Chapter 37: I Am Here; Who Dares Be Presumptuous

All preparations for the surgery on the Old Lady were complete, but carrying out the Old Lady's surgery would not be easy; she knew the risks of the operation well. Such a major matter definitely required seeking permission from the Old Lady and Xiang Xiang Junzheng. The Old Lady had always unconditionally trusted this granddaughter of hers and was naturally willing.

The Old Lady ordered servants to summon Xiang Xiang Junzheng to the Jingzhu Courtyard to discuss the matter with him, but upon hearing this, Xiang Xiang Junzheng was filled with worry, after all, this surgery sounded far too novel and risky.

The Old Lady said:

"I, an old skeleton, have been lying in bed for so many years. If it were not for the second daughter's careful care and treatment, I would still be suffering from pain every day. Now, not only has the pain lessened, but I can also sit in the wheelchair made by the second daughter and walk around the courtyard. Even if this surgery ultimately ends in failure, the situation cannot be worse than it is now, can it? Since things are this way regardless, it is better to take the risk and try; perhaps there is still a sliver of hope. Besides, the second daughter is so filial; even if I were to die, I would be willing."

Jun Jun Zijin felt a warmth in her heart. In her eyes, a light of unyielding determination and confidence flickered. She tightly grasped the Old Lady's wrinkled hands and said in a resounding tone, "Grandmother, please rest assured! This granddaughter will definitely be able to cure you completely!"

Hearing both the Old Lady and Jun Jun Zijin speak thus, Xiang Xiang Junzheng decided to respect the Old Lady's wishes and gritted his teeth, saying:

"Since your grandmother is willing to try, then let us try."

After receiving permission, Jun Jun Zijin began arranging the surgery. On the day of the surgery, Jun Jun Zijin also summoned Nanny Dong back and ordered several trusted aides to guard the courtyard gate and the operating room strictly to prevent anyone from causing trouble. Only Xiao He was left inside the operating room as an assistant.

Jun Jun Zijin thoroughly sterilized the instruments and the operating room. With all arrangements made properly, the calm and composed Old Lady was pushed into the operating room.

Jun Jun Zijin took a deep breath, looked at the peaceful Old Lady lying on the operating table, and said softly:

"Grandmother, this granddaughter is about to begin."

Xiao He handed over the sterilized scalpel from the side. The knife in Jun Jun Zijin's hand fell steadily, and the surgery proceeded smoothly.

When the surgery was halfway through, a sudden commotion erupted outside. Xiao He's face showed panic, and Jun Jun Zijin rebuked in a low voice:

"Do not panic; focus on the task at hand."

Outside, it was precisely the Dafuren bringing Li Shi, Jun Jun Yiyi, and Jun Jun Zhidie to cause trouble.

Having lost Nanny Xue, how could the Dafuren give up? Last night she had heard Xiang Xiang Junzheng mention that Jun Jun Zijin was to perform surgery on the Old Lady today. The Dafuren ground her teeth in hatred, determined not to let that lowly girl cure that old thing. That old thing, with half her body already disabled, meddled in affairs so much; if she could truly walk again, would there be any good days left for Wu Wu Xiuqin?

The Dafuren sent someone to summon Li Shi and said:

"The second daughter is performing some unheard-of surgery on the Old Lady. If she harms the Old Lady, neither you nor I can bear this responsibility. Let us go stop her immediately; we must not let her harm the Old Lady."

Originally, Li Shi had not forgotten Xiang Junyuan's instruction for her to maintain a good relationship with Jun Jun Zijin and was not very eager to come. But the Dafuren said:

"Next month, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be a palace banquet. The third daughter should dress up nicely and go together."

Such a promise was one Li Shi could not resist. Ordinarily, palace banquets like this were attended by the families of officials of the third rank and above, but in the past, the Dafuren always took Jun Jun Yiyi, and Jun Jun Zhidie had never been allowed to go.

At such a grand and solemn palace banquet, the young masters and gentlemen attending were none other than those from prestigious families, possessing illustrious identities and lofty status. Young masters and young ladies would display their talents and charm at the banquet. The palace banquet was not merely a simple social gathering but an excellent opportunity for various families to observe one another, size each other up, and select suitable sons-in-law or virtuous daughters-in-law.

For great families, through such palace banquets, their children could make more connections with powerful figures and expand their network of resources; at the same time, they could use this opportunity to find partners of matching status and outstanding character and appearance, thereby consolidating family power and perpetuating family glory. Therefore, every palace banquet left the young ladies full of expectation.

This expectation also included Jun Jun Zhidie, but every time she was disappointed amidst her hopes. This time, a single promise from the Dafuren made Li Shi and Jun Jun Zhidie ecstatic. Just grabbing any one of them would mean a high-ranking household; let alone a young master from a noble family, even an Imperial Prince was possible. More importantly, she would be able to see the Crown Prince.

The Wu mother and daughter and the Li mother and daughter arrived furiously outside the gate of the Aoxue Courtyard. Nanny Zhou, who guarded the gate with several little maids, could not stop them at all. The little maids dared not block their masters and retreated to the side. Nanny Zhou, who was blocking the gate, was pushed to the ground by Li Shi.

The Dafuren led the group to the Purple Bamboo Forest. Before they even arrived, they heard Li Shi shouting at the top of her lungs:

"Second daughter, where have you hidden the Old Lady? You unfilial girl, how dare you plot to harm the Old Lady! Hand over the Old Lady immediately!"

"Jun Jun Zijin, hand over Grandmother immediately!" Jun Jun Zhidie also shouted.

Nanny Dong guarded the door of the operating room. Hanxiao and Miaozhu stepped forward to block the group's path:

"What are you shouting about? My Young Lady is treating the Old Lady. If anything goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?"

The deeds of servitude for these two maids were originally in the Old Lady's hands. When the Old Lady sent them to serve Jun Jun Zijin, she had already given them into Jun Jun Zijin's possession, so these two maids did not bother with politeness when speaking to the Dafuren or the Second Lady.

"Audacious! Who are you speaking to?" Li Shi shouted.

"Move aside!" Jun Jun Zhidie said, and then attempted to force her way through.

At this moment, Jun Jun Zijin's cold voice came from inside the operating room: "Jun Jun Zhidie, if you dare take a single step into this place, should any mishap befall Grandmother in the future, I will ensure the entire Jun family perishes with you."

Jun Jun Zhidie's steps halted, and a flicker of fear passed through her eyes.

Li Shi, however, let out a cold sneer:

"Second daughter, do not spread alarmist talk here. Who knows if you are truly treating the Old Lady or harming her?"

Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Jun Jun Zijin's forehead as she finally successfully stitched the last suture. Fortunately, although the process had its twists and turns, there were no major issues; the surgery was very successful, and they only needed to wait for the Old Lady to wake up after taking the calming medicine. She let out a long sigh, looking at the Old Lady with exhaustion but relief.

Jun Jun Zijin slowly walked out of the operating room, her hands still stained with blood. She swept her cold gaze over the Dafuren and the others:

"I originally did not wish to quarrel with you, but you kept pressing. Just now, at the critical moment, your noise nearly ruined everything. Now Grandmother is out of danger but needs quiet rest. If you dare cause trouble again, do not blame me for being unyielding." Having spoken, she entered the operating room and ignored them.

The Dafuren and Jun Jun Yiyi merely watched from the side and had not spoken a word from beginning to end. At this moment, the Dafuren cast a glance at Li Shi, who had fallen silent.

Li Shi understood the signal and was about to push past Hanxiao and Miaozhu to force her way in.

Just then, a cold voice rang out:

"I am here; who dares to be presumptuous!"