Chapter 1566
Zhao Junyao exhaled heavily, suspiciously wondering to himself.
"Injured? What exactly happened?"
"How could I be seriously injured right after participating in the selection process?"
"Could it be true what my father said, that someone is unhappy with my ascension and wants to assassinate me?"
A year ago, his father had warned him on his deathbed.
As the emperor, he must always be vigilant and guard against plots against him.
At that time, he was somewhat puzzled.
Now it seems, his father’s words were indeed correct.
Someone had tampered with his first selection ceremony.
Zhao Junyao clenched his fists tightly, pressing his thin lips together.
Fortunately, his father was watching over him, and he didn’t die.
Once he wakes up, he will thoroughly investigate who caused the chaos.
Such a sinister person is indeed hateful, and extinguishing their entire clan wouldn’t be excessive!
...
While thinking, something suddenly rang beside him.
’Beep beep beep beep beep’, unfamiliar and piercing.
Zhao Junyao felt slightly annoyed.
’These palace attendants and Imperial Physician have really gotten worse at doing their jobs. I’m gravely injured and unconscious, but someone still dares to make noise here!’
’Even though it isn’t the sound of people talking, this beeping noise is more bothersome than human voices!’
He was about to open his eyes and reprimand them when footsteps suddenly approached, accompanied by a woman’s voice.
"Doctor, the patient in ICU bed 32 has woken up, please take a look!"
This voice sounded quite proper, light and gentle, Zhao Junyao silently assessed.
It’s a pity he doesn’t understand what she’s saying. What is a doctor? What does this monitoring mean?
"Understood, family members please wait outside!" Another male voice followed.
Judging by the voice, it seemed like a man in his forties or fifties, probably the ’doctor’ the woman referred to.
There was no time for detailed consideration.
The door had already closed, and the so-called ’doctor’ had arrived beside his bed.
Zhao Junyao felt inexplicably nervous.
But thinking it might be a top physician from the palace, he felt slightly relieved.
Then suddenly, a sharp pain erupted from his abdomen.
He abruptly opened his eyes.
Only to see that doctor in white clothes pressing hard on his abdomen with both hands.
Zhao Junyao was in such excruciating pain it felt like his soul was being torn apart, his eyes bulged, forehead veins popped, and his cheeks turned red.
If not for his incredible tolerance from an early age, he would’ve screamed long ago.
It was unbearably painful.
The worst injuries were right in the abdomen, and this so-called doctor was pressing hard on the wound.
What kind of quack doctor is this?
Zhao Junyao erupted in anger, speaking in a low voice.
"Audacious!"
"Who are you to dare lay such a harmful hand on me? Who sent you?"
Such vicious tactics, surely he’s with the assassin!
Looks like he underestimated them.
He didn’t realize his opponent was so audacious, daring to attack him openly; truly reckless!
Seeing the assassin had no intention of stopping, Zhao Junyao had no choice but to push him away forcibly.
"Audacious!"
He struggled to get out of bed.
He had just one thought now, he must not die at this person’s hands.
His father entrusted the empire to him, and he cannot let it fall into others’ hands easily.
The doctor: "..."
"Hey hey hey, are you out of your mind?"
"Your belly is filled with clotted blood. If it’s not removed promptly, it will cause an infection, and you’ll be dead for sure!"
"Do you have a death wish!"
Trying to save lives and cure ailments tirelessly, his arms sore from strain.
Yet, he was scolded by the patient; where’s the justice in that?
Zhao Junyao was already starting to rise.
Then a sharp pain hit him again, and he looked down to see several tubes inserted into his abdomen.
The tubes were filled with dark and yellow clotted blood.
He was so shocked he stood frozen, not daring to move.
His mind went blank.
In his life, Zhao Junyao had never been afraid of anything, but seeing tubes protruding from his belly.
This...this...this was simply horrifying?
His belly was punctured in so many places, yet he wasn’t dead???
This is terrifying.
Or had he already died and this was punishment in hell?
"Hey! If you don’t want to die, hurry up and lie back. I have other patients; no time to waste with you!"
That doctor was somewhat impatient.
He was almost certain the person before him was a lunatic.
He even decided secretly that once this person was out of danger, he’d consult with the hospital’s psychiatric department to get his mind treated as well.
...
Zhao Junyao obediently lay back down.
There was no choice; nothing was more important than staying alive.
With so many tubes attached to him, he was clearly being held hostage.
Confrontation might risk his life, not a wise move; better to lie back for now and watch for changes.
Feeling rather helpless, he closed his eyes.
His mind full of remorse: Father, I’m sorry, I’ve ultimately failed your trust!
The surroundings were utterly unfamiliar.
The attire of the assassin was unlike anything he’d ever seen.
What place was this? He couldn’t figure it out at all; truly a defeat!
Though he used to be satisfied with himself, now he realized he was just a frog in a well!
Nonetheless, he still had countless questions.
Are today’s rebels really more clever than him??
What were these things in the room that occasionally flickered and made noises?
Sensing the patient’s emotions were still unstable.
The doctor considered for a moment, thinking it might be due to the pain.
So he administered anesthesia, and the patient immediately quieted down, very thoroughly this time.
...
Having waited outside for a long time, Xia Ruqing hurried forward as soon as the doctor came out.
"Doctor, doctor, how is bed 32 now? Has the situation improved with him waking up?"
Can he be moved to a regular ward? The ICU costs thousands a day, it’s practically life-threatening!
Most importantly, he had no identification at all, nor could his family be contacted.
The entire medical expense had to be borne by her!
The money she had, including just-received wages, totaled only twenty thousand; barely enough for a few days!
The doctor adjusted his glasses calmly.
"The patient’s emotions aren’t great now, further observation is needed!"
"Prepare the medical payments!"
With that, he closed the medical record book and walked away in a hurry, leaving Xia Ruqing alone in disarray.
"Medical bills! Medical bills!"
"Where am I supposed to find money for that? Even selling myself by weight wouldn’t be enough!"
If she had known, she wouldn’t meddle in such business; let him die then.
Now she’s involved, without even knowing his appearance, willing to risk it all to save him.
It’s simply self-inflicted punishment!
Though cursing in her heart, she still rummaged through her worn canvas bag, pulling out her bank card from the innermost compartment.
Worried about the safety of her rented room, she always carried her valuables with her.
Now, it’s at least useful.
Sorrowfully glancing at the thin card in her hand, she headed downstairs to the payment office to settle the bill.
"Hmph! Consider it paying off karma from a past life!"
(The male protagonist dies in a past life and transmigrates to the modern era, losing all memory of the female protagonist. His memory hinges on the eve of his first selection meeting before encountering her. Gradually, he regains those memories, just as they fall in love again!)