Dr. Qiu had just left with his apprentices when news that the famous great master physician would perform surgery to treat Yan Jijiu’s life-threatening illness spread quickly.
This renowned eminent doctor was usually elusive. On normal days, nobles who wanted to seek treatment from him would find it as difficult as scaling the heavens.
Let alone finding him, even if you did, this eccentric doctor had three types of patients he refused to treat:
He would not treat non-critical common illnesses; would not treat the wicked and evil; and would not treat those he disliked. He was quite temperamental.
Dr. Qiu had not been heard from for over a year, last appearing in a small town in the south.
That he would suddenly emerge in Capital City to treat Yan Jijiu was considered his senior apprentice, the Imperial Hospital's Chief Tian Guang, inviting him out of seclusion.
Tian Guang and Yan Jijiu were close friends.
That these two, one a teacher and one a doctor, two people with no common ground, were close friends was truly remarkable.
As for what surgery was, most people did not really understand.
From what Dr. Qiu said, it seemed he had to cut open Yan Jijiu's abdomen and cut out a section of necrotic intestine, and do this or that.
Wait!
Could a person whose abdomen was cut open and intestine removed still live?
Everyone was buzzing with discussion behind the scenes.
Some said Dr. Qiu's medical skills were unparalleled in the world. Since he said it was treatable, he surely would not make empty promises.
But the majority still held skeptical attitudes, and some even bluntly said the Yan family was crazy to indulge Dr. Qiu's antics.
Some others were just waiting to watch the spectacle. In short, in a moment's time, all eyes in Capital City were focused on Dr. Qiu.
The many complex attitudes and reactions went over the heads of Jiang Yuqing and her master. Even if they knew, they would not take it to heart.
After Jiang Yuqing and her master returned from the Yan residence, the steward Zhao came to report: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came by, and left when he did not see you here."
Jiang Yuqing was surprised. "The Crown Prince? The emperor's son? I don't even know him! What business does he have looking for me?"
The steward looked at her strangely and said, "You do know him. His Highness came to our residence yesterday to welcome you on your arrival."
"Yesterday..." Baby Dumpling thought hard about the visitors from yesterday. Other than Qin Jue, it seemed only Jing Yan came. Hmm, Jing Yan!!!???
Baby Dumpling's eyes instantly widened like bronze bells. "You mean Brother Jing Yan? But isn't he Uncle Qin's nephew?"
"Yes. Prince Qin's elder sister is precisely Her Majesty the current Empress, mother of the Crown Prince."
"Ah, so the Emperor's surname is Jing?" Baby Dumpling had never paid attention to this.
She was so busy with her own matters she did not even think to ask about it.
The steward was speechless. He thought, you only know the Crown Prince's name and don't even ask whose family he is from. This young mistress really has a carefree heart.
Jiang Yuqing felt she might be very busy over the next few days and unable to receive him. She also had no connections in the palace to gain entry.
So she wrote a brief letter for the steward to pass to Qin Jue, so that when Qin Jue attended court tomorrow he could help pass it to Jing Yan, saving him another wasted trip.
That afternoon, Tian Guang managed to obtain a fresh male corpse unclaimed by family from the law court.
At the same time, he also brought his eldest son, Tian Shanglu. Jiang Yuqing had people surround the Hui Quan Yard and ordered that no one was to go near.
The deceased was a son-in-law who, in order to seize his wife's family property, colluded with his lover outside to poison his wife to death.
After the crime was exposed, he was arrested and sentenced to death, and hanged in the marketplace at the third quarter mark of noon today.
He had just been taken off the noose, so the body was very fresh.
The death of such a person was no pity. His corpse could now contribute a little to the advancement of Da Xia's medical field, which was also a way for him to indirectly redeem himself.
Jiang Yuqing took a pile of things from her yard.
Blue surgical gowns, caps, shoe covers, face masks. A full set of imported precision steel surgical instruments and equipment from a certain country, and the various medicines, gauze and so on needed for surgery.
When Dr. Qiu and Tian Guang saw these clearly out-of-place items, they were amazed and surprised, but tacitly did not ask about their origins.
As for Tian Shanglu, he must have been briefed beforehand and also did not display excessive curiosity.
The world was so vast, nothing was unbelievable. This was an opportunity that belonged to his martial sister (junior fellow apprentice), and as their master and senior fellow apprentice, being able to benefit from some of her brilliance was their own fortune. They would not have any improper thoughts.
After Jiang Yuqing had them put on protective gear, she explained to them one by one the usage of these surgical tools and equipment.
Which size and type of scalpel or suture should be used at each step of the surgery, which forceps to hold in which way, and so on.
