News spread quickly in the palace. In no time at all, even the inner palace had heard about it.
Princess Yongjia wanted to leave the palace but was stopped by her maid.
"Your Highness, the Duke Zhenguo's estate must be in chaos right now. It is best that you do not go."
Calming down, Xiao Yongjia stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing. "You are right. My going there now would only add to the confusion. Leave the palace immediately and keep an eye on the Duke Zhenguo's estate. If anything happens, return and tell me at once."
The maid nodded vigorously. After helping Xiao Yongjia to sit on the couch, she immediately left the palace.
Gu Jupu stared fixedly at the branches that trembled with Duke Zhenguo's every breath. He clenched his jaw in distress, the fingers resting on the duke's wrist trembling slightly, his heart exceedingly heavy.
The branches were embedded deeply. Pulling them out would inevitably cause unstoppable bleeding.
The blood vessels inside were definitely injured. If the bleeding could not be stopped, they could only wait for death.
Behind him, over a dozen imperial physicians huddled together discussing the condition. Everyone's face was very solemn, and they would occasionally shake their heads and sigh.
The oppressive atmosphere made it even harder for the already devastated Chu family to accept.
Chu Liuyun's dark gaze fell straight upon the unconscious Duke Zhenguo. His rugged eye sockets, tempered by the flames of war, were now thoroughly red.
He originally thought that as long as he was alive, he could be saved, but he never expected it to be this difficult.
"Director Gu?"
The gray-haired Gu Jupu stood up to face Chu Liuyun, his dry lips pressed into a straight line.
He pointed to the two branches piercing Duke Zhenguo's body and said, "This one above the collarbone is inserted over an inch deep; the bleeding is not too severe. However, the one in the abdomen has penetrated two inches into the body and trembles with his breathing, likely injuring the blood vessels of the internal organs. Once pulled out, he will inevitably bleed out and die on the spot."
"This humble official truly does not know where to start. I must ask Madam Duke Zhenguo and Duke Qing to restrain your grief."
Director Gu's words had essentially sentenced Duke Zhenguo to death. In the next room, the Old Madam, unable to bear the shock, was still unconscious, and here her son was about to die.
Chu Liuyun asked with difficulty, a trace of pleading in his voice.
"Is there really no other way to stop the bleeding?"
Gu Jupu shook his head again. "There is no way to stop the bleeding in this situation. It is already a blessing from the gods that Duke Zhenguo has held on until now. If we pull them out, he will die immediately."
Madam Duke Zhenguo covered her tear-filled eyes with a handkerchief and choked out, "And if we don't pull them out?"
Gu Jupu lowered his head. "It will happen today. A cup of tea's time at the fastest, an hour at the slowest."
The eunuch standing behind the crowd turned pale. This meant he could not be saved and they needed to prepare for the funeral.
The moment the palace staff left, Madam Duke Zhenguo's long-suppressed emotions could no longer be controlled, and she wailed out loud. Disregarding the propriety between men and women, she cried and grabbed Gu Jupu's arm, about to kneel.
"Director Gu, I beg you to think of another way. The Old Madam is advanced in years. If the Duke passes, I fear the old lady won't survive this ordeal. Please, look carefully again."
How could Gu Jupu accept such a grand gesture from a first-rank titled lady? He hastily crouched down to support Madam Duke Zhenguo.
"Madam, this humble official truly cannot bear such a great courtesy. If he could be saved, I would do so even if it meant exhausting all my medical skills. But right now, there is truly nothing I can do."
Chu Liuyun stepped forward and embraced the devastated Madam Duke Zhenguo. His arms shook violently, unable to accept that his father, who was full of life just this morning, was now going to die.
Madam Duke Zhenguo lay in Chu Liuyun's arms, weeping bitterly.
Forcing herself to hold on, Old Madam Chu stumbled into the room. Seeing the continuous weeping, she unacceptably pushed everyone aside and threw herself at Duke Zhenguo's bedside.
Looking at her unconscious son, her wrinkle-filled eyes trembled violently.
