Qin Guan's conferment as a commandery princess was naturally a significant event, quickly spreading throughout the camp. Aside from the imperial family members, the camp gathered the entire aristocratic circle of the capital, inevitably sparking widespread discussion. While Qin Guan didn't need to entertain others, she still had to greet the Qin family members.
Upon entering the Qin family's large tent, Qin Shu immediately rose to his feet. "Our commandery princess has returned!"
Qin Shu's voice carried laughter, and Hu Shi even performed a curtsy toward Qin Guan. "Greetings to the commandery princess."
Seeing this, Qin Guan quickly stepped forward to offer a symbolic support. "Aunt, please don't stand on ceremony. The imperial edict hasn't been issued yet, and we're family—no need for such formalities."
Although Qin Shu had inherited the title of Loyal Marquis, his noble rank was lower than that of a commandery princess. Hu Shi only held a second-rank honorary title, also subordinate to Qin Guan. Thus, Qin Guan became the highest-ranking noble in the Loyal Marquis Manor.
Qin Shu and Hu Shi appeared particularly enthusiastic, while Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang nearby watched with sparkling eyes. When Qin Guan glanced their way, they too hurriedly curtsied. Only Qin Chaoyu remained unmoved, observing Qin Guan leisurely with a scrutinizing gaze. Qin Guan showed no anger at her attitude, simply smiling as she helped Hu Shi to her seat.
"Though the edict hasn't been issued, your title has already been granted—it's merely a matter of days," Hu Shi remarked. "His Majesty likely intends to present both the edict and rewards after returning to the capital."
Qin Shu added, "In over two hundred years of the Great Zhou dynasty, fewer than three common-born women have been enfeoffed as imperial commandery princesses. Wan Yatou, you're destined to be recorded in the history books."
Qin Guan smiled faintly. "Uncle flatters me too much. I dare not claim a place in history—it was merely a fortunate coincidence."
Though complex emotions stirred within him, Qin Shu regarded Qin Guan with genuine admiration. "How could it be mere coincidence? You assisted in solving the Gold Heist Case—that's true. Later, you cured the Empress Dowager and contributed to solving two cases in Lin'an City. During this hunting expedition, had it not been for you, Crown Prince Tuoba would have lost his life long ago, and who knows what trouble the third prince of Western Liang might have caused. With the current stable situation, your contributions are undeniable. You absolutely deserve this position as commandery princess."
Qin Guan felt deeply comforted—recognition was always more pleasant than doubt. As for Qin Chaoyu... Qin Guan somewhat understood her feelings. Previously, whenever the Loyal Marquis Manor was mentioned, everyone knew her as the capital's top talented lady. But henceforth, with Qin Guan's enfeoffment as a commandery princess, her reputation might overshadow Qin Chaoyu's—likely the source of Qin Chaoyu's displeasure.
People in this world were indeed peculiar. If someone far removed from you achieved high status or great fame, you might feel nothing. But when someone close to you suddenly rose to prominence, discontent often arose within. Some were naturally narrow-minded; others feared appearing inferior by comparison. Only a few could genuinely appreciate others from the heart.
Qin Guan didn't expect universal approval, but understanding this reality allowed her to remain composed.
"When the third prince of Western Liang exposed my involvement in corpse examinations, I feared the Marquis Manor might face criticism because of it," Qin Guan explained. "When His Majesty inquired about rewards, I specifically requested these two considerations. I hope Uncle won't take offense."Although the Emperor's reward was indeed a significant matter, Qin Guan's words were naturally spoken out of courtesy. After all, her achievements were not gained by relying on the Marquis estate's reputation, and being granted the title of County Princess also brought honor to the Marquis estate. However, regarding the convenience she sought for corpse examination, Qin Shu might not have approved.
Qin Shu laughed heartily, "I actually think you did very well. Besides, all this was earned through your own efforts—how could I possibly blame you? Our Marquis estate now has a County Princess; I couldn't be happier."
His words were spoken with genuine delight, and Qin Guan could tell, feeling a warmth in her heart.
