The Governor and his wife peered out from the room, the worry that had gripped them upon entering replaced now by unconcealed joy.

“Many thanks, Young Madam,” the Governor’s wife hurried forward, bowing deeply to Qi Yue.

Qi Yue quickly moved to help her up.

“Thank you, Marquis, thank you, Madam,” the Governor’s wife said, tears welling up, as she also bowed to Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie.

“What is there to thank? We are family now,” Marquis Dingxi remarked.

Madam Xie took the Governor’s wife’s hand, yet somehow the words about the child just wouldn't leave her tongue.

“Zi Qiao is awake, he called for his mother and father,” the Governor’s wife offered, weeping with overwhelming joy.

“Sister, you have saved both our lives, mine and my son’s.” Madam Xie tightened her grip on the Governor’s wife’s hand.

“Heaven is watching over us; don’t worry, everything is alright now,” she murmured softly.

“Yes,” the Governor’s wife wiped her tears and turned back to Qi Yue.

“Young Madam, it is Heaven who sent you, this noble person; please accept my bow.” As she spoke, she truly prepared to kneel.

At that moment, the Governor also approached to offer his thanks, and Qi Yue quickly returned the courtesies, helping them both.

“Young Madam, you must be exhausted; you haven't rested for a day and a night.

We will take Zi Qiao back now.

Young Madam, please rest well.

We will return another day to express our gratitude,” the Governor’s wife choked out, looking at Qi Yue’s tired face, her eyes red from lack of sleep.

“That simply won’t do,” Qi Yue exclaimed in alarm.

“This kind of procedure requires at least two weeks of hospitalization.

How can he leave so soon?” “Hospitalization?” the Governor asked, baffled.

“His condition was very critical.

Although he appears fine now, there is no guarantee the relapse won't happen.

Therefore, I must watch him constantly so I can intervene at any moment for treatment,” Qi Yue explained quickly.

This statement caused everyone present to freeze.

“Young Madam… you mean… Zi Qiao isn’t fully recovered?” the Governor asked, astonishment etched on his face.

“Correct,” Qi Yue confirmed.

“He is still in the observation period.

Whether he fully recovers cannot be determined yet.” “But, but he’s already awake, and he can speak…” The Governor and his wife were unable to comprehend, stammering in disbelief.

“He appears stable for now, but subsequent observation is crucial.

We must watch for any complications; these next few days are paramount,” Qi Yue stated.

The silence in the room deepened, weighed down by her words, and the Governor’s wife’s tears instantly began to flow anew.

“Young Madam…” Her legs weakened, and she started to sink to her knees.

“I beg you…” Qi Yue supported her and nodded.

“I know, I know.

I want to cure him too.

Rest assured, I will do my utmost,” she said solemnly.

“Indeed, indeed, rest assured.

With Yue Niang here, Zi Qiao will be fine,” Marquis Dingxi added.

“May the Bodhisattva protect us,” the Governor’s wife murmured prayers amidst her tears.

Madam Xie, who had remained silently composed, slowly folded her hands and lowered her gaze.

Her expression mirrored the anxiety gripping everyone else, yet within her slightly opened eyes flickered a hint of excitement and anticipation.

May the Bodhisattva protect us… After seeing off the Governor and his wife, Qi Yue returned to the room after sterilizing everything anew.

“How is he?” she asked.

Hu San and Zhang Tong were following her earlier instructions, gently persuading the injured man to change his position.

“You… you bastards… Young Master… hurts… so much… how can I… move!” the Governor’s son weakly cursed, groaning incessantly.

The anesthetic had worn off.

With such a large incision, pain was inevitable, and it was far from ordinary pain.

In modern times, he would have a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump, but here… “Doctor Liu, please administer some of that analgesic you have for him,” Qi Yue murmured, pulling Liu Pucheng aside.

“No, that drug causes addiction if used too frequently.

Pain is one of humanity’s vital senses.

Furthermore, this is the pain of healing, not the pain of impending death.

How can we medicate him at every twinge?” Liu Pucheng shook his head.

As medical technology advanced, pain medication became plentiful, yet human tolerance truly seemed to diminish.

Qi Yue sighed and cast a sympathetic glance at the Governor’s young master, who was moaning ceaselessly on the couch.

Child, you were born a thousand years too early; thus, you must suffer.

“Then it must be willpower against the pain,” Qi Yue declared, looking at A'ru, Hu San, and the others.

“You must speak to him often and divert his attention…” Hu San and the others quickly agreed.

“If he doesn’t move, his intestines will stick together, and that will require reopening the abdomen,” Qi Yue added, crouching down beside the bed.

After the patient woke up, when the Governor and his wife came to visit, Liu Pucheng had explained the treatment process in detail.

The boy now knew his stomach had been cut open for treatment, though he couldn’t begin to comprehend how it was cut open, sewn shut, and yet he still lived.

“You… you cut open… my stomach?” he asked Qi Yue weakly, his voice frail.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

“I did.

What is your name?” she inquired, checking his drainage tubes—yes, they were all functioning normally.

Qi Yue inwardly murmured a prayer, and after finishing, gave a wry smile.

She never imagined that Qi Yue, known as the 'Quick Blade of Thoracic Surgery,' would ever find herself relying on divine providence.

“Are you… Yun Cheng Gege’s… wife?” the Governor’s son asked weakly.

