Seeing that Qin Guan was knowledgeable in medicine and had brought medicinal herbs, the middle-aged man showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. He scrutinized Qin Guan for a long moment before finally nodding.
"Alright, there are currently 132 people in the camp. Your prescription can be used tomorrow. For now, go outside and deliver the prepared medicinal soup." With that, the middle-aged man casually tossed a booklet over. Qin Guan opened it to find it contained the names of soldiers in the army, followed by their corresponding illnesses and medications.
Qin Guan nodded upon hearing this. "Very well, let's go deliver the medicine!"
Without another word, Qin Guan followed the instructions, which surprised the middle-aged man, though he said nothing more.
Qin Guan led Baiying and the others outside. Seeing two wooden buckets for medicine placed beside the large pot, she first ladled the medicinal broth into the buckets and then headed toward the nearby tents.
If the training ground was the place that best showcased the army's morale, then the infirmary for wounded soldiers was likely a scene of sheer cruelty. Upon entering the first medical tent, Qin Guan was struck by the stifling odor inside. The tent was damp and dim, and since the wounded soldiers had been bedridden for a long time, their bedding carried a musty smell. Combined with the sweat of grown men, the mingling odors of mildew and perspiration were truly uncomfortable. Yet, Qin Guan remained unfazed.
The soldiers, noticing that the person delivering medicine today had changed, grew curious. Especially upon seeing Qin Guan and Baiying, who both had delicate and refined features, they couldn't help but steal a few more glances. However, they seemed to sense that Qin Guan was no ordinary person, and no one dared to ask any questions.
Qin Guan delivered the medicine one by one. For those who looked particularly ill or pale, she checked their pulses, asked for their names, and recorded them. By the time the two large buckets of medicinal soup were emptied, even Baiying felt somewhat exhausted. Qin Guan rallied her spirits and said, "Let's continue—"
Zhong Yao and the others went back to fetch a fresh batch of medicinal soup, and Qin Guan led them to a new tent. They had only taken a few steps when three middle-aged men in military uniforms appeared. They were also carrying wooden buckets of medicine, seemingly returning from the two farthest tents. One of them held blood-stained cloth strips, as if he had just finished bandaging someone.
Suddenly encountering Qin Guan carrying a medicine bucket, the three men froze.
"Who... who are you? Why did General Chu send you to help in the medical tents?"
At this, another man waved his hand. "Judging by the young master's attire, you don't seem like an ordinary soldier. May I ask..."
Seeing that these men were not as irritable and rude as the middle-aged man, Baiying said, "This is the princess consort. She dressed this way for convenience."
Princess consort... Upon hearing this, the three men widened their eyes in astonishment.
"So... so it's the princess consort..."
As they spoke, they knelt to pay their respects. Qin Guan quickly said, "There's no need for formalities. As you can see, I'm here to help. Let's not waste any time."
Hearing this, the three men quickly stepped aside. Qin Guan then asked, "Are the three of you also physicians in the medical tents?"
The one who had spoken earlier hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, the three of us don't actually know medicine. We can barely recognize a few medicinal herbs and are just here to help. Right now, there's only one real physician here who can properly treat patients..."
Qin Guan thought of the middle-aged man from earlier. "The one in the medical tent?"
The three nodded, and another added, "Yes, that's Physician Xu."Qin Guan let out an "oh" and said no more as she headed toward the tents. The three men, who had originally been there to deliver medicine, saw that Qin Guan was taking over the task and felt it inappropriate to leave, so they waited outside. After delivering medicine to one tent and emerging, Qin Guan noticed the three still hadn’t left and said, “You may go about your own tasks.”
“We were also meant to deliver medicine, but with the princess consort assisting now, there’s no rush for us to return.”
Qin Guan glanced toward the farthest large tents. “Were you delivering medicine earlier as well?”
“Yes, several people are severely injured, and we change their dressings daily.”
Qin Guan frowned, signaling Zhong Yao and the others to proceed to the next medical tent, then asked, “What is Physician Xu’s given name? Was he originally an army doctor here?”
“Physician Xu’s given name is Xu Zi’ang. He wasn’t originally from our camp—seems he’s a distant relative of General Chu. He’s from Dingzhou and was summoned here by General Chu about half a year ago. Physician Xu’s medical skills are excellent…”
Half a year ago was right after the incident in Shuoxi. It appeared Chu Fei Sheng had called for Xu Zi’ang shortly after arriving.
Qin Guan nodded and continued delivering medicine and checking pulses, asking no further questions.
