Chapter 1132: Lin Lang's incredible move

The cool morning breeze blew through the vermilion palace walls and into the Purple Palace.

Li Zhi was leaning on the dragon couch, his hair disheveled, his face as pale as paper, veins bulging on his forehead, and his hands tightly grasping the brocade quilt, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Ah - my head hurts!" Li Zhi's voice was hoarse and painful.

His head shook violently, and an uncontrollable groan of pain escaped from his throat. Every gasp was accompanied by a tearing tremor. "It hurts... It hurts so much... My head is going to explode..."

The hall was filled with anxiety. The imperial doctors gathered around the bed, some whispering comforts while others were running around in panic.

The old doctor in charge was kneeling in front of the couch, massaging Li Zhi's temples with trembling hands, trying to relieve his rheumatic headache.

But as soon as his fingertips touched his skin, Li Zhi suddenly tilted his head and roared: "Waste! Useless waste! A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

The old doctor was so frightened that he retracted his hand, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and the back of his official robe was already soaked with sweat.

The other imperial doctors didn't dare to breathe and all fell to the ground, not even having the courage to look up. The only sound in the hall was Li Zhi's painful groans.

Empress Wu was wearing a phoenix robe, her pearl hairpins slightly disheveled. She paced back and forth around the dragon couch, her brows knitted into a knot, and from time to time she raised her hand to wipe the thin sweat from her forehead.

"Useless stuff! How could the Imperial Medical Bureau keep useless people like you? You can't even cure His Majesty's headache!" Empress Wu's voice was filled with anger. The more she looked at these incompetent doctors, the angrier she became.

The imperial doctors knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the cold gold bricks, trembling all over and cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads.

Empress Wu angrily declared, "If anything happens to your Majesty, all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital will be buried with him!"

After hearing this, the imperial doctors were all almost scared to death, but because they had no way to treat Li Zhi's wind disease, they dared not even breathe. They all secretly hoped that Lin Lang could arrive quickly and temporarily suppress and relieve the wind disease headache for the emperor.

As mentioned in the previous article, in the sixth year of Yonghui, that is, in 655 AD, Lin Lang deliberately treated the symptoms instead of the root cause, making Li Zhi dependent on him for acupuncture and pain relief for his migraine.

The current timeline is the second year of the Zongzhang reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty, which is 669 AD. Li Zhi's physical condition continues to deteriorate, and he suffers from frequent strokes, often finding it difficult to handle state affairs.

Because Lin Lang had previously seriously warned Li Zhi to be careful about the harem interfering in state affairs, Li Zhi took it to heart and did not give Empress Wu Zetian any chance to interfere in state affairs.

"Brother...Brother...please come quickly..." Li Zhi groaned in pain, "My head hurts so much!"

It is obvious that Li Zhi, who suffers from frequent attacks of wind disease, relies on Lin Lang as much as he relies on smoking opium.

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the palace door.

The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the deadlock: "Your Majesty! Emperor Lin Lang of Shanghai requests an audience!"

Li Zhi's eyes suddenly opened wide, a glimmer of light instantly ignited in his distracted gaze. He struggled to sit up, but the headache forced him to fall back onto the couch, roaring, "Call! Call! Let my brother come in immediately!"

Empress Wu quickly stepped forward to support Li Zhi and shouted to the outside of the palace: "Hurry up and invite my dear brother! Don't delay!"

When the imperial doctors kneeling on the ground heard that Lin Lang was coming, they all breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt inferior to him and envied Lin Lang's extraordinary medical skills.

Then, Lin Lang was seen walking quickly into the hall. His pace was so fast that it carried the wind from outside. He rushed to the bed and leaned over to ask anxiously, "Brother Emperor! How are you?"

Empress Wu stood aside and said anxiously, "Perhaps Your Majesty caught a cold last night. When you woke up this morning, your old headache came back."

Li Zhi held Lin Lang's hand with a look of pain on his face, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw. His voice was broken and urgent: "Brother, you are finally here... Quick, save me... I am in so much pain!"

"My profile picture is like a thousand steel needles piercing my body. It hurts so much that I almost die!"

"Okay! Don't panic, my royal brother. I will give you acupuncture to relieve the pain right away!" Lin Lang's eyes darkened, and he patted the back of Li Zhi's hand to comfort him.

