Jinyi Spring

Chapter 234 Another Fight

Shui Raofu had learned her lesson. Since cursing Empress Xiaoxian would be severely punished, she cursed Shui Chuchen instead. Although cursing her elder sister would also be punished, at most she would be scolded a few times and confined to copy the "Admonitions for Women," a punishment she had experienced before—she wasn't afraid.

Shui Chuchen's heart was burning with anger when someone handed her firewood. She turned around, snatched the whisk from Tang Jian's hand, and with a flick of her wrist, delivered a clean and swift blow to Shui Raofu's buttocks.

Shui Raofu was caught off guard and jumped when she was hit. Although she was wearing winter clothes, it didn't hurt too much, but being spanked in front of so many people was really embarrassing.

Her face flushed red, and she screamed, "Shui Chuchen, you hit me again!"

Shui Chuchen held the whisk upside down and said coldly, "Father said that I am the eldest sister, and it is my duty to discipline you. If you continue to spew filth, I will not hesitate to beat your mouth to pieces."

With a flick of her wrist, she raised the whisk again.

Knowing she couldn't win, Shui Raofu took a few steps back and shouted, her voice trembling with fear, "I'm going to tell Grandmother that the midwife hit me again!"

Shui Chuchen didn't reply with a single word, and rushed over with her whisk in hand.

Shui Raofu screamed in fright, turned and ran, darting into the back door of the central corridor like a rabbit. The faster eunuch quickly locked the door, leaving the two slower palace maids outside.

Shui Chuchen didn't really intend to rush in and beat someone up. She threw the whisk back to Tang Jian and patted the non-existent dust off her hands.

Peony leaned closer and whispered, "Princess, the Second Princess wouldn't really go to Cining Palace to complain, would she?"

Shui Chuchen said slowly, "She started the insults, so it's only right for me to teach her a lesson."

Shui Raofu's voice came through the crack in the door again: "I didn't swear! You are a midwife! Midwife, midwife..."

Shui Chuchen rolled her eyes, turned to Shaoyao and said, "Let's go. I don't have time to argue with a wild dog that only barks." Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone inside and outside the door to hear.

Shui Raofu cursed through the door, "That country midwife, skinny as a bamboo shoot, thinks she's so beautiful..."

Shui Chuchen turned and left, the cursing gradually fading into the distance.

Shui Raohua stood aside and witnessed the whole thing. She was stunned for a while, and then a smile quietly appeared on her lips.

Shui Raohua was usually the one bullying others, but now that someone could finally put her in her place, she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

She walked up timidly and tugged at Shui Chuchen's sleeve. "Eldest sister, shall we walk... to digest our food?"

Shui Chuchen disliked strangers getting too close, so she refrained from shaking off her hand and nodded, "Let's go."

The two of them slowly walked around the garden twice. Shui Raohua didn't dare to say much, but secretly glanced at Shui Chuchen several times, as if she were looking at something new.

Back on the east side, Shui Chuchen stood under the eaves for a while. The night breeze brushed against her face, causing the stray hairs at her temples to sway slightly. She let out a long breath, and the nameless anger in her heart finally subsided a little.

Venting anger by hitting someone is definitely more effective than writing in a diary.

Shui Raofu, sitting on the soft couch in the middle of the road, was still angry. That country bumpkin, that midwife, actually wanted to marry the perfect General Sun?

dream!

She was determined to seize General Sun by any means necessary.

Thinking about how she ultimately married General Sun, Shui Chuchen sat in her room crying in anger, but then her spirits lifted again...

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, before the cold stars had even set in the sky, Shui had already set out at dawn.

She boarded the palanquin, with Tang Jian, Shaoyao, Banxia, ​​and Du Ruo following on either side. Before yesterday, all the instruments, medicines, and dressings needed for the surgery had been sent to the Imperial Hospital; now, only she needed to go there. Upon arriving at the Imperial Hospital, Chief Physician Li, Presiding Physician Fang, Presiding Physician Fan, and Shangguan Ruyu were already standing formally outside the door.

