Chapter 58: Unheard Of

“Blessings upon the Crown Prince.” As Fengke and Yuan Zaichun stepped inside, they saw Qiao Qingyun’s face pale as death, her breathing barely perceptible, and their hearts sank.

“What is going on here? When you noticed Her Highness was unwell, why wasn’t someone summoned immediately?” Fengke asked anxiously. Beside him, Xu Lu shook her head.

“I have tried every means to protect Her Highness’s heart, but from the looks of it, it must be due to internal injury. So… so the situation is dire.”

“Internal injury?” Yuan Zaichun instinctively glanced at his own hand, recalling the force with which he’d pushed Qiao Qingyun earlier. Guilt gnawed at him.

“Your Highness…” Qinglu knelt beside the bed, sobbing. Chun Cheng hurried over. “Qinglu, this is not the time for tears. Since Her Highness is wounded, the most important thing now is not to cry, but to find a way.”

“But what can we do? Who could understand the importance of the internal organs better than Her Highness herself?”

“What do you mean?” Yuan Zaichun frowned, puzzled. Qiao Qingyun had always been competent with acupuncture and medicine, but he’d assumed that, though skilled, there were others who could rival her expertise.

“Our mistress just saved someone with severe internal damage today. It took her two whole hours! She didn’t even drink a sip of water during that time. So… so now, aside from Her Highness herself, no one else knows how to save her!”

Just then, a voice echoed from outside.

“The Imperial Physician has arrived!”

This particular physician held considerable sway in the palace, and when he was summoned to attend the Crown Princess, the Emperor himself questioned him thoroughly. Upon hearing that Qiao Qingyun was gravely ill, the query of its cause was met with vague answers from Liu Fu and the others, perhaps because they did not wish to divulge the truth.

“Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“No need for formalities. Go see to the Crown Princess.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Imperial Physician, his hair already streaked with grey, looked every bit the elder statesman. Yet he still worked diligently, a testament to his dedication.

“How is she?” Yuan Zaichun pressed.

The physician took her pulse for a long time, his brows knitting ever deeper.

There is an old saying: Western doctors smile, but when a Chinese doctor’s brow furrows, one must worry.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess’s kidneys have suffered damage. Her ability to produce blood is declining rapidly, but… but I do not know how to restore her blood supply.”

“I know! I know!” Qinglu scrambled to her feet, disregarding Yuan Zaichun’s presence, and rushed outside. She returned with a cup of clear water, quickly pricked Qiao Qingyun’s finger to draw a drop of blood.

She brought it to Xu Lu and Chun Cheng. “Hurry! Drop it in!”

Both were stunned, suddenly recalling how Qiao Qingyun had injected blood into a patient earlier that day. No hesitation; they quickly let a drop of their own blood mingle.

“It’s merging, it’s merging! Mine works! Save Teacher, quick!”

Xu Lu saw her blood seamlessly blend and excitedly rolled up her sleeve. Qinglu nodded, letting Xu Lu sit, while she fetched a syringe and a sheep bladder, handing them to Chun Cheng.

“I have followed Miss for years but never learned how to inject. Now you must judge the force yourself. Your skill is Her Highness’s only hope.”

“All right.” Chun Cheng would not refuse. Seeing Qiao Qingyun lying motionless on the bed, she swiftly bound Xu Lu’s upper arm with a tourniquet, waited for the vein to rise, wiped it with alcohol, and inserted the needle.

Blood began to flow into the sheep bladder.

“This… this method is unheard of,” the Imperial Physician stammered.

Chun Cheng answered cautiously, “Teacher saved a life today by gathering blood and injecting it into the patient.”

“But what is the connection between you and the Crown Princess?” The physician was still perplexed.

Xu Lu shook her head. “No relation. Blood compatibility isn’t just about kinship. It’s because Miss said our blood types are the same.”

The Imperial Physician frowned, silent.

When the bag filled, Chun Cheng quickly removed the needle, had Qinglu feed Xu Lu a piece of candy, and carried the blood away to process. After a moment, all the needles on the bag were swapped for intravenous needles.

She hung the bag at the bedside, took Qiao Qingyun’s hand, applied the tourniquet, gently wiped with alcohol, found the vein, and injected.

“It’s done, it’s done,” Chun Cheng exhaled, watching the blood drip steadily down. Xu Lu sighed, her face pale. “If only we’d known it was blood loss, we should have transfused earlier.”

“Indeed.” Chun Cheng shook her head. “Our skills are still no match for Teacher’s. Ah! I forgot to remove the needle!”

Seeing the slow drip, she remembered the needle protecting Qiao Qingyun’s heart was still in place.

“What is this…” Fengke was bewildered, lost in the unfamiliar procedures, as was Yuan Zaichun.

“Your Highness, the night is deep and damp. Perhaps you should retire?” Qinglu glanced at Yuan Zaichun, her anger rising; it was because of him that Qiao Qingyun now lay silent and unmoving.

Yuan Zaichun said nothing, his gaze fixed on Qiao Qingyun, as if trying to see through her, but helpless, unable to fathom her.

Time ticked slowly by. At last, color returned to the woman’s face, growing rosy and radiant again. Chun Cheng fetched a stethoscope.

Placing it on Qiao Qingyun’s heart, her lips curled into a smile. “It’s done! Teacher’s heartbeat is strong again.”

“Young man, what is that device?” The elderly physician was puzzled by Chun Cheng’s tool.

Chun Cheng paused, then handed it over with a smile. “Our teacher calls it a stethoscope. During surgery, you can’t always take the pulse.”

“If you rely on the pulse, it’s more troublesome, and easily startled. But with this, you can listen at any moment.”

The physician was skeptical, but as he placed the stethoscope to his own chest, the heartbeat sounded clear and strong.

“This is… remarkable!” Seeing his wonder, Chun Cheng smiled, proud. “Naturally.”

“What happened?” Qiao Qingyun, lying on the bed, slowly opened her eyes, still somewhat dazed, but much improved.

“Teacher!”