Among all the women of Wanchun Pavilion in the capital, every one of them was a stunning beauty.
Yet the undisputed queen among them was Liu Yueyan.
Her ethereal beauty was renowned throughout the city. Countless men spent fortunes just for a glimpse of her face or the chance to exchange a few words with her.
Deep within her luxurious chambers, behind layers of flowing crimson curtains, Liu Yueyan’s snow-white skin was tinged with a delicate blush.
Soft, breathless moans escaped her lips.
“Your Highness…”
At the sound of her voice, the man became even more passionate, as though venting emotions he had suppressed for a long time.
Only after a considerable while did everything gradually settle.
Liu Yueyan slowly opened her eyes.
The man beside her had already gotten dressed and was now sitting quietly at a nearby table.
He was Mo Xuan, the youngest prince of the Nantang Kingdom.
Dressed in a flowing crimson robe fastened with a golden belt, he appeared elegant and carefree. His long black hair cascaded loosely over his shoulders, while his handsome face looked as though it had been carved from flawless jade.
His phoenix eyes possessed a natural charm that made him extraordinarily attractive.
After dressing herself, Liu Yueyan walked behind him and gently began massaging his shoulders.
She loved him deeply.
She loved him with all her heart, all her soul, and all her devotion.
Yet she knew very well that he did not love her.
“Your Highness, is something troubling you?” she asked softly.
After so many years together, she could always sense his moods.
She simply chose not to pry into matters he did not wish to discuss.
Mo Xuan remained silent for a moment.
“Have you heard that Minister Qin’s daughter returned a few days ago?”
Liu Yueyan nodded.
“The legitimate daughter of the Qin family is said to be extremely ugly.”
“However, she returned to the manor entirely on her own and even helped her mother regain control of the household.”
“This matter has become one of the capital’s hottest topics.”
Her hands continued kneading his shoulders gently.
A faint smile touched Mo Xuan’s lips.
“So she finally came back.”
He closed his eyes.
After spending the entire night indulging himself, he was genuinely tired.
Whenever something troubled him and he couldn’t sort through his thoughts, he would come to Liu Yueyan.
She treated him well.
Exceptionally well.
Yet the only woman who occupied his heart was his true beloved.
No one else could replace her.
Meanwhile, the streets of the Nantang capital were bustling with activity.
Carriages rolled through crowded avenues.
Merchants displayed dazzling arrays of goods.
Street vendors shouted enthusiastically while storytellers attracted large audiences with captivating tales.
Bursts of applause and laughter erupted from various performances along the roadside.
The entire city was overflowing with vitality.
The people of Nantang especially loved flowers.
Now that spring had arrived in full force, blooming flowers decorated nearly every corner of the city, creating a magnificent and vibrant scene.
“Wow! It’s been so long since I’ve gone out. Even the air feels fresher!”
Qin Man inhaled deeply, her eyes sparkling.
Without realizing it, half a month had passed since she returned to the Qin Manor.
Following the turmoil caused by her arrival, the Second Concubine had been forced to relinquish household authority.
As a result, she had no choice but to keep a low profile.
This gave Qin Man a peaceful and uneventful two weeks.
During that time, she focused on restoring her health.
Every day, she carefully prepared medicinal treatments for both internal and external use, steadily eliminating the toxins hidden within her body.
The large black scar on her face had already healed completely.
However, to avoid attracting unnecessary attention, she continued applying a dark medicinal paste to conceal her true appearance.
She also spent time with her mother every day.
The official wife was the closest thing she had to family in this unfamiliar world.
Her kindness and affection filled Qin Man’s heart with warmth.
Within Qingxin Courtyard, Qin Man had also begun cultivating medicinal herbs.
She had no idea when, or even if, she would ever return home.
Although the supplies in her dimensional space replenished themselves automatically, she still wanted to gather more medicinal plants.
After all, ancient times offered one major advantage.
The environment was completely unpolluted.
The air was clean.
The mountains and forests were filled with countless valuable herbs.
For a doctor like Qin Man, it was paradise.
Meanwhile, the official wife’s condition continued to improve.
Having her daughter by her side every day greatly lifted her spirits.
When she looked at Qin Man’s cheerful and optimistic personality, she couldn’t help feeling grateful toward the farming family that had raised her daughter.
A few days earlier, Qin Man had mentioned wanting to send gifts back to her foster parents and foster brother.
The official wife had immediately handed over all of her personal savings and insisted that Qin Man buy whatever she wanted.
Upon returning to the manor, Qin Man had also received two personal maids.
One was Su Li.
The other was Xiao Ya.
Su Li was educated, composed, and gentle.
Xiao Ya was lively and skilled in martial arts.
