Chapter 34: Contribution of Suturing Techniques

After Ling Xiaoyu returned Xu Xiaoxiao and her mother to their meditation room, he headed back to his own quarters. When Shadow handed him the smoke mask, he suddenly realized something.

Yes, he was familiar with these items, and the actions felt like they were etched into his bones. And these things were definitely not something that should have appeared in this world. Xu Xiaoxiao and her mother were not as simple as they seemed on the surface, and he was certain he had some connection to them.

With this realization, he immediately instructed Shadow to collect all the masks from the dark guards and quietly deliver them to Xia Qingfeng’s courtyard.

It was better that fewer people knew about this. He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it from his grandfather, the emperor. Long Wei, the royal guard, was a gift from his grandfather, and it was inevitable that he would learn about everything here very soon.

With that thought, he rose and went to find Master Kong Zhi.

At this moment, Master Kong Zhi was discussing suturing techniques with the monk doctors. The treatment methods that Xia Qingfeng had taught them earlier were unprecedented in their experience. The anesthesia could relieve pain, alcohol could disinfect, and they could stitch wounds with a needle. According to her, this method not only stopped bleeding quickly but also ensured faster wound healing. These methods had been verified in the treatment of the injured earlier.

If this method could be widely spread, it would save many more lives, especially on the battlefield. The monks didn’t participate in political affairs, but they would go to great lengths to help and heal the people.

Ling Xiaoyu walked forward and greeted Master Kong Zhi.

“Master, may I speak with you privately?”

Master Kong Zhi waved his hand, and the other monks quietly withdrew.

“Master, regarding the smoke masks and fire extinguishers the guards used during the fire, I hope the monks will keep this secret.”

Master Kong Zhi smiled slightly. “Your Highness, the people you wish to protect are the very ones my temple is meant to protect. This mother and child have great merit and destiny. I believe His Majesty will also ensure their safety.” As he spoke, he gestured toward the tray on the table, which held the suturing thread Xia Qingfeng had left behind. “Your Highness, how would you feel about presenting this suturing technique to the imperial court?”

Master Kong Zhi had previously consulted Xia Qingfeng about this suturing technique.

Xia Qingfeng had agreed without hesitation, also promising to offer the formula for the anesthetic powder and the method for alcohol purification. She knew the recipe for the medicine, and as for alcohol purification, that would depend on her daughter.

Ling Xiaoyu was deeply moved by Master Kong Zhi’s words. He bowed in gratitude. “Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

After returning to his residence, Ling Xiaoyu personally wrote a long letter to the Emperor, detailing everything that had happened in Chongfu Temple over the past few days. He particularly highlighted Xia Qingfeng, Xu Xiaoxiao, and her suturing skills. After sending the letter with the shadow guards, he suddenly remembered the dozens of black-clad men who had been captured alive.

After all, Ling Xiaoyu was just an eight-year-old child. Such bloody matters as interrogating prisoners were left to the Shadow Guards to handle.

Since the Buddhist temple was a sacred place, direct interrogation couldn’t be done there. So, upon receiving the news, the old emperor sent the Imperial Guards and a prison cart to take away the still unconscious black-clad men.

That night, the black-clad men woke up in the dungeon… and the classic trio of questions ensued: (    )? (    )? (    )? (Experienced readers, feel free to fill in the blanks.)

The next morning, as soon as Ling Xiaoyu got up, the Shadow Guards reported that Xia Qingfeng had performed a cesarean section the night before.

Ling Xiaoyu was greatly shocked. It seemed that her suturing skills were truly miraculous! He immediately ordered his servants to reward the newborn with 50 taels of silver, to help the mother and child recover their health.

The old matriarch also heard of this and made a special visit to the new mother with her daughter-in-law, bringing gifts of silver.

Upon returning, the old matriarch went directly to Xia Qingfeng’s courtyard. Hearing that she was still resting, the matriarch took Xu Xiaoxiao to her own courtyard, where they enjoyed fruits and spent time together. That morning, Ling Xiaoyu had been summoned back to the capital by the old emperor. Many matters still needed to be discussed face-to-face.

Around noon, Xia Qingfeng was woken by hunger. She heard that the old matriarch had come to visit her, so she quickly ate something and headed to the matriarch’s quarters.

Today was the day to administer insulin to the old matriarch.

“Girl,” the old matriarch called out as Xia Qingfeng finished administering the insulin and began tidying up. The matriarch hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring herself to.

“Old matriarch, is there anything we can’t talk about?” Xia Qingfeng asked with a smile.

The old matriarch pulled her closer, feeling a little embarrassed. “We heard about what you did for the new mother last night. I went to visit this morning, and the wound had not become infected; it’s healing very well.” The old matriarch paused and, somewhat shyly, continued, “Would you be willing to teach our people that suturing technique? My son is at the frontier, and the soldiers there who are injured could really benefit from this skill. If they could be treated this way, I think many more lives could be saved. We would be willing to…”

“Old matriarch, of course I’m willing!” Xia Qingfeng knew what the old matriarch was about to say. She was happy to pass on the suturing skills—and even more advanced medical techniques from her time. Especially for the soldiers guarding the frontier, she would not accept any compensation from them.

So, she repeated to the old matriarch what she had previously told Master Kongzhi.

The old lady was deeply moved after hearing the news. She grabbed Xia Qingfeng’s hand and exclaimed, “Such great kindness! Such great kindness!”

After leaving the old lady’s courtyard, Xia Qingfeng took Xu Xiaoxiao to the meditation hall, where the injured were being treated, to check on their recovery. The lightly injured had already left with their families, and only the severely wounded remained, unable to be moved just yet.

Xia Qingfeng checked their wounds. Their conditions were stable for now, but the anesthesia had worn off, and the wounds would soon become painful. In the hall, occasional groans could be heard from the injured. Xia Qingfeng handed some pain-relieving medicine to the temple’s monk doctors and instructed them on the proper dosage.

The few doctors the old lady had hurriedly brought in last night were already tending to the patients. They were all from the Marquis of Wuting’s household and had previously accompanied the marquis to the battlefield.

When they had arrived, the butler had instructed them not to speak about anything they saw here. They had all wondered what could be so special about treating external injuries, something they were very familiar with. 

However, when they saw the stitched wounds on the patients, they were all stunned. “So this is how it’s done?” They quickly asked the monks about it and learned that it was a young lady who had taught them this technique. Moreover, on the night they arrived, this young lady had even performed a cesarean section on a woman in labor, saving both mother and child.

So, when Xia Qingfeng came to check on the patients, she was met with several doctors looking at her with burning eyes.

Xia Qingfeng instructed the doctors to observe the patients closely as they continued to tend to them. They could ask her for help if they had any questions. The suturing technique would be taught in detail after they descended the mountain, at the Marquis of Wuting’s household.

The doctors were thrilled and took extra care while attending to the patients.

Xia Qingfeng didn’t know what else to do! She couldn’t exactly practice stitching on pigskin inside a temple!

Finally, Xia Qingfeng went to check on the woman who had given birth the previous night. The woman was in good spirits and would be able to breastfeed by noon. The baby was a bit small, but after a thorough check, Xia Qingfeng confirmed the child was healthy. The injured grandmother had been moved into the same room as her daughter-in-law, so her son could help take care of them both. Perhaps seeing her new grandson had lifted the old woman’s spirits, as she looked much better. Upon seeing Xia Qingfeng, she tried to get up to kneel in gratitude, but Xia He quickly stopped her.