Chapter 258: Xu Da Gravely Ill

The thirteenth year of Hongwu, the twelfth day of the third month.

Yingtian Prefecture, Longjiang Wharf.

Dawn was just breaking, and the wharf was already filled with people.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao stood at the front, behind him were Prince of Wu Zhu Yong, Duke of Cao Li Wenzhong, and Sixth Prince Zhu Su among the imperial relatives and nobles.

Further back were officials of the Ministry of Works and Ministry of War, as well as over a hundred capital garrison soldiers.

The river wind whistled, causing the flags on the wharf to flap-flap.

Zhu Biao stared at the river, his brows tightly knit.

"Elder brother, don't worry too much; Xu Shu's good fate will have its heavenly sign," Zhu Yong said softly from beside him.

Zhu Biao nodded, saying nothing.

Earlier, an urgent report came from the South Sea: Xu Da's back abscess had flared up, the pain was unbearable, and he could no longer attend to affairs.

The accompanying army doctors were at a loss and could only rush him back to Yingtian aboard a steamship.

After Zhu Yuanzhang learned the news, he dispatched imperial physicians to go with him, ordering them to bring Xu Da back safely.

However, the imperial physicians were also helpless....

Back abscess...

Zhu Biao knew the disease: a poisonous sore on the back that can be fatal when severe.

Back then, one of Zhu Yuanzhang's subordinates had died from a back abscess.

Xu Da was fifty‑three this year, a lifetime of campaigns leaving his body riddled with wounds; this hurdle…

Zhu Biao dared not think further.

"Prince, the ship has arrived!" At that moment, a sharp‑eyed soldier shouted.

On the river, a black silhouette gradually became clear.

It was the steamship 'Hongwu', the first steamship under Great Ming, now racing at full speed toward the wharf, its smokestack belching thick black smoke.

The ship was swift, far faster than a sailing vessel.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the Hongwu steadied and docked.

The gangway lowered, and a group of officers and soldiers carefully carried a stretcher down.

On the stretcher, Xu Da lay prone, his complexion waxen, cold sweat covering his forehead.

"Xu Shu!" Zhu Biao hurried forward.

Xu Da forced his eyes open, saw Zhu Biao, forced out a smile, and with difficulty said, "Prince… your humble servant… has erred…"

Before he could finish, his brows knit and he gasped a cold breath from the pain.

"Stop talking, go back first. Second brother, is the carriage ready?" Zhu Biao turned to Zhu Yong.

"Ready. The cement road leads straight to Xu's residence, no bumps," Zhu Yong replied.

The party lifted the stretcher onto the carriage.

The carriage set off, moving steadily along the newly laid cement road.

Inside, Xu Da lay on a cushion; his robe on the back was soaked with blood, revealing a swelling about the size of a bowl, the surrounding skin a dark purplish sheen.

The accompanying army doctor knelt beside him, sweating profusely, and said, "Prince, Xu Gong's abscess… has been active for seven days. We have tried every remedy—detox ointment, honeysuckle, forsythia… none work.

If it continues like this…"

He didn't finish, but everyone present understood.

If it goes on, the person won't survive.

Zhu Biao's expression grew grim.

The carriage soon arrived at Xu's residence.

In front of the gate, Xu Da's wife Xie Shi had already knelt with her children, weeping until she became a blur of tears.

"Stop crying, save him first," Zhu Biao said in a low voice.

The stretcher was carried into the inner courtyard and placed on a bed.

The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital had been waiting for a long time and immediately gathered to examine.

Zhu Biao, Zhu Yong, Zhu Su and others stood outside the door waiting.

Time passed minute by minute.

Half an hour later, the Imperial Hospital director Zhang Zhihe emerged, his complexion grim.

"Prince… we are powerless; Xu Gong's abscess has already poisoned his marrow. Medicine cannot extract it; if we forcefully cut it open to drain pus, it may kill him on the spot… on the spot…"

He didn't finish, but everyone knew those two words.

