Manbao looked at Director Xiao, who imdiately bowed and said, "Your Highness, we have found a new redy, we will use it for His Majesty now."
The Crown Prince heaved a sigh of relief and entered the inner chamber with them.
The Empress Dowager and Crown Princess had already been sent back to rest by the Empress, leaving only the Empress and two imperial physicians along with a few attendants in the chamber.
As soon as Director Xiao and the others arrived, Imperial Doctor Liu stepped forward to quietly explain the Emperor’s condition, "It’s not a high fever, just a low one, but the throat is increasingly severe, unable to take in water..."
Unable to take in even water, let alone dicine, the Emperor was now having difficulty swallowing.
So, even though there was no high fever for a mont, they all knew the situation was more dangerous.
Imperial Doctor Fang also stepped forward and whispered, "His Majesty is asleep now but very restless. He seems to feel pain in his lower back even in his dreams. I’ve looked at it, the old injury is sowhat hot. Although ointnt has been applied, the situation isn’t good, likely there’s an internal inflammation."
Director Xiao nodded and had soone bring warm water, his glance swept through the crowd, and then he nodded at Manbao to co forward with him.
The two of them saluted the Empress, briefly ntioned the new redy, and then sat on the small stools at the bedside to examine the Emperor’s condition.
After taking turns feeling the Emperor’s pulse, they couldn’t help but exchange a glance and then nodded at each other.
Director Xiao untied the Emperor’s robes and nudged him awake.
Director Xiao noticed the Emperor’s eyes were bloodshot and sowhat dazed; he imdiately said, "Your Majesty, we have found a new redy. We need to apply the ointnt now; you must lift your head a bit."
The Emperor opened his mouth but found he couldn’t speak, his brows furrowed slightly, looking at Zhou Man standing beside him.
Seeing this, Manbao stepped forward to support him, then reached out to touch his throat, secretly thought: This isn’t just acute, it’s malignant, she had never seen tonsillitis develop this fast.
Manbao turned to Director Xiao and said, "Co on, I will support His Majesty, you mix the ointnt."
Director Xiao, who intended to consult the Emperor, couldn’t help but look at the Emperor and the Empress as Manbao made the decision for him.
The Emperor slightly nodded, and the Empress said, "Since there is a new redy, use it."
The Crown Prince also chid in, "Why are you hesitating? Can’t you see how uncomfortable Father is right now?"
He stepped forward directly to support the Emperor, urging Zhou Man to hurry.
Manbao and Director Xiao exchanged a look; then they took the dicine pot, mixed the ointnt, placed it on the dicine patch, examined the Emperor’s neck, pinched it twice, found the acupuncture points, and applied the patches.
Manbao and Director Xiao altogether applied four patches on his neck; after applying them, they had the Emperor lie down and handled the wound on his lower back.
Director Xiao personally handled it, wrung out a warm water towel, then wiped off the existing ointnt on the Emperor’s lower back, and applied the mixed ointnt.
After finishing all this, the two sat and waited for the dicine’s effects to start spreading from the patches on his neck, then proceed to the next step.
After about two quarters of an hour, Manbao asked the Emperor, "Your Majesty, do you feel a cooling sensation on your neck?"
The Emperor slightly nodded.
Manbao sighed in relief, took a needle bag, and said, "I will perform acupuncture to accelerate the dicine’s efficacy."
The Emperor slightly closed his eyes, feeling that Zhou Man’s acupuncture might make him feel a bit better; his head was swelling and his whole body was uncomfortable.
Manbao perford acupuncture to make the dicine take effect faster.
Because of applying needles to the neck and head, Manbao was even more cautious than usual. She felt for the acupuncture points on the Emperor’s neck and carefully inserted the needles...
The acupuncture quickly showed its effect; the Emperor felt a surge of cooling energy, and his muddled mind felt clear for a mont. Following this coolness, the Emperor, who had been restless due to head pain, slowly began to breathe steadily.
Director Xiao watched nearby, after feeling the Emperor’s pulse, couldn’t help but cast a comndatory glance at Manbao.
Though the pulse hadn’t improved, His Majesty’s steady breathing and unchanged pulse indicated he was sleeping.
For a patient, sotis peaceful sleep is a form of self-healing. Despite lying in bed all day, the Emperor hadn’t been sleeping well because of discomfort.
Manbao withdrew the needles after estimating the ti, by then the temperature on the Emperor’s forehead had slightly reduced, and his face appeared less flushed.
Director Xiao nodded and said to Manbao, "Tonight, let’s stay here and watch over him together."
The Empress and Crown Prince asked beside, "How is it?"
Director Xiao was still a bit unsure, thus he pondered over his words. The Crown Prince, impatient with his hesitation, imdiately turned to Zhou Man, "You speak, tell the truth."
The Empress disagreed slightly and gave the Crown Prince a glance but also looked towards Manbao.
Manbao glanced at Director Xiao, noticing his slight nod, she then said, "His Majesty is improving; Your Highness, rest assured, I will perform another session of acupuncture at night, aiming to stop the fever."
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince and Empress felt slightly relieved.
Director Xiao couldn’t help but secretly glare at Manbao; he had allowed her to speak but didn’t expect her to portray the situation so positively.
Just as the dicine had begun its effect without significant observable improvent, how could one report in such a manner to the Crown Prince and Empress?
What if His Majesty’s condition worsened overnight?
However, once the words were spoken, there was no room for retraction, so Director Xiao could only stand silently.
The Crown Prince appreciated Manbao’s straightforwardness and even nodded approvingly at her.
The Empress also smiled and said to Director Xiao and Manbao, "You both rest a while, later His Majesty will need you to watch over him."
The two complied and bowed before stepping out.
Palace attendants ca forward to serve them als.
It was already past dinner ti; Manbao hadn’t eaten much all day, so upon hearing about dinner, she felt extrely ravenous, almost unable to walk.
Director Xiao kept a stern face, leading Manbao through the attentive stares of several court officials, dragging her all the way to the side hall, softly reminding her, "Refrain from casually discussing His Majesty’s condition with outsiders, only speak directly when the Empress is present and grants permission, understood?"
Manbao nodded, emphasizing, "Earlier, the Empress was present, and she granted permission."
Director Xiao, sowhat irritated, said, "I didn’t say you shouldn’t have spoken earlier. Didn’t you notice Lord Wei and the others were nearly staring through you?"
Knowing that Zhou Man was young and sotis unable to hide her thoughts and emotions, Director Xiao imdiately said, "Avoid walking alone, cooperate with Imperial Doctor Liu and others, and let them handle inquiries."
Manbao sowhat hesitated to speak, Director Xiao noticed and softly asked, "What’s the matter?"
Manbao glanced at the palace attendant leading ahead, shook her head.
Upon entering the side hall, Imperial Doctor Liu and others ca forward to ask, "How is it now?"
Director Xiao exhaled, saying, "The dicine is showing effect, the patches can remain for four hours. Now is the optimal ti for the dicine’s effect, so we must wait and observe later tonight."
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