Chapter 1436

When Hu Xiaotian performed surgery on Yang Longjing, he sent away all unrelated people.

Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao, although concerned about her son, had to temporarily leave, came to the side palace chamber and sat down. Thinking of her son's uncertain life or death, she couldn't help but silently shed tears. Hu Buwei quietly pushed the door open and entered, without speaking, merely came to Long Xuanjiao's side and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. Long Xuanjiao weakly leaned into Hu Buwei's embrace, tears falling drop by drop, she choked: "If Long Jing suffers any misfortune, I too will not live."

Hu Buwei said: "Don't worry, Hu Xiaotian's medical skill is superb; he should be able to save Long Jing." It was he who, in the situation where the imperial physicians in the palace were helpless, recommended Hu Xiaotian; he knew Hu Xiaotian's medical ability better than anyone, and if Yang Longjing's life were not in imminent danger, he would not have made such a suggestion.

Long Xuanjiao nodded, yet she did not feel reassured by Hu Buwei's words, she said in a trembling voice: "If he can cure Long Jing, I will see to it that he and Xiyue are united." At this moment, everything she said came from the heart, with no falsehood.

Hu Buwei pressed his lips, actually he himself had no full confidence. Calming down and thinking about the events of the past two days, he felt the plot was thick; on the surface it seemed unrelated to Hu Xiaotian, but upon reflection the direction of the spearhead was clear, everything was developing in a direction favorable to Hu Xiaotian. If Long Jing were unharmed, the whole affair could indeed be called an extremely perfect scheme.

If it truly was Hu Xiaotian's design, this child's scheming is unfathomably deep, yet Long Jing's injury probably wasn't in his plan, otherwise he wouldn't have come to his rescue. I hope Long Jing, blessed by heaven, can overcome this crisis.

Yang Longjing suffered excessive blood loss; Hu Xiaotian summoned six Guards in succession for transfusion, Yang Longjing's pulse finally stabilized. The pulse also went from weak to strong. But when beginning to treat the arrow wound, they discovered his heart sounds were muffled; Hu Xiaotian quickly judged that there was fluid in the pericardium, immediately performed pericardiocentesis, drew out the fluid, however during the aspiration a clot blocked the needle. Aspiration of fluid was obstructed, what's worse. Yang Longjing began to show atrial fibrillation; emergency management during surgery was crucial, Hu Xiaotian decisively performed pericardial incision and exploration, finding a metal fragment the size of a fingernail on the posterior side of his heart; this fragment had broken off from the arrowhead tip. If Hu Xiaotian had not made a timely accurate judgment and discovered it, Yang Longjing would likely have died from sudden cardiac symptoms.

It can be said Yang Longjing had a tough life; if not for Hu Xiaotian treating him, there would be only a dead end.

Hu Xiaotian had the assistant Zhan Peng pick up the metal fragment and compare it with the missing part on the arrowhead; after confirming they matched perfectly with no other missing parts, he began the subsequent surgery.

Treating the arrow wound, Hu Xiaotian did not take long; he completed the entire procedure in less than half an hour. After suturing and bandaging, he removed his bloodied gloves and went to the nearby prepared basin to wash his hands.

Having Zhan Peng, who was assisting at his side, observe Yang Longjing's condition, he himself pushed the door open and went out. Outside the palace gate, more than ten palace attendants were waiting; as soon as Hu Xiaotian stepped out, someone went to report to the Empress Dowager. Long Xuanjiao rushed out from the adjacent palace chamber, disregarding decorum, her eyes red and brimming with tears, she asked Hu Xiaotian: "How is it? How is the king?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a faint smile: "Empress Dowager, no need to worry. His Majesty has already out of danger; I believe he will wake up soon."

Upon hearing those words, Long Xuanjiao's heart finally settled, yet two streams of hot tears poured down uncontrollably; she said in a trembling voice: "Thank you, Sir Hu, thank you, Sir Hu..." Before her eyes went black, she swayed and collapsed as if the world spun; Zhou Desheng hurried forward to support her, exclaiming: "Empress Dowager! Empress Dowager!"

Hu Buwei watched from afar, although also deeply concerned, but in public it was not convenient to approach; his relationship with Long Xuanjiao needed to avoid suspicion in public settings.

The nearby imperial physicians gathered around, pinching her philtrum and rubbing her temples; after a while Long Xuanjiao slowly woke up, she exhaled deeply and said: "I am fine... Sir Hu... may I now go see my son?" Her eyes were full of anticipation.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded.

Hu Xiaotian personally accompanied Long Xuanjiao to Yang Longjing's bedside; seeing her son, Long Xuanjiao's tears flowed again unstoppably; at this moment she was merely a helpless, bewildered mother, no longer the exalted Empress Dowager of a nation; only after experiencing great ups and downs does one truly appreciate the preciousness of life; Long Xuanjiao gripped her son's hand, tears continuously flowing.

Hu Xiaotian reminded her: "Empress Dowager, let His Majesty rest properly; I think at the latest he will awaken by tomorrow." Regardless of whether Yang Longjing is Hu Buwei's biological son, he is certainly Long Xuanjiao's biological son, without doubt.

Long Xuanjiao nodded, reluctantly releasing Yang Longjing's right hand, and left together with Hu Xiaotian.

Upon stepping outside, seeing that a number of officials had rushed over upon hearing the news, Long Xuanjiao had Zhou Desheng usher the crowd outside; she did not want anyone to disturb her son's rest.

