Dongfang Yukun changed the subject, his eyes shifting as he looked at Song Qiming. "How is Duke Zhenguo? Rumor outside has it that he's dying."
Song Qiming shook his head. "My elder sister hasn't returned yet. I heard from my younger sister that the surgery was a success, but because Duke Zhenguo was injured too severely, the next few days will be critical. If he makes it through, he'll be fine; if not, it's hard to say."
Dongfang Yukun asked in confusion, "What is this surgery you speak of? I heard the entire Imperial Academy of Medicine was helpless, and in the end, your sister saved him."
Song Qiming furrowed his brows, looking a bit troubled. "My elder sister taught all her medical skills to my younger sister, so I don't know much about it. It seems they use a knife to cut open the stomach, take out the branches that pierced inside, and then sew it up with a needle and thread."
Dongfang Yukun had never killed anyone and couldn't quite imagine the scene.
"I heard before that Vice Censor-in-Chief Ye's legs were cured by County Princess Linghui. I didn't expect her to be this incredible."
"The imperial physicians all said Duke Zhenguo could live for an hour at most. The fact that the County Princess has kept him alive until now is already amazing."
He chuckled playfully, "If Duke Zhenguo truly recovers, the threshold of the County Princess's estate will probably be trampled flat by all the nobles in the capital."
Song Qiming replied, "It's not like everyone gets rare and complicated diseases. There are so many doctors in the capital, and imperial physicians in the palace. People wouldn't seek my sister out for minor illnesses or pains. If everything were left to her alone, she wouldn't be able to handle it all."
Dongfang Yukun nodded slightly. "You have a point. After all, given County Princess Linghui's status, ordinary people wouldn't be able to invite her anyway."
The main gates of Duke Zhenguo's estate remained closed throughout the entire day, and the maids and servants inside kept as quiet as winter cicadas.
Just as the sky grew dark and everyone in the estate began to have dinner, Duke Zhenguo, who was lying on the bed, slowly opened his eyes.
His wife, who had been guarding by his side, threw herself at the bedside in pleasant surprise and cried out, "Husband, you're awake!"
Chu Liuyun, who was standing in the outer room, quickly lifted the curtain and ran in. Their eyes met, and the heavy stone hanging in his heart was finally lifted.
Duke Zhenguo had just tried to turn his head when he realized his entire body ached.
The flesh on his neck and stomach felt a sharp, twisting pain as if pierced by knife tips. The agony contorted his features and made him almost bite through the roots of his teeth.
"Don't move, be careful not to tear your wounds open," Song Jinzhao said as she walked in and pressed down on his shoulder.
"The effects of the anesthesia have mostly worn off over the night. I can apply a little more to the surface wounds, but you'll just have to endure the pain deep inside your flesh."
Duke Zhenguo opened his eyes in pain. After seeing clearly that it was Song Jinzhao, he asked in confusion, "Why is the County Princess here?"
His wife carefully and gently placed her hand over the back of Duke Zhenguo's hand.
Choking back sobs, she explained, "The County Princess saved you. Yesterday, many people from the Imperial Academy of Medicine came and said you couldn't be saved. Thank goodness Liuyun eventually invited County Princess Linghui over, which managed to save your life."
Duke Zhenguo hadn't expected Song Jinzhao to be the one who saved him. When he was delirious yesterday, he vaguely heard many people talking, but he couldn't open his eyes and didn't know exactly what was happening in his daze. Later, he had passed out completely.
"Thank you, County Princess, for saving my life. My whole body is hurting terribly right now, what is going on?"
Song Jinzhao reached out to check his pupils. "I made two incisions, one in your supraclavicular fossa and one on your abdomen. The internal wounds haven't healed yet, so it will keep hurting and you'll have to bear with it."
"Your forehead is cut, the back of your head was bleeding, the muscles in your left hand are severely strained, and your shoulder has a minor dislocation. Of course it hurts everywhere."
The more he listened, the dizzier Duke Zhenguo felt. Thinking of the kick he received from Prince Ying, and how the prince had ignored his warnings to hunt the stag, which ultimately led to this situation, he grew even angrier.
Seeing his breathing become rapid, Song Jinzhao reminded him, "The next few days are crucial. You need to rest and recover properly now. Speak less and don't move around. If your wounds tear open and bleed, it will be disastrous."
Waking up meant that his bodily functions were operating normally. As for wound infections during the upcoming recovery period, they would have to be suppressed with medicine.
Before the sky turned completely dark, Gu Jupu rushed to the palace in a horse carriage.
"Your Majesty, Duke Zhenguo has awakened." After entering the imperial study, he joyfully knelt down and bowed to the Emperor.
Xiao Chengjing straightened his back, not expecting that Song Jinzhao had actually managed to save Duke Zhenguo.
"How is Duke Zhenguo's condition now?"
Gu Jupu replied, "The County Princess said the next few days are critical, but in my humble opinion, there is basically no major issue left. His life is definitely secure."
Xiao Chengjing nodded. "You have worked hard these past two days. You may step down."
Gu Jupu had just left the imperial study when someone blocked his path.
With a face full of surprise, he bowed to the suddenly appearing Xiao Yongjia. "It is getting late, why is Her Highness the Princess here?"
Xiao Yongjia looked at Gu Jupu and said, "I just wanted to ask you how Duke Zhenguo is doing now."
Duke Zhenguo's estate was closed to guests, so she couldn't get any news. Knowing that Gu Jupu was entering the palace, she immediately ran over from Baohua Hall to intercept him.
Gu Jupu let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. "Please rest assured, Your Highness. Duke Zhenguo has already awakened."
Xiao Yongjia let out a deep sigh of relief, the tension she had maintained all day finally relaxing.
"It's good that he is awake. Buddha bless him, he is finally alright."
Early the next morning, when Song Jinzhao finally left Duke Zhenguo's estate, the news spread rapidly through the city as if it had grown wings.
However, Duke Zhenguo's estate still kept its doors closed to guests, with only the servants in charge of the kitchen going in and out through the back door.
Using his father's severe illness as a reason, Chu Liuyun requested a half-month leave from the Ministry of Personnel all at once. Combined with the New Year court recess, he wouldn't have to attend the morning court for over twenty days.
Just when everyone thought the matter would pass like this, news began to spread through the city that Prince Ying's stubborn insistence on hunting an elk had caused Duke Zhenguo to nearly lose his life while trying to save him.
Inside the imperial study, Xiao Chengjing smashed a memorial onto Prince Ying's head.
"What did you tell me? Something about encountering a leopard that startled your horse and made you fall off! It's clear that you refused to listen to advice and insisted on shooting some elk. Go outside and listen to how the commoners in the capital are talking about you. You've completely disgraced me!"
Kneeling on the ground, Xiao Rongyan struggled to explain, "I just wanted to hunt a stag to present to Imperial Father to nourish your body. Who knew I would be so unlucky? If that leopard hadn't suddenly appeared, my horse wouldn't have been startled, and everything else wouldn't have happened."
Xiao Chengjing scolded him sternly, "Shut up! It's obvious you wanted to eat it yourself. My health is perfectly fine, I don't need you to send me a deer."
"Roll back and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors. Don't attend court for the next two days."
