Chapter 21: Getting an Injection

  Traditional Chinese medicine is a subject that has been formed by the accumulation of thousands of years of experience of our ancestors on the land of China. It also has its own unique place in the treatment of various diseases. However, traditional Chinese medicine also has some blind spots. For example, for external injuries, although countless types of wound medicines have appeared over the past few thousand years, which can effectively suppress inflammation of wounds, when the wound has already become inflamed, traditional Chinese medicine almost has no effective means to deal with it. In ancient times, during wars, soldiers who died directly on the battlefield actually accounted for only a small part. Most were because their wounds did not receive timely treatment, resulting in infection and inflammation that led to death.

  It's not entirely the fault of traditional Chinese medicine, mainly because during the Song Dynasty, people's understanding of themselves and the universe was still quite limited, so it hindered the development of traditional Chinese medicine. At that time, however, traditional Chinese medicine was already the best in the world. For example, European doctors were still using bloodletting as a cure-all, killing more people than they saved. European doctors were also aware of this, so when treating patients, they would wear a long-nosed mask, probably fearing that patients would remember their faces and seek revenge after death. In comparison, at least traditional Chinese medicine doctors during the Song Dynasty dared to walk on the streets with their heads held high.

  "Imperial physician, how confident are you about the condition of the Emperor of Ying?" Although Zhao Shu was heartbroken, as the emperor of the Great Song, he had to remain calm at this time. In contrast, Empress Gao, who was usually strong-willed, seemed completely lost for words now.

  "I report to Your Majesty, if it were yesterday, we would have at least an 80% chance of success. Even this morning, there was still a chance of over 50%. However, now we don't even have a 20% chance. After all, the wound has become inflamed and festering, and the evil wind has already entered the body. In the army, soldiers who are injured often develop this condition, but those who survive are less than 2%. The imperial physician replied honestly, according to traditional Chinese medicine, inflammation of the wound is caused by the entry of evil wind into the body, which leads to a series of problems, but there has never been an effective treatment for this condition."

  "Two out of ten!" Zhao Shu heard this and let out a painful groan, while Empress Gao beside him covered her mouth to prevent herself from crying out loud. The other officials in the hall also let out helpless sighs, and some who were quick-witted had already begun considering which of the two remaining princes had a better chance of succeeding to the throne besides Zhao Yan?

  "Zhi Gui, you used to lead troops on the battlefield. Were the casualties in the army really that heavy?" Zeng Gongliang in the hall asked softly beside Han Qi.

  Han Qi was most unwilling to mention the time he led troops, but now that things were urgent, he could only sigh and say: "Zeng Gong, when the two armies faced each other, the soldiers who truly died on the battlefield were only a minority. Most of them died from their injuries. The wounded soldier camp in the army was the place I least wanted to go to. The mournful cries and wails there never ceased day and night. Very few soldiers who entered could come out, it was simply like hell."

  Upon hearing Han Qi's affirmative answer, Zeng Gongliang's face changed once again. It seems that this time the Prince of Ying is indeed in a precarious situation. They should also make early preparations. Speaking of which, the Prince of Le'an is young, and the Prince of Guangyang, Zhao Yan, is not capable enough. Only the Prince of Dongyang is well-learned and talented. Although he may not be as gifted as the Prince of Ying, he is still a good candidate.

  "Ying'er, do you know where your uncle is?" Empress Gao suddenly thought of something and exclaimed, a hint of hope in her eyes. Cao Ying was the most beloved granddaughter of her uncle, perhaps she would know his whereabouts.

  The mother of Empress Gao, Lady Cao, was the younger sister of Empress Dowager Cao and also the younger sister of Cao Ying's grandfather. In other words, Cao Ying's grandfather was the maternal uncle of Empress Gao, and he was a famous divine doctor in the Song Dynasty. If he were here, perhaps he could save his son's life. The people beside Zhao Xu, including Zhao Su, also lit up when they heard Empress Gao's words. Perhaps only that old immortal could save Zhao Yun in this world.

  However, Cao Ying shook his head with a bitter smile and said: "Grandfather has been hiding in the deep mountains and has never come into contact with the clan. Last year on my birthday, Grandfather did come once, but since then, there has been no news of him at all!"

  "My son!" Cao Ying's words had barely fallen when Empress Gao let out a pained wail, now her last shred of hope was shattered and her son's life could only be left in the hands of those useless imperial physicians. Zhao Shu's complexion also turned for the worse, his body had not recovered from its illness, and now with this terrible news, he felt a tightness in his chest, even struggling to breathe.

  But just then, Zhao Yan walked to Zhao Shu's side and said in a low voice: "Father, maybe let me try, should be able to save big brother's life!"

  "Really?" Zhao Shu looked at Zhao Yan with some disbelief, "Yan'er, this is a matter of life and death for your elder brother, do you really know how to save him?"

