Chapter 341 - Dysentery? (1/2)

Hearing this, the empress quickly replied, “Little miss, I had been rash with my words just now. You...do you have confidence in treating the young prince’s illness?” She was also recklessly finding doctors because she was anxious about the illness—how could a ten-year-old little girl be confident in her treatment when so many imperial physicians were solemnly consulting each other about it?

Although Yu Xiaocao thought that the emperor’s voice sounded familiar, she did not dare to casually lift her head to confirm his identity. She frankly answered, “This commoner dare not simply come to conclusions. I must first see the patient to know…”

The empress wiped the corners of her eyes and nodded, “Then go and have a look. There’s more hope with one more person...Chief Steward Su, are all the kitchen staff apprehended? Investigate carefully, I want to see which evil person dares harm my son!”

Zhu Junfan comfortingly patted the empress’s back, softly saying, “The imperial physicians haven’t concluded that it’s poisoning, right? Be calm, the person who dares to harm my son will definitely be severely punished!”

Some old officials in court had mentioned the selection of concubines, but he had always used various excuses to push the matter away. In his previous life, he had accompanied his mother in watching a few palace intrigue drama series, in which three women were enough for an entire drama. Once the number of concubines increased, so would the drama! There was already enough infighting to give him a migraine even though as of now, he only had several concubines. If he had more concubines, he would probably want to flee the palace and the court. It was too scary—women’s jealousy and their vigor to fight for favor!

Originally, he thought that the concubines in his harem fighting over his favor was just a small matter. He had a son and a daughter, and his son was smart while his daughter was obedient. He had planned to wait until the prince born of the empress had grown up and appointed him as the crown prince before he had more children in order to prevent what happened during Emperor Kangxi's reign, in which nine of his sons fought for the throne and caused chaos within the palace and the court.

Since he didn’t have many children, the concubines were still quite well-behaved and had not tried to scheme against the little prince and princess. He was also secretly gleeful over his smart decision, but who could have known that the little prince now displayed signs of poisoning. It was really a slap in his face ah!

Zhu Junfan had a cold expression on his face. If this really was a plan that stemmed from his imperial harem, he would definitely not be lenient in the punishment!

Yu Xiaocao took two steps forward and stood beside Imperial Physician Zheng. Imperial Physician Zheng had already checked on the little prince and took his pulse, and he was currently discussing his opinions with the other imperial physicians. Seeing Yu Xiaocao approach, Imperial Physician Zheng did not scrunch up his face like the others. Instead, he warmly spoke, “Miss Yu, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Yu Xiaocao had already heard most of the imperial physicians’ discussions. The young prince only started showing symptoms yesterday, when his condition escalated quickly with fever and convulsions. Now, the little prince was unconscious. His breathing was faint, and he would occasionally go into shock. The signs of poisoning were obvious throughout his entire body.

The little divine stone used its power to scan the little fellow’s body when she approached the bed. It laughed amusedly, saying, [This brat has been brought up with too much care, causing his digestive system to be weak. Now his stomach aches after eating something dirty…]

Yu Xiaocao turned to ask the imperial physicians and the little prince’s servants, “Since yesterday, has the little prince experienced diarrhea?”

Disdain was written on the faces of the other imperial physicians. Of course, a young girl, who was around the age of ten, could only diagnose the illness as diarrhea. It was too bad that the little prince had not shown any signs of diarrhea ever since his illness began. The palace servants also answered as such.

Yu Xiaocao furrowed her brows, remembering that in her previous life, the child of her neighbor also once suffered from these symptoms. When they visited the district hospital, the doctor said that it was a more serious case of pediatric dysentery.

She noticed that the imperial physicians continued to discuss what kind of poisoning the little prince had gotten, and how they should cure it. Yu Xiaocao paused for a moment, then whispered to Imperial Physician Zheng, ”Imperial Physician Zheng, perhaps…the little prince hasn't been poisoned!”

Imperial Physician Wang, who was most knowledgeable on poisons among the rest of the imperial physicians, laughed, ”Little miss, this is the Imperial Palace, not somewhere you can simply fool around—you are responsible for every word you say! Will you be able to hold responsibility if the young prince’s treatment was delayed because of you?”

Imperial Physician Zheng knew that Yu Xiaocao had a certain grasp of understanding on some trickier diseases, so he patiently asked, “Miss Yu, what is your opinion?”

Yu Xiaocao thought carefully before saying, “I think the little prince has pediatric dysentery…”

The other imperial physicians looked over with an expression of disagreement. Imperial Physician Wang even disdainfully said, “Pediatric dysentery? Little girl, is your head in the clouds? We just told you that the young prince had no signs of diarrhea, and all symptoms point to poisoning!”

Against all the pressure, Yu Xiaocao explained, “There are mild and there are serious cases of pediatric dysentery, and both have different symptoms. The symptoms of normal dysentery are fever, constipation, mucus and blood, and nausea. In mild cases of dysentery, there are no obvious constitutional symptoms as the patient defecates three to five times a day and their feces are accompanied by mucus or a little blood. In serious cases of dysentery, the constitutional symptoms are a little more obvious—where the patient defecates at least ten times a day and his feces contain mucus and blood. He also experiences abdominal pain, nausea, and dehydration.”

Imperial Physician Wang impatiently interrupted her, “We all know of these simple pathologies, so don’t waste our time. The little prince isn’t experiencing stomachache, nor did he show any signs of diarrhea, not to mention mucus and blood accompanying his feces. How did you come to the conclusion that the young prince has pediatric dysentery?”