Chapter 45 : The Nine Needles of the Basic Questions, A Fright in the Night
45: The Nine Needles of the Basic Questions, A Fright in the Night
Yan Chi's injury was on his shoulder and back. Qin Wan leaned forward, somewhat laboriously wrapping the cloth around his chest. Although Yan Chi sat upright, Qin Wan's faint, almost imperceptible breath falling on the back of his neck sent a tingle down his spine.
Qin Wan deftly wrapped it three times, tied a knot, and stepped back. "Your Highness, the bandaging is complete. The precautions are as I said earlier. Change the medicine every two days. I will write a prescription for internal use shortly."
Hearing this, Yan Chi looked at Bai Feng. Bai Feng immediately stepped forward, respectfully presenting the sandalwood box in his hands.
Qin Wan looked at the box, hesitating and not moving.
The sweat on Yan Chi's face had already dried. He put on his robe, his movements brisk and efficient, as if unaware of the pain.
"Take it. It's not precious jewels." Yan Chi didn't look at Qin Wan, his tone commanding.
Since Qin Wan was at the Marquis's residence, treating Yan Chi's illness, she naturally wouldn't mind compensation. But how could she casually accept his things?
Yan Chi leisurely fastened his collar buttons. "Between you and me, are we so close that you won't accept a consultation fee?"
Hearing this, Qin Wan raised an eyebrow. She had initially considered propriety, but if this would cause misunderstanding, why shouldn't she accept? Her mind made up, Qin Wan reached out and took it.
To her surprise, the box was much lighter than she imagined. It seemed Yan Chi's words were true. Thus, she could accept it with a clear conscience. "Thank you, Your Highness. If there's nothing else, Qin Wan will take her leave."
Yan Chi gave an "Mm" sound, only looking out after Qin Wan's figure disappeared behind the screen. Once Qin Wan left the room, Bai Feng immediately stepped forward. "How is Your Highness's injury?"
Yan Chi shook his head. "It's fine. More thorough than the army physicians."
Bai Feng pressed his lips together, silent. It seemed this Little Medical Immortal truly lived up to her reputation.
After a pause, Yan Chi suddenly spoke in a meaningful tone. "Go find all of Hua Ci's surviving books. See if there's the one Ninth Young Miss mentioned."
Bai Feng's expression turned serious. He hurriedly assented and left.
By the time Qin Wan came out, the sky was already dark. Yue Qing, standing at the front, immediately came forward to meet her.
"Ninth Young Miss, how is it? Why did it take so long…"
Qin Wan's expression relaxed slightly. She looked at Yue Qiong and the others. "Second Young Master, rest assured. Marquis and Madam, please also be at ease. His Highness's old injury was somewhat troublesome, hence the delay. Everything has been taken care of now."
Yue Qing let out a great sigh of relief, distressed. "Thank goodness, thank goodness. Otherwise, I'd have caused another disaster."
Jiang‑shi said with annoyance, "See if you'll be so reckless in the future!"
Yue Qing hung his head dejectedly. "I understand, Mother. I won't compete with His Highness anymore."
Jiang‑shi shook her head, then took Qin Wan's hand. "It's dark. I'll escort you directly back to Plum Courtyard. The Marquis is here. Don't worry about Mother either."
Qin Wan bowed to Yue Qiong, then followed Jiang‑shi out.
Once outside, Jiang‑shi said with pity, "Young Lord Chi suffered too much hardship at such a young age. Sent to the army by Prince Rui at ten. If it were me, I couldn't bear it."
Qin Wan thought again of the scars on Yan Chi's back, her eyes deepening involuntarily.
Jiang‑shi sighed. "Though his status is noble, he's still someone to be pitied. He…"
Jiang‑shi's words cut off. It was unclear what she thought of, but she swallowed what she was about to say. Turning her gaze, she saw the box in Qin Wan's hand. "Hmm, what is this?"
Qin Wan hurriedly explained. "His Highness gave it. Said since I'll be tending to his injuries, this is the consultation fee."
Jiang‑shi laughed. "This child, why is he thinking of giving you a consultation fee himself? But what he gave you must be something good. Keep it. Probably from staying in the military camp too long, his nature is very straightforward."
Qin Wan didn't respond. Based on the box's weight, she really couldn't guess what was inside.
Soon they reached outside Plum Courtyard. Jiang‑shi said further, "Rest well tonight. Originally, I asked you to stay two days. But with Mother's condition like this, if she still doesn't wake tomorrow, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stay a few more days."
Treating illnesses and saving people wasn't a one-time effort. Qin Wan naturally nodded. "Qin Wan understands. Naturally, Her Highness the Grand Princess takes priority."
