Everyone was taken aback by what Qi Yue said.

It was a threat! A **blatant, naked challenge! Consort Xian trembled with rage.

How dare this woman be so presumptuous! Instead of taking the offered lifeline, she immediately intended to reassert herself in the battle for prestige! Who did she think she was? The Empress Dowager had merely requested her help once; whether the illness could be cured was still uncertain, so why the arrogance? "Let's save the life first," she said.

Consort Xian took a deep breath, looked at Qi Yue, and offered a slight smile.

Qi Yue nodded. "Very well, thank you, Your Highness." She spoke, then turned and left.

Watching the woman's retreating back, Consort Xian furiously flicked her sleeve. "Let's go too," she declared. "Let's see how this miraculous doctor saves a life!" Accompanied by the announcements of the eunuchs and palace maids, Qi Yue stepped across the threshold into the Empress Dowager's chamber.

Seeing her enter, the Emperor raised his hand and swept the newly placed teacup from the low table, smashing it onto the floor. "Such airs! Were you waiting for me to personally invite you?" he roared in fury.

His voice was loud, his anger palpable, momentarily drowning out the sharp cries of pain from Young Master Sima in the room.

The eunuchs and maids immediately dropped to their knees again in a flurry.

The Empress Dowager’s expression remained impassive.

She knew the Emperor was angry, but not at the woman.

Qi Yue was startled, glancing up at the Emperor.

Thank you for helping me save face, but I might need to kneel a few more times for your kindness... "This commoner is guilty..." she murmured, preparing to kneel. "Don't rush to confess now.

If anything happens to the young master, I will settle accounts with every one of you!" the Emperor commanded.

Qi Yue graciously straightened up, moving swiftly toward Young Master Sima in a few strides. "Where does it hurt?" she asked, placing her hand on the young master's abdomen and pressing down.

Young Master Sima let out an even sharper shriek, causing the Empress Dowager, who had just risen, to sit back down abruptly. "Did he eat something bad? Acute gastritis?" Qi Yue inquired, her hands never stopping as she moved and massaged the young master while watching Zhou Maochun.

This was accompanied by the young master's screams, rising and falling in pitch. "You...

do you even know how to treat illness?" The Empress Dowager, unable to watch or listen further, stood up anxiously.

By this time, Young Master Sima’s attendants, concubines, and others had arrived, gathering around and crying out in various tones, turning the entire hall into chaos.

This disarray did not distract Qi Yue or her companions.

Zhou Maochun shook his head. "We've used everything; it's not working," he reported.

He paused mid-sentence because Qi Yue’s hands had stopped moving. "Right lower quadrant mass," Qi Yue stated calmly.

Zhou Maochun nodded in confirmation.

Acute diffuse peritonitis? Acute appendicitis? Is the mass related to the abdominal pain? What exactly is this mass? Qi Yue’s mind raced through the differential diagnoses, referencing Parallel Doomsday Journey TXT Download.

Seeing Qi Yue fall silent again and merely palpate Young Master Sima, the Empress Dowager grew impatient. "Can you treat him or not?" she demanded. "I can treat him," Qi Yue replied.

Her answer was so decisive that it momentarily left the Empress Dowager momentarily speechless. "You...

didn't you say you weren't very good at treating illnesses?" she couldn't help but ask. "I am not good at treating the kind of illness Your Highness mentioned.

The kind I treat is this type," Qi Yue clarified.

What was the difference between "this type" and "that type"? The Empress Dowager looked at Qi Yue, then at Young Master Sima.

But one thing she was certain of: even though the Emperor sat there silently, this woman's tone was growing increasingly firm. "Very well," the Empress Dowager said, casting a sharp look at Qi Yue before turning back to her seat. "Then treat him thoroughly.

If he is not cured, I will speak with you again." She had struck and punished a mere consort before; what was a mere female physician who barely ranked above a palace maid in her estimation? Qi Yue was unaware of, and utterly unconcerned by, the Empress Dowager’s thoughts as she withdrew her hands from Young Master Sima. "I need to perform an exploratory laparotomy.

Please prepare an operating theater at the Imperial Medical Academy.

As for the procedure, the disciples of Qianjin Hall know what to do," she announced directly.

Zhou Maochun's eyes lit up.

He had been waiting for this moment! "No problem!" he shouted, immediately turning to rush off and make arrangements. "Hold on!" the Empress Dowager cried out.

Everyone looked toward her. "What illness cannot be treated right here? The palace has every medicine; why must you go to the Imperial Medical Academy?" the Empress Dowager questioned, her brows furrowed.

If it’s not under my watchful eyes, will they simply make excuses? "Your Highness, this is not the appropriate location," Qi Yue quickly stated. "And why not? Is my residence not worthy of Mistress Qi's skills?" the Empress Dowager sneered. "Empress Dowager, surgery is frightening.

Disturbing Your Highness would be a grave offense for this commoner," Qi Yue explained.

The Empress Dowager chuckled.

She scanned Qi Yue from head to toe with a half-smile. "Frightening? Since meeting Mistress Qi, I have been continuously startled.

I’m used to fright now; it hardly matters." Qi Yue looked at the Empress Dowager. "Then so be it.

This commoner obeys the decree," she said. "I shall perform the surgery here in the Empress Dowager's presence." Everyone in the Empress Dowager's palace became busy. "What is she doing?" "Surgery?" "What is surgery?" "She’s treating Young Master Sima." The news spread quickly, and curious concubines and court ladies from various palaces flocked over.

Outside the palace, Hu San, upon hearing the news, immediately gathered the remaining four or five disciples and directed the eunuchs to begin loading wagons. "We need the bed too?" The eunuchs watched in astonishment as a strange-looking bed was hoisted onto a cart, wondering about Advance! Paralyzed Face TXT Download.

