Chapter 131: Dietary Therapy

Zhen Qian was suddenly seized by a lingering sense of dread. He was uncovering the truths of history layer by layer. Did Emperor Xuanzong of Tang truly place unconditional trust in An Lushan?

Probably not.

The Machiavellian schemes of an emperor were far beyond Zhen Qian's comprehension. An Lushan exhibited three distinct symptoms: festering sores, failing eyesight, and a volatile temper. These were classic indicators of diabetes, which could also lead to renal failure. Even if he were not ultimately murdered by his own son, it seemed unlikely he would have outlived Emperor Xuanzong. Did this not align perfectly with the Emperor’s wariness of his border generals?

If Zhen Qian’s analysis was correct, there was a hidden secret behind why Emperor Xuanzong continued to trust An Lushan and turned a deaf ear to the rumors of rebellion.

Cold sweat beaded on Zhen Qian’s forehead; he did not even realize his back was drenched. After a moment of silence, he stole a glance and saw An Lushan staring at him intently. His mind raced with a thousand chaotic thoughts.

"Does Li Cui know this secret? Has Li Cui also consumed those pills? If so, he must surely know what illness plagues An Lushan..."

Li Cui watched Zhen Qian with a faint, smiling expression, which jolted Zhen Qian back to reality. Emperor Xuanzong must have had other contingency plans. The situation was likely far more complex than he had imagined. He had already fallen into a massive conspiracy. Was An Lushan’s eventual rebellion related to this very matter?

History is written by the victors; the true history is often shrouded in mist. Zhen Qian had never underestimated the wisdom and schemes of the ancients, let alone dared to guess the mind of an emperor.

"Serving a sovereign is like living with a tiger." The old saying was spot on. Was he not walking on the edge of a cliff right now? The famous physicians who had treated An Lushan must have felt the same terror back then. Where were those physicians now?

The tent fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the crackle of charcoal and the hiss of sheep fat dripping onto the embers. Every eye was fixed on Zhen Qian.

Zhen Qian’s gaze suddenly met Fujiwara no刷雄 (Fujiwara no Surio). An absurd and daring thought crossed his mind: Was this ordeal truly his destiny?

"Just say it..." Knowing that the longer he delayed, the more An Lushan would grow suspicious, Zhen Qian bowed slightly. "Commander An, how have your teeth been feeling lately?"

The people around him noticed that each of Zhen Qian’s questions was stranger than the last. Their eyes shifted from Zhen Qian to An Lushan. An Lushan, naturally unaware of what was passing through Zhen Qian’s mind, was too consumed by his own suffering to overthink it. "I have had no appetite lately, and I suffer from persistent, unbearable toothaches. Does this have something to do with my condition?"

"Of course it does! As the saying goes, illness enters through the mouth. Since humans consume grains, how can we avoid sickness? All things exist in mutual growth and restriction; there is a heavenly path in the unseen. Toothaches not only ruin one's appetite but also have a profound impact on the body and mind. They prevent one from sleeping or thinking clearly. When the pain is at its worst, it is agonizing, disrupting the balance of the internal organs. Is this not the root of all disease?"

An Lushan looked confused. This was the first time he had heard such a theory from Zhen Qian, yet it seemed to hold some water. "Since you know the cause, do you have a cure?"

A cure? Hardly. Toothaches were caused by excessive sugar consumption. Other than extraction, what possible cure could there be?

"Commander, there is no... but!"

"Speak!" An Lushan’s face darkened when he heard there was no cure, but upon hearing the shift in Zhen Qian’s tone, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.

"Excessive consumption of sweets is extremely harmful. I hope you will eat fewer, or no, sweets in the future, and pay attention to oral hygiene—brushing your teeth three times a day will help alleviate the pain. I can prepare a special tooth powder for you. While it cannot cure the disease overnight, long-term use will certainly ease your suffering."

An Lushan was still unwilling to give up. "Can it not be eradicated completely?"

Zhen Qian shook his head. He had once loved sweets himself, but the thought of the Tang Dynasty lacking anesthesia—where pulling a tooth could cause one to die of pain—terrified him enough to swear them off.

"Commander, illnesses arrive like a mountain collapsing but depart like pulling silk. Sickness is a slow process. If one does not take care of themselves, lacks exercise, and has a weak constitution, they easily catch cold. It is the same with sweets; when the body accumulates too much sugar that it cannot absorb, it causes negative effects over time. How could a cure be achieved in a single day?"

Zhen Qian’s modern theories left An Lushan bewildered. With so many unfamiliar terms, there was no room for him to argue.

"You say brushing my teeth three times a day will alleviate my condition?"

"That is only one part of it." Since he had decided to bamboozle An Lushan, he had to see it through. The more complex and mysterious he made it sound, the more at ease An Lushan would be. "Of course, brushing is only part of it. I also have some specially prepared black tea. Drinking it regularly aids digestion, strengthens the spleen, and warms the stomach. It has a certain therapeutic effect on your obesity, and I am willing to gift you a supply."

An Lushan nodded, satisfied. "And what of my eye and foot ailments? Is there a way to treat those?"

He couldn't just do half the job. One must see things through. Zhen Qian knew he couldn't actually cure An Lushan, but he could certainly manage the symptoms. "I shall write a dietary therapy plan for you. Your condition is unique, and as the saying goes, every medicine has three parts poison. It is best not to rely on heavy medication, as it may increase the burden on your body. I call this a 'disease of the wealthy.' With careful management over time, the symptoms can be mitigated."

"Dietary therapy? Write it for me at once!"

An Lushan was delighted. Although he hadn't truly expected a miracle cure, Zhen Qian’s words gave him hope. Even if it took a long time, that no longer mattered.

Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were brought forward. Zhen Qian wrote down a dietary plan and handed it to An Lushan.

An Lushan looked at the crooked characters on the paper. Since his own calligraphy was just as ugly as Zhen Qian's, he found nothing to criticize.

"Eat beef, lamb, and pork liver; drink more cassia seed tea; eat more dairy, beans, and soy products; drink chrysanthemum and goji berry tea; eat more fruit? This is your dietary therapy?"

"Commander, do not underestimate this. Liver is excellent for the eyes; cassia seeds clear the liver and improve vision, relieving eye strain; dairy and beans promote digestion and boost the immune system; chrysanthemum and goji berries reduce internal heat and combat fatigue..." Beef, lamb, and pork liver also had detoxifying properties, but Zhen Qian didn't want to elaborate. Dietary therapy was mild—its effects were a matter of perspective, and the treatment cycle was long. Perhaps, before the end, An Lushan would have already died from his own toxicity.

Most importantly, dietary therapy would not provoke Emperor Xuanzong. Zhen Qian did not believe the Emperor was ignorant of An Lushan’s condition. Since the Emperor had no intention of curing him, Zhen Qian certainly shouldn't either. Could this be considered a tacit understanding with the Emperor? Surely, he wouldn't be harmed for this!