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Chapter 16
The Retired Emperor rolled his eyes around, looking at the sea of people kneeling on the ground. His mouth quivered but he did not say a word, only letting out a soft sigh as he watched them with visible reluctance.
Yuan Qingling knew they were kneeling here waiting for the Retired Emperor's last breath. When they had entered earlier, the Retired Emperor seemed to be on his deathbed, so his passing was imminent.
However, looking at him now, he did not appear to be at the brink of death. What's more, his breathing had grown much stronger.
Perhaps it was the effect of the medicine the imperial doctors had just administered.
It seemed the Retired Emperor was suffering from a heart condition, and had also suffered from apoplexy in the past.
Now in this state, he was most likely experiencing heart failure... She had dopamine in her medicine box.
Yuan Qingling's mind raced chaotically. The shock from the revelation that dogs could speak human language still hadn't abated, and now she was faced with this test of life. Of course, no one would believe her if she offered to treat the Retired Emperor.
Therefore, the inevitable outcome was that she would have to watch helplessly as the Retired Emperor took his last breath before her.
For a doctor, this was sheer torment.
After kneeling for about fifteen minutes, she began to sway. Her kneeling posture was awkward and stiff, partly due to numbness in her body, and partly to avoid aggravating her injuries, which would make her condition even worse.
She stealthily glanced at Yuwen Hao beside her. He knelt ramrod straight, his side profile clearly delineated. Sorrow seemed to envelope his entire being, belying any impression that royalty was devoid of familial love.
The Emperor Ming Yuan and the chief imperial doctor emerged from behind the curtains, speaking just outside.
Yuan Qingling could vaguely make out parts of their conversation. Emperor Ming Yuan saw the Retired Emperor's condition improving and asked the doctor if more medicine should be administered, but the doctor said this was just a brief revival, and the end would come within the hour.
When Emperor Ming Yuan returned, he ordered the golden gauze curtain to be lowered, followed by the outer cyan canopy. In a somber voice, he said, "Go forth and pay your respects to the Retired Emperor."
The Empress Dowager's eyes brimmed with tears again. She seemed utterly helpless and distraught as the Empress sat by her side, tightly clutching her hand. The Empress Dowager looked at the figure on the bed - the man who had accompanied her for almost a lifetime.
The Empress Dowager was escorted outside the canopy, and the Emperor supported her as she sat down. As soon as she was seated, she appeared on the verge of collapse.
The first to enter was Prince Rui and his wife.
As the Retired Emperor's eldest son by the Empress Dowager, Prince Rui was Emperor Ming Yuan's brother.
The couple went in, paid their respects, exchanged a few words with the Retired Emperor, and came out shortly after, their eyes red but holding back tears.
Next was Prince Baoli and his wife, who also said a few parting words and emerged from behind the curtain, urging the Retired Emperor to set his mind at ease.
Yuan Qingling's mind raced, calculating that each person spent about three minutes inside. If she administered dopamine intravenously to the Retired Emperor based on the dosage and rate for refractory heart failure, she would need at least five minutes.
In other words, as long as she could buy five minutes inside, she could succeed in administering the drug.
To save him or not? Attempting to save him would incur tremendous risk, even her own life.
But if she didn't try, that would be one less life in this world.
For a doctor, this was not a multiple choice question.
The predicament now was that she would be going in with Yuwen Hao, who could clearly witness her administering medicine. If he cried out or tried to stop her, all would be for naught.
Hypnosis? Anesthetics?
Hypnosis was not viable - she was not highly proficient in hypnotism, just somewhat familiar.
Anesthetics...did her medicine box contain any?
Bowing her head, she took out her medicine box from her sleeve, using the voluminous fabric to conceal her actions as she opened it and rummaged inside. At the bottom lay a small vial of kaine anesthetic.
Her heart settled in an instant.