After exchanging a few more words, Qin Guan mentioned she needed to check on Tuoba Hong's condition and took her leave first. Qin Shuang gleefully accompanied her out, even more excited than Qin Guan herself. Meanwhile, in the Qin family tent, Qin Chaoyu frowned and said, "Father, don't you find this very strange..."
Qin Shu raised an eyebrow, "What's strange about it?"
Qin Chaoyu pursed her lips, "Qin Guan was just granted the title of County Princess!"
Knowing what was on her mind, Qin Shu shook his head with a smile, "She earned it herself, and it's a good thing for our Marquis estate. You're going to be the Crown Princess—there's no need to dwell on this."
Qin Chaoyu still pressed her lips together. Though her reason repeated her father's words, she couldn't shake the frustration in her heart.
Qin Guan had accomplished what she herself could not—and Qin Guan had even rendered the Crown Prince a great service!
The thought only made Qin Chaoyu more vexed and angry. Why couldn't she have been the one to help the Crown Prince?
...
...
That evening, Qin Chaoyu accompanied the Empress to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Though she felt somewhat discontented, the Empress's summons filled her with joy. When they arrived at the Empress Dowager's quarters, the Empress said, "The Crown Prince Tuoba has awakened today—this is truly wonderful news. I've been so worried these past few days I could hardly sleep."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager smiled, "Why didn't you say so earlier?" She then instructed Mammy Chen, "Go and brew a cup of Ninth Girl's medicated tea to help Her Majesty sleep."
Mammy Chen acknowledged with a smile and turned to Qin Chaoyu, "Would the Eighth Young Lady like to try some as well?"
Since it was offered to the Empress, Qin Chaoyu could hardly refuse. She smiled and said, "Then I must try it and see if it tastes the same as the medicated tea Ninth Sister used to make at home..."
The Empress Dowager chuckled, "Ninth Girl made it at the Marquis estate too?"
Qin Chaoyu and Qin Guan were not particularly close in the Marquis estate, and even if Qin Guan had made medicated tea, Qin Chaoyu wouldn't have actually drunk it. But she couldn't say that in front of the Empress Dowager. "Yes, Ninth Sister also enjoys making medicinal ointments and pills. Whenever anyone felt unwell, she would bring them out. When we came to Mount Wei, she even gave us plenty for treating bruises..."
All of this was true. The Empress Dowager's gaze grew even more affectionate as she looked at Qin Chaoyu. "She has a passion for these things. The ointments and teas here are all her handiwork. Having her accompany me on this journey, I haven't felt the slightest discomfort. When I first arrived, I had trouble sleeping, but she used some acupressure technique and managed to ease it significantly."
The Empress could see how dearly the Empress Dowager held Qin Guan in her heart. "Now she is the Yongci County Princess. In the future, Your Majesty should keep her by your side more often. I can see how happy you are whenever she's with you."
The Empress Dowager nodded, "It's a matter of compatible temperaments. This is fate between her and me."As she spoke, the medicated tea was served. Qin Chaoyu had been sitting with a smile, but as soon as the tea arrived, she caught a faintly familiar scent. When the teacup was placed in her hand, she identified the aroma clearly. It felt intensely familiar, yet she had never tasted Qin Guan’s medicated tea before!
With that thought, Qin Chaoyu’s heart suddenly jolted—she remembered!
The last time she had encountered this scent was in the Crown Prince’s tent. She had gone to deliver the pair of blue sparrows, only to earn his displeasure, leaving her disheartened for some time. Wasn’t this exactly the fragrance she had noticed in the Crown Prince’s tent that day?
Qin Chaoyu took a small sip. The tea carried a light, fresh aroma blended with the bitterness of medicinal herbs. Surprisingly, the fusion of tea fragrance and herbal notes produced a unique, mellow sweetness—far more pleasant than she had imagined.
But how could Qin Guan’s medicated tea have reached the Crown Prince?
“Oh, this flavor is new to me. Why hasn’t Ninth Sister given me a packet to try?” Qin Chaoyu’s tone was lively, tinged with playful reproach.
The Empress Dowager chuckled at her words. “Medicated tea is mild; it must be taken regularly to be effective. My health has been poor, so she devised this method to help regulate it. This time, she prepared several varieties, probably not yet distributed to all of you. A few days ago, she gave the Empress some warming tea. Have you tried it, Empress?”
