Chapter 42 : Injured
42: Injured
"Everything Her Highness uses these two days must be boiled in hot water."
Qin Wan gave another instruction. Lüxiu smiled and said, "Ninth Young Miss, please rest assured. We've already done as you instructed last night."
Qin Wan nodded. Seeing the Grand Princess had taken her medicine and fallen into a deep sleep again, she turned and withdrew.
Fuling followed beside her, asking softly, "Young Miss, why is that?"
"Her Highness is weak from illness. The slightest unclean thing can worsen her condition. Those of us who are healthy don't need to be so strict."
Qin Wan gave a simple explanation. Fuling nodded vaguely, committing it to memory.
Just as she stepped out of the inner chamber, she saw Yue Qing standing outside. He was pacing back and forth, as if waiting for someone.
The Grand Princess's condition could still change. Although someone needed to stay in the room, too many people couldn't remain. So besides Lüxiu, even Jiang‑shi and Yue Qiong only came to check frequently, not daring to stay long.
It was already past noon. A faint doubt flickered in Qin Wan's eyes. What was Yue Qing doing here?
The sound of footsteps startled Yue Qing. He turned and, seeing Qin Wan, his eyes lit up. "Ninth Young Miss!"
Seeing him like this, Qin Wan curtsied slightly and came out. "Does Second Young Master have something?"
Yue Qing and Yue Jia inherited Yue Qiong and Jiang‑shi's good looks. They had Yue Qiong's tall, imposing stature and dignified bearing, but with an added touch of noble elegance. Compared to Yue Jia's steady and reserved nature, Yue Qing's personality was much more outgoing. Moreover, he had bright, piercing eyes, an air of straightforward competence, and the compelling vigor of youth.
However, facing Qin Wan, Yue Qing coughed lightly, somewhat awkwardly, before saying, "Ninth Young Miss, I wanted to thank you personally this morning, but after Prefect left, I personally went to Lin Daxing's home, which delayed me."
As he spoke, Yue Qing took a step back and bowed deeply to Qin Wan. "Yue Qing thanks Ninth Young Miss for your righteous assistance in clearing Yue Qing's name. For this great kindness, please accept Yue Qing's bow."
Qin Wan quickly stepped aside to avoid the bow. "Second Young Master, please rise quickly. Madam has already thanked me many times. If Young Master does this again, it will only make Qin Wan uneasy."
Yue Qing was momentarily stunned. Bending, he glanced up at Qin Wan. Seeing Qin Wan's expression was sincere and not false, he straightened up, smiling sheepishly. "That… to thank you, Yue Qing specially…"
"Greetings to His Highness the Young Lord."
Before Yue Qing could finish, voices suddenly sounded in the distance. Yue Qing turned to look and saw Yan Chi striding over.
Today, Yan Chi wore a dark gray, narrow-sleeved robe embroidered with golden qilin patterns. Broad shoulders, long arms, a lean waist, long legs, his movements carried a commanding air. Even before he drew near, that imposing aura had already arrived.
Qin Wan hurriedly curtsied in greeting. Yue Qing also clasped his hands in salute.
Yan Chi waved a hand, glanced at Qin Wan, then looked at Yue Qing. His eyebrows rose slightly, and he saw Yue Qing's guard standing not far away. Naturally, he also saw the small bundle in the guard's hand.
"How is Aunt? I went to the military camp this morning and returned late."
Qin Wan, the physician, was right there, yet Yan Chi asked Yue Qing. Yue Qing hurriedly said, "Ninth Young Miss said Grandmother's wound shows no sign of festering. If nothing happens after tonight, Grandmother will have passed this crisis. Right now, Grandmother is asleep. Ninth Young Miss said it's not suitable to disturb her."
Yue Qing was two years younger than Yan Chi. They had met in the capital when Yue Qing was very young, but now he couldn't remember. Even so, Yue Qing had long been thunderstruck by Yan Chi's military achievements in Shuo Xi. He knew that even given another five years, he couldn't achieve what Yan Chi had. Thus, when he looked at Yan Chi, besides familiarity, there was extra respect and admiration.
