Chapter 127: It Was a Trap

Liu Yitiao feigned a professional demeanor, probing Li Chengqian’s ankle joint with a serious expression while frantically calculating how to respond. The Empress Zhangsun and the Crown Prince before him truly regarded him as some sort of legendary healer capable of bringing the dead back to life. A lame foot? A crippled limb? This wasn't a mere headache or a common cold; how could it be cured simply by saying so?

However, as he continued his examination, he actually managed to discern a few clues.

Liu Yitiao set down Li Chengqian’s right foot and walked over to the washbasin brought by an attendant to cleanse his hands of the unpleasant scent. Turning back to Li Chengqian, he asked, "Your Highness, may I ask how this injury occurred? How long has it been, and how did the imperial physicians at the Medical Bureau diagnose it?"

"During a hunt in the autumn the year before last, I accidentally fell from my horse. Then, as luck would have it, a following horse stepped heavily onto my ankle." Even now, recalling it made Li Chengqian feel deeply depressed. After the incident, he had blamed himself countless times: why had he been so reckless as to go hunting? Why had he failed to hold the reins properly while trying to shoot a rabbit? Why had he stomped the stirrup until it cracked?

He blamed himself, and he blamed others. He had punished the official in charge of his mounts and had the sturdy horse that crushed his ankle put down.

Liu Yitiao felt a deep sense of sympathy, experiencing a sort of shared fate. Li Chengqian’s experience was remarkably similar to his own before he had transmigrated—only Li Chengqian had been trampled by a horse, while he had been kicked in the head by one. By comparison, Li Chengqian was much luckier.

"Do you happen to know which imperial physician treated you at the time? And what was his assessment of the injury?" Liu Yitiao asked in a low voice.

By now, Liu Yitiao had caught a whiff of conspiracy surrounding the Crown Prince's foot ailment. It seemed this young man had been set up. While palpating the bone, Liu Yitiao had unexpectedly felt a foreign object in the small joint of the ankle. It was small—a plate-like thing no wider than a pinky nail—firmly wedged into the cartilage. Only a tiny corner was exposed; someone unfamiliar with the intricacies of human anatomy would certainly never have noticed it.

How could such a thing be inside the bone of someone trampled by a horse? Even if there had been debris on the horse’s hoof, how could the imperial physician in charge have failed to notice it?

"The Director of the Medical Bureau, Wang Zikui," Li Chengqian replied. "He was the one who treated me. Among all the physicians, his skills were the finest, and he was highly adept at bone-setting, which is why my father entrusted him with my care. But the result was disappointing. As you can see, Teacher, I am a cripple."

Li Chengqian put on his shoes and socks and stood up, his expression turning desolate.

"I see," Liu Yitiao nodded slightly. So, it was that old physician who had always been at odds with him. Yesterday, seeing him display such a loyal, remonstrating attitude before Li Shimin, Liu had assumed he was a good man; he had not expected him to be so degenerate at heart. And having seen him exchanging glances and colluding with that fellow Li Tai yesterday, could it be that they had been in league for a long time? Was the Crown Prince’s injury a trap they had laid?

Empress Zhangsun, noticing that Liu Yitiao’s expression seemed off, waved away all the attendants and maids. She shifted her posture and asked in a low voice, "Has Teacher Liu discovered something amiss? There is no one else here; you may speak freely."

"Your Majesty, you are wise," Liu Yitiao bowed to the Empress. "I discovered a foreign object in the Crown Prince's ankle joint. If my estimation is correct, the reason His Highness’s right foot has become as it is today is entirely due to this object."

"A foreign object? What is it?" Li Chengqian’s heart skipped a beat, and he asked nervously, "Is there a way for you to remove it?"

Liu Yitiao nodded confidently. Although he was only a veterinarian, when it came to surgical skills, who in this dynasty could compare to him?

"Your Highness, removing the object is not difficult," Liu Yitiao bowed. "I would only need to make an incision at the ankle. However, it would require enduring extreme pain, and I fear Your Highness might not be able to bear it. Furthermore, the healing of the wound is a concern; if not handled perfectly, any infection could lead to even more severe consequences. I must reflect on this. In my opinion, it would be safer to wait until the Taoist Master Sun arrives to perform the procedure."

