197 INSERT THIS IN HER MOUTH

Zoe glanced at the previously high and mighty but now helpless queen as she was lying in the bed. Her whole body seemed to scream of weariness and despair.

She stepped forward and answered Physician Sheng Tun's question amidst the doubting look of the physicians around her.

"With the current state of the Queen, I don't think alum powder will be enough to save her, my lord."

All the physicians looked at each other in horror. Some of them appeared so because of their concern for the queen's health. And the others were because of Zoe's fearless suggestion against Physician Sheng Tun's method of treatment.

"Do you think you can treat the Queen with your intervention then?" Physician Sheng Tun now turned towards her with a wide stance and his arms crossed over his chest. 

He cannot take her feisty interference to his duties anymore. 

"In order to detox the arsenic patient, she has to ingest oil then drink alum powder with water. That is the best method. So you think there is a better way than that?"

Zoe nodded and bowed to him. "That is right, my lord. But if it is severe, pumping her stomach is a better option."

"Pumping the stomach of the Queen? Are you serious, Lady Asha?" Another physician blurted in disbelief.

Zoe tried to explain the rationale behind the treatment. "If we pump her stomach, we will empty it in a quicker way and remove the poison outside of the body."

"Let's do it then!" Raigon interrupted their conversation as he lifted up his sleeves to help in whatever way in treating his Queen Mother.

"But your Highness!" Another physician chimed in and stood up. "What if it is not effective and she does more damage than good to her Majesty? Why don't we allow Physician Sheng Tun to treat her since he is the royal physician after all. Lady Asha is still young and inexperienced."

Physician Sheng Tun sniggered and nodded as he appreciated that he has the support of his fellow physicians. 

Zoe swallowed hard. If only they were in a different scenario where she doesn't care if she gets fired. But her life is at stake here in this land. One wrong move and she's dead.

However, the royal son of the Queen spoke up, concluding the matters with his order.

"Enough of this! The Queen is in a critical condition and she needs the best medical intervention immediately. Stop this useless talk!" 

His voice bellowed through the room making everyone clamped their lips in response.

"Lady Asha, we know that you have treated the whole country in treating the widespread outbreak. But are you confident that you can do this?" Raigon asked Zoe.

All eyes darted on her as they anticipated her reply.

Zoe glanced at Raigon, who seemed to be now looking at her as a real physician who he hoped could help him save his mother.

Zoe nodded and bowed to him. "I will do my best, your Highness."

She was about to start when Duke Andras showed up in the room. He also came to the Castle as soon as he learned that something happened to the Queen.

Everybody bowed to him including Raigon and Zoe.

"I am aware that Lady Asha is an exceptional doctor. However, someone who is not in the position of a Royal Physician cannot lay hands on Her Majesty. It is prohibited in our law."

All the other physicians nodded their heads in agreement. 

A muscle in Raigon's jaw clenched as he trusted Zoe more than the other physicians especially with the life of his mother.

Zoe looked at the Queen again who seemed to be paler and is now struggling to live. A bright idea came to her. 

"Physician Sheng Tun can do it himself, my lords. I can stay with him and guide him." Zoe suggested as she bowed to them all. 

All the people in the room gave her an incredulous look as they were dumbfounded with her proposition of a young inexperienced lady guiding the royal doctor of Terra. But they have no time to lose. 

"Then there will be no problem. Let's hurry up!" Raigon commanded as he grabbed on the towel from the servant who was wiping her and did it instead.

The disagreeing physicians and even Duke Andras cannot do anything at the Crowned Prince's determined decision. 

They left the room but only to stay at the adjacent one and wait for the result of the unorthodox treatment to the Queen of the land.

"Your Highness, can you help the Queen to move on her left side and bend her knees?" Zoe asked Raigon in a respectful manner.

Raigon nodded as he obliged to her. "Mother, this will just be quick. Please hold on."

The Queen was too weak to reply but she allowed her son to care for her according to Zoe's treatment. No matter what her issues are with this woman, she wants to live! And deep inside she was really impressed with her skills.

"This position will place tension on her abdomen." Zoe explained.

"I know. You don't have to tell us." Physician Sheng Tun barged in. 

"Wait, you have to use one pillow to position this leg higher and another pillow to support her head. Her head must be slightly lowered so the stomach content will not flow into the other parts of her gastric system."

"Please do as she said." Raigon instructed Physician Sheng Tun, leaving him no choice but to obey.

Zoe assessed the Queen's height. 'The rubber tubing has to be inserted 5 cm inside the stomach. The length of the rubber tubing needs to be 100-110 cm long."

"What will I do next, my lady?" Physician Sheng Tun asked Zoe, which she does not know if he was being sarcastic or not.

"Insert this in her mouth, up to this marking here." Zoe picked up the rubber tubing and showed it to the Physician Sheng Tun making both he and Raigon gulp in response.

************************************

Whenever you are confronted with an opponent,

Confront her with love.