With great care, Feng Jin excised the scar tissue. The mere act of removing the scar left her drenched in sweat.
After the excision came the suturing, the most critical step.
Throughout this process, Feng Jin dared not blink, her hands steady, her movements meticulously deliberate, each stitch carefully considered.
Though only a dozen stitches, the suturing felt interminably long.
Finally, with the last stitch in place, Feng Jin let out a slow breath. Her eyes, strained from prolonged use, were dry and uncomfortable. As she blinked, tears streamed uncontrollably.
Ignoring the tears, Feng Jin quickly proceeded with disinfection, applying medicine to promote wound healing, and then bandaging the face with gauze.
Once everything was done, Feng Jin slowly rose. Her limbs, compressed from maintaining a single posture for so long, experienced a sudden rush of blood circulation, causing them to go numb.
Feng Jin quickly steadied herself against a nearby chair and sat down to rest for a moment.
Perhaps due to sheer exhaustion, Feng Jin slumped onto the table and fell into a deep sleep.
When she awoke, the sun was high in the sky, and she found herself in her own room.
"Young Madam, you are awake. The small kitchen has made some porridge, and I've kept it warm for you on the stove. I'll go fetch it."
Cai Qing, who had been guarding the room, quickly got up and headed out as soon as she saw Feng Jin awake.
"No need, I have no appetite right now."
After such exertion, she had no desire to eat; all she wanted was to sleep and then think about other things.
"By the way, why am I here? Wasn't I in Yun Niang's room?" Feng Jin was puzzled as to how she had ended up in a different place after a night's sleep.
Could she have a sleepwalking problem she was unaware of?
She still didn't know Yun Niang's condition.
Feng Jin threw off the covers and made to get out of bed. She had to check on Yun Niang. The forty-eight hours after surgery were the most critical period, and she had to stay by Yun Niang's side constantly to prevent postoperative infection.
"Young Madam, the Young General has instructed that you are not to leave your room." Cai Qing rushed forward to block Feng Jin. When the Young General carried the Young Madam back, he specifically ordered that no one should disturb the Young Madam's rest and that she was not to go out.
"I just want to check on Yun Niang's condition. I'll be back if everything is fine."
With Feng Jin saying this, Cai Qing hesitated before reluctantly moving aside.
Why was this girl listening to Ling Mo Han so intently now? This was like having a little spy.
By the time Feng Jin arrived at Yun Niang's room, Ling Wan was already there, and Yun Niang had not yet woken up.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, why are you here? Didn't Brother tell you to stay in your room?" Ling Wan had personally seen Ling Mo Han take Feng Jin away, and he had also instructed everyone in the household not to disturb Feng Jin.
Knowing Feng Jin's worried nature about Yun Niang's condition, she had voluntarily stayed behind to look after Yun Niang.
"I'm fine. If I just lie in the room, even with all my limbs intact, they'll atrophy."
Feng Jin knew it was Ling Mo Han's doing. She stepped forward to check on Yun Niang's condition.
Her temperature was normal. The anesthetic had not worn off yet. Once it did, she would still need to take some anti-inflammatory medication.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, you've had a tiring day. You should go back and rest. I'll watch over Yun Niang here. If anything happens, I'll report it to you immediately."
Ling Wan was also concerned about Feng Jin's health. She hadn't had a good rest in the past two days, and if anything were to happen while she was taking care of Yun Niang, she couldn't bear Ling Mo Han's anger.
"I'm fine. I know my own body best. Don't be afraid of Ling Mo Han. If he tries to cause trouble, I'll deal with him."
She had handled a surgery that lasted a day and a night before, so this was nothing.
However, she did notice that the original owner's body was very frail. If she exerted herself even slightly or concentrated too intensely on something, she would feel extremely fatigued.
Was it because the original owner's body was too weak, or was there another reason? She hadn't fully figured it out yet.
"Then... Eldest Sister-in-law, please eat something first. I'll have Cai Qing bring it to you."
Ling Wan was in a difficult position. She couldn't afford to offend either of them and could only go along with Feng Jin's wishes.
She finally understood. No matter how formidable her brother was, in the end, he had to listen to his Eldest Sister-in-law. With the Eldest Sister-in-law supporting her, what was there to fear?
It took two to three hours before Yun Niang finally woke up.
As soon as she awoke, Yun Niang felt a sharp pain in her cheek. A wave of anxiety spread through her heart. Yun Niang reached out to touch the painful spot, but a voice stopped her.
"Don't move. I just removed your scar. You must not touch it." Feng Jin quickly stopped Yun Niang's movement.
"Madam, can I have a mirror? I want to see what I look like now."
Yun Niang was extremely worried about her face, but there wasn't even a mirror in the room.
"Your face is bandaged right now. I've removed your scar and sutured it again. Once it heals, I'll apply scar removal medicine, and I guarantee your skin will be like that of a normal person, with no trace of a scar."
"I had the mirror put away to avoid hindering your treatment. Before your appearance is restored, you will go through a period of ugliness that may be more frightening than your previous appearance. I was worried you would be scared and frightened."
Feng Jin had no intention of hiding the truth from Yun Niang and told her everything.
"I'm not afraid... I lived my entire life in the mockery of others. The thought of becoming even uglier doesn't scare me. Madam, please bring out the mirror. I want to witness my own transformation from ugly to beautiful with my own eyes. I won't resist treatment. As long as there's hope of becoming beautiful, I can endure any hardship."
Yun Niang had endured countless torments, being mocked and despised, having rotten vegetables thrown at her, and being called an ugly monster.
These scenes replayed in her mind like a movie, stimulating her nerves.
"Alright, as you wish."
Feng Jin had someone bring back the mirror and also placed rouge, powder, and hairpins nearby.
Yun Niang tremblingly looked at her reflection. Half of her face was wrapped in white cloth, hiding the ugly scar, while the other half was clean, fair, and beautiful.
Who would have thought that one face could hold two such different appearances?
"Don't worry. Soon your face will be very beautiful."
Feng Jin patted Yun Niang's shoulder, her voice deep as she comforted her. She picked up a hairpin and placed it in her hair, saying, "See how lovely this is?"
Yun Niang touched the hairpin in her hair. This was the first time she had ever worn a hairpin, and it was truly beautiful.
"Don't overthink it. Rest well, and remember to take your medicine later."