Dr. Qiu and Tian Guang were top masters in Da Xia's medical field, and Da Xia already had a comprehensive set of golden wound surgery tools. Thus they understood immediately.
As for Tian Shanglu, the fact that his father brought him to such an occasion meant he was quite outstanding too.
Jiang Yuqing also had them bring over a piece of pig skin with the fat still attached to practice suturing.
She instructed in meticulous detail, down to which suture gauge to use on which skin layer, and how to hold the needle driver. And so on, not neglecting anything she could impart, until her mouth was parched from all the talking.
Fortunately, the results were very good.
Seeing they had practiced enough, Jiang Yuqing felt they could start cutting into the corpse.
They began with sterilizing the skin. Standing on a tall stool, Jiang Yuqing carefully instructed them where to make incisions, how deep, and what to pay attention to...
Master, disciple, and grandson - the four continued busily until it grew too dark to see before finally stopping.
After bending over working for so long, their waists and backs ached, but no one complained. On the contrary, they were excited to have the door opened to a new world of medicine.
As for the corpse, now dissected into a horrific mess, Tian Guang used a special preservative solution similar to formaldehyde to pickle...uh, preserve it, before having Jiang Yuqing temporarily transfer it to the morgue at the Imperial Hospital. They would take it out again tomorrow morning.
Leaving it in the yard overnight would be inauspicious, and might frighten the servants.
When they finished, the three bowed in unison to Jiang Yuqing, nearly making her jump in shock.
"Master, senior apprentice brother, what are you doing?"
Heavens! For masters to bow so to a disciple, have they no fear of shortening her lifespan?
Dr. Qiu laughed merrily, "There is no hierarchy in learning. You who have attained are our teacher."
"Little Treasure, in this aspect, you are more brilliant than all of us combined and have ample qualifications to be our master."
Baby Dumpling smiled awkwardly. "You flatter me, I dare not accept such an accolade!" She responded even as she swiftly turned and fled like she was being chased by ghosts, frightened by her master Dr. Qiu yelling after her, "It's dark, slow down!"
So she ran even faster...
For two consecutive days, the four spent all their time dissecting the corpse.
The poor fellow was cut open from head to toe by the diligent learners, sewn full of "centipede" stitches, even "that part" not spared. Truly brutal.
At first glance the horrific mess resembled Frankenstein's monster, enough to frighten anyone.
March 12th, the scheduled surgery day, arrived amidst the tension and anticipation of the entire Yan household.
Early in the morning, the area outside the Yan estate was already packed with people hoping to watch the spectacle. Among them were commoners, but even more were spies from various factions sent to monitor the situation...
Around the hour of Chen, Yan Jijiu was stripped of his clothes, covered only by a sterilized thin sheet, and pushed into the "operating room" meticulously prepared by the Yan family according to the divine doctor's requirements.
Afterwards, Dr. Qiu brewed anesthetic Mafen San and had it fed to Yan Jijiu.
While waiting for the anesthetic to take effect, master and disciples strictly put on sterile surgical gowns as required, sanitized their hands with disinfectant, and entered the operating room holding their instruments.
Wearing an extra small surgical gown, Jiang Yuqing walked in second to last holding her tray.
Only when Tian Guang kicked the door of the operating room shut did the Yan family know that the young miss of the Marquis estate, the Precious Wisdom Noble Girl, was actually Dr. Qiu's closed-door disciple and junior fellow apprentice to Chief Tian.
With Dr. Qiu as lead surgeon, Tian Guang assisting, Tian Shanglu in charge of passing instruments and wiping sweat - doing nurse duties, and Jiang Yuqing bringing up the rear steadily, the operation formally began.
Of course, this would look more impressive if one ignored the tall footstool she stood on.
Although it was their first time performing open abdominal surgery on a living person, having rehearsed many times and with Jiang Yuqing on site to supervise, Dr. Qiu smoothly made the incision.
As soon as Fang opened the abdomen, everyone immediately smelled a stench. Even though they were mentally prepared, they almost vomited.
It turned out Yan Jijiu's entire lower abdomen was blocked by black filth. Some intestines even adhered together.
Under Jiang Yuqing's guidance, Doctor Qiu quickly found the gangrenous appendix and deftly removed it.
Then he cleared the filth in the intestines and rinsed it clean with saline. Then he sutured layer by layer.
The entire surgery was very smooth.
As Doctor Qiu tied the last knot and cut the catgut thread, everyone smiled at each other.
Then they skillfully bandaged, applied sandbags on the wound, and finally covered the patient with a quilt.
As soon as they opened the door of the operating room, Yan’s anxious family who were waiting outside immediately gathered around.
