Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Has the Empress Dowager's sister-in-law commented on this matter?

Lu Chen asked in a low voice.

As the emperor remained in a coma for longer and longer, various pessimistic rumors began to spread secretly within the palace.

Many people believe that the emperor may never wake up again.

Although legally, Lu Chen still only has the power to review the cabinet's draft proposals, he cannot issue imperial edicts on his own.

But if he wanted the cabinet to draft a proposal, he only needed to send someone to deliver a message to Yan Song.

Unlike Grand Secretary Xia and Grand Secretary Zhai, Grand Secretary Yan's bottom line was extremely flexible, and he never went against Lu Chen's wishes.

In fact, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs also had the authority to review proposals. The draft proposals from the Cabinet had to be reviewed by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs before being sent to Lu Chen.

Who were Mai Fu, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the other eunuchs who held the position of Secretary?

They all rose through the ranks from among tens of thousands of eunuchs in the palace, and their sensitivity to imperial power was no less than that of the officials in the outer court.

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs still conducted a preliminary review of Xia Yan and Zhai Luan's proposals, as before. If they were deemed unreasonable, they would be returned to the Cabinet for revision.

However, even if they felt there were problems with Yan Song's draft proposals, they pretended not to see them and passed them directly.

After forcibly appointing Yan Song as one of the Three Grand Secretaries in the imperial court that day, Lu Chen had already begun to truly exercise imperial power and become a real Prince Regent.

This power had only been possessed by Zhu Biao and Zhu Gaochi since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Lu Chen could also clearly sense that over the past month, the attitudes of both court officials and palace eunuchs and maids towards him had undergone subtle changes.

Since Lu Chen began to reside permanently in the West Garden, some of the eunuchs and palace maids who originally served in the Chonghua Palace in the Southern Palace also came over.

These people have become the objects of flattery and ingratiation by other eunuchs and palace maids in the palace.

Especially when he first arrived in the capital two years ago, the twenty beautiful palace maids that Emperor Jiajing bestowed upon Lu Chen were already being privately addressed as "Empresses".

"Her Majesty the Empress was overjoyed to hear that Chen Furong was pregnant with the Emperor's child."

Xu Kun replied,

"His Majesty has been in a coma, and the Empress is also unable to eat or sleep properly."

Now that there is such a joyous occasion, we wish to bestow upon Chen Furong the title of Consort, to bring His Majesty good fortune.

"The matter of bestowing titles upon concubines originally required an imperial decree from my elder brother."

Lu Chen was slightly surprised.

"It is reasonable for the Empress Dowager's sister-in-law to hope to bring good luck through this matter, and I don't think anyone will take it seriously."

Since it is the Empress Dowager's sister-in-law's wish, I will also have someone send a message to the Ministry of Rites to ensure that this matter is handled with great care.

"Imperial Physician Xu, what is the current state of my brother's health?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you."

Xu Kun quickly replied,

"His Majesty has been in a coma for more than forty days."

While in a coma, His Majesty was unable to feed himself and could only be fed through a reed tube, receiving ginseng soup and rice oil daily.

Palace maids and eunuchs also turned His Majesty over, wiped his body, and massaged his limbs every day.

Although His Majesty's initial abnormal reaction gradually weakened and eventually disappeared after more than ten days, his body was still getting weaker day by day.

It is already quite remarkable that they have managed to survive until today.

Even so, if His Majesty cannot awaken, this situation cannot last much longer.

I have studied medicine since childhood and have heard of some cases of prolonged coma.

In ordinary households, if someone doesn't wake up within half a month, there's basically no hope left.

To the best of my knowledge, there are only a very few exceptional cases of people who have been in a coma for more than a month and have been able to wake up.

The longest one only lasted about three months.

I have never heard of anyone who has been in a coma for more than 100 days and has never seen such a case in any historical text.

In many more cases, the body weakens progressively during prolonged coma, until one day...

Xu Kun's voice grew softer and softer; he dared not continue speaking.

"My brother's health has deteriorated to such a state!"

Hearing Xu Kun's words, Lu Chen was also taken aback.

It turns out that I had fallen into a cognitive misconception.

Emperor Jiajing was in a coma for more than forty days. Lu Chen didn't pay much attention to it because in the world before he transmigrated, there were many cases of patients who were unconscious and stayed in the hospital for months or even years.

Lu Chen never imagined that it was a miracle created by modern medical conditions.

In this ancient world, simply providing the necessary nutrition to patients in a long-term coma is a major challenge.

Prolonged coma and bed rest can lead to bedsores that become infected and eventually develop into sepsis.

In addition, many unexpected problems arose.

Modern hospitals in later generations were able to solve these problems because they had accumulated a lot of practical experience over a long period of time.

Physicians in the Ming Dynasty had never encountered such a problem before. Xu Kun was already a top-tier doctor, and this was the best he could do.

The emperor's illness could no longer be delayed.

"I know that Imperial Physician Xu has exhausted all means to save my brother."

After a moment of silence, Lu Chen finally spoke.

"No matter the outcome, I will not blame you."

"Professor Xu, in your opinion, if my brother continues to be unconscious, how long can his body hold up?"

I want to hear the truth!

"Your Majesty's health is deteriorating day by day. I am confident that I can maintain this for another month."

Xu Kun knelt down on the ground.

"If he still cannot wake up... I deserve to die!"

"Is there only one month left?"

Lu Chen stood up and let out a long sigh.

"Academician Xu, you may step back now. Take good care of the Emperor. Nothing must happen to him within the next month!"

This is something you and I should keep to yourselves; you mustn't tell anyone.

I'll think of another way this month!

"My brother's condition has deteriorated to such a point that any further risky measures would be nothing more than a gamble on luck!"

. . .

Tumote, Fengzhou Beach.

"Your subordinate pays respects to Protector Zhao."

Xiong Linchuan bowed and cupped his hands to Zhao Xixian.

"Master Xiong has arrived at just the right time."

Zhao Xixian pointed to a huge construction site not far away.

"It won't be long before a city appears here."

After dealing with the Han people for so many years, it was time for the Mongols to build their own cities beyond the Great Wall.

Fengzhou Beach is actually a very good place. It is backed by the Daqing Mountains to the north, overlooks the Yellow River to the south, and is nourished by the Dahei River and Xiaohei River. It is a rare fertile land suitable for farming in the northern frontier.

Anda has taken my advice and has asked me to oversee the construction of a city.

This city will be the capital of the Tumed tribe.

In the near future, it will also be the capital of the Right Wing Mongol 30,000 households, and even the capital of all of Mongolia.

"This place is really nice."

Xiong Linchuan nodded.

"Ordos, where the royal court of Bijinang is located, is more suitable as a capital city."

"What brings Master Xiong to Fengzhou Beach?"

Zhao Xixian turned to look at Xiong Linchuan.

"But is it for the miraculous medicine used to concoct the 'Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir'?"

"That's exactly why I've come."

Xiong Linchuan nodded repeatedly.

"According to past practice, an envoy should have delivered the 'miracle medicine' from the main altar to Ordos last month."

But now that war has broken out, the Black Cliff headquarters has been besieged by the Ming army, and transportation has been cut off.

The inventory my subordinates have is less than half a month's supply.

After much thought, the only thing we can do is ask Protector Zhao for help.