The entire Marquis of Xiahou’s estate was enveloped in an atmosphere of extreme tension.
Everyone’s heart was suspended high.
Especially Xiahou Yuan, a man who had never once frowned on the battlefield, found his palms covered in sweat at this moment. Cold sweat drenched his clothes, his entire back soaked.
His adopted sons also wore furrowed brows…
Sons always cherished their mothers the most…
Whether their mother could overcome this hurdle, the young masters of Xiahou were more anxious than anyone else.
After her body was wiped clean, Ding Xiang was sent to the silkworm chamber. Due to the effects of the Mafeisan, her consciousness had become somewhat hazy, and the pain had lessened considerably.
Of course…
This was a psychological effect; even Mafeisan wouldn’t take effect so quickly!
Lu Yu was having his final discussion with Hua Tuo.
It was less of a discussion and more of an… exploration of the “C-section” surgery!
The two went over the steps of the “operation”…
In truth, Lu Yu only had a half-understanding of the steps for this “C-section.” Of course… in his previous life, such peculiar trivia was abundant!
One must know that in the 1990s, magazines like “Women’s Friend” were distributed on the streets, on trains, and on buses. Even the very famous magazine “Zhiyin” would feature such lines – A Man’s Home, Caring for Life, Women’s Friend!
And their content covered everything, from minor things like “circumcision” to major procedures like C-sections…
Don’t ask why!
The inclusion of topics like “circumcision” speaks for itself for those who understand!
Of course, with the popularization of technology… numerous official accounts would spare no effort in publishing such articles.
Strange knowledge increased daily.
Lu Yu himself used to read these articles! As for the reason…
The answer was only six words – caring for women’s health!
Although Lu Yu was not married in his past life, he still fantasized about having a wife in the future.
And science indicated that a large number of gynecological diseases were caused by male unhygienic practices.
If you don’t believe it, you can squat in front of the gynecology department of a hospital and see… the ratio of married women to unmarried women and young girls who suffer from illnesses?
It was for this reason that Lu Yu had a slight understanding of this “gynecological knowledge.”
However, this theoretical knowledge was not very useful. But compared to Hua Tuo’s extensive practical experience, it was a whole new story. Hua Tuo didn’t lack practice; what he lacked was this theoretical knowledge.
After their conversation.
Hua Tuo roughly refined the "operation" process and steps in detail.
Evidently, the difficulty of the surgery was much more complex than he had anticipated.
It wasn't as simple as making one cut and the baby coming out.
Of course…
Using the medical instruments of this era for such a “C-section” was a challenge for Hua Tuo, but ultimately… the inadequacy of the instruments could be compensated by Hua Tuo’s surgical skill.
The scalpel was ready…
The hemostatic forceps were in place…
Bandages were spread across the bed, as if… everything was poised, ready to be fired!
“So, in total, it’s actually eight layers?” Hua Tuo confirmed with Lu Yu one last time.
“That’s right, eight layers!” Lu Yu nodded with absolute certainty.
From an anatomical perspective, a C-section requires cutting through eight layers. The abdominal wall, from outside to inside, consists of the abdominal skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascial layer, rectus abdominis muscle, and peritoneum, totaling five layers.
Among these, the rectus abdominis layer is generally separated, not cut…
Following that is the uterine section, from outside to inside, consisting of the uterine serosa, uterine muscle layer, and amnion!
After sequentially cutting through all eight layers, the newborn would be visible. The newborn and placenta would be extracted, the uterine cavity cleaned, and the wound would be sutured layer by layer from inside to outside.
Lu Yu had already instilled this theory, word for word, into Hua Tuo.
As for Hua Tuo… it was as if a door to a new world had opened for him.
He had performed autopsies on pigs before… and not just once…
The success rate was not low!
But… the anatomy of a pig differs from that of a human. A pig’s flesh is denser… it doesn't divide into as many as eight layers.
Of course, Hua Tuo had also performed such cutting surgeries on humans.
While he might not have been clear about the number of layers beneath the skin, his rich experience, exquisite knife skills… and decades of treating the injured and ill allowed him to remain composed.
“Then, let’s begin now!”
“Thank you, Divine Doctor Hua.”
“Marquis Nan Shou, rest assured!”
With that, Hua Tuo stepped into the silkworm chamber.
Seeing that Ding Xiang still had a faint trace of consciousness, Hua Tuo comforted her, “Do not be afraid, nor be nervous. Marquis Nan Shou’s medical theories have never been flawed. Guo Fengxiao, Pang Shiyuan, and countless others who have been treated by him are testament to this!”
Under the effect of Mafeisan, Ding Xiang couldn’t speak, but… her final resolve made her clench her teeth. She remained still, determined to be strong.
As he spoke, Hua Tuo’s eyes were like lightning. He carefully made the first incision in her abdomen.
