General, your wife has gone to deliver another calf for your horse.

Chapter 653 Empress Dowager: Your medical skills aren't very good.

The surrounding imperial physicians immediately panicked. Jiang Nuanzhi, seeing that the situation was not good, exchanged a glance with Dongzang and took advantage of the chaos to temporarily send Xuan Ting behind the screen, instructing the guards around her to protect him.

Then, she followed the flow of people forward and said, "Your Majesty, I will administer acupuncture to you."

Amidst the surrounding noise, her voice stood out.

To be honest, the imperial physicians were quite familiar with her. At this moment, the only woman who could say such things was probably Physician Jiang. Almost instinctively, everyone made way for her.

In an instant, Jiang Nuanzhi walked calmly to the Emperor's side in front of everyone.

The magpie physician had prepared everything Jiang Nuanzhi would need long ago, just waiting for her to arrive. In fact, the magpie physician had learned most of Jiang Nuanzhi's acupuncture techniques over the past few days, but he wasn't as skilled as Jiang Nuanzhi. Now that the emperor's health couldn't afford the slightest mistake, he hadn't dared to use the needles rashly. Now, the two of them were working together seamlessly to apply acupuncture to the emperor, making the other imperial physicians' feelings even more complicated.

As imperial physicians, each of them possessed some skills, and they naturally knew that the emperor's face was ashen, and he looked like he was about to die.

Everyone else was trying to avoid her, but she was determined to get closer.

Putting everything else aside, in terms of medical skill alone, this person truly leaves one speechless. Didn't you see that even the Great Jing National Physician was silently and intently watching Jiang Nuanzhi perform acupuncture, as if afraid of missing the slightest detail?

Jiang Nuanzhi was well aware of the situation. After all, given the Emperor's current condition, it was already quite an achievement that she could keep him alive until his last breath.

She and the divine physician worked together, and finally placed a piece of the thousand-year-old ginseng that had been prepared in advance into his mouth.

Both of them knew that they had managed to keep the Emperor on his last legs. How long that last leg could last, however, depended on the Emperor himself.

After finishing all that, Jiang Nuanzhi couldn't help but let her gaze fall on the still relatively young emperor lying on the bed. Come to think of it, her peaceful life had been shattered because of him. The once high and mighty emperor was now withered and emaciated, his face as if all his life force had been drained away, devoid of any human vitality. He seemed so powerless that anyone could easily control his life or death.

Is it pitiful? Is it pathetic?

Perhaps neither of these two words is enough to describe this emperor. Even Jiang Nuanzhi herself couldn't quite describe the feelings she was experiencing.

In terms of diligence in governance and concern for the people's livelihood, he was undoubtedly a competent emperor. At least far superior to someone like Xiao Yuanshan, who treated human life with utter disregard. During his reign, the people's lives were indeed better.

Yet, he could stand by and watch tens of thousands of the Li family army's heroes be falsely accused and imprisoned. He could also get the Ghost Doctor to use those evil spells.

I wonder, in the dead of night, does he ever miss his biological daughter, ever simply want to see her, ever regret trying to prolong his own life with his child's? Including Xuan Ting, on whom he placed such high hopes.
Although her thoughts were numerous, it was only a blink of an eye. At this moment, Jiang Nuanzhi covered the Emperor with a blanket and then respectfully took two steps back.

In a daze, Jiang Nuanzhi noticed a gaze falling on her. She glanced over and saw the Empress Dowager looking at her with great interest.

"So you are the female physician surnamed Jiang, and the wife of the God of War, Li Rong?"

The Empress Dowager's voice was light and airy as she looked Jiang Nuanzhi up and down several times, raising an eyebrow: "You are indeed quite beautiful, but your medical skills don't seem very good."

Jiang Nuanzhi was bewildered by the Empress Dowager's sudden attack. Realizing her hostility, she immediately bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I have no other recourse but to help His Majesty. It is my incompetence that I beg Your Majesty's punishment." The Empress Dowager, instead of being angry, smiled and stared at Jiang Nuanzhi for a long while. "I've heard that you were the one who saved Xuan Ting before. It seems Xuan Ting is quite close to you?"

Jiang Nuanzhi lowered his eyes: "This humble servant is a village doctor from the countryside. I was fortunate enough to see the injured Sixth Prince. It is my good fortune. I was granted the privilege of entering the capital by the Emperor. I am already very grateful to have seen what the imperial city looks like in my lifetime."

As she spoke, Jiang Nuanzhi smiled with exceptional sincerity and radiance. She appeared completely like an ordinary commoner, utterly different from the composed and calm woman who had administered acupuncture to the Emperor earlier.

The Empress Dowager squinted at Jiang Nuanzhi for a moment, and for a moment she didn't know what Jiang Nuanzhi looked like in real life.

Just then, the emperor on the bed opened his eyes again.

The Empress Dowager shifted her gaze from Jiang Nuanzhi to the Emperor. Her tone was sarcastic: "I wonder how my Nianyu is inferior to you. That Li Rong actually chose a country bumpkin like you... tsk."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Emperor and said, "Just tell me, how many hours does the Emperor have left?"

Clearly, none of the people in this room were taken seriously by the Empress Dowager, including the Emperor who was still conscious and lying in bed.

Jiang Nuanzhi's eyes flickered: "This humble subject is incompetent and cannot calculate the time. At this moment, we must rely on Your Majesty."

"How dare you!" The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and looked over.

Jiang Nuanzhi shrank back in fear: "Your Majesty, this humble subject truly did not know. In our countryside, some people live for a few days, some for more than ten days. There are even elderly people who have already passed away, but after being laid in state for two days, they have woken up again."

"okay."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand impatiently and glanced at her disdainfully. After all, as the current Empress Dowager, she naturally wouldn't bother with such a lowly female physician.

He turned his head to look at the Doctor Magpie.

The divine physician knelt down, head bowed, remaining silent to show his stance. Regardless of the circumstances, he was loyal to the Emperor. Now, it was clear that the Empress Dowager harbored ill intentions, and the Emperor's fate might change if he held on for even a moment longer. Naturally, he would not betray the Emperor at this time.

"Very well, very well, very well." The Empress Dowager glanced at him and smiled, "You think things will be fine if you don't talk about it? Although I am old, I have plenty of time. Grandson, I have returned to stay for a while. Don't worry, I will take good care of you."

"Grandmother is happy to stay, so her grandson is naturally delighted."

The Emperor clenched his fists tightly, glanced at the crowd indifferently, and finally fixed his gaze on Jiang Nuanzhi, saying, "Xuanting is not feeling well, go and see him. Bring him here, I have something to say to him."

Then, as if he were extremely exhausted, he took several deep breaths and waved his hand: "All of you, leave. Let me have a few words with my grandmother alone."

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor with a smile in her eyes: "Alright, you can all go out now. It just so happens that I also want to catch up with Lang'er."

(End of this chapter)