After leaving the imperial capital, the diplomatic delegation steadily advanced northward.
According to the route marked on their maps, they would need to pass through five provinces and ten counties before reaching a port. From there, they would travel by sea to bypass the Kingdom of Yayao and continue on to the Kingdom of Baiyun.
Whenever they crossed remote wilderness with no villages or towns nearby, the entire caravan was forced to set up camp and establish temporary defenses for the night.
On the evening of the second day, the delegation arrived safely at Orange County in Nanzhou Province, the outermost region still directly connected to the capital’s administrative network.
The local magistrate personally led a welcoming party and arranged accommodations for everyone at the official courier station.
Qin Man shared a room with Su Li and Xiao Ya. The room was simple but clean, furnished with three beds.
After enduring two straight days of bone-rattling carriage travel, Qin Man collapsed onto her mattress the moment she entered the room and immediately fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ruochen settled into the South Wing, occupying chambers adjacent to Prince Mo Xuan’s suite.
The Fifth Princess took residence in the prestigious East Wing, while the twenty noble beauties accompanying the delegation were distributed among the remaining courtyards according to rank and status.
Qin Man had only just fallen into a deep sleep when someone gently shook her shoulder.
“Miss… Miss, please wake up.”
Su Li’s anxious whisper drifted into her ear.
Qin Man reluctantly opened her eyes.
“What is it?”
“The Fifth Princess has sent for you.”
“The Princess?” Qin Man sat up. “Is Her Highness ill?”
“I don’t know. A palace page arrived with an order requesting your immediate presence in the East Wing.”
Qin Man rubbed her forehead and climbed out of bed.
“I’ve been curious about this warrior princess anyway.”
After straightening her travel robes and smoothing her hair, she headed toward the East Wing alone.
Upon entering the lavish chambers, she bowed properly.
“Qin Muxi pays her respects to Your Highness.”
“Muxi, there’s no need for formalities.”
Princess Mo Yueyao stepped forward at once and personally helped her up.
Qin Man took the opportunity to study her.
The princess appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old. She possessed a heroic beauty unlike the delicate elegance favored among noble ladies. Dressed in martial attire, she radiated vitality and confidence. Her eyes were bright and honest, free of the affected modesty common among aristocratic daughters.
“Muxi,” Mo Yueyao said warmly, guiding her to a seat, “you saved Brother Ruochen’s life during the banquet crisis. Your medical skills are extraordinary. I’ve admired you ever since.”
She smiled openly.
“When we’re in private, just call me Yueyao.”
Qin Man returned the smile.
“Then I’ll obey Your Highness’s wishes.”
“Tell me something honestly,” Qin Man asked after a moment. “Doesn’t it bother you to associate with someone whose appearance is so notoriously disfigured?”
Mo Yueyao blinked.
“Why would it?”
She spoke without hesitation.
“Beauty is only a temporary shell. A pleasing face may attract the eye, but a unique appearance simply means a person stands apart from the crowd.”
Qin Man stared at her.
The sincerity in the princess’s voice was unmistakable.
For the first time, genuine warmth rose within her chest.
“I’m touched by your words.”
With the initial barriers removed, conversation flowed naturally between them.
“I heard you spent years living in the countryside,” Mo Yueyao said eagerly. “Tell me about it. I’ve spent my entire life trapped inside palace walls. If I’m not practicing martial arts, I’m memorizing etiquette manuals. It’s suffocating.”
Qin Man laughed.
Having grown up partly in a rural village alongside her grandmother in her previous life, she had countless stories to tell.
She described fishing in streams, gathering wild vegetables in the mountains, celebrating seasonal festivals, and all sorts of amusing village incidents.
Mo Yueyao listened with fascination.
Several times, her bright laughter rang throughout the room.
“This is wonderful!” the princess exclaimed. “Why don’t you move your bedding here and sleep in my room tonight?”
Qin Man nearly choked.
“I’m afraid your admirers would assassinate me before dawn.”
“Let them try.”
Mo Yueyao waved dismissively.
“Besides, if anyone dared harm you, my imperial cousin would probably tear apart my entire guard regiment.”
“Your imperial cousin?”
“Prince Mo Xuan, of course.”
The princess looked puzzled.
“Didn’t you two grow up together?”
Qin Man immediately shook her head.
“I have no special relationship with Prince Mo Xuan. We’ve barely interacted.”
“Really?”
Mo Yueyao frowned.
“Then why was he the first person to recommend you as chief female physician for this expedition? I assumed the two of you were close.”
A mischievous smile suddenly appeared on her face.
“Or perhaps your heart belongs elsewhere? Brother Ruochen is quite exceptional as well. Though unfortunately, everyone knows he’s famously indifferent toward women.”
