The closest to the accident site were Ma Xiaoda and his younger siblings. Ma Xiaorui and Ma Xiaowei had always been the closest to Xu Chen. Seeing Xu Chen lose her footing and fall into the water, the two rushed over immediately. Ma Xiaoda was anxious too, but he commanded the guards to fetch a long pole right away to rescue her.

Zhang Guan, after knocking Xu Chen away with a punch, finally hauled himself onto the bank. In that life-or-death moment just past, he had acted according to his nature, making a terrible mistake, and now he was filled with deep regret. He crawled to the edge of the shore and reached out again to grab Xu Chen, but that earlier punch had unfortunately pushed Xu Chen two steps further into the deeper water, making her unreachable now.

Ma Xiaorui, clumsy and flustered, rushed over, "Xu Chen Jie, don't be afraid, I'll save you!" Plop! Ma Xiaorui didn't watch her footing. This small stone path was already slippery, and Zhang Guan’s struggle had made it slicker still. Ma Xiaorui was moving too fast, lost her balance, and tumbled right into the lake!

At this, the Empress and the Empress Dowager both cried out in shock—two princesses in the water, this was truly fatal. Ma Xiaowei saw Ma Xiaorui accidentally fall in too, and Xu Chen in the deep water was no longer surfacing. Sweat beaded on her brow from sheer panic. Fortunately, Ma Xiaorui had just fallen and was still occasionally popping her head up to shout for help. Ma Xiaowei bent down, reaching out to pull Ma Xiaorui.

With another plop, Ma Xiaowei was pulled into the water by Ma Xiaorui! The Empress Dowager promptly fainted dead away, and the Empress wailed and shrieked. Ma Xiaoda cursed Bai Shi in his agitation, "Why haven't you found the long pole yet? If anything happens to my three Imperial Sisters, I'll kill you all!"

"Chen Chen, don't be afraid! I'm coming to save you!" I can swim. Even though my superpowers are gone, entering the water might not be the effortless experience it once was, but doggy-paddling and diving should be absolutely fine. Even if it costs me my life, I have to pull Xu Chen out.

Damn it! The lake water is freezing! A twist in my thigh told me something was wrong—I dove too hard, I'm getting a cramp! Gritting my teeth, I strained my legs straight, enduring the waves of sharp pain shooting through my nerves, and rapidly swam toward Xu Chen.

Water splashed everywhere. Before I could even move from the spot, a hand grabbed me. Thinking it was Xu Chen, I clutched her arm, but who knew she clung like an insect to the bone, immediately wrapping her other arm around me and then dragging me downward with reckless abandon.

The best course of action in a situation like this is to knock her out, otherwise, both of us will drown. I wrapped an arm around her waist, accurately aiming for the back of her head and slamming my fist down. Wait, something felt wrong—the hand around her waist felt… quite full below! Had Xu Chen’s chest swelled up from soaking in the water?

The punch to the back of her head didn't knock her unconscious, but she did become much more compliant. With one hand still braced around her chest, I struck the water twice with the other hand and reached the shore, then forcefully pushed her up.

Ma Xiaoda directed the guards to catch her immediately. I only caught a fleeting glimpse—it was Ma Xiaowei, not Xu Chen! I thought to myself, no matter how powerful the water is, it couldn't instantly swell an A-cup to a D-cup. Just as that thought flickered, someone grabbed my leg below the water, and with a swift pull, I sank down.

The person pulling me underwater had immense strength. My downward rush actually landed me squarely on her head. Because I entered the water too fast, I hadn't managed to close my mouth, and a mouthful of cold water choked my throat, nearly making my eyeballs pop out from coughing.

The person underwater, pinned by my rear, seemed to stop moving. I grabbed her hair with one hand and ascended, pulling myself toward the surface. When I finally broke the surface, I realized it was Ma Xiaorui. Damn it! Three princesses are in the water, and there’s one more below, and that one is my dearest wife! I saved someone else first. She fell in the earliest, so isn't she in the most imminent danger now?!