"That's good." Yan Chi's expression relaxed slightly. Then he added, "Since we can't disturb her, I'll go find the Marquis to discuss matters of the Shuo Xi army."
Yue Qing's eyes immediately lit up. "What about the Shuo Xi army?"
The Shuo Xi army, one hundred thousand strong, was commanded by Prince Rui, Yan Lin. It was an ever-victorious army. The Rongdi enemies to the west were only kept from invading Great Zhou by the Shuo Xi army's defense. Yan Chi had earlier led troops in the Shuo Xi army. The several hundred soldiers who came with Yan Chi this time were also Yan Chi's personal guards from the Shuo Xi army.
The corner of Yan Chi's mouth curved. "Minor matters. If you want to listen, come along."
After speaking, Yan Chi walked away. Yue Qing immediately looked eager. That was the Shuo Xi army he yearned for…
However, looking at Qin Wan and thinking of the gift he wanted to give, he found himself in a dilemma.
Yan Chi walked two steps, then paused, looking back at Yue Qing as if waiting for him. In that case, Yue Qing couldn't possibly give the gift in front of Yan Chi. After thinking for a moment, he decided to find another time in the evening.
"Ninth Young Miss, I'll go find Father first. Grandmother here will trouble you."
Qin Wan nodded, gathering her sleeves and curtsying. Yue Qing hurriedly followed Yan Chi.
Yan Chi glanced from afar at Qin Wan's bowed figure, a flicker of light in his eyes before he turned and left.
As soon as Yan Chi left, Fuling, standing to the side, let out a long sigh of relief. "Young Miss, this Young Lord's presence is truly imposing. But… why didn't he even say a word to you just now? It was as if he didn't see you…"
Fuling's voice grew softer, clearly somewhat afraid of Yan Chi. Qin Wan, however, didn't mind much. "He is, after all, a prince's son. Being somewhat arrogant is only natural. It's fine."
Though she said this, Qin Wan thought again of that glance last night… She felt a slight strangeness in her heart, shook her head, and brushed the thought away. Two people who were unlikely to intersect indeed didn't need to exchange many words.
Qin Wan turned. As she moved, she accidentally touched her sleeve pocket. Her sleeve felt heavy, immediately making her brow furrow slightly.
His Cold Moon was still with her…
"Young Miss, what's wrong?"
At Fuling's question, Qin Wan shook her head. "It's nothing. Let's go to the medicine room to prepare the Grand Princess's medicine. I'll teach you some medicinal principles along the way."
Fuling nodded repeatedly. Mistress and servant turned the corridor corner and headed straight for the courtyard's medicine room.
Qin Wan temporarily set her mind to caring for the Grand Princess. As dusk fell, Jiang‑shi arrived with a worried expression. Seeing her expression, Qin Wan tried to console her. "Madam, Her Highness's condition looks good for now. You needn't worry too much."
Jiang‑shi shook her head, taking Qin Wan's hand. "It's not for Mother. With you here, I'm mostly at ease regarding Mother." She paused slightly, her tone grave. "It's about the matter of the Song family's young lady."
Qin Wan frowned slightly. "That matter can only be left to Prefect Huo."
Jiang‑shi sighed. "Prefect Huo has no leads at all. The Duke's household wedding entourage is still staying at our residence. These past two days, many of Miss Song's accompanying servants have begun to express dissatisfaction. And this is the better situation. When the Duke's household people arrive from the capital…"
Qin Wan understood. The Duke's household marrying off a daughter was originally a joyous occasion. But the daughter died right at the Anyang Marquis's residence's gate. If they encountered unreasonable people, this account might very well be placed on the Anyang Marquis's household.
Qin Wan hesitated, about to speak, when Yang Xi suddenly ran over from outside, looking panicked!
"Madam, Prince Rui's son is injured!"
Jiang‑shi's expression changed. "Injured?! How could His Highness be injured?!"
Yang Xi looked extremely anxious. "His Highness and the young masters went to the training ground for drills. But who would have thought His Highness came with old injuries? Second Young Master didn't know this, fought too fiercely, and hurt His Highness!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Xi, unable to wait, bowed to Qin Wan. "Ninth Young Miss, I beg you to go take a look!"