“You could say that, but regarding Prince Ning’s legs, I checked his pulse earlier. We need to first eliminate the chronic ailments in his body for the treatment to be effective. Unfortunately, I’m injured now. Here’s what we’ll do—come back tomorrow night at this time, preferably with a carriage to the back gate of the Marquis’s residence. I’ll personally use acupuncture to unblock his meridians and prescribe some medicine. Once his body is properly nourished, treating his legs won’t be an issue.”
Qingfeng’s eyes were full of anticipation, thinking that everything he said was for Prince Ning’s benefit. She wasn’t one to meddle, but considering Prince Ning’s feelings for her, she decided to help him.
Wanqing didn’t hide anything as she looked at him, her delicate face adorned with a faint, confident smile.
“Alright, I’ll come find you tomorrow. But what about that woman…?”
At Wanqing’s words, Qingfeng nodded gratefully, though she couldn’t help but feel troubled thinking about Hongyan, whom Leng Mingye had stationed in her courtyard.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t afraid of her? Why are you scared now?”
Seeing his reaction, Wanqing couldn’t resist teasing him with a playful question.
“Since when have I ever been afraid of her? If we really fought, who knows who’d win? But the master instructed that since you asked us to come alone, you don’t want the Young Master’s people to find out, right?”
Qingfeng’s straightforward question made Wanqing’s handsome face flush slightly with embarrassment. He scratched his head and looked at her.
“Well, thank you for Prince Ning’s thoughtfulness. I’ll handle her. Actually, you look really nice when you smile, and when you blush, you seem like a big boy. Why do you always keep such a stern face? You seem like a little old man.”
Thinking of Prince Ning’s attentiveness and care, Wanqing nodded and thanked him again. Seeing Qingfeng’s expression toward her, she couldn’t help but tease him about his usual aloofness.
“I’m not a little old man! I just turned twenty, and I’m not even married yet. I—I’m leaving.” Qingfeng huffed in response, but as soon as he realized what he’d said, his face turned even redder. With that, he turned and vanished out the window.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Not long after Qingfeng left, Wanqing had just lain down when she heard a faint sound from the window. Opening her eyes, she saw Hongyan standing before her with a look of frustration. The woman’s eyes darted over her anxiously.
“I’m fine. What happened? Hongyan, how did you get into my room?”
Wanqing pretended to be surprised, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her uninjured hand and glancing at the still-latched door in confusion.
“I came through the window. There was a black-clad intruder in the courtyard earlier, but I lost him after chasing him for a while. I’m glad you’re unharmed. Rest well.”
Hongyan panted slightly as she spoke, clearly annoyed at having lost the intruder. With a flicker of movement, she disappeared through the window again with another soft *clink*.
“Sigh, refusing to use the door and insisting on climbing through windows—truly a disciple of the Young Master.”
Shaking her head at Hongyan’s antics, Wanqing lay back down to sleep.
The next day, due to her injuries, Wanqing was left undisturbed in the Bamboo Fragrance Courtyard, with only Chunhong and Hongyan attending to her.
She thought the day would pass quietly, but that afternoon, Sun Fengyu arrived again, this time bringing a large assortment of rare medicinal herbs, tonics, and even some trinkets.
“Since Brother Sun has come to see Qing’er with such sincerity, I’ll forgive your earlier harsh words and won’t hold a grudge. I’ll accept these gifts too. If there’s nothing else, you should head back soon—I’m rather tired.”
Looking at Sun Fengyu’s face, still smeared with ointment and slightly disheveled, Wanqing inwardly scoffed at his cowardice—unable to even stand by his promises in front of Prince Ning and Leng Mingye.
Outwardly, however, she feigned delight and instructed Chunhong to take the gifts.
Seeing Sun Fengyu shamelessly sit by her bedside after she accepted his offerings, Wanqing couldn’t help but recall the way he and Mu Wanxia had exchanged glances, as well as his past disdain for her.
No longer willing to entertain him, she gave him an apologetic look, closed her eyes, and fell silent.
“I know you need rest to recover from your injuries. But Brother Sun genuinely wants to keep you company. Qing’er, are you still angry with me?”
Wanqing’s indifference stung. Remembering how his attempts to please her the previous day had ended with him being beaten by Prince Ning, Sun Fengyu suppressed his disgust and forced a concerned smile, inching closer to her.
“Brother Sun visiting Qing’er truly makes me happy. But my injuries are severe—even moving takes effort. The physician insisted I rest. If you watch me sleep like this, it’s embarrassing. You should go back first. Come see me again when I’m better.”
Though inwardly revolted by Sun Fengyu’s words and demeanor, Wanqing maintained a helpless expression, even batting her eyelashes at him coyly—though the gesture nearly made her gag.
“Very well, I’ll visit again tomorrow. Take care of yourself. Once you’re better, I’ll take you out.”
The coquettish glance she threw his way made his stomach churn, especially when compared to the grace of the woman he truly admired. Clenching his fists to suppress the urge to vomit, he forced a stiff, almost grotesque smile before hastily taking his leave.
“Absolutely ridiculous. Are you torturing yourself or trying to disgust me? What could I possibly have that he’d covet? Aside from my clothes, I own nothing of value. Unless… the hairpin? Chunhong—!”
Sun Fengyu’s blatant pretense of concern despite his obvious revulsion puzzled Wanqing. As she watched him leave, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.
Pondering what valuables she possessed—aside from the thousand taels of silver she’d reclaimed from Madam Liu—she suddenly recalled the iron box Chunhong had retrieved from under her bed when they moved.
“Miss…?” Chunhong approached at her call.
“That box Grandmother Liu left me—the hairpin and the cloth it was wrapped in. Bring them to me.”
Worried Hongyan might be eavesdropping, Wanqing pulled Chunhong close and whispered her request.
“Miss, why do you need those? Fine, I’ll fetch them. Honestly, what’s so special about that hairpin? I thought Grandmother Liu would leave us something valuable, but it’s just this. Here—Miss, what are you doing? You’re not fully healed yet! If you keep pushing yourself, you’ll never recover!”
Grumbling, Chunhong handed over the hairpin and cloth, only to gasp as Wanqing got out of bed. She rushed to support her, scolding all the while.
“Such a nag—you’re not even old yet! I’ve been lying down for days. Can’t I sit up for a bit? What’s so strange about this hairpin? Chunhong, do you see anything unusual? Hmm… there’s a weird smell. Chunhong, fetch me a basin of clean water. Quickly.”
Sitting at the table, Wanqing examined the hairpin closely. It appeared ordinary, save for some reddish, rust-like residue with a strange stickiness.
When Chunhong only looked confused, Wanqing brought the hairpin to her nose. Though faint, she detected a trace of blood. The realization sent a chill down her spine.
“Chunhong, hurry!”
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