Chapter 1558: Chapter 1533: It’s Serious

Director Xiao and his team quickly provided an answer to the two. This time, four imperial doctors consulted together. After thoroughly examining the emperor, they gravely informed the empress, “His Majesty’s old injuries have flared up again.”

The emperor managed a bitter smile and said, “No wonder I feel my lower back burning with pain; turns out it’s my old injuries acting up again.”

Director Xiao, while discussing the prescription with others, quietly suggested to the empress, “Your Highness, perhaps it would be best to consult Manbao to see if she can use acupuncture to reduce His Majesty’s fever.”

He added, “With His Majesty’s old injuries acting up, many medications cannot be used.”

The empress nodded and looked at Aunt Shang.

Aunt Shang bowed and retreated, soon found the palace maid, and asked, “Has Lord Zhou Junior arrived at the Daming Palace?”

“No, she hasn’t arrived yet. Normally, she comes around lunchtime.”

It was still morning.

Aunt Shang said, “Send someone to escort her immediately, saying His Majesty has summoned her.”

“Yes.”

When Manbao arrived at the Daming Palace, not only were the crown prince and princess present, but Wei Zhi and other ministers had also gathered. Upon entering the inner hall, she found even the empress dowager was there.

The empress dowager was sitting by the bedside, exhausted, wiping tears with a handkerchief.

The palace maid led Manbao forward, and upon seeing her, the empress dowager said, “Come and examine the emperor.”

She stood up to give her space.

Manbao stepped forward to take the emperor’s pulse. At this point, the emperor was still conscious, so Manbao asked him to open his mouth to inspect his throat.

Emperor: …

Director Xiao also examined his throat earlier, but this time he opened it again with an “Ah” for Zhou Man to take another look.

The emperor consoled himself, although she was young enough to be his daughter, her medical skills weren’t bad, worthy of a minister’s consultation.

Thus, the emperor opened his mouth wide, and Manbao looked with a lamp, keenly noticing pus in his throat.

Manbao felt concerned, extinguished the candle, handed it to Gu Zhong, and then went out to discuss with Director Xiao, “How has it become so severe? Wasn’t it said to be recovering in the last few days?”

Imperial Doctor Liu whispered, “Not to mention the last few days; even yesterday, it wasn’t this severe. It was only slightly recurring, and we didn’t expect it to worsen overnight, with pus all over the throat making swallowing saliva difficult.”

“Last night, the southeast wind blew, making it unbearably hot on this side of the Daming Palace; His Majesty’s condition is no longer just a simple cold.” Imperial Doctor Fang said, “Previous symptoms couldn’t be eradicated, lingering persistently, and His Majesty’s healing power isn’t what it used to be, especially since the old injuries have resurfaced.”

Director Xiao nodded, sharing the same sentiment, unsure whether feeling regret or distress, as he used a rather conservative treatment to avoid His Majesty’s discomfort, but His Majesty’s condition was worse than he anticipated.

Indeed, the emperor’s health wasn’t as robust as he appeared; despite being in his prime, he’s the father of many children, with numerous old injuries.

Normally, these old injuries caused no trouble, at most a bit of ache when it rains or gets hot, but once they flare up…

This time, inflammation within evidently triggered the old injuries, and combined with the fever, it wasn’t simply a cold anymore, hence the condition became more complicated.

Listening to their discussion, Manbao quietly told Keke, “The emperor’s illness is worsening so rapidly; if his fever can’t be reduced, it might be life-threatening.”

Keke asked her, “Do you want to buy antivirus medication?”

Then, Keke retrieved a watermelon-red-like solution from the encyclopedia hall for her to see, saying, “The biological laboratory in the encyclopedia hall has newly produced it, costing only ten thousand points.”

Of course, it wasn’t specifically for treating throat inflammation, colds, or coughs, but for antivirus purposes, with symptoms being the same.

Keke said, “Half a vial might be enough to show effectiveness.”

Manbao looked at the color and said, “If it were colorless, I could find a way to add it into the emperor’s drinking water, but how can I give him this color?”

Keke reconsidered, knowing if the host couldn’t explain the origin of such a solution, causing suspicion could lead to life-threatening danger.

She obtained a total of two types of solutions from the system: one green, given to Ms.Qian; and one blue, said to detoxify the poison of a stone. The reason the prince and the people of this world didn’t suspect the blue solution was that the majority of the poison stone was blue.

And Zhou Man once mentioned that part of the detoxification agent’s ingredients was extracted from the poison stone. Of course, this conclusion was told to Zhou Man by Teacher Mo.

Although the prince and others didn’t know how to extract it, it didn’t prevent them from trusting her.

The former was known only by Manbao and Ms.Qian; the latter had a reason. If there were a repeat, with such vividly colored solution, Manbao couldn’t find an excuse for now.

Moreover, rather than relying on the encyclopedia hall, she preferred to handle it herself.

In terms of prescribing, Manbao was no match for Director Xiao and his team; in just a short while, Director Xiao drafted the treatment plan.

Medications were first administered to reduce inflammation and fever, then more medications applied to old injuries, through internal and external methods, while Manbao would use acupuncture to reduce fever and enhance the effect of medicine, observing the outcomes.

After assigning everyone their tasks, they went to prepare. Imperial Doctor Liu took the agreed prescription to prepare and administer the medicine, while Imperial Doctor Fang and Imperial Doctor Lu prepared the external treatment ointment. Director Xiao and Manbao were to perform acupuncture for the emperor.

Naturally, Manbao led the procedure, with Director Xiao supervising, even if his acupuncture skills weren’t on par with hers; his medical judgment wouldn’t be inferior to Manbao’s.

Moreover, the empress and the ministers felt more assured with Director Xiao overseeing the process.

Gu Zhong assisted the emperor in removing his garments, and Manbao started the acupuncture to reduce fever.

The emperor was feeling muddled, vaguely asking Manbao, “Why has the illness become so severe?”

Director Xiao standing at the foot of the bed felt a chill down his spine and turned to look at Manbao.

As the emperor lay there, he could only see Manbao before him and the empress dowager sitting beside, wiping her tears, not seeing anyone else.

Manbao continued to perform acupuncture while explaining the illness, “Your Majesty, the cold hasn’t dissipated before heat entered again, causing recurring illness. Had your body expelled both cold and heat in the past days, healing the ailment wouldn’t be an issue, but Your Majesty has old injuries, so certain aggressive medications couldn’t be used, hence the delay.”

Manbao sighed, “Last night, the southeast wind suddenly arose, causing a sudden temperature increase; this is summer, prone to summer fever…”

Manbao left one sentence unsaid—the emperor had bad luck.

Indeed, although his immune system was not strong, under normal circumstances a fever wouldn’t develop to this extent, not to mention he was emperor, attended by the finest doctors and given the best medicine.

Manbao had just reviewed the prescriptions from the past three days; Director Xiao’s prescriptions were impeccable. Even if Manbao prescribed them, she might not have been as comprehensive.

However, if she had treated him, she would have cured the illness within three doses. As for whether it would lead to pain from the old injuries, Manbao reckoned she might not have been considerate enough.