The Disease Has Attacked the Vitals

In the Spring and Autumn Period, King Jing of the State of Jin fell ill. One night he dreamed that the disease turned into two small figures talking beside him. One said, "I'm afraid the doctor will hurt us." The other said, "Don't worry. We can hide above huang and below gao. Then the doctor will be able to do nothing to us." The next day, having examined the king, the doctor said, "Your disease is incurable, I am afraid, Your Majesty. It's above huang and below gao, where no medicine can reach." 

春秋时代，晋景公生了病。病中梦见自己的疾病变成两个小人再他旁边谈话。一个说：“我害怕医生会伤害我们。”另一个说：“不要怕，我们躲到肓的上面，膏的下面，医生能把我们怎样！”第二天，医生来给他诊断病情时说：“你的病没法子治啦！病在肓上面，膏的下面，药剂的效力无法到达了。” 

This idiom indicates a hopeless condition. 

病入膏肓这个成语比喻事情已经非常严重，到了不可挽救的程度。