She scolded loudly, roaring with a blood-laced voice, "The man isn't dead yet, why are you mourning? Go and invite all the doctors in the capital. I don't believe no one can save my son!"
Chu Liuyun, holding Madam Duke Zhenguo, suddenly widened his dead, pain-filled eyes, his cracked lips parting slightly.
He gently pushed Madam Duke Zhenguo aside and, as if grasping at a lifeline, said to Gu Jupu, "Keep my father alive. I am going to find Song Jinzhao. She cured Ye Liangyu's leg; her medical skills are better than the imperial physicians'."
Watching Chu Liuyun rush out like the wind, shoving past all the imperial physicians, everyone in the room was first stunned, then dazed, and finally, a sliver of hope involuntarily sprouted in their hearts.
Gu Jupu looked blankly at his dozen or so subordinates. "Was Duke Qing referring to County Princess Linghui?"
Imperial Physician Xu nodded somewhat hesitantly. "It should be."
Inside the Imperial Study, Xiao Rongyan stood before Xiao Chengjing, his lower half dripping wet. The mix of cold and heat made him shiver uncontrollably.
Seeing that although his face was pale, he didn't have a single injury on his body, the Emperor was finally completely relieved.
Thinking of Duke Zhenguo's severe injuries, and that the Prince of Ying was someone he himself had pushed into the military camp, if the man died, the Chu family might harbor resentment. He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened? Was Duke Zhenguo injured trying to save you?"
At this moment, Xiao Rongyan's mind was in utter chaos. Facing the Emperor's inquiry, he spoke the words he had prepared in advance.
"On the way back, your son was attacked by a leopard, which spooked the horse. To save your son, Duke Zhenguo fell down a steep slope with me. In desperation, he pushed your son up first. Just as I hugged a tree trunk and tried to pull him up, the snow from the mountain rushed down and swept him away. By the time he was found, he was already terribly injured."
The Emperor frowned deeply. "Duke Zhenguo's life is hanging by a thread because he saved you. By reason and emotion, you should immediately go to the Duke Zhenguo's estate to keep watch. Do not change out of these clothes."
Xiao Rongyan swallowed nervously. "Your son will go at once."
"Your Majesty, terrible news! Director Gu says he cannot be saved and has told the Duke Zhenguo's estate to prepare for the funeral." A eunuch ran in frantically, his inner garments soaked with sweat.
Xiao Rongyan's face turned pale. His feet felt glued to the floor, unsure for a moment whether he should still go.
The Imperial Study became incredibly quiet, with only the sound of the Emperor repeatedly tapping his fingers on the desk.
Inside Biluo Palace.
"The imperial physicians have told them to prepare for the funeral, saying he won't last an hour. Old Madam Chu couldn't handle the shock and has fainted several times. Right now, the Duke Zhenguo's estate is in complete chaos."
Hearing the maid's report, Xiao Yongjia stood stiffly in place for a long time.
She asked, her voice floating, "How is Brother Liuyun doing?"
Maid: "Duke Qing looks very devastated and is still begging the imperial physicians to continue treating him, but I'm afraid it is to no avail."
Inside the County Princess's estate, Song Jinzhao sat on the heated brick bed, instructing Lanxi to send someone to Daohua Manor tomorrow.
"Have the stewards of Daohua Manor and Shiquan Manor come to the estate the day after tomorrow. I want to see them."
She did not plan to continue renting the fields to tenant farmers next year, and she needed to give the two stewards a heads-up regarding their arrangements in advance.
Lanxi nodded in agreement and then turned to report another matter.
"The shop on Qipan Street was taken back this morning. The craftsmen responsible for renovating the shop have all been finalized. According to the blueprints you provided, County Princess, aside from the hot pot restaurant on Zhuque Street which requires a month, the other four shops can be finished before the new year."
Song Jinzhao: "How is the training of the servants bought for the estate going?"
Lanxi: "The people to be assigned to the shops have basically all been decided. We are currently preparing for the second phase of professional training."
