"The Emperor has arrived!" a shrill voice pierced the silence.
Li Shimin strode in. Xiao Song bent his stiff waist, "Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities. I have just learned of the news. How is Lady Xianliang’s condition?" Li Shimin asked.
Xiao Song remained silent. Liu Qingsong hastily said, "Lady Xianliang has twenty-four wounds, big and small, including one on her back that reaches the spine. She’s in a critical state. Even if she wakes up, she might... have no sensation in her lower limbs."
Liu Qingsong felt it necessary to let Li Shimin know the great price Ran Yan had paid to save his son.
Li Shimin paused, then turned and solemnly bowed toward the bed where Ran Yan lay.
Zhang Songhe and the others held great respect for Ran Yan. Upon hearing this, without waiting for Li Shimin to speak, they hurried forward to prepare to take her pulse. They had been summoned by the Emperor precisely to treat Lady Xianliang.
They stood outside the curtain, waiting for a palace maid to extend Ran Yan’s hand out.
The maid entered within the curtain, softly calling out. Not daring to touch Ran Yan, she quickly said, "Lady Xianliang is completely wrapped up; her arms can’t be used to take her pulse."
"One could faintly feel the pulse at the neck," Liu Qingsong slowly said.
Li Shimin sighed and patted Xiao Song’s shoulder, "Take heart. I will use the full might of Great Tang to save Lady Xianliang."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Xiao Song said.
After saying a few comforting words, Li Shimin left the Imperial Physician behind and departed. He had a pile of matters to attend to; his son had rebelled, his trusted officials had betrayed him, Du Ruhui’s son, Du He, was involved in this. Li Shimin heaved a long sigh. Despite all his vigilance, things still happened. He had anticipated Li Ke might rebel, Li Tai might turn, but he never expected the Crown Prince to plot treason! Why did this happen...
"Assistant Minister Xiao," Zhang Songhe approached, "Although dical Director Liu and Lady Xianliang are colleagues and his dical skills are undoubtedly exceptional, we too hold Lady Xianliang’s scholarship and integrity in high esteem, and would like to offer our modest help. May we..."
Xiao Song hurriedly bowed, "dical Director Zhang is too kind. I couldn’t ask for more, and on behalf of my wife, I also thank you all for your generous affection."
Everyone hastily returned the bow.
Since her wrist couldn’t be used to take her pulse and close examination was necessary, entering the bedchamber uninvited would be an offense to another’s wife. After consulting Xiao Song’s wishes, Zhang Songhe and the others imdiately went inside.
"Jiulang, take it easy. Jiulang’s wife will definitely be fine. The usual sequence of events always goes like this," Liu Qingsong comforted.
Xiao Song slowly turned to look at him, "The usual sequence?"
Liu Qingsong nodded, "Love that doesn’t go through life and death is not tear-jerking. Things have been too peaceful after your marriage, which led to this. But you can rest assured, not so many people bear grudges to see others happy, so even if Jiulang’s wife becos a vegetable, she will certainly wake up in a year or two."
Liu Qingsong’s ideas were often beyond the understanding of any logical person, especially soone as logical as Xiao Song. He tried to grasp the aning of those words, but he couldn’t focus at all and slowly said, "Is it really that severe..."
"It’s the first ti I’ve dealt with such a severe trauma," Liu Qingsong still felt numb in his limbs.
Xiao Song’s lips pressed tightly together as he stood waiting outside the curtain. For him, ti wasn’t dragging, because when the brain can’t even function, you’re numb to pretty much everything.
After what felt like an eternity, Zhang Songhe and the others ca out, and Xiao Song moved his stiff legs.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Songhe imdiately clasped his hands and said, "After our unanimous diagnosis, we believe Lady Xianliang’s injuries are extrely severe, and she has lost a lot of blood. It will take several years of recuperation for a possible recovery. However, we are humble in our skills and have not diagnosed anything further."
Xiao Song was montarily stunned, "Does that an my wife will not be paralyzed? She’s not in life-threatening danger?"
"Lady Xianliang is currently in a precarious state, but we guarantee with our decades of dical reputation that nothing will happen to Lady Xianliang," dical Director Zhou said thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "As for paralysis... we have found nothing amiss and can’t make a definitive conclusion. I suggest seeking Divine Doctor Wu for another diagnosis."
"Yes, yes, yes," everyone agreed in unison.
Usually, doctors don’t make promises to patient’s families. That Zhang Songhe and the others were willing to guarantee with their dical reputations demonstrated their utmost regard for Ran Yan and their considerable confidence in treating her injuries.
Understanding this, Xiao Song imdiately prepared to send for Wu Xiuhe. But then he rembered this place was within the palace, "Can my wife be moved with her current injuries?"
dical Director Zhou quickly said, "Lady Xianliang was injured while saving the Ninth Prince. It is entirely appropriate for her to recuperate here. After about half a month, when the wound has largely healed, we can consider this matter."
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