With no time to think further, I turned and dove back into the water, forcing my eyes open to search everywhere. Nothing. I continued to dive deeper, still nothing. I dove again, this breath almost tearing my lungs apart. Finally, at the bottom of the lake, I saw Xu Chen. She was unresponsive, gently swaying in the water. I grabbed her shoulder immediately and pulled her rapidly toward the surface. If I had waited another second, my lungs would have exploded. It seems my superpowers are truly gone; otherwise, I could have stayed underwater indefinitely, and my movements would have been even superior to those on land, but now that ability is gone.

Whoosh! I broke the surface in a spray of water. Xu Chen was motionless in my arms, seemingly having lost all signs of life. Guards helped me drag her onto the lakeshore. Ignoring the water dripping from my body, I immediately leaned over Xu Chen's chest to listen for a heartbeat—none! I felt for a pulse—nothing!

Ma Xiaoda stood behind me, anxious, "Zhao Qian, and Xiaorui and Xiaowei, hurry up and save them!"

I replied, "Don't panic. I guarantee I will return your three Imperial Sisters lively and well. However, as a man, it's not convenient. Immediately send someone to fetch Linglong and Yunyao from outside Wencheng Wude Hall. With Yunyao here, things will be much easier."

Ma Xiaoda glanced at the three women on the ground. Their wet clothes clung tightly to their bodies. Ma Xiaorui was like a newly opened flower, nothing too obvious. Xu Chen was slender, her chest unremarkable. But Ma Xiaowei’s full, swelling bust was causing even the male guards nearby to look away awkwardly.

Ma Xiaoda turned to those behind him, "All male guards and eunuchs, withdraw! No one is to approach the Imperial Garden, much less peek inside. Violators will be executed!" Since childhood, Ma Xiaoda had been sheltered and usually playful with us, never appearing like a future sovereign. At this crucial moment, his kingly aura manifested, truly possessing an imposing presence.

Bai Shi finally came running up, brandishing a long pole, "Crown Prince, the long pole is here! The long pole is here!"

Ma Xiaoda snatched it away and threw it on the ground, "The milk arrives after the child is dead! What were you doing before? Go immediately to Wencheng Wude Hall and bring Yunyao and Linglong!"

Bai Shi scurried off obediently. Everyone, regardless of gender, retreated, leaving only Ma Xiaoda and myself—the two with penises—remaining in the Imperial Garden. The Empress wept pitifully, "Imperial Physician Zhao, you are a doctor, quickly administer aid to the three princesses."

Ma Xiaoda also urged me, "What do you mean by convenience for a man? Saving lives is paramount; there's no time for such etiquette. I command you to proceed with your method immediately! As long as you can save all three of them, whatever you need to do is acceptable!"

I knew if I waited for Linglong and Yunyao to arrive, it might be too late. Since the Empress and Ma Xiaoda had spoken, I wouldn't be blamed later if they complained. I clapped my hands and called over a group of terrified palace maids, then instructed them, "Ladies, listen carefully to what I tell you to do. First point: keep the airway clear. You must immediately pry open the mouths and nostrils of the three to check for vomit or any foreign matter inside. Clear it out, then immediately strip the princesses of their clothing. Leave only the innermost layer, but undo all the buttons to prevent the clothes from obstructing breathing. Then send someone to find bedding and blankets to keep them warm. Hurry!"

The palace maids, though panicked, quickly executed the orders. The Empress Dowager was carried away after fainting. The Empress continued to weep to the side. The maids busily stripped the three princesses. I stepped forward to demonstrate the draining maneuver: supporting Ma Xiaowei from behind around her waist, positioning her face down over my knees with her back facing up, and then pressing her back to force the water from her stomach out.

Ma Xiaowei’s lower garment, a pair of underpants, was wet and clung tightly to her body. The root of her slender thighs swelled slightly. Her upper body wore a soaking wet red dudou (bodice), tightly adhering to her chest, making her beautiful breasts appear even more prominent. This position, caused by my maneuver, pressed her breasts against my thigh. However, I had no mood to notice at this moment. She was the least drowned; Xu Chen was the worst off. I'll focus on saving one first, lest I waste my life-saving elixir.

"Gah!" Ma Xiaowei spat out a large amount of foul liquid, followed by violent coughing. I handed her over to a waiting maid, instructing her, "Take good care of Princess Xiaowei. Have an imperial physician prescribe medicine for her later to prevent a cold."