Qin Man smoothly redirected the conversation.
“I’ve only recently reunited with my mother after years away. Right now, my only priority is fulfilling my duties as her daughter.”
The princess sighed dramatically.
“Fine. Let’s stop talking about men. They’re boring.”
Then she leaned closer.
“Actually, there’s another reason I called you here. I’ve been experiencing recurring abdominal pain recently. Could you examine me?”
Naturally, Qin Man agreed.
The two women continued chatting while discussing medical matters.
Before either of them noticed, midnight had arrived.
Eventually, Qin Man insisted on leaving so she could maintain a healthy sleep schedule.
By dawn, however, rumors had already begun spreading throughout the courier station.
Servants whispered among themselves:
“Did you hear? The Fifth Princess summoned Qin Muxi and kept her in the East Wing all night.”
“I heard she wasn’t allowed to leave until after midnight.”
“Her Highness must have been punishing her.”
Thus, another completely baseless rumor swept through the camp.
Inside her luxurious quarters, Murong Xue sat before her mirror while her maid combed her hair.
When she heard the gossip about Qin Muxi’s lengthy meeting with the princess, she couldn’t understand the reason behind it.
“My Lady.”
Her maid Lanyin lowered her voice.
“The servants are also reporting that Grand Preceptor Xiao has been unwell these past two days. He has barely left his carriage.”
Concern immediately appeared on Murong Xue’s face.
“The journey must have exhausted him.”
She opened a lacquered jewelry box.
“Lanyin, bring me the vitality-restoring pills Father gave me before we departed. Deliver them to Grand Preceptor Xiao at once.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
After the maid left, Murong Xue’s expression grew serious.
Before the journey began, Chancellor Murong had given her a secret assignment.
She was to carefully monitor the delegation’s route, troop movements, and supply lines, then send regular reports back to the capital via carrier pigeons under the guise of an imperial directive.
Yet despite her father’s orders, her true reason for volunteering for this diplomatic mission had nothing to do with politics.
She had joined for one reason alone.
Xiao Ruochen.
Meanwhile, in the South Wing, Xiao Ruochen really was ill.
Although his body had largely recovered from the Ice Snake Venom, his vitality had not yet fully stabilized. The damp mountain winds had triggered a mild fever.
The previous night, he had intended to summon Qin Man.
Unfortunately, Xiao Mu returned with the news that she had spent the entire evening in the princess’s quarters.
Left with no alternatives, Xiao Mu had reluctantly called upon the accompanying imperial physicians.
The medicine they prescribed allowed Xiao Ruochen only a few restless hours of sleep.
At dawn, a page delivered Murong Xue’s medicinal pills.
Xiao Ruochen glanced at the ornate box without the slightest change in expression.
“Please thank Lady Murong for her concern,” he said coolly. “However, the imperial physicians have already treated me. My condition is not serious.”
The gift was returned untouched.
As soon as the page departed, Xiao Ruochen turned toward Xiao Mu.
“Find out whether Miss Qin has returned yet.”
At nearly the same moment, Prince Mo Xuan sat lounging comfortably in the suite next door.
Dressed in flowing black robes, he lazily spun a jade ring around his finger while listening to a detailed report regarding the previous night’s events—particularly Qin Muxi’s prolonged stay in the East Wing.
His famous peach blossom eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Ever since learning that Qin Muxi had returned to the capital, he had repeatedly tried to arrange meetings with her.
Unfortunately, Xiao Ruochen’s decision to keep her inside the Grand Preceptor Manor had made such opportunities scarce.
As a result, Mo Xuan had specifically requested her inclusion in this diplomatic mission.
Now he would be able to see her every day.
Meanwhile, Qin Man slept soundly until Xiao Ya practically dragged her out of bed.
Soon afterward, Su Li arrived carrying breakfast.
The three women gathered around the table and ate together.
Having grown up with modern values, Qin Man had never accepted the rigid class divisions of this world.
In her eyes, Su Li and Xiao Ya were companions, not servants.
Therefore, she always insisted they eat at the same table.
“Miss,” Su Li said while pouring tea, “I overheard several servants gossiping about you this morning.”
Qin Man bit into a pastry.
“Oh? What’s today’s exciting news?”
“They’re saying the Fifth Princess punished you last night and kept you locked in her chambers until midnight.”
Qin Man swallowed her food and took a drink of water.
Then she shrugged.
“Excellent.”
Su Li blinked.
“Excellent?”
“If people believe that, the noble ladies will stay away from me. That saves me a great deal of trouble.”
Neither maid knew whether to laugh or cry.
Soon afterward, the morning horns sounded throughout the station.
The diplomatic delegation completed preparations, mounted their carriages and horses once more, and continued northward into the vast unknown lands ahead.