Lu Qingwan changed into her protective gear and began.
The young soldier's abdomen had been pierced through. As soon as he was placed on the bed, the pure white sheets were stained red.
Lu Qingwan, with a stoic expression, proceeded with each step methodically: undressing, cleaning the wound, administering anesthesia, locating the bleeding point…
Every step was deeply ingrained in her memory, yet filled with tension.
Lu Qingwan told herself that this was her benefactor; she had to save him.
But by the time she reached the final step last night, the young man was as good as dead, showing no reaction.
If not for the ventilator and the ECG indicating he was still alive, Lu Qingwan would have thought the young man had already passed away.
Ying Er asked nervously, "Princess Consort, will Xiao Yuanzi live?"
"I've done everything I can. Whether he lives or not depends on his fate."
The sounds of fighting drifted in from outside. Lu Qingwan frowned and asked, "What's happening?"
"It's another wave of black-clothed attackers, but there aren't many. Shen Qingzhou and the imperial guards can handle them. Princess Consort, you don't need to worry."
He scratched his head and pointed to the warm pavilion beside them. "There are a few more critically injured individuals there. Doctor Shen, Doctor Xiao Meng, and Doctor Meng are hesitant to attend to them and are all waiting for you!"
Lu Qingwan hurried over and saw Shen Ci and the father-son duo, Meng Tang, busy at work.
As she picked up a tool and chose the most severely wounded person to treat, she asked, "Why are you all here?"
Meng Sheng was at Bai Xing Lin, Meng Tang was in the palace, and Shen Ci should have been in the northwest. The fact that all three of them were simultaneously in the pharmacy was truly beyond Lu Qingwan's expectations.
"As soon as there was trouble here, Li Su sent word to the Prince. The Prince ordered us to return."
Shen Ci, while bandaging a patient, stole a moment to say, "Besides me and Doctor Meng, several young ladies under Young Master Duanyue have also returned.
However, Princess Consort, you don't need to worry about the Prince. He has other skilled protectors, and sixty thousand Xuanjia troops are outside the city. The Shence Camp is also in the palace. No one would dare trouble him."
Shen Ci had not mentioned the turmoil in the palace from beginning to end, and the heavy stone in Lu Qingwan's heart finally lifted.
Without further words, she buried herself in treating the wounded.
By the time the critically injured were attended to, it was already dawn.
Lu Qingwan was so tired her head spun. She grabbed a bottle of glucose and drank it straight from the bottle, then distributed a bottle to each of Shen Ci and the others.
However, Meng Sheng had only taken a small sip before he let out a loud retch, his face contorted as if he had eaten bitter herbs, and he cried out.
"Princess Consort, is this thing really meant for people to drink?!"
The young doctor had not yet cultivated the composure of his father, Meng Tang, and Shen Ci, who could remain unperturbed even when Mount Tai collapsed before them.
He said with a grimace, "How can you drink something so unpalatable, Princess Consort?"
"It's meant for injection, but I don't have that much time now."
Lu Qingwan tossed the empty bottle into a trash can in the corner and said understandingly to Meng Sheng, "This stuff doesn't taste good. Don't force yourself if you can't drink it.
You three take turns observing the patients' conditions. As long as you don't delay their treatment, it's fine to take turns sleeping."
After saying this, she had already walked out.
Meng Sheng blinked at his father and Shen Ci. "Do you… want to drink it?"
They both shook their heads in unison. "Let's skip it. I'll have some ginseng soup and some refreshing tea."
Meng Tang's expression was as if he were dodging a monstrous flood, and Shen Ci's was no different.
The three of them watched Lu Qingwan's receding figure and simultaneously showed expressions of admiration. Shen Ci summarized.
"As expected of the woman who could conquer our Prince, she is ruthless to others and even more so to herself."
According to the traditions of the Great Qian dynasty, on the third day after the emperor's death, court ladies were to enter the palace to mourn.
Lu Qingwan, however, did not rush to the palace. After leaving the pharmacy, she headed straight for the dungeon.
Even before reaching the entrance, she heard sounds of screams. The guards saw her and hastily knelt to greet her, "Your subordinate greets the Princess Consort."
Lu Qingwan nodded and walked directly inside. However, the guard blocked her path.
His expression was tense, but he insisted, "Princess Consort, please stop. The scene inside may cause you discomfort.
Guard Li Su has almost finished the interrogation. He is now avenging the fallen brothers.
If Princess Consort does not mind, I will have Guard Li Su come out to report to you in person."
The guard looked somewhat familiar; he was likely one of the Prince's hidden guards.
He dared to block her path, indicating that Li Su had given him instructions beforehand. Lu Qingwan did not make things difficult for him. "Then have Li Su come to the main courtyard to find me directly."
The guard was still worried that Lu Qingwan would insist on entering the dungeon, putting him in a difficult position. Upon hearing this, he quickly agreed.
Lu Qingwan, covered in grime from working all night, was both dirty and exhausted. She instructed the guard and then turned back to Wutong Courtyard.
After a swift wash and change of clothes, she heard Li Su's voice from behind a screen.
"Reporting to Princess Consort, the assassins last night came in four waves. The first to breach the Prince's manor were from the Tianxuan Sect, and some from Prince Chen were among them, adding to the chaos.
There was also a group of martial artists who claimed to be under Ming Wuya's command, but the poison used in their hidden weapons was viper venom, unique to Xiliang.
Another group was the seventh-level martial artist who almost injured you, Princess Consort. He was accompanied by only four or five people. I have not yet found any clues about them."
Lu Qingwan, draped in an outer robe, walked around the screen. "Are you certain they were Feng Qingheng's men? Is there any concrete evidence?"
"The assassins confessed it themselves. Additionally, although their weapons had no clear markings, I had Tie Shou examine them, and they are indeed from the Ministry of War's armory.
In the court, only Prince Chen could obtain such items and target Princess Consort."
"Such evidence can accuse the titular Prince Chen, but it cannot accuse the new Emperor of Great Qian."
Lu Qingwan quickly put on her plain clothes. "Help me tie a simple hairstyle. Have someone prepare the carriage and let Liang Xia and Ren Dong accompany me to the palace."
Li Su saw that Lu Qingwan's hair was still wet. While wiping it with a handkerchief, he said, "It's winter, and it's cold. If Princess Consort goes out with wet hair, you might get a headache.
Why don't I help you dry your hair? Although my internal energy is not as profound as the Prince's, I can still dry your hair."
"No need. Just wipe it dry and tie it up."
Lu Qingwan saw Li Su's suspicious gaze in the mirror and pretended not to notice.
Li Su was, after all, just a subordinate and could not forcefully insist on anything from Lu Qingwan. As she instructed, he wiped her hair until it was no longer dripping and then tied it up.
She wore dark ceremonial robes covered by a plain outer garment, and even her cloak was a pure white.
On her head, besides a pure white magnolia hairpin, no other decorations were visible.
Lu Qingwan looked in the mirror, and once she was sure there was nothing to fault, she stood up. "You will remain at the manor. Besides the Prince's study, pay close attention to the Meng Tang father and son.
If Prince Chen and the Tianxuan Sect cannot capture me, they might target them.
Tell Ying Yi that Bai Xing Lin will close temporarily. Say it was heavily damaged and the doctors need to recuperate, and Bai Xing Lin needs to be rebuilt..."