The weeping Empress cried, "There are… there are two more! Imperial Physician Zhao, hurry and save them! Both are the Emperor's treasures; neither can die!"

Am I not more anxious than the Empress? My wife is in there! Following the method I demonstrated, the maids began their work, but Ma Xiaorui and Xu Chen had drowned too severely. Even after expelling the water from their stomachs, they did not regain consciousness.

Ma Xiaowei regained her senses and rushed crying towards her sister, but Ma Xiaorui was limp as if boneless. This terrified Ma Xiaowei even more, and she burst into louder tears. She spotted me nearby, and heedless of her body only being clad in a dudou, she grabbed my legs, "Imperial Physician Zhao, quickly save my sister Xiaorui, please save her!"

Damn it, I can’t wait for Linglong to bring the medicine box. Judging by Ma Xiaorui's condition, a couple of rounds of artificial respiration and chest compressions should revive her. Besides, she’s just a child; this level of contact is fine. Having a beauty like Ma Xiaowei clutching me and pleading was too much to bear.

I took Ma Xiaorui from the maid's hands and laid her flat on the ground. Then, following the perfectly correct method of artificial respiration taught to me in the military, I blew air into Ma Xiaorui’s mouth while simultaneously performing external chest compressions. After a few minutes, I tested Ma Xiaorui’s pulse—it was gradually returning. I blew twice more, and Ma Xiaorui coughed up water, spraying it all over my face. She woke up.

Ma Xiaowei hugged her sister, crying. Ma Xiaorui said, "Fifteenth Sister, what happened to me? My whole body aches... Cough, cough... Did someone blow air into my mouth just now, and also… touch me? You, you quickly tell the Imperial Brother to kill him!"

I wiped the foul water off my face, almost fainting. I just saved this girl, and now she wants me dead. Ma Xiaowei comforted Ma Xiaorui, "It's alright, don't think too much about it. Imperial Physician Zhao was saving you; otherwise, you would have ascended to the heavens by now. You should be grateful, how can you speak of killing your life-saver?"

Ma Xiaorui, though just awakened, still had spirit. "But he… he did that to me… D-do I even want to live anymore?"

Ma Xiaowei replied, "You are just a child, it’s nothing. Sister will carry you to change."

Ma Xiaorui finally noticed Ma Xiaowei's revealing attire. "Sister, you look so sexy. Imperial Sister Xu Chen? How is she?"

Ma Xiaowei said, "Don't worry, someone else cares about her even more than we do. She’ll be fine. If we don't change soon, Sister will freeze to death."

A maid draped blankets over the sisters, and they returned to their chambers to change. Ma Xiaoda spoke from behind me, "Zhao Qian, you are incredible. I checked the Sixteenth Sister’s pulse earlier; it was almost gone, but you revived her in a few moves. Truly saving the dying and healing the injured. Right, what about your own wife? Hurry up and save her too."

Thankfully, no one else overheard Ma Xiaoda’s words, but perhaps it didn't matter, as Cai Jingjing would surely tell Xu Chen what I had said. Currently, Cai Jingjing was weeping while hugging Xu Chen. "Chen Chen, don't leave me! We really were good friends before. In this world, you are my only family. Please don't leave me, okay?"

Ma Xiaoda stepped forward and addressed Cai Jingjing, "Miss Cai, stop crying. Make way quickly so Imperial Physician Zhao can save Imperial Sister Xu Chen. With a Divine Physician like him here, what are you afraid of? He can even save the dead."

Ma Xiaoda wasn't exaggerating. The reason I wasn't completely frantic was that Linglong carried my medicine pouch, which contained two spare life-saving needles. Even if Xu Chen were dead, I could still bring her back. However, I only brought ten of those needles in total, and I preferred not to use them unless necessary, as I didn't know what dangers lay ahead. Keeping one extra needle meant one extra chance at life for my own people.

Cai Jingjing suddenly snapped to attention, and her actions mirrored Ma Xiaowei’s. She threw herself onto me, clutching my leg and crying, "Supervisor Zhao, hurry and save Xu Chen! You said we were your wives; you wouldn't just watch her die, would you? Hurry and save her!"

