An hour later.
Kong Yingda and the others were brought to Chengtian Gate by carriage, only to be stopped by Lai Yifa, who intercepted the imperial guards trying to escort them further into the palace.
"Wait! These individuals were struck by lightning. According to their own Confucian teachings, they must be utterly wicked people!"
"Therefore, send them home separately! Lest they defile the palace grounds."
Having spoken, Lai Yifa turned to the two imperial physicians behind him.
"Your excellencies, I'll trouble you to take a look."
The two imperial physicians, carrying their medicine boxes, waved their hands.
"No need. We can simply take their pulses here."
With that, they walked towards the carriages.
There were four carriages in total, and they began examining each one.
The first carriage.
"This must be Yin Leizhen, who was split in two by the lightning. Tsk, tsk, how miserable!"
The second carriage.
"Oh? This is Doctor Luo. Let me take his pulse first."
"He's been dead for half an hour! Beyond saving!"
The third carriage.
"Dr. Kong? Come, let this old man feel your pulse."
The imperial physician who entered looked at Kong Yingda, who was still slumped in the carriage. He took Kong Yingda's left hand and placed his fingers on the radial artery.
"Hiss!"
The moment his hand touched the pulse point, the imperial physician's brows furrowed.
"This pulse is truly bizarre!"
He removed his hand from the pulse point and began to examine Kong Yingda's entire body.
He felt him thoroughly, meticulously.
Then, with a grave expression, he said to Kong Yingda.
"Dr. Kong, your pulse is like roaring thunder, surging with immense power!"
"However, the meridians in your lower limbs are completely severed. I fear you will never be able to walk again in this lifetime."
Kong Yingda's lips twitched. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Seeing this, the imperial physician felt his chin.
"Shock-induced muteness. It's nothing serious; it will recover in some time."
"I will leave you a prescription. Have your family procure the medicine according to it later."
With that, he took out paper and brush from his box and rapidly wrote down a prescription, placing it beside Kong Yingda.
Then, shaking his head, he alighted from the carriage.
The other imperial physician had, by this time, finished examining Dr. Qi in the last carriage.
"Alas! How much sin has he committed to have breathed his last the very moment I touched his pulse."
After a brief exchange, the two imperial physicians approached Lai Yifa.
"Eunuch Lai, we have finished our examinations. Currently, only Dr. Kong is alive, but it seems his life will be worse than death."
Lai Yifa nodded.
"Thank you, both of you. I will report to His Majesty."
The two imperial physicians cupped their hands towards Lai Yifa.
"In that case, we shall return to the Imperial Hospital."
With that, they departed.
Lai Yifa walked towards the carriage where Kong Yingda was.
He lifted the curtain and said to Kong Yingda.
"Dr. Kong, to be frank, His Majesty wished to summon you all to the palace to see you in person."
"But since you are considered inauspicious, I took the liberty of sending you home directly!"
"If you have anyone to blame, blame yourselves for your misfortune."
After speaking, he flicked his whisk and strode back into the palace without looking back.
Hahahaha!
Lai Yifa walked with his head held high and chest puffed out, laughing heartily!
His laughter was as if he had finally achieved a long-held desire!
His laughter ceased as he neared the Liangji Hall.
He tidied his clothes, resuming the appearance of a humble eunuch.
He entered the hall with quick steps.
"Your Majesty, Doctor Yin was struck by lightning and killed instantly, his body split in two."
"Doctors Luo and Qi succumbed to their injuries. Only Dr. Kong remains alive."
"The imperial physicians examined him and left him a prescription."
"Dr. Kong said his 'vast righteousness' was still lacking, and he eagerly requested to be sent home."
Li Shimin stared at Lai Yifa for a long while.
Then, with a killing intent in his voice, he said.
"He left on his own accord?"
Lai Yifa, with his waist bent, sweat beading on his forehead.
He immediately knelt in the hall.
"Your Majesty, your humble servant was afraid! Afraid they would draw the heavenly lightning into the palace!"
"This is why I took it upon myself to have them sent home directly."
"I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Just then, Hahahaha suddenly darted in from outside the hall.
A little girl followed close behind, shouting as she chased.
"Hahahaha, come back! If you dare go in there, believe it or not, Father Emperor will kill you, Rou Rou!"
The person and the dog, mid-chase and mid-shout, entered the Liangji Hall.
Two palace maids followed, stopping at the doorway. This was not a place they could freely enter.
Li Shimin, whose expression had been cold, suddenly transformed into a warm father.
He stepped out from behind his imperial desk, grabbed Hahahaha by its collar, and pulled it towards the little girl.
"Come, Lizhi, Father Emperor has caught Hahahaha for you."
The little girl was Li Lizhi, who had just turned six.
Li Lizhi excitedly ran towards Li Shimin, grabbed Hahahaha's ear with her small hand, and solemnly admonished it.
"Hahahaha is not good!"
"I told you I wouldn't hit you, and you still ran away. If you run again, I won't love you anymore!"
Li Shimin asked curiously.
"What happened? Did Hahahaha cause trouble again?"
Li Lizhi did not answer immediately. Instead, she pulled Hahahaha's ear and retreated to the outer part of the Liangji Hall before saying, "wash.kanshuwu.net"
"Father Emperor, Hahahaha didn't mean to poop in your boots. So, you're not allowed to hit Hahahaha."
Then, she grabbed Hahahaha and ran off.
Li Shimin's face was full of dark lines!
Ever since the six dogs, led by Hahahaha, entered the palace, this was not the first time they had pooped in shoes!
Even more outrageous was a few days ago, when he and Empress Changsun were sleeping in bed in the middle of the night.
Suddenly, the bed leg broke!
At that moment, he wanted to kill the dog, but Empress Changsun stopped him.
The next day, upon learning that Li Shimin wanted to kill the dogs, the few young princesses ignored him for two days.