Chapter 104: To Be Honest, Are You Trying to Kill the Empress Dowager?

The palace maids and eunuchs were terrified. If the Empress Dowager woke up, she would probably kill someone. Those who could leave quietly did so; out of sight, out of mind.

Once Su Jingluo entered her work mode, she paid little attention to the people around her. The original owner had a set of knives—thin and swift. In this era, there were no disinfectants, but there was potent liquor. Su Jingluo used the strong alcohol to disinfect the Empress Dowager’s head and the knives, washing her hands repeatedly with it before focusing intently on cutting open the Empress Dowager’s scalp.

Su Jingluo’s sense of direction regarding the insect was precise. Upon incision, a red worm blended with the blood and flesh, attempting to escape. Fortunately, Su Jingluo quickly clamped it with bamboo tweezers and, with a sharp shake of her hand, pulled the vermilion creature out.

A gu insect! Although Su Jingluo retained only fragments of the original owner’s memories, perhaps from the original’s intense study, many recollections surfaced almost reflexively in her mind.

The palace was truly sinister and ruthless. Without time to ponder, Su Jingluo placed the gu insect into a bamboo tube, then stitched the Empress Dowager’s scalp with disinfected fishing line. Drawing from the original’s memory, she applied a hemostatic powder to the wound. This era was indeed mystical; the medicinal powders from the Sacred Herb Palace were imbued with secrets. The bleeding stopped immediately after application.

Nearly two hours passed after the operation. Looking around, Su Jingluo noticed most had fled, save for Chunxi, who trembled beside her—likely fearful that she had accidentally killed the Empress Dowager.

Seeing Su Jingluo’s blood-stained hands, Chunxi recoiled as if confronted by a demon from hell.

“Princess, you should leave quickly. Once the Empress Dowager wakes, she’ll surely have you killed,” Chunxi whispered, unable to bear looking at the mangled head—the scalp gnawed upon like by a wild dog, an ugly, worm-like wound crawling atop it.

“Eunuch, you?” Su Jingluo doubted that the eunuchs around the Empress Dowager were all saints, so she wondered why Chunxi was so concerned for her safety.

“Today I was sent to fetch you. His Highness cares deeply for you. Anyone the Prince cherishes, this humble servant will naturally protect,” Chunxi said, a pious expression plastered on his face. Su Jingluo understood then—Chunxi was an extension of the Prince’s far-reaching influence.

“Thank you, Eunuch,” Su Jingluo replied sincerely. Though he acted out of loyalty to the Prince, she was the beneficiary.

“Princess, no need for thanks. For the Prince, this old servant would gladly give his life,” Chunxi bowed respectfully and escorted Su Jingluo out of the Empress Dowager’s chamber. Su Jingluo marveled at how magnetic Xiao Jingxuan’s charm must be—he treated others so well, yet why did he single her out?

“Princess, I have a question. You may choose to answer or not,” Chunxi said quietly as they walked.

“Go ahead. As long as it’s not a secret, I’ll tell you,” Su Jingluo replied. She had no secrets, save for her origin as a time traveler—which, if revealed, would likely be dismissed as madness.

“Do you want the Empress Dowager to live... or not?” Chunxi’s voice dropped even lower as he glanced up at Su Jingluo, puzzled.

In ancient times, no one had seen a head surgery before, nor was the concept of surgery common. Su Jingluo’s actions seemed reckless, as if taking a life lightly—especially that of the reigning Empress Dowager. Chunxi wasn’t sure if she would survive, and if the Princess truly caused her death, he would need to quickly arrange a contingency.