Zhu Biao inhaled deeply and asked, "Is there truly no way at all?"

Zhang Zhihe lay on the ground, unwilling to lift his head or speak.

A dead silence fell.

At that moment, Zhu Su suddenly spoke, "Elder brother, let me try."

Zhu Biao looked at him.

Sixth Prince Zhu Su, only twenty this year, was obsessed with medicine, spending all his time mingling with the Imperial Hospital staff.

Three years ago, Zhu Yong had produced those strange prescriptions—alcohol, allicin, penicillin—and gave them to him for study.

"Lao Liu, are you confident?" Zhu Biao asked.

Zhu Su shook his head and said, "I'm not confident, but if I don't try, Xu Shu will surely die; if I try, there might still be a sliver of hope."

Zhu Biao fell silent for a moment, then looked at Zhu Yong.

Hearing this, Zhu Yong also thought of penicillin and other drugs, and nodded, saying, "Elder brother, let Lao Liu try. He's been tinkering with those medicines for years; I've seen them, they're reliable."

Zhu Biao gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, Lao Liu, you treat him. If you need anything, just speak up."

Zhu Su immediately said, "I need a clean room; it can't be used as is, it must be thoroughly washed, plus boiled water, clean cloth, and my medicines."

Zhu Biao looked toward Xu Huizu.

Xu Huizu hurried to make the arrangements.

……

An hour later, a side room in the inner courtyard of the Xu residence was thoroughly cleaned and the doors and windows were tightly shut.

Several oil lamps were lit inside, making the room brightly illuminated.

Zhu Su changed into a clean white cloth robe, wearing thin plastic gloves on his hands—an idea Zhu Yong had suggested last year, which Zhu Su had had made.

On the bed, Xu Da had already been administered the numbing decoction and had fallen into a drowsy sleep.

Zhu Su took a deep breath and picked up the sterilized small knife.

Outside, Zhu Biao, Zhu Yong, Li Wenzhong and others stood silently in the courtyard.

Time passed very slowly.

Each moment felt like a year.

After an unknown amount of time, a muffled groan suddenly came from inside the room.

Then Zhu Su's voice rang out, "Quick, penicillin!"

Then came a rustling sound.

After another incense‑stick's worth of time, the door opened.

Zhu Su emerged, his face pale, drenched in sweat, but his eyes shone startlingly.

"Big brother, it's done; the pus has been fully drained, the wound dressed with penicillin, and a dose of garlic extract administered. Whether he can pull through depends on tonight."

Zhu Biao let out a breath, slapped Zhu Su's shoulder vigorously, and exclaimed happily, "Good! Good! Lao Liu, well done!"

Zhu Su grinned briefly, then his body went limp and he nearly fell.

Zhu Yong grabbed him to steady him, anxiously shouting, "Lao Liu!"

"It's fine, just a bit tired. I'll rest for a while. Big brother, you all keep watch; tonight is critical," Zhu Su said, waving his hand.

……

Night fell.

The inner courtyard of the Xu residence was brightly lit.

Zhu Yuanzhang arrived.

He was not wearing a dragon robe, but plain civilian clothes, and had come quietly in a carriage.

"How's it going?" he asked, walking into the courtyard directly.

Zhu Biao stepped forward and said, "Father, Lao Liu used the knife, drained the pus, applied the medicine; Xu Shu is now asleep, and the fever has subsided a bit."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, walked to the doorway, and glanced inside.

Xu Da lay on the bed, his back wrapped in a thick white cloth, his complexion a little better than during the day, yet still very pale.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not enter, turned and sat on a stone bench in the courtyard.

Zhu Biao, Zhu Yong, Zhu Su and the others gathered around him.

"Lao Liu, is your medicine effective?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Su thought for a moment and answered honestly, "Father, I am not certain either; the penicillin was cultured by me using the method Second Prince gave, and it worked on a rabbit, speeding wound healing.

But using it on a human, this is the first time."