No one paid them any mind; all the disciples busied themselves loading the two brimming carts into the Empress Dowager’s palace.

This was their first time entering the palace, and perhaps their only time in this life, yet not one of them glanced around with curiosity.

As the medicinal liquids were sprayed, a pungent, strange odor instantly permeated the air.

The concubines immediately covered their noses. "What is happening?" "It's been this long, all that clanking and banging; has the treatment started or not?" They peered toward the draped curtain, vaguely able to see the figures inside.

Those behind the curtain could also see those outside.

Qi Yue glanced over during a moment of frantic work and was startled. "Why are there so many people?" she remarked. "They've come to watch the spectacle," Zhou Maochun laughed. "This spectacle isn't good for watching, especially for the unaccustomed.

First-timers will be terrified," Qi Yue frowned, then looked at Zhou Maochun. "Godfather, you..." "Don't joke.

I’ve seen it before! It's not my first time," Zhou Maochun quickly said, stepping a few paces back. "Besides, am I the kind of person who gets frightened?" Everyone said that, Qi Yue pouted, and then looked at the other imperial physicians.

The imperial physicians, who had been curiously watching the Qianjin Hall disciples set up, hesitated. "Gentlemen, Young Master Sima is now under my care," Qi Yue announced. "It would be best if all of you would withdraw." Taking charge of the treatment meant assuming responsibility.

On one hand, everyone wanted to witness this skill; on the other, if they remained present, any adverse outcome might implicate them. "You can still observe from outside the curtain," Qi Yue said with a slight smile. "Moreover, too many people will affect my surgery." This young mistress, though young, seems quite adept at handling people, the physicians thought.

The imperial physicians bowed slightly, murmuring their thanks filled with a mixture of gratitude and admiration, then retreated behind another curtain. "Master, should we read the surgical consent form?" Hu San asked.

Qi Yue scoffed. "Read it to these people? It would be pointless; I won't waste my breath," she said, shaking her head, glancing toward the outside of the curtain.

As they were talking, two eunuchs suddenly approached and lifted the curtain. "Hey, what are you doing?" Qi Yue quickly asked. "Her Highness says she cannot see clearly," the eunuchs replied.

Qi Yue frowned and looked toward the Emperor and Empress Dowager, whose expressions were now placid and grim, respectively.

Truly difficult to serve! "Since that is the case, then this commoner has a favor to ask of His Majesty," Qi Yue said, beckoning to one of the eunuchs.

The eunuch quickly approached.

After hearing Qi Yue's request, his face showed surprise and some hesitation, but he finally answered affirmatively and hurried out.

The Emperor had seen Qi Yue whispering to the eunuch, so when he saw the eunuch hesitating before approaching him, he smiled and raised his hand slightly, thinking of Martial Shattering Mysterious Heaven Latest Chapters. "Your Majesty, Mistress Qi says that since you are a man, your courage is greater than that of a woman.

Therefore, once the surgery begins, we hope Your Majesty will assist.

If any of the women become frightened, please ensure Your Majesty steps forward to maintain order and not obstruct the surgery," the eunuch bowed low and whispered into the Emperor's ear.

The Emperor chuckled.

The Empress Dowager snorted beside him.

Whispering secrets in front of so many people? How brazen! Shameless! "I understand," the Emperor said, looking toward the interior where the woman had already turned around, speaking to her disciples again.

Lifting the curtain does offer a much clearer view.

Perhaps those strange outfits she wears don't look so bad after all... "It's been long enough; can we begin now?" the Empress Dowager said with impatience, then suddenly stood up, recalling something. "Why has Peng'er stopped making noise?" Hu San, inside the inner chamber, looked at Young Master Sima, who lay quietly on the operating table with his eyes closed. "Master, the anesthesia is almost complete," he reported.

Qi Yue looked toward the doorway. "Wait a moment longer; I'm still missing an assistant." An assistant...

I'm prone to fainting from the sight of blood, and A Ru is... "Ah? Where is Master Liu?" Hu San quickly asked.

While Hu San and the others were loading the wagons, Liu Pucheng had overheard a eunuch's remark and immediately drove his carriage straight to a specific residence. "What? Young Master Sima of the Sima family?" Old Physician An's expression was startled upon hearing the news. "Mistress Qi sent a message via a eunuch," Liu Pucheng said, his expression complex. "She said she cannot guarantee success, but...

are you willing to take a gamble?" The words seemed disconnected, yet Old Physician An became visibly agitated.

Dare or not? Willing or not? The last time it involved the Sima family, it resulted in his crippling and ruin.

This time, it was the Sima family again...

Dare or not? Willing or not? Should he secure a peaceful later life by staying far away from the capital and avoiding the Simas, or should he risk everything now for a chance at life or death? Old Physician An placed his hand on his unresponsive leg.

Though devoid of sensation, he still vividly remembered the crushing pain of the moment his leg was violently snapped! He still remembered the pain caused by the public humiliation of having his leg broken, surrounded by mocking glances! That pain was three parts worse than the physical agony! That pain haunted his nights, piercing his heart and sinking into his very bones—even in death, even decaying, it would cling to his skeleton, never to depart through all eternity! "I cannot...

I am not reconciled...

and I do not wish to carry this pain until I die, or into the next life!" Old Physician An said, his voice trembling.

He removed his hand from his leg and wheeled his chair toward the exit.

To have this opportunity was already a blessing from heaven.

A person spends their whole life waiting for an opportunity, but how few truly grasp one? A smile surfaced on Old Physician An’s lips.

Thank the heavens!