Having personally seen her son sleep peacefully, Long Xuanjiao's heart finally settled; Zhou Desheng said to Long Xuanjiao: "I just had the Imperial Kitchen prepare bird's nest porridge for you, Empress Dowager; you haven't eaten anything for two days, please have some."

Long Xuanjiao nodded, she glanced at Hu Xiaotian, her eyes full of gratitude.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Empress Dowager, you should go rest first; we can talk about anything tomorrow."

After Long Xuanjiao left, Hu Xiaotian originally intended to return to his quarters, but saw Su Yujin walking over; he stopped, smiled at Su Yujin and said: "Master Su, you seem to have arrived late."

Su Yujin also rushed over upon hearing the news of Yang Longjing's injury; however, when she arrived, Hu Xiaotian had already begun surgery, so she did not disturb him; hearing that Yang Longjing was out of danger, she also breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart; originally she had worried that Hu Xiaotian might be adverse to Long Jing, but now it seems her concern was unnecessary.

Su Yujin said: "I never expected Master Hu to also possess such superb medical skill."

"One cannot judge a person by appearance, nor measure the sea by a bucket. Looking at Master Su's delicate appearance, one would not think she possesses martial arts; who would have imagined that you are not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also versed in many tactics?"

Su Yujin was about to retort when she saw Zhou Desheng rush out in panic, exclaiming in alarm: "Imperial physician... imperial physician..." His voice had changed, even more fearful than when Yang Longjing was injured.

Hu Xiaotian inwardly wondered what had happened to make him so flustered.

Several imperial physicians hurriedly followed Zhou Desheng inside; Su Yujin also followed; Zhou Desheng seemed to recall something and said to Hu Xiaotian: "Sir Hu, Sir Hu... please come over as well."

Since Zhou Desheng invited him, Hu Xiaotian could not refuse; he followed inside, secretly guessing that Long Xuanjiao had encountered trouble.

Long Xuanjiao lay stiffly on the ground, her limbs convulsing; beside her on the floor was a puddle of her vomit; several imperial physicians gathered around, applying the same old routine—massaging her limbs, pressing her philtrum, and shouting into her ears—but their rescue measures were utterly ineffective.

Someone cried out: "No breathing! No breathing!"

Hu Xiaotian strode forward: "All of you, step aside!"

Upon hearing his words, the imperial physicians scattered with a whoosh—not because they obeyed, but because this group of imperial physicians simply lacked the ability to handle emergencies; if the Empress Dowager died, they would all be unable to escape responsibility, likely each losing their heads; now someone voluntarily taking charge is exactly a blessing they could not hope for.

Hu Xiaotian approached Long Xuanjiao, seeing her face ashen, already without breath; he felt her pulse, finding it markedly rapid, and her pupils unequal in size; he loudly said: "Attendant Zhou, have Zhan Peng bring the instrument box over."

"Ah..." Zhou Desheng hurried off, and Zhan Peng arrived shortly after.

Hu Xiaotian took out a scalpel; Su Yujin's heart leapt to her throat, for if Hu Xiaotian at this moment intended harm to the Empress Dowager, Long Xuanjiao would surely die; but upon reflection, Hu Xiaotian is no fool—how could he attack the Empress Dowager in front of everyone? Having saved the king, he had no reason to harm the dowager.

To promptly restore Long Xuanjiao's breathing, Hu Xiaotian decisively performed a tracheotomy and intubation. After intubation, the effect was immediate; Long Xuanjiao immediately regained spontaneous breathing, but she soon began violent vomiting, a sign of increased intracranial pressure.

At this point Long Xuanjiao's consciousness was already blurring; she actually began to speak incoherently in public: "Buwei... Buwei..." The secret she had kept in her heart was thus spoken aloud.

Zhou Desheng's face was quite embarrassed; he had the idle persons ushered out, and summoned Hu Buwei inside, while Long Xuanjiao again lapsed into unconsciousness.

At this moment Hu Buwei's mood became extremely heavy; if Yang Longjing died, at least Long Xuanjiao would still be alive, and as long as Long Xuanjiao remained, the state of Tianxiang would not fall into great chaos; but now Long Xuanjiao had suddenly become like this, and if she suffered any misfortune, the situation in Tianxiang would completely spiral out of control. Hu Buwei had never felt so lost and helpless; all his hopes rested on Hu Xiaotian.

"How is it?" Seeing Hu Xiaotian stand up, he could not wait to ask.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Vomiting is a symptom of increased intracranial pressure; the Empress Dowager likely has a cerebral hemorrhage; we must make an opening at the top of her head to drain the clot, then open the skull to examine." Hu Xiaotian tried to express the medical jargon in simple terms; these procedures, which seemed ordinary to him, made the others feel their hearts pound.

Zhou Desheng murmured: "If we open the skull... will that person still be able to live?"

Su Yujin said: "Hu Xiaotian, you must think this through; if the Empress Dowager suffers any misfortune, can you bear that responsibility?"

Two updates delivered; please don't misunderstand, two updates are just the minimum; Zhangyu never slacks off, tonight there will also be an extra chapter.

Tired or not? Tired! Wrists hot, finger joints aching; fortunately the brain remains agile, the literary inspiration has not run dry.

Strive or not? Strive! If I don't strive, I let down my brothers and sisters, I let down myself.

One Lao Zhangyu who wielded eight tentacles in struggle last year, is it worth your vote? Worth it! It is truly worth it! (To be continued~^~)