Great Ming: I Give Empress Ma a Silver-Needle Treatment, and Zhu Yuanzhang Freaks Out

When Zhu Tan opened his eyes, he discovered he had transmigrated into Zhu Yuanzhang’s tenth son, Zhu Tan, Prince of Lu. The bad news was that, according to history, the original owner died at nineteen after taking too many elixirs. The worse news was that it was now the fifteenth year of Hongwu, Empress Ma was critically ill, and the Imperial Medical Bureau was about to pour a bowl of ginseng soup down her throat to keep her alive. Zhu Tan had been an emergency-room doctor in his previous life. One look told him something was terribly wrong. High fever, diarrhea, dehydration, and misguided tonics, followed by more ginseng soup: this wasn’t saving her life, it was hastening her death. So the twelve-year-old Prince of Lu stopped the medicine bowl in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, and all the imperial physicians. “You can’t drink this.” “If you do, Mother won’t make it through the night.” The physicians berated him for acting recklessly, and Zhu Yuanzhang asked if he wanted to die. Zhu Tan was so frightened his hands were shaking, but he still brought hot water for the emperor to wash his hands, told the palace attendants to boil needles, and ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to stop the medication and document everything. Other people transmigrated to the Ming dynasty and plotted rebellions or fought for the throne from the start. Zhu Tan transmigrated to the Ming dynasty and started by stopping Empress Ma’s medication and treating her with acupuncture. He didn’t want to be emperor or fight Zhu Biao and Zhu Di for the realm. He just wanted to stay alive and, while he was at it, keep a few more people in the family from dying. But after he saved Empress Ma, Zhu Yuanzhang began keeping an eye on him. After he saved Zhu Biao, the Eastern Palace found itself unable to do without him. When he went to his fief in Lu, the people called him a benevolent prince, the military households called him their living savior, and the officials accused him of currying favor with the people. Zhu Tan was at a loss. “Father, I really don’t want to fight for the throne.” Zhu Yuanzhang sneered. “I believe you don’t have the desire, but I don’t believe you don’t have the ability.”