In the afternoon, Zheng Qian came again.
Old Master Lu looked dazed, as if he had seen a ghost, and asked him, "With weather like this, why isn't his wound swelling or causing a fever?"
Zheng Qian replied, "I have medicine, Old Master—very effective medicine. This medicine can prevent fever."
Old Master Lu: "..."
Zheng Qian examined Lu Shu's wound and then gave him another injection of anti-inflammatory medicine.
Lu Shu's physical condition was indeed strong. An abdominal surgery was not considered a major operation for him, and he did not develop any post-operative infection.
Zheng Qian would not need to come tomorrow.
Prince Ancheng stayed at the Lu residence for three days, and Imperial Physician Sun lingered without leaving.
"Logically speaking, with a ruptured internal organ, he should have already died within three days," Imperial Physician Sun said. "And his abdomen was even cut open—this only worsens the injury…"
Xiao Mingyu was also full of questions.
The rest of the Lu family felt the same.
"What exactly is going on with him?"
"I haven't heard of his condition worsening. The old master even had medicine prescribed for him."
"That woman cut open his abdomen, but the old master didn't have Snow Essence Pills administered," someone said. "It's impossible for him not to have a fever without using Snow Essence Pills."
"Could it be… that he's already dead, and the old master is hiding it?"
At present, that "operating room" was off-limits to everyone except Old Master Lu and Lu Shu's father.
Over these three days, Zheng Qian actually still came every day.
She gave Lu Shu anti-inflammatory injections, changed his bandages, and personally helped turn him over.
"…The condition is very stable now. From here on, it just needs gradual recovery. He can be moved back to his own room, and he must get out of bed and walk every day," Zheng Qian said. "Still, it's best not to have too many visitors. Let him rest quietly."
In the past couple of days, Lu Shu's wound had been in constant pain.
He was in so much pain that he had no mind to think of anything else. It wasn't until last night that he realized—this pain was no longer the same as before.
Before, it was the pain of life slipping away; now, it was the pain of healing.
He had… actually survived.
Since ancient times, no one with ruptured internal organs had ever lived—he was the first.
And the one who saved his life was a young woman several years younger than him.
What miraculous medical skill was this?
Lu Shu wanted to kneel and bow to Zheng Qian.
He thought of how he had once allowed others to bully her without standing up for her, and felt deep regret and remorse. He also remembered how he had scolded her when she refused to show him face—he was utterly ashamed.
He almost wanted to slap himself twice.
Old Master Lu, however, was somewhat dazed, staring at his grandson in disbelief.
On the afternoon of the third day, Lu Shu was moved back to his own room.
His father had people carry him, but Zheng Qian refused: "Let him walk on his own. After surgery, he must get out of bed and walk—this is better for healing."
Thus, everyone in the courtyard saw Lu Shu walk out on his own.
They looked as if they had seen a ghost.
That afternoon, the Lu residence erupted in excitement.
Everyone was emotional.
"The eldest young master has come back to life—he actually survived and can walk!"
"With his internal organs ruptured—we all saw it—he didn't die! Miss Zheng saved him!"
The second young master's dream of becoming a "young divine doctor" was shattered. He stood there stunned: "Re—really alive? How did she do it?"
The ninth young master, Lu Ze, was deeply moved: "Miss Zheng truly is extraordinary. She's a divine doctor. She even saved Wen Zhao last time."
Everyone in the Lu family had something to say, but all shared the same reaction: shock.
Miss Zheng had achieved a miracle.
Who could have imagined she could accomplish such a feat?
At that moment, in Lu Shu's room, he sat drinking medicine—prescribed by his grandfather and approved by Miss Zheng.
Prince Ancheng and Imperial Physician Sun stood around him, both filled with curiosity.
Xiao Mingyu, being no medical expert, was far less astonished than Imperial Physician Sun.
Imperial Physician Sun came from a family of medicine and had served in the Imperial Medical Bureau for many years. He had seen all kinds of cases, and had even been involved in treating the Crown Prince's injury.
Back then, no one had any solution.
The chief physician told the truth—that it was a fatal condition—and was ordered by the emperor to be beaten to death. The other four imperial physicians tried various diagnoses, but their treatments caused the Crown Prince to vomit blood and suffer abdominal pain, ultimately leading to his death—and they too were executed.
That night, all the doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau trembled in fear for their lives.
Imperial Physician Sun never expected that such an injury could one day be cured.
"Eldest Young Master, let this old man take a look at your wound," Imperial Physician Sun said urgently.
Lu Shu respected him and indeed removed his outer clothing.
Xiao Mingyu also leaned in.
Neat, dense stitching—no redness, no pus. Such a wound was astonishingly calm.
It defied belief and surpassed Imperial Physician Sun's understanding.
He murmured, "How is this possible?"
Lu Shu straightened his clothes again. "Imperial Physician Sun, I am alive and well. That alone proves it is possible."
In truth, the most emotional person was Lu Shu himself.
This was a life-saving kindness.
He had never expected to owe someone such a great debt, and he felt deeply moved.
His life—already judged as lost even by his own grandfather—had been pulled back from the gates of death by Zheng Qian.
"…What I am most grateful for is that I didn't suffer at all from beginning to end," Lu Shu said to Imperial Physician Sun and Xiao Mingyu. "You said Miss Zheng cut open my abdomen, but I was asleep and didn't feel a thing."
"She used anesthesia," Imperial Physician Sun said. "But what exactly is this anesthesia? I've never seen her give you anything."
"I don't know either," Lu Shu replied. "When I was conscious before, she punctured my abdomen, and I felt no pain."
"Yes, she must have used anesthesia then as well," Imperial Physician Sun added.
With Lu Shu's condition stabilized, Xiao Mingyu handed the written agreement between Zheng Qian and Old Master Lu to the old master.
"This matter is now in your hands, Your Excellency. I shall take my leave," Xiao Mingyu said.
Old Master Lu accepted it.
Imperial Physician Sun also took his leave.
The Lu family then remembered the earlier wager and did not know what to do.
To acknowledge this young woman as their ancestor?
That seemed rather embarrassing.
But if they refused, what would Prince Ancheng think? He had witnessed everything himself.
Old Master Lu gathered his sons and grandsons and asked for their opinions.
"Even if we acknowledge her, outsiders won't believe it," the second elder said. "Isn't this absurd? Lu Qi is our ancestor, but he was only a legend—he didn't even leave a complete medical text for his descendants."
The old master paused slightly.
Lu Qi had indeed left something behind—a large collection of medical case records. Unfortunately, without his personal instruction, and since his methods had been lost, later generations using his techniques only ended up killing patients.
Fortunately, apart from Lu Qi, the Lu family had other divine physicians in their lineage who left behind valuable medical knowledge and prescriptions.
What Zheng Qian used was indeed Lu Qi's method.
But this could not be said.
"Her divine skill can shock the world and bring glory to our Lu family. What's wrong with acknowledging her as our ancestor? Perhaps by honoring this disciple of the 'ghost physician,' others will be deterred from falsely claiming the title," the eldest elder said.
Zheng Qian had saved his son, so he naturally spoke in her favor.
"Whether we acknowledge it or not, we must. If the Lu family breaks its word, how will we conduct ourselves in the future?" said a moderate voice.
After some discussion, everyone looked to the old master for the final decision.
"Recognize her," the old master finally said. "We cannot be untrustworthy. When I made the agreement with her, none of you objected—so now you must not go back on your word. Prepare the firecrackers. Go and bow to our family's ancestor."