Volume One, Chapter Six: Zhu Yuanzhang Loses His Temper and Uses a Steam Bath to Heal His Illness

“*Cough, cough… I, commoner Liu Ji, pay respects… Your Majesty…*”

Liu Bowen tried to rise from his sickbed, but Xia Jingtian firmly pressed him back down.

Even after feigning death for seven years, Liu Bowen still felt immense fear upon seeing Zhu Yuanzhang again.

Despite his grave condition, he was still expected to kneel before the emperor.

“His Majesty the Hongwu Emperor, Liu Bowen is my patient. Given his current state, he must remain bedridden and cannot kneel any longer,” Xia Jingtian said bluntly.

“Your Majesty, I am Liu Bowen’s second daughter, Liu Ruolan. My father committed treason against the throne. I am willing to bear the punishment in his place—do with me as you will. I earnestly request that Doctor Xia treat my father,” Liu Ruolan knelt and pleaded.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Liu Bowen, pale and seated on the bed, then at Liu Ruolan, kneeling and ready to sacrifice herself for her father. His expression darkened, and he fell silent.

At that moment, Empress Ma entered from the adjacent room. Having just soothed Zhu Xiong Ying to sleep, she saw Zhu Yuanzhang standing quietly at the doorway. Sensing trouble in the neighboring ward, she hurried over.

“Ruolan, rise. The emperor will not trouble a young girl like you,” Empress Ma gently helped Liu Ruolan up.

“Hmph, Liu Bowen, you’ve really outdone yourself. Now your daughter begs for mercy,” Zhu Yuanzhang sneered coldly.

*Cough, cough!*

Liu Bowen coughed violently, his face ghastly.

Liu Ruolan quickly got to her feet and gently patted her father’s back.

“Chongba, if it weren’t for Liu Bowen, could you, Zhu Yuanzhang, have ever become the emperor of the Great Ming? The Marquis of Sincerity is a meritorious subject of our dynasty. Do you forget why he feigned death years ago? I implore Doctor Xia to treat the Marquis properly and restore his health,” Empress Ma said without hesitation.

Among the people of the Ming, a proverb circulated: “One-third of the realm belongs to Zhuge Liang; the unified empire comes from Liu Bowen.”

This spoke volumes about Liu Bowen’s extraordinary contributions to Zhu Yuanzhang’s founding of the Ming dynasty.

A decade prior, Liu Bowen held the post of Chief Inspector, overseeing government officials. He uncovered ample evidence of Chancellor Hu Weiyong’s corruption and factionalism.

Hu Weiyong sought to eliminate Liu Bowen, but upon learning this, Empress Ma discreetly sent him two jujubes and a pear as a warning.

Liu Bowen understood the message and feigned illness to retire to his hometown.

Though Liu Bowen spent three years in seclusion at Qingtian, many officials still came to visit him.

This displeased Zhu Yuanzhang greatly, who then had Hu Weiyong send medicine to him. Shortly after taking it, Liu Bowen fell gravely ill.

“Then we shall entrust Doctor Xia with curing Liu Bowen. As for your debts, I will settle them gradually,” Zhu Yuanzhang declared, swishing his sleeve as he turned from the sickroom to see his grandson.

Empress Ma smiled warmly at the worried Liu Bowen.

“Marquis of Sincerity, rest assured I am here. The emperor will not trouble you. Just focus on your recovery and cooperate with Doctor Xia. Leave the rest to us.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! *Cough, cough…*” Liu Bowen clasped his hands in gratitude.

Empress Ma left the room to tend to her grandson in the neighboring ward.

With both Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma gone, Xia Jingtian mused inwardly about how one force always countered another.

The once imperious Zhu Yuanzhang had shown murderous intent upon seeing Liu Bowen.

“Master Liu, the chill within your body has penetrated your internal organs. Ordinary methods cannot expel it. Mere medicine will not suffice. I intend to use physical therapy—cupping treatment—to draw out the cold,” Xia Jingtian explained.

“Doctor Xia, I have tried cupping therapy on my father before, but it had little effect,” Liu Ruolan said.

Cupping had been practiced in China for nearly four thousand years, originally using animal horns—called the horn method.

It was effective in expelling cold from the body, but in Liu Bowen’s case, it had shown limited results.

“That’s because you used the wrong method. I plan to start with steam therapy to relax the body and open the pores. Then we will apply cupping to draw out the cold,” Xia Jingtian outlined his treatment plan.

Together, Xia Jingtian and Liu Ruolan helped Liu Bowen down to the downstairs bathroom.

“Doctor Xia, how does this steam therapy work?” Liu Bowen asked curiously.

“This is a small steam room. You will undress completely and sit inside for fifteen minutes—a quarter of an hour,” Xia Jingtian instructed.

Normally, thirty minutes was ideal, but due to Liu Bowen’s frailty, the duration was halved.

“Ruolan, I’m going to steam. Please wash my clothes, and while you’re at it, wash Doctor Xia’s as well,” Liu Bowen instructed.

He was a man of propriety, knowing he must remove his clothes for the steam room, so he sent Liu Ruolan away.

“Master Liu, first rinse off with the shower, then change into slippers and boxer shorts before entering the steam room,” Xia Jingtian advised.

Liu Bowen eyed the slippers and shorts hesitantly.

“Doctor Xia, these shoes resemble wooden clogs—*cough*—I know how to wear those. But these boxer shorts, they’re so short; how am I to wear them? And as for the shower—*cough*—I honestly don’t know how to use it,” Liu Bowen confessed with embarrassment.

Xia Jingtian had no choice but to help Liu Bowen undress, explain how to operate the shower, and even used a bath towel to scrub him clean. Then he helped him put on slippers and boxer shorts before sitting him in the steam room.

“This small room is surprisingly hot, like a steamer basket,” Liu Bowen remarked.

“You’re right. The steam room operates on the same principle as a steamer basket, except instead of steaming buns or bread, it steams a person. Sit inside and sweat; wipe yourself with a towel when needed. I’ll prepare the cupping set for you upstairs,” Xia Jingtian instructed.

As Liu Bowen began to sweat comfortably inside the steam room, Xia Jingtian cleaned the glass cupping jars in the upstairs ward, readying them for the treatment.

Suddenly, he overheard a conversation next door between Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

“When I saw Liu Bowen, I was startled. Someone who had died seven years ago, yet now alive again!” Empress Ma sighed.

“Actually, seven years ago, I secretly had Liu Bowen’s coffin exhumed from his grave,” Zhu Yuanzhang said softly.