Seeing that Qin Wan knew medicine and had brought herbs, the middle-aged man’s eyes showed surprise as he looked her up and down for a while before nodding.
“Fine. There are one hundred and thirty-two people in the camp now. Use your prescription tomorrow. For now, go outside first and deliver the medicine that’s been brewed.” As he spoke, he casually tossed over a register. Opening it, Qin Wan saw it contained the soldiers’ names with their corresponding ailments and medications.
Qin Wan nodded, “Alright, we’ll go deliver the medicine!”
Her immediate compliance without argument surprised the middle-aged man, though he said nothing.
Qin Wan led Bai Ying and the others outside, where they found two wooden buckets beside the cauldrons for holding medicine. They filled the buckets with the medicinal brew and headed toward the tents.
If the training grounds were where the army’s spirit was most evident, then the infirmary was where all its cruelty was laid bare. Entering the first medical tent, Qin Wan’s breath caught at the smell inside. The tent was damp and dark, and because the wounded had been bedridden for so long, their bedding carried a musty odor. Combined with the sweaty smell of many men, it was quite unpleasant, yet Qin Wan maintained her composure.
The soldiers, seeing new people delivering medicine today, were curious, especially noting how refined Qin Wan and Bai Ying appeared. They couldn’t help but look twice, though seeming to sense Qin Wan’s unusual status, none dared to ask questions.
Qin Wan delivered medicine one by one, checking the pulses of those who looked particularly ill, noting down their names. After delivering two large buckets of medicine, not only Qin Wan but even Bai Ying was tired. Qin Wan gathered her energy and said, “Let’s continue—”
Zhong Yao and his companion went back to fetch new medicine, and Qin Wan led them to new tents. After just a few steps, three middle-aged men in military uniforms appeared, also carrying wooden buckets of medicine, seemingly returning from the two farthest tents. One of them was holding a bloodied cloth, apparently having just finished bandaging someone.
They were startled to encounter Qin Wan carrying medicine buckets.
“Who are… who are you? Why did General Chu send you to help at the medical tent?”
At this, another waved his hand, “Looking at the young master’s clothes, you don’t seem like ordinary soldiers. Might you be…”
Seeing these men weren’t as rude and irritable as the middle-aged doctor, Bai Ying said, “This is the Princess Consort, dressed this way for convenience.”
Princess Consort… hearing these words, all three men’s eyes widened in surprise.
“So… so it’s the Princess Consort…”
They immediately knelt in greeting, but Qin Wan hurriedly said, “No need for formalities. As you can see, I’m here to help. Let’s not waste time.”
Hearing this, the three quickly made their way. Qin Wan asked, “Are you three also doctors from the medical tent?”
The one who spoke first quickly shook his head. “No, no, no, we three don’t know medicine, we barely recognize a few herbs. We’re just here to help. Right now we only have one real doctor who can treat patients…”
Qin Wan thought of the middle-aged man from earlier. “The one in the medical tent?”
The three nodded, and another added, “Yes, that’s Doctor Xu.”
Qin Wan made a sound of acknowledgment and headed into the tent without further words. The three had been returning to deliver medicine, but seeing Qin Wan taking over, they felt awkward about leaving and stood outside waiting. After finishing one tent, Qin Wan saw the three still hadn’t left and said, “You can go about your business.”
“We were supposed to deliver medicine, but now that the Princess Consort is helping, we’re in no hurry to return.”
Qin Wan looked at the farthest tents. “You were delivering medicine there too?”
“Yes, there are several severely wounded men. We have to change their bandages daily.”
Qin Wan frowned slightly, letting Zhong Yao and the others enter the next medical tent while she asked, “What’s Doctor Xu’s full name? Was he originally the camp’s military doctor?”
“Doctor Xu’s full name is Xu Zi’ang. He wasn’t originally from our camp; I think he’s a distant relative of General Chu. He’s from Ding Zhou, and General Chu called him here about half a year ago. Doctor Xu’s medical skills are excellent…”
Half a year ago, the troubles in Shuo Xi had just begun. It seemed General Chu Fei Sheng had called for Xu Zi’ang soon after getting out.
Qin Wan nodded and returned to delivering medicine and checking pulses without further questions.
After finishing the deliveries, Qin Wan led everyone back to the medical tent. Just as they reached the entrance, they encountered Xu Zi’ang striding out. Seeing Qin Wan returning with the others, he shouted, “Why so slow! So many people for such a small task, what took so long—”
As he spoke, he picked up two bundles of herbs outside the tent.
