Yan Ze quickly withdrew his hand after touching the top of Qin Wan’s head, looking like an older brother comparing his sister’s height. Qin Wan was startled into laughter. “Yue Ning is unusually tall among women, so naturally I’m shorter than her.”
Yan Ze said, “Ning’er has practiced martial arts since childhood. I imagine the Princess doesn’t excel at such things.”
Qin Wan laughed, “Indeed I don’t. I’m too weak to tie up a chicken. If I had the Princess’s martial skills, I would have become a wandering doctor healing people across the land.”
Looking outside, she asked, “Has Doctor Sun not arrived yet?”
Yan Ze called for Chen Xiang, who had gone to fetch Sun Muqing. Coming from his side courtyard, Sun Muqing soon arrived at the flower hall. Seeing Qin Wan, he appeared very happy. “I’ve kept Your Highness and the Princess waiting.”
Yan Ze smiled and shook his head. They went into the inner chamber, where Yan Ze lay down as before. They first used medicinal soup to moisten the medicine cloth, applying it to Yan Ze for the time it took an incense stick to burn before beginning acupuncture. This wasn’t Qin Wan’s first time treating Yan Ze, so she proceeded smoothly, soon having him lie down to rest.
Qin Wan closed the door and went to the outer chamber to speak with Sun Muqing.
Sun Muqing looked very pleased. “Princess, do you know of any good craftsmen in the capital who build houses?”
Qin Wan raised her eyebrows. “House-building craftsmen?”
Sun Muqing nodded. “Yes, I recently bought a property and want to renovate and rebuild it.”
Qin Wan was puzzled. “Why renovate and rebuild? Is the house you bought very old?”
Sun Muqing nodded. “Yes, it’s not suitable for living. So I plan to find craftsmen to rebuild it. That way, I’ll have a place to stay when I’m in the capital.”
Qin Wan didn’t suspect anything, as Sun Muqing’s actions seemed quite reasonable. After thinking for a moment without any ideas, she said, “I’m not very knowledgeable about this, but I can help you look into it.”
Qin Wan thought of asking Old Master Han for help, as he would certainly be skilled at such matters.
Sun Muqing’s eyes brightened. “That would be wonderful, thank you, Princess.”
Qin Wan thought for a moment, went to get paper and brush, and wrote down an address. “At this address is one of my small houses, where my father’s old steward lives. I’ll send word ahead – whenever you want to find someone, just go there and he’ll help arrange everything.”
Sun Muqing took the paper and looked at it, his brow suddenly twitching. Qin Wan thought he couldn’t find the location and quickly said, “Just have the prince’s guards take you there, they’ll certainly know where it is.”
Sun Muqing shook his head. “No… I just feel… Princess, your handwriting looks somewhat familiar.”
At these words, Qin Wan’s expression changed slightly.
After returning to life, fearing recognition, she had deliberately changed her handwriting. But handwriting is a habit formed over many years – how could it be easily changed? Now Sun Muqing had noticed the familiarity. Having spent many days with her before, he naturally knew what her writing looked like.
Qin Wan maintained her composure. “Oh? How is it familiar?”
Sun Muqing hesitantly said, “Somehow, Princess, you and my little martial sister share a character in your names. The more I look at you, the more you remind me of her – your personality, temperament, and now even your handwriting… Please forgive my boldness… but I really find some similarities…”
Qin Wan’s lips curved upward. “Then why don’t you look again, Doctor Sun – see if my appearance is becoming more similar too?”
Sun Muqing was somewhat startled. “No, no, of course not.”
His little martial sister was deceased after all, and it would be inappropriate to say Qin Wan looked like someone who had passed away. Sun Muqing naturally wouldn’t say such things, especially since they truly didn’t look alike. He sighed – most women wrote elegantly, and this delicate small script rarely stood out. He must be obsessing…
“I’m truly sorry, Princess. Please don’t take offense…”
Sun Muqing looked embarrassed, while Qin Wan felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
To be unrecognized face to face, and even make Sun Muqing feel apologetic, was really…
“It’s fine. Doctor Sun’s loyalty to your martial sister shows what a blessing she had. But since she has passed, you shouldn’t grieve too much. You’re still young and have excellent medical skills – why not think about helping more common people suffering from illness? Surely that would be your martial sister’s wish as well.”
Sun Muqing listened with emotion. “Princess, you understand my little martial sister so well! She was exactly that kind of person. No wonder I find you similar… Ah, sorry, I mentioned it again. Perhaps it’s because you’re both women who study medicine, so you both have kind hearts. You’re right – I shouldn’t waste my medical skills. After I cure His Highness, I’ll travel north again. If I can advance my medical knowledge, that would be best.”
Qin Wan felt both moved and comforted. Though she wasn’t Shen Wan, she could still influence the present-day Sun Muqing through their past friendship. Rather than staying in the capital with all its intrigues, it would be best for him to travel and heal people.
