Yan Chi’s wound was on his shoulder and back. As Qin Wan leaned forward, she somewhat laboriously wrapped the cotton bandage around his chest. Though Yan Chi sat upright, her faint breath falling on his neck made his spine tingle.

Qin Wan efficiently wrapped three circles and tied a knot before stepping back. “Your Highness, the bandaging is complete. Please mind what I said earlier. Change the medicine every two days, and I’ll write another prescription for internal use.”

Hearing this, Yan Chi looked at Bai Feng, who immediately stepped forward and respectfully presented the sandalwood box with both hands.

Qin Wan looked at the box, hesitating to take it.

The sweat had dried from Yan Chi’s face as he put on his robe with swift, practiced movements, as if immune to pain.

“Take it. It’s not precious jewels,” Yan Chi said without looking at Qin Wan, his tone commanding.

Since Qin Wan was staying at the Marquis Manor, she wouldn’t mind compensation for treating Yan Chi, but how could she casually accept his belongings?

Yan Chi methodically fastened his collar. “Are we close enough that you won’t accept a doctor’s fee?”

At these words, Qin Wan raised an eyebrow. She had hesitated out of propriety, but if it would cause misunderstanding, what reason did she have not to accept? Having made up her mind, she reached out and took the box.

To her surprise, the box was much lighter than she had expected. It seemed Yan Chi had spoken truthfully, which made her feel more at ease accepting it. “Thank you, Your Highness. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Yan Chi gave a sound of acknowledgment, only looking out after Qin Wan’s figure had passed behind the screen. When she had left the room, Bai Feng immediately stepped forward and asked, “How is Your Highness’s injury?”

Yan Chi shook his head. “It’s fine. She’s more competent than the military doctors.”

Bai Feng pressed his lips together without speaking. It seemed this young medical prodigy truly lived up to her reputation.

After a pause, Yan Chi suddenly said in a meaningful tone, “Find all of Hua Ci’s surviving books. See if there’s the one the Ninth Young Lady mentioned.”

Bai Feng’s expression turned serious, and he hurriedly left to comply.

When Qin Wan came out, it was already late. Yue Qing, who had been standing at the front, immediately came forward.

“Ninth Young Lady, how is he? Why did it take so long…”

Qin Wan’s expression softened slightly as she looked toward Yue Qiong and the others. “Second Young Master, please don’t worry. Lord Marquis and Madam can rest assured. His Highness’s old wound was somewhat troublesome, which caused the delay, but everything has been taken care of now.”

Yue Qing let out a great sigh of relief and said ruefully, “Thank goodness. Otherwise, I would have caused another problem.”

Madam Jiang said irritably, “See if you’ll be so careless again!”

Yue Qing hung his head dejectedly. “I understand, Mother. I won’t spar with His Highness again.”

Madam Jiang shook her head and took Qin Wan’s hand. “It’s dark now. I’ll escort you directly back to Plum Garden. His Lordship is here, and you needn’t worry about Mother’s side.”

Qin Wan curtsied to Yue Qiong and followed Madam Jiang out.

Once outside, Madam Jiang said sympathetically, “Young Lord Yan has truly suffered too much at such a young age. Sent to the army at ten by Prince Rui—if it were me, I could never bear it.”

Qin Wan’s eyes darkened as she recalled the scars on Yan Chi’s back.

Madam Jiang sighed. “Though his status is noble, he’s still someone who makes one’s heart ache. He…”

Madam Jiang’s words broke off as if she had thought of something and swallowed what she was about to say. Her eyes turned to the box in Qin Wan’s hands. “Oh? What’s this?”

Qin Wan quickly explained, “His Highness gave it to me, saying it’s the doctor’s fee since I’ll need to continue treating his wound.”

Madam Jiang laughed. “This child, thinking to give you a fee himself. But whatever he’s given you must be good. You should keep it. Perhaps from staying in military camps so long, his nature has become quite straightforward.”

Qin Wan didn’t respond. Given the box’s weight, she really couldn’t guess what was inside.

Soon they reached the outside of Plum Garden, and Madam Jiang added, “Rest well tonight. We had planned for you to stay just two days, but with Mother’s condition as it is, if she hasn’t awakened by tomorrow, we may need you to stay a few more days.”

Healing wasn’t achieved in a day, so Qin Wan naturally nodded. “I understand. Princess Tai’s condition takes priority.”

Madam Jiang smiled with satisfaction, said a few more words, and then headed toward Princess Tai’s courtyard.