I pulled Cai Jingjing up and said solemnly, "Don't be afraid, Jingjing. As long as I have a breath left in me, none of you will be in danger. No one can take your lives—not even Heaven!"

I knelt beside Xu Chen, first checking her heartbeat, then forcing her eyes open to look—her pupils were dilated. This was a sign of death. Even if I forcefully stimulated her heart to restart, it would likely be useless. I could only wait for Linglong to arrive.

Cai Jingjing anxiously grabbed my arm. "Is she alright? Hurry and save her! You just said you wouldn't let her be in danger."

I said, "Don't worry, Jingjing. Yunyao will be here soon with the life-saving needles, and then Chen Chen will be fine."

A guard called from outside, "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital are here. Should we let them in?"

The Empress said, "Quickly, let them in! There is still one person who hasn't woken up."

I knew there was no point in rushing now, so I moved to the side to wait patiently. But Cai Jingjing's concern made her frantic. She didn't know I had absolute certainty. Seeing the imperial physicians enter, she immediately rushed toward them, "Imperial Physicians, quickly save her!"

Although my title was Imperial Physician, I had never worked a single day in the Imperial Hospital, so I was quite unfamiliar with these colleagues. Two imperial physicians arrived, both elderly, around fifty or sixty, with graying beards, each followed by a young eunuch carrying a medicine box.

The two didn't greet me. After bowing to the Empress and the Crown Prince, they hurriedly examined Xu Chen. Their method was the same: check the pulse and observe the pupils. Finally, they exchanged a glance and delivered their diagnosis. One of them reported to the Empress, "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, Princess Xu Chen suffered severe drowning; she is beyond medical help. We ask Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to accept this misfortune with fortitude."

The Empress didn't have deep affection for Princess Xu Chen, but she knew the Emperor doted on her and worried about incurring his blame. She started weeping again, losing the composure of a matriarch. Ah, women are women after all, especially a young woman in her twenties like her; faced with a major crisis, she was flustered, unlike her eleven-year-old son who remained composed.

Ma Xiaoda was neither surprised nor panicked. He calmed his mother and then told the two imperial physicians, "Gentlemen, if you lack the skill to save the dead, do not speak rashly. Imperial Physician Zhao said Imperial Sister Xu Chen is fine, so she must be fine. You two can rest now."

The two imperial physicians stuck to their rigid principles. Confident in their superior medical skills in the Twin Cities Nation, they nevertheless re-examined the patient for due diligence, then countered, "Impossible for her to be fine! Your Highness the Crown Prince, the patient has lost her pulse, and her pupils are dilated—these are the clearest signs of death. If we, who have practiced medicine our entire lives, couldn't reach such a conclusion, wouldn't we become a laughingstock?

Ma Xiaoda retorted, "But I also felt the Fifteenth Imperial Sister's pulse earlier; she had none, yet Imperial Physician Zhao revived her with a few actions. His medical skill is naturally beyond what you people can match. Just wait and see."

It was the first time the two imperial physicians had encountered this fellow practitioner. Their gazes were filled with disdain. In their eyes, earning money through itinerant practice was shameful, disgracing not only the practitioner but also the Imperial Hospital. Thus, they held no favorable opinion of him. Moreover, reviving the dead was unheard of. How could they believe rumors from the common folk? Besides, how much skill could someone so young possibly possess? He probably knows very few characters.

The two imperial physicians remained unconvinced. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, if someone truly can revive Princess Xu Chen, we will willingly acknowledge him as the Medical Venerable henceforth. Hmph, such a person has likely not yet been born. Unless it is a Great Luo Celestial, a person with dilated pupils has no hope of survival."

I couldn't be bothered to argue with them, but Cai Jingjing took it seriously. She began to cry hysterically. Having finally found a relative, to lose her so suddenly—that feeling was heart-wrenching, and her tears caused my heart to ache too.

The guards outside the Imperial Garden called again, "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Eunuch Bai has brought Linglong and Yunyao to attend you."

Ma Xiaoda exclaimed happily, "Quickly let them in, let Imperial Physician Zhao take his medicine box and begin the rescue!"

