"Healing?" Bella was a little puzzled. Can medicine also be explained by philosophical systems?

"That's right." Elena explains, "They dissected the human body according to this theory, and they categorized common diseases. Moreover, the drug is administered according to the so-called principle of 'restraint'."

"What's that?"

"I listened to my grandfather's explanation that in their yin and yang five elements system, various elements are mutually reinforcing, and can be balanced and transformed into each other."

"It's amazing." Bella listened with relish.

"Not only that, but most of the medicines they use come from natural plants and animals."

"Huh?"

"Of course, there will be some simple processing. However, it is rare for us to extract and refine specific potions in this way."

"Yes."

"And in their medical system, there's something called 'health.'"

"What's that?" Bella asked, confused.

"Hmm...... How do you say that......" Elena thought for a moment, "Listening to my grandfather's meaning, I guess he meant that before he got sick, he should take care of his body to avoid getting sick. It's much better than getting sick and then healing."

"That's ingenious."

If you don't get sick in the first place, nature is the best.

"So, they have a lot of ways to 'keep healthy.'" Elena continued, "Grandfather stayed there for a while and learned a lot. Later, he brought back to Florence a few of his favorite recipes, and adapted and improved them according to his own understanding, combined with our alchemy, and thus gave birth to the medicinal bath that we are now bathing in."

"I see, old Mr. Giovanni is really a great senior!" Bella couldn't help but sigh.

"It's all right," said Elena, wiping her arm with a towel, "Actually, the ancestors of the Medici were all outstanding people. That sounds a bit of a boast."

"Huh? Can you tell me about it?" Bella sat up with gusto, leaning against the stones by the pool.

"Do you know why our family badge looks like this?" Alina said, looking at the family crest with a red ball on a yellow background on the wall.

"I don't know." Bella shook her head.

"It is said that about a thousand years ago, Charlemagne of the Frankish kingdom pushed his army to Lombardia, which is now the Apennine Peninsula, in order to expand his territory. Legend has it that there was a giant at that time, wreaking havoc in the neighborhood and threatening the safety of the residents. The ancestors of the Medici took their shields and went to the valley of the Mugello near Florence to challenge the giant. At that time, the giant was very fierce, and as soon as he saw it, he picked up the mace in his hand and smashed it, just in time to be blocked by the shield of the ancestors. Later, after a hard battle, the ancestors finally defeated the giant. Because of this heroic feat, Charlemagne was deeply impressed, so he bestowed the honor on this brave knight and allowed him to take the shield damaged in battle at that time as a personal medal, a testimony to his heroic deeds. As a result, this dented shield has evolved into the family crest of the Medici family."

"I see, Elena's ancestor is a hero."

"Actually, for a long time after the ancestors, the family did not prosper much, whether it was farming, or business and handicrafts, there was not much success. It wasn't until Giovanni Didici de' Medici, that is, Giovanni I, appeared, that it really developed. He established the Medici Bank and cooperated with the Church for the first time. From then on, papal tithes were paid to the Medici Bank. Later, his heir, Cosimo I, invested in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. You know, the church at that time had been out of work for a long time, and in addition to the problem of funding, there was also a technical problem."

"What's the problem?"

"You saw it when you passed by downtown yesterday - it's the dome."

"Hmm." Bella nodded, "It's really special."

"At that time, capping was a big problem, and no one was rushing to build it. Later, Cosimo I hired an unknown architect, who would later become famous as Philippe Brunelleschi. Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, he devised an architectural idea of an "eggshell" shape and completed the topping out work brilliantly. You know, the Catholic Church at that time regarded this kind of ancient Romanesque dome architecture as heretical. Although the power of Catholicism in Florence was still relatively weak at that time, this kind of open confrontation with the Church still required a lot of courage. However, it is worth mentioning that during the plague epidemic, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fiore became a refuge for the sick, saving many innocent lives. From then on, the Medici family really gained support in Florence."

Only by doing something truly valuable can you reap the corresponding rewards. This has been the code of conduct that has been passed down from generation to generation by the Medici family.

"Actually, church construction is not so smooth sailing." Elena picked up some hot water, splashed it down her neck, flowed through her beautiful collarbone, and returned to the pool, "Shortly after Cosimo I had invested his money, he himself was banished from the Palazzo della Signoria."

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Maybe it's politics, who can tell?" Elena continued, "However, it is irrefutable that the Medici used the Pope's tithes on the grounds of construction."

"Spending the tax?"

"That's right. It was at the time of the famine that year. In fact, the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady began to solve the problem of food and accommodation for many refugees. This not only solves the problem of people's employment, but also allows the construction project that has been stalled for many years to start again. The other nobles of the Palazzo della Signoria took the opportunity to denigrate the Medici and incite people to obstruct the progress of the project. Cosimo I was supposed to be sentenced to death, but his younger brother brought an army to surround Florence, and in the face of strong military pressure, the Palazzo della Signoria had to change the sentence to exile. So, Cosimo came to Venice and built this villa and baths. It wasn't until a year later that the plague raged, and the people of Florence were in danger, thinking that they were sorry for the Medici and angered God, so they had the Palazzo della Signoria reverse the decision to exile Cosimo."

At this point, Elena let out a long sigh.

"It's ironic." Elena continued, "She wanted to save the world in the name of God, but she was slandered by people because of their own selfish desires. In the midst of their misfortunes, they ran back to God to confess. How dramatic!"

Bella was silent.

Perhaps, as Alina said, humans are always selfish. When receiving favors, you don't know how to be grateful, and you will only wake up when you encounter something wrong.

"Anyway," Elena moved down, letting the water cover her shoulders, "every penny of the Medici family is earned by their own hard work. Every generation has a clear conscience. Even if it's God, he won't accuse him for no reason, right?"