Although the bleeding had stopped, the subsequent issue of wound infection was even more troublesome.
There were no antibiotics in ancient times. Once a wound became infected with bacteria, it would be fatal.
Zhao Yuanxi looked at the guard who had fallen into a deep sleep. He was young, probably only seventeen or eighteen, and she couldn’t help but feel more compassion for him.
“Although the wound has been simply disinfected, he will likely develop a fever in the next couple of days. Please continue to care for him, Imperial Physician. If any medicines are needed, just go and get them.”
Imperial Physician Yu Jiao bowed deeply. “I dare not claim credit. This is my duty.”
“Is there anything else?” Zhao Yuanxi noticed his hesitation and asked on his behalf.
Only then did Yu Jiao dare to voice the doubts in his heart. “Your Majesty is so certain that this suturing method is effective. May I ask where this method originated? As for this disinfection technique, I have never even heard of it. Could Your Majesty enlighten me?”
Having become an imperial physician in Yongcheng, he was naturally no incompetent. He had read many medical classics but had never seen such wound treatment methods. Considering that the Queen Dowager came from the Qin King Palace, he guessed that some master physician must have demonstrated this skill before her.
If such a person truly existed, he would swallow his pride and seek instruction from them.
“This? I’m a woman who usually enjoys needlework. When Zheng’er was young and mischievous, I would mend all his torn clothes. Just now, when I saw this man’s wound split open, I thought it was similar to torn clothing—it just needed to be sewn up.”
Zhao Yuanxi spoke nonsense with a straight face. After all, her cheap son wouldn’t come to question when she had ever mended his clothes, and other palace attendants wouldn’t dare to let her personally make garments.
“As for this disinfection method, I’ve heard that there are many invisible dirty things around us in our daily lives. When these things enter the human body, they can make people sick, similar to what you physicians call ‘wind evil.’ Disinfection is about cleaning away those invisible dirty things.”
Yu Jiao was amazed and praised, “Your Majesty’s wisdom has greatly benefited this humble subject.”
“Since this method has proven effective, Physician Yu, would you be interested in developing it into a truly life-saving technique?” Zhao Yuanxi reminded him, “If this method could be used to benefit all people, then you, Physician Yu, would become the Bian Que of our time, the foremost physician.”
The concept of surgery didn’t exist in Qin at that time. Hua Tuo’s bone-scraping treatment wouldn’t appear until the Three Kingdoms period. If surgical techniques could be promoted now, perhaps fewer people would die from untreated trauma.
Especially in this era of frequent warfare, only a small portion of soldiers actually died on the battlefield. Most perished after battles when their wounds didn’t receive timely treatment.
Yu Jiao’s heart surged with overwhelming waves.
The Bian Que of our time, the foremost physician! This would be something recorded in history!
What physician wouldn’t want to be called such, especially when the words came from the Queen Dowager of Qin.
“Jiao will certainly live up to Your Majesty’s expectations,” he said, his face flushed with excitement.
Zhao Yuanxi patted his shoulder. “Work hard. I believe in you.”
Once a person has ideals, they become filled with motivation.
Yu Jiao was already over fifty years old—in this era, he was halfway into the grave. But now, the energy he radiated was like that of a young man.
When Zhao Yuanxi walked out of the room, the moon was already high in the midnight sky.
Guard Captain Zhang Han was waiting at the door with his men. Wang Ben and others hadn’t left either. When they saw her come out, they all looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“Your Majesty, how is A Ji?” Zhang Han couldn’t help but ask.
A Ji was the young guard’s name, and he was also Zhang Han’s fellow townsman.
It was Zhang Han who had brought him to Yongcheng for garrison duty. If A Ji were to die, Zhang Han wouldn’t know how to face his parents.
Zhao Yuanxi furrowed her brows tightly, remaining silent.
Zhang Han grew so anxious he nearly beat his head against the ground in despair. “It’s my fault! I’ve failed him!”
