece of thin paper can capture a moment. My dear brother, the wonders of Shanghai are really amazing."

Lin Lang bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty, it's a compliment. If you and I like it, I'll give you this Polaroid camera so you can record palace happenings at any time."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's face was filled with joy. He said with a hearty smile, "My dear brother, you have brought me this novel and interesting billiard ball, such a magical Polaroid camera, and many other rare items. Even more precious is that you have prayed for rain for the four states of the Tang Dynasty that are suffering from drought. I will remember this friendship in my heart and will reward you handsomely!"

Lin Lang politely replied, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Since we are brothers, why should I give you such a generous gift?"

Li Zhi insisted, "I have made up my mind. I will grant you the fertile lands of Suzhou and Hangzhou, south of the Yangtze River. It is a land of abundant resources and prosperity. You can enjoy wealth and splendor there."

After hearing this, Chu Yiren's eyes lit up and she felt a little excited.

Upon hearing this, Lin Lang quickly bowed and politely declined, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. However, I am not interested in this. Although Suzhou and Hangzhou are good, they are not what I desire."

Li Zhi looked surprised and asked doubtfully, "What do you mean, brother? Suzhou and Hangzhou are the most affluent regions in the world, and they are the dream of many people. Why do you refuse?"

Lin Lang smiled confidently and said, "I beg you, my royal brother, to grant me the borderlands of the Western Regions, which have long suffered from foreign invasions."

Li Zhi was even more puzzled and frowned, "My dear brother, the western border areas are prone to frequent wars and harsh conditions. Why did you choose to go there?"

Lin Lang's expression was firm, his eyes full of heroism as he said, "Brother, although the Western Frontier is difficult, it is the gateway to the Tang Dynasty. I am confident that I have the ability to defend the Western Frontier for the Tang Dynasty and resist foreign enemies."

"Not only that, I am also willing to use the unique skills and strategies of Shanghai to expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty, pacify the attacks of Tubo, Tokharistan and the entire Arab Empire, and make the territory of the Tang Dynasty even more vast!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's eyes flashed with surprise and admiration, and he said with emotion, "My dear brother, you have such great ambitions. It is truly a blessing for our Great Tang! Very well! I will grant you the lands of the Western Frontier. I hope you can do as you say, defend the borders for the Great Tang, and expand our territory. I await your good news!"

Lin Lang cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Thank you for your trust, my royal brother. I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

Empress Wu nodded slightly, her eyes full of praise. "My dear brother, you are wise and consider the affairs of the Tang Dynasty your top priority. You are truly a good brother to Your Majesty. I also look forward to your great achievements on the frontier."

After hearing this, Chu Yiren had a barely perceptible smile on her face, and she immediately guessed Lin Lang's ambition.

After hearing this, she finally understood why Lin Lang did not want the Tang Dynasty heartland of Suzhou and Hangzhou, but wanted the fiefdom on the western frontier.

Because Lin Lang was ambitious, he wanted to find a place where the emperor was far away and the sky was high, so that he could use the military force of the Tang Dynasty to expand the territory and become the local emperor.

You should know that the entire Arab Empire during the Tang Dynasty included present-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and even Spain and Portugal.

Part of the Tubo territory included modern Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and other places.

To put it bluntly, Lin Lang was attracted by the fact that the Middle East has half of the world's oil reserves, and he wanted to conquer the entire Middle East and become the emperor, with a piece of cloth on his head, and he would be the richest man in the world.

When she thought of this, Chu Yiren knew that she, the fake queen, would soon become the real queen with her own army.

Chu Yiren couldn't help but think too much. Just as Li Zhi and Empress Wu were immersed in the novelty of the camera, a eunuch ran into the Linde Hall in a panic, knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, this is terrible! The Fifth Prince has suddenly become seriously ill!"

When Empress Wu heard this, her face turned pale instantly and the photo she had just picked up fell to the ground with a "bang".

Her eyes widened as she rushed to the eunuch in two steps. Her voice trembled and she asked anxiously, "What did you say? Why did the Fifth Prince suddenly become seriously ill? What happened?"

Li Zhi was also extremely anxious, the veins on his forehead bulging, and he shouted, "Tell me quickly, how is the Fifth Prince doing now?"

The eunuch was sweating profusely and replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince was fine this morning. For some reason, he suddenly developed a high fever just now. His breathing is rapid and his face is flushed. His condition is very critical!"

Li Zhi's eyes were filled with worry and anxiety. He looked at Lin Lang in a panic and said, "My dear brother, I have to excuse myself. I need to go and check on the Fifth Prince's condition."

Why was Li Zhi, as the emperor, so panicked after the fifth prince Li Hong fell ill?

Because in ancient times, a minor illness could cause the death of a prince. The fifth prince Li Hong was the first son of Li Zhi and Empress Wu, the so-called eldest son. Although he was less than one year old, he could be the future crown prince.

In history, Li Hong suffered from a weak constitution because of this illness in his childhood. Although he was made the crown prince at a young age, he contracted tuberculosis when he grew up and died at the age of 24. He was posthumously named the Filial Emperor.

