Work Finished, The Rest Is Not My Concern

Patients as stubborn as Felix Fuller are nothing new to Serena Feng—she’s encountered them before and will again. There’s no such thing as an unsolvable case.

There’s still a quarter of an hour left before Serena’s set deadline. Felix’s wound has already been treated; all that remains is for him to decide. Once he’s ready, she’ll administer anesthesia and begin the surgery.

"Lord Fuller, you have fifteen minutes left. Think carefully. If you choose amputation to save your life, I’ll make preparations right away. If you insist on keeping your leg, I’ll still clean the wound for you, but I can’t guarantee the outcome—your survival will depend on your own luck." As a doctor, Serena always offers a choice. She knows patients struggle to let go, but she must present her own plan.

To her, Felix is just another patient. As a doctor, she proposes the treatment, but the final choice is always the patient’s. Whatever they decide, she respects it. She has no right to choose for them—even if, medically, it’s for their own good.

“Is there really no way to save my leg?” Felix asked, his expression bleak—gone was the clarity and confidence Serena had seen when they first met.

No one can easily accept becoming disabled overnight. For people like Felix, disability means the end of their future: no matter how talented, a cripple can’t serve in court or carry the burden of their family’s fate.

If Felix is crippled, House Fuller’s future is finished—there isn’t another Felix to take his place.

“No—” Serena had just begun to speak when a loud voice rang out from outside the door: “His Highness Prince Colin of Qing has arrived!”

“Someone from the palace is here.” Serena swallowed her words and gave Felix a meaningful look.

Felix was even more valued by the Emperor than Serena had imagined. For Prince Colin to come at this moment, he must be acting on imperial orders—no prince would dare openly associate with a currently favored minister like Felix otherwise.

Felix felt no joy at all. Serena’s single word—“No”—was as good as a death sentence. At this point, even if the Emperor himself arrived, Felix wouldn’t be able to feel happy.

Felix, as the patient, didn’t need to move, but Serena didn’t have the privilege of skipping formalities with a prince. Still, she was dressed in her doctor’s robe, gloves, mask, and head cover—not exactly presentable for greeting royalty.

Serena waited inside for Prince Colin to enter. As soon as he arrived, she stepped forward and apologized: “I failed to greet Your Highness from afar. Please forgive me.”

“It’s I who came unexpectedly and disturbed your work, Miss Feng. Please don’t blame me.” Prince Colin stepped forward, lightly helping Serena up, refusing to accept her kneeling salute.

No joke—after Ninth Royal Uncle made such a grand show of support for Serena at Feng Manor today, Prince Colin didn’t dare accept her formal greeting. Who knows, he might have to bow to Serena himself in the future.

Serena might be younger than him, but she’s Ninth Royal Uncle’s person, which puts her a whole generation above him. When the time comes, he might even have to pay her junior’s respects.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your leniency.” Serena didn’t insist—she wasn’t about to dirty her clothes by kneeling. She stepped aside to let Prince Colin approach the bedside.

Prince Colin nodded with a smile and walked past Serena to the bed. Felix, injured and weak, couldn’t get up to greet him—he could only offer a verbal apology. Since Prince Colin was here by imperial order to visit a patient, he wasn’t about to make things difficult for Felix.

Prince Colin conveyed the Emperor’s concern, listed the gifts sent by the throne, offered some words of comfort to Felix, and then asked about his condition—directing the question to Serena.

Serena laid out the amputation plan once again. Prince Colin frowned deeply—he knew the Emperor didn’t want Felix to become a cripple and lose his political value.

Prince Colin didn’t dare raise his voice at Serena. He could only ask gently, “Miss Feng, is there really no other way besides amputation? Lord Fuller is one of Eastlyn’s most vital ministers, and he was wounded serving the state. The Emperor is deeply concerned about his condition.”

“Your Highness, it’s not that I insist on this course—it’s simply that Lord Fuller’s injury is far too severe. If you wish, summon the imperial physicians and we can examine him together to see if any alternative treatment exists.” The responsibility for Felix’s case had already been pushed onto her, and she hadn’t wanted to drag the imperial physicians into it. But now, she couldn’t shoulder it alone.

“Let’s do as Miss Feng suggests—bring in all the imperial physicians and discuss together.” Prince Colin agreed readily.

This move was also meant to protect Serena. If anything happened to Felix, it wouldn’t be for lack of effort on Serena’s part—it would be because his injuries were truly beyond saving.

Felix understood that Prince Colin was siding with Serena, so he stayed silent and didn’t say a word.

Serena was never his true opponent. If he could do Serena a favor, why object?

With Prince Colin’s order, the imperial physicians had no choice but to come in, however reluctant. A dozen or more crowded into the room, quickly filling the space.

Prince Colin didn’t say much, simply asked the imperial physicians to examine Felix and see if any better treatment could be found.

The imperial physicians had already examined Felix’s injury. Now, at Prince Colin’s command, they stepped forward for a perfunctory check—but as soon as they got close, they realized something was wrong.

“Oh, Lord Fuller is awake?”

“The wound’s been bandaged?”

“His pulse is strong, too.”

“But his energy and blood are still weak—the injury is too deep. I’m afraid the leg can’t be saved. In my opinion, it’s best to amputate.”

Traditional medicine does allow for amputation, though it’s rarely used. Herbal remedies work slowly—Felix’s case demands urgent action. If they wait for the medicine to take effect, the best window for treatment may be lost.

Serena used intravenous injection to make the medicine work quickly, adjusting Felix’s condition immediately to preserve his strength and spirit—so he could survive the surgery.

“Lord Fuller’s condition has improved, but the injury is too severe. I agree with Imperial Physician Liang.” Though the imperial physicians admired Serena’s methods, they would never praise her in front of Prince Colin.

No way would they admit to being less skilled than Serena. These princes and royal heirs are all precious—none would agree to be treated by a mediocre doctor.

Serena stood aside, silent. She’d known this would happen—the imperial physicians feared for their lives, but their skills were solid. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the Imperial Medical Directorate.

There was no way they could misdiagnose Felix’s condition, and they wouldn’t dare accept responsibility without reason. If something happened to Felix, they’d be in trouble too. Conservative treatment was safest.

The imperial physicians’ words dispelled Felix’s last doubts and let Prince Colin breathe a sigh of relief. With their endorsement, Serena wouldn’t be blamed if things went wrong—and Prince Colin wouldn’t offend Ninth Royal Uncle.

Being caught between the Emperor and Ninth Royal Uncle was a nightmare—Prince Colin didn’t want, nor dare, to offend either. But trying to please both only made things harder.

This was a classic case of ‘when immortals fight, the little devils suffer.’ Serena shot Prince Colin a sympathetic look, waiting for Felix to make his decision…