In a side hall of Yaohua Palace.
Lin Qinghe laid the unconscious You Rong down, then felt his forehead, which was burning hot.
She frowned.
If the wound became infected, without antibiotics in ancient times, it would be life-threatening. She could only hope You Rong would hold on.
The imperial physician was taking too long to arrive, and Lin Qinghe couldn't help but darken her expression. She urged, "Meilan, didn't I tell you to hurry and fetch the imperial physician! Where is he? Why hasn't he come yet!"
Meilan bowed fearfully and quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Highness the Princess, Zhuju has already gone to fetch the imperial physician. I believe he will be here soon."
She dared not say that Zhuju had only left a short while ago and likely hadn't even reached the Imperial Medical Office yet.
Lin Qinghe pursed her lips, watching You Rong breathe weakly on the bed. Knowing that worry was useless, she sighed and said, "Go and fetch this princess a cup of warm water."
"Yes, Your Highness the Princess."
Meilan hastily poured a cup of warm water. "Your Highness the Princess, I have poured the warm water. Do you think the temperature is suitable? If it's too hot, I'll get you another cup."
As Lin Qinghe took the cup, Meilan lowered her head, her face pale, her hands trembling slightly as she held the teacup.
Lin Qinghe knew very well. She didn't blame Meilan for being scared. In the past, the original body had a bad temper and would fly into a rage over trivial matters, punishing these palace servants, including for tea being too hot or too cold.
Lin Qinghe took the teacup and brought it to You Rong's lips, feeding him a little at a time.
When he had a persistent fever, it could easily lead to dehydration.
Meilan, filled with anxiety, saw Lin Qinghe take the teacup and waited for a moment, but Lin Qinghe did not get angry.
She secretly looked up in confusion and was so startled to see Lin Qinghe carefully feeding You Rong water that her jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
Didn't Her Highness the Princess loathe You Rong the most and find pleasure in tormenting him!
Now she was deigning to feed him water herself, even using a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth!
Had the sun truly risen from the west today?!!
As if that wasn't enough, after feeding You Rong water, Lin Qinghe looked at him with concern for a moment before turning to say, "Meilan, go to the Imperial Medical Office now and urge the imperial physician to come quickly."
You Rong was seriously injured; they really couldn't afford any delays.
Meilan was still in shock and hadn't recovered, seemingly not hearing Lin Qinghe's words.
Lin Qinghe raised her voice in displeasure, "Meilan! I'm speaking to you, do you hear me!"
Meilan trembled with fear, snapped back to reality, and fell to her knees with a thud, saying frantically, "Your servant, your servant... your servant deserves to die! I beg Your Highness the Princess to forgive my transgression. Your servant will go to the Imperial Medical Office at once to urge the imperial physician to come quickly..."
Lin Qinghe's expression was full of helplessness. "Then what are you waiting for? Go!"
"Yes, your servant will go now."
Meilan dared not delay any longer. She rose, bowed, and hurried to the Imperial Medical Office to urge the imperial physician to come quickly.
A full two quarters of an hour passed before the imperial physician arrived at Yaohua Palace.
Imperial Physician Zhang bowed respectfully, "This minister greets Your Highness the Princess. Did Your Highness summon me because you are unwell?"
Lin Qinghe: "Imperial Physician Zhang, there's no need for formalities. I summoned you today to treat someone." Her gaze fell on You Rong on the bed. "Please treat him, Imperial Physician Zhang."
Imperial Physician Zhang took a few steps forward and was stunned to see it was You Rong at the bedside. He clearly knew You Rong, but it wasn't surprising. The son of the former great general, now the son of a convicted official, it was hard not to know him.
However, this Fifth Princess was notoriously disgusted with You Rong; why was she treating him today?
After his surprise, Imperial Physician Zhang quickly replied, "Yes, this minister will treat him now."
Lin Qinghe nodded and stepped aside, waiting.
Imperial Physician Zhang took You Rong's pulse and examined the shocking injuries on his upper body. His brow furrowed, and he hesitated to speak.
Lin Qinghe asked anxiously, "Imperial Physician Zhang, how are You Rong's injuries? Is his life in danger?"
"Your Highness the Princess, this..." Imperial Physician Zhang stammered. "This servant cannot say for sure. This servant's injuries are not light, I fear..."
Lin Qinghe's eyes sharpened, and she said sternly, "You fear what? Speak freely, Imperial Physician Zhang!"
Imperial Physician Zhang bowed, "Reporting to Your Highness the Princess, this servant's injuries are not light, and they have worsened. This servant does not have a hundred percent certainty of saving him. I can only scrape away the dead flesh from his wounds, apply medicine, and administer other herbal decoctions. If he can survive for three days, his life will be out of danger. Otherwise..."
Imperial Physician Zhang stopped speaking, and Lin Qinghe understood what he was about to say.
Her heart sank.
She hadn't expected You Rong's condition to be so critical.
If he died, what progress would she have made? It would be a direct mission failure.
Lin Qinghe pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there any other more conservative method of treatment?"
Imperial Physician Zhang shook his head, "No."
Lin Qinghe had no choice but to agree, "Treat him as you said. Please do your utmost to save him. If you can save him, this princess will reward you greatly!"
Imperial Physician Zhang: "Yes, Your Highness the Princess, this minister will do his best!"
"Then let's begin."
Imperial Physician Zhang found a dagger, lit a candle, and prepared gauze and styptic powder. Just as he was about to begin, his hand suddenly stopped. He said with a slight nervousness, "Your Highness the Princess, would you like to step out for a moment? Scraping away the dead flesh from the wounds might be quite gruesome."
Lin Qinghe's eyes darkened slightly and she said, "It's fine. I will watch here. You may proceed."
Imperial Physician Zhang then said, "Yes, this minister will begin." Su Dan Novel Network
Imperial Physician Zhang heated the dagger to disinfect it. Looking at You Rong's mangled upper body, he took a deep breath, hardened his heart, and began to scrape away the dead flesh from You Rong's wounds with the dagger.
As soon as the dagger touched his skin, the unconscious You Rong cried out in pain, his body trembling. He gritted his teeth unconsciously.
Lin Qinghe's heart ached.
How painful it must be to have the dead flesh scraped off one's body alive!
As Imperial Physician Zhang's movements became faster, You Rong's pain intensified even in his unconscious state, his forehead bulging with veins, and his teeth grinding.
Midway through scraping the dead flesh, You Rong let out a muffled groan of pain. Imperial Physician Zhang's expression changed drastically, and he quickly called out, "Quickly find a cloth or handkerchief to put in his mouth! Otherwise, he'll bite off his own tongue!"
Enduring such agony, he might unconsciously bite off his own tongue!
Lin Qinghe stood by, and in her desperation, she ignored everything else and put her hand into You Rong's mouth. He bit down hard in pain, and Lin Qinghe's face immediately turned pale from the pain.
Meilan, Zhuju, and Imperial Physician Zhang cried out in alarm, "Your Highness the Princess!"
Lin Qinghe endured the pain in her hand and said, "Meilan, Zhuju! Stop standing there! Quickly go and get some thick cloth and stuff it into You Rong's mouth!"
If they didn't bring it soon, a piece of her flesh would be bitten off!