“Your Majesty, please allow Muxi to try.”
“You know medicine?” The Emperor’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Replying to Your Majesty, while living in the countryside, Muxi once encountered an elderly physician and studied medicine under him for several years,” Qin Man explained earnestly. “The poison within Grand Preceptor Xiao’s body is spreading at an alarming rate. He requires immediate treatment. I beg Your Majesty to permit Muxi to attempt it.”
The Emperor cast a grim glance toward the imperial physicians kneeling helplessly on the ground.
Not a single one of them had a solution.
“Very well,” he finally said. “Since that is the case, Muxi, you may proceed. We can only hope that Grand Preceptor Xiao possesses the strength to survive.”
The Emperor immediately ordered a large screen to be erected around the treatment area to ensure complete privacy.
Apart from the Emperor himself, Prince Mo Xuan, and several senior imperial physicians who remained to assist, all officials and family members were instructed to wait outside the enclosed area.
“Your Majesty,” Qin Man said calmly, meeting the Emperor’s gaze, “because of an injury I suffered as a child, my face bears a frightening scar. That is why I wear a veil at all times. In order to properly treat Grand Preceptor Xiao, I must remove it. I hope Your Majesty will not be alarmed.”
“Do not concern yourself with such matters. Focus on the treatment,” the Emperor replied with a dismissive wave.
He had accompanied the late Emperor onto battlefields in his youth and had witnessed countless bloody scenes. A scar alone would hardly unsettle him.
Yet the moment Qin Man removed her veil, the Emperor could not help but feel a pang of shock.
A trace of pity appeared in his eyes.
Such an extraordinary young woman had been forced to bear such a cruel fate.
At this moment, Xiao Ruochen was already slipping deeper into unconsciousness.
His complexion was as pale as paper.
As the poison spread through his bloodstream, his consciousness drifted into a haze of hallucinations.
Amid the darkness, he vaguely saw a pair of clear, beautiful eyes gazing at him.
The eyes were filled with unwavering concern.
A gentle voice seemed to call to him.
Don’t be afraid.
Hold on.
You’ll be alright.
Ignoring all concerns about propriety between men and women, Qin Man immediately tore open the front of Xiao Ruochen’s robes to expose the wound.
Given the life-and-death situation, neither the Emperor nor the physicians objected.
She quickly disinfected the surrounding flesh.
After examining the blackened blood around the wound, she immediately identified the toxin.
Ice Snake Venom.
A deadly poison originating from the Western Regions.
Within the medical capabilities of Nantang Kingdom, it was essentially incurable.
But to Qin Man, an elite physician from the modern era, it was a challenge she could overcome.
The steel arrowhead was still lodged deep within his chest.
Without drawing attention, she retrieved a local anesthetic from her medical space and injected it around the wound.
Then she looked toward Prince Mo Xuan.
“Your Highness, could you help me remove the arrowhead?”
At this critical moment, she abandoned all unnecessary formalities and spoke with the authority of a doctor.
“Of course.”
Prince Mo Xuan immediately knelt beside Xiao Ruochen.
Grasping the shaft firmly with his right hand, he pulled with swift precision.
At the same time, his left hand pressed a thick wad of sterile gauze against the wound to prevent excessive bleeding.
Although Qin Man had administered anesthesia, the effectiveness seemed slightly diminished in this ancient world.
The instant the arrowhead was torn free, Xiao Ruochen let out a painful groan.
His body tensed violently before he completely lost consciousness.
Qin Man immediately began cleaning the wound.
To eliminate any risk of infection, she repeatedly irrigated the damaged tissue with sterile saline solution.
At the same time, she applied medication to accelerate blood clotting and stop the bleeding.
Then she did something that left everyone present utterly stunned.
Lowering her head, Qin Man pressed her lips against the wound and began drawing out the poisoned blood.
Mouthful after mouthful of black blood was extracted and spat onto the ground.
Again and again she repeated the process.
Only when the blood flowing from the wound finally returned to a healthy crimson color did she stop.
After removing the majority of the toxin, she applied a thick layer of specialized antidote ointment created within her medical space.
She carefully covered the wound with sterile dressing and expertly wrapped it in clean bandages.
Every movement was calm, efficient, and precise.
There was not the slightest hesitation in her actions.
An hour and a half passed.
Fine beads of sweat appeared across Qin Man’s forehead.
Using her mouth to remove the poison had been a dangerous gamble.
Ice Snake Venom spread too rapidly.
Extracting a large amount of the toxin directly from the wound was the fastest way to reduce the toxic load within Xiao Ruochen’s body and maximize the effectiveness of her antidotes.
Having assisted throughout the entire procedure, Prince Mo Xuan noticed her exhaustion.
Without a word, he took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Qin Man was completely focused on securing the final bandages.
She accepted the gesture without overthinking it.
“Thank you.”
Then she continued her work.
While examining Xiao Ruochen’s pulse and overall condition, she discovered something unexpected.
Beneath the effects of the Ice Snake Venom was another poison.