Once Madam Jiang left, Fu Ling looked at the box in Qin Wan’s hands and asked, “Young Lady, His Highness gave you this? What is it?”

Qin Wan glanced down at it and strode into Plum Garden. Only after entering the room and sitting in the warm parlor did she open the box. She too was curious about its contents. When she opened it, she froze.

Fu Ling had poured Qin Wan a cup of tea and turned to look, her face showing surprise. “What’s this?!”

The three-inch square box contained two items. The first to catch the eye was a dark cloth roll. Qin Wan had thought it was a handkerchief, but when she took it out and unfolded it, it turned out to be an incredibly soft, cleverly folded pair of protective gloves.

Fu Ling exclaimed, “Ah! Are these… for protecting hands?”

The gloves were made of extremely thin, polished deerskin, with the five fingers so perfectly fitted that the stitching was almost invisible. Qin Wan slipped them on, flexing and spreading her fingers. The warmth-generating sensation immediately filled her heart with a gentle warmth.

She had thought Yan Chi’s question that night was casual, but he had prepared these.

Deerskin was waterproof, completely different from the oilcloth or cotton gloves that coroners usually used. Yan Chi had said these weren’t precious jewels, but how could jewels compare to such thoughtfulness?

Qin Wan was lost in thought for a moment before looking at the other item in the box.

It was an exquisitely crafted sachet, also made of fine deerskin. Qin Wan removed the gloves and opened the sachet. With a slight shake, another cloth roll fell out.

Qin Wan frowned and spread out the cloth roll. In an instant, her eyes widened!

“Young Lady, what’s this? One, two, three, four… nine. Are these knives or needles?”

Qin Wan’s breath trembled, her eyes sparking with bright light, her clear stream-like eyes suddenly sharp as ink. The moon-white cloth roll was a needle case, holding nine orderly arranged implements that seemed neither needle nor knife. Each was forged from the finest steel. Though their shapes were strange, to Qin Wan’s eyes, they were more exciting than the finest jewels.

“For those who practice medicine, acupuncture is an essential skill. In the ancient text ‘Internal Classic,’ there is a chapter called ‘Needle Classic’ that specifically discusses acupuncture techniques and extraordinary points, particularly describing nine types of needles.”

“To do good work, one must first sharpen their tools. The same applies to medical practice. The nine needle types described in ‘Needle Classic’ are called the Nine Needles of Plain Questions: the Chan Needle, Round Needle, Sharp Needle, Spoon Needle, Sword Needle, Round Sharp Needle, Filiform Needle, Long Needle, and Big Needle. With these nine needles, one can treat all diseases in the world. However, the ‘Internal Classic’ was lost a hundred years ago, and the Nine Needles became a legend. Even the Medicine King Sun Xi’s lineage only has seven of the nine needles, which are their sect’s greatest treasure…”

Though Qin Wan had studied under Medicine King Sun Xi and was well-versed in medical knowledge, even she had never seen all nine needles. Now, Yan Chi had casually given them to her…

How could this be a doctor’s fee she could accept with peace of mind?

Qin Wan held the Nine Needles with surging emotions. Looking carefully, she noticed something unusual about their ends. She brought them close to her eyes for inspection and saw that each needle’s end was engraved with a tiny character: “Wan.”

Qin Wan froze something in her heart pricked by this tiny character, sprouting a confused, tingling sensation.

What did Yan Chi mean by this?

If it was truly just a doctor’s fee, why put in such thought?

But if not, then why…

The candlelight flickered in the room as Qin Wan’s face showed deep contemplation. Seeing her expression, Fu Ling dared not ask more questions and simply stood quietly beside her, though she too was shocked. Though she was new to medicine, just from Qin Wan’s words, she understood how precious these Nine Needles were.

Master and servant remained silent, with only the crackling of candles breaking the quiet. At some point, Qin Wan closed the needle case and stood up. “This is too precious. It must be returned.”

Fu Ling wanted to speak but held back. Qin Wan had already picked up her cloak, but just as she was about to cross the threshold, a piercing scream rang out. Qin Wan frowned and turned back to see Fu Ling fallen to the ground, face pale as she stared toward the back window.

Qin Wan looked intently in that direction. Through the half-closed back window, in the ink-black night, somehow there stood a woman in bright red wedding clothes…

And what had made Fu Ling scream was that the woman’s neck was empty, looking exactly like the dead Song Rou!