PFC Chapter 287 Seeking Death
Chapter 287 Seeking Death
With an hour to go before dawn, Lu Zhiyuan shifted her body, slightly out of breath. The Crown Prince looked down and saw that Lu Zhiyuan's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He said with heartache, "A-Yuan, how can I help you?"
"Don't hug me so tightly, it hurts and I can't breathe." Lu Zhiyuan forced a smile. "I'm a little thirsty, could you please pour me a glass of water, Your Highness?"
"Won't hurt yourself?"
Lu Zhiyuan shook her head: "No!"
The crown prince asked uncertainly, "Does it still hurt? Is it very painful? Should we summon the imperial physician? Physician Cui and Physician An should be guarding outside."
Lu Zhiyuan nodded, and the Crown Prince loosened his grip slightly, but not completely. He was afraid that if he let go, Lu Zhiyuan would hurt herself. Only when Imperial Physician Cui and Imperial Physician An arrived did they help Lu Zhiyuan lie down.
The tea was served warm, and it was only after confirming with two imperial physicians that it was safe to drink that it was brought to Lu Zhiyuan.
I took a few sips to temporarily suppress the burning sensation in my throat.
Imperial Physician Cui took Lu Zhiyuan's pulse; her condition was not good. Imperial Physician An followed, his brow furrowed. After exchanging glances, they said in unison, "How can we help Your Highness?"
"Which of the two imperial physicians has better acupuncture techniques?"
"Your Majesty, Physician An's acupuncture skills are slightly better than mine."
"I have only studied a few years longer than Physician Cui," Physician An said, bowing. "My grandfather was also a physician in the palace. I was playing with my grandfather's needle case when I was less than a year old, and I began performing acupuncture on people under his guidance when I was three. I dare not say anything else, but my hands are the most steady when it comes to holding needles in the entire Imperial Hospital."
"Then let Physician An administer acupuncture to me."
Lu Zhiyuan shifted her body slightly: "I will tell you where to insert the needles, and the imperial physician will do so without the slightest hesitation. Once the acupuncture begins, you must not stop, no matter what doubts you may have."
Physician An said nervously, "Your Majesty, could you please tell me the acupuncture points first, so that I may make a mistake during the acupuncture process?"
Lu Zhiyuan listed eighteen acupoints in a row, and when she got to the last one, Physician An broke out in a cold sweat.
Sensing something amiss, the Crown Prince inquired. Imperial Physician An glanced at Lu Zhiyuan, not daring to conceal anything: "Your Highness, the eighteen acupoints Her Majesty mentioned are all extremely dangerous. If the needles are inserted even an inch off course, it could..."
"What is possible?"
“Paralysis, dementia, death.” Lu Zhiyuan said casually, “I trust Physician An, nothing will happen.”
Imperial Physician An's expression was complicated: "Your Majesty..."
Lu Zhiyuan: "Doctor An, there's no need to be nervous! I chose the acupuncture points, and I asked Doctor An to perform the acupuncture. Whatever the outcome, I should bear it. I am a doctor and I know my own condition. If I let the wound continue to hurt like this, I'm afraid I won't even make it to tomorrow. I have painkillers, but I cannot take any of them, as they would kill me instantly. Having Doctor An perform acupuncture on me is the best option."
“Ah Yuan—” the Crown Prince said nervously, “I can write a letter of divorce to my uncle and ride as fast as I can before dark.”
“Even Physician Jiang only has this one method available.” Lu Zhiyuan smiled weakly. “I have seen Physician Jiang’s acupuncture technique, and it may not be as skillful as Physician An’s. Besides, I’m afraid my body won’t be able to hold out until Physician Jiang arrives.”
Having said that, he reached out and gently scratched the back of the prince's hand.
"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by my brother, the Crown Prince, or the two imperial physicians. I'm not afraid of death or pain."
Hearing this, the crown prince felt even more distressed.
"Imperial Physician An, are you confident?"
"I am not confident about those eighteen acupoints, but I am confident about Your Majesty's. I am also confident in my familiarity with silver needles."
