C130. Surgical Suture.
Chu Hechao, his anger subsiding, composed himself. He singled out a personal soldier and instructed, "Seek an audience with the governor. Implore him to visit, conveying that my old wound throbs with increasing pain."
The soldier departed on his mission, returning shortly thereafter. "General," he reported, "the governor bade you endure the pain."
Chu Hechao remained silent, his chest heaving with emotion, eyes red with anger, unable to utter a word.
As he propped himself up on the bed board, intending to seek sympathy from Yuan Li and employ a bit of self-pity, he was suddenly gripped by severe pain in his abdomen.
Seeing Chu Hechao's expression change slightly, the personal guard panicked, exclaiming, "General, acting this way will only further infuriate the Governor!"
Startled by the realization, Chu Hechao recalled Yuan Li's impassive demeanor and felt the veins on his temples throb. He feared that confronting Yuan Li might only worsen the situation.
After a moment of hesitation, Chu Hechao decided to lie back down, motionless.
Though he had slept alone before, lying in a room with only the personal guard on watch made Chu Hechao feel lonely and restless.
Despite the clean, soft bed and his exhausted body, he couldn't find peace of mind. Unable to sleep and yearning for the night to pass quickly, he also found it agonizingly long.
On the other hand, Yuan Li returned to his room still filled with anger.
Having seen through Chu Hechao's facade, Yuan Li knew that when he was uninjured, Chu Hechao could be as stoic as a wall, but when truly harmed, he remained silent, trying to conceal his pain.
Unwilling to forgive Chu Hechao until his injuries healed, Yuan Li wanted to make sure Chu Hechao learned his lesson. However, when he heard that Chu Hechao was in pain and sent for a physician, Yuan Li's reply, though cold, reflected his inner conflict.
He pursed his lips and decided to seek out the resident physician in the secluded courtyard.
The medical book provided by the system was the best available in that era and contained detailed surgical techniques, including suturing.
In ancient history, surgical suturing had been well-documented, but it required precise tools and a sterile environment. Over the past two years, Yuan Li had managed to obtain some surgical tools, but their scarcity and complexity limited the training opportunities for the physicians.
Not every physician had the courage or skill to perform surgery, and their medical talents varied. Yuan Li had selected a few physicians suited for suturing to practice on pig flesh before advancing to animal subjects, all with excellent results.
For this campaign, Yuan Li had brought the five best physicians skilled in suturing, but due to the lack of materials and smooth progress of the war, they had yet to perform a real surgical procedure.
Understanding Chu Hechao's reasons for concealing his injuries, Yuan Li realized it was to prevent worry and avoid revealing his vulnerability to other feudal lords, especially Chen Wang and Wu Shanshi.
Upon learning of Chu Hechao's injury, the deterrence brought by Youzhou would significantly decrease, a risk Yuan Li dared not take amidst the current political climate.
With limited recovery time, Yuan Li ultimately decided that surgical suturing was the most effective and safe option.
As the dawn broke, Chu Hechao, unable to sleep, heard commotion outside.
Shortly after, the personal guards lifted him and the bed, preparing to move him out.
Furrowing his brow, Chu Hechao asked, "Where are we going?"
The guards replied, "The Governor has ordered a room change for you."
Chu Hechao's eyes lit up as he patiently awaited the personal guards to move him. Looking around until he spotted Yuan Li's figure, his spirits lifted, his face showing a mix of exhaustion and excitement, "Lejun, are you no longer angry?"
Yuan Li's expression remained stern as he replied, "Don't speak, a physician will soon come to suture your wound."
"Suture my wound?" Chu Hechao questioned, puzzled. "What does that mean?"
Having spoken, he suddenly noticed the peculiarity of the room.
There were no extra furnishings in the room, only a bed covered in white cloth. A strange odor permeated the air, reminiscent of alcohol but more pungent than usual.
The personal guards did not enter the room, and the physicians carefully moved Chu Hechao onto the bed, dressed in peculiar attire with hats made of cloth covering every strand of hair.
Chu Hechao felt uneasy in the unfamiliar environment, his whole body tense.
Yuan Li and the other physicians appeared identical, but seeing the man's quietly nervous demeanor, Yuan Li stood at Chu Hechao's bedside, explaining in a low voice, "Your wound is not light, we are afraid it might reopen, so it's better to suture it. Don't worry, they are experienced, it will be quick. Once you take the anesthetic, you'll sleep and wake up feeling much better."
Chu Hechao understood the effects of the anesthetic, as injured soldiers in the army slept like logs after taking it, impossible to rouse. Frowning, he asked, "Do I really need to use this thing?"
He was concerned about the potential dangers if something happened while he was under its influence.
"It will be very painful without it," Yuan Li glanced at him. "Moreover, the physicians will be anxious, afraid you might move and cause complications. It's better to use it. You're a great general; if you recover well after the surgery, it will set a good example for others and show the benefits of suturing."
At his words, Chu Hechao immediately relented, "If you say we should use it, then we will."