Yunyao and Linglong entered almost flying; if not for fear of alarming the Imperial Guards into shooting arrows, Yunyao would have flown in with Linglong. "What happened, Master? Eunuch Bai said three princesses drowned."

I didn't have time for explanations. I immediately took Linglong's accompanying medicine pouch, opened the specialized medicine case, and drew out a life-saving Divine Needle. It was specially made from the blood-flower essence of Little Xue, guaranteed to revive the dead.

I exposed Xu Chen’s arm and inserted the needle. The water in her stomach had been mostly cleared by the maids. All that remained was for her body’s organs to resume function, and she would be fine. Of course, there was a flicker of apprehension in my heart: I worried whether this medicine had lost its efficacy during the transit through the wormhole. However, judging by the fact that other medicines were fine, the problem was likely minor.

Injecting medicine was an unfamiliar technique to the imperial physicians in the Twin Cities Nation, who relied solely on Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbal remedies. They couldn't comprehend what this blood-like liquid was, nor why it needed to be injected directly into the skin.

Ma Xiaoda was full of confidence, but I felt a trace of unease. Cai Jingjing anxiously stared at Xu Chen while holding her. Even the two imperial physicians by the side were tense. Rumors were rumors, but after witnessing the treatment method, they couldn't help but have doubts.

"Cough! Cough…" Xu Chen’s finger twitched slightly, followed by a weak cough. The first thing she did after being choked by water and revived was to clear her airway. Cai Jingjing burst into tears of excitement, hugging Xu Chen and calling out her name repeatedly.

Ma Xiaoda cheered, "I knew he was a Divine Physician! No one can doubt the halo above his head! Medical Venerable? Haha, that’s quite a title! Gentlemen, what else do you have to say?"

The two imperial physicians stared blankly. They approached again to check her pulse and pupils. All current signs indicated that this person was unequivocally alive, and just moments ago, she showed no signs of life. It must be that tube of red liquid—it was the divine water that saves lives! It seemed his title of Medical Venerable was well-deserved. In this world today, the only doctor capable of reviving the dead was this one man. Who would dare belittle him again?

The Empress also stopped crying and smiled, though she was confused. "Can the dead truly be brought back to life? I have complete faith in the medical skills of these two imperial physicians, but someone they pronounced dead can be revived—a miracle, a true miracle! Guards, grant—grant Imperial Physician Zhao heavy rewards!"

A palace maid nearby reminded the Empress, "Your Majesty the Empress, Divine Physician Zhao has already departed."

The Empress paused. "He saved three princesses; this is an unparalleled achievement, and he left without claiming merit—truly a remarkable talent. I must recommend him to the Emperor. With such a genius assisting Xiaoda, Xiaoda's future foundation will surely be stable. Guards, find Zhang Guan for me! His negligence this time must not go unpunished!"

Xu Chen waking up proved that the medicine had not lost its potency during the transit through the wormhole. I finally breathed a deep sigh of relief. I quietly pulled Linglong and Yunyao up, holding the two massive escape pods, and left the Imperial Garden. There was no point in staying longer. I had already explained things to Cai Jingjing; I trust she will relay them to Xu Chen. As for whether they believe it, there is nothing I can do. As long as Xu Chen’s life is not in danger, I am relieved. My current priorities are forming the pistol squad and repairing the escape pods.

Linglong asked me, puzzled, as we walked, "Master, this was the best opportunity to get close to Xu Chen and Cai Jingjing. Why did you leave quietly? At this moment, they are immensely grateful to you; you could very likely take advantage of the situation to conquer their hearts."

Yunyao glanced at me and explained to Linglong, "Linglong, rewarding kindness without seeking return has always been Zhao Dage's principle. He wants to reclaim the pure, unconditional love Xu Chen and Jingjing once had for him, not have them repay him out of gratitude."

"It's such a hassle," Linglong said. "In the end, as long as those two are back by your side, that should be enough. You adults always complicate things so much."

Drenched from the earlier commotion of saving lives, a wave of cold washed over me as the tension finally eased. I shivered. "Let's not worry about that right now. They are safe within the Imperial Palace anyway. We need to hurry back to the Imperial Stables; far more important matters await our attention."

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