"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has suffered a stroke. Her right cheek is stiff, and the right side of her body is paralyzed. She can still speak, but if acupuncture is not administered in time, her condition will only become more dangerous. The Imperial Physician previously gave the Empress Dowager medicine, which delayed the onset of the illness, but it will not last long."
The emperor's expression relaxed slightly.
"Is acupuncture the only option?"
Song Siyuan nodded.
The emperor asked no more questions, turned around, and walked into his bedchamber.
The Imperial Secretary let out a breath, his body swayed, and he barely managed to steady himself.
When he came to his senses, he realized that his back was soaked with cold sweat.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, the abbot whispered to Song Siyuan.
"Only you would remember to speak up for me at a time like this."
Song Siyuan gave a simple, honest smile.
"What I am saying is the truth. If it weren't for your decisive action, Your Excellency, in getting the Empress Dowager to take the medicine, the white banners would probably be up by now."
The abbot shook his head.
"You were the one who presented that Great Vitality Pill. In fact, you deserve more credit."
"Your Excellency, please don't mention this to me. Right now, how dare we talk about merits? We're already doing well just to save the lives of everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy."
Song Siyuan's words made the Imperial Censor's face turn ugly again.
He didn't blame Song Siyuan. Having spent so many years with Song Siyuan, how could he not know the old man's temperament?
I'm used to it.
"However, the Empress Dowager's stroke occurred in a strange way. What could have caused it? Although the Empress Dowager usually suffers from hyperactivity of yang and dizziness, it is not serious!"
The Imperial Physician changed the subject and began talking about the Empress Dowager's illness.
Song Siyuan pursed his lips: "He was probably angry."
The Empress Dowager's chief physician was always the Imperial Physician, because the Imperial Physician was skilled in herbal medicine prescriptions, while Song Siyuan was skilled in acupuncture, which was the Empress Dowager's least favorite skill.
The Empress Dowager never allowed any men to get close to her, not even for a simple acupuncture.
Song Siyuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly: If only her daughter were here. Her acupuncture skills were no less than her own, and as a woman, the Empress Dowager would certainly not refuse.
However, her daughter's current status is special, and her medical skills cannot be revealed.
This was something the Crown Prince had warned about a long time ago.
Although Song Siyuan had the heart of a healer, he did not want to gamble with his daughter's life.
Actually, Dingxiang would also work... but Dingxiang has only been learning acupuncture for a few days, so her skills might not be up to par.
Song Siyuan's mind was in a mess.
Inside the imperial bedchamber, behind a fine beaded curtain, the emperor was pleading with the empress dowager to allow the imperial physicians to administer acupuncture.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager lay on the bed, half of her body stiff as a stone, unable to move, as was her face. She was anxious and had many things to say, but her tongue was also half stiff, making it impossible for her to speak fluently.
The Empress Dowager was stubborn. Because of an injury she suffered when she was young, she would never allow any man to touch her, not even her scalp.
But now she felt the effects of her physical condition, and all that remained in her heart was the fear of death, which made her hesitate.
After a moment, the Empress Dowager finally made up her mind and ordered the imperial physicians to treat her!
The Zhu family is like that, without a pillar of support. If I die like this, the entire Zhu family will surely collapse. I absolutely cannot die now!
The Empress Dowager's gaze hardened, she took a breath, and prepared to agree.
But to everyone's surprise, when she opened her mouth, she could only make "ah ah" sounds.
She couldn't speak!
The Empress Dowager's panic intensified; her anxiety and unease caused her lips to tremble.
Because of the emperor's previous wrath, the nannies were all kneeling on the ground, and no one could see her expression.
The emperor could see even less through the beaded curtain.
"Mother, this is a matter of life and death, please say something!"
The Empress Dowager wanted to slap the bed board.
I need treatment!
Quickly summon the imperial physician!
But no one in this room has mind-reading abilities, so no one knows what she is thinking at this moment.
The Empress Dowager was in despair.
Is Heaven going to destroy me?
She reached out her good hand and grabbed the tassels hanging from the curtain, trying to pull them off, but she had no strength at all, and all her efforts were in vain.
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, her heart filled with despair and sorrow.
Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside, followed by a loud shout.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
For a fleeting moment, the emperor's expression turned cold.
But he quickly composed himself and turned to look outside the door.
The crown prince pushed open the eunuchs guarding the palace gates and strode into the palace.
How is Grandma?
The Crown Prince's anxiety was genuine; he was truly worried about the Empress Dowager.
The emperor coughed heavily.
The crown prince seemed to have just noticed him, and hurriedly tucked his sleeves in and bowed.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty. I was in such a hurry when I came in that I forgot to greet Your Majesty. Please forgive me."
Since he had said that, the emperor couldn't really reprimand him, but his expression was still not very pleasant.
In the past, the Crown Prince would have worried about displeasing the Emperor, but after Song Xibai's reminders and analysis, the Crown Prince has become wary and vigilant towards the Emperor.
He had realized that no matter what he did, the emperor would not like him.
The crown prince then inquired about the empress dowager's illness.
The emperor didn't want to answer, so he pointed to the door.
"Go and ask the three imperial physicians!"
The Crown Prince turned his gaze outside and came face to face with Song Xibai, who had just caught up from behind.
Song Xibai led Dingxiang and Wei Hong forward.
Although she was not the Crown Princess, her aura was in no way inferior.
Before arriving, she had already changed into palace attire, with a magnificent pearl crown and hair ornaments adorning her hair.
Before she could get close, Song Siyuan had already pressed the head of the academy envoy in a salute.
The Grand Councilor was very frustrated.
He's not an emperor, so there's no need for such grand gestures!
The imperial physician on the right, unaware of Song Xibai's rank, hurriedly followed suit when he saw the two of them kowtow.
Song Xibai thus avoided the imperial physician and entered the bedchamber.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
After entering the room, she first curtsied to the emperor, and then spoke.
"This palace maid of mine has some medical knowledge. Since Her Majesty the Empress Dowager does not want the imperial physicians to get close, why don't we let this palace maid take a look?"
After Song Xibai and the others returned to the palace, they went to the East Palace to change their clothes. There was no other way; it was the proper etiquette in the palace. If she went to see the Empress Dowager in plain clothes, she would be accused of disrespect.
While changing clothes, Fuliu quickly began talking about Renshou Palace.
The Empress Dowager disliked being touched by men and wouldn't allow the imperial physicians to get close to her. As a result, she suffered a stroke and remained stubborn, only willing to take medicine and refusing acupuncture.
After a long stalemate, the condition worsened.
After a moment's thought, Song Xibai guessed that the Empress Dowager was probably paralyzed on one side and unable to speak.
Song Xibai himself could not take action, but the fact that Dingxiang knew medicine was known throughout the Eastern Palace and naturally in the harem as well. It would be better to bring it up now to avoid being used against her later.
As soon as she said this, the Empress Dowager on the other side suddenly opened her eyes and looked over anxiously.
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