Chapter 463
Chapter 463
Shen Lang quickly drew two large vials of blood from the Fifth Prince Ning Zheng's body. The amount was enough to make the onlookers feel dizzy. Everyone thought that drawing so much blood would surely cause great damage to his vitality.
After filling the first vial, Shen Lang immediately began the blood transfusion for Consort Bian. The King watched with wide eyes as Ning Zheng's bright red blood entered Consort Bian's body drop by drop. Time passed, minute by minute. A quarter of an hour flew by, then half an hour, and soon an hour had passed. Everyone could clearly see Consort Bian's completely pale and bloodless face gradually regain its color. Moreover, her breathing and heartbeat grew steadily stronger. Although she had not awakened, the signs of her survival were unmistakable. The old imperial physician stepped forward, checked Consort Bian's pulse, then knelt and reported in a trembling voice.
“Your Majesty, congratulations! Consort Bian has been saved! It is a miraculous medical technique. Young Master Shen has truly performed a miracle!”
The old imperial physician before him was not exaggerating in the slightest; he truly believed Shen Lang had performed a miracle. Shen Lang's method was so wondrous it could be said he had brought the dead back to life, a technique unheard of in his lifetime. Consort Bian had been on the verge of death, yet Shen Lang had saved her. Furthermore, the blood transfusion technique was simply astounding. Who else in the world could perform such a feat?
Not only that, but the old imperial physician was also inwardly grateful to Shen Lang. Ning Yuanxian was a harsh man. If Consort Bian had died, how many people would he have killed for no reason? It was a given that, at the very least, all the imperial physicians involved in her treatment would not have survived. Sometimes, human life was so insignificant that it could be snuffed out with ease. Of course, the old physician was so advanced in age that he no longer feared death, but his disciples and their disciples were still young. Should they have died just like that? Shen Lang had not only saved Consort Bian's life but also the lives of all the imperial physicians present.
Ning Yuanxian stepped forward to feel Consort Bian's breath and her pulse. Indeed, her breathing and pulse had grown stronger and more forceful. Although she had not yet awakened, her life was no longer in danger. Shen Lang, observing with his X-ray vision, saw that the wound inside Consort Bian's uterus was finally starting to clot. Soon, he would be able to remove the silver needles.
Shen Lang let out a huge sigh of relief. A blood clotting disorder was extremely dangerous, but since her blood was finally coagulating on its own, a hysterectomy would not be necessary. To be honest, under the current circumstances, even with Shen Lang's medical skills, a hysterectomy would have undoubtedly meant death for Consort Bian. First, she had lost too much blood, and a transfusion from Prince Ning Zheng alone would not have been enough. Transfusing blood from anyone else was out of the question. Second, Consort Bian's body was too weak; in her current state, she could not have survived a major surgery. Fortunately, the worst-case scenario had been avoided.
Ning Yuanxian spoke.
“Everyone else, leave. Shen Lang, Ning Jie, Ning Zheng, and the old imperial physician will remain.”
Then, Shen Lang added.
“Little Eunuch Lü, perhaps you could take His Highness Ning Zheng to bathe?”
“Understood.”
Without even waiting for the King's command, Little Eunuch Lü took Ning Zheng away to bathe and change his clothes.
“Your Majesty, we will be just outside the door.”
After speaking, Shen Lang immediately withdrew from the room, and the old imperial physician followed him out.
* * *
“I, Yunhua, thank Young Master Shen for the grace of saving my life.”
The old imperial physician bowed to Shen Lang, who quickly helped him up.
“I cannot bear such a gesture from an elder.”
The old imperial physician sat down beside him and sighed.
“Young Master Shen's medical skills have left this old man in utter awe. I can hardly believe what I've seen with my own eyes. I have never encountered such a method, not even in the medical texts of ancient times. It is truly remarkable.”
Shen Lang smiled and said.
“Medicine has its specializations. In some areas, my abilities are far inferior to yours, elder.”
“Physician An Zaishi of the Jin Clan is a close friend of mine. Though I am more than twenty years his senior, when it comes to medical skill, he is far superior to me.”
Shen Lang was surprised.
“I suppose you are unaware, Young Master Shen. The truly skilled physicians are all outside the palace. Talented individuals cannot endure being within the palace walls. There are too many rules and restrictions, a single misstep can cost you your head, and it's a position where there's no credit, only blame. Even someone with ten-tenths of their skill can only use three-tenths of it inside the palace.”
The old imperial physician was so aged that he could say anything. He spoke the truth with only a door separating him from the King. Even the Grand Eunuch Lü Jun could do nothing about it. The old physician had never married and had no family; he did not even fear death, so what couldn't he say? A short while ago, the King had threatened to execute all the imperial physicians, so the old man was using this as an opportunity to air a few grievances. Right now, the King was filled with boundless joy, having lost and then regained his beloved. He could pretend not to hear even the most unpleasant words.
Shen Lang said.
“Isn't that the truth? A physician must be pure, but once power is involved, things inevitably become complicated.”
The old physician Yunhua was surprised to hear this. He himself was old enough not to fear death, so he complained freely. But for Shen Lang to agree with him, making no attempt to curry favor with His Majesty...
“Young Master Shen, you possess such miraculous medical skills. What are your plans for the future?”
“I will only save those I wish to save. I am not a professional physician, and if I am unwilling, no one should expect me to save someone for them.”
“Indeed! That is the right way! Young Master Shen, remember these words. Never become a physician. It is too lowly a profession.”
Shen Lang nodded.
“Indeed. I intend to spend this life as the live-in son-in-law of the Jin Clan, eating fine food, enjoying wealth and glory, and living happily.”
