She had no idea where the information had leaked. If anything, she thought, they had been impressively good at keeping it hidden.
Maomao
thought.
Even Jinshi
didn't seem confident about it.
The planning was complete; all that remained was the surgery itself, yet now people were butting in from every direction.
(Not that this is unusual.)
Even at a neighborhood apothecary, it wasn't unheard of for a regular's family to come in, complain that the medicine was expensive and pointless, then drag the patient away claiming they'd find a different treatment.
(I hope the patient at least survives.)
When the patient happened to be the person at the very top of the nation, having people poke their noses into the treatment was only to be expected.
Surgical procedures were almost never performed. For external wounds, one could understand the urgency. But when it came to illness, the prevailing view was that medicine should be able to cure it.
(Medicine can't cure it! That's why we're doing this!)
Maomao crushed the herbs with all her strength, grinding away.
"You'll wear yourself out."
The voice came from an older woman standing beside her. The reason Maomao didn't stand out awkwardly among the court physicians was probably thanks to her presence.
"Auntie's old, so managing your energy matters. But just because you're young doesn't mean you can slack off on pacing yourself—you'll be dead tired later."
She called herself Auntie, and sure enough, she looked the part. She'd never been upfront about her exact age—somewhere past fifty—but her face bore the wrinkles to match. Her comfortably plump figure spoke to a life of well-fed abundance, yet her fingertips were stained so dark that no amount of washing could remove it. Maomao could tell these were the fingers of someone who had spent years preparing medicines.
Her common name was Auntie Liu. A common enough surname, but among the court physicians, the most notable "Liu" was
Liu
the physician. Auntie Liu was Physician Liu's younger sister.
"There will be a lot of hires through personal connections this time, so don't resent me for it,"
said Physician Liu.
If the emperor's treatment failed, every physician involved—and their family members—would be executed. For that reason, Physician Liu had decided to hire the relatives of the participating physicians. Needless to say, personal connections or not, Physician Liu would never hire amateurs.
"Hehehe, this is the first time I've worked anywhere outside the family business, so I'm a bit nervous. Nice to meet you, Senior."
Auntie Liu was a woman of genuine medical talent. Having spent years working in the family clinic of Physician Liu, her hands moved with practiced ease.
However, she had apparently never married and had no children. Her darkened fingertips told the story. Many considered medicine a lowly profession. How many men would take one look at those stained fingers and decide she was unfit to be a wife?
In a sense, Auntie Liu had walked a path that Maomao herself might one day follow.
Just as Maomao was growing irritated, the other court physicians were getting restless too.
"Everything was supposed to be ready."
"At this rate, it will only get worse."
Just as Physician Liu had diagnosed, if it was appendicitis, this was a race against time.
"Fine, fine. Getting worked up won't solve anything. Let's do what we can."
Auntie Liu had a way of easing the tense atmosphere just enough.
Her age reminded Maomao of Suiren, Jinshi's nanny.
But unlike Suiren, there was no hidden agenda with this woman.
(Maomao and Physician Liu are nothing alike.)
Or rather, perhaps it was precisely because their personalities were so different that they got along. Otherwise, he never would have invited Auntie Liu here in the first place.
If Auntie Liu's presence improved the mood of the workplace, and Physician Liu had anticipated that, then he was quite the strategist.
Auntie Liu already seemed to be acquainted with the other physicians.
"Auntie, but still—"
"Yeah, yeah. We're all risking our lives here, you know."
Even the physicians, who usually spoke in formal, stiff tones, relaxed into a more casual atmosphere.
Maomao prepared tea and, together with Auntie Liu, settled into the role of listener.
Those opposed to the surgery were not alone.
Members of the Empress Dowager's family and Yu'en's faction were speaking up.
In other words, both the Empress Dowager's faction and the Empress's faction were pushing back.
"Well, I can see both sides."