Then, Lin Lang took out a set of silver needles from his personal space, and the silver light flickered like cold stars.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, my dear brother!" Empress Wu stood aside anxiously.

Lin Lang picked up three silver needles with his fingertips, shook his wrist slightly, and moved as fast as lightning, accurately inserting them into Li Zhi's Baihui point on the top of his head, the temples on both sides, and the Fengchi point on the back of his neck.

Each needle was steady, accurate and powerful, and the silver needle was like a snake on the acupuncture points on Li Zhi's head.

"Brother, relax a little and adjust your breathing rhythm—"

After the silver needle was inserted into the acupuncture point, Lin Lang pinched the end of the needle with his thumb and index finger and gently turned it. At the same time, he pressed the acupuncture point on the back of Li Zhi's head with his other hand, exerted force with his fingertips, and slowly kneaded it clockwise.

But after a moment, Li Zhi's originally distorted face gradually relaxed, and his painful groans became weaker and weaker.

Miraculously, Li Zhi's complexion gradually turned from flushed to rosy, and his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed. He let out a long sigh, his voice hoarse but filled with relief as if he had survived a disaster.

"Phew—much better, the pain has subsided... My dear brother, your acupuncture skills are truly amazing!

The imperial doctors who were kneeling on the ground looked up quietly, their eyes full of admiration for Lin Lang, and they all breathed a sigh of relief in rhythm with Li Zhi's breathing.

Empress Wu's brows relaxed, a look of gratitude on her face: "My dear brother, it's all thanks to you!"

Lin Lang said with concern: "My brother the Emperor is so busy with government affairs and has to review endless memorials. This is the result of overwork and illness!"

Li Zhi held Lin Lang's hand, his voice trembling, "My dear brother, thank goodness you came in time. I have been bothering you to give me acupuncture to relieve the pain every few days. It's really hard for you."

"What are you talking about, my Royal Brother? It is my duty to help you solve your problems."

Empress Wu glanced at the imperial physicians kneeling on the ground and said with drooping eyebrows, "All of you useless and incompetent doctors, please get out."

After hearing this, the imperial doctors felt as if they had been pardoned. Their tense backs instantly relaxed and they kowtowed three times, their voices filled with relief at having survived the ordeal.

"Thank you, Queen, for your mercy! We will take our leave!"

After saying that, the group staggered but did not dare to delay. They bowed and retreated out of the hall. Even their breathing became lighter than when they were inside the hall.

The palace door had not yet completely closed when the sound of light footsteps and a child's panting could be heard.

The eldest son Li Hong, who was only four and a half years old, was wearing a bright yellow court robe, his little face flushed red as he stumbled into the hall.

Before he could even stand firmly, he knelt obediently on the cold golden bricks, his little body straight, his voice full of courtesy: "Your son Hong'er, I pay my respects to my father, the emperor, my mother, and my adoptive father!"

When Lin Lang saw his godson Li Hong again after crossing the timeline, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

When Empress Wu saw her eldest son Li Hong, a smile immediately appeared on her face, and even her eyes became much softer.

Li Zhiben's face still had a bit of tiredness, but when he saw Li Hong, it softened instantly, even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were stained with a smile. He raised his hand and said softly, "Hong'er, get up quickly. The ground is cold. Come here quickly."

After getting permission, Li Hong immediately climbed up using his hands and feet, and ran to the edge of the couch in a few steps with his short legs. He raised his little face and stared at the silver needle stuck in Li Zhi's head, his round eyes full of confusion. He reached out and gently touched Li Zhi's sleeve.

"Father, is your old headache coming back? Is foster father giving you acupuncture to relieve the pain again?"

Li Zhi smiled and stroked his son's soft head, his voice so warm it could drip water: "Yes, Hong'er is really smart, you figured it out."

Li Hong blinked his bright eyes and moved closer, frowning slightly: "Father, is your head still hurting now? Hong'er, blow on it and it will stop hurting."

As he spoke, the young Li Hong pouted slightly, stood on tiptoe and blew the wind on Li Zhi's face, looking cute and adorable.

Seeing this scene, Li Zhi's heart almost melted. He scratched Li Hong's nose and said with a smile: "Hong'er is really good. Thanks to your adoptive father, your father's headache is no longer there."