Realizing her act had gone too far and frightened him, Zhao Yuanxi awkwardly rubbed her nose and quickly explained, “He’s fine now. The imperial physician is watching over him inside, but you can’t go in yet. Wait until the physician calls for you.”
Tears still hung on Zhang Han’s face, his expression caught between crying and not, making him look somewhat amusing.
Wang Ben was the first to laugh. Having never interacted with the Empress Dowager before, his understanding of her came only from his father, the King, and various rumors circulating in Xianyang City.
After today’s encounter, he felt the rumors couldn’t be entirely trusted.
The Empress Dowager was clearly courageous, kind and approachable to her subordinates, and even somewhat humorous? Ahem—
In short, his first impression of Zhao Yuanxi was quite favorable.
“What are you laughing at?” Zhao Yuanxi shot Wang Ben an annoyed glance, still remembering this was the man who came prepared to kill her guard.
Wang Ben wiped the smile from his face, adopting a serious expression. “Your subject rejoices for that guard.”
At least he said something decent.
Zhao Yuanxi snorted lightly, then turned to ask her guard captain, “I still don’t know your name?”
After today’s events, having faced life and death together, she couldn’t remain ignorant of his name.
“Your subordinate is Zhang Han.” He clasped his fists.
“Zhang as in ‘song’s end,’ Han as in Handan?” Zhao Yuanxi suddenly looked up, her expression astonished.
“Yes.”
Zhang Han was puzzled. Was there something special about his name? Why was the Empress Dowager looking at him as if he were some rare specimen?
Zhao Yuanxi observed the young guard before her. Though still youthful, he couldn’t conceal the bearing of a great general—truly worthy of being Qin’s final renowned commander.
She sighed sincerely, “Having you serve as my guard is truly wasting your talent.”
Zhang Han stiffened, showing no trace of pleasure. He knelt and prostrated himself, pleading, “Failing to protect Your Majesty is my dereliction of duty. I beg Your Majesty to grant me another chance to continue protecting you.”
“Get up, get up! Stop kneeling at every turn. How you behave before others doesn’t concern me, but we don’t follow such formalities here. And when did I say I didn’t want you? I saved your lives, so from now on your lives belong to me! If you think about leaving, I won’t allow it!”
Having Qin’s future general as her personal guard—what an honor! If not for maintaining decorum, Zhao Yuanxi would have placed her hands on her hips and laughed heartily.
Zhang Han’s eyes reddened at the corners, his voice choked with emotion. “Understood! We will protect Your Majesty with our lives.”
The other four guards echoed in unison, “We will protect Your Majesty with our lives.”
Wang Ben, who had been observing from the side, wore a complex expression. As a general who had led troops in battle, he understood better than anyone how crucial—and difficult—it was to win soldiers’ loyalty. Yet the Empress Dowager had accomplished it effortlessly.
Wang Ben thought to himself that if the Empress Dowager ever ordered a rebellion, these men would likely dare raise their swords against the King himself.
Though just a handful of men who couldn’t possibly stir great waves, their spirit nonetheless made him look at them with newfound respect. If only the troops under his command were like this—
At this thought, he sighed deeply in his heart. If even he couldn’t protect them with his own life like the Empress Dowager did, how could he expect them to repay him with their lives?
“Why are you still standing here? Has there been any message from Zheng’er?” Zhao Yuanxi felt this bearded general might not be very bright. From barging in fiercely at first, shouting about killing, to now staring at them in a daze – who knew what was wrong with him.
Wang Ben snapped back to attention and bowed, “His Majesty said if this case has nothing to do with them, they may be handed over to the Empress Dowager for disposition.”
Zhao Yuanxi nodded with satisfaction, her favorable impression of her nominal son rising several notches. “You see, even Zheng’er is more reasonable than you! You should learn from him!”
Wang Ben, who bore the brunt of her misplaced anger, smiled wryly. Just who was being unreasonable here?
Truly like mother like son – each more domineering than the other!