At that very moment, a young guard stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“Young Lady, our master has temporarily borrowed a nearby vendor’s stall and had it screened off for privacy. You may treat the gentleman there. Please follow me, and we will carry him over shortly.”
Qin Man followed the direction he indicated and saw that a street stall had indeed been cleared out and enclosed from public view.
Whoever this person is, they came up with the exact same solution I did.
There was no time to dwell on it.
After thanking the guard, she brought Su Li and Xiao Ya over to the makeshift treatment area while the injured middle-aged man was carefully carried inside.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Xiao Ruochen sat silently behind the partially drawn curtain.
His gaze remained fixed on the slender yet remarkably courageous young woman.
An unreadable expression flickered through his eyes.
“Uncle, I’m going to administer an anesthetic first so you won’t feel pain during the treatment.”
Qin Man knelt beside the injured man and spoke gently.
“Once the numbness wears off, there will still be some pain, but I’ll prescribe medicine for you. You’ll need to clean the wound and apply the medication daily. Since the injury is quite severe, recovery will take some time.”
As she spoke, she skillfully administered the anesthetic and immediately began stitching the wound.
Su Li’s face turned pale the moment she saw the exposed flesh.
Unable to bear the sight, she quickly turned away.
Xiao Ya was braver, but even she eventually spun around and faced the opposite direction.
The guard and accompanying servants quietly stepped outside as well.
Only Xiao Ruochen remained where he was.
Through the narrow opening in the carriage curtain, he observed every movement Qin Man made.
Her hands moved with exceptional steadiness.
Each stitch was precise.
Each movement was smooth and practiced.
Her technique was flawless.
This girl’s medical skills are extraordinary.
Who exactly is she?
Judging from her clothing and the attendants accompanying her, she was clearly the daughter of an influential family.
Yet from the first moment he saw her, an inexplicable sense of familiarity had settled over him.
Have we met somewhere before?
The thought caused a faint ripple in his usually calm heart.
Nearly an hour later, Qin Man finally completed the procedure.
After bandaging the wound securely, she retrieved several medicines from her medical kit and handed them to the older woman.
Patiently, she explained how to clean the wound, change the dressings, and administer the medication.
The woman’s eyes immediately filled with tears.
Clutching the medicines tightly to her chest, she suddenly dropped to her knees.
“Young Lady, we can never repay such kindness. Please accept our deepest gratitude.”
“Auntie, please don’t do that.”
Qin Man quickly helped her up.
After ensuring the patient’s condition was stable, she walked over to the luxurious carriage.
Bowing politely, she said,
“Thank you for your assistance, Sir. Could I trouble your men to escort this gentleman safely home?”
Inside the carriage, Xiao Ruochen looked at the young woman standing before him.
Although a veil concealed her features, her eyes were strikingly beautiful.
They were bright, clear, and filled with sincerity.
There was something captivating about them.
Something impossible to ignore.
Suddenly, realization struck him.
It’s her.
A powerful emotion surged through his chest.
Even though her face was hidden, those eyes were unforgettable.
He could never mistake them.
His heart stirred with excitement, but outwardly he remained as calm and indifferent as ever.
Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Qin Man leaned forward slightly and glanced into the carriage.
Only then did she get a proper look at him.
Earlier, she had been too busy saving the injured man to pay attention.
Now, however, she could finally appreciate his appearance.
He was breathtakingly handsome.
Dressed in immaculate white robes, he looked almost otherworldly.
His features were refined beyond compare.
His eyes shone like stars in the night sky while remaining deep and unfathomable.
What an absolute fox spirit.
I can’t believe a man this gorgeous actually exists in this era.
Qin Man stared shamelessly.
If not for her remaining dignity, she might have started drooling.
“Xiao Mu.”
Xiao Ruochen finally spoke.
“Arrange for several men to escort the gentleman home safely.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Xiao Mu immediately obeyed.
Noticing that Qin Man was still staring at him in a daze, Xiao Ruochen’s eyes softened ever so slightly.
