Chapter 48: Appendicitis surgery?

"Immortal your mother!"

Li Shimin angrily kicked the Imperial Physician to the ground with one foot.

Does Chen Yan know immortality arts? He couldn't possibly not know, could he?

Although last time Chen Yan demonstrated freezing water with a wave of his hand, he explained that it was due to the effect of saltpeter, and he himself does not know any immortality arts.

Afterwards, Li Shimin himself went to try it and found that, as Chen Yan said, ordinary people can also freeze water using saltpeter.

It has nothing much to do with Chen Yan.

The Imperial Physician scrambled up and knelt, anxiously saying: "Your Majesty, even if the Marquis of Weinan does not know immortality arts, he certainly knows medicine, and his medical skill is superb."

"I cannot save the Duke of Cai; perhaps the Marquis of Weinan has a way?"

"Wasn't it... wasn't it the Marquis of Weinan who treated the little princess last time?"

"Damn it, you dare bring up that incident again!" Li Shimin's anger flared, and he kicked again: "That day I should have had you executed together!"

"No, I should first castrate you, make you a colleague of Wushe for a while, then execute you!"

Imperial Physician: "......"

Now he dared not speak, trembling as he knelt on the ground.

Seeing this, Li Shimin's anger subsided somewhat; recalling the Imperial Physician's words, he felt they made some sense.

He said to the newly arrived Li Junxian: "Go, quickly go to the Weinan Bo Fu and summon the Marquis of Weinan!"

Li Junxian had entered intending to seize the Imperial Physician, but hearing Li Shimin's current intention, he likely no longer wanted to kill the Imperial Physician, and immediately obeyed and withdrew.

Afterwards, Li Shimin came to the bedside, steadied his mind, and said: "Ke Ming, rest assured, no matter what, I will find a way to save you!"

Du Ruhui did not hold much hope; he knew his condition, understood that his intestinal abscess had reached this point, and was beyond saving.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to trouble yourself for this old subject; even the Imperial Physician, as head of the imperial medical bureau, cannot save me."

"That Marquis of Weinan is only eighteen years old; unless he truly knows immortality arts, how could he possibly save this old subject?"

Actually, Li Shimin also did not know whether Chen Yan could save Du Ruhui.

After all, Du Ruhui suffers from an intestinal abscess, and his illness has already penetrated to the vital organs.

Basically, a death sentence can already be pronounced.

However, even if there is only a sliver of chance, he still refuses to give up.

What if?

What if Chen Yan really can save him?

How would we know without trying?

To let Du Ruhui relax, Li Shimin began telling him about Chen Yan.

From presenting the method of salt production, to treating the little princess, that special tea, chair, and wine, and yesterday's pig-raising method.

Li Shimin mentioned each of these in turn.

Although Du Ruhui suffered unbearable abdominal pain, he listened with great interest.

Upon hearing Chen Yan's concept of risk resistance ability, Du Ruhui suddenly understood, and solemnly said: "Your Majesty, if your words are correct, then the Marquis of Weinan must possess extraordinary talent."

"I beg Your Majesty, after my death, to let the Marquis of Weinan succeed me in my post."

"In that way, I will die without regret!"

Li Shimin's lips twitched slightly as he sighed: "Ke Ming, don't speak such despairing words; Zi An's medical skill is superb, he will surely be able to treat you."

"Besides, Zi An is still young; letting him bear such a heavy burden, I truly cannot rest easy."

"Or perhaps you, Ke Ming, should continue to hold the position yourself!"

Du Ruhui opened his mouth but said nothing.

He understood that Li Shimin had not yet given up on saving him, which is why he said those words.

Faced with the sovereign's sincere concern, he did not dare say more, only hoping the sovereign would take his words to heart.

After my death, let the Marquis of Weinan take my place.

"......"

Not long after, Li Junxian entered the residence of the Duke of Cai carrying Chen Yan with his medicine case on his back.

The two did not delay, going straight to Du Ruhui's quarters.

Upon entering the room, Chen Yan saw the Imperial Physician kneeling on the ground, shivering.

Besides Li Shimin and Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji and the other close ministers were all present.

"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Weinan has been brought!" Li Junxian said, clasping his hands.

"This humble subject......"

