Volume One, Chapter 19: A Day Becomes Ten Years—Reviving the Sudden Death of Zhu Biao

The Time-Space Divine Doctor System appeared before Xia Jingtian.

[Revive Zhu Biao to receive a reward.]

Xia Jingtian immediately purchased an AED from the store.

An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a portable medical device. It can diagnose certain cardiac arrhythmias and deliver electric shocks for defibrillation. It is designed for use by non-professionals to rescue patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.

“Your father has just suffered a sudden cardiac death!” Xia Jingtian said with a grave expression.

“What? My father has died suddenly? Divine Doctor Xia, you must save him!” Zhu Xiongying pleaded anxiously.

“Take off his outerwear. I need to perform emergency treatment quickly!” Xia Jingtian ordered.

He went to the medicine cabinet, opened it, and found the AED. Hastily, he took it out.

At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma rushed in hurriedly from outside.

“Xiongying, how is your father?” Empress Ma asked with concern.

“Grandmother, Divine Doctor Xia says my father has died suddenly!” Zhu Xiongying replied with tears in his voice.

Xia Jingtian then attached the electrodes of the AED onto Zhu Biao’s body.

“What? The young master is dead! Divine Doctor Xia, please, you must save him!” Zhu Yuanzhang said anxiously.

“I’m starting now. Step back three meters!” Xia Jingtian said as he worked swiftly, turning on the AED and pressing the button.

Crack!

An electric shock surged through Zhu Biao’s body, causing him to jerk up from the bed.

“Biao’er!”

“Young master!”

“Grandfather, grandmother, let Divine Doctor Xia save father!”

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma tried to approach, but Zhu Xiongying stopped them, urging them to step back.

Crack! Crack!

Xia Jingtian administered two more electric shocks to Zhu Biao’s body. Soon after, Zhu Biao trembled all over and opened his eyes, regaining consciousness.

“He’s awake!” Xia Jingtian said, still shaken by the close call.

It had been extremely dangerous moments ago. Upon seeing Zhu Biao’s sudden cardiac death, Xia Jingtian had chosen to buy the AED rather than perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, ultimately saving him.

“My father is alive again! That’s wonderful!” Zhu Xiongying said joyfully.

“Biao’er, you’re alive again! That’s so great!” Empress Ma said excitedly as she rushed to his bedside.

Xia Jingtian then turned on a mini medical ECG monitor, clipping the sensor onto Zhu Biao’s finger and placing the electrode pad over his heart.

After a moment, the monitor displayed the ECG, blood oxygen, pulse rate, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature.

The heart rate was 120 beats per minute—slightly faster than the normal range of 60 to 100. Other readings were normal.

Using a stethoscope, Xia Jingtian listened to Zhu Biao’s heart and found everything normal except for the elevated heart rate.

He then took out some fast-acting heart pills and gave them to Zhu Biao.

“Thank you, Divine Doctor Xia, for saving me!” Zhu Biao said in astonishment.

“How is our young master, Divine Doctor Xia? He was fine just now—why did he suddenly suffer cardiac arrest?” Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously.

“It’s most likely due to excessive stress or emotional agitation triggering heart disease, which led to sudden death. By the way, why do you all look so aged? Xiongying has grown up so much!” Xia Jingtian inquired.

At this moment, Xia Jingtian noticed that Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma had aged considerably; their temples were grayed, their faces lined with wrinkles, and their postures stooped, lacking their former radiance.

“Since the last time I took Xiongying away from the clinic, the Moon Gate suddenly disappeared. Its absence lasted for ten years, during which Xiongying grew up and we all grew old,” Empress Ma explained.

“Because of the matter with Lan Yu, father quarreled with grandfather and was so upset he died! I sent someone to find the imperial physician and found the Moon Gate of the clinic appeared again, so I brought father back inside. Fortunately, it was timely, and he was saved!” Zhu Xiongying explained.

Only then did Xia Jingtian realize that Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang had quarreled over Lan Yu, which had angered Zhu Biao to the point of sudden death.

“That scoundrel Lan Yu, after pacifying the northwest, suggested to the emperor to recruit local commoners as soldiers to subdue the Dongan and Baiyi minority tribes. I opposed this and ordered the troops to return. Biao’er disagreed with me and intended to approve Lan Yu’s plan to attack those tribes,” Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly.

“That Lan Yu is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Biao’er is just too kind-hearted,” Zhu Yuanzhang remarked.

“Father, Duke of Liang has fought for the Ming for many years. How can you doubt him?” Zhu Biao retorted indignantly.

Xia Jingtian sensed a rift in their views.

Zhu Biao wanted Lan Yu to recruit soldiers to resolve their concerns, while Zhu Yuanzhang was wary of Lan Yu, fearing he might use this opportunity to expand his forces, seize territory, and rebel.

“Enough! Both of you stop arguing. Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince’s health is precarious and he needs rest. If he gets upset again, he might suffer sudden death once more! I may not be able to save him again,” Xia Jingtian said firmly, hoping to prevent further conflict between Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang.

“Chongba, listen to Divine Doctor Xia. Let the young master rest and recover. Thank you, Divine Doctor Xia! Ten years have passed, and you still look so young—no change at all!” Empress Ma quickly changed the subject, cleverly directing the conversation towards Xia Jingtian.

She was amazed that after ten years without seeing Xia Jingtian, he looked exactly the same as over a decade ago.

Xia Jingtian explained, “The time flow in this clinic is different from yours. You all just left yesterday—only one day has passed for me. But in your timeline, ten years have elapsed.”

“What? Only one day?” Zhu Yuanzhang and the others exchanged glances, suddenly understanding why Xia Jingtian hadn’t aged in ten years—they had only been apart for a day in the clinic’s time.

“This clinic is truly miraculous!” Zhu Xiongying exclaimed.

“Divine Doctor Xia has saved our eldest grandson, our daughter, and now the young master. Zhu Yuanzhang is deeply grateful and has no way to repay you. Whatever you ask, we will agree to,” Zhu Yuanzhang said sincerely.

“I and this clinic’s appearance have already altered the history of this timeline by saving these three. If Ming is to prosper, I have a plan—but I fear Your Majesty may not agree,” Xia Jingtian pondered aloud.

Upon hearing a plan that could bring prosperity to Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang became intrigued.

“Divine Doctor Xia, please tell us! What is your plan to make Ming flourish?” Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously.

“To make Ming prosperous is actually quite simple: let the Crown Prince ascend the throne as emperor, while His Majesty becomes the Retired Emperor and no longer interferes in state affairs,” Xia Jingtian said directly.

Zhu Xiongying and Empress Ma were shocked by Xia Jingtian’s suggestion.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Xia Jingtian solemnly, then glanced at Zhu Biao lying on the bed, whose face was pale and filled with apprehension. He remained silent.