In an era without anesthetics or antibiotics, Liu Yitiao dared not perform surgery lightly—especially on the Crown Prince. A single mistake could cost him his head. He wanted to delay the matter, at least until Sun Simiao, that titan of medicine, was present.

"Very well, we shall follow your advice, Teacher Liu," Empress Zhangsun nodded gently. Her heart was filled with a flicker of joy; after so long, and after seeing so many physicians shake their heads, she finally saw a glimmer of hope.

"Then I shall trouble you, Teacher," Li Chengqian bowed to Liu Yitiao. "Beyond the grace you showed in saving my life in Sanyuan, and now treating this ailment, you have bestowed upon me two great favors of rebirth. I am deeply grateful; please, I beg you to accept my bow."

Healing his injury had saved his life; healing his foot would heal his heart. Empress Zhangsun understood his feelings, nodding with a smile, her heart also filled with relief and gratitude toward Liu Yitiao.

Liu Yitiao hurried to support him, repeating his standard modest remarks: "Your Highness, please do not do this; I cannot accept it. As a physician, saving lives is my duty; you need not take it to heart."

Once Li Chengqian was steady, Liu Yitiao bowed to the Empress again. "Your Majesty, in truth, treating the Crown Prince’s foot did not need to be so complicated. Had the wound been carefully examined at the time of the injury, the object could have been easily found and removed. His Highness would not have had to endure the suffering of being lame for so long."

"Are you suggesting, Teacher Liu, that Director Wang intentionally left this object in the Crown Prince’s foot?" Empress Zhangsun’s delicate brows arched. Wang Zikui had been an imperial physician his entire life and was known for his caution; logically, he would not be so careless as to leave such a major hidden danger for the Crown Prince.

*He did it on purpose!* Empress Zhangsun’s heart chilled. *Who could have made him do this?*

"I dare not speculate on that," Liu Yitiao said, bowing low as he quietly added fuel to the fire. "But if this object were left in the ankle for two or three years, until the bone and the object completely assimilated, the Crown Prince’s foot would likely remain this way for the rest of his life."

"Wang Zikui! How could he be so bold?! Who gave him the courage?!" Li Chengqian was furious, pacing back and forth on his tiptoes. But he quickly stopped; years of life as the Crown Prince had taught him how to force himself to remain calm.

Li Chengqian’s expression darkened as he began to contemplate deeper questions. He had always thought his lameness was due to his own carelessness and the negligence of his groom. Now, he realized those seemed like pre-arranged traps, waiting for him to step into them one by one. The hunt, the horse, the fall, the trampling, and then the treatment.

*It was the Fourth Brother!* A fierce glint flashed in Li Chengqian’s eyes. The hunt had been initiated by Li Tai. He remembered that the horse that trampled his ankle had been carrying his own brother, the Prince of Wei, Li Tai. And that horse had originally been aimed at his head. If not for his quick reflexes to dodge, he might have died in that "accident."

And the treatment? Li Chengqian recalled that three years ago, Li Tai had taken a concubine surnamed Wang—and her father was none other than Wang Zikui!

"Mother," Li Chengqian looked up at the Empress. Seeing her somber expression, he remained silent.

"Chengqian, calm yourself. So much time has passed; even if Wang Zikui did it on purpose, where will you find the evidence?" Empress Zhangsun said faintly. "This matter must be considered carefully. Besides, it is not certain that he acted with malice. Even the best can make mistakes; the Director is old, and it is inevitable that his eyes might grow dim."

"Yes, Mother," Li Chengqian bowed obediently.

Empress Zhangsun nodded, then turned to Liu Yitiao. "Teacher Liu, the health of myself and the Crown Prince now rests in your hands. I have troubled you. You have been here for a long time and must be tired; shall Xiao Dezi take you back to rest?"

"You are too kind, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave," Liu Yitiao bowed to the Empress and the Crown Prince and turned to exit. He knew they still had matters to discuss—matters that were not meant for a commoner like him to hear.

"Teacher Liu! Teacher Liu! Wait for Zhinu!" Not long after Liu Yitiao and Xiao Dezi had walked away, he heard little Zhinu calling from behind.

"Oh, Your Highness, why have you come out?" Xiao Dezi turned to greet him. But little Zhinu ignored him, walking straight up to Liu Yitiao. He raised his small arms in a bow and said in a childish voice, "Teacher Liu, Zhinu would like to go to your place to play for a while. I hope you will permit it!"