Qin Wan and the Empress Dowager exchanged glances. Before Qin Wan could speak, the Empress Dowager asked with a smile, “Is the Princess feeling unwell somewhere?”
Hearing this, Tuoba Wu laughed, “It’s not that I’m unwell. Once Miss Nine arrives, you’ll understand.”
Tuoba Wu seemed to be purposely creating suspense. The Empress Dowager smiled, “Wan’er is not a palace physician. Treating my ailments isn’t her duty. If someone in your entourage is ill, I can summon the traveling imperial physicians for you.”
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Wu sighed, “I’m afraid even the best imperial physicians couldn’t help. I can only place my hopes on Miss Nine.” After a brief pause, Tuoba Wu continued, “There’s a saying in Great Zhou that saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I hope Miss Nine can lend her assistance, and I request the Empress Dowager’s permission. If Miss Nine can cure the illness, I will certainly reward her generously.”
Tuoba Wu spoke as if it were truly serious, making the Empress Dowager hesitate. Since Tuoba Wu was the Princess of Northern Wei, asking Qin Wan to help examine a patient wasn’t inappropriate. The Empress Dowager looked toward Qin Wan and asked, “Nine’er?”
The Empress Dowager’s question indicated she had already agreed in her heart. Qin Wan understood this and smiled, “Then I’ll give it a try.”
The Empress Dowager smiled at these words, and Tuoba Wu appeared quite satisfied. Seeing Tuoba Wu’s reaction, Qin Wan’s suspicions deepened.
This was the Great Zhou military camp, and Tuoba Wu certainly wouldn’t dare do anything excessive. That’s why Qin Wan had agreed. If someone truly needed her medical treatment, she wouldn’t mind helping. If there were any tricks, she wanted to see exactly what kind of medicine this Princess was selling in her gourd.
“Thank you, Empress Dowager. Miss Nine truly lives up to her reputation – she has the heart of a Bodhisattva.”
After Tuoba Wu expressed her gratitude, Qin Wan smiled, “When would the Princess like me to treat the patient?”
Tuoba Wu stood up, “Naturally, now would be best.”
Since Qin Wan had nothing else to do, she didn’t object. She looked toward the Empress Dowager, who curved her lips in a smile, “Very well, go ahead. Come back quickly though – later, I still want you to massage my shoulders and neck. I had trouble sleeping again last night.”
Since the Empress Dowager had spoken thus, Tuoba Wu smiled and said, “Rest assured, Empress Dowager, it won’t take much time.”
The Empress Dowager took these words as a promise and nodded with satisfaction.
Qin Wan brought Bai Ying along and followed Tuoba Wu out. Upon leaving the main tent, Qin Wan was surprised to find four horses waiting outside. Tuoba Wu had come on horseback. Looking at the four horses, Tuoba Wu smiled, “I went for a run at the horse grounds this morning. If nothing else, the camp’s racecourse is quite impressive – it was an exhilarating ride.”
Qin Wan had seen Tuoba Wu’s sword dance before and knew she was martial arts-inclined. Hearing this, she felt some admiration – Yue Ning was also someone who never slacked off. Qin Wan asked, “Where is the person the Princess wants me to treat?”
Tuoba Wu smiled and lifted her chin, “Can Miss Nine ride? I’ve prepared a horse for you.”
Qin Wan raised an eyebrow, “Ride? Could it be that the person the Princess wants me to treat is at the horse grounds?”
Since Tuoba Wu said she had gone riding before coming here, perhaps someone had been injured during the morning horse run.
Tuoba Wu smiled, “Miss Nine is indeed clever.”
So the person she was to treat was at the horse grounds! Although Tuoba Wu hadn’t given details, Qin Wan did know how to ride.
Thus, Qin Wan nodded, “Of course I can ride.”
Tuoba Wu’s eyes lit up slightly, “Miss Nine appears so delicate and weak, yet unexpectedly knows how to ride. From what I know, most women of Great Zhou are so fragile they can’t lift their hands – is Miss Nine truly able to ride?”
There was a faint sense of superiority in Tuoba Wu’s tone. Qin Wan frowned, “The women of Great Zhou follow the principles of poetry, literature, and etiquette. While they may appear gentle and elegant, they are not truly weak and easily bullied.”
