Volume One, Chapter Two: Diagnosing Smallpox and Treating Crown Prince Zhu Xiongying

Zhu Yuanzhang carried Zhu Xiongying into the clinic, with Empress Ma and Crown Prince Zhu Biao following closely behind.

At that moment, Xia Jingtian was fully equipped in medical attire, wearing a mask, cap, gloves, and a white coat.

"Lay the patient on the bed. What is the child's name, and how old is he? What symptoms does he have, and how many days has it been since the onset?" Xia Jingtian inquired thoroughly.

"Zhu Xiongying, eight years old. His whole body is feverish, he has a headache, weakness, convulsions, and blisters have appeared all over him. Today is the fifth day," Empress Ma answered anxiously.

Since Zhu Xiongying had fallen ill, Empress Ma had been caring for her eldest grandson and knew his condition inside and out.

Xia Jingtian handed two masks to Empress Ma and Zhu Biao and instructed them, "Put these on, to avoid infection. Step back five paces and keep at least five meters away from the patient."

Empress Ma and Zhu Biao looked at the masks, unsure how to wear them, confusion written on their faces.

"Sister, you wear it like this. Hang it over your ears," Zhu Yuanzhang explained as he put the mask on Empress Ma.

Zhu Biao imitated him and put on the mask himself. The three of them then retreated five steps and watched Zhu Xiongying, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed.

At this point, Zhu Xiongying was already in a coma, his fate uncertain.

Xia Jingtian removed his clothes, revealing the raised blisters that covered his body.

He switched on a miniature medical ECG monitor, clipped the sensor to Zhu Xiongying’s finger, and attached the electrode pad to his chest.

Moments later, the machine displayed various data: ECG, oxygen saturation, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature.

All the indicators were low, except for his temperature, which was a high fever at 39.6°C.

Xia Jingtian then opened the child's eyelids to check his pupils and saw they were dilated, yet he remained comatose.

He checked the pulse and found it irregular.

"Father, this clinic is so strange. I’ve never seen any of these things before. How is it that it connects to the palace? Is this the realm of the immortals? This doctor looks so young—can he really cure Xiongying?" Zhu Biao asked in bewilderment.

"This clinic appeared out of nowhere; it must be Heaven’s will to save Xiongying. All the imperial and renowned doctors in the capital have seen him, yet none could do anything. Now, our only hope rests with this young doctor," Zhu Yuanzhang answered helplessly.

Xia Jingtian ignored the father and son’s conversation and instead took out a cotton swab and a glass slide.

He swabbed the fluid from a burst blister on Zhu Xiongying’s neck and smeared it on the slide.

He placed the slide under an electronic microscope and observed brick-shaped smallpox viruses, confirming the infection.

"The diagnosis is clear: the patient’s blisters and coma are caused by smallpox virus," Xia Jingtian said calmly.

"The imperial physicians said he had pox disease. How is it now called smallpox... a virus?" Zhu Biao asked, confused.

"You call it pox disease; in my era, it’s called the smallpox virus," Xia Jingtian replied.

Suddenly, Zhu Xiongying’s body convulsed. The data on the ECG monitor became erratic and fluctuated wildly.

"Ah!" Empress Ma cried out in alarm as Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly held her in his arms.

Moments later, Zhu Xiongying fell silent, motionless.

All readings dropped to zero, and the ECG line became flat.

"The patient’s heartbeat and breathing have stopped—there are no signs of life," Xia Jingtian announced gravely.

What! Death!

Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma, and Zhu Biao stood there, stunned.

"Doctor, are you saying my son is dead? Impossible!

Please, save him! I’ll give you anything you want!" Zhu Biao pleaded.

"Doctor, I beg you, save my grandson. He’s only eight years old!" Empress Ma sobbed, her voice filled with anguish.

"I order you to revive my grandson at once, or you’ll join him in death," Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily.

"It is a doctor’s duty to save lives, regardless of who the patient is. I would never neglect someone in need, but I cannot be threatened into saving anyone," Xia Jingtian responded with dignity as he removed his mask.

He pressed his hands on Zhu Xiongying’s chest and then performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, and Empress Ma watched in utter shock and disbelief—they had never witnessed such a method of saving a life.

After more than a minute, the ECG monitor once again showed vital signs.

"It’s done. The patient has been revived; his heart and pulse have returned," Xia Jingtian, drenched in sweat and breathing hard, announced.

Though still comatose, Zhu Xiongying’s fingers twitched.

"Father… Mother… Xiongying has truly been saved! I saw his finger move just now," Zhu Biao exclaimed with delight.

"Chongba, Doctor Xia really saved our grandson! You must be a deity, a miracle doctor capable of bringing the dead back to life! Chongba, you just threatened to have this miracle doctor buried with Xiongying—apologize at once," Empress Ma scolded Zhu Yuanzhang excitedly.

"Doctor Xia… Miracle Doctor Xia… You have saved my eldest grandson. I will reward you handsomely. When will he wake up?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, his tone now gentle and apologetic.