Both girls adored their mistress.
From the moment they stepped out of the manor today, Xiao Ya had been talking nonstop about candied hawthorns.
“You little glutton.”
Su Li laughed as she nudged her companion.
“Anyone listening would think the manor never lets you leave.”
Today, Qin Man wore a light jade-blue dress paired with a pale green pleated skirt.
Her black hair flowed smoothly down her back, with only a simple jade hairpin adorning it.
Although everyone knew the Eldest Miss’s face was disfigured, nobody dared show disrespect.
Especially not now.
A veil covered her face, and her mood was exceptionally bright.
“Su Li, only you and Xiao Ya actually believe I don’t belong to this era.”
Qin Man tilted her head toward the blue sky, her thoughts drifting far away.
“Miss, I believe everything you say.”
Su Li’s voice was gentle.
During the past half month, Qin Man had never treated them like servants.
Instead, she treated them like younger sisters.
In both maids’ hearts, their mistress was incredibly intelligent, optimistic, and kind.
No words seemed sufficient to describe her.
Every day, Qin Man shared stories about her homeland.
She told them she came from a future thousands of years ahead.
Her real name was Qin Man.
One day she had simply awakened inside another person’s body.
She spoke of loving parents.
Of airplanes flying through the sky.
Of automobiles racing across roads.
Of countless inventions and wonders.
At first, Su Li and Xiao Ya had doubted her stories.
Eventually, however, they became completely captivated.
The future world she described sounded like a paradise.
“Look! Candied hawthorns!”
Qin Man suddenly exclaimed.
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed both girls by the hand and hurried toward the vendor.
After purchasing several skewers, they noticed a large crowd gathered further ahead.
People were whispering anxiously among themselves.
Curious, the three squeezed through the crowd.
What they saw immediately made Qin Man frown.
A middle-aged man was lying on the street.
Blood poured continuously from a severe wound on his lower leg.
His face was pale, and he had already fainted from pain and blood loss.
Beside him, an older woman cried helplessly.
Several bystanders urged her to seek a physician immediately.
If the bleeding wasn’t stopped soon, the man could lose his life.
The woman looked to be around fifty years old.
Her weathered face clearly reflected a life of hardship.
All she could do was cry.
Not far away, a luxurious carriage stood quietly.
The curtain was slightly raised.
Inside sat a young man.
He wore spotless white robes secured by a dark green sash.
His hair was neatly tied back.
His appearance was breathtakingly handsome.
Yet what drew attention most were his eyes.
They were deep and mesmerizing, simultaneously alluring and cold.
The man was none other than Xiao Ruochen, the Crown Prince’s Imperial Tutor.
At the sight of the injured man, Qin Man’s professional instincts immediately took over.
She pushed through the crowd and knelt beside the couple.
“Auntie.”
Her voice was calm and reassuring.
“I am a physician. Please trust me. I can treat your husband’s injury.”
The older woman looked stunned.
“We… we don’t have any money.”
Her gaze swept over Qin Man’s slender frame.
The girl looked far too young to be a doctor.
“Let her try.”
The injured man suddenly groaned.
Pain had briefly roused him from unconsciousness.
At this point, he was willing to try anything.
“Auntie, I won’t charge you a single copper coin.”
Qin Man spoke firmly.
“And your husband’s injury can’t wait any longer.”
As she spoke, she opened a small medical kit.
Moments earlier, she had quietly entered her dimensional space and retrieved it while nobody was paying attention.
Neither Su Li nor Xiao Ya knew when their mistress had learned medicine.
However, they trusted her completely.
If their mistress said she could save someone, then she could.
Without hesitation, both girls stepped forward and politely guided the surrounding crowd back to create more space.
Qin Man opened her kit.
She took out disinfectant, sterile gauze, and several medical instruments.
Working swiftly, she cut away the torn fabric around the wound.
Then she carefully cleaned the injury.
However, as she examined it more closely, her expression grew serious.
The laceration was extremely long.
Although she could stop the bleeding temporarily, the wound absolutely required stitches.
Otherwise, it would heal poorly and likely become infected.
Unfortunately, performing such a procedure in the middle of a crowded street was far from ideal.
Qin Man frowned.
The injured man misunderstood her concern.
“Miss…”
He gritted his teeth against the pain.
“I’m not afraid. Do whatever treatment is necessary.”
Qin Man shook her head.
“Uncle, that’s not the issue.”
“The wound is simply too large.”
“I’ve stopped the bleeding for now, but it needs stitching.”
“If it’s left untreated, infection is almost inevitable.”
She glanced around at the crowded street.
“But this environment isn’t suitable for performing the procedure.”
As she searched for a solution, her brows furrowed thoughtfully.