Seeing Xu Zi’ang’s fierce demeanor, the three men’s expressions changed slightly. One hurriedly said, “Doctor Xu, do you perhaps not know…”
Xu Zi’ang glared at the speaker. “Why so much nonsense? Quickly clean these two cauldrons, we need to brew different medicine.”
With that, he carried the herbs into the tent. One of the men looked at Qin Wan with a bitter smile. “Please… please don’t take offense, Princess Consort. This is Doctor Xu’s only flaw, he’s a very good person…”
“Stop chattering outside and get in here to work!”
Before he could finish speaking, another shout came from inside. The three hurriedly went to wash the cauldrons and enter the tent.
Seeing this, Qin Wan smiled wryly and steeled herself to enter. “Doctor Xu, is there anything I can do?”
Xu Zi’ang was grinding herbs and didn’t stand during the ceremony. He jerked his chin in indication. “Cut all these herbs into small pieces.”
He was pointing at the two large bundles of herbs. Qin Wan nodded and rolled up her sleeves. As Bai Ying moved to help, Xu Zi’ang turned to her and the others. “You three, go fetch water from the west to brew medicine. Fill both cauldrons.”
Bai Ying hesitated, but Qin Wan was already nodding at her. Bai Ying rarely showed reluctance, but Qin Wan just smiled and paid her no more attention.
Bai Ying sighed and had no choice but to follow Zhong Yao and the others out.
Fetching water was hard work, and cutting herbs was equally tiring. The other three tried several times to find opportunities to speak with Xu Zi’ang but were always shouted down. Thus, by the time the sun began to set westward, Xu Zi’ang still didn’t know Qin Wan’s identity.
Seeing the sun tilting west and Qin Wan still hadn’t eaten lunch, Bai Ying grew anxious. Soon after, Bai Feng came personally to find them.
Qin Wan hadn’t finished cutting the herbs, so she had Bai Feng wait and insisted on finishing everything before leaving.
Seeing Qin Wan leave, Xu Zi’ang finally snorted, “At least she has some merit.”
The three men couldn’t hold back anymore and gathered around Xu Zi’ang. “Doctor Xu, do you know who that person is?”
Xu Zi’ang snorted, “Don’t know, but some young master from somewhere. Didn’t they say Prince Yan had arrived? Who else came with him? Really, of all places to play around, they come to bother me here…”
The three men exchanged glances, their eyes full of helplessness.
“Doctor Xu! That’s not some young master, that’s the Princess Consort! Our Prince Yan’s new Princess Consort!”
Xu Zi’ang’s brows furrowed. “What? Isn’t he…”
He seemed to realize something and froze. “New Princess Consort… the Princess Yong Ci?”
The three nodded in unison, and Xu Zi’ang’s pestle clattered to the ground.
When Qin Wan returned to the main tent, her right palm was still aching. The knife hadn’t been good, and the handle had rubbed her palm red. Entering the tent, she saw Yan Chi waiting with furrowed brows. Seeing her return, he quickly stood up. “Why so long…”
Qin Wan sighed and smiled. “Don’t ask. Our Doctor Xu is truly impartial—had me working for half the day.”
Hearing this, Yan Chi immediately frowned. “What happened?”
Qin Wan rotated her shoulders and wrists, laughing as she vividly imitated Xu Zi’ang’s irritable temperament. Only then did Yan Chi understand what had happened, and he sighed. “Then, you…”
“No, don’t try to dissuade me. This is nothing.”
Qin Wan interrupted Yan Chi. “I can see he’s truly exhausted. This morning I asked Bai Ying how many doctors were in the camp, and she said four or five, but I just learned that he’s the only one who can treat patients. No wonder he’s like that, being so busy and tired. Since that’s the case, I naturally can’t slack off.”
Yan Chi sighed helplessly, taking Qin Wan’s hands to massage her wrists. He ordered Bai Ying to bring lunch, then said, “I heard General Chu mention last night that, unlike the main camp, this only doctor is apparently from Ding Zhou. He originally ran a medicine shop there and came here after receiving a letter from him, staying all this time.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan clicked her tongue. “Ding Zhou… it’s a major city, running a medicine shop there would’ve been a stable living.”
“Yes, that’s why he’s quite meritorious.”
With only one military doctor supporting this camp for half a year, one could imagine how many soldiers Xu Zi’ang had saved.
Qin Wan hadn’t minded Xu Zi’ang’s nasty temper much, but hearing this background, she was quite moved. After lunch, since they would march out tomorrow, Yan Chi went back to the council tent while Qin Wan took Bai Ying to the medical tent.
