Yue Ning quickly supported Lady Jiang, urgently asking Green Sleeve, “What did Miss Qin say?”
Green Sleeve’s eyes were red as she responded awkwardly, “Miss Qin didn’t say anything.”
Lady Jiang clutched Yue Qiong’s arm. “My Lord, why must Mother’s belly be cut open? Such a medical practice is unheard of! My Lord, let’s summon Doctor Huang. Doctor Huang…”
At least Doctor Huang wouldn’t cut open someone’s belly.
Yue Qiong’s brows furrowed tightly; he hadn’t expected Qin Wan to use such a method.
They had originally trusted Huang Jinyuan, but the last time the Imperial Princess returned from the street, after reviewing the prescription, Huang Jinyuan had explicitly stated that Qin Wan had a better grasp of the Imperial Princess’s illness than he did. Thus, Yue Qiong hadn’t summoned Huang Jinyuan today.
However, the Imperial Princess was already critically ill—if her belly was to be cut open, what hope remained for her survival?
Yue Qiong looked at Green Sleeve. “You, go tell Miss Qin that—”
“Lord Yue.” Yan Chi, who had been standing silently by the window, suddenly spoke.
Everyone turned to look at him as he continued gravely, “Aunt is at a critical moment between life and death. Even if we summon Doctor Huang now, it would be too late. We should trust Miss Qin.”
Yue Qiong’s lips moved, hesitating, but Yan Chi continued, “The Great Zhou reveres the body, believing it inherited from one’s parents and not to be damaged carelessly. Thus, few physicians use such treatment methods. However, during my years at the frontier, I heard that the barbarian shamans use such methods to treat people—whether opening the chest and abdomen or operating on the head. Some even cut open women’s bellies to deliver babies, with both mother and child surviving unharmed.”
Hearing this, Lady Jiang’s eyes widened. “Cut open the belly to deliver babies? How is that possible…”
Childbirth already brought women to death’s door—how could they survive having their bellies cut open?
Yan Chi’s expression remained solemn. “It may sound unbelievable, but it’s true. Among my soldiers, there are those of mixed Zhou and Rong blood who have witnessed this personally.”
Lady Jiang’s eyes still showed fear. “My Lord…”
Yue Qiong was someone who either distrusted completely or trusted absolutely. With Yan Chi’s words, he quickly made up his mind. He grasped Lady Jiang’s hand. “Let’s trust Miss Qin this once!”
Lady Jiang, though anxious and trembling, nodded. “Alright, we’ll trust Miss Qin!”
Hearing Yue Qiong and Yan Chi’s words, Green Sleeve let out a breath and returned to the inner chamber.
As soon as she entered, Qin Wan asked, “Did the Lord and Lady object?”
Green Sleeve’s face flushed—she had sneaked out, and now it seemed as if she didn’t trust Qin Wan.
“Miss Qin, it’s not that this servant doesn’t trust you, it’s just…”
Qin Wan shook her head while boiling wine. “I understand. Just answer my question.”
Such a medical procedure was indeed horrifying to hear about. If the Imperial Princess hadn’t been at death’s door, she wouldn’t have risked such a dangerous method either.
Green Sleeve replied, “The Lord and Lady were hesitant at first, but His Highness the Crown Prince said that barbarian shamans use such treatments, and he very much believes in you.”
Surprise flashed in Qin Wan’s eyes; she hadn’t expected Yan Chi to speak up for her.
Qin Wan’s expression became determined as she immersed Han Yue in the boiling wine…
In the side hall, Lady Jiang and Yue Qiong’s brows grew increasingly furrowed.
Could someone survive having their internal organs exposed by cutting open their belly?
In contrast, Yan Chi appeared much calmer. He remained by the window, his gaze falling on the wooden hairpin flowers in the courtyard, though his mind conjured images of Qin Wan.
The first time he had observed her from afar, he had been struck by her beauty. Now, up close, that feeling hadn’t diminished. Instead, her gaze, spirit, and courage to attempt to save the Imperial Princess all moved him deeply.
A sixteen-year-old young lady, yet she could meet his gaze with such composure.
A sixteen-year-old young lady, yet she dared take on the responsibility of saving the Imperial Princess.
She must clearly understand that if she failed to save the Imperial Princess, even if the Yue family was understanding and didn’t blame her, her reputation would still suffer once word got out.
Yet she hadn’t stood idly by. What had she said?
As long as one person believed in her, she wouldn’t let them down.
Yan Chi’s gaze grew increasingly bright and intense.
He hadn’t expected such a great discovery on this trip to Jinzhou.
How had the Qin family produced such a young lady?
When Bai Feng reported last night, he had mentioned that this Miss Qin had been ignored by the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s household in the capital. In Jinzhou, her situation was no better than a servant’s. He’d said she was formerly timid and fearful, enduring the Qin family’s mistreatment without daring to speak up, only changing dramatically after jumping into the lake. Yan Chi narrowed his eyes—Bai Feng had said she was reborn after death, could it be…
Extreme suffering or life-and-death experiences could indeed change a person’s temperament.
But was that all there was to it?
Yan Chi shook his head internally. With his years of insight, he was certain it wasn’t so simple.
At this thought, Yan Chi suddenly frowned.
He had never paid much attention to a young lady he’d only met twice.
Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
Waiting is always long. Qin Wan had arrived at the Peaceful Marquis’s mansion at noon, and they waited until nearly dark without a definite result, with only Green Sleeve coming back and forth to report progress.
“Miss Qin first soaked the knife and needles in boiling wine, then asked for anesthetic powder and blood-stopping paste, after which she had all servants withdraw.”
“Miss Qin… Miss Qin extracted a bowl of putrid fluid from the Imperial Princess’s belly.”
“Miss Qin is now stitching the Imperial Princess’s belly—I caught a glimpse, it’s only about an inch long, not as bloody and horrifying as imagined…”
As Green Sleeve came and went, by the time she delivered this last report, even Lady Jiang couldn’t resist wanting to go to the inner chamber to see.
“Stitching the belly? With what?”
Green Sleeve’s eyes still showed amazement. “With needle and thread! Miss Qin bent the needle by heating it and asked for flax stalks from our household. I watched her boil them in wine and then twist them into extremely fine threads…”
Yue Qiong and the others exchanged looks, all showing astonishment.
“Truly unheard of, to think… to think there was such a method.”
Green Sleeve added, “Miss Qin said sheep intestines would have been better, but there was no time to prepare today.”
Lady Jiang looked at Yue Qiong. “My Lord, you’ve seen many imperial physicians in the palace—have you heard of such methods?”
As the Imperial Princess’s only son, Yue Qiong had practically grown up in the Great Zhou palace and could be said to have extraordinary knowledge, but he shook his head. “Never. I don’t know where Miss Qin learned these peculiar methods.”
Hope gradually appeared in Lady Jiang’s eyes. “Miss Qin must truly be a divine healer of our time. She will surely save Mother.”
Yue Qiong nodded slightly. Perhaps these strange methods further proved Qin Wan’s excellence—if so, then there was hope for the Imperial Princess’s life.
Just as Lady Jiang finished speaking, another maid came from the inner chamber.
“Lord, Lady, Miss Qin says you may come in now!”
Lady Jiang’s eyes lit up with joy as she hurried out, with others following closely behind. Yan Chi remained standing for a moment before taking a step.
He was someone who could remain unmoved even when facing thousands of enemy troops, yet now his palms were covered in a thin layer of sweat. Throughout this half-day wait, he had unconsciously found himself nervous for Qin Wan.