Li Zhi said this, looking up at Lin Lang, his eyes full of gratitude.

Li Hong immediately turned around after hearing this, looking up at Lin Lang with a serious look in his eyes. He bowed and said, "Thank you, foster father, for giving me acupuncture! You've worked so hard!"

Lin Lang leaned over and pinched Li Hong's chubby little face, then said with a smile, "Hong'er, do you miss your godfather?"

"I miss you, godfather, give me a hug!" Li Hong stretched out his little arms with the dependence that only a child can show.

Lin Lang felt warm in his heart and immediately picked up Li Hong.

The little fellow immediately hugged Lin Lang's neck, rubbed his head against his shoulder, and smiled, revealing two small canine teeth: "Godfather, did you bring me anything delicious?"

"Haha...you little greedy cat, are you missing your godfather? Or are you missing the snacks your godfather bought for you?" Lin Lang kissed Li Hong on the little face and teased him with a smile.

Li Hong chuckled and said, "Hong'er misses both his adoptive father and the snacks he bought for him!"

Empress Wu stood aside, watching the scene of loving father and filial son, and harmonious relationship between adoptive parents. A faint smile played on her lips, and she said softly and gently, "Hong'er has been very close to my brother since he was little. He would ask his adoptive father, 'Why haven't you come yet, adoptive father?' if he hadn't seen him for three days."

Li Zhi said earnestly, "My health is not as good as it used to be. My old headaches keep coming back. I really hope Hong'er grows up quickly so he can help me handle some of the government affairs."

Although Li Hong was young at this time, Li Zhi had made him the crown prince because of his favor for Empress Wu Zetian.

Of course, as the eldest son, Li Hong had the right to become the crown prince.

When Empress Wu heard that Li Zhi was looking forward to Li Hong growing up and passing the throne to his son sooner or later, her heart was filled with joy. Who doesn't want her son to become the emperor and become the empress dowager?

Lin Lang hugged Li Hong and said, "Hong'er, did you hear that? Your father has high hopes for you. Do you still remember the famous quotes from Mao's Selected Works that your adoptive father taught you a few days ago?"

Li Hong recited in a baby voice: "All reactionaries are paper tigers. Political power comes from the barrel of a gun, and truth is only within the range of cannons."

"If someone doesn't offend me, I won't offend him. If someone offends me, I will definitely offend him."

“Without investigation, there is no right to speak.”

"The worse the situation, the more strategic determination we need."

“For a man, it is better to cut off one finger than to injure ten of his fingers. For the enemy, it is better to annihilate one division than to defeat ten of his divisions.”

"A single spark can start a prairie fire..."

My God, Lin Lang actually taught his godson Li Hong to read "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" since he was a child in the Tang Dynasty. It's simply against the will of heaven!

I have to say that Li Hong is really smart. Before he was five years old, the little guy could fluently recite the famous quotes from "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" that Lin Lang taught him.

When Li Zhi heard his sworn brother Lin Lang teaching his son Li Hong the art of ruling, every word he said was a top-notch principle. He felt as if he had been enlightened and could not help but exclaim in admiration, "My dear brother, your wisdom is truly astonishing. I admire you so much!"

Lin Lang held the young Li Hong in his arms and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, you are too kind."

"I just hope that Hong'er can love the people like his own children in the future, just like my brother, and understand the suffering of the people. He also understands the fundamentals of governing the country and ensuring its security, so that the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty can last for another hundred or even a thousand years."

Li Zhi nodded after hearing this, looking at his son with eyes full of expectation: "Hong'er, you must remember this: if you are unsure about anything in the future, you can ask your adoptive father. Your adoptive father's talent surpasses that of your father, the emperor. It is a blessing for you to receive his guidance."

"Yes, Honger has noted it."

Li Hong's little hands hugged Lin Lang's neck tightly, and whispered in his ear: "Godfather, did you buy snacks for Honger?"

"Haha..." Lin Lang laughed loudly.

Then, he took out a box of Wangwang gift pack from his personal space and said with a smile: "You little greedy cat, you are still thinking about snacks?"

"But considering that you remember the famous quotes from Selected Works of Mao Zedong so well, take the snacks and have some!" Lin Lang leaned over and put Li Hong on the ground, then handed the Want Want gift package to the little guy.