Tuoba Wu raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Well then, let me see Miss Nine’s horsemanship.”
As she spoke, she mounted a chestnut-colored horse. Her maid mounted a black horse. Of the remaining two horses, one was snow-white and the other dark brown. The snow-white horse wasn’t as tall as the dark brown one. Seeing this, Bai Ying immediately went forward to lead the white horse, “Young Miss, please—”
Qin Wan understood Bai Ying’s intention. Bai Ying wasn’t confident in her riding skills, so she gave her the smaller horse.
Qin Wan sighed – she did know how to ride.
Thinking this, Qin Wan still mounted the white horse, while Bai Ying mounted the dark brown one.
Seeing Qin Wan’s mounting posture was quite skilled, Tuoba Wu smiled, “Unexpectedly, Miss Nine isn’t as weak and delicate as she appears…”
Hearing these words, Qin Wan felt they contained hidden barbs. She smiled and said, “Where is the person? Please lead the way, Princess.”
Tuoba Wu smiled and immediately dropped her horsewhip. However, since they were still within the main camp, her horse’s speed wasn’t particularly fast. Meanwhile, Qin Wan patted her horse’s head, and seeing the horse was quite obedient, she immediately guided it to follow. Bai Ying remained at the rear, her gaze never leaving Qin Wan for a moment.
The four rode past the square, following the camp’s main road toward the downstream horse grounds.
The hunting camp was enclosed by marked territory, but the horse grounds had no restrictions. The stables were at the furthest downstream point, with carriages next to them. The entire area of five li was enclosed, creating a natural green plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. As Tuoba Wu had said, it was indeed an excellent racetrack.
Qin Wan sat steadily on horseback. It had been nearly half a year since she had last ridden. However, her riding skills had been taught by her father. In earlier years, before entering the capital city, when there weren’t so many noble ladies’ rules constraining her, Qin Wan’s horsemanship had been superior. Although she was somewhat rusty now, she quickly adapted. Moreover, the horse beneath her was gentle and obedient. She rode from the square eastward very smoothly.
Bai Ying was worried at first, but seeing Qin Wan’s composed and steady horsemanship, her heart settled. Today, Qin Wan wore a snow-white narrow-sleeved dress, and as she rode, she looked quite graceful and beautiful.
Tuoba Wu had been riding in front, but soon she slowed her pace, seemingly wanting to talk with Qin Wan, “Miss Nine possesses extraordinary beauty and has earned the Empress Dowager’s love. Have you thought about where you might marry in the future?”
Seeing Qin Wan’s surprised expression, Tuoba Wu smiled, “I’m direct by nature. Please don’t think me presumptuous, Miss Nine.”
Qin Wan remained composed, “My three elder sisters’ marriages aren’t yet settled. I haven’t thought about such matters.”
Tuoba Wu smiled, “Of your three elder sisters, the eldest is already engaged, and of the other two, one presumably has plans, while one is already the designated Crown Princess candidate. They will surely marry within this year. When that time comes, with your sister as Crown Princess, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to marry other princes.”
Qin Wan grew more vigilant in her heart. If Tuoba Wu merely wanted her help with medical treatment, how did she know so much about the Marquis’s household? Knowing about Qin Chaoyu was one thing, but she even knew about Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang’s situations.
“Even so, that’s next year’s matter.”
Qin Wan spoke while noting they were approaching the horse grounds, “Where is the person the Princess wants me to treat?”
Tuoba Wu smiled and suddenly increased her speed. Qin Wan’s suspicions grew deeper. Her beautiful eyes narrowed as she quickened her pace to follow, galloping into the horse grounds.
At this early hour, no one was racing at the grounds. Only soldiers guarded the distant stables.
Given Tuoba Wu’s noble status, they passed through unimpeded. Qin Wan’s status was also not low, so naturally, no one came forward to block or disturb them.
However, the complete absence of carriages was quite strange. Qin Wan reined in her horse and frowned, “Princess, where is the person you want me to treat?”
Tuoba Wu stopped four or five zhang ahead of Qin Wan, turned back, and smiled, “Who said the one I want you to treat is a person?”