Once the medicine was delivered, Qin Guan led the group back to the medical tent. Just as they reached the entrance, they encountered Xu Zi’ang striding out. Seeing Qin Guan returning with the others, he roared, “What took so long! With so many people handling such a small task, how could it take this long—”
As he spoke, he picked up two bundles of medicinal herbs outside the tent.
Seeing Xu Zi’ang’s ferocious demeanor, the three men paled slightly. One hurriedly explained, “Physician Xu, perhaps… perhaps you aren’t aware…”
Xu Zi’ang glared at the speaker. “Enough nonsense! Hurry up and wash these two pots. We need to prepare another batch of medicine.”
With that, he carried the herbs into the tent. The man beside him gave Qin Guan an apologetic smile. “Please… please don’t take offense, Princess Consort. Physician Xu has this flaw, but he’s actually a good person…”
“Why are you still chattering outside instead of getting to work?!”
Before the man could finish, another roar came from inside the tent. The three hastily set about washing the pots and entering the tent.
Qin Guan smiled wryly at the scene and steeled herself to step inside. “Physician Xu, is there anything you need me to do?”
Xu Zi’ang was grinding herbs and, without ceremony, jerked his chin toward the two large bundles. “Chop all these herbs into fine pieces.”
Qin Guan nodded and rolled up her sleeves. Baiying moved to assist her, but Xu Zi’ang turned his gaze to Baiying and the other two. “You three, fetch water from the west to boil the medicine. Fill both pots.”
Baiying hesitated, but Qin Guan gave her a reassuring nod. Rarely showing reluctance, Baiying sighed in resignation as Qin Guan smiled faintly and turned away.
With a sigh, Baiying followed Zhong Yao and the others out.
Fetching water was strenuous work, and chopping herbs was equally exhausting. The other three tried several times to speak with Xu Zi’ang, but each attempt was met with a sharp rebuke. Thus, by the time the sun began to set, Xu Zi’ang still had no idea of Qin Guan’s identity.
As the sun dipped westward and Qin Guan had yet to eat lunch, Baiying grew increasingly anxious. Before long, Bai Feng arrived in person to check on them.
Qin Guan had not finished chopping the herbs and asked Bai Feng to wait, insisting on completing the task before leaving.Xu Zi'ang watched Qin Guan leave before snorting, "At least there's some semblance of competence."
The three others nearby could no longer hold back and crowded around Xu Zi'ang. "Physician Xu, do you know who that was?"
Xu Zi'ang snorted again, "No, but clearly some young master visiting. Wasn't it said that Prince Rui has arrived? Who came with him? Really, of all places to cause trouble, they had to come to my medical tent..."
The three exchanged glances, their eyes filled with utter helplessness.
"Physician Xu! That wasn't any young master - that was the princess consort! His Highness Prince Rui's new princess consort!"
Xu Zi'ang frowned deeply, "What? He wasn't..."
As if suddenly realizing something, Xu Zi'ang froze completely. "The new princess consort... Yongci County Princess?"
The three nodded in unison. The medicinal pestle in Xu Zi'ang's hand clattered to the ground.
When Qin Guan returned to the main tent, her right palm still ached slightly. The knife hadn't been easy to use - its handle had rubbed her palm raw. As she entered the tent, she saw Yan Chi waiting with a furrowed brow. Seeing her return, he immediately stood up. "What took so long..."
Qin Guan sighed with a wry smile, "Don't ask. Our Physician Xu is truly impartial - had me working for quite a while."
Hearing this, Yan Chi's brow furrowed deeper. "What happened?"
Qin Guan stretched her shoulders and wrists while vividly imitating Xu Zi'ang's irritable temper. Only then did Yan Chi understand what had occurred and sighed, "Perhaps you should..."
"No, don't try to persuade me. These tasks are nothing significant."
Qin Guan interrupted Yan Chi, "I can see he's genuinely exhausted. This morning I asked Baiying how many physicians are in camp - she said four or five. But I just learned that he's the only one who can actually treat patients. Probably his temper comes from being overworked and exhausted. Under these circumstances, how could I slack off?"
Yan Chi had no choice but to take Qin Guan's hand and massage her wrist while instructing Baiying to serve lunch. He then said, "I heard Chu Fei Sheng mention last night that unlike the main camp, the only physician here came from Dingzhou. He originally ran an apothecary in Dingzhou city but came here after receiving a letter from Chu Fei Sheng, and has stayed ever since."
Qin Guan clicked her tongue in surprise, "Dingzhou... that's quite an important city. Running an apothecary there should provide a comfortable living."
"Indeed, which makes him quite the unsung hero."
The camp had been established for over half a year with only one military physician supporting it - one could imagine how many soldiers Xu Zi'ang had saved.
