The surgery lasted from morning until sunset. The entire General's Residence was quiet; the concubines waited outside the courtyard, not daring to move.
After having his wound bandaged at noon, Gu Lao also came to wait outside the courtyard of Yuehua Small Building.
The concubines had also learned what happened and were very grateful to Gu Lao. They urged him to go back and rest, but he refused to listen, so they brought him a chair to sit on while he waited.
After all, he was an old man; it wouldn't do for him to fall ill from the strain.
Gu Lao alternated between sitting and standing from noon until sunset. He was anxious, with no way of knowing what was happening inside. He had seen how deep the stab wound was.
Amidst his anxiety, he also secretly observed Xiang Minghou's concubines. Not a single one had left since noon, and the worry on their faces did not seem feigned.