It was truly incised!
The bloody marks on the subsequent layers of her abdomen were already visible.
Then came the second layer, which was slowly peeled back. Hua Tuo’s hand was steady, precise. His expression… was as if he were dissecting a pig, not a human, showing no trace of timidity!
Calm and swift…
Then the third layer… the fourth layer. Thanks to the theory Lu Yu had shared, Hua Tuo was composed. He knew there were three more layers beneath. Of course, this was the difference between performing a C-section on a human versus a pig.
A C-section is different from an appendectomy; the incision for a C-section is relatively much larger. It must be opened layer by layer, and then the baby and placenta must be removed quickly. If one cut was made, or two or three layers were cut together, even if the baby was successfully delivered, the wound would not be able to be sutured properly, nor would the bleeding be stopped!
Finally…
After the seventh layer was cut open…
A newborn, wet and wrinkled all over, appeared before their eyes.
The midwives by Hua Tuo’s side were astonished!
They stared with wide eyes, stunned into immobility… Could it be… that a child could actually be extracted through a C-section?
This… this method of childbirth, if not unprecedented, was certainly not something that had come before!
Of course, despite the doubts in their hearts, these midwives were ultimately… accustomed to it…
They were all midwives selected from the Imperial Medical Academy. And regarding the incredible medical theories of Lu Yu, the Divine Doctor Lu, within the Imperial Hospital… they had long grown accustomed to them… This time was merely another instance of the “unfathomable”!
They were truly accustomed to it!
“Hemostatic forceps…”
Hua Tuo instructed.
A midwife quickly handed over the hemostatic forceps. Hua Tuo used them not to stop the bleeding, but to spread the wound open. Then… he inserted both hands into the wound and slowly and carefully pulled out a small head.
The subsequent steps were undoubtedly… familiar to the midwives.
It involved cutting the umbilical cord. Although the extraction point was different, the subsequent treatment methods were all the same.
“Waaah…”
A strong, resonant sound erupted, and for a time, cries were incessant…
However, this cry seemed a little weak… After all, it was an eight-month-old premature baby and would require meticulous care.
And with this cry.
Xiahou Yuan outside the door was almost moved to tears of joy… His adopted sons also clenched their fists, each one excited.
Only Lu Yu remained the most composed…
He raised a hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. “Father-in-law, it is not yet time to celebrate. Do not make noise… it will affect Divine Doctor Hua’s suturing!”
That’s right…
Xiahou Yuan only then remembered.
He had been so overjoyed that he had forgotten this was an abdominal incision, a procedure to extract a child from the belly. After extraction… it still needed to be sutured.
And it seemed… the suturing would be even more difficult?
“Quiet everyone… quiet!”
Xiahou Yuan immediately took the lead in maintaining order.
At once, the area outside the room returned to silence.
One could hear a pin drop…
“Reporting to Master Xiahou, it’s a boy…”
Not long after, the midwife’s voice carried out.
Evidently, the midwife had cleaned every part of the baby’s body, especially the umbilical cord. And the infant seemed to have cried himself tired and fallen asleep.
The midwife was methodically placing him into the prepared swaddling clothes.
— A boy…
Xiahou Yuan’s heart was filled with repeated excitement. His Xiahou family… owed the most gratitude to this wife over the years!
Having been pregnant seven times and giving birth to six boys…
This was also why Xiahou Yuan cherished Ding Xiang so much and had never considered taking a concubine.
However, even though they knew it was a boy, the silence outside remained profound…
Xiahou Yuan said nothing, and no one dared to speak!
Now, he was even more concerned about his wife, Ding Xiang!
“Zi Yu, will the suturing be dangerous?”
“For Divine Doctor Hua, it should not be difficult!” Lu Yu explained. “However, it requires suturing five layers. The most difficult part is the thread inside the wound, which cannot be left in the stomach!”
He spoke with apparent ease, but in reality, in ancient times, there were no threads that could be absorbed by the body. If the thread rotted inside the stomach, it would cause infection.
Therefore, when suturing, the end of each thread needed to be left outside. All five threads had to be left outside… It wasn’t a big deal now, but thinking about the future when the stitches were removed was painful!
However, all of that was for later. The immediate priority was to survive.
Lu Yu didn’t need to explain too clearly.
As soon as he finished speaking…
“Completed!”
A resonant voice came from the silkworm chamber.
Hua Tuo emerged…
“Was it smooth?” Lu Yu asked first.
“Very smooth. It was indeed eight layers. If even one layer had been miscalculated, it might not have been so smooth. Fortunately, mother and child are safe!” Hua Tuo also showed a hint of fatigue…
Even for Hua Tuo, the C-section was a procedure that, while he remained calm during the surgery, his heart was filled with surging emotions and excitement afterward!