The crown prince kept his eyes closed and remained silent for a long time.
Seeing this, Lu Zhiyuan scratched the back of his hand again: "Your Highness also wants A-Yuan to suffer less, doesn't he?"
Looking into those eyes, the Crown Prince made up his mind: "Then let Physician An administer acupuncture to A-Yuan."
Lu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Physician Cui: "Please trouble Physician Cui to find some medicinal herbs for me."
"Your Majesty, please give your orders. No matter what kind of medicinal herbs you require, I will find them for you in the shortest possible time."
“There are eighteen kinds in total. Physician Cui only needs to find eight kinds for me. All eight kinds are living things.” Lu Zhiyuan said the names of the eighteen medicinal herbs.
The Crown Prince had studied medicine and had some knowledge of medicinal herbs. The eighteen herbs Lu Zhiyuan mentioned weren't rare or precious; they could be purchased at ordinary pharmacies. It was just that these were living things...
"Is this 'night-shining sand' bat droppings? The Medical Classic says that 'night-shining sand' can invigorate blood circulation, eliminate stagnation, and relieve palpitations. And bat droppings are divided into dead and live droppings?"
Physician Cui asked, "Does Your Majesty mean you want fresh night-shining sand?"
Lu Zhiyuan gave Doctor Cui a thumbs up: "It needs to be fresh night-shining sand! I saw traces of bat activity on the estate, and the bat cave should be nearby. Doctor Cui, you can find one or two guards to help. These eighteen kinds of medicinal materials need to be gathered before dark, and made into medicines for internal and external use according to my method. Time is short, so I will trouble Doctor Cui."
"Your Majesty, I dare not. I will certainly find all eighteen medicinal herbs required by Your Majesty before nightfall."
Performing acupuncture requires concentration and a calm mind, especially when the patient is the Crown Princess, who is seriously ill. Her condition is perilous and her injuries are severe; even a slight over-twist or under-twist during needle insertion could lead to irreversible consequences.
Each injection requires immense effort.
The Crown Prince and Zuo Yi stood guard outside, while the other guards were also on high alert, afraid that any noise might disturb Imperial Physician An.
Just as dawn was breaking, a group of officials led a dozen or so villagers to the outskirts of the village. Seeing that the people guarding the village were strangers, they were at a loss for what to do.
"Who are you? Do you know that trespassing is illegal?"
"Shut up!" a guard stepped forward. "Leave immediately and do not make a sound."
"You're telling us to shut up? Do you know who we are?" One of the officers patted his official robes. "This estate has a new owner. Call that old man Xu out and tell him to move out quickly."
"The new master is none other than our master." The guard pushed the officer aside: "You're asking for trouble, running wild on our master's territory."
The officer became enraged, "You dare push me? Pushing and shoving in public, humiliating an officer like this, do you know how long your head will remain up there?"
"Shut up! Do you know the consequences of disturbing my master's recovery?" The guard stepped closer: "Get out of here, don't make me say another word!"
The officers rolled up their sleeves: "This is outrageous! How dare they act so arrogantly in front of the officials! Arrest him! And all of you, every single one of you, whoever obstructs the officers in handling the case will be waiting to die in jail."
Before he could finish speaking, Zuo Yi kicked him up: "What are you all standing there for? Drive these people a mile away."
The officer frowned: "Try to get rid of us? Look carefully, we're from the government."
Zuo Yi glared at him: "Official? You're more like looking for death."
As he spoke, he grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him backward. Seeing this, the guards split into two groups: one group guarded the courtyard, and the other group drove away these people who had come looking for death.
Inside the room, Lu Zhiyuan coughed up blood, her face even paler than before.
The Crown Prince pushed open the door and entered, asking urgently, "What happened to A-Yuan?"
Imperial Physician An knelt on the ground, "The last needle missed its mark. Please allow me to commit suicide, Your Highness. I am willing to atone for my sins with my death."
The crown prince's eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed Imperial Physician An's collar: "What did you say?"
Imperial Physician An, with his eyes closed, said, "I am willing to atone for my sins with my death!"