“Madam and Ninth Miss have arrived!”
At Yang Xi’s announcement, everyone in the room turned their gaze toward the entrance.
Though Yan Chi had come to offer congratulations in the capacity of a junior, his status as a Crown Prince was undeniably noble. Not even Jiang Shi dared to be careless, let alone Yue Qiong. By the time Qin Guan arrived, Yue Qiong, Yue Jia, Yue Ning, and Wei Yanzhi were all present.
Yue Qing hung his head as he approached. “Mother—”
Jiang Shi glared at him. “All you ever do is cause trouble!”
She then glanced around the room and, noticing Yue Qiong standing by the window, hurried over. “How is His Highness?”
Yue Qiong frowned slightly but did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Qin Guan, who had followed behind. “Ninth Miss, all the necessary items have been prepared. Please go into the inner chamber to examine the Crown Prince’s injuries.”
Jiang Shi’s heart sank, and Qin Guan’s expression turned grave.
Qin Guan curtsied. “As you wish, Qin Guan.”
Yue Qing quickly stepped forward. “Ninth Miss, this way, please—”
His face filled with guilt and remorse, Yue Qing led Qin Guan toward the inner chamber. This place was called Pine Garden, Yan Chi’s residence within the marquis’ estate, elegantly and luxuriously furnished. At the doorway, Yue Qing bowed deeply to Qin Guan. “Ninth Miss, His Highness has suffered new injuries atop old ones. Everything now depends on you.”
Qin Guan nodded but noticed Yue Qing did not enter. Yue Qing gave a bitter smile. “After His Highness was injured, only my father was allowed to see him. For some reason, Father forbade the rest of us from disturbing him. It must be quite serious…”
The more he spoke, the more his expression darkened. He had just escaped one disaster, never expecting Yan Chi would be hurt in the process!
Qin Guan nodded. With a creak, the door opened from inside. Bai Feng, his expression solemn, bowed respectfully. “Ninth Miss, the Crown Prince has been waiting for you. Please—”
A strange feeling stirred in Qin Guan’s heart as she prepared to step inside, but Bai Feng suddenly looked at Fuling behind her.
“Ninth Miss, the Crown Prince requests only you to enter.”
Qin Guan had intended to take Fuling with her whenever she practiced medicine, intending to teach her. Yet Bai Feng stopped Fuling at the door. To Qin Guan’s surprise, Fuling seemed relieved, as if avoiding Yan Chi was a great reprieve.
Qin Guan gave Fuling a reassuring glance before entering.
As soon as she stepped inside, Bai Feng closed the door behind her. A thoughtful glint flashed in Qin Guan’s eyes as she walked around the six-paneled landscape screen. After only a few steps, her brows furrowed.
The room was thick with the heavy scent of blood.
Rounding the screen, Qin Guan’s gaze immediately fell on the bed against the far wall.
Yan Chi, still fully dressed, reclined halfway against the headboard. Hearing her footsteps, he turned to look at her. His expression was grave, his gaze dark and inscrutable. His posture—ape arms and strong legs—exuded an intimidating aura that warned others to keep their distance. Were it not for the scent of blood, Qin Guan might have thought him uninjured.
Qin Guan strode forward, stopping at the bedside to study Yan Chi for a moment. “Your Highness, please turn around.”
Yan Chi raised a brow. “Ninth Miss is indeed perceptive.”
Qin Guan’s eyes swept over the tear on his shoulder. “The wound on Your Highness’s shoulder is bleeding but minor, likely caused by the Second Young Master. However, the heavy scent of blood suggests another injury. There’s no blood on Your Highness’s front or legs, and you’re currently supporting yourself with your lower back against the headboard. Most likely… the serious injury is on your back.”
The corner of Yan Chi’s lips curved upward. He sat up straight, his long fingers deftly loosening the front of his robe.Bai Feng stood guard at the door, leaving only Qin Guan and Yan Chi by the bedside. The room was so quiet one could hear a pin drop, with only the faint rustling of Yan Chi's clothes breaking the silence. As a grown man accustomed to the battlefield, he showed no discomfort undressing before Qin Guan. But for her—a young maiden who had likely never seen a man's bare body—it was another matter entirely.
"Your Highness seems to have difficulty moving. Let me assist."
Yan Chi paused mid-motion, his brow twitching almost imperceptibly.
Qin Guan rolled up her sleeves slightly and leaned forward to grasp his lapel. A faint smile flickered in Yan Chi's eyes as he obligingly turned around, revealing the damp stains clinging to his back.
He still wore the same luxurious black robe embroidered with golden qilin patterns from noon, but now large sections were soaked and stuck to his skin. Up close, the metallic tang of blood was nearly suffocating.
With careful yet efficient movements, Qin Guan helped remove his outer robe—then inhaled sharply despite herself.
Facing away from her, Yan Chi's gaze darkened at her reaction. "Describe what you see. No omissions."
Though his tone was calm, Qin Guan's expression grew solemn.
After a brief pause, she spoke: "Your Highness bears two wounds. The first is on your left shoulder—a one-inch sword wound with clean edges, deeper at the bottom than the top. The unclotted scab indicates it's recent. The second spans from your left scapula to right waist—a five-inch blade wound showing signs of repeated reopening, with reddish-brown scabs and festering inflammation. The deepest rupture is at the center, tapering at both ends. This injury is approximately half a month old—"
Her clinical assessment trailed off as she looked up to find Yan Chi had turned to face her. His eyes burned with an intensity like a predator baring its claws in the darkness. Qin Guan clenched her fists and straightened.
"Anything else?" Yan Chi's voice was icy as their gazes locked.
She lowered her eyes. "As a physician, that is all I can discern."
Yan Chi studied her for a long moment before finally turning away with a noncommittal hum.
The tension lifted like a blade withdrawn. Qin Guan exhaled and began gathering medical supplies to clean his wounds, though her pulse raced with unease.
Criminals had motives; ordinary actions had causes.
Yue Qiong's grave expression and refusal to let Yue Qing visit—did he know how severe Yan Chi's injuries were?
But half a month ago, Yan Chi was en route to Jinzhou. Who could have inflicted such damage?
Having enlisted at age ten, Yan Chi had twelve years of military glory. Many said the Northwest Frontier Army's 100,000 troops had found their worthy successor in Prince Rui's heir. So why had he suddenly returned to the capital? And why was the Emperor sending him with congratulations?
Physicians could revive the dead and regenerate bones, but against political machinations, Qin Guan felt powerless as a speck of dust. The conflicts among these lofty powerholders were beyond her understanding—her only wish was to return to the capital soon.
"Do you know former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Shen Yi?"
The sudden question made Qin Guan's heart leap.
"Not personally. I've only chanced upon his writings."Yan Chi turned his head, his gaze deep as an abyss. "So those skills of dissection and case-solving, you only learned them from Shen Yi's writings?"
Qin Guan's heart tightened, and she immediately became extremely vigilant.
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