Hearing that the surgery was very successful, Imperial Tutor Yan cried with joy.
Over the past two years, Imperial Tutor Yan had not been eating or sleeping well because of worry for his son's illness. He was afraid that one day, he would see his son die before him. Now he was finally relieved.
Seeing the stuff taken out of his son's belly and the half bucket of filth washed out, Yan’s family was also disgusted to the point of almost vomiting.
Even as the patient's family member, he found such a scene disgusting. Yet the doctors who were unrelated to the patient could complete the surgery calmly.
Thinking of this, Yan’s family was even more respectful of Doctor Qiu and his apprentices. They were truly benevolent doctors.
Since the patient just had surgery, it was not good to move him. He should also avoid seeing too many people to prevent infection.
So Doctor Qiu only allowed Imperial Tutor Yan, after changing into clean clothes, to go in alone to see the patient.
Seeing his son's breathing was steady and even though his face was pale, Imperial Tutor Yan finally felt relieved.
The news of the successful surgery spread to the mansions in the Capital City immediately.
Some people who were originally skeptical also had to admit they had underestimated the situation.
A divine doctor is a divine doctor. Being able to cure a fatal disease like intestinal abscess, his medical skills were not exaggerated.
Some people with ulterior motives or ill family members did not wait for Doctor Qiu to return home. They immediately wrote greeting notes to request medical service...
At this time, in a luxurious manor near the southwest of the Capital City.
A servant-looking person hurriedly ran through the garden and a carved corridor before turning into the Moon Cave Gate.
In the room, an slightly mean beautiful woman anxiously paced back and forth, repeatedly scolding the maids and asking if the person had returned.
Just as she was extremely anxious, she heard hurried footsteps running towards her. She was overjoyed and hurriedly went up to meet him. She asked directly, "What's the situation?"
The poor servant had run all the way without catching his breath. Leaning over with his hands on his knees, panting, he said, "I asked, the surgery, the surgery was very successful. I heard Doctor Qiu say, after recuperating for a few more days, he will be fine!"
The woman was immediately ecstatic: "Is this really the case? My son can be saved!" Saying so, she hurried into the inner chamber.
On the ornately carved large bed in the room lay a dying young man.
At an age that should have been in his prime, he had dark circles around his eyes, sunken cheeks. The exposed skin was covered with large and small pus-filled boils.
Despite the incense, there was still an indescribable stench in the room.
The woman happily ran into the room to share the good news with her son, "Qi, you can be saved! Doctor Qiu has come to the Capital City. He can even cure intestinal abscess. He must surely cure your illness as well. Mother will send someone to invite him over now."
The young man responded weakly, "Good, go quickly! I can't hold on much longer."
The woman promised repeatedly, wiping away tears as she hurried out.
The smell in her son's room was too unpleasant, she could not stand it either...
Jiang Yuqing was completely unaware of the undercurrents happening outside.
After lunch at the Tian residence, she handed over the follow-up nursing tasks to her master and senior apprentice brother, and had someone send her home.
She had been busy these past few days and was truly exhausted.
If it were her previous life, this amount of work was nothing.
But her current young body was too small. If she didn't rest, Yan Jijiu would recover well, but she might die from overwork.
Moreover, it was already mid-March. The farmstead outside the city should be getting busy.
At dinner, Old Lin the Convoy Head bid her farewell.
He said they would leave early tomorrow morning. They had already been in the Capital City for several days and had bought most of what they needed. It was time to go back.
She had been busy with the surgery these two days and did not have time to accompany Old Lin. She felt very guilty.
Baby Dumpling lowered her head and apologized remorsefully to Old Lin. The old hero waved his hand unconcernedly and said she and Doctor Qiu originally came to the Capital City to save lives, so of course the patients took priority.
As someone who travels around as an escort all year round, he was used to not having company. It would be laughable to demand someone's time.
Knowing he wouldn't stay, after dinner she took out a box of medicine from her Spiritual Space to give him.
There were medicines for treating colds and fever, reducing swelling and pain, reducing inflammation and stopping bleeding. They were all useful to Old Lin.
She carefully divided each type of medicine into porcelain bottles, labeling them with directions for use, dosage, and contraindications. She was very meticulous.
She also asked him to bring back a letter to let her family know she was safe.
Old Lin was overjoyed to receive a box of "divine medicine". Who didn't know Doctor Qiu's medicines were priceless?
This box of medicine could save lives.
They had no more conversation that night.
The next day, Jiang Yuqing got up early. After breakfast, Old Lin left with the convoy members.
Jiang Yuqing accompanied them with the steward Zhao to send them out of the city gate before returning.