Zhao Shuhua had long forgotten about the tea packets but replied, “Of course I have. After finishing it, I felt thoroughly warm and comfortable.”
Qin Chaoyu’s heart tightened. So, only the Empress Dowager and the Empress had received Qin Guan’s medicated tea. How, then, did the Crown Prince come to have it? Did the Empress give it to him?
Considering this, Qin Chaoyu shook her head inwardly. Knowing the Empress as she did, Zhao Shuhua might drink the tea in the Empress Dowager’s presence, but privately, she would never touch such things. Qin Guan’s medicated tea hadn’t followed official channels, and the Empress wouldn’t casually consume it. If the Empress wouldn’t drink it herself, why would she give it to the Crown Prince?
Sure enough, Zhao Shuhua took a sip and promptly set her cup down. The Empress Dowager noticed nothing amiss and remarked cheerfully, “This time, she added dried tangerine peel, giving it a hint of sweetness. It tastes almost the same as the last batch and goes down quite smoothly.”
Hearing this, Qin Chaoyu became even more certain that the scent she had detected in the Crown Prince’s tent was indeed Qin Guan’s medicated tea. Given the Crown Prince’s temperament, his subordinates wouldn’t dare defy him. Unless he had requested it himself, no one would have dared serve him the tea. Moreover, she recalled that when she entered his tent, the lid of the teacup was slightly ajar—clearly, he had been drinking it just before her arrival!
Suddenly, Qin Chaoyu found the tea nearly impossible to swallow.
Previously, she had schemed to test Qin Guan, who later offended the Crown Prince. At the time, Qin Chaoyu had observed that Qin Guan harbored no ulterior motives and felt reassured. But now, was Qin Guan secretly sending tea to the Crown Prince?
She didn’t know if Qin Guan had met the Crown Prince since then, but Qin Guan frequently entered the palace. Perhaps other incidents had occurred without her knowledge… What exactly had happened?
The Empress Dowager and the Empress continued their conversation, but Qin Chaoyu could no longer focus. Her mind was consumed by these thoughts. When the Empress prepared to take her leave, she glanced at Qin Chaoyu with slight concern. “What’s wrong? You look unwell.”
Her inner turmoil hadn’t escaped Zhao Shuhua’s notice.
Qin Chaoyu forced a bitter smile and asked, “Was the warming tea that Ninth Sister gave you tasty, Empress?”Zhao Shuhua smiled upon hearing this. "I left it there without drinking it. I only said so to avoid disappointing the Empress Dowager's kindness. You know me—I'm always very cautious about what passes my lips."
Zhao Shuhua now treated Qin Chaoyu with great familiarity, keeping no secrets from her.
This thought brought Qin Chaoyu some comfort, but when she remembered that Yan Che and Qin Guan had private interactions unknown to her, her heart felt as if hundreds of ants were crawling and gnawing at it.
......
......
Tuoba Hong slept through the entire day, only waking again as night fell.
This time when he awoke, his eyes appeared much clearer, and he could manage a few brief words: "That... Xu... Chang... was him..."
Tuoba Wu quickly responded, "Elder Brother Crown Prince, don't speak. We already know—we caught Xu Chang red-handed. He committed suicide out of guilt when we captured him."
Tuoba Hong didn't seem surprised. His lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say more, but Tuoba Wu continued, "Elder Brother, the man is dead. We've found everything we needed. Don't dwell on this now—you mustn't strain yourself."
Since Tuoba Hong had already woken once, Qin Guan didn't need to remain constantly at his side. Upon hearing he was awake again, she came to check his pulse. After a moment, she said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. There's no need to trouble yourself with other matters now. You've just regained consciousness and need to eat and take medicine first. By tomorrow, your energy will be much restored—there will be time for questions then."
Qin Guan spoke with calm authority. As the one who had saved Tuoba Hong, whatever she said now went unquestioned.
Tuoba Hong's gaze rested on Qin Guan for a moment before he relaxed.
Tuoba Wu personally fed Tuoba Hong thick broth and medicinal soup. Soon, Tuoba Hong fell into a deep sleep again.