“That’s good!” Lu Yu sighed with emotion…
With this statement, everyone finally let out a deep breath, the heavy stones in their hearts finally coming to rest.
“In about twenty days, scar tissue will gradually form. Absolutely avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and eat more fruits and vegetables, as this will aid in wound recovery!”
Lu Yu undoubtedly had more say in the postoperative recovery.
Of course, this did not mean Madam Ding had passed the critical stage. Even in later generations, the first day after a C-section required observation!
Fortunately, according to what Hua Tuo had said, Ding Xiang’s forehead and palms were at a normal temperature, and her breathing was relatively even. After all, she was a mother who had given birth six times, and childbirth… perhaps in Ding Xiang’s experienced world, her proficiency was at its peak!
It was almost routine.
“Father-in-law…” After a series of instructions, Lu Yu cupped his hands in greeting towards Xiahou Yuan. “If there is nothing else, I will take my leave. Divine Doctor Hua is here, and you must strictly follow his medical advice for everything.”
“Good!” Xiahou Yuan nodded…
But soon, he seemed to recall something. “Zi Yu, are you going to look for Juan’er?”
This…
Xiahou Yuan naturally knew about Xiahou Juan’s disappearance.
He had been too preoccupied with Ding Xiang’s matter to pay attention to it. Now…
“Father-in-law, rest assured, I will search every corner to find Juan’er!” Lu Yu’s words always instilled great confidence… making people feel extremely comfortable.
“Where are Heng’er, Ba’er, Cheng’er, Wei’er, and Rong’er?” Xiahou Yuan suddenly called out loudly.
“Father!”
Xiahou Heng, Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Cheng, Xiahou Wei, and Xiahou Rong cupped their hands in unison.
Xiahou Yuan said with solemnity, “From now on, you four will follow your brother-in-law closely and obey his commands!”
This…
Xiahou Heng, Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Cheng, Xiahou Wei, and Xiahou Rong were taken aback!
They hadn’t expected their father to make such arrangements at this time…
In fact, besides these five, Xiahou Yuan had another… no, two more sons. One was the newborn, and the other was Xiahou Hui…
However, Xiahou Hui was not yet an adult and could not follow. Otherwise, Xiahou Yuan would have truly wanted to assign all his sons to Lu Yu’s command!
Of course, Lu Yu hadn’t expected this either…
He saved his mother-in-law, and his father-in-law was offering five sons as a "reward"? This…
One must know that Xiahou Yuan’s sons were all notable figures in history.
The eldest son, Xiahou Heng, was favored by the Cao family, inherited Xiahou Yuan’s title, and was later enfeoffed as Marquis of Anningting.
The second son, Xiahou Ba, was even more remarkable. He was initially the Right General of the Guards and was favored by Cao Shuang. After Cao Shuang was killed, he surrendered to the Shu Han.
The third son, Xiahou Cheng, possessed military talent… At sixteen, he shot and killed a tiger, and Cao Cao was very fond of him.
The fourth son, Xiahou Wei, served as the Governor of Jing and Yan prefectures.
The fifth son, Xiahou Rong, was talented from a young age, able to write essays and read classics at seven, and possessed an eidetic memory. Historically, he was with his father in Hanzhong. When his father Xiahou Yuan was defeated, he bravely drew his sword and fought, perishing in battle, also a fierce individual like his father!
As for the sixth son, who had not yet reached adulthood, he was talented from a young age, skilled in memorials and discussions, and had debated with Zhong Yu on multiple occasions. He served as the Attendant of the Imperial Cavalry and the Prefect of Yan and Le’an!
He was also a rare model for ministers.
It could be said that the entire Xiahou clan was exceptionally talented! Fenglin Novel Network
Who could have imagined that Xiahou Yuan was going “all-in”? He was pushing them all towards Lu Yu.
“Zi Yu…”
Xiahou Yuan patted Lu Yu’s shoulder. “Although these sons’ talents are far inferior to those in your Dragon Valiant Camp, they are, after all, the sons of Xiahou Yuan. They have practiced martial arts since childhood and are astonishing in their courage. If you do not find them unworthy, let them serve as foot soldiers in the Dragon Valiant Camp; it will be a form of training for them!”
“My father-in-law is too modest.” Lu Yu cupped his hands. “Father-in-law, please rest assured. I will train these younger brothers well, assist them politically, and strictly demand of them in the military!”
“Now, with numerous matters to attend to, I will not linger here any longer. I shall take my leave. Farewell…”
With that, Lu Yu led the five sons of Xiahou and quickly departed…
The immediate priority was Xiahou Juan… but also Sister Zhao Ji!
Not one could be missed!
As for Xiahou Yuan, the corner of his mouth curved slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
If not… for knowing Lu Zi Yu’s true identity, how could he have been so resolute in his gamble?
The future of the world… belonged to these children!
As the saying goes… a good bird chooses its tree!
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