A spark of understanding flashed simultaneously across Xiao Ruochen’s and Mo Xuan’s faces. Their grim expressions eased for the first time, replaced by silent excitement.
This dense, unusual medicinal scent was no accident. It was a carefully planned signal.
Among everyone in their entourage, only Qin Man constantly carried a unique collection of medicinal compounds. The scent trail could only have been left by her.
She had created a path for them to follow from within enemy territory.
“There’s no time to lose,” Mo Xuan said sharply.
Without wasting another moment, they gathered a team of elite martial artists and followed the scent through the winding streets of the county.
The plan worked perfectly.
The trail led them directly to the underground stone prison.
The Yayao guards had never imagined that the Nantang Kingdom forces would locate their hideout so quickly. Caught completely off guard, their defenses collapsed. Most of the guards were swiftly subdued, while only a handful managed to escape into the maze of alleys.
Xiao Ruochen kicked the heavy wooden door with tremendous force.
The reinforced door shattered apart.
The cellar was dark and damp, but his sharp eyes swept through the room immediately.
He found the five noble young ladies.
But Qin Man was nowhere to be seen.
A soldier behind him lit a torch, flooding the cellar with warm light.
The moment the captives recognized the imperial uniforms, they broke down in tears of relief.
When Murong Xue saw Xiao Ruochen, she rushed toward him despite her exhaustion.
“Brother Ruochen… you finally found us…” she sobbed.
Raised in luxury and protected her entire life, Murong Xue had never experienced true danger before. After surviving this ordeal, she found herself unexpectedly envious of Qin Man.
That woman might possess a scarred appearance, but she lived with a freedom, courage, and strength Murong Xue could never match.
“Was Muxi taken here with you?” Xiao Ruochen asked immediately, completely ignoring her emotional display.
His voice trembled with barely restrained panic.
“Where is she now?”
“Yes, Miss Qin was imprisoned here with us, but…” Murong Xue began.
Before she could finish, the stress, fear, and exhaustion overwhelmed her.
Her vision darkened.
She collapsed unconscious into the arms of another young lady.
“Escort Miss Murong back to the courier station and have the physicians examine her immediately,” Mo Xuan ordered.
A younger noblewoman, Miss Jiang, who remained relatively composed, stepped forward and respectfully recounted everything that had happened since their abduction.
After listening to the entire account, Mo Xuan turned to Xiao Ruochen.
“Muxi definitely continued leaving scent markers after she was taken away. We should be able to follow her trail from here.”
“I agree,” Xiao Ruochen replied without hesitation.
Since Qin Man had remained conscious throughout her captivity, it was only natural that she would continue leaving clues.
The rescue force split into two groups.
One group escorted the rescued noble ladies back to Princess Mo Yueyao and reported the situation.
The other group, led personally by Xiao Ruochen and Mo Xuan, followed the lingering scent deeper into the city.
Meanwhile, inside the luxurious safehouse, Qin Man waited calmly in the main reception hall.
Before long, two maidservants escorted her into a secluded inner courtyard.
A frail woman lay on an exquisite mahogany bed.
Her face was thin and pale, and years of illness had clearly drained her strength.
Prince Vajaza sat beside her, speaking softly.
The moment Qin Man entered, he stood.
“This is my Imperial Mother, an Imperial Consort of the Yayao Kingdom,” he said.
His eyes fixed firmly on Qin Man.
“You will use all of your medical knowledge to cure her.”
Qin Man silently studied him.
Despite his ruthless methods, he genuinely cared for his mother.
As a physician, she never judged patients based on nationality or politics.
Even if he had not threatened her, she would still do her best to save the woman.
“I understand,” Qin Man replied calmly.
She approached the bedside.
“However, I require complete silence while conducting my examination. No interruptions.”
Vajaza immediately dismissed the servants.
However, he himself remained standing nearby.
“I must also ask Your Highness to leave the room,” Qin Man said evenly. “I need a completely undisturbed environment.”
“Vajaza, wait outside,” the Imperial Consort said softly.
From the moment she had seen Qin Man, she had felt an inexplicable warmth toward the young woman.
“I trust Miss Qin.”
“Mother, what if she intends to harm you?” Vajaza objected.
The Consort smiled faintly.
“My body is already in this condition. What reason would she have to kill a dying woman? Leave us.”
Unable to disobey his mother, Vajaza reluctantly withdrew and stood guard outside the room.
“Thank you for your trust, Your Highness,” Qin Man said gently.
“My registered name is Qin Muxi, daughter of the Minister of Rites of Nantang Kingdom. I will begin by examining your pulse.”
She placed her fingers lightly on the Consort’s wrist.
Closing her eyes, she focused completely.
Several long moments passed in silence.
Finally, the Consort could not contain her anxiety.
“Miss Qin… do I still have any hope of recovery?”
Qin Man opened her eyes and smiled reassuringly.
“Your pulse shows severe stagnation and poor circulation. Blood and energy are not flowing properly through your body, which has caused your long-term weakness.”