“I wish I could be like you, Doctor Sun, but I’m a woman constrained by my status. Since you find me similar to your martial sister, take my heart’s wish to help all under heaven with you as you go to treat illness and save people. But traveling alone might be dangerous – perhaps you should take some attendants?”
Sun Muqing listened with enthusiasm. “Good! Then I’ll carry the Princess’s wishes with me! Don’t worry, Princess, I’ve traveled extensively and won’t come to harm.”
Qin Wan was still concerned, but given her status, showing too much care would be strange. Besides, Sun Muqing was a grown man in his early twenties – she really shouldn’t say too much.
Seeing it was time, Qin Wan took Sun Muqing back to the inner chamber. Yan Ze was clearly awake. After Qin Wan removed the needles, Yan Ze asked, “Doctor Sun’s martial sister, I heard she was the daughter of the former Chief Justice Shen?”
Sun Muqing smiled slightly. “Yes…”
Yan Ze sighed upon hearing this. “What a pity.”
Sun Muqing also showed signs of emotion, but Qin Wan disliked Yan Ze pursuing this topic and began explaining precautions to him. After everything was explained, Yue Ning arrived, sighing, “Mother was choosing wedding gifts for the Crown Prince, and insisted I help, which is why I’m late.”
Yue Ning had just told Qin Wan about the wedding gifts the other day, and now Madam Jiang was also struggling with it. Qin Wan gave a bitter smile. Yue Ning went forward to care for Yan Ze. “Third Brother, how do you feel?”
Yan Ze touched around his eyes. “This time there’s a bit more stinging sensation than last time.”
Yue Ning was slightly startled, but Qin Wan and Sun Muqing both looked pleased. Sun Muqing quickly said, “Your Highness, this is good news, absolutely good news! It means the meridians around your eyes are recovering. Once they recover to a certain point, you’ll be able to see again…”
Yue Ning’s surprise turned to joy, and she quickly asked, “How long until he can see again?”
Qin Wan and Sun Muqing exchanged glances, and Qin Wan said, “It depends on His Highness’s recovery. At best, two to three months; at worst, six months to a year…”
Yue Ning breathed a sigh of relief. The longest would be a year – meaning at most in a year, Yan Ze would be able to see again. This was the best possible news. “Third Brother, did you hear? In at most a year, you’ll be able to see!”
Hearing this, Yan Ze also smiled slightly. “Then I must trouble the Princess and Doctor Sun.”
Yan Ze had been blind for ten years, and if he could now see the light of day again, it would lift a great burden from Yue Ning’s heart. This news was an enormous comfort to both Yue Ning and Yan Ze. Yue Ning helped Yan Ze walk out of the inner chamber, and they all sat outside talking for a long while until afternoon when Qin Wan bid farewell and returned to the Marquis’s mansion.
Upon returning to the Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion, Qin Wan immediately sent someone to inform Old Master Han. Receiving Qin Wan’s message, Old Master Han immediately sent Er Bao to the shop. Instead of instructing Han Dong, he found other managers. With these arrangements, they naturally got the manpower, and early the next morning, Sun Muqing came to visit. Learning that the house Sun Muqing wanted to renovate was on the neighboring street, Old Master Han was very surprised. However, following Qin Wan’s instructions, Old Master Han asked about Sun Muqing’s needs and quickly found workers. Being close by, he voluntarily offered to oversee the renovation. Sun Muqing hadn’t expected Old Master Han to be so willing to help and immediately expressed profound gratitude.
The next day, Old Master Han went to inspect Sun Muqing’s house. Upon seeing it, he realized that Sun Muqing had bought the former Shen family residence. Being in the capital, Old Master Han naturally knew about last year’s events and thought Sun Muqing had been deceived. However, when asked, Sun Muqing said it was his own choice.
This left Old Master Han puzzled, but since Sun Muqing was Qin Wan’s friend, he dared not be negligent. He only felt sorry that Sun Muqing had bought the wrong house. Though he thought about telling Qin Wan, since she hadn’t given any other instructions, he remained silent.
Qin Wan didn’t inquire about this matter, staying at the mansion to help Madam Hu prepare for Qin Chaoyu’s wedding. As the end of June approached, the entire mansion became increasingly energetic. The nobles of the capital and officials from other places had already begun sending gifts to the capital. Even before the wedding date, countless grand gifts were being delivered to the mansion.
Qin Chaoyu was marrying the Crown Prince – in the future, the Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion would not only hold the Marquis title but would also be imperial relatives. Qin Chaoyu would become the future empress, and her children would become crown princes. Thus, this would be the maternal family of the next emperor – how could people not try to curry favor now?
Qin Wan helped Madam Hu receive gifts and keep records, while the bride-to-be Qin Chaoyu needed to do nothing at all.
Meanwhile, Qin Chaoyu made another visit to the palace, where the Empress and Empress Dowager bestowed many gifts, properly honoring her status as the future Crown Princess. Thus, time quickly passed until the twenty-eighth of June.
