“Master, I can help too,” Hu San also called out eagerly.
The senior disciple hesitated. Medical techniques were always kept secret, not passed to anyone outside the school. Without an invitation, even though his master was participating, as a disciple he…
“Good. A’Ru, take them to change clothes and sterilize,” Qi Yue said.
A’Ru nodded.
“Follow me,” she said, turning to leave.
Liu Pucheng and Hu San hurried after her. The senior disciple stood uncertainly for a moment, then gritted his teeth and followed.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness miraculous medical techniques firsthand—even if it meant losing face, he couldn’t miss it.
“Everyone please leave. I need to prepare for surgery,” Qi Yue called out loudly, raising her hands.
The room erupted in chaos.
“Really going to open the abdomen?” everyone was discussing.
For ordinary people, cutting open a person’s belly meant certain death. For the doctors, their theories told them it was possible, but that only existed in books—distant, almost legendary. In practice, none had ever seen it. Where had this young woman learned such medical skills that she dared attempt such a thing?
“Get out, everyone out!” The magistrate, most concerned about his son’s life and death, immediately began driving people out upon hearing Qi Yue’s words.
When he spoke, Marquis Dingxi also snapped back to reality and commanded the nearly stupefied servants to clear the area. Soon everyone was driven out.
Qi Yue directed the servants to set up the operating room. This time, with no medicine to rely on, every move had to be perfect and careful.
Two tables were pushed together and placed in the center of the main hall.
A’Ru brought in the sterilized Liu Pucheng and Hu San.
“I don’t have anti-inflammatory medicine. I need the kind of herbal medicine that can disinfect, fight bacteria, and reduce inflammation. Traditional Chinese medicine must have some, right?” Qi Yue asked Liu Pucheng.
“Disinfect, fight bacteria, reduce inflammation?” Liu Pucheng was unfamiliar with these terms and frowned thoughtfully.
“It’s for treating carbuncles, boils, sores, and festering wounds… like… like…” Qi Yue anxiously searched her memory for Chinese medicine terminology. “Like purple flower violet!”
She said this term, but saw the people in front of her still looked blank.
“Purple flower violet? What is that?” Liu Pucheng asked with a frown.
“Ah?” Now it was Qi Yue’s turn to look confused. “You don’t have it here? It’s a medicinal herb.”
“I’ve never heard of it…” Liu Pucheng shook his head.
Qi Yue was dumbfounded.
“However, for treating carbuncles, boils, sores, and festering wounds, I commonly use sophora root, phellodendron bark, cnidium seeds, and the like,” Liu Pucheng added. “I wonder if they would work?”
Whether they’ll work or not, I don’t know either, Qi Yue thought to herself. With time running short and treating this as a last resort anyway, let’s try it.
Liu Pucheng immediately considered and wrote a prescription, handing it to his senior disciple who hurried off to prepare it.
Qi Yue continued explaining to Liu Pucheng the possible complications during surgery and what needed to be prepared.
“Although the bleeding has stopped, there’s definitely blood in the abdomen. Without suction, we can only use gauze and cotton,” Qi Yue said.
Hu San quickly wrote this down.
“Then there’s anti-shock treatment…” Qi Yue said.
After several interactions with Qi Yue, Liu Pucheng had become familiar with her terminology and understood what shock meant.
“Ginseng Four Adversities Decoction,” he immediately told Hu San beside him.
Hu San quickly noted this down. When Qi Yue said to go prepare it quickly, he and A’Ru flew out like birds.
Soon all preparations for surgery were complete, but another problem arose during the clearing of the room.
The magistrate and his wife absolutely refused to leave, insisting on staying to personally watch their son’s surgery.
“Your presence here will interfere with my work. You can’t stand the sight of blood and flesh—you’ll be frightened…” Qi Yue patiently tried to persuade them.
“But if I don’t watch, I really won’t feel at ease. I promise I won’t interfere,” the magistrate’s wife cried.
Everyone said this, but even for modern people, despite extensive media coverage, seeing surgical scenes could still be frightening, let alone these ancient people who had never witnessed such bloody medical procedures. Just think of A’Ru’s mother last time—she fainted on the spot.
Qi Yue patiently explained.
“But no matter what, if I don’t see it with my own eyes, I won’t feel at ease,” the magistrate’s wife finally shouted out what was in her heart.
The magistrate’s face showed the same firm determination.
“In that case, please take the young master and leave,” Chang Yuncheng’s voice came from behind the crowd.
The crowd parted, and Qi Yue saw Chang Yuncheng walking forward step by step.
“Since you’re unwilling to trust her, then seek help elsewhere,” he said, stopping at the steps.
The magistrate and his wife were embarrassed by these words.
“How can you speak like that?” Madam Xie couldn’t help but scold her son for the first time. She didn’t know why she suddenly spoke this way. Previously, in her eyes and heart, whatever Chang Yuncheng did was right—all she had to do was listen to him without having to worry about anything. Perhaps it was because her son would speak up for this woman…
Madam Xie felt a mixture of emotions. She glanced at Chang Yuncheng, then at Qi Yue standing opposite him, feeling as if she’d been stabbed and turned away.