Qin Guan hadn't minded Xu Zi'ang's foul temper much to begin with, but learning these details moved her deeply. After lunch, since troops would be deployed tomorrow, Yan Chi went to the strategy tent while Qin Guan took Baiying to the medical tent.
Upon entering, Qin Guan saw Xu Zi'ang cutting herbs. She smiled and asked, "Physician Xu, what would you have me do this afternoon?"
Xu Zi'ang looked at Qin Guan expressionlessly for a moment, then suddenly walked toward her holding his knife. Qin Guan had expected him to bark orders at her impatiently, but instead found him completely transformed - his face devoid of expression yet his eyes complex with emotion, staring straight at her. The sudden change made Qin Guan inexplicably uneasy...As Xu Zi'ang approached with a knife, his expression eerie, Baiying, standing nearby, immediately stepped forward to intervene. Yet just as she took a step, Xu Zi'ang, now three paces from Qin Guan, suddenly dropped to his knees with a "thud." This kneeling gesture left Qin Guan, Baiying, and the others utterly stunned.
Trembling, Xu Zi'ang looked at Qin Guan and stammered, "Prin... Princess Consort... I did not know your identity and have truly committed a grave offense..."
After her initial shock, Qin Guan nearly burst out laughing, but seeing Xu Zi'ang's genuine fear, she suppressed her amusement and asked, "Do you admit your fault?"
Xu Zi'ang bowed his head deeply. "I admit my fault..."
"Wherein lies your fault?"
"My fault lies in... my improper attitude toward the Princess Consort and in presuming to give you orders. I was wrong, and I will never dare do so again..."
That morning, Qin Guan had thought Xu Zi'ang hot-tempered and assumed he was a man of high integrity. She never expected him to react like this upon learning her identity. Qin Guan found herself torn between laughter and exasperation. Glancing at Baiying, she saw her smiling as well.
Qin Guan cleared her throat lightly. "Physician Xu, I prefer you as you were this morning. Please rise—the ground is cold."
Xu Zi'ang glanced up at Qin Guan, scrutinized her for a moment, and then mumbled as he stood up, "My eyes are dull; I failed to recognize your status. I will surely repent..."
Qin Guan couldn't help but chuckle. "Enough, Physician Xu. It's fine—I won't hold it against you. I can tell from your complexion that you haven't slept for days. It's natural to feel irritable under such circumstances. Physician Xu, why not leave this to me and get some proper rest?"
Xu Zi'ang dared not agree. Waving the knife frantically, he declined. Seeing this, Qin Guan sighed. "Very well, then. What should I do now?"
Xu Zi'ang shook his head hurriedly. "The Princess Consort need not do anything. Everything here is already finished..."
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow and turned to continue cutting herbs. But as soon as she reached the table, Xu Zi'ang swiftly gathered the herbs away. "No, no! The Princess Consort is far too noble for such tasks."
Qin Guan looked at him in surprise. "Physician Xu, you don't strike me as the fawning type. I am knowledgeable in medicine and genuinely wish to help. There's no need for this."
Xu Zi'ang flushed at her words, lowering his head and shrinking his shoulders in apparent embarrassment.
Qin Guan grew even more puzzled. "Physician Xu? What is the meaning of this..."
Xu Zi'ang lifted his gaze to study Qin Guan once more, then seemed to resolve himself. "His Highness is my great benefactor. How could I allow you to do such work!"
"Benefactor?" Qin Guan was bewildered.
Xu Zi'ang explained hastily, "Five years ago, my family was attacked by bandits on our way from Xilin to Dingzhou. His Highness and General Chu saved us. Afterward, His Highness even had General Chu escort my entire family back to Dingzhou. Such immense kindness—I could never forget it."
Qin Guan listened in astonishment. "He... saved you?"
Suddenly, everything became clear to Qin Guan. No wonder Xu Zi'ang had abandoned his apothecary in Dingzhou to become an army physician—the reason lay here.Xu Zi'ang kept nodding, "Yes, my family has over ten members. That day we nearly lost our lives to the mountain bandits. If not for His Highness, even if I had survived, I would be all alone now. So when General Chu wrote to me last year asking if I could find a few physicians to serve as army doctors, I came myself. Fearing others might not trust me, General Chu introduced me as his distant relative."
Qin Guan understood completely, warmth flooding her heart. It turned out there wasn't so much lofty righteousness involved—these were simply the fruits of Yan Chi's past kindness now bearing return. Had she not come to the Northwest Plateau, she would likely never have known these stories, and even Yan Chi himself had probably forgotten.
This vast Northwest Plateau was his second homeland, where thousands revered him and needed his protection.
Qin Guan's eyes sparkled, wishing she could return to the main tent right then to embrace her husband.
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