Leng Ruo Li approached them, carrying a strange, small red wooden box. A mark that looked like the character "十" (ten) was on its surface, which no one recognized.
A piece of blue cloth, made of an unknown material, covered her face.
"Miss, have you come to treat the Empress Dowager?"
"Yes."
Nanny Fang's sharp gaze appraised Leng Ruo Li from head to toe, her face filled with disbelief.
Could this young girl really treat illnesses?
Director Zhang also displayed a look of doubt, but he had learned his lesson and remained silent, not daring to exclude others.
The other imperial physicians in the room also said nothing. In their eyes, more people meant more hands to share the pressure, which was a good thing.
Only Imperial Physician Chen and Physician Xu showed disdain. Imperial Physician Chen sneered, "A girl who hasn't even grown all her hair dares to treat the Empress Dowager? She's just rushing to her death."
He believed the Empress Dowager's pulmonary consumption was incurable and highly contagious, and anyone attempting to treat her now was simply seeking death.
Leng Ruo Li's apricot eyes turned cold, and she shot him a sharp glance. She didn't have time to deal with such a petty individual.
A casual glance from her made Imperial Physician Chen shiver. He could hardly believe that a girl of about ten years old could possess such a terrifying gaze.
"Since you are a physician, come and examine the Empress Dowager," Nanny Fang said calmly, leading her to the Empress Dowager's bedside.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager was coughing uncontrollably, feeling utterly miserable, unable to speak coherently. She had no energy to pay attention to who was in the room or what they were saying.
Leng Ruo Li guessed that the Empress Dowager wasn't very old, likely around sixty. However, she was so tormented by illness that she appeared on the verge of collapse. Her eyes were sunken, her cheekbones prominent, and she looked like an old woman in her seventies or eighties.
She lay propped up on the bed, her eyes closed, breathing heavily. There was blood mixed with saliva at the corner of her mouth.
Beside her stood Nanny Fang, a woman in her forties, dressed in a neat and tidy dark purple palace gown. Her hair was meticulously pulled back. Although her face was veiled, her eyes appeared incredibly sharp and wise.
Nanny Fang: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent someone to attend to you again."
The Empress Dowager slightly opened her eyes. A weak smile flickered across her emaciated face. "This old one is already old, and life and death are seen with detachment. There is no need to trouble the imperial physicians anymore."
When she noticed a young girl standing before her, she frowned and said, "Nanny Fang, didn't I tell you not to arrange for palace maids to attend to me? My old life has only a few days left. There's no need to risk the lives of the younger generation."
Nanny Fang smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, this is a physician sent by His Majesty to treat you."
The Empress Dowager listened, slightly surprised. "This girl is only a teenager. To become a physician at such a young age is truly remarkable."
She then coughed again.
After a moment, Leng Ruo Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager gave a wry smile. "Child, you must have heard of my illness. This pulmonary consumption is not easy to cure. You are too young. I am very grateful for your effort. Have Nanny Fang escort you out."
As she finished speaking, Leng Ruo Li was met with envious gazes from others.
Imperial Physician Chen's heart seethed with anger. This old woman, the Empress Dowager, was too vexing. He was only in his forties, so why wasn't he being dismissed?
Director Zhang beside him also chimed in, "Young lady, you should leave. Pulmonary consumption is indeed very difficult to treat."
Leng Ruo Li shook her head and smiled. "Your Majesty, since I have come this far, please allow me to examine you. If I truly cannot cure you, then you may have Nanny Fang escort me out."
"Sigh... this little girl is truly stubborn. Since you are not afraid, then come and take a look for me."
Leng Ruo Li immediately took out medical gloves from her sleeve and put them on. She then went forward to take the Empress Dowager's pulse. She also activated the medical equipment in her system space to examine the Empress Dowager's lungs, quickly reaching a conclusion: the Empress Dowager's lungs were severely infected.
Her pulse was also very weak, and her condition was dire. The reason she had held on this long was likely due to the imperial physicians using large amounts of precious medicinal herbs to sustain her life.
Leng Ruo Li opened her medical kit and took out a stethoscope to carefully listen to the sounds of the Empress Dowager's lungs, unconcerned about the curious gazes directed at the items in her hands.
Then, she pondered how to administer medication to the Empress Dowager. Given the Empress Dowager's current condition, she needed antibiotics and injectable anti-inflammatory drugs. She believed that with a period of treatment, the condition should see significant improvement.
Leng Ruo Li looked up and said to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, although your condition is very serious, it can still be saved with my medicine."
As soon as Leng Ruo Li uttered these words, everyone in the room was stunned.
Nanny Fang's eyes widened, and she looked at Leng Ruo Li in disbelief, asking, "Miss, are you joking?"
"Nanny, I never say things I'm not sure about," Leng Ruo Li stated with conviction.
Instantly, a glimmer of hope flickered in the Empress Dowager's cloudy eyes. She had thought her end was near, but now this young girl brought her hope.
"Your Majesty, when I begin treatment, I will not need many people around. Please have the imperial physicians withdraw. I can treat your illness by myself."
"Nanny Fang, escort those imperial physicians and palace maids out."
As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, without Nanny Fang needing to relay the message, the sharp-eared Imperial Physician Chen and Physician Xu rushed forward to bid the Empress Dowager farewell. The other imperial physicians followed suit, and in a short while, only Director Zhang remained in the room.
This was because they were well aware that the Empress Dowager's pulmonary consumption was beyond saving. If she died, the Emperor would surely hold them accountable and might even have their heads severed. Since someone else was willing to take their place in facing such a risk, they were more than happy to oblige.
"Director Zhang, why aren't you leaving?" Leng Ruo Li asked curiously.
"Miss, may I observe the process of you treating the Empress Dowager? I can also assist you," Director Zhang said with a sheepish smile.
"Certainly," Leng Ruo Li agreed.
Director Zhang was ecstatic upon hearing this. However, he couldn't help but notice how similar her demeanor and actions were to that young man from the Leng Prince's manor that night.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li used her thoughts to replenish her medical kit with the necessary drugs for treating pulmonary consumption. She opened the kit and took out antibiotics.
The three people in the room were greatly curious about the items Leng Ruo Li took from her medical kit, but all chose to remain silent.
Leng Ruo Li said to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, you need not be afraid. These are the medicines I will use to treat you. I will give you two injections, and you will feel much better."
The Empress Dowager looked at her with a smile. "Child, please proceed. I do not fear pain."
Leng Ruo Li smoothly administered the antibiotics to the Empress Dowager, followed by an intramuscular injection of anti-inflammatory medicine.
She then took out a pen and notebook to meticulously record the Empress Dowager's symptoms for better tracking of her condition and to adjust the medication plan as needed for a prompt recovery from her pulmonary consumption.
After completing all of this, Leng Ruo Li administered a vaccine to Nanny Fang and Director Zhang each, to prevent pulmonary consumption.
"Miss, just one injection of this medicine will prevent me from contracting pulmonary consumption?" Director Zhang asked with surprise.
"While it cannot guarantee a 100% immunity to pulmonary consumption, as long as you take precautions, it will not be so easily contracted," Leng Ruo Li explained.
"Miss, your medicine is truly miraculous. After the Empress Dowager uses your medicine, she will surely be cured," Nanny Fang praised with a smile.
Glancing back at the Empress Dowager, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, she felt immense gratitude towards Leng Ruo Li.
"Miss, you have no idea how long the Empress Dowager has not had a peaceful night's sleep due to this illness," Nanny Fang said, her voice catching.