Madam Zhenguo looked up at Chu Liuyun; she could not make a decision.
Being supported, Dowager Duchess Chu nodded heavily without hesitation. "Pull it out. As long as there is hope, pull it out."
Chu Liuyun stared intently at Song Jinzhao, his eyes filled with not only dry tears but also pleading. "I leave it to you, County Princess."
Seeing that the Chu family had all agreed, an imperial physician standing to the side muttered softly, "If you pull it out, won't he just die?"
Song Jinzhao glanced at the imperial physician whose eyes were full of disapproval. "It's better than dying doing nothing. There are too many people in the room; everyone get out."
"Prepare boiling hot water, and close all the windows."
Gu Jupu took a step forward and bowed with cupped hands to Song Jinzhao. "County Princess Linghui, could you allow this humble official to observe?"
Song Jinzhao raised her eyes and swept a glance over them. "Only two people can stay."
Dowager Duchess Chu grabbed the momo's hand and walked toward Song Jinzhao. "Could you let this old woman stay here?"
As she spoke, her tears burst out. "I'm afraid I won't be able to see my son for the last time."
Song Jinzhao patiently said to Dowager Duchess Chu, "The scene will be very bloody when I perform the surgery. I am afraid you won't be able to bear it, Dowager Duchess."
"Family members are easily agitated when present. If his life hangs by a thread, I worry you will affect the surgery."
Chu Liuyun stepped forward to support Dowager Duchess Chu. He said to Song Jinzhao, "Alright, we will go out. My father is in your hands, County Princess."
In the end, besides Song Jinzhao and Song Shixue, the only ones left in the room were Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu, who stayed to observe and help hold down Duke Zhenguo.
The large chest they brought was opened. Song Shixue took out two protective suits and handed them to Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu. "Put these on."
All the tools in the chest were brought from Anyang Prefecture. They had not expected that the first time they would be used would be on the highly positioned and powerful Duke Zhenguo.
Imperial Physician Xu looked blankly at the cotton and linen garment in his hands. The outside was slippery, as if coated with a layer of oil wax.
The wound on Duke Zhenguo's head had already been treated by Imperial Physician Xu, who arrived first. After careful judgment, Song Jinzhao decided to extract the branch inserted above the collarbone first.
The sharp scalpel cut a cross-shaped incision above the collarbone, and fresh blood quickly dyed the gauze packed around it red.
Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu, who stood to the side holding down Duke Zhenguo's limbs, stared unblinkingly at Song Jinzhao's hand movements. Both held their breath, their hearts beating wildly.
Compared to the branch inserted into the abdomen, extracting this one first was indeed much less risky. The difficult one was the one below.
As the wound was cut open, the rough head of the branch was exposed, and the flesh inside had already been slightly mangled.
Song Jinzhao said coldly, "Silver needles."
Song Shixue, who had prepared them long ago, immediately handed the silver needles into her hand.
The acupoints around the collarbone, along with the shoulder blades and chest, were all sealed by Song Jinzhao with silver needles.
Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu widened their eyes in shock; the bleeding around the wound had significantly decreased.
One must know that acupuncture is a very high-level and precise operation. Some acupoints cannot be easily touched, as it is extremely dangerous and can cost a person's life.
But in the hands of County Princess Linghui, how could the needle insertion be so decisive and rapid, and even stop the bleeding? They had never seen such a thing.
Song Jinzhao slowly pulled out the branch inserted above the collarbone. Grayish-black wood chips fell into the flesh, and the scalpel smoothly scooped away all the mangled, rotting flesh nearby.
Blood wandered around the wound like silk threads. When they saw Song Shixue take out a tray of threaded needles and hand it to Song Jinzhao, Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu were completely astounded, their faces entirely blank.
Was she going to use thread to sew up the bleeding points? It was simply unbelievable, and this needle was not straight, but curved.
They saw Song Jinzhao pick up the curved needle with a clamp that looked like scissors.
As the silver needle, fine as a hair, passed through the bright red flesh, there was no pause, no hesitation. Song Jinzhao's movements were so fast they left an afterimage, and even breathing seemed to stop.
The bleeding points were completely covered by the rolled flesh. Song Jinzhao nimbly turned the needle head to tie a knot, and Song Shixue used scissors to cut the catgut.
Song Jinzhao put down the needle holder and turned to use tweezers to pick up gauze and absorb all the blood at the wound.
The silver needles sealing the acupoints were removed. Her gaze fell on the sutured area, and seeing that it was no longer bleeding, Song Jinzhao finally felt relieved.
Then she quickly picked up a new needle and thread to suture the outer layer of cut flesh. Crystal clear sweat beaded on her forehead. Upon seeing this, Song Shixue immediately used gauze to wipe her sweat.
In the room, apart from the sound of surgical tools being put down, Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu did not even dare to breathe too loudly, afraid of affecting Song Jinzhao's hand movements.
The Chu family standing outside the room kept their eyes fixed on the door, not daring to look away. Their chests felt as if pressed by a large stone, not daring to relax, afraid that Duke Zhenguo would pass away in the next second.
Madam Zhenguo nervously clenched her hands into fists and placed them against her chest. "Why is there no sound at all? I wonder how the situation is."
Chu Liuyun placed his hand on his mother's shoulder and comforted her in a hoarse voice, "No sound is the best news."
Otherwise, they would have rushed out shouting that the person was dead.
Using the scalpel to cut open a slit in the abdominal wound, the exposed length made Song Jinzhao frown.
It pierced too deeply, and there were blood vessels all around. One slight misstep, and the person would be gone.
Duke Zhenguo had already lost too much blood. The speed had to be fast, and the bleeding had to be minimal, otherwise even if the branch was taken out, the person would probably have a hard time waking up.
Moreover, with such a severe injury, subsequent recovery would also be a major problem. If he couldn't survive it, everything done now would be in vain.
The depth to which the branch had pierced made Imperial Physician Xu gasp. The wounds they treated had never reached this depth.
Could he still live?
Song Shixue took out all the gauze from the chest and placed it close at hand, her heart already in her throat.
The wound was too deep; silver needles could no longer be effective for stopping the bleeding. The speed had to be fast.
The moment the branch was pulled out, fresh blood gushed forth. Gu Jupu and Imperial Physician Xu, standing to the side, subconsciously closed their eyes. Blood sprayed onto the white cotton and linen protective suits, making the scene extremely bloody.
In a split second, Song Jinzhao did not hesitate at all. She immediately put the clamp and the branch in her hands into the tray.
Her gloved right hand reached straight into the wound, her fingers quickly searching for the bleeding points inside the abdomen.
Her middle finger touched a spot where the bleeding decreased, and she immediately pressed down with a little force.
None of the four people present had a clean face, and Song Jinzhao's was especially the worst.
Blood sprayed onto her face and slid down her cheeks. Song Shixue, ignoring herself, hurriedly used gauze to wipe it.
Her thick, slightly curled eyelashes were stained with blood droplets. Song Jinzhao slightly closed her eyes to let Song Shixue wipe the blood away.
Her calm and sharp gaze fell on Duke Zhenguo; she could not let go now.