Jiang‑shi smiled with relief, said a few more words, then headed toward the Grand Princess's courtyard.
After Jiang‑shi left, Fuling looked at the box in Qin Wan's hand. "Young Miss, this is from His Highness? What is it?"
Qin Wan glanced down and strode into Plum Courtyard. Entering the room and sitting in the warming chamber, she opened the box. She was also very curious about what was inside. As soon as the box opened, Qin Wan froze.
Fuling poured a cup of tea for Qin Wan. Turning to look, her face showed astonishment. "What is this?!"
Inside the three-cun square box were two items. The first thing that caught the eye was a dark cloth roll. Qin Wan initially thought it was a handkerchief. But when taken out and unfolded, it turned out to be a pair of exquisitely folded, extremely soft protective gloves.
Fuling gasped. "This is… for protecting hands?"
These gloves were sewn from finely polished deerskin, the fingers fitting so perfectly the seams were almost invisible. Qin Wan extended her hand and put them on. She flexed and stretched her fingers. The warm touch instantly warmed her heart.
She had thought Yan Chi's question that night was casual. She hadn't expected him to have prepared this.
Deerskin was waterproof, completely different from the oilcloth or cotton gloves ordinary coroners used. Yan Chi said this item wasn't valuable jewels, but this thoughtfulness, how could jewels compare?
Qin Wan was momentarily lost in thought, then looked down at the other item in the box.
It was an exquisitely crafted sachet. Though called a sachet, it was also made of fine deerskin. Qin Wan took off the gloves, opened the sachet, and gave it a slight shake. Another cloth roll fell out.
Qin Wan frowned, spreading out the cloth roll. In an instant, her pupils contracted sharply!
"Young Miss, what is this? One, two, three, four… nine. Are these knives or needles?"
Qin Wan's breath trembled slightly. An extremely bright light sparked in her eyes. Her clear, stream-like eyes instantly became as bright as dotted lacquer. The moon-white cloth roll was actually a needle case. Neatly inserted into it were nine objects resembling both needles and knives. Each was forged from high-quality refined iron. Though the shapes were strange, to Qin Wan's eyes, they stirred her heart more than the finest jewels.
"For those who study medicine, needle techniques are essential. Among the ancient writings in the Inner Canon, there is a chapter called Needle Classic, specifically discussing the pinnacle of needle techniques and extraordinary acupuncture points. It specially discusses nine types of needles.
"To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools. The same applies to practicing medicine. The nine needle tools discussed in the Needle Classic are called the Nine Needles of the Basic Questions. They are respectively: the arrowhead needle, the round needle, the sharp needle, the spoon needle, the sword needle, the sharp-pointed needle, the filiform needle, the large needle, and the long needle. With these nine needles, one can treat a hundred ailments. However, the Inner Canon was lost to the world a hundred years ago. The Nine Needles of the Basic Questions also became legend. Even the lineage of Medicine King Sun Xi only possesses seven of the nine needles. Those seven needles are now the treasured heirlooms of their school…"
Qin Wan studied under Medicine King Sun Xi, so she could be considered knowledgeable in medicine. But even she had never seen the complete set of the Nine Needles of the Basic Questions. Now, they had been casually given to her by Yan Chi…
How could this be a consultation fee she could accept with a clear conscience?
Qin Wan held the Nine Needles of the Basic Questions, her heart surging. Looking closely, she noticed something odd about the tails of these nine needles. She immediately held them up for a closer look. Upon inspection, she saw a small character "Wan" engraved on the tail of each needle.
Qin Wan stood stunned. Somewhere in her heart, it felt as if pricked by this tiny character, producing a complex, tingling numbness.
What did Yan Chi mean by this?
If it were truly a consultation fee, why go to such lengths?
But if not, then why…
Inside the room, candlelight flickered. Qin Wan's face wore a contemplative expression. Fuling, seeing her like this, didn't dare ask more, only stood quietly to the side. Yet shock also arose in her heart. Though she was just beginning to dabble in medicine, just hearing Qin Wan's words, she understood the preciousness of the Nine Needles of the Basic Questions.
Mistress and servant remained silent. The room was quiet except for the crackling of the lamp. At a certain moment, Qin Wan closed the needle case and stood up. "This item is too precious. It must be returned."
Fuling hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Qin Wan, however, had already picked up the cloak beside her. Just as she was about to step out the door, a piercing scream rang out. Qin Wan frowned and turned. She saw Fuling fallen to the ground, face deathly pale, staring toward the rear window.
Qin Wan focused her gaze. Outside the half-open rear window, in the ink-like darkness, stood a woman in bright red wedding clothes…
And what made Fuling scream was that the woman's neck was empty, exactly like the deceased Song Rou!