Chapter 1289: Chapter 1267: Cesarean Section
No matter how much preparation had been made, when the critical moment arrived, Minister Han still hesitated. This was abdominal surgery to deliver a child, and the patient was his own daughter.
Minister Li sat quietly off to the side without interfering. This kind of situation could not be persuaded; the uncertainty of life and death was simply too great. All he could do was say a few words, “Doctor Zhou Junior, whatever you need, just let me know, and I will send someone to make arrangements immediately.”
Manbao nodded at him and continued looking at Minister Han.
Minister Han remained silent for a long time. In the end, he nodded and said, “Thank you for your assistance, Doctor Zhou Junior.”
Manbao rose and said, “I’ll leave now, and return to the residence early tomorrow morning.”
Minister Han was stunned and quickly asked, “Doctor Zhou Junior, won’t you stay at the residence?”
Manbao replied, “The patient needs rest as well. Have her take her medicine and let her sleep. Remember not to feed her any food; she can drink a bit of water. As long as she isn’t further stimulated, she’ll be fine.”
Minister Han turned his gaze to Imperial Doctors Tan and Liu.
The two imperial doctors checked the time and nodded, saying, “Then we’ll trouble your household by staying the night here.”
Minister Li hurriedly replied, “Guest rooms have already been prepared for both of you.”
Both ministers glanced at Manbao and then Bai Shan, who was waiting nearby. They understood that Zhou Man staying here was indeed inappropriate. After all, she was still a young girl.
Thus, Minister Han did not insist further and asked, “Is there anything our household needs to prepare?”
Manbao thought for a moment and then asked for an ink and brush to make a list. “I’ll write down some medicines; these are for tomorrow’s use. Please prepare them ahead of time. Additionally, you’ll need to prepare a well-lit and empty room. The room doesn’t need many furnishings—just a bed or wooden couch will suffice.”
Imperial Doctors Tan and Liu approached to examine the medicines listed. Noticing that the amount of Atractylodes was particularly large, they asked, “Are you planning to use Atractylodes to fumigate the room?”
Manbao nodded, “The incision on the abdomen may be quite large. Although it’s winter now, it’s better to err on the side of caution.”
Imperial Doctor Tan continued evaluating the items, saying, “The amount for anesthesia seems a bit low. Will it be enough?”
Imperial Doctor Liu said, “Doctor Zhou Junior has acupuncture-based anesthesia as an auxiliary method. Otherwise, too much anesthesia may adversely affect the child.”
Imperial Doctor Tan nodded in agreement. Seeing that emergency medicines were also listed later, he felt there was nothing more to add.
Manbao handed the completed list to Minister Han and gave him a few reminders before taking her leave.
Minister Han hastily arranged for people to escort them back.
Seated in the carriage, Bai Shan glanced out at the escort following behind through the window. After shutting the window, he asked, “Are you confident for tomorrow?”
Manbao said, “I’d say there’s a ninety percent chance of success.”
After all, the woman who served as the data prototype for Han Wuniang had undergone nearly twenty simulated C-sections under her care, during which various emergencies were also preemptively rehearsed. As long as specific rare complications did not occur, she was confident.
Although experienced, Manbao still prepared meticulously. That evening, she first informed Teacher Mo of the situation, then refrained from doing anything else, lying down on her bed to rest and conserve energy.
Early the next morning, she grabbed her medical kit and headed to Jishi Hall. After Daji dropped off Bai Shan and the others at the Imperial Academy, she went to report to Shopkeeper Zheng, asked him to convey the news to Imperial Doctor Zheng, and then departed with Shao for the Li Residence.
The medicine supplies missing from the Li household were ultimately supplemented by Jishi Hall.
The household had cleared a well-lit side room following Manbao’s instructions. Using Atractylodes to fumigate the room, they arranged for only a wooden couch and some racks inside.
Soon enough, Ms. Doctor Liu and Doctor Xiao arrived. They had received the message Manbao had asked Imperial Doctor Zheng to deliver that morning and had applied for leave from the palace.
Since Manbao had informed and trained them beforehand, and the Empress had given her approval, their departure from the palace was relatively smooth.
Han Wuniang was visibly nervous. In fact, everyone was on edge, including the two imperial doctors and Manbao. However, they were careful not to let their emotions show.
Clearly, they upheld the professional ethics of a physician—if anyone panicked, it could not be evident to the patient or their family.
Han Wuniang was so tense that she forgot to ask for food. From morning until now, her usual complaints about hunger had dissipated, leaving Li Sanlang, who had been listening to her, silently relieved.
Manbao had said the procedure would take place at lunchtime, but in fact, everything was prepared well before then.
Manbao brought out the blood-drawing kit to test the blood types of the maids Minister Han had arranged. Once matching blood types with Han Wuniang were confirmed, she drew a full container of blood as a precaution.
Seeing her even preparing blood reserves, Minister Han’s anxieties eased slightly.
He did not attend court or go to his office today, choosing instead to stay and keep vigil.
Quite a few people from the Li household had come to watch the commotion. Several young masters and ladies attempted to discreetly approach, although under Minister Li’s watchful gaze, none dared disturb the two imperial doctors or Zhou Man, contenting themselves with observing from a respectful distance.
The female relatives gathered around Han Wuniang, speaking words of comfort with varying degrees of sincerity, offering an overflow of reassurances.
Already nervous, Han Wuniang felt her stomach begin to ache under the additional stress.
The Eldest Lady Han noticed this and quickly diverted the subject, efficiently dispersing the group.
With everything arranged, the blood was entrusted to Imperial Doctor Tan, while Manbao and Imperial Doctor Liu approached Han Wuniang to take her pulse. After confirming, Manbao said, “It’s time. Fifth Lady, would you like to change your clothes?”
Han Wuniang hesitated briefly before nodding. Once she emerged from the inner quarters, Manbao guided her into the delivery room.
Inside the room, two massive screens had been erected. The wooden couch was situated between them, while outside sat a table and two chairs for Imperial Doctors Tan and Liu.
Minister Han remained outside, but Li Sanlang stayed nearby, standing just beyond the screens. The Eldest Lady Han changed into clean clothes and joined her sister behind the screens.
The prepared medicinal decoction was brought over, which Han Wuniang drank. Manbao then began acupuncture.
A little over fifteen minutes later, once she confirmed that Han Wuniang had fallen asleep, Manbao tied a string around her wrist and extended it outside to Imperial Doctors Tan and Liu.
Pulse diagnosis via suspended silk—Manbao had only heard of it but never witnessed or practiced it herself. Before the procedure, Imperial Doctor Tan had said he could perform it.
Once all three verified that the patient was indeed unconscious, Manbao glanced over to Ms. Doctor Liu and Doctor Xiao, giving them a slight nod and saying, “Let us begin.”
The surgical instruments, sterilized long ago, were ready. Manbao purified her hands and shook them dry. Once her hands had dried naturally, she picked up the scalpel, placed it over Han Wuniang’s abdomen, and steadying her focus, began to make an incision…
Blood began to seep out. Eldest Lady Han covered her mouth tightly to suppress her scream, her eyes widening as she watched Zhou Man open up her younger sister’s belly. Then, peeling away another layer, Manbao paused to assess.
Ms. Doctor Liu and Doctor Xiao were also visibly tense, wiping away the blood with gauze to ensure Zhou Man had an unobstructed view.
After two precise cuts, both froze momentarily—they could see a round protrusion beneath the incision, faintly revealing the silhouette of the child…
Their eyes widened further as they watched Manbao delicately make another incision. Finally, within the opening appeared the child’s foot.
For a moment, both stared with even greater astonishment.