The old physician Yunhua laughed and said.
“Young Master Shen, you truly are a fascinating person.”
“You are elderly. Why don't you lie down here and sleep? I can wake you when you're needed.”
“Excellent!”
The old physician nodded, lay down on a bench outside, and curled up like a shrimp. The Grand Eunuch Lü Jun gestured, and a junior eunuch came over with a blanket to cover the old man. A moment later, the old physician was asleep. To be able to sleep in such a place, under such circumstances. The old physician demonstrated that with a clear conscience and no selfish desires, one's heart could be vaster than heaven and earth.
In truth, this old physician's medical skills were quite profound. When Consort Bian had miscarried just now, he had not performed the procedure himself but had supervised Physician Lü in inducing the miscarriage and removing the placenta, which was done with a high degree of skill. The massive hemorrhage was due to Consort Bian's constitutional issue—a blood clotting disorder. Moreover, since the bleeding was internal, the old physician had tried every method to stop it, even using uterine compression with his bare hands, but nothing worked against the clotting disorder. He did not have X-ray vision like Shen Lang.
Shen Lang was dozing wearily on a chair, his eyes closed. Suddenly, the Grand Eunuch Lü Jun came in, kicked Shen Lang, and then walked out without a word. Shen Lang quickly followed him.
* * *
In a secluded corner, the Grand Eunuch Lü Jun spoke.
“Kid, you did great tonight, but do you know the saying, 'Fortune is embedded in misfortune, and misfortune lurks within fortune'?”
Shen Lang nodded.
“When you saved Consort Bian, you did it in front of everyone, so there was no room for trickery. But wasn't it too coincidental? Why was it that no one else's blood would do, only His Highness Ning Zheng's? Don't you think some people will suspect you had a hand in it? They'll think that someone else's blood could have worked, but to save Prince Ning Zheng and find him a powerful backer, you faked the tests on the other blood samples, giving the credit for saving Consort Bian to His Highness.”
Shen Lang continued the thought.
“Not only that, some might even say, 'How could it be so coincidental? Just as Prince Ning Zheng was thrown into the Imperial Clan Court's prison, Consort Bian miscarries and suffers a massive hemorrhage. Didn't someone plot against her? They say Shen Lang has devilish methods. Perhaps to save Ning Zheng, Shen Lang first pushed Consort Bian to the brink of death and then stepped in to save her? That way, Shen Lang would have bestowed the immense grace of saving her life.'”
“As long as you understand. Do you have anything you wish for me to relay to His Majesty?”
Shen Lang shook his head.
“For a while, I will remain by His Majesty's side at all times. If someone tries to slander you, I will do my utmost to block it. But I won't be able to stop them all.”
“Yes. Thank you, Eunuch Lü.”
Lü Jun sighed.
“Human hearts are inherently vicious. What can be done?”
Lü Jun soon returned to his post, standing outside the door to the King's room. Shen Lang also returned to his chair and, a short while later, fell asleep again.
* * *
When Shen Lang awoke again, the sun was already up. The Grand Eunuch Lü Jun said to him.
“His Majesty summons you. He wishes for you to examine Consort Bian again.”
As Shen Lang entered the room, Grand Princess Ning Jie asked him.
“Can we remove the silver needles now?”
Shen Lang nodded.
“Yes, but they must be removed one by one, slowly. Do not pull them all out at once.”
Following Shen Lang's instructions, Grand Princess Ning Jie slowly removed the silver needles one by one. The wound inside Consort Bian's uterus had now completely stopped bleeding. All that remained was to prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine. Of course, the accumulated blood inside the uterus needed to be expelled, but the old physician Yunhua was more experienced in that area, so there was no need for Shen Lang to handle it.
“Why has Consort Bian not yet awakened?”
Ning Yuanxian looked extremely tired. His eyes were bloodshot, and the areas around them seemed slightly sunken. Shen Lang had at least gotten a few hours of sleep, but Ning Yuanxian had not slept or even closed his eyes.
“She was unconscious due to a lack of oxygen to the brain, so she requires a long period of rest. Please be at ease, Your Majesty. Consort Bian will awaken within two or three days.”
“Consort Bian lost an excessive amount of blood. From what you said, the blood transfused into her was only half of what she lost. Shouldn't we transfuse more?”
Shen Lang shook his head.
“That is not necessary. His Highness Ning Zheng has already given a catty of blood. If we draw more, it will harm his body. Replenishing her body with that catty of blood is sufficient; her own body will produce new blood for the rest.”
Ning Yuanxian had been about to say that it didn't matter if Ning Zheng's body was harmed, but Shen Lang's firm refusal left him unable to speak further. Since last night, Shen Lang had carried an immense authority, and his every word felt like an imperial edict that could not be refuted. To be precise, inside the sickroom, the words of Shen Lang, the physician saving a life, were as absolute as an imperial edict.
Ning Yuanxian continued.
“Are you certain Consort Bian does not need any more blood?”
Shen Lang nodded and replied.
“I am.”
“Lü Jun, send someone to take Ning Zheng back to the Imperial Clan Court's prison.”
Lü Jun bowed and replied.
“Yes!”
Logically, such an order seemed completely heartless. Ning Zheng had just given his blood to save Consort Bian, and now he was being sent back to prison? However, Shen Lang did not say a word about it.
“Prepare a room near here for Shen Lang to rest in the palace.”
Little Eunuch Lü nodded and accepted the order.
“As you command.”
And so, by the King's decree, Shen Lang was to stay in the palace. It was not the first time he had stayed in the palace, anyway.