Physician Lu is very busy.
Since the incident with Bai Shuang, this imperial physician, who had only recently entered the palace, also caught the eye of Da Pang Ju thanks to his connection with Consort Cheng.
Those death row inmates developed serious health problems after drinking the calming soup for more than a month.
Headache, vomiting, restlessness, and convulsions are not the worst symptoms. One or two people with weaker constitutions also experience persistent abdominal pain and rectal bleeding.
Another patient had a persistent high fever, generalized edema, a sallow complexion, and was even unable to urinate.
At this point, those imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital who had used white frost in the calming decoction could expect a bad end.
Big Fat Orange originally intended to send his entire family, along with the surviving death row inmates, to the mines in Yunnan to vent his anger.
Sun Miaoqing persuaded them to stay, saying that the emperor had said he would send them to be itinerant doctors, and that the emperor could not change his mind so easily.
Sending them to the mines might be satisfying, but it would also be a waste of their medical skills. It would be better to let them atone for their crimes by treating the people for the rest of their lives, thus demonstrating the Emperor's benevolence.
If someone can achieve great things, it would not be unreasonable to recall them and entrust them with important responsibilities.
After careful consideration, Big Fat Orange felt that this was a way to make use of waste. Besides, the journey to exile would be arduous, and these imperial physicians were used to a life of luxury and were not young.
Most people like Zhang Mi wouldn't even make it to Yunnan; they'd die halfway there. Even if the rest reached the mines, they'd all be dead within three to five days, or at most a month.
It would be better to send them to remote and impoverished areas to practice medicine. This would not only make these quack doctors suffer, but it would also be a benevolent policy for the people.
The family fortunes of the more than twenty imperial physicians were not small; their movable and immovable property combined amounted to over a million taels of silver.
When Big Fat Orange ordered his family to raid his home, they didn't touch the house or the dowries of the women.
This was a way to give them a chance to survive, allowing them to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to studying medicine in local areas.
The Imperial Medical Academy was left mostly empty. Before Physician Lu could even react, he was burdened with the heavy responsibility of reorganizing the Imperial Medical Academy, keeping him extremely busy every day.
When the chubby orange suddenly fell ill, Xia Xiazi grabbed Physician Lu, who was handling official business, and ran away as soon as she arrived at the Imperial Hospital.
Another eunuch who had followed him found the medicine chest and followed closely behind. When they arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Physician Lu was panting heavily before he could understand what had happened.
"Eunuch Xia, I really can't run anymore."
Xiazi said anxiously, "I can wait, but the Emperor can't. We're already at the door, Physician Lu, please bear with us a little longer, he'll be here soon."
Seeing that Physician Lu was in such a state, Xia Xiazi knew that even if he were brought to the Emperor's bedside, he probably wouldn't have the energy to examine the Emperor.
Looking at the few eunuchs guarding the door, Xia Xiazi said, "You two come here and help Physician Lu inside."
"Thank you, Eunuch Xia."
Physician Lu was also anxious to know what was wrong with the big fat orange.
There are no trivial matters when it comes to the emperor's side. If even Xia Xiazi, who serves him closely, is this anxious, it must be something serious.
Although he was quite confident in his medical skills, he had come to realize the truth during his time in the palace.
It wasn't an illness, just a problem with their health. The palace truly embodied the saying "Man proposes, God disposes" to the fullest extent!
I just hope that this time, by all accounts, everything will be alright...
Upon entering the imperial bedchamber, Physician Lu saw Consort Wan, currently the most favored concubine in the harem, anxiously standing beside the emperor with red eyes.
Upon seeing Physician Lu approaching, they quickly said, "Physician Lu, please examine His Majesty. He was perfectly fine just now, but suddenly he had a nosebleed and fainted."
Physician Lu bowed, then took out the items and carefully examined the pulse of the large orange cat.
The more he examined the boy, the more his brows furrowed. Doctor Lu then lifted the large orange-haired boy's eyelids and carefully examined his eyes.
After scrutinizing the fat man's face, Su Peisheng was instructed to open the fat man's mouth and examine his tongue.
Zhen Huan was terrified by Physician Lu's actions. When seeing a doctor, no matter who it is, the thing they fear most is seeing the doctor frown.
What's more, she's been keeping Big Fat Orange company these past few days, and his recent episode happened while they were playing chess.
With her seductive charms bewitching the emperor and her reputation as a bewitching concubine, Zhen Huan could easily imagine how she would be taken advantage of when she was down.
"Imperial Physician Lu, how is the Emperor? Is he alright?"
"Just now, His Majesty suddenly had a severe nosebleed and then fainted. Can Physician Lu diagnose the cause of His Majesty's condition?"
Physician Lu said, "Your Highness, rest assured, His Majesty is not in mortal danger at the moment, but..."
He stammered, his expression hesitant, unsure how to begin. Although this Consort Wan was a newly favored noblewoman, her rank was actually quite low.
When it comes to the emperor's health, besides the emperor himself, only the empress dowager and the empress are qualified to ask.
At most, they could add Consort Hua to manage palace affairs; it would never be Zhen Huan's turn. If the emperor were awake, it would be fine, but now that the emperor is unconscious, he doesn't know how to answer.
Hearing that the emperor was alright, Zhen Huan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was alright, she wouldn't be in any real danger.
Even if someone tries to smear her, she has ways to deal with it.
Realizing that he had asked something he shouldn't have in his haste, he could only say, "I was too concerned about His Majesty and forgot my own status for a moment. Please don't take offense, Physician Lu."
Just as Physician Lu was about to reply, he heard the Empress Dowager's voice, "You don't understand the rules."
When Zhen Huan saw the Empress Dowager approaching, her face was unusually stern. The Empress, dressed in casual clothes, followed beside the Empress Dowager with her Buddhist prayer beads always in her hand.
She couldn't help but feel a little nervous. On the day of the selection, the Empress Dowager wanted to use the excuse that her surname violated the emperor's name to prevent her from entering the palace.
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