Being the Crown Prince’s wedding, it differed from common people’s ceremonies. Besides being grand in scale, there were many extra rules and protocols. The night before, palace matrons, maids, and ritual officials took residence in the marquis’s mansion. Early the next morning, Qin Chaoyu was dressed up, with all procedures handled by palace staff rather than mansion servants. Over twenty palace maids attended to Qin Chaoyu alone, with all dressing following the Crown Princess’s rank and palace rules.
This spectacle naturally awed the congratulating ladies. Before Qin Chaoyu even left, the mansion displayed its imperial connections, with even noble ladies not qualified to speak to her. This was even more true for Qin Wan and Qin Shuang, who had returned for the wedding. Seeing Qin Chaoyu’s courtyard overcrowded, Qin Wan took Qin Shuang back to Pine Wind Court.
Though married for just over a month, Qin Shuang had gained some weight. Qin Wan had been worried about her, but seeing her return plump and fair, with the delicate manner of a new wife, she felt relieved.
Back at Pine Wind Court, Qin Shuang said, “Last time when I came back home, we only sat briefly. Now we can finally have a proper talk. After Eighth Sister marries today, you’ll be the only one left in the mansion. Have you thought about your marriage?”
Qin Wan smiled. “Don’t worry, I have it under control. I see Young Master Xue treats you very well…”
At this, Qin Shuang blushed. Now as Madam Xue, her attire was different from before. Just looking at these changes showed that Xue Qingshan hadn’t mistreated her. Blushing, Qin Shuang said, “My husband does treat me well. This past month, my parents-in-law haven’t given me any trouble either. I used to think if I married poorly, I’d just live my own quiet life behind closed doors. Now that I’ve married well, I’m still living a quiet life behind closed doors, just in a completely different way.”
Hearing Qin Shuang speak this way, Qin Wan felt relieved. After they talked for a while, firecrackers and drums suddenly sounded outside. Qin Shuang quickly pulled Qin Wan out to look. They saw imperial canopies and ceremonial guards lined up, palace servants holding palace lanterns stretching from the main courtyard to Qin Chaoyu’s courtyard entrance. The ritual official was loudly reciting congratulatory verses at the courtyard gate, while the noble ladies outside didn’t dare make a sound. Most wedding guests were women and younger members of noble families, as all court officials and senior nobles had to attend the feast at the Eastern Palace due to today’s palace celebration.
People gathered in layers, and Qin Wan and Qin Shuang vaguely saw a handsome figure in bright red wedding attire standing outside the courtyard gate – undoubtedly Crown Prince Yan Che. Qin Shuang felt disappointed she couldn’t see closer. Though she was married, Qin Wan wasn’t, so it wouldn’t be proper to squeeze into the crowd. Looking at the Crown Prince’s profile, Qin Wan suddenly remembered what Yue Ning had said about him liking to keep birds…
Today was the Crown Prince’s wedding day, yet standing under everyone’s gaze, he still carried an air of melancholy. Seeing him like this, Qin Wan doubted whether he was truly someone who enjoyed keeping pets. Or perhaps the Crown Prince was someone who kept his feelings hidden? Maybe he was overjoyed inside?
As Qin Wan pondered this, she found her thoughts somewhat amusing.
The Crown Prince carried the weight of the entire Great Zhou on his shoulders – his demeanor came from within. How could he be as inconsistent as she imagined? Qin Wan then sighed. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. The position of Crown Prince wasn’t easy either. Though Qin Chaoyu might not excel at other things, she moved through palace life with ease. Getting such a good match should please the Crown Prince.
Qin Shuang stretched her neck but still couldn’t see the Crown Prince clearly, feeling somewhat annoyed. However, not wanting to leave Qin Wan to watch the excitement, she gave up this thought and sighed, “Can’t see anything, let’s go back…”
Qin Wan had seen enough too, and waiting for the ceremony to finish seemed pointless. She nodded and turned toward Pine Wind Court. Just as she turned, Yan Che, as if sensing something, turned his head.
Yan Che caught sight of the silhouette of a moon-white skirt. Though he only saw the flowing arc of the skirt, he somehow knew with certainty it was Qin Wan. As his gaze flickered, another pale cyan shadow suddenly appeared in his mind.
It was winter last year, with fine snow falling. That person wore cyan robes, crouching on the snow-white ground. In her fair palm lay a golden bird that wanted to fly but had fallen. Her palm looked even more jade-white in contrast. Her fingers were long and slender like spring onions, tying a small knot on the bird’s wing. She spoke softly, sighing about the bird’s fate of being trapped within high walls as if what lay in her palm wasn’t a tiny bird but a person trapped by fate. Yan Che heard her words, never imagining there could be such a gentlewoman in the world. Her helpless, pitying tone seemed to also lament his situation in the Eastern Palace…
Those gentle words became the healing medicine after his nighttime nightmares, leading him to make a decision that the Empress disliked but couldn’t refute. Yet in the end, fate once again stood on his mother’s side.
“Your Highness…”
“Your Highness, you should go in to receive the Crown Princess!”
The ritual official had to call twice before Yan Che came to his senses. His expression grew solemn as he strode through the courtyard gate.