From the Empress Dowager's faction's perspective, if the surgery failed, the five-year-old Crown Prince would become emperor. In that case, the Empress's father, Yu'en, would serve as regent.
Conversely, the Empress's faction knew that installing a child emperor before things were stable would inevitably provoke resentment. More importantly, there was Jinshi, the emperor's younger brother, whose age made him a far more viable candidate. Calls for Jinshi to take the throne would surely grow loud.
(It's disadvantageous for both sides.)
It is precisely in times without great upheaval that such restraint is valued. Had this been an age of chaos, countless branches of previous imperial bloodlines would have surged forward, and the throne would have been drenched in blood.
(Though I suppose it could be worse.)
How could she explain that doing nothing here was nothing but a blunder?
Maomao listened to the physicians' near-complaining chatter as she sipped her tea.
That day, unfamiliar men could be seen at Maomao's dormitory. An elegant carriage was parked outside, and the dormitory manager eyed them with suspicion.
"What's going on?"
Her junior,
Chousha,
was looking on with a puzzled expression. Though they hadn't run into each other at work lately, the two of them took turns cooking meals back at the dormitory. Today, Chousha had gone out to buy groceries after her shift.
(It's not
Suzume,
is it?)
When Suzume called for her on matters related to Jinshi, she was always more courteous. The carriage would typically be less ostentatious, or parked at a slight distance.
"Would you come with us?"
With that, they showed a peony crest.
(It's the
Gyokuyou
empress's crest.)
Maomao studied the men's faces intently. It would have been reassuring to recognize even one, but unfortunately she didn't know a single face. Even if she had met them before, Maomao was the sort who wouldn't remember — crow-headed to the bone.
If they were messengers from Empress Gyokuyou, she would go with them. But if someone was impersonating the empress, she wanted to refuse.
As she hesitated, a familiar face emerged from the carriage.
"Maomao."
"
Hongniang
"
Lady Hongniang." She was the head lady-in-waiting of Consort Gyokuyou.
"I'm glad you came."
"Yes."
If the head lady-in-waiting herself had come in person, Maomao couldn't very well refuse.
"Miss Chouka. Would you mind eating dinner on your own tonight?"
"Sure."
Maomao handed over the ingredients she had purchased and climbed into the carriage.
Just as expected, the carriage entered the consort's palace.
Along the way through the palace, Hongniang asked her a few questions.
"Do you know why you were summoned?"
"Is it about His Majesty?"
High-ranking officials had been clamoring left and right about the surgery. There was no way Consort Gyokuyou didn't know about it.
"Yes. Do you know what you'll be asked?"
"Whether the explanation given by the court physicians is true or not. She wants to hear it confirmed directly from my mouth."
"That's exactly right."
"Of course, it would be no good if I went without first checking with my superiors."
"We can't have your stories not matching up."
(I do have my own position to think about, you know.)
Maomao grumbled inwardly, but there was no way she could refuse right here and now.
There were guards posted in front of the room she was led to. When Hongniang raised a hand, one of them opened the door.
Inside, Consort Gyokuyou was reclining on a long sofa. Beside her were some familiar ladies-in-waiting, and also a bright-haired girl who bore a resemblance to the consort. She must have been the girl that
Yugyoku
had sent over before.
There was also another woman with narrow eyes and braided hair. She had plain features and was tall. She looked to be around Hongniang's age — somewhere in her early thirties.
(Was she from the western provinces?)
Her sunburned skin and unusual clothing suggested she hailed from Jusai Province.
Maomao bowed deeply.
"It's been a while. How have you been?"
It was only after Empress Gyokuyou addressed her that Maomao raised her head.
"I've been doing well, as always."
"Good. Please, take a seat."
"Thank you very much."
Maomao took a seat.
Yinghua
and the other two maids gazed at Maomao with nostalgic fondness.
"Now then, you three have other duties. I have something important to discuss, so please leave the room."
"Yes..."
