Two quarters of an hour later, Dean Wang followed Jiang Quan to Shou'an Palace and first paid respects to Emperor Guangxi.
Emperor Guangxi, looking anxious, told him not to be overly formal and quickly tend to the Empress Dowager's pulse.
The curtain had already been drawn down by a palace maid, revealing only a withered wrist. Dean Wang placed a thin cloth over the Empress Dowager's pulse before extending his hand to diagnose.
Not long after, he withdrew his hand, taking the cloth back with him.
Afraid to disturb the Empress Dowager's rest, Dean Wang bowed and said to Emperor Guangxi, "May I have a word with Your Majesty privately."
Emperor Guangxi, hands behind his back, walked to the outer hall.
Dean Wang spoke truthfully, "In response to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's heart pulse is weak and depleted, a sign that her time is near; no medicine can cure this."