Judge Fan's face flushed slightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He deeply regretted offending Feng Chuchen back then, and secretly hoped that the surgery would go wrong—how could a young woman be so skilled in acupuncture and surgery?

He wanted to make some underhanded moves, but all the procedures were handled by Shangguan Ruyu and Doctor Cai, and Chief Physician Li and Judge Fang were keeping a close eye on things, so he couldn't get involved at all.

As Shui Chuchen alighted from the carriage, the group quickly clasped their hands and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, we pay our respects."

Shangguan Ruyu stepped forward. "Cousin, the operating room is ready."

Shui Chuchen nodded, "Let's go see General Wang first."

Wang Tu, wearing a sterilized green cotton hospital gown, sat on the hospital bed.

Liu and her son Wang Dongqian sat on stools on either side of each other, their faces full of tension.

Liu clutched her handkerchief, her hands trembling slightly, and once again whispered, "Husband, neither Dongqian nor I dislike you. How about... we don't do it anymore?"

She was afraid that her husband wouldn't make it off the operating table.

Wang Tu held her hand and said gently, "I believe in Princess Yong'an and Lord Shangguan. If they say it can be done, it definitely can. Don't worry, everything will be alright."

Ten days ago, under the guidance of Shangguan Ruyu, Wang Tu began taking a decoction prepared by Shui Chuchen to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and unblock meridians, so as to improve local blood flow and lay the foundation for subsequent treatment.

At the same time, apply topical ointment to soften the hardened scar tissue.

Upon seeing Shui Chuchen and the others enter, the three of them quickly stood up.

Shui Chuchen offered a few words of comfort and then took Wang Tu's pulse. The pulse was normal, the scar had softened, and there were no contraindications for surgery.

Shangguan Ruyu said from the side, "General Wang's diet was normal yesterday, and he has not eaten since dinner, which meets the requirements for preoperative preparation."

Wang Tu took the half bowl of anesthetic soup handed to him by Shangguan Ruyu and drank it all in one gulp.

A few days ago, Shangguan Ruyu had already made it clear to him that the dosage of anesthetic powder must be controlled, and he must remain conscious throughout the process so that Princess Yong'an could observe whether his facial muscles were damaged. He also needed to cooperate by making subtle movements such as frowning and smiling during the suturing.

It will definitely hurt a bit, but he has to cooperate.

Wang Tu said, "Please rest assured, Princess Yong'an and Lord Shangguan, I have experienced things that are even more painful than this, and I can endure it."

A little over fifteen minutes later, the effects of the medicine gradually took hold. Wang Tu felt his limbs become heavy, but his consciousness remained clear.

Shui Chuchen first gently pricked a few points on his left cheek with a silver needle. She could feel it, but it wasn't as sharp as when she usually applied acupuncture. After confirming that the anesthetic powder was in optimal condition, she nodded.

Two imperial physicians lifted him onto a wooden-wheeled cart and took him to the operating room.

The operating room was located in a secluded side room on the east side of the Imperial Medical Academy, consisting of two rooms, an outer room for changing clothes, handwashing, and disinfection, and an inner room for the operating room.

In the center was a narrow, long wooden table covered with a sterilized white cloth. Two ropes hung from above the table, each holding a ceramic jar with a small hole in the bottom through which a thin bamboo tube was inserted. This was a simple rinsing device designed by Shui Chuchen.

Four bronze mirrors were placed on a high table, reflecting the candlelight and illuminating the operating table with every detail.

The chief surgeon, Shui Chuchen, along with assistants Shangguan Ruyu, Banxia, ​​and female doctor Cai, and observers Li Yuanzheng and Qin Yuyi, changed into sterilized blue cotton surgical gowns, dipped their hands and arms in disinfectant, and put on gloves and masks before entering the operating room together. (End of Chapter)