The Consort stared at her.
“But if the illness is not fatal, why have none of the imperial physicians been able to cure me?”
“Because the root of the problem is not what they believe,” Qin Man explained.
“You have spent years under tremendous psychological stress. That stress disrupted your endocrine system, creating numerous secondary illnesses throughout your body.”
The Consort was stunned.
“I will perform acupuncture and therapeutic massage to stimulate circulation and restore normal bodily function. I will also prepare a three-day medicinal prescription.”
“Additionally, you must spend one hour outdoors in sunlight every morning and engage in light physical activity. If you follow these instructions, your recovery will be much faster.”
Taking out her silver needles, Qin Man began the treatment.
Her acupuncture was precise and smooth.
Afterward, she carefully massaged specific points to improve circulation before writing a detailed prescription.
When she finished, she called Vajaza back into the room.
Handing him the prescription, she said, “Have these herbs prepared immediately.”
Vajaza read through the document.
His expression shifted between hope and doubt.
“My mother has been bedridden for years,” he said coldly.
“The finest physicians in the empire declared her condition incurable. Yet you claim it is not serious?”
His sharp eyes narrowed.
“If you are deceiving me, have you considered the consequences?”
Qin Man calmly packed away her medical tools.
“Your Highness, your mother’s condition appears severe precisely because she has been confined to bed for so long while carrying heavy emotional burdens.”
She looked at him directly.
“The fact that your imperial physicians could not diagnose the problem does not mean that I cannot.”
Then she turned back toward the Consort.
“Your Highness, remaining in bed continuously will only worsen your condition. Let me help you sit up.”
Supported by Qin Man, the Consort slowly rose into a seated position.
It was the first time she had sat upright comfortably in months.
“You should remain seated for at least an hour,” Qin Man instructed.
Then she looked at Vajaza.
“Where is your kitchen?”
“The kitchen?” Vajaza repeated, confused.
“I need to prepare a specialized nutritional broth.”
“The heavy medicinal soups your staff has been forcing upon her should be discontinued immediately.”
Amused despite himself, Vajaza ordered a servant to escort Qin Man to the kitchens.
While she was gone, he remained beside his mother.
When Qin Man eventually returned carrying a bowl of rice broth, he watched silently as she fed the Consort spoon by spoon with extraordinary patience.
Throughout his life, Vajaza had been surrounded by flatterers, opportunists, and soldiers.
He had never seen anyone care for another person with such genuine devotion.
As he observed her, something inside him shifted.
The scars that had initially disgusted him no longer seemed ugly.
Instead, they somehow appeared natural upon her face.
After the treatment and meal, the Consort’s complexion visibly improved.
Even her chronic pain had eased considerably.
Overjoyed, she ordered Vajaza to provide Qin Man with the highest level of hospitality.
Once they left the room, Vajaza escorted Qin Man toward a heavily guarded guest residence.
“Miss Qin,” he said sincerely, “your medical skill has earned my respect.”
“I hope you will remain here temporarily and continue overseeing my mother’s recovery.”
Qin Man suddenly stopped walking.
“Your Highness,” she said quietly, “your mother’s illness was never caused by natural disease.”
Vajaza froze.
“What do you mean?”
“She has been poisoned.”
His expression changed instantly.
“What?!”
“You previously said her illness was caused by poor circulation and emotional strain.”
“And those symptoms are real,” Qin Man replied.
“I simplified the explanation because I did not wish to alarm the Consort.”
She lowered her voice.
“The poison has been administered in tiny amounts over many years. It is colorless, odorless, and specifically designed to imitate natural decline.”
“That is why your physicians never discovered it.”
Vajaza’s face darkened.
“Can you cure it?”
“The antidote exists.”
Before she could continue, he interrupted.
“Name your price.”
“If saving my mother requires it, I will pay anything.”
Qin Man met his gaze steadily.
“Withdraw every one of your forces from Nantang Kingdom territory.”
“And swear never to violate our borders again.”
Vajaza stared at her.
For the first time in his life, he felt a strange and unfamiliar emotion toward a woman.
“Agreed,” he said firmly.
“I can guarantee the complete withdrawal of my own faction and every soldier under my command.”
“However, I cannot control the rest of the royal family. My Imperial Father, my eldest brother, and the other princes remain committed to conquering Nantang Kingdom.”
“That is sufficient,” Qin Man replied.
Reaching into her medical case, she removed a small glass vial and handed it to him.
“Administer two doses every twenty-four hours with warm water.”
“The poison has accumulated over many years. She must finish the entire vial before it is completely eliminated.”
She also handed him a specialized testing needle.
“Use this to inspect all food and medicine supplied to the Consort. If it contacts the poison, the needle will immediately change color.”
Vajaza accepted both items carefully.
“Miss Qin,” he said solemnly, “you have my deepest gratitude.”
The proud Third Prince of Yayao lowered his head and performed a respectful bow.
Then he turned and strode away, immediately beginning a thorough investigation of everyone involved in his mother’s care.