Hearing this, Qin Wan immediately raised her eyebrows. Tuoba Wu continued smiling, “What I want you to treat is right under you—”
Qin Wan frowned and looked down, seeing the white horse’s head. She immediately felt displeased, “You want me to treat a horse?”
Tuoba Wu smiled and nodded, “Yes, all beings are equal. Since Miss Nine can treat people, why can’t she treat horses?”
Qin Wan felt somewhat angry – had Tuoba Wu concealed this just to make fun of her?
Taking a deep breath, Qin Wan suppressed her displeasure.
Since Tuoba Wu was the Princess of Northern Wei, even if she intended to mock her, as long as it wasn’t excessive, there wasn’t much Qin Wan could say. So she lowered her head to pat the white horse’s head and asked, “It seems so well-behaved, what illness does it have?”
Qin Wan wasn’t a veterinarian and wasn’t familiar with animal ailments, so naturally, she couldn’t spot any problems at a glance. After she spoke, Tuoba Wu suddenly smiled mysteriously, “Ah, this one appears well-behaved normally, but it has one problem – when it encounters someone it doesn’t like, it suddenly goes mad—”
Qin Wan frowned, instinctively sensing something was wrong. Before she could speak, she suddenly heard a loud whistle – it was Tuoba Wu! As soon as the whistle ended, the previously calm and docile white horse beneath Qin Wan suddenly reared up violently!
The white horse raised its hooves high, appearing almost vertical. Bai Ying watched in alarm from behind and tried to rush forward, but Tuoba Wu’s maid suddenly blocked her path. Bai Ying bit her silver teeth – Tuoba Wu had done this deliberately!
The change came too suddenly. Qin Wan yanked the reins tight, but she still nearly got thrown off! In the urgency of the moment, Qin Wan’s glancing eye caught sight of Bai Ying being blocked behind her. Looking up again, she saw Tuoba Wu watching the scene with composure. Her whistle was intentional, and provoking the horse’s agitation was also intentional!
Qin Wan had thought this was just Tuoba Wu’s prank, but she hadn’t expected this was only the beginning. The horse beneath her seemed to suddenly transform. After rearing up, it immediately charged forward violently. Qin Wan lay low against the horse’s back, using all her strength to try to rein in the horse. However, the more she pulled, the more wildly it ran. Her entire body was nearly jolted off the horse’s back. She knew deeply that if she rolled off now, at best she’d be injured, at worst, she’d either die from the fall or be trampled to death by the horse! Tuoba Wu! What was she doing?!
While Qin Wan pulled at the reins, she heard hoofbeats catching up. Tuoba Wu cheered happily twice, seemingly stimulating the horse to run even faster. Qin Wan felt her body being jolted to pieces, her legs aching terribly from the friction. If her feet slipped from the stirrups, her whole body would be thrown off!
“Young Miss—”
Bai Ying’s voice was hoarse with desperation. Worse still, Tuoba Wu’s maid knew martial arts. Though not as skilled as Bai Ying, she could keep Bai Ying occupied. In these brief moments, the white horse had already carried Qin Wan far away!
The scenery on both sides retreated at lightning speed. Qin Wan had never encountered such an explosive and frenzied horse. For a moment, she had no idea how to handle the situation. She wasn’t an expert horse trainer, nor did she have that kind of strength. Tuoba Wu had targeted her specifically, using the excuse of medical treatment to lure her into this trap, then arranging for her to ride a horse that appeared docile but could obey her commands to go mad. Through this deception, she intended to either seriously injure or kill Qin Wan!
Qin Wan felt she had no grudge or enmity with Tuoba Wu and truly didn’t understand why she would do this!
Thinking it over, Qin Wan could only think of one possibility – Yan Chi!
At this thought, Qin Wan grew even more angry. Regardless of the reason, what right did Tuoba Wu have to set such a trap?! This was a trap that could cost her life! This Tuoba Wu was outrageous!
Frowning fiercely, Qin Wan held the reins with one hand while slightly loosening the other. A cold glint flashed from her fingertips, and in the next moment, she suddenly raised her hand and forcefully plunged the Cold Moon dagger into the white horse’s neck!