Xia Jingtian was momentarily taken aback—it was unexpected to see the founding emperor of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang, softening toward him. Though he didn’t apologize outright, his tone said it all; he was mindful of his imperial dignity.

It seemed this emperor was indeed as rumored: short-tempered, but completely under Empress Ma’s sway.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. The imperial grandson is now out of danger. I will continue his treatment," Xia Jingtian replied.

He then took out a Yin Qiao Detox Pill, pried open Zhu Xiongying’s mouth, and fed him one.

The Yin Qiao Detox Pill, made from honeysuckle, forsythia, mint, schizonepeta, licorice, and other herbs, is a traditional Chinese medicine for dispelling wind-heat and clearing toxins, used for symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, dry mouth and nose, and sore throat.

Next, Xia Jingtian skillfully took out a penicillin vial, drew saline into a syringe and injected it into the vial, gently shaking it to mix, then drew up some penicillin.

He disinfected the back of Zhu Xiongying’s hand with an alcohol swab, preparing for a skin test.

Penicillin, also known as penicillin G, has bactericidal and anti-infective properties, but patients must be tested for allergies before administration.

"Doctor Xia, what is that in your hand? Are you going to prick Xiongying with it? Why is it so thick—not a silver needle?" Empress Ma asked worriedly.

"This is penicillin. It has bactericidal and anti-infective effects and can control the progression of the smallpox virus in the patient’s body. Never mind, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained," Xia Jingtian replied, seeing the confusion on their faces.

"Doctor Xia, I’ve never seen such methods before—can you really cure Xiongying?" Zhu Biao asked, still doubtful.

Xia Jingtian could see his lack of faith, but ignored it and injected the test dose into the back of Zhu Xiongying’s hand.

A small bump immediately appeared. Xia Jingtian withdrew the syringe and pressed the site with a cotton swab.

"Doctor Xia, if you can cure my grandson, I will reward you handsomely. If not..." Zhu Yuanzhang began.

But before he could finish, Empress Ma shot him a glare.

"Chongba, don’t frighten Miracle Doctor Xia. Doctor Xia, please treat him as you see fit. Even if you cannot save him, I promise no one will trouble you," Empress Ma hurriedly assured.

"Thank you, Empress Ma, for your understanding. I will do my best to save the imperial grandson," Xia Jingtian said gratefully.

It seemed the rumors were true—Zhu Yuanzhang was hot-tempered, while Empress Ma was gentle and understanding.

Xia Jingtian glanced at his smart watch; fifteen minutes had passed with no adverse reactions from Zhu Xiongying.

He then drew the entire dose of penicillin into a syringe and, finding a vein in Zhu Xiongying’s arm, injected the medication.

He checked the instruments again: body temperature had dropped to 36.6°C, the fever was gone, and his pulse had stabilized.

"Doctor Xia, how is Xiongying now? When will he wake up?" Zhu Biao asked with concern.

"His fever has subsided and his pulse is stable. He should wake up soon," Xia Jingtian replied.

At that moment, Zhu Xiongying, lying on the examination bed, slowly opened his eyes and spoke in a weak voice, "Grandmother, I’m thirsty!"

When Empress Ma saw that Zhu Xiongying had awakened, she was overjoyed and quickly picked up a cup of water.

"My dear grandson, you’re finally awake! Grandmother will come and give you water right away," she said excitedly, about to rush over, but Xia Jingtian stopped her.

"You cannot approach the patient; you may be infected with smallpox. I’ve been vaccinated and am immune. Besides, he is still very weak—water alone won’t suffice," Xia Jingtian explained.

He fetched pure milk from the refrigerator, helped Zhu Xiongying sit up, and fed it to him.

"What is this? It tastes wonderful!" Zhu Xiongying asked.

"This is milk. Drink more, and you’ll recover faster," Xia Jingtian said.

Zhu Xiongying quickly drank the entire cup, then fell asleep again.

Xia Jingtian covered him with a blanket.

The Temporal Miracle Doctor System appeared before Xia Jingtian’s eyes.

[Congratulations to the host for successfully saving Zhu Xiongying. You have gained 10,000 merit points.]

Host: Xia Jingtian
Merit: 10,000 points
Skill: Photographic Memory

Merit points can be used to exchange for skills and medical techniques.

He also gained Zhu Xiongying’s photographic memory.

No wonder Zhu Yuanzhang valued his eldest grandson so highly—he possessed such an extraordinary memory.

"Your Majesty, Empress, Crown Prince, the imperial grandson is now safe, but he is weak and needs rest. You three should have your blood tested; you may have been exposed to the smallpox virus," Xia Jingtian said seriously.

Having witnessed Xia Jingtian save Zhu Xiongying, the three cooperated fully, rolling up their sleeves for blood samples.

Xia Jingtian used a portable blood analyzer to test each of them.

"Your Majesty and Crown Prince, your blood tests show no infection. However, Empress Ma has tested positive for the smallpox virus—she was likely infected by the imperial grandson," Xia Jingtian said solemnly.