Entering the medical tent, Qin Wan saw Xu Zi’ang cutting herbs. She smiled and said, “Doctor Xu, what would you have me do this afternoon?”
Xu Zi’ang looked at Qin Wan expressionlessly for a moment, then suddenly walked toward her with the knife in his hand. Qin Wan had thought he would bark orders at her question, but she never expected him to not react at all. His face was blank, but his eyes held complex emotions as he stared directly at her, completely different from the morning. Qin Wan inexplicably felt a chill…
Seeing Xu Zi’ang approaching with the knife and his strange expression, Bai Ying immediately moved to intervene. However, just as she took a step, Xu Zi’ang, who was three steps from Qin Wan, suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud. This kneeling stunned both Qin Wan and Bai Ying.
Xu Zi’ang looked at Qin Wan, trembling as he said, “Prin… Princess Consort… this humble one didn’t know your identity, I truly deserve punishment…”
After her initial surprise, Qin Wan almost couldn’t hold back her laughter, but seeing Xu Zi’ang seemed truly afraid, she suppressed her smile and asked, “Do you know your mistake?”
Xu Zi’ang lowered his head deeply. “This humble one knows his mistake…”
“What was your mistake?”
“This humble one was wrong to… treat the Princess Consort with such attitude and to order the Princess Consort around. This humble one was wrong and will never dare do so again…”
Earlier when she saw Xu Zi’ang’s fiery temper, Qin Wan had instinctively thought him a person of high principles, but she never expected that after learning her identity, he would be like this. Qin Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and looking at Bai Ying, she was smiling too.
Qin Wan cleared her throat. “Doctor Xu, I was more comfortable with how you were this morning. Please get up, the ground is cold.”
Xu Zi’ang looked up at Qin Wan, looked her up and down twice more, then stammered as he stood. “This humble one was blind, didn’t recognize your identity, this humble one will surely repent…”
Qin Wan couldn’t help laughing. “It’s alright, Doctor Xu. I won’t take it to heart. I can see from your face that you haven’t slept for days, so being irritable is normal. Doctor Xu, why don’t you leave this to me and get some good rest?”
Xu Zi’ang wouldn’t dare and waved his hands holding the knife. Seeing this, Qin Wan could only sigh. “Never mind then. What should I do now?”
Xu Zi’ang quickly shook his head. “The Princess Consort needn’t do anything, everything here is done…”
Qin Wan raised an eyebrow and turned to look, planning to continue cutting herbs, but as soon as she reached the table, Xu Zi’ang hurriedly gathered up the herbs. “No, no, no, the Princess Consort is precious, you mustn’t do these things.”
Qin Wan looked at Xu Zi’ang in surprise. “Doctor Xu, you don’t seem like someone who would flatter. I truly know medicine and sincerely want to help. You needn’t be like this.”
Xu Zi’ang’s face reddened at Qin Wan’s words, and he lowered his head and hunched his shoulders, suddenly appearing embarrassed.
Seeing this, Qin Wan was even more surprised. “Doctor Xu? What do you mean…”
Xu Zi’ang looked up at Qin Wan for a moment, then as if making a decision, said, “His Highness is this humble one’s great benefactor. How could I let you do such things!”
“Benefactor?” Qin Wan was quite puzzled.
Xu Zi’ang hurriedly explained, “Five years ago, when my family was traveling from Xi Lin to Ding Zhou, we encountered bandits. His Highness and General Chu saved us. Afterward, His Highness had General Chu’s group escort my entire family back to Ding Zhou. Such great kindness, this humble one will never forget.”
Qin Wan was incredibly surprised. “He… saved you all?”
Suddenly everything became clear in Qin Wan’s mind. The reason Xu Zi’ang had abandoned his medicine shop in Ding Zhou to become a military doctor lay here.
Xu Zi’ang nodded repeatedly. “Yes, my family had more than ten people, and that day we nearly lost our lives to the bandits. If not for His Highness, even if this humble one hadn’t died, I would be alone now. So when General Chu wrote to me last year asking if I could find some doctors to serve as military physicians, I came myself. Because he worried others wouldn’t trust me, General Chu said I was his distant relative.”
Qin Wan understood everything now, and a warmth spread through her heart. There wasn’t so much about lofty principles after all—this was simply the reward for Yan Chi’s past kindness. And if she hadn’t come to Shuo Xi, she might never have known about these things, and even Yan Chi himself had probably forgotten.
This vast Shuo Xi plateau was his second homeland, and countless people revered him and needed his protection.
Qin Wan’s eyes sparkled, and she wanted nothing more than to return to the main tent and embrace her husband.