Chapter 404 Certain Death
Chen Yang quickened his pace, entering a room behind Zhu Que.
This room was not accessible to ordinary people.
However, the situation was too critical. It was clear that the ailing Elder Madam Zhuge on the sickbed had entered a critical state again. Nurses were constantly going in and out, carrying various medical instruments.
The family members around them kept craning their necks to look, whispering among themselves, and many had already started shedding tears.
Chen Yang and Zhu Que strode directly in.
Inside the ward, over a dozen middle-aged and elderly doctors were with heads bowed, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, discussing in low voices.
These were all directors, professors, and experts from the intensive care departments of major hospitals.
Besides these Western medicine practitioners, there were also seven or eight Chinese medicine practitioners dressed in Tang suits or white coats, also engaged in quiet discussion.
On the sickbed lay an old woman. Her abdomen rose and fell, and occasional "gurgling" sounds emanated from her mouth, akin to the croaking of toads by a pond after rain.
It was evident that she had once been plump, but now she was emaciated, with sunken eyes, suggesting she had been tormented by illness for too long.
The experts and professors from the major Western hospitals on the left discussed for a while, but found no solution.
They then voluntarily approached the Chinese medicine experts nearby.
Each of these Chinese medicine experts was a master of national medicine, and a few were even retired super doctors who lived in seclusion.
An elderly Western medicine expert cupped his hands and said, "After our discussions, we are truly unable to identify the cause of the illness. Without a diagnosis, we cannot provide targeted treatment. Aside from maintaining Elder Madam Zhuge's vital signs, there is truly nothing more we Western medicine practitioners can do."
Du Huaishan was the leader of this group of Chinese medicine practitioners. He had been famous for a long time; even in the 1930s and 1940s of the last century, he was already a renowned old Chinese physician.
Even during the most brutal years of war, he fared well because many foreigners sought his medical advice. No matter which side was in power, they dared not offend him.
After so many years, he had become a towering figure in the field of Chinese medicine.
With him around, the status of Chinese medicine remained stable.
Du Huaishan nodded. He was over a hundred years old, yet his mind remained sharp and his physique robust.
Du Huaishan spoke, "Our conventional methods also fail to diagnose the cause. The most likely conjecture at present is that Elder Madam may have been afflicted by witchcraft."
"However, our skills are insufficient, and we are unable to pinpoint the source of this witchcraft. Furthermore, our experience in treating such ailments is lacking. Since you Western medicine practitioners are also unable to help, we Chinese medicine practitioners must take action."
"However, we do not have absolute certainty. But it is always true that 'When righteousness is within, evil cannot invade.'"
"Therefore, we intend to use wild ginseng to prolong Elder Madam Zhuge's life and strengthen her righteousness."
"Then, we will use a decoction of Didi and Wu Chong Wan to cleanse the witchcraft within her body."
"This is a relatively safe, yet also risky, method."
"If the situation deteriorates, Elder Madam might pass away."
The surrounding Chinese and Western medicine experts all nodded. Finally, they all said to Du Huaishan, "Elder Du, please proceed. We can only try our best and hope for the best."
Du Huaishan nodded. He then looked at Zhuge Xuan and said, "Mr. Zhuge, you should have heard our discussion. If we do not treat Elder Madam now, it seems she will not live for more than a few hours."
"If we treat her, we are not confident, and she might die during the treatment. Of course, there is a glimmer of hope that we might be able to expel the witchcraft. Therefore, Mr. Zhuge, we await your decision."
Zhuge Xuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, his hands trembling. He was not yet prepared to become the head of the Zhuge family. Making such an important decision alone placed immense pressure on him.
After hesitating and trembling for a full minute, Zhuge Xuan finally said, "Alright, let's proceed with the treatment. I implore Mr. Du to act. We believe in your medical skills. If... if Mr. Du cannot save my mother, then..."
Zhuge Xuan did not finish his sentence.
Du Huaishan nodded and said, "Very well. Prepare the wild ginseng decoction, and simultaneously prepare the Didi decoction and Wu Chong Wan."
Chen Yang stood aside, nodding slightly, then shaking his head slightly.
It was clear that Du Huaishan possessed considerable skill. However, as he himself had said, his understanding of witchcraft was limited. Nevertheless, Chen Yang had to admit that Zhuge Xuan's line of thinking was quite sound.
Chen Yang stepped forward and said, "Hold on, Elder Du. You are absolutely correct that Elder Madam Zhuge has indeed been afflicted by witchcraft."
"However, your approach to treatment, while correct for general illnesses, is somewhat insufficient for witchcraft."
"If you administer wild ginseng decoction to Elder Madam, her abdomen will immediately swell, leading to her death."
"Elder Madam Zhuge appears weak and near death, but in reality, this is due to the overwhelming power of the witchcraft within her."
"Therefore, any tonic administered now will not improve Elder Madam Zhuge's condition. Instead, it will strengthen the witchcraft and蛊毒 (gu poison) within her, leading to her demise."
Du Huaishan frowned upon hearing Chen Yang's words. He looked at Chen Yang with surprise. Although he did not fully believe Chen Yang, the underlying principles of Chinese medicine in his words were sound.
Du Huaishan furrowed his brow and asked Chen Yang, "Then, according to your assessment, should we administer the Didi decoction and Wu Chong Wan directly, without the wild ginseng decoction?"
Chen Yang shook his head and said, "Those will also be ineffective. Judging by the condition of Elder Madam's abdomen and the sounds from her throat, this type of蛊毒 (gu poison) is likely similar to certain toad蛊毒 (gu poison)."
"I will use acupuncture on Elder Madam's abdomen, and immediately bring the gall bladder of a cobra at least one meter long. I will then proceed to expel the蛊毒 (gu poison) from Elder Madam."
Everyone present was stunned. They all looked at Chen Yang with astonishment.
Chen Yang was dressed casually and was young. He did not look like a divine doctor in any way.
Most importantly, Elder Madam Zhuge's life was at stake, and there were so many Chinese and Western medicine experts present. Suddenly, Chen Yang stepping forward to speak left everyone feeling awkward and unsure.
At this point, a Western medicine expert immediately frowned and said, "Nonsense, this is utter foolishness! At a time like this, why is there a strange young man spouting such nonsense?"
"What toad poison? Treating with acupuncture and cobra gall bladder? These have no scientific basis. Furthermore, the gall bladder of a meter-long cobra is extremely poisonous. Forget Elder Madam, even a normal person would die if they consumed it. How can it be used recklessly?"
Zhuge Xuan also stepped forward at this moment. He asked Chen Yang coldly, "Who are you, sir? Who brought you in? What is your business with the Zhuge family?"
Chen Yang glanced at Zhuge Xuan, ignored him, and looked directly at Du Huaishan, saying, "Old Du, what do you say?"
The surrounding people were even more enraged upon hearing Chen Yang directly address Master Du Huaishan as "Old Du."
A white-bearded Chinese medicine practitioner pointed at Chen Yang and reprimanded loudly, "Boy, who exactly are you? So impudent and disrespectful to elders! You must not be a highly accomplished disciple of a reputable school. How can you babble nonsense and attempt to treat here recklessly!"