We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Chapter 1033 The Last Moments (Part 2)

Upon hearing this, not only did Qian Bin's eyes flash with a mischievous glint, but even Li Lin and Qiu Bai, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but show slight changes in their expressions.

They all recalled that foolish incident from years ago, which had changed the fates of countless people.

Even now, the group of civil officials in the court who served the country are still jokingly called the "sack faction" because they were invited by Li Che in sacks.

However, the faction in the sack took pride in it, and the other civil officials were envious, which turned into a good story.

Hearing this, Li Che couldn't help but laugh, but his laughter was tinged with tears: "Teacher, I had no choice back then. The country was in dire need of rebuilding, and I really had no one else to rely on."

Qian Bin looked at him, his eyes devoid of blame: "Yeah... there's no one else available... so you brat... that's why you're so bold..."

An old man and a young boy sat by the sickbed, reminiscing about many old stories.

The hardships of establishing Fengguo in its early days, the resistance encountered in promoting mathematics, the excitement of establishing the first Fengguo University, and the thrilling wars that followed...

Qian Bin's memory was sometimes clear and sometimes blurry, and each pause made Li Che's heart rise and fall.

He held his teacher's hand tightly, as if trying to pass on his life force in this way.

Time slipped away quietly amidst whispers.

As Qian Bin spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, and his eyelids seemed to weigh a ton, closing uncontrollably as he fell silent once more.

"Teacher?" Li Che was startled and quickly called out softly, "Someone! The imperial physician! The imperial physician!"

Xu Wei, who was already prepared, immediately stepped forward upon seeing this.

Gently parting Li Che's hand, he skillfully took Qian Bin's pulse and then examined his pupils by flipping open his eyelids.

"Your Majesty," Xu Wei stepped back and said in a low voice, "Grand Secretary Qian is fine, but he is exhausted and has fallen into a deep sleep again. This is... normal."

Li Che slowly stood up, looking at his teacher's still-furrowed brows in his sleep, and felt a sense of powerlessness wash over him.

He had become an emperor whose word was law, but so what? He still couldn't keep his teacher!

Li Che turned around, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "Issue my decree! All imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital, come for a consultation immediately!"

"And the medical school too! Medical officers from the military hospital have also been transferred here! I don't care what methods they use, whoever can cure Master Qian's illness, I will promote him, bestow gold and a house upon him, and extend his blessings to his descendants!"

Everyone knew that Li Che's word was law, but no one was moved by it.

Everyone knows that His Majesty is desperate and grasping at straws.

Xu Wei sighed inwardly, but dared not show it on his face. He could only bow and reply, "Your subject obeys the decree and will go to carry it out immediately."

He knew all too well that heart and lung failure, organ depletion, were the natural laws of life, beyond human control.

The Imperial Hospital, Medical College, and Military Hospital brought together the top medical professionals in Daqing, but even their joint diagnosis left them helpless. Gathering more people was futile.

But he dared not say it, for the emperor at that moment was not listening to such things.

The imperial decree spread swiftly, alarming the entire Imperial Medical Academy and even the medical profession in the capital. Countless medical officers rushed to this unassuming old house with their medicine chests.

There was a moment of chaos inside and outside the Qian residence.

Just then, Qiu Bai strode over and whispered a few words in Li Che's ear.

A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Li Che's dim eyes, and he said urgently, "Quickly! Quickly, please invite the gentleman in!"

A moment later, Xu Jiezi, dressed in a plain white robe, walked in with a leisurely gait.

He had just had a brief reunion with several disciples of Yunmeng Mountain who were serving in the capital, and before they could have a proper conversation, he received an urgent summons from the emperor and rushed over without any delay.

Upon entering the room, Xu Jiezi first nodded slightly to Li Che.

Li Che's eyes were still red: "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Xu Jiezi shook his head, then his gaze fell on Qian Bin on the bed.

He didn't step forward immediately, but stood quietly a few steps away, his strange eyes slowly sweeping over Qian Bin's face and the rhythm of his breathing.

The more he looked, the more solemn his expression became.

Xu Jiezi lived to be a hundred years old and was well-versed in the art of health preservation and exercise. He had a far more acute perception of the rise and fall of life than ordinary people.

In his eyes, Qian Bin's life was like a lamp whose oil had burned out; the wick was charred and the flame of his life was irreversibly dimming and shrinking, and would eventually be extinguished.

This is the cycle of nature, a sign of the end of one's life, which cannot be reversed by ordinary medicine, acupuncture, or moxibustion.

Li Che was still looking at him with hope: "Sir, you are knowledgeable in medicine, do you have a good prescription?"

Xu Jiezi withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Che.

The emperor's almost pleading manner made him sigh inwardly.

But he shook his head.

The light in Li Che's eyes dimmed instantly.

Xu Jiezi then spoke up: "Qingyuan, go and fetch my silver needles."

Li Che was immediately startled: "Silver needles can save him?"

Xu Jiezi replied, "Your Majesty, my medical skills are too shallow to save a life destined by Heaven."

"However, if acupuncture is applied, it may be possible to stimulate the last bit of Qian Lao's original vital energy, allowing him to regain his mental clarity for about three days."

"For the next three days, Mr. Qian can eat and drink normally, and move and talk without any problems. This is enough... to settle his affairs after his death, at least to fulfill his wishes and leave no regrets."

Li Che was shocked; this was the best outcome he could hope for at the moment.

He grabbed Xu Jiezi's arm with such force that Xu Jiezi was slightly taken aback: "Thank you! Sir, thank you so much! I would be eternally grateful for such a thing!"

As he spoke, he was about to bow again.

Xu Jiezi quickly took his hand and shook his head, saying, "Your Majesty need not do this. I was moved by the deep bond between the master and disciple here, and I only did my bit to help."

"This acupuncture technique is overpowering, drawing upon one's last reserves. Afterwards, one will be completely exhausted, with no chance of recovery. Your Majesty must be prepared."

Li Che nodded heavily, tears welling in his eyes: "I understand. It is better to have three days of peaceful farewell than to suffer this delirium and torment. Please, sir, perform the ritual!"

Xu Jiezi said no more and gestured for Lin Qingyuan to open the medical kit.

Inside was a set of strange, fine needles of varying lengths, dark in color, and neither gold nor jade. The needles had faint, ancient patterns on their bodies, clearly indicating that they were ancient artifacts.

He washed his hands, concentrated, and stood before the bed.

He first took the pulse like a typical doctor, then closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes, a faint light seemed to flow in his double pupils, and his movements were as swift as lightning.

He picked up a needle more than three inches long with his fingers and inserted it into an acupoint on Qian Bin's head. His technique was gentle yet carried a strange rhythm.

Then came the second and third injections...

Whether pricking or twisting, whether deep or shallow, the needles are applied to key acupoints such as Shenting, Tanzhong, and Guanyuan.

As the last silver needle was gently inserted into the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of his foot, Xu Jiezi's forehead was slightly sweaty, clearly indicating that he had expended a lot of energy.

He stepped back and observed quietly.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on Qian Bin.