After returning to Feng Manor, Serena Feng had planned to catch up on some sleep, but Simon Sun was waiting for her and dragged her back to work. Then came a bath, fussing through breakfast time; Serena simply decided to eat first and nap afterward, squeezing in a quick visit to Madam Sun.
Madam Sun’s IV couldn’t be stopped, and for now she could only have liquids—something that needed strict attention. When Serena finished these chores and was about to sleep, the gatekeeper brought word: Second Madam Hsieh had arrived, accompanied by maids, old servants, and guards, clearly intending to settle in at Feng Manor for a while.
Serena knew this: Second Madam Hsieh had finally made up her mind after so long. When a patient comes to seek help, how can a doctor refuse?
“Sigh, being a doctor really isn’t human work—especially when you have to be both an ER and a general physician.” Serena pinched her own waist, waited for the sleepiness to fade, then went out to greet her guest.
“Doctor Feng, I’m truly sorry to trouble you so early. I’m just too anxious,” Second Madam Hsieh apologized, clearly uncomfortable.
She’d let Serena down several times before. Even if it was because of the Hsieh family, in the end it was her own failure to keep her word.
A true gentleman values his promises. Though she was born a Wang family daughter and wasn’t a gentleman, she was still someone who honored her commitments.
“It’s no trouble, Second Madam. Whenever you’re ready is fine. Since you’re here, I’ll give you a checkup, and if all goes well, we can schedule the surgery for this afternoon.” Serena was still annoyed with this Second Madam.
If it weren’t for the fact that she was a patient—and a Wang family daughter—Serena honestly wouldn’t want to deal with her at all.
She respected her patients, but they had to respect her too. Even if being a doctor wasn’t considered a noble profession in this world (not like those scholarly noble families), it didn’t mean she deserved to be looked down on.
Second Madam Hsieh understood, wearing an awkward expression, but inside she felt wronged. Not every woman in this world can live on her own like Serena Feng.
No matter how dignified a woman is, it's all granted by her parents. Once married, she must depend on her husband. Serena Feng may never have the happiness other women expect, but she has a freedom most women can only dream of.
After checking on Madam Hsieh, Serena told Second Madam Hsieh to prepare for surgery that afternoon, then drifted off to catch up on sleep. Evan Zhou didn’t show up at all that day or night.
Saying she wasn’t worried would be a lie, but what good would worrying do? Evan Zhou’s business was out of her hands—she couldn’t meddle, so she would just pretend she’d never met him.
"Master, can I help with the surgery this afternoon?" Simon Sun was waiting outside Serena Feng’s door early, and the moment she got up, he rushed forward, eager and obviously trying to please her.
Serena really wanted to say yes, but...
For Second Madam Hsieh’s surgery, it wasn’t just Simon Sun—even a female assistant wouldn’t be allowed. The operation involved her uterus, which meant seeing private areas; if Simon Sun went in, Second Madam Hsieh’s reputation would be ruined.
"Men and women have boundaries." That was all Serena could say to explain.
"But Master, you always say a real doctor doesn’t see gender." Simon Sun looked so pitiful. Not many people dared let Serena Feng operate on them, and last time, because it was his mother, he was lucky enough to assist. With other women, he wouldn’t get the chance.
"But patients do care about gender. Stop looking like a wronged wife. Prince Samuel Zhai has that mysterious facial pain—if we get called to treat him, you’ll have plenty to watch, I promise." Serena patted Simon Sun’s shoulder, trying to comfort him.
Ugh... She must be the worst doctor in history, actually having to beg people to let her treat them.
But what can she do? Yesterday, she offended Prince Terrence Valen and Princess Yara from Lyndaria. Now she needs allies—relying on just Nolan Eastlyn isn’t enough.
Simon Sun was helpless. He couldn’t even sneak a peek, because the Hsieh household had posted guards all around the operating room—no one was allowed to disturb.
That was Serena Feng’s idea. With so many powerful people around these days, she couldn’t guard against them all, so she just let them arrange their own security.
Inside the operating room, Serena poured out the ancient Mafeisan, then personally injected Second Madam Hsieh with modern anesthetic.
Mafeisan was definitely a full-body anesthetic, and she couldn’t control the dosage. Madam Sun had been given too much last time—Serena had to check on her five times a day, worried she wouldn’t pull through.
Second Madam Hsieh’s surgery wasn’t actually hard, but...
Doing it without an assistant was brutal. Serena decided she absolutely had to recruit a female assistant. If Second Madam Hsieh got pregnant, there’d be plenty more business like this.
Lots of women in ancient times had irregular periods and couldn’t conceive, but Serena didn’t trust just anyone to help—just thinking about it gave her a headache.
By the time the surgery was done, the sun was already setting. Serena wheeled Second Madam Hsieh out, gave her usual instructions, and told the Hsieh household’s female medical attendants to keep a close eye and call her if anything went wrong.
"Simon, clean up the operating room and make sure it’s thoroughly disinfected." Serena was exhausted—she had no energy left to tidy up, but she was also glad to have a disciple who was actually useful.
"Yes, Master." Simon Sun, ever thoughtful, didn’t say much—he just mentioned he’d already prepared hot water and food so Serena could rest.
"Good job, Simon." Serena didn’t bother bathing. Instead, she kept on her doctor’s gown and went to do rounds.
Madam Sun was awake, but weak from the liquid diet. Serena checked her incision—it was healing well. She was relieved; this was her first surgery here and the patient was safe, no complications. That was a huge win.
Next, Serena went to Second Madam Hsieh’s courtyard, overhearing the maids complain about how rundown Feng Manor was. The moment she walked in, the maids were mortified.
Serena just smiled and ignored the gossip, did her checkup, recorded the data, and left. Not a single man from the Hsieh family came to ask about Second Madam Hsieh—not even the Second Master. No one cared how their own wife was doing.
Seeing Second Madam Hsieh like this, Serena could only sigh at how pitiful ancient women were. Maybe it was a blessing she hadn’t married—if she was stuck scheming in the inner courtyard, she’d go crazy.
It wasn’t even dark yet, but after dinner, Serena crashed into a deep sleep. Doctors never get to rest on a normal schedule, so she was used to it. Still...
In the dead of night, someone yanked her out from under the covers. Serena was miserable.
"Vincent Su, are you trying to die?" Everyone knew she was cranky when woken up, and she was already exhausted. Dragging her out of bed in the middle of the night was just asking for trouble.
"Serena Feng, I need you to save a life!" Vincent Su looked like he’d been through hell—his clothes were wrinkled like pickled vegetables, his beard was scruffy, and his eyes were dull, like someone who’d been tortured all day.
"Are you hurt?" Serena asked, her concern automatic.
"Not me—Storm Cloud Bu. He’s burning up with fever, and his back wound is red, swollen, and bleeding. He’s almost dead. I tried everything you prescribed, shoved it all down his throat, but nothing worked."
"How could this happen? I treated his wound myself—it shouldn’t have gone wrong." The moment Serena heard her own patient was in trouble, she didn’t get angry. She just grabbed her clothes and got dressed right in front of Vincent Su.
Vincent Su turned his back like a gentleman, and Serena snorted in disdain.
Seriously, barging into a girl’s bedroom and then pretending to be a gentleman? They all sneak into her room in the middle of the night—what do they think she is? Even underground doctors don’t get treated like this...