The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1484: 725 Knowing One's Origins_2

Chapter 1484: 725 Knowing One’s Origins_2

The Little Princess walked away with her small head drooping and her little arms hanging down, looking utterly heartbroken.

The monarch: “…”

Aren’t you going to struggle a bit?

…

National Master Hall.

Zhang Dequan paced back and forth along the corridor countless times, feeling as though he had worn his shoe soles through.

Desperate, he looked at the iron door guarded by two loyal guards and exclaimed, “It’s been over two hours now, why hasn’t there been any news? Could it be that the treatment isn’t going well?”

He patted the back of one hand with the other and fretted, “What should we do? What should we do?”

Inside the Operating Room, the surgery neared its end, with pedicle screws already inserted into the spine. Next, they needed to use metallic connecting rods to secure these screws.

Traditional surgery required a large incision to fully expose the wound, allowing the connecting rod to be directly placed into the slots of the pedicle screws.

But Gu Jiao was performing a percutaneous minimally invasive procedure, so she needed to use a special rod inserter through the tail stem that enveloped the screws’ roots, then transverse through each screw’s slot.

It was a subcutaneous puncture. The slot was only so large, and Gu Jiao’s hand could not afford to tremble at all, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to thread it through.

The National Master watched Gu Jiao intently, not blinking once.

Fortunately, Gu Jiao’s hands were extremely steady.

“Put on the cap,” said Gu Jiao.

The National Master passed the screw cap to Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao tightened one cap, removed the rod inserter, and then picked up the cap for the other side as well.

The last steps were to remove the tail stem and suture the wound.

Gu Jiao took out the protein thread and performed an intradermal suture on Shangguan Yun, which did not require removal later and would be more aesthetically pleasing in recovery, although it was significantly more difficult than an external suture.

“You are quite attentive to her,” commented the National Master.

“It’s okay,” said Gu Jiao.

As the National Master packed up the medical supplies with Gu Jiao, he asked, “How is your brother’s recovery going?”

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and replied, “Not bad.”

Gu Jiao had introduced Gu Yan to the National Master as a friend, but during the surgery, Gu Yan had already called her sister, so Gu Jiao simply did not hide it any longer.

After all, he knew too much already; this bit of information made no difference.

After the surgery was completed, the National Master called an experienced disciple to use the National Master Hall’s special stretcher cart to transport the patient to a side room.

Gu Jiao: “Huh, there’s even a stretcher cart.”

Not bad, National Master.

Upon seeing Shangguan Yun being wheeled out, Zhang Dequan hurriedly came up and asked, “Is the former Princess alright now?”

After glancing at Gu Jiao, the National Master replied, “Thanks to Doctor Xiao, the surgery was very successful.”

“Ah,” Zhang Dequan looked at Gu Jiao in shock. He truly hadn’t expected such superb medical skills from this young person. He didn’t understand the complexity of the surgery, and it was probably the first time Xiao Liulang had been referred to as “Doctor” by the National Master.

“Thank you, Doctor Xiao,” Zhang Dequan corrected himself. “I will report your contributions to the sovereign.”

Gu Jiao handed him a list.

Zhang Dequan was taken aback: “What is this—”

Gu Jiao: “Consultation fee, medicine expenses; have them sent by your monarch. No credit allowed.”

Zhang Dequan: “…”

The National Master still had duties to attend to within the hall, so he left first, instructing someone to call for Ya He on his way out.

Gu Jiao, carrying her first aid kit, entered the room.

After the other two disciples positioned Shangguan Yun on the bedchamber, they left.

Gu Jiao’s surgery had stretched from noon to the afternoon. The weather was somewhat hot, but the room was well-ventilated. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of bamboo from the courtyard, which made the heat more bearable.

Shangguan Yun had been under general anesthetic for the surgery, and she was now deeply asleep, the drug’s effects not yet dissipated.

On the table lay her small basket, but Xiao Hen was nowhere to be seen.

“Eh? Where is the husband?” Gu Jiao placed the first aid kit on the table as well.

Just as she spoke, Xiao Hen walked in carrying a basket of medicines, his expression complicated.

Upon seeing Gu Jiao, he first paused, then glanced at Shangguan Yun on the bedchamber: “How did it go… with you guys?”

He didn’t just ask how Shangguan Yun was, he asked how both were doing.

He wasn’t only concerned about the one who was more seriously injured.

With a nonchalant air, Gu Jiao replied, “I’m fine, and she’s doing well, the surgery was very successful.”

“Does that mean she’s fine after a few days when the stitches are removed?” In Xiao Hen’s mind, surgeries always required stitches to be removed, and usually that marked their recovery.

“No need to remove stitches,” Gu Jiao shook her head, “but after six months to a year, the screws need to be removed depending on her recovery.”

“Screws?” Xiao Hen’s pupils shrank.

Gu Jiao informed, “Eight screws were placed on her spine.”

Xiao Hen’s gaze grew cold, and his large hand clenched into a fist.

Images flashed through his mind: her earnest figure digging into the watermelon, the way she held out the watermelon to him, fearful of being rejected, and the hurt and dejection in her eyes when he did not reach out to accept it.

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