This second awakening further confirmed that his life was no longer in danger. Both Tuoba Wu and Tuoba Rui felt deeply grateful to Qin Guan. Tuoba Rui remarked, "Earlier, elder brother seemed to want to say something."
Tuoba Wu said, "It must have been about Xu Chang. Elder brother's arrow wound wasn't fatal—he clearly knew who harmed him. He probably just wanted to know Xu Chang's current whereabouts."
Given the nature of Tuoba Hong's injuries, he wouldn't have lost consciousness immediately. He likely witnessed Xu Chang's attempt to kill him and the application of bait to his body. Had Tuoba Hong awakened earlier, his testimony might have been crucial. Now that he woke later, his identification became less critical, though his immediate mention of Xu Chang confirmed they hadn't mistaken the culprit.
Qin Guan reassured them, "Your Highness and Princess need not worry. By this time tomorrow, the Crown Prince should be able to speak without difficulty. You can inform him of all subsequent details then."
Tuoba Wu promptly agreed. After changing Tuoba Hong's wound dressing, Qin Guan left the tent.
Outside, she heard military drums from the front square. With Xu Chang's guilt-ridden suicide and Tuoba Hong's recovery—aside from Liu Yun's displeasure over Fu Desheng's death—the camp atmosphere had cleared like after a storm. The square buzzed with the excitement of hunting season, complete with horse riding and troop inspections.
Without lingering, Qin Guan returned to the Empress Dowager's main tent.Another night passed, and early the next morning, a rather solemn farewell ceremony was held in the camp. Liu Yun intended to bring Fu Desheng's body back to Western Liang. Taking advantage of the weather not yet turning hot, he planned to have Fu Desheng's remains sent ahead first, while he himself would remain in Great Zhou until the hunt concluded and all matters were properly settled before returning.
After the ceremony, two rounds of archery competitions were held in the camp, which naturally reignited the enthusiasm of the young nobles. While the outside was bustling with excitement, Yan Li slipped away to the Empress Dowager's grand tent and refused to leave.
During the days when Qin Guan was busy with Tuoba Hong's illness, Yan Li had often visited the Empress Dowager, though he rarely crossed paths with Qin Guan. Now that Tuoba Hong had recovered and Qin Guan had returned to the Empress Dowager's side, Yan Li's visits coincided with her presence.
"What are these characters you're writing?"
Yan Li was coaxing Yan Sui. Though Yan Sui had always been close to Yan Li, at this moment, even he fell silent.
Yan Sui was using a water-dipped brush to write and draw on the table. He wrote with intense concentration, each horizontal and vertical stroke formed with care, yet Yan Li couldn't decipher what he was writing.
Qin Guan watched from the side, her heart stirring. Yan Sui enjoyed writing and drawing on the bluestone slabs in the Longevity and Health Palace, but he used only water instead of ink. His writing was already obscure, and the water traces dried quickly. Whether it was Qin Guan or Yan Li, whenever they tried to discern his writings, they found themselves at a loss—
"Little Nine, what exactly are you writing?"
Qin Guan approached, focusing only on the direction of Yan Sui's brushstrokes rather than the chaotic water marks on the table.
After watching for a while, Qin Guan felt Yan Sui's brush movements were disorderly—horizontal, vertical, sweeping, and pulling strokes all mixed together. He wrote as if drawing, paying no attention to stroke order. The more she watched, the more confused she became. But soon, she noticed Yan Sui repeatedly forming a few distinct strokes: three horizontals and one vertical. What character consisted of three horizontals and one vertical?
A light dawned in Qin Guan's eyes: "Wang"! Wasn't "Wang" exactly three horizontals and one vertical...
Yan Li was merely curious. Seeing that Yan Sui truly didn't wish to speak, he didn't press further. Besides, there was no need to insist on deciphering a child's scribbles—what could a little one possibly be writing that mattered so much?
But Qin Guan didn't dare overlook any detail. She had already suspected that the characters Yan Sui persistently wrote must be related to Consort Jin's death. Last time, she hadn't had the chance to see what he was writing. She thought there would be more opportunities in the camp, but then Tuoba Hong's incident occurred.
"Wang"... Prince Cheng? Prince Jin? Or perhaps the Crown Prince's former title, Prince Yong?
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