Yue Qing froze as he watched Yan Chi's deliberate movements. A stiff smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Your Highness, this is..."
Yan Chi fastened the last button of his collar unhurriedly. "The wound on my back hasn't fully healed yet."
His answer was brief, and Yue Qing's lips twitched, knowing it was inappropriate to press further—especially since Yan Chi's back injury was his own doing. Though Yue Qing accepted this explanation, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Fortunately, spotting the medicine bottle in Qin Guan's hand allowed him to exhale in relief. "The carriage is cramped. If Your Highness is uncomfortable, perhaps Ninth Miss could examine you once we board the boat at Lishui Lake?"
Yan Chi shook his head. "Ninth Miss's medical skills are exceptional. It's bearable for now."
Then, he turned to Qin Guan. "The Grand Princess is waiting for you outside."
Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat. When Yan Chi mentioned the Grand Princess was waiting, she had assumed it was by Lishui Lake. Yet here they were, halted on the main street of the city. Marquis Anyang Manor lay in the west, Qin Manor in the east, while their destination, Lishui Lake, was in the south. Since the Yue family had invited Qin Guan, they had arranged to pick her up along the way, stopping at the widest central thoroughfare of Jinzhou. But when Yue Qing lifted the carriage curtain, no one expected to witness such a scene.
Qin Guan stepped out of the carriage and approached the Grand Princess, offering a graceful bow.
Jiang Shi and Yue Qiong were present, with Yue Ning supporting the Grand Princess. Yue Jia and Wei Yanzhi stood nearby as well. The entire group exuded an air of nobility, their refined attire drawing frequent glances from passersby.
The Grand Princess immediately pulled Qin Guan to her feet. "Originally, Ning'er was supposed to fetch you, but this old woman suddenly felt like stretching her legs. With only Jing Shu and Ning'er to accompany me, I had to send Xiao Qi to bring you instead. How is his injury?"
Qin Guan sensed something odd but kept her expression neutral. "It's already beginning to heal. There's no need for Your Highness to worry. However, your own wound hasn't fully recovered yet—please take care today."
The Grand Princess coughed lightly. "Don't worry, I know. But today's blessing ceremony is something I couldn't bear to miss. Who knows how many more Mid-Autumn Festivals I'll see in Jinzhou? Today, I'm indulging myself."
She tightened her grip on Qin Guan's hand. "Come, ride with me and Ning'er. The three of us together."
Yue Ning was already assisting the Grand Princess, so Qin Guan stepped forward to support her as well. Along the street, four or five large carriages bearing the Marquis Anyang Manor insignia stood waiting. The Grand Princess led Yue Ning and Qin Guan into the first carriage, while the others boarded the remaining ones. The procession set off, wheels rolling as the carriages moved in an impressive line toward Lishui Lake.
Inside the carriage, the Grand Princess held Qin Guan's hand and asked, "Is Xiao Qi's injury truly not serious?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Yes, His Highness's wound has begun to heal. Because I used a potent medicine, it's causing significant itching. Earlier, when I asked, His Highness admitted the discomfort. I worried there might be an issue with the treatment, so I examined him in the carriage. Rest assured, Grand Princess, my medicine will accelerate the healing. His Highness will recover soon."
A thoughtful glint flickered in the Grand Princess's eyes. Yue Ning snorted. "Didn't you say he's endured many injuries before? If so, why can't he tolerate a little itching now?"Due to the discovery of the left-handedness, Yue Ning's suspicion towards Yan Chi never dissipated. In front of the Grand Princess, she made no attempt to hide it either. Qin Guan gave a wry smile, "Perhaps there were no physicians in the military before. Now that there is one, it's only natural to speak plainly."
Yue Ning raised an eyebrow but remained silent, while the Grand Princess smiled warmly. "Xiao Qi suffered greatly in the past. The Shuo Xi region is the harshest place in all of Great Zhou. His father endured hardships, but to send him there as well... Back then, I tried to dissuade them once, but it was no use. Now that he's come to Jinzhou, we must take good care of him."
As she spoke, the Grand Princess took Qin Guan's hand. "I’ve heard that Xiao Qi dislikes others prescribing medicine or examining him, but now it seems Guan'er can handle him. Today, I owe Guan'er an even greater debt!"
Qin Guan modestly declined the praise, but her mind wandered to the twisted, fierce scars on Yan Chi's body—some from blades, others from swords, all unusually large, clearly untreated properly from the start. She had initially assumed it was due to a lack of medical expertise around him whenever he was injured. But now, hearing the Grand Princess's words, she realized the truth.
Lack of medical resources was one thing, but the other reason was likely his genuine aversion to seeking treatment.
Yue Ning raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I’ve also heard that His Highness Yan Chi has quite a fearsome reputation in the west, though he hasn’t shown it here in Jinzhou. If he truly detests medical treatment, why did he let Qin Guan tend to his wounds?"
The Grand Princess's smile remained warm, but her eyes darkened slightly.
Qin Guan frowned slightly. "If His Highness’s current injury isn’t treated, it will damage his organs and leave lasting harm..."
The implication was clear—Yan Chi had only allowed Qin Guan to treat him because his injury had reached a critical point.
Yue Ning, ever direct, lifted her chin and said bluntly, "I think you trust His Highness Yan Chi a great deal, and he... seems to treat you differently as well."
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