Feng Jin and Lin Yuwei chattered endlessly, only ceasing when Chu Chenyi spoke.
"Have you said enough?" Chu Chenyi could no longer stand it, finally speaking. These two were like a dam broken, unstoppable.
"You're everywhere. Eat your fill and leave quickly, don't be an eyesore here."
Lin Yuwei's tone was indignant. She found Chu Chenyi an eyesore now, feeling annoyed just by looking at him.
"Don't forget this is Jing Wangfu, this King's territory!"
When did it become her place to decide? It was Lin Yuwei who should leave.
How had she become like this in such a short time? All her previous gentleness and virtue were forgotten, all thanks to Feng Jin.
Proximity to the dark makes one black, proximity to vermilion makes one red; this saying was truly not wrong.
One could only say Feng Jin's influence was too great, transforming Lin Yuwei into this appearance.
"I'll leave, only if you die, and I remarry!"
Lin Yuwei was equally unyielding, her retort leaving Chu Chenyi speechless.
"Alright, I'm here on important business today, not to listen to you two argue."
Feng Jin intervened, stopping their quarrel. If they continued, it would delay their important matters.
"Who wants to argue with him? He's clearly the one who picks fights out of boredom every day." Lin Yuwei shot Chu Chenyi a look, her tone full of disgust.
Feng Jin couldn't help but shake her head. She had originally intended to ease their relationship, but it had turned into this.
Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes. Their matters should be resolved by themselves. She should just focus on treating Chu Chenyi and avoid unnecessary trouble that might backfire.
"Extend your hand, I'll take your pulse."
Feng Jin placed her hand on Chu Chenyi's wrist. After a moment of thought, she said, "Your recovery is quite good. With the remaining poison cleared from your body, your physique has also improved. You've been well-rested recently."
"Then can you treat my leg?" Chu Chenyi asked impatiently. His heart's desire was to have his leg treated and walk like a normal person as soon as possible.
"Yes." Feng Jin nodded in agreement.
She had come with the intention of treating Chu Chenyi's legs and had brought all the necessary surgical instruments.
"Then treat it quickly. Is there anything else I need to do?"
Seeing Feng Jin agree to treat his legs, Chu Chenyi was overjoyed. He immediately wanted to have Feng Jin treat him.
"This place has too many eyes and ears. It's best to go to the secret chamber."
There were no small number of spies within and outside Jing Wangfu. A single mistake could lead to utter defeat.
"It was my oversight." Chu Chenyi realized his consideration was inadequate after being reminded by Feng Jin.
"It's fine. Just remember to be more careful in the future. Your every move now attracts attention, so you should be even more cautious."
Feng Jin advised him kindly. There were never any chances in the struggle for imperial power.
If one harbored false hopes, they might not even know how they died the next moment.
"Thank you for the reminder." Chu Chenyi said in a deep voice. If he had been more cautious before, he wouldn't have ended up in this state.
He was grateful for Feng Jin's reminder, regardless of her intentions.
...
Inside the secret chamber, Feng Jin disinfected the surgical instruments she had brought one by one and arranged them neatly on the table for easy access.
Lin Yuwei watched the instruments on the table with surprise. It didn't seem like treating an illness, but rather like repairing tables and chairs.
"Sister Feng Jin, what is this hammer for?" Lin Yuwei asked curiously, pointing at the hammer on the table. She had seen the scalpels when Feng Jin assisted in delivering the princess's child and knew their purpose, but she couldn't understand the hammer.
However, Feng Jin's subsequent explanation left her stunned.
Feng Jin put down what she was holding and glanced up, saying calmly, "It's for breaking leg bones."
She had examined Chu Chenyi's fractured leg bones earlier and found that they had completely healed, but had grown crooked, which was why he couldn't stand.
However, leg bones were hard, and with her strength alone, it was impossible to realign them by hand. It would require breaking the bone with tools.
"Directly break it?" Lin Yuwei asked in surprise, as if to confirm she hadn't misheard.
Feng Jin nodded affirmatively. "You heard correctly. It needs to be broken directly. His leg bones have grown crooked due to improper treatment before, which is why he couldn't stand. To stand again, the crooked leg bones must be broken and reset."
"Let's begin." Chu Chenyi assumed a look of resolute determination.
He had to take this gamble. Could the outcome be any worse than it was now?
Feng Jin took out an exquisite gourd-shaped bottle, poured the white powder inside into a bowl, dissolved it with warm water, and handed it to Chu Chenyi. "This is an anesthetic. It will alleviate some of your pain after you drink it."
After all, the pain of breaking bones was unbearable for ordinary people. As a physician, her primary responsibility, while treating and saving lives, was to minimize the patient's suffering.
Chu Chenyi took the bowl and drank it down without hesitation.
"Even with the anesthetic, it will still hurt. You must grit your teeth and bear it, and absolutely do not move around wildly."
Feng Jin was worried that Chu Chenyi would move erratically, which would ruin the operation.
"I understand." Chu Chenyi nodded in response.
Feng Jin located the position of the previously broken leg bone on his lower leg. She picked up the hammer, raised it high, controlled her strength, and with a skilled movement, struck it forcefully.
A crisp 'crack' sound was heard.
Chu Chenyi gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands, and the veins on his temples throbbing. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Chew on this ginseng slice to stay alert," Feng Jin said, concerned, and placed a ginseng slice in Chu Chenyi's mouth.
She wanted him to maintain his spirits so he wouldn't faint later.
Feng Jin continued her operation, feeling for the leg bone with her touch and repositioning it by instinct.
"Yuwei, hand me the black medicine bottle."
Lin Yuwei, who had been standing there in a daze, snapped back to attention at Feng Jin's voice. She picked up the black medicine bottle from the table, opened it in a flurry, and handed it to Feng Jin.
"Pour it on his leg." Feng Jin's hands were fully occupied, so she instructed Lin Yuwei.
Lin Yuwei was flustered, her hands trembling as she held the bottle. She poured it onto Chu Chenyi's leg haphazardly, with only half the medicine landing on it, the rest spilling onto the floor.
"Bring the splint."
"Okay..." Lin Yuwei quickly retrieved the splint and, following Feng Jin's instructions, secured it to Chu Chenyi's leg.
Feng Jin adjusted the position of the splint and fixed it in place.