“Young Lady, is there anything else you need?”
His voice instantly snapped Qin Man back to reality.
She nearly died of embarrassment.
As a modern woman, she had always thought herself immune to mere appearances.
Yet she had just been completely captivated by a handsome face.
Flushing beneath her veil, she hurriedly thanked him before retreating to assist the elderly couple.
Nearby, Xiao Mu secretly glanced at his master.
To his utter shock, he thought he saw the faintest trace of a smile.
He rubbed his eyes.
Impossible.
I’ve served Young Master since childhood.
I’ve never seen him smile.
I must be imagining things.
After arrangements had been made for the couple’s return home, Xiao Ruochen stepped out of the carriage and approached Qin Man.
“This humble one is Xiao Ruochen.”
He inclined his head slightly.
“May I know the Young Lady’s name?”
Before Qin Man could answer, Su Li spoke up.
“Our mistress is the Eldest Miss of the Minister of Rites’ Manor, Miss Qin Muxi.”
Even Su Li’s face reddened under the gaze of such an extraordinarily handsome man.
“So it is Eldest Miss Qin.”
Xiao Ruochen looked directly at Qin Man.
“The young lady who recently returned to the capital.”
“If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me.”
His eyes never left her face.
Qin Man immediately sensed that he was paying far too much attention to her.
Could he have some grudge against the Qin family?
Then she suddenly remembered hearing his name while chatting with the manor servants.
Xiao Ruochen.
The Grand Preceptor of the Nantang Kingdom.
The Crown Prince’s personal teacher.
The dream husband of countless young women throughout the nation.
At the same time, he was famous for keeping women at arm’s length.
Despite being nearly thirty-one years old, he remained unmarried.
After exchanging a few polite words, Qin Man quickly declined his offer to escort her home.
She claimed she still wished to continue shopping with Su Li and Xiao Ya.
In reality, she simply wanted to get away from this dangerous man as quickly as possible.
Just then, a panicked shout rang out.
“Move!”
“Get out of the way!”
“Clear the road!”
A horse-drawn carriage came charging wildly down the street.
The horse had clearly lost control.
Its terrified driver struggled desperately with the reins, but the beast refused to stop.
Unfortunately, Qin Man was standing directly in its path.
Everything happened in an instant.
Just as disaster was about to strike, a powerful arm wrapped around her waist.
Before she could react, she was lifted effortlessly into the air.
A firm chest pressed against her back.
Startled, Qin Man looked up.
She found herself staring directly at Xiao Ruochen.
His brows were perfectly shaped.
His hair was secured beneath a jade crown.
His elegant features radiated the warmth and refinement of polished jade.
Once again, Qin Man found herself unable to look away.
Xiao Ruochen landed lightly beside his carriage while still holding her securely.
After a brief pause, he spoke softly.
“We’ve landed.”
“You may release my neck now.”
“Oh!”
Qin Man finally realized she was still clinging tightly to him.
She immediately let go.
“Thank you for saving me.”
Her face burned with embarrassment.
Fortunately, the veil concealed her blush.
After hurriedly expressing her gratitude, Qin Man grabbed Su Li and Xiao Ya and practically fled the scene.
The three women disappeared into the bustling crowd at remarkable speed.
Xiao Ruochen remained where he stood.
His gaze followed her retreating figure until she vanished completely from sight.
He recalled the warmth of her body in his arms.
The faint scent of sweet oranges that lingered around her.
For the first time in a very long while, a trace of warmth softened the coldness in his eyes.
As for Qin Man, her excuse about wanting to continue shopping was entirely genuine.
Since arriving in this world, she had never had a proper opportunity to explore the capital.
Today’s outing left her in excellent spirits.
Together with Xiao Ya and Su Li, she wandered through the lively streets, purchasing daily necessities and all kinds of delicious snacks.
Naturally, she also visited several apothecaries.
After buying numerous medicinal herbs, she finally returned to the Qin Manor under the cover of night.
Her hands were full of purchases, her mood was excellent, and she felt thoroughly satisfied with the day.