Chen Yan was about to speak when he saw Li Shimin quickly stride over, grab his arm, and pull him toward Du Ruhui.

"Don't say 'humble subject,' Zi An; I know your medical skill is superb, quickly go examine Ke Ming."

"I, I do not want him to die!"

Chen Yan glanced at the corner of Li Shimin's eye, seeing it red, and secretly lamented that Li Shimin truly values deep affection.

In history, Li Shimin has wept many times just over the deaths of ministers.

Afterwards, he was even teased by everyone as a crybaby, often needing to seek comfort from Empress Changsun.

In this regard, Li Shimin truly differs from other emperors.

"Quickly, Zi An, quickly save him!"

The two arrived at the bedside, and Li Shimin urged.

Du Ruhui, helpless, said in a weak voice: "You are the Marquis of Weinan Chen Yan, right? This time I will trouble you."

Chen Yan nodded, saying nothing more.

Seeing Du Ruhui's bare upper body, with many acupuncture points still having silver needles inserted, he curled his lip, pulled out all the silver needles, and tossed them aside.

Chen Yan reached out his hand and felt Du Ruhui's forehead, discovering his temperature had already reached a scalding level.

Then he lightly pressed a spot on Du Ruhui's abdomen; the intense pain made Du Ruhui suck in a breath of cold air, and his face turned a few shades paler.

Chen Yan continued to lightly press a few other spots; seeing Du Ruhui show little reaction, he realized the Imperial Physician hadn't misdiagnosed—it was indeed an intestinal abscess.

In modern times, this thing is also called appendicitis.

Chen Yan suddenly felt a headache.

Speaking of appendicitis, in modern times it's actually very easy to resolve—just a small surgery will do.

In ancient times, appendicitis was basically equivalent to a fatal disease—if you got it, you died.

"How about it, Zi An—can you save him?"

Li Shimin saw Chen Yan's grim expression and hurriedly asked.

Chen Yan pondered for two seconds, then replied: "Saving him is indeed possible, but it depends on whether Marquis Cai Duke can tolerate the pain."

Given Du Ruhui's current condition, he must undergo surgery immediately to have any chance of survival.

But performing surgery under these conditions carries enormous risk.

Although Chen Yan had high-proof alcohol, sheep-gut suture, and even homemade penicillin,

but the anesthetic available in this era is really ineffective.

One must know that to perform an appendectomy, one must open the abdomen and then excise the inflamed appendix.

To achieve that, one must cut open the abdomen layer by layer, and finally perform suturing.

Given the poor anesthetic effect, Chen Yan worried that Du Ruhui, as a civil official, couldn't endure such pain and might die from agony during the procedure.

By then, Du Ruhui would lose even the last two days of his life.

"......"

"Zi An, what do you mean by 'seeing whether Ke Ming fears pain'? Speak clearly," Li Shimin said.

Chen Yan fell silent for two seconds, then spoke softly: "Your Majesty, I won't hide it from you—if Marquis Cai Duke isn't too afraid of pain, my chances of saving him increase greatly."

Li Shimin asked: "What if he is afraid of pain?"

"He'll die!"

Chen Yan didn't want to conceal it, and spoke the worst outcome: "My treatment method is special; I have a thirty percent chance of saving Marquis Cai Duke."

"Of course, correspondingly, Marquis Cai Duke likewise has a seventy percent chance of dying on the spot."

After hearing this, Li Shimin's face turned extremely grim: "Zi An, is there no other way?"

"A thirty percent chance...... is really too low."

Chen Yan slowly shook his head: "Your Majesty, you should understand Marquis Cai Duke's condition—if we let his illness worsen, he probably won't last two days."

"By then, Marquis Cai Duke will be ten out of ten dead—no chance of survival!"

As his words fell, the room fell into silent stillness.

Everyone remained silent.

If we let Chen Yan treat him, there's a thirty percent chance of rescue and a seventy percent chance of dying on the spot, and the final two days of life will be lost.

If we don't let Chen Yan treat him, after waiting two days, Du Ruhui will be ten out of ten dead—no chance of survival.

At this moment, Du Gou stepped forward and solemnly said: "Please, Marquis of Weinan, treat my father; no matter his final condition, our entire Du family will be eternally grateful to you!"

"......"