Xieshui Pavilion.
After Bai Ruoshui returned to her courtyard, she unwrapped the bandage on her arm herself, revealing the wound where flesh had been carved away.
Imperial Physician Dan's medical skills were excellent. After applying the ointment, the wound had already dried and formed a thin scab.
But whenever she thought of what Chu Fengge had done these past days, Bai Ruoshui couldn't help frowning.
If the Prince showed her even the slightest pity, then everything she had done would be for nothing. She could not give Chu Fengge a chance to turn things around.
Just then, Steward Qi's voice came from outside the door: "His Highness has arrived…"
Bai Ruoshui looked down at the wound on her hand, then suddenly raised her other hand and forcefully tore at the healing scar.
The scabbed wound instantly split open into a deep, long gash, and blood flowed rapidly from the tear.
Bai Ruoshui clenched her teeth, forced herself to endure the pain, and lay back down on the bed.
Hongling pushed open the door, and Mo Qianhan entered with Doctor Jian. When they came before Bai Ruoshui, his light green sleeve was already stained with a pool of blood.
Bai Ruoshui opened her eyes and gazed at Mo Qianhan with glistening eyes. "Your Highness, why have you come? The Imperial Concubine has woken—go and see her quickly. When you see her, Your Highness, don't… don't tell her that I fainted. Don't let her worry about me again."
"Your hand is bleeding. This King told you to return to your courtyard and recuperate properly—why did you not listen?" Mo Qianhan frowned deeply and said to Doctor Jian beside him, "Go quickly and treat the Cousin's wound."
Hongling said in a tearful voice, "Your Highness, the Cousin wanted to return to her courtyard to recover, but she feared something might happen to the Imperial Concubine, so she watched over her every moment. These past few days, she has hardly dared to close her eyes."
"Hongling, say no more. I'm fine," Bai Ruoshui said, gently rebuking her in a tone of reproach.
After examining Bai Ruoshui's hand, Doctor Jian frowned and said, "The Cousin's wrist wound has been strained again, which is why it bleeds without stopping. These past days, has the Cousin lifted anything heavy?"
"I… only helped the Imperial Concubine sit up after she woke. That hardly counts as heavy. I felt the wound had healed quite well—I never expected it to be so fragile. Instead, I've only caused trouble for Your Highness."
As Bai Ruoshui spoke, her voice carried a trace of guilt. "Your Highness, with Doctor Jian here, Ruoshui is truly fine. You should go see the Imperial Concubine first. And the Princess Consort as well—she saved the Imperial Concubine, so Your Highness must properly… Ah…"
While Doctor Jian was applying medicine to Bai Ruoshui's wound, she suddenly let out a pained moan.
Hongling knelt on the ground and asked, "Doctor Jian, what's wrong with the Cousin?"
She secretly slipped a silver ingot beneath Doctor Jian's sleeve.
Doctor Jian glanced at it, his eyes rolling shrewdly, and said, "The Cousin's wound cut into muscle and bone, and on top of that, she has attended the Imperial Concubine's bedside these past days, which is why the wound has been slow to heal. The pain is unavoidable. I have already mixed a little pain-relieving powder into the ointment—once it's bandaged, it will ease the pain."
Hearing these words, Mo Qianhan's gaze swept swiftly over Bai Ruoshui's arm.
There remained a very deep knife gash, the newly formed scar sunken inward. For an unmarried woman, she was already considered crippled.
"Can medicine repair the wound on her hand?" Mo Qianhan asked.
Bai Ruoshui glanced at her injured hand. Far from being saddened by the scar on her arm, she felt a surge of hope at Mo Qianhan's words.
Her hand injury could never be repaired, which meant she could never marry anyone else.
Doctor Jian replied, "To answer Your Highness, if the wound were shallow, it could indeed be removed with medicinal ointment. But the injuries on Cousin's arm—I'm afraid they will be difficult."
With that, Doctor Jian continued treating Bai Ruoshui's wounds.
Mo Qianhan's face was taut, his brow furrowed the whole time.
He said to Bai Ruoshui, "Stay here at Xieshui Pavilion these next few days and rest well. I will invite renowned physicians to treat your wounds. Even if the scars truly cannot be removed, I will never let you suffer any injustice!"
Hongling glanced at Bai Ruoshui, and an idea came to her. Turning back, she said, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort's medical skills are so brilliant she can bring the dying back to life. I wonder if she might also be able to cure the wounds on Cousin's hand…"
Mo Qianhan's expression shifted slightly. He raised his left arm a little, recalling the technique she had used to treat his wounds…