Yuan Li looked at him with lowered eyes, then turned away without another word.
After taking the anesthetic, Chu Hechao soon began to feel drowsy. Tentatively reaching out to hold Yuan Li's hand, he whispered, "Lejun."
This time, Yuan Li didn't push him away, instead holding his hand and softly saying, "Go to sleep."
A smile played at the corner of Chu Hechao's mouth as he drifted off to sleep.
Using distilled alcohol and a solution of Sichuan peppercorn salt, Yuan Li meticulously disinfected the room and tools, while the physicians repeatedly sterilized their hands to maintain utmost cleanliness. Still, Yuan Li couldn't shake off his nervousness, fearing that Chu Hechao's wound might become infected and inflamed.
The process of suturing may seem simple, but there are actually many methods to consider, and pre-operative preparation is crucial. It is essential to thoroughly clean the area around the wound to prevent any blood clots from forming inside, as this could lead to symptoms of pus and inflammation.
The physicians were also anxious, but more eager than nervous. After two years of studying suturing, they had conducted numerous experiments and finally had the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice.
They meticulously prepared for the procedure, examining Chu Hechao's wound and removing any unhealthy tissue before starting the suturing process.
Despite the relatively large size of the wound, the suturing was completed in just two quarters of an hour. The physicians breathed a sigh of relief and informed Yuan Li, "My lord, it's done."
Yuan Li immediately approached to inspect the wound. The sutures were precise and smooth, truly a job well done! He also relaxed when the physicians bandaged the wound with fine cloth and herbs before being sent off.
Chu Hechao slept soundly, all the way until the next afternoon. When he awoke and looked around the room, his first question was, "Where is everyone?"
The personal guard responded, "The governor is resting."
Chu Hechao nodded and patiently waited for Yuan Li to arrive after his meal.
However, evening came, and Yuan Li still hadn't shown up. Chu Hechao sent someone to inquire, and after some hesitation, Yuan Li finally arrived.
Although he had come, there was no smile on his handsome face, and he remained silent, standing a few steps away from the bed without a hint of closeness.
Chu Hechao knew Yuan Li was still angry.
Feeling a bit panicked, Chu Hechao tried to appease him, "Lejun, please don't be angry."
Yuan Li pursed his lips and refused to look at him.
Chu Hechao instinctively tried to get up to pull him closer, but a sharp pain in his waist and abdomen stopped him. He lay back down, his expression one of agony, "Lejun, my wound hurts."
Yuan Li sighed inwardly and reluctantly approached to examine the wound.
Covered with gauze, it was impossible to see clearly. Yuan Li's lips tightened as he coldly asked, "Is the wound swollen and warm?"
Chu Hechao replied, "No, but I feel a swelling warmth in my heart, making me uncomfortable."
Ignoring him, Yuan Li attempted to pull away, covering Chu Hechao with the blanket, ready to leave.
Chu Hechao grabbed his hand and kissed it. The stubble on Yuan Li's hand back caused a mix of pain and affection to be clearly felt through the sensation of pain and itchiness.
In a hoarse voice, he pleaded, "Sweetheart, please don't ignore me."
Yuan Li tried to pull his hand away but hesitated. Unable to exert more force, he remained in this tense position with Chu Hechao.
Taking in every detail of Yuan Li's face, Chu Hechao observed every subtle expression, from the fluttering of eyelashes to the slight pursing of lips. Just watching him like this made Chu Hechao feel content.
"I know I was wrong," Chu Hechao smiled bitterly and kissed the back of Yuan Li's hand again. "I won't hide anything from you in the future."
Afraid that Yuan Li wouldn't believe him, he added, "I swear to you, if I ever hide something from you again, let me perish…"
"Enough," Yuan Li interrupted, frowning with a hint of anger. "Can't you say something nice?"
A sweet taste lingered in Chu Hechao's mouth as he replied, "Okay, I won't bring this up again."
Yuan Li rolled his eyes at him and began scolding him for risking his life by riding through the rain. As he grew more heated, his own temper flared, eyes burning with fire. "You know the danger of getting injured, so why do you forget when it's your turn? Chu Hechao, let me tell you, if there's a next time, I don't want you. I can easily find someone obedient to be by my side."
Breathing heavily, Chu Hechao gripped Yuan Li's hand tightly, his expression momentarily fierce. "What did you say?"
Yuan Li met his gaze stubbornly.
After taking several deep breaths to calm his raging emotions, Chu Hechao forced a smile. "Don't be angry, Lejun. I promise there won't be a next time."
Yuan Li nodded slowly in response.
Chu Hechao pulled him to sit by the bed, his expression inscrutable, lost in thought.
Ever since his first step onto the battlefield, Chu Hechao had prepared himself to die at any moment. After all, he was only human, not a god, unable to guarantee his safe return every time.
But Yuan Li's words struck a chord with him. If something really happened to him, what would Yuan Li do if he fell for someone else?
Just the thought of this possibility made the veins on Chu Hechao's forehead pulse incessantly.
It was then that he realized his delayed fear.