Lin Lang couldn't bear to see his sworn brother Li Zhi go through the pain of losing his son, so he immediately bowed and said confidently: "Don't worry, my royal brother. I am a genius doctor in Shanghai. The world's difficult and complicated diseases are nothing in my eyes. There is no disease that I cannot cure."

Li Zhi was overjoyed upon hearing this and said repeatedly, "Quick, quick, dear brother, it's time for you to use your medical skills. Come with me to check on the Fifth Prince."

After that, Li Zhi and Empress Wu led the way, followed closely by Lin Lang and Chu Yiren, and the group hurried to the East Palace.

Li Moli and others did not accompany them and stayed in Linde Palace temporarily. However, they heard that the fifth prince had suddenly fallen seriously ill and had lost interest in playing billiards.

As soon as Lin Lang entered the room, he saw the fifth prince Li Hong, who was less than one year old, lying on the couch. His little face was flushed red and his breathing was heavy and rapid.

Li Zhi stumbled to the bedside, his fingertips trembling as they touched his son's burning forehead. His Adam's apple rolled violently, and his voice was hoarse and almost broken: "Hong'er, my Hong'er!"

Empress Wu fell directly onto the cushions, clutching the silk handkerchief tightly in her palm. Tears fell softly, and she reached out to touch her son's red face with a trembling hand, crying, "Hong'er...it's my fault...I didn't let the servants take good care of you, wuwu..."

Chu Yiren stepped forward and comforted her, "Don't panic, sister. The Fifth Prince is a lucky man, and he will be fine."

The fifth prince suddenly let out a weak cry, intermittent like a kitten, and his originally pink lips turned white due to the force.

The little guy's thin arms waved unconsciously, but then fell down limply as if all his strength was exhausted. Every cry tugged at the hearts of Li Zhi and Empress Wu.

Li Zhi wanted to hold the little hands tremblingly, but was afraid of hurting the child, so his fingertips trembled in the air.

Empress Wu had already burst into tears, her nails digging deep into her palms, and tears were falling down in big drops.

The wet nurses, palace maids and imperial doctors in the room all knelt on the ground, trembling and not daring to raise their heads.

An elderly imperial physician trembled and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince drank unclean well water and seems to have been poisoned. We...we really don't have any good solutions."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's eyes widened in anger, his hands clenched into fists, and he shouted, "You are all useless! What's the point of keeping you around? You can't even cure a child's illness. If anything happens to Hong'er, all of you quacks in the Imperial Hospital will be buried with him."

The imperial doctors were all terrified after hearing this. They broke out in cold sweats and knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Li Zhi, anxious and worried, turned to look at Lin Lang, his voice choked with sobs: "Brother, it all depends on you. You must save your nephew!"

Lin Lang walked forward and carefully observed the Fifth Prince's complexion and pulse, then lifted his eyelids and took a look.

The air in the room seemed to freeze, and everyone stared at Lin Lang's every move nervously, not daring to breathe.

After a moment, Lin Lang frowned and said, "Royal brother, the Fifth Prince drank unclean well water containing typhoid and dysentery bacteria, which caused infectious diarrhea and fever, leading to acute gastroenteritis."

Li Zhi was bewildered and said anxiously, "Brother, I don't understand what you are saying. Can my Hong'er be saved?"

Lin Lang said confidently, "Don't worry, my royal brother. The Fifth Prince's illness hasn't penetrated deep into his internal organs yet. I'm absolutely confident that I can cure my nephew immediately."

When Li Zhi and Empress Wu heard this, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in their eyes.

Empress Wu looked at Lin Lang with tears in her eyes, her voice filled with pleading: "My dear brother, you must save Hong'er. He is the eldest son of me and His Majesty!"

Lin Lang nodded and said, "Please be patient, my Royal Brother and I will detoxify the Fifth Prince with acupuncture right away."

After saying that, Lin Lang took out a pack of silver needles from his personal space, found an unimportant acupuncture point on the Fifth Prince's body, and gently inserted the needle.

The fifth prince's body trembled slightly, but he continued to cry.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu watched Lin Lang's movements nervously, their eyes full of anticipation and worry.

Time passed minute by minute, and the imperial doctors kneeling on the ground were all worried, fearing that if something happened to the fifth prince, they would be unlucky and buried with him.

Then, Lin Lang began to massage the soles of the fifth prince's feet, gently stroking Li Hong's little feet, quietly triggering the [Healing Hands] skill, and soon the crying little guy calmed down.

Lin Lang's hands were emitting a soft glow, which gradually enveloped the Fifth Prince.

The little face that was originally flushed red had visibly lost its heat and returned to its former pink and fair complexion.

Her rapid breathing gradually calmed down, and her small chest no longer rose and fell violently.

The fifth prince's originally frowned brows relaxed, his mouth stopped crying, his pink lips slightly raised, revealing a sweet smile, and he also let out a "chuckle", the crisp laughter was as sweet as a silver bell.

He opened his big, bright eyes and looked at Lin Lang curiously and happily, his little arms and legs dancing excitedly, as if he had never been sick.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu, who had been tense and nervous, relaxed instantly.

Li Zhi's eyes widened in disbelief, his lips trembling slightly. After a while, he said excitedly, "Brother, Hong'er's high fever is out of danger, is he safe now?"