Chapter 1412: Chapter 1390: Detox IV (October Monthly Ticket Bonus 6)
However, Manbao still withdrew from the marketplace.
She still wanted to try treating it herself. The Prince’s illness was not beyond her ability to treat, and she had only encountered such a severe case of weak vitality once—the Prince.
Patients like this are hard to come by. If it truly doesn’t work, then I can spend some points on medicine. The priority is to save his life.
Keke, who had been silent all along, threw a price list into Manbao’s mind, forcing her to read it again.
Buying a bottle of medicine would mean enough days of him monitoring the Prince. Why waste those points?
These were the words it didn’t speak aloud.
It was now more cautious with its words, but the mutual understanding between Keke and Manbao meant even without words, Manbao understood its meaning.
Manbao glanced at the price list and felt it was reasonable, so her spirits lifted, and she became full of confidence again.
She opened the medicine box, took out her needles, and swiftly selected a few long ones. As she was about to ask why Manbao was staring blankly at the Prince, the Princess Consort noticed and swallowed her words, quietly turning her head to the side.
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but the Princess Consort felt that in that moment, Zhou Man’s entire aura changed, she could feel the joyful emotion emanating from her, seeming even overly excited.
But the Princess Consort felt her heart tremble.
The Prince had already fallen asleep with his head drooped, and Manbao instructed Eunuch Wu to lay him properly on the couch. After the brazier had warmed the room, she undid his clothes and began to needle.
Manbao had made up her mind that once back, she would keep a close watch on the Prince. At any sign of uprising, she would immediately purchase the medicine for him and advise him to conceive a child with the Princess Consort.
Even if the pulse doesn’t reveal pregnancy, it’s not a problem. At worst, just exchange some points with Keke to do a scan. The main goal is to confirm the Princess Consort’s pregnancy to inform them.
Manbao felt like things were looking up and was in high spirits. As she worked on the Prince, she needled quickly and sharply, leading the Princess Consort to watch Manbao calmly needle the Prince with needles streaming across his body, but her face was full of placid smiles, causing her to shiver involuntarily.
Manbao had only just manipulated the needles after the first session when the Prince began to snore, clearly deep in sleep.
Manbao, hearing this, paused and asked, “Is His Highness’ nose not well?”
The Princess Consort didn’t have time to speak before Manbao needled further, smiling at her, “It’s nothing, this can be treated too.”
The Princess Consort looked at the newly inserted needles and silently closed her mouth.
The Prince snored for a while, gradually stopping, yet remained in his deep slumber.
Manbao stayed beside the couch, vigilantly waiting. When the time came, she manipulated the needles once more before removing them.
The Prince continued to sleep soundly.
Manbao felt his pulse and said, “The Prince has been experiencing insomnia and agitation recently; this sleep might last longer. Get a blanket to cover him and let him sleep slowly.”
The Princess Consort asked, “Will Doctor Zhou Junior return to the palace tomorrow?”
Manbao thought for a moment and replied, “Yes, I should needle somewhat more frequently these days to keep an eye on his condition.”
At the same time, keep an eye on the palace dynamics.
With hope rekindled in her heart, the Princess Consort became somewhat more friendly towards Manbao.
However, thinking it over, she still refrained from gifting Manbao anything nor expressed much intimacy in public.
Manbao sensed this but didn’t say anything, packing her needles as she said, “Your Highness, I heard that His Highness won’t permit us to practice acupuncture in the Eastern Palace anymore, can we go to other palaces for needling?”
The Princess Consort considered that the palace was tumultuous recently and advised, “Doctor Zhou Junior, you’ve just arrived in the capital, maybe rest a while before talking about it in spring when the weather is nicer?”
Manbao nodded, gathering her medical box as she prepared to leave. Eunuch Wu bowed and quietly entered to say, “Your Highness, the Empress has sent someone to bring Doctor Zhou Junior over.”
Manbao looked towards the Princess Consort.
The Princess Consort in turn looked at Manbao, lowered her voice and said, “Doctor Zhou Junior, the Empress isn’t in good health, so please help conceal the Prince’s conditions a bit.”
Manbao nodded; she also preferred not to inform the Empress.
The Empress’s health is even worse than the Prince’s. Once she worries, her illness worsens, and if her illness worsens, the Prince is bound to go mad. Hence, it’s better not to inform her.
Manbao followed the palace maid to the Empress’s palace.
During Manbao’s absence, Director Xiao had been treating the Empress. Now she no longer needed frequent acupuncture or regular medicine, just some medicinal meals to adjust her health.
Her illness was difficult to cure completely, but when not ill, she seemed well.
The Empress summoned Manbao this time mainly to inquire about the Prince’s condition.
The Prince was very particular recently, not trusting the Imperial Hospital doctors, insisting only on Manbao for treatment. Even Director Xiao, although he could feel a pulse, had scant information from it.
But the Empress was wise. Despite the Prince avoiding her these days, she could tell that he wasn’t in a good state.
Not only she, but even the Emperor knew.
Yet the father and son had been arguing recently, and the Emperor’s pride prevented him from softening, so it fell on the Empress to inquire.
Manbao couldn’t mention the Prince’s poisoning, so she said, “His Highness is under great pressure, affected by insomnia, hence the agitation.”
The Empress was momentarily stunned, “Is his temper due to insomnia?”
Manbao nodded, “As Her Majesty might know, poor sleep results in bad temperament and deteriorating health.”
The Imperial Hospital doctors would only say the Prince is excessively worried and internally irritable, but wouldn’t explicitly state it’s due to insomnia causing agitation, nor that it’s stress causing insomnia.
She explained so clearly that the Empress didn’t know what to ask next.
Keeping her head down, Manbao continued with the prepared remarks, “As long as the Prince gets proper rest during this period, I’ll frequently needle him, and after some time, he should recover.”
The Empress exhaled a sigh of relief, nodding, praising with a smile, “Then during this period, Doctor Zhou Junior, I’m counting on you to travel back and forth.”
She ordered, “Bring forth the box of pearls tributed by the Protectorate of An Eastern Capital along with those fabrics to reward Doctor Zhou Junior.”
Smiling at Manbao, the Empress said, “When you weren’t here for New Year, the gifts prepared for you were temporarily set aside. You can take them today; they are the rewards from the Emperor and me.”
Manbao quickly kneeled to offer thanks and left afterward.
After she had left, a person emerged from behind the screen.
The Empress looked at the Emperor, asking irritably, “Finally willing to show yourself?”
The Emperor rubbed his nose, sat beside the Empress, frowning as he asked, “How did it come to this—pressure leading to insomnia and agitation?”
The Empress couldn’t help but give him a pinch, worryingly saying, “This year marks the sixth anniversary of his marriage, yet not a single child. The ministers frequently inquire about replacing the Prince; how can he not feel immense pressure?”