Thanks to the physicians' persuasion and the understanding of certain people, a date for the surgery had finally been set.
"Alright, the preparations are properly done. Let's do everything we can!"
The physicians who had been burning with anxiety clenched their fists. They seemed to be steeling themselves against, and trying to cast off, the fear that failure could mean execution.
Amidst all of this, there was one person gazing at the instruments in a completely relaxed manner. When they looked to see who it was— Tenyū was there.
"Hmm-hmm~"
She even had the composure to hum a tune.
"Why does someone like her—"
"Don't call her 'someone like her.'"
Auntie— Liu chided him.
"Isn't she a skilled one?"
"She is skilled, but she lacks a sense of ethics."
"That's true..."
She said this with an oddly heartfelt, wistful tone. Being Physician Liu's younger sister, she must have known Tenyū for quite some time.
"She's skilled, but her whimsical nature is what makes her a handful."
"Yes."
"But there's no need to get worked up about it in any situation."
"I think that's quite right."
If anything, she was the kind of person who grew more excited the more difficult the situation—her eyes sparkling with delight.
Rahan.
Unlike his brother, he would remain composed in any situation.
"Let's focus on our part—let's think about the post-operative care."
"Yes."
Maomao prepared clean bandages, medicine for infection, and ointment. She also had anti-itch medicine ready.
She had also been put in charge of managing meals based on post-operative progress and coordinated with the kitchen staff.
(There was no way this would fail.)
Maomao clenched her fist tightly.
"Maomao, Maomao."
"What is it— Suzume— -san?"
For the first time in a while, Suzume had come to visit Maomao at her workplace.
(Come to think of it, I haven't checked on the progress of those injuries in a while.)
Maomao took Suzume's hand and checked the movement of her fingertips.
"Hey, no—! All of a sudden—. Well, at any rate— go ahead and keep massaging, but could you come with me for a bit?"
Maomao tilted her head and spoke to Liu Xiaomu. Since it involved Suzume, this was likely some errand from Jinshi or thereabouts.
"I can't just step away right now, you know?"
"Don't worry—I already have Physician Liu's approval."
If that was the case, there was nothing to be done. Maomao spoke with Liu Xiaomu and then followed Suzume.
Where Suzume had led her, she found Physician Liu and Jinshi. And Gaoshun was there too.
They all wore serious expressions and turned their attention to Maomao and Suzume as they arrived.
Maomao bowed her head respectfully. She waited until Jinshi told her to raise it. She was especially careful given that Physician Liu was present.
"Raise your head."
Maomao felt like making her escape, but Suzume was right behind her. She knew—once you'd been summoned, there was no walking away.
"Might I ask why I was summoned?"
"His Majesty has expressed reservations about tomorrow's surgery."
"..."
Maomao's jaw dropped.
"No, no, no—"
"What do you mean, no, no, no?"
Jinshi shot back with a scowl.
"But, but—"
"Maomao, that's disrespectful."
Physician Liu admonished Maomao as she was about to drop all pretense of formality. She quickly pressed her hand over her mouth.
"Up to now, everyone had been under the impression that the surgery would proceed. But if His Majesty declares it won't happen—"
"There's no way we can make him."
Gaoshun nodded with deep furrows etched between his brows at Jinshi's words following Physician Liu's.
"After all the trouble we went to, gaining the understanding of the jade clan—"
Empress Consort Gyokuyou, and Gyoen— only to have it come to this."
Physician Liu looked at Maomao. She had already reported that she'd been summoned by Empress Consort Gyokuyou and given her an explanation.
"Even Lord Go—if he's not fully convinced, he's at least no longer as opposed as before, so now is the opportunity— yet here we are."
(Who is Go?)
Probably some bigwig Maomao doesn't know, so there's no point remembering the name. She ignores it.
But the person who dreads surgery the most is always the patient. It's the most natural thing in the world, yet when that patient is an important person, it becomes a huge problem.
(No matter how high the success rate, having your belly cut open is still having your belly cut open.)
She understood why Gaoshun was here.
But why was Maomao being summoned?
"This isn't something I can do anything about, but—"
"Listen to the whole story."
"Yes."
Maomao clamped her hand over her mouth once more.
"His Majesty has expressed a wish to hold a gathering before the surgery."
Physician Liu said with a bitter expression.
(Drinking before surgery? That's absurd.)
He wouldn't be in any state to drink—it would be tea at best—yet her mind immediately conjured images of a banquet.
"The attendees will include myself and—"
Ada— "—Lord Ada."
Maomao swallowed hard.
His Majesty, Ada, Jinshi—unofficially, this would amount to a family reunion. And Jinshi most likely didn't know that fact.
(Yeah, I've got a really bad feeling about this.)
Maomao had no idea what she should do.
"Ada has said he will come, provided Maomao attends as well."
"..."
Maomao squeezed her eyes shut, gritted her teeth, and let out a groan as she tilted her head back.
(I want to refuse. I want to refuse.)
But there was no way she could refuse.
What on earth did the Emperor want to talk about? Perhaps he wished to put his affairs in order to settle the unease weighing on him before the surgery.
If the secret of Jinshi's birth happened to be among those matters, Jinshi himself might very well end up with an ulcer.
It would be troublesome if both father and son ended up with inflamed or perforated organs.
Maomao considered showing up prepared with stomach medicine.
"What kind of connection did you build with Lady Ada during your time as a rear palace lady?"
Dr. Liu stared at her with a look of exasperation.
"Lady Ada did say something about us being drinking buddies, didn't she?"
Suzume answered in her place.
(Well, it wasn't as if they'd never had a drink together, either.)
Going into the details would be tedious, so she held her tongue.
"So, would you come along?"
"Certainly."
Maomao bowed her head obediently.