Qiao Zhao caught her breath, recovered some energy, and slowly explained: “This is what Physician Li once told me. Those who have undergone this procedure, even if they appear to recover normally, may die at any moment within two months.”
“Why?”
“Although the knives and other instruments were wiped with strong liquor, the open wound internally is at risk of infection at any time. Only after two months can we be certain that the interior has healed properly. If not, once infection occurs, there will be no way to save her…”
As Qiao Zhao explained, Chi Can’s expression grew increasingly grim.
“Big Brother Chi, I should have told you these things before the surgery, but Her Highness the Eldest Princess was in critical condition at the time, and there was simply no time to explain. When performing this procedure, Her Highness and the fetus in her womb still had a chance to live. If we had delayed further, the only outcome would have been the death of both mother and child.”
Chi Can forced a smile: “You don’t need to explain. I naturally trust you.”
Qiao Zhao showed a relieved smile.
If it hadn’t been Chi Can but an ordinary person instead, even with her benevolent physician’s heart, she wouldn’t have acted without prior explanation.
“What are the odds of my mother surviving this ordeal?” Chi Can glanced at the Eldest Princess Changrong lying on the bed.
Qiao Zhao remained silent for a moment, then said: “Twenty percent.”
Chi Can’s expression shook, and after a long while, he murmured: “Only twenty percent?”
Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes: “I… truly have no confidence…”
This was her first time performing a cesarean surgery. To have accomplished this much was already a tremendous fortune.
After speaking, Qiao Zhao organized her medicine box and shouldered it: “Big Brother Chi, you can call people in to care for Her Highness now. I’ll instruct them on what to watch for.”
Chi Can nodded, then dragged his heavy steps to the door and pulled it open with one motion.
“Young Master—”
“Aunt Dongyu, please come in.”
The female official Dongyu entered with two matrons.
The thick smell of blood in the room made Dongyu’s legs tremble continuously. Seeing the bed covered in blood, she couldn’t stand steady, crying out “Your Highness” in panic, while the two matrons rushed forward, calling out.
“What are you wailing about? My mother isn’t dead yet!” Chi Can scold sternly.
The cries stopped immediately.
Chi Can looked at Dongyu with a dark expression: “Aunt Dongyu, listen carefully to the Marchioness’s instructions and do everything exactly as she says.”
Dongyu hesitated for a moment, meeting Chi Can’s dark eyes, then curtsied slightly: “Yes.”
She walked to Qiao Zhao and, suppressing her inner turmoil, respectfully said: “Please instruct us, Marchioness.”
Qiao Zhao explained in detail everything that needed attention, finally saying: “I’ll write down the main points and prescriptions later and have them sent over. If Her Highness shows any abnormalities, you can send word to me.”
“Thank you, Marchioness,” Dongyu said with a grave expression.
“I’ll see you out.” Chi Can came over.
Shao Mingyuan was waiting in the courtyard. Seeing Qiao Zhao emerge, his gaze swept over the bloodstains on her dress hem as he approached: “Did everything go smoothly?”
“Relatively smoothly for now.”
Director Li rushed over with an excited expression: “Marchioness, may I ask what method you used to help Her Highness deliver successfully?”
The other imperial physicians also gathered around.
Although they hadn’t gone inside earlier, Director Li had already explained the situation to them, and those midwives had been certain the Eldest Princess was beyond help. How was it that after the Marchioness Guanjun went in, without any commotion heard from inside, a baby was carried out?
Qiao Zhao found herself surrounded by the imperial physicians and couldn’t help but frown.
Of course, she couldn’t speak of something as shocking as cesarean delivery.
“Why are you gentlemen asking this? Don’t you know that many secret techniques are passed only to sons, not daughters, let alone to outsiders?” Chi Can said coldly.
The imperial physicians looked at each other. Though their curiosity was unbearable, they were silenced by these words.
“Alright, you gentlemen may return now.”
Seeing Chi Can’s dismissal, the imperial physicians naturally couldn’t stay longer and took their leave with bows.
“Tingquan, Third Miss Li, thank you both for today.”
Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Do we need such formality between us? I’ll take Zhaozhao home to wash and change first. If anything comes up, just send someone to let us know.”
Chi Can nodded and prepared to see them off, but Shao Mingyuan waved his hand to stop him. After the two left, he looked back at the delivery room.
At this moment, the Eldest Princess was being bathed by attendants, so it wasn’t convenient for him to enter. After thinking for a moment, he walked to the adjacent room. As soon as he entered, he heard a baby crying.
“Young Master—” The wet nurses and matrons inside hurriedly stood up.
Chi Can walked over expressionlessly, stared at the baby in swaddling clothes for a while, then asked: “Is it a boy or a girl?”
“It’s a young lady,” the wet nurse replied.
Chi Can’s gaze fell again, carefully observing the baby’s small face.
Newborn babies weren’t particularly attractive, with a layer of wrinkled skin on the forehead, looking like a little monkey.
So ugly.
Chi Can had this thought and frowned.
Perhaps because he had personally witnessed how this child came into the world, having carried her with his own hands and given her to others, he was surprised to find that looking at this child didn’t bring the expected disgust. Apart from finding her too ugly, he couldn’t summon any other emotions.
He even felt a strange tenderness thinking that such an ugly little girl would surely have trouble marrying in the future.
This child definitely won’t be able to marry, will she?
“Take good care of the child.” Chi Can instructed with a stern face, glanced once more at the ugly little monkey, and walked away with his hands behind his back.
“The Eldest Princess and her daughter are both safe?” Empress Dowager Yang heard Lai Xi’s report and felt half her worries lifted, but thinking of that child’s existence made her heart clench again.
A girl with such origins, it would have been better if she had died during birth…
“Very well, wrap some bird’s nest and send it to the Eldest Princess’s residence.” Empress Dowager Yang wearily rubbed her temples and instructed: “No need to mention it to His Majesty.”
It was already during the period of national mourning, and with such circumstances, it was too late to cover things up, let alone have anything good to say.
Empress Dowager Yang wished the Eldest Princess Changrong’s delivery of a daughter could have been completely silent, but she didn’t know that people in the capital had long been waiting to watch the excitement. Before the second day even arrived, every household already knew that the Eldest Princess’s residence had gained a young lady.
Those midwives, being skilled practitioners who frequently moved between various residences, quickly spread word of the role the Marchioness Guanjun had played, stirring the hearts of countless people.
Unfortunately, the Marchioness Guanjun now held such a noble status that it was impossible to request her services.
During this period, the Eldest Princess Changrong experienced several sudden complications, all handled with Qiao Zhao’s help. After seven or eight days like this, the Eldest Princess Changrong was already able to get out of bed and walk slowly.
“Dongyu, please ask the young master to come here.” The Eldest Princess Changrong, feeling her spirit had recovered considerably, took a few steps around, then was helped by a maid to lie down slowly, leaning against the headrest.
Soon Chi Can entered.
“Mother summoned me?”
The Eldest Princess Changrong raised her eyes and quietly observed Chi Can.
“Does mother feel uncomfortable somewhere?” After waiting a moment, Chi Can asked.
“No.” The Eldest Princess Changrong was silent for a moment, then showed a faint smile. “I just wanted to see you.”