A chronic toxin.
It had clearly accumulated in his body over many years.
Looking down at his pale and handsome face, Qin Man could not help but marvel at the twists of fate.
Outside the screen, the civil and military officials were so anxious that hardly anyone dared breathe loudly.
Everyone knew one thing.
If Grand Preceptor Xiao died tonight, the Emperor’s wrath would likely shake the entire court.
Finally, Qin Man emerged from behind the screen carrying her medical case.
She bowed respectfully before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, the primary poison within Grand Preceptor Xiao’s body has been successfully neutralized.”
The Emperor immediately straightened.
“The remaining traces merely require daily medication and regular wound care,” Qin Man continued. “His injury should heal completely within five days. However, he has suffered severe damage to his vitality. He must avoid all exertion and recover in a quiet environment.”
She deliberately concealed the existence of the chronic poison she had discovered.
The moment he heard that Xiao Ruochen’s life had been saved, the Emperor felt an enormous burden lift from his heart.
Looking at Qin Man’s pale face and obvious exhaustion, his gaze softened considerably.
“You have worked hard tonight, Muxi.”
His tone was filled with gratitude.
“Return home and rest. We will personally arrange attendants to care for the Grand Preceptor.”
Now that his mind was finally at ease, the exhaustion of the night’s events crashed down upon him.
He promptly ordered Xiao Ruochen to be transported back to the Grand Preceptor Manor for recovery.
As news spread that Grand Preceptor Xiao had survived, a collective sigh of relief swept through the banquet hall.
But relief quickly gave way to shock.
The entire Imperial Medical Academy had been helpless before the poison.
Yet Qin Man had cured it.
How could a young woman possess such miraculous medical skills?
Why had no one ever heard that the Minister’s daughter was capable of such feats?
Countless curious gazes turned toward the Qin family’s pavilion.
Meanwhile, Minister Qin Hongli felt as though he had spent the entire night drowning in cold sweat.
The terror he had experienced was matched only by his confusion.
Neither he nor his wives had the slightest idea when their neglected eldest daughter had become such a remarkable physician.
Approaching her family, Qin Man spoke softly.
“Father, Mother, your daughter is exhausted and wishes to return home and rest.”
She could practically see the countless questions in their eyes.
“As for everything you wish to ask, I will answer when another opportunity arises.”
“Very well. Let us return immediately.”
The Minister and the First Madam finally recovered from their daze.
No matter how many mysteries surrounded Qin Man, she had just earned tremendous imperial favor.
That could only benefit the Qin family.
At that moment, Prince Mo Xuan stepped forward.
“Minister Qin.”
He offered a courteous bow.
“Tonight’s assassination attempt was clearly the result of a carefully planned conspiracy. To ensure the safety of all officials and their households, military escorts have been arranged.”
He paused before continuing.
“The Qin Manor will be personally escorted by my own division.”
Then his gaze settled upon Qin Man.
His voice became noticeably gentler.
“Miss Qin, the journey from the palace to the Minister’s Manor is quite long. My carriage is spacious enough for you to rest comfortably. Please use it.”
Qin Man had never been one for meaningless modesty.
Her body was operating almost entirely on willpower at this point.
She simply nodded.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Allowing Prince Mo Xuan to guide her, she boarded the luxurious carriage.
In her exhausted state, she had neither the energy nor the inclination to wonder why a prince famous for avoiding court affairs had remained by her side throughout the entire evening and was now personally escorting her home.
When they finally returned to the Minister’s Manor, Qin Man immediately instructed Su Li to prepare a hot bath.
Immersing herself in the steaming water, she felt every aching muscle gradually relax.
Closing her eyes, she replayed the night’s events in her mind.
Several glaring questions immediately surfaced.
First.
The imperial palace was protected by multiple layers of elite security.
How had more than a dozen armed assassins managed to infiltrate the inner palace carrying weapons?
Unless someone of significant authority had assisted them from within, such a feat should have been impossible.
Who possessed that level of influence?
Second.
The chronic poison hidden within Xiao Ruochen’s body had clearly accumulated over many years.
Who had been secretly poisoning him?
As her thoughts focused on Xiao Ruochen, another memory surfaced.
The mysterious poisoned swordsman she had rescued inside a remote mountain cave.
The more she compared the physical signs and injuries, the more certain she became.
There was no doubt.
The man she had saved in the cave had been Xiao Ruochen.
But why?
Why would the empire’s Grand Preceptor appear alone in a remote mountain cave covered in severe injuries?
To the outside world, Xiao Ruochen was a refined scholar.
Yet the martial skills he displayed tonight were terrifyingly powerful.
What secrets was he hiding?
Questions tangled together in Qin Man’s mind.
However, the exhaustion from the emergency operation finally overwhelmed her.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
She nearly fell asleep in the bath.
Seeing her mistress drifting off, Su Li hurried forward.
She carefully helped Qin Man out of the tub, dried her body, and dressed her in sleeping robes.
The moment Qin Man’s head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.