  "Father, the imperial physician has given up on my brother's illness and can only do his best and leave it to fate. Although I am not talented, I had a strange encounter some time ago and learned some unconventional skills, including some methods for treating illnesses and saving lives. And I also obtained some medicine that just so happens to be able to treat my brother's illness!" Zhao Yan said with great confidence. He had been worried about how to explain the huge changes in himself before and after his transmigration, so he made up a lie and took this opportunity to reveal it to Zhao Shu and others.

  "What strange encounter? What kind of strange encounter?" Zhao Shu heard this and revealed an incredulous expression, although the world is vast and nothing is impossible, but he felt that with his son's character, even if there was a strange encounter, it wouldn't be his turn.

  "Father, this matter can't be explained in a few words. Please trust me for now and let me treat my brother's illness first!" Zhao Yan intentionally added suspense to his words, speaking loudly enough to draw the attention of everyone in the hall.

  "What nonsense! Third Brother, you merely accidentally cured your elder brother's burn, and yet you don't even understand the basics of medicine. How could you possibly be allowed to treat our Crown Prince?" Empress Gao stopped crying at this point, her red eyes staring at Zhao Yan.

  Zhaoyan was extremely dissatisfied with this biased Empress Dowager, but he also knew that in the Northern Song Dynasty, which emphasized filial piety, he absolutely could not show any disrespect to his parents. So he had no choice but to suppress the anger in his heart and say: "Your Majesty, my elder brother is now unconscious and the imperial physician is also helpless. Since this is the case, why not let me try?"

  At this point, Zhao Yan paused for a moment and continued: "In the past, I could have let my brother recover from his illness. Now, of course, there is also a way to treat my brother's injuries. I do all this out of fraternal affection. Moreover, my brother is deeply valued by Father and is crucial to the safety of our dynasty. Although I am not talented, I also want to make some contribution to the great Song Dynasty!"

  Zhaoyan's last few words were so bold and stirring that Zhao Shu and Han Qi suddenly had a kind of illusion, that is, the person speaking in front of them seemed to have been swapped with the one lying on the bed. If it was Zhaoye who said these words, while Zhaoyan lay on the bed, it would be perfectly normal. But now, with their positions reversed, Zhao Shu and others felt extremely awkward.

  However, Zhao Yan's words did not move Empress Gao, who seemed to want to say something else. But at this time, Zhao Shu suddenly spoke up and asked: "Yan'er, how do you plan to treat your elder brother?"

  Seeing Zhao Shu's attitude relax, Zhao Yan finally let out a breath of relief, then took out a disposable syringe and a small bottle of anti-inflammatory medicine from her bag: "Father, please look, the glass bottle contains the medicine to treat big brother. I'll use this syringe to draw in the medicine, then inject it into big brother's body, and the medicine will take effect. Generally speaking, we can see the results by tonight!"

  Originally, Zhao Shu was still half-believing and half-doubting, but when he saw the syringe and anti-inflammatory medicine that Zhao Yan took out, he was shocked and his mouth was wide open in amazement. Although it was just an ordinary disposable syringe and a small glass bottle of medicine, to Zhao Shu and the others, it seemed extremely exquisite, and they couldn't help but wonder what kind of skilled craftsman could have made such things?

  "Yan'er, this... the stuff inside that looks like plain water, can it really cure your big brother?" Zhao Shu picked up the small glass bottle of anti-inflammatory medicine and asked after carefully examining it for a while.

  The people next to Empress Gao, including herself, looked at the things Zhao Yan took out and one by one showed suspicious expressions. They had never seen these two things before, nor had they ever heard of Zhao Yan's treatment methods. But the more it was like this, the more it revealed Zhao Yan's extraordinariness. Perhaps only such medical skills could cure Zhao Zhen.

  "Dad, this explanation is complicated, let me give my brother an injection first, if we delay any further it will be very bad for his body!" Zhao Yan said seriously. The medicine he brought was injectable ceftriaxone, which had little toxicity to the human body and was widely used, and was particularly effective in Zhao Yun's situation. In this era of the Song Dynasty, bacteria had not yet been subjected to the baptism of antibiotics from later generations, and there was no resistance, which also allowed ceftriaxone to exert its medicinal properties better.

  "Alright, Yan'er, I'm leaving your brother's life in your hands. You must save him!" Zhao Shu said finally, clenching his teeth. As an emperor, he still had the courage to make a decision, and now it was better to let Zhao Yan try than to wait and do nothing. Moreover, the medicine and equipment Zhao Yan took out were so exquisite that they might really produce a miracle. Empress Gao wanted to stop him again at this point, after all, she didn't trust Zhao Yan's medical skills, but was stopped by Zhao Shu with just a glance.

  "Thank you, Father Emperor!" Zhao Yan also said with great joy. He finally had the opportunity to show off his skills in Northern Song and after curing Zhao Xun, he not only gained the trust of his father, Zhao Xu, but also made Zhao Xun owe him a huge favor. As for the biased Empress Gao, he just hoped she wouldn't bother him again.