“You look… quite alright, actually.” The nerve of this boy, Hu San and the others felt a flush of embarrassment.

“Thank you, thank you,” Qi Yue laughed.

“Come, let’s try to sit up.

I know it hurts, but you dared to have your stomach opened, you’re a man, are you afraid of a little pain?” Young men loved hearing words like that.

The Governor’s son instantly perked up, imagining the great stories he could tell later about surviving having his stomach cut open.

With the assistance of Hu San and Zhang Tong, he settled into a semi-reclining position.

Qi Yue continued to chat with him, asking how old he was and what he usually enjoyed doing.

“You woman… why do you… talk to men… so much?” the Governor’s son murmured weakly.

“…Indecent conduct.” Qi Yue burst into laughter.

“You little squirt,” she teased.

“You’re the squirt!” the little squirt objected, clearly unhappy.

Though his body ached and he had no strength, he struggled to shout back.

His sudden movement caused him to gasp sharply in pain.

“Hey, don’t fear the pain.

You must cough often and take deep breaths,” Qi Yue instructed, demonstrating a deep breath.

“This helps prevent atelectasis…” “It’s not you hurting… easy for you to say,” the Governor’s son replied listlessly, sweat beading on his forehead from the agony.

He wanted to stop breathing altogether, let alone breathe deeply! The boy was, however, weakened from the surgery and perhaps over-stimulated by the conversation, as he soon drifted into an exhausted sleep.

“His spirit seems good,” Liu Pucheng commented with a slight smile.

Qi Yue did not carry the lightness she displayed in front of the patient; her brow remained furrowed.

“Let’s hope so,” she muttered.

“Miss Qi, you shouldn’t be so tense,” Liu Pucheng said with a helpless smile.

“I am tense,” Qi Yue sighed, her anxiety unconcealed.

She reached up to rub her face.

Performing a splenectomy in an environment devoid of resources—it was truly unimaginable.

“Young Master Huang seems to be recovering well, he’ll be fine,” Liu Pucheng reassured her again.

“I’m only nervous because I want him to be fine,” Qi Yue grumbled.

Liu Pucheng couldn't help but laugh at her words.

“According to you, you’d only relax if something actually went wrong?” he joked.

Whether Liu Pucheng’s words became an unintended prophecy or Madam Xie’s prayers took effect, that very night, Qi Yue, who had only just managed to fall asleep during her rotation, was jolted awake by a frantic A’ru.

“Young Madam, Young Master Huang is not well…” she stammered, tightly clutching the thermometer in her hand.

Qi Yue leaped up and snatched the thermometer from A'ru.

39°C… The commotion around Qi Yue quickly spread.

The already uneasy Governor and his wife rushed over instantly but were halted at the courtyard gate.

“What happened to Zi Qiao?” the Governor’s wife cried out anxiously.

“Let me go in and see!” “The physician is treating him; it’s only a slight fever, please don't worry,” Hu San explained haltingly.

Everyone inside was busy, so he was pushed out to handle explanations, yet Heaven knew, he didn't understand what was happening himself.

“Let me in!” Hearing this, the Governor’s wife panicked and tried to force her way inside.

“No, disturbing the physician at this moment is harmful.

Wait a moment longer, the physician will permit you to visit,” Hu San shouted, extending his hands to block the door.

“You wretched creature, get out of my way!” The Governor’s wife, overwhelmed by anxiety, raised her hand and struck Hu San.

Hu San endured the slap without flinching or moving his feet.

“If you enter this courtyard now, it will only harm the young master.

Madam, if you truly care for him, please wait a little longer,” he said, daring not to push the Governor’s wife, but holding the door shut with both hands.

The Governor’s wife, disregarding propriety or gender segregation, rushed forward and began kicking and hitting Hu San.

“If Madam dares to take another step into this courtyard, I dare to immediately send the young master away,” Chang Yancheng’s voice cut in from behind.

The scuffle and clamor instantly ceased.

The Governor and his wife turned to see Chang Yancheng approaching them step by step.

“Does Madam believe me?” he asked.

These words were undeniably harsh.

The Governor’s face turned grim.

“Esteemed Heir, there is no such logic in this world.

We entrusted our son to the physician for treatment.

To be barred from watching is one thing, but to be denied knowledge of life or death?” he said sternly, suppressing his rage.

He had long heard rumors that the Heir of Marquis Dingxi was unruly and utterly unrestrained in his conduct.

Since he was a junior, they had avoided entanglement, attributing it to the common arrogance of wealthy young men.

Only after interacting with him these past few days did they realize those rumors hadn't been exaggerated—they had understated the matter considerably.

This young man was simply unreasonable! “Since you came for treatment, you surrendered his life to the physician.

Whether he lives or dies, she will eventually give you an accounting,” Chang Yancheng said, waving his hand.

The guards scattered around stepped forward.

“Madam, please wait here,” Chang Yancheng instructed the Governor’s wife.

Seeing the approaching guards, the Governor’s wife had no choice but to retreat.

“My Lord,” she turned, grasping the Governor’s arm and weeping uncontrollably, a mixture of worry, anger, and agitation consuming her.

The Governor tightened his grip on her hand.

“Very well, we will wait,” he ground out through clenched teeth, his face ashen as he stared fixedly at the courtyard gate.

“We will wait until she gives us an answer!”