198 PERSISTENT INTERVENTION

Duke Andras and the other physicians who were at the adjacent room heard Zoe's introduction. 

"Why would someone insert a tube inside the Queen's mouth. That's insane!"

Some of them stood up and were about to go to the next room when Duke Andras stopped them.

"Let them be. The Queen needs intervention in whatever way." He commanded as he shifted back and forth.

'This was the first time that the Queen had ingested a poisonous substance. Who could have done it?'

Meanwhile, Physician Sheng Tun has successfully inserted the rubber tubing in the Queen's mouth as instructed by Zoe. He didn't bother asking more questions as the life of the Queen is getting nearer to death's door.

The Queen gagged as he did so, but Raigon caressed her hair to relieve her of the discomfort.

"Now I will connect an aspirator to the tube. This will remove the stomach content as much as possible before we flush it. Physician Sheng Tun, please release it slowly " Zoe said to let them know of the next step. 

Fortunately, she managed to make an improvised esophageal device out of a tube and an aspirator before she came to the room. She cannot use her own syringes since the royal physician is with them. 

Physician Sheng Tun managed to remove the gastric content from the Queen's stomach. Zoe smelled it and nodded her head. "This smells like garlic. It is indeed arsenic."

The other physicians looked at each other with their jaws dropped open. "Who would dare put arsenic in the Queen's food?"

"Who prepared the Queen's meal today?" Duke Andras glared at them.

The physicians shuddered as they responded to him. "The Queen just got home from a visit to Lady Wiktoria's house. It was her birthday, my lord."

Duke Andras just nodded but deep inside he planned to send people to check the situation over there. Whoever planned this must have an alternative backup in case this didn't work.

Zoe was also listening to their conversation that she could hear in their room. Because of it she wasn't aware that Physician Sheng Tun was already putting on the flushing fluid in the funnel. The fluid hasn't been warmed yet and he was putting it much too quickly.

"Aack!" The Queen vomited all the fluid that Physician Sheng Tun had poured on.

"Your Majesty!" Raigon yelped out as she supported and rubbed the Queen's back.

At the speed of light, Zoe grabbed the rubber tubing from Physician Sheng Tun in one hand and put a basin near Queen Rose's mouth in another.

"What is happening?" Duke Andras dashed into the room and at that moment saw the Queen breathing in a high-pitched tone and seemed to be gasping for breath.

Duke Andras bolted and pushed Zoe away making her fall to the floor. He was about to grab the rubber tubing from the Queen's mouth when Raigon hit his arm as he swept it away. 

"You don't know what you're doing!"

His eyes widened in horror as he saw Zoe on the floor. But he can't leave his mother whose hands were groping on him as if she was holding on to him for dear life. 

"Your Highness! The Queen is just having a laryngospasm. Please calm her down!" Zoe uttered as she tried to stand up.

She narrowed her eyes on Duke Andras. She wanted to defend herself. 'How dare you lay your hands on me!'

But Raigon's words distracted her as he pressed the Queen's hand and tried to soothe her anxiety. "I'm here, Mother. I will not leave you. Just try to relax. Our family needs you. Terra needs you." 

As Queen Rose heard those words from her son, her suffocating experience subsided and in a few minutes, her breathing finally normalized as she closed her eyes.

Zoe was already standing up and went forward to the Queen's side. She has to finish this intervention as there might still be some arsenic on her stomach which would poison her body.

"Don't you see, your intervention is not working!"

Duke Andras was about to push her aside again when Raigon grabbed his arm with his iron hand and crushed it so hard that Duke Andras was already flinching in pain. 

Zoe's eyes bulged in surprise. 

He was not saying anything as he didn't want to disturb his already pacified mother but he burned him with his reproachful eyes as if he was saying 'Do not lay your filthy hands on her!'

Zoe touches his icy cold hand with the warmth of her hand as she gazes at him with an understanding smile. Her kindness dissolved his raging fury that he loosened his hold on Duke Andras and bowed to him.

"How dare you -" He growled at Raigon but stopped midway as he was also concerned about the Queen's welfare. 

"I apologize, Uncle Andras. But it was Physician Sheng Tun's mistake. Let us allow Lady Asha to correct it for Her Majesty's quick recovery."

Duke Andras glowering eyes' fell on Physician Sheng Tun who was cowering nervously in a corner.

"Please give me a chance, your Majesty, your Highness, Duke Andras and royal Physician Sheng Tun. I will give it my all to remove the arsenic from her body."

She bowed as she quickly put a warm fluid on the funnel and let it flow through the Queen's stomach in a slow motion. Queen Rose was not gagging anymore and it was like she was just sleeping. 

Zoe repeated this step a few more times until the fluid became clear. She then removed the rubber tubing in her mouth in a fluid motion that made the Queen uncomfortable but only for a short time. After that she was back to normal again.

Raigon and Zoe breathed out a sigh of relief as they gave a hopeful smile at each other. Duke Andras went to her side and checked if she really was okay.

Zoe stepped backward then went outside and into the adjacent room and brought them the good news.

"The Queen is now out of danger." She uttered in a relaxed appearance, her eyes were even shining in joy.

"God has shown His grace to our beloved Queen!"

The other physicians shook each other's hand, rejoicing in the Queen's revival. 

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A river cuts through a rock not because of its power

But of its persistence.