The Cold Moon blade cut through iron like mud. Qin Wan stabbed with all her might, burying almost the entire handle into the side of the white horse’s neck. Everyone knew she could save lives, but no one had witnessed her killing intent before. In such a life-or-death moment, she wouldn’t even fear killing a person, let alone a mad horse! Anger boiled in Qin Wan’s heart, every part of her body ached from the jolting, and her hands felt as if they would be torn off by the horse’s head. However, when she made this strike, Qin Wan knew she had succeeded!
The white horse received a fatal blow but didn’t stop immediately. Due to the intense pain, it even ran forward more violently for a few steps. However, after those steps, blood gushed from the white horse’s neck, and its speed quickly decreased. After a few more steps, it finally staggered and collapsed. As it fell, Qin Wan used her last bit of strength to roll off the horse’s back first.
Qin Wan lay on her back on the green grass. Beside her, the white horse let out a mournful cry before bleeding out and breathing its last.
Qin Wan turned her head to look, her eyes faintly reddened. Since her rebirth, even though she had faced much cold treatment and life-threatening situations, this was the first time someone had attempted murder so openly and brazenly!
Qin Wan’s hair had come undone from the jolting, her clothes were wrinkled beyond recognition, and her sleeve sachet had fallen out completely when she rolled off the horse. Her hands and legs were trembling, and she didn’t even have the strength to stand up. She looked extremely disheveled, but her clear eyes were filled with anger. Tuoba Wu! What a piece of work, this Tuoba Wu!
After catching her breath rapidly, Qin Wan looked up and saw that the white horse’s speed had left Tuoba Wu and the others far behind. Seeing the white horse fall with her, Tuoba Wu rode toward them in disbelief, while Bai Ying had finally broken free from the maid and was rushing over. Qin Wan narrowed her eyes and took several deep breaths, finally recovering somewhat from her weakness after losing her strength.
“Young Miss! Young Miss, are you alright?!”
Bai Ying rushed over in great alarm. Qin Wan gripped her hand and shook her head.
Bai Ying’s eyes reddened, nearly crying. Only when she saw no obvious serious injuries on Qin Wan did she relax slightly. Then she suddenly turned and glared hatefully at Tuoba Wu, who was riding over.
However, Qin Wan pulled Bai Ying. Her hand was injured from the force and the Cold Moon blade, with a cut now bleeding. A cold light flashed in her eyes as she reached for her medicine pouch.
Meanwhile, Tuoba Wu reined in her horse in disbelief, looking at Qin Wan and then at the fallen white horse. She immediately shouted angrily, “You killed my horse! How dare you! Do you know this was my favorite horse?!”
Though still exhausted, Qin Wan gripped her knife and gestured for Bai Ying to help her up.
She slowly rose and walked step by step toward Tuoba Wu. Seeing Qin Wan’s drastically changed expression – the usually gentle person now showing traces of killing intent – Tuoba Wu became somewhat nervous, “You- what are you doing?!”
Qin Wan held the dagger in one hand, white horse blood still dripping from its blade, while her white dress hem was stained with large patches of blood from when she had fallen. This version of Qin Wan was completely different from her usual elegant and refined self. Though disheveled, she appeared wild and bewitching, with a coldness that chilled people to the bone!
Tuoba Wu unconsciously gripped her reins tighter, wanting to retreat but feeling it would show weakness. She thrust out her chest and demanded, “What are you doing?!”
Qin Wan walked to the front of Tuoba Wu’s horse. She raised her hand, waving the bloody knife in front of Tuoba Wu’s horse. The blood startled the horse, making it shrink back immediately. Tuoba Wu’s eyes widened as she turned her horse’s head to retreat two steps to the side. Meanwhile, Qin Wan gave her a cold look and asked, “Your Highness, was that fun?”
Tuoba Wu felt nervous but forced herself to say, “I was just joking with you. Didn’t you say you could ride?” Then she added coldly, “I was just joking with you, but you killed my horse. I will take this matter to the Emperor!”
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly, “Since the Princess thinks it’s fun, why don’t I share a joke with the Princess as well?”
Tuoba Wu raised an eyebrow, not understanding Qin Wan’s meaning for a moment. However, as soon as this thought crossed her mind, her perfectly fine horse suddenly reared up and began galloping wildly…
Qin Wan stood in place, tightly gripping the still-bleeding Cold Moon blade.