"Yes, isn't good enough!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The dynamic between Hongniang and the three maids was alive and well. Empress Gyokuyou watched their exchange with amusement.
The three maids and the unfamiliar foreign-looking girl left the room. The woman with the unfamiliar braided hairstyle stayed behind.
The door was firmly locked, and a guard stood posted outside to ensure no one was eavesdropping.
The first to speak was Empress Gyokuyou.
"I've heard the story from Hongniang already. I'm sorry to rush you, but could you tell me what the current situation is?"
"The court physicians have concluded that it is no longer possible to cure the illness with medicine. Based on the symptoms, it is appendicitis, and surgery must be performed before the condition worsens to remove the appendix — the source of the infection."
Even as she thought it over, Maomao answered honestly.
Liu
the court physician and
Luomen
He would not teach false medical conditions. There was no reason to do so.
Judging from the expressions of Consort Gyokuyou and the others, they had likely been given the same explanation.
"Removing the affected area means cutting open the abdomen, doesn't it?"
"That is correct."
"Will it succeed?"
Consort Gyokuyou spoke with worry. What was conveyed in her words was not only concern for the Crown Prince's future, but also a sense of anxiety for the Emperor himself.
The relationship between an Emperor and his consort was not something defined by words like "love" or "romance." Still, it could not be said that Consort Gyokuyou had no feelings whatsoever.
"The court physicians are doing their very best."
"So there are times when it fails?"
"..."
Maomao thought for a moment.
"In its current state, the probability of success exceeds ninety percent. However, it will decrease as time passes, won't it?"
"What is the reason it decreases?"
"Pus accumulates in the affected area and ruptures, causing different illnesses to develop. Therefore, the passage of time is a matter of life and death."
Maomao chose words that were as easy to understand as possible.
"Then, what are some other examples of failure?"
"There are cases where toxins enter through the surgical wound and cause infection."
"You mean being poisoned?"
"No. When you scrape your knee, if you don't wash the wound, the dirt that has stuck to it introduces toxins into the body, and it festers. It's the same principle. Touching a wound with dirty hands is not advisable."
Maomao honestly answered regarding failure cases as well. Even if she tried to hide them, it would only invite suspicion.
"One last question. If the court physicians' diagnosis is wrong and it is not this appendicitis, then what?"
"In that case, there is nothing to be done about it. However, the surgery would not be entirely wasted."
Being able to visually identify a different affected area by looking directly would be beneficial. Additionally, by removing the pus from the abdomen—
—the symptoms could be somewhat alleviated.
The fundamental treatment would be delayed, but it would still be preferable to leaving it untreated.
Gyokuyou, Hongniang, and the braided-hair woman exchanged glances.
"Was my account so different from what the other physicians explained?"
"No."
Gyokuyou offered a troubled smile.
"It's not as though you'd all agreed on a story from the start, is it?"
"If we had agreed beforehand, we would have hidden the odds of surgical failure much more effectively."
"That's true."
Gyokuyou spoke as though sighing, then turned her gaze to the braided-hair woman.
"That's how it is. Will you convey a proper explanation to Father? Sister."
(Sister.)
At last, the braided-hair woman's identity became clear. She was one of Gyokuyou's many half-siblings.
"Understood. However, I cannot guarantee how those around him will react."
"So Father will be convinced, then."
The braided-hair woman said nothing.
"Hmm. I'm sorry for calling you here so suddenly, Maomao."
"Not at all."
Maomao was relieved she hadn't been made to give an incorrect explanation.
"Dinner hasn't been served yet, has it? Since you're already here, why not stay and eat?"
Maomao involuntarily clutched her stomach.
(I want to eat—I do, but)
If she ate here now, it would defeat the entire purpose of having given the correct explanation.
(Meals could easily be taken as bribes.)
Maomao bit her lip hard and bowed her head.
"I'm terribly sorry. I'll have my meal after I've finished."
Clutching her growling stomach, Maomao left the room.