Yu Jiuzhou’s body temperature didn’t return to normal until the sun had set.
Chi Wan was drenched in sweat. The heated chamber was hot and stuffy, and with Yu Jiuzhou continuously releasing her scent, she was suffering both physically and mentally.
Fortunately, she had used silver needles to block her sense of smell. Once she was immersed in the treatment, her body’s reaction subsided. Soon after, the old imperial physician brought a cooling pill. Although it didn’t completely cool her down, as she continued her work, Yu Jiuzhou’s condition stabilized, and she stopped releasing her scent.
Only then could Chi Wan treat her in peace.
After several hours of focused treatment, her clothes were soaked through.
Chun Gui instructed a nearby maidservant, “Prepare a bath in the heated chamber for the Fuma. Have someone attend to her, and then summon an imperial physician.”
The heated chamber Chun Gui mentioned was the one Yu Jiuzhou used for her daily baths. As the Grand Princess’s head maidservant and a senior fifth-rank Seal-holding Female Official, her status was high. Her orders carried far more weight than those of Chi Wan, the Fuma.
Chi Wan didn’t refuse. Her arm was killing her. It was a good thing the bone wasn’t injured, or she wouldn’t have been able to endure for so long.
Soaking in the hot spring, Chi Wan rested her arm on the edge of the pool and examined the wound. A cut this deep would definitely leave a scar.
She gave it a casual glance, not thinking much of it. As long as the bone wasn’t hurt and it didn’t require surgery, it was nothing to her.
The most important thing now was to sort out her current predicament. It was obvious Yu Jiuzhou wanted her dead. In the story, anyone targeted by the villain couldn’t survive unless they were the protagonist. And even the protagonist paid a heavy price for their final victory—a classic case of inflicting ten thousand wounds on the enemy while suffering eight thousand oneself.
This was the twenty-seventh year of the Shengyuan era. It was the second year since Prince Bao’an had entered the capital as one of the potential heirs, which meant the emperor didn’t have much time left.
Thinking of Prince Bao’an, Chi Wan sat up abruptly. Wasn’t he supposed to visit? Several hours had passed. She wondered if anyone at the Princess’s Residence had received him. Still, the residence had a chief steward, who would surely provide an explanation.
She remembered from the novel that Prince Bao’an appeared modest on the surface but was arrogant and sensitive underneath. He would remember anyone who slighted him and retaliate tenfold.
The novel had tried to shape him into a ‘black lotus’ cunning, dark protagonist, but he just came off as petty and vengeful.
Having read the novel, Chi Wan had always felt that if he weren’t the protagonist, Yu Jiuzhou would have undoubtedly won.
But then she thought of the scum Fuma’s end—carved into a human swine, limbs gone, pickled in a wine jar with only her head exposed. The sting of disinfecting a normal wound with alcohol was excruciating enough; being submerged in wine was unimaginable. Just thinking about it made Chi Wan’s skin crawl with a phantom pain.
However, there was one small comfort: when she arrived, nothing was set in stone yet. Although it was merely the difference between ninety-nine percent and one hundred percent certainty, it still left a sliver of hope for survival.
After her bath, Chi Wan, dressed in a robe, waited for the old imperial physician to treat her.
The old imperial physician nodded in satisfaction. “The Fuma’s use of medicine is truly masterful. Even my granddaughter, who began studying medicine at five and has been practicing for fifteen years, is still far behind the Fuma. In some applications, this old subject feels ashamed of her own inferiority.”
To become an imperial physician, one’s medical skills had to be among the best in the world. Chi Wan certainly didn’t think she was better than the old physician. “Imperial Physician Zheng, you are far too modest. I still have much to learn.”
Chi Wan had also started learning Daoism and medicine from her grandmother around the age of five. Combined with her later systematic studies, she definitely had twenty years of experience. After transmigrating, her memory had noticeably improved. Prescriptions she had seen and knowledge she had learned in the past were now as if etched into her mind.
Her medical skills lacked practical application, but her theoretical knowledge was formidable. At traditional medicine conferences, only the old masters could challenge her with their vast experience.
The old imperial physician coughed a few times. She was likely exhausted from the day’s events, and her body was struggling to keep up.
“Fuma, this old subject is unwell. Might I have my granddaughter bandage your wound for you?”
“Of course.”
The old imperial physician called her granddaughter in. When Chi Wan saw her, she raised an eyebrow. A Kun Ze?
The old physician seemed not to notice her surprise and introduced the young woman. “This is my granddaughter, Zheng Yi—the Yi from yì pò (a type of amber). Her medical skills are excellent, but she cannot take the examinations for the Imperial Medical Academy and can only practice alongside me. Today, when the Fuma requested a Kun Ze physician, she happened to be at home.”
In truth, the old physician had been afraid something might go wrong. She didn’t mind losing her own old life, but she couldn’t drag her granddaughter down with her. Since she hadn’t been present, she hadn’t sent for her.
Chi Wan nodded and held out her arm for Zheng Yi to bandage. She was only wearing a bath robe, but Zheng Yi’s expression didn’t change, and Chi Wan didn’t think anything of it. They were both women. Although she knew this world was divided into Qian Yuan, Kun Ze, and He Yuan, the fact was that besides the difference in scents, females were otherwise the same in all aspects. And He Yuan had no scent at all.
Having just transmigrated, Chi Wan didn’t yet have a tangible sense of what it meant to be a Qian Yuan or Kun Ze. Besides, a physician’s heart is benevolent, and the old imperial physician was right there.
Zheng Yi had a somewhat heroic look about her. She seemed to be about 175cm tall—quite tall—and sat with a commanding presence. Her face was expressionless as she focused on bandaging the wound. She looked like the cool and straightforward type.
Her technique was very skilled, a clear sign that she practiced medicine often.
Chi Wan couldn’t help but ask, “Doesn’t the Imperial Medical Academy have medical assistants? Their positions aren’t restricted to Qian Yuan or Kun Ze.”
Medical assistants had no rank but received a stipend. They were essentially assistants to the imperial physicians, like the difference between a tenured and non-tenured position. Their stipend was paid by the Imperial Medical Academy itself.
The old imperial physician hesitated, but Zheng Yi spoke up, tying the white cloth on Chi Wan’s arm a little tighter. “Does the Fuma not know that attractive medical assistants, regardless of whether they are Qian Yuan or Kun Ze, are all considered the personal plaything of their superiors?”
Hmm? Chi Wan frowned. Such things happened? It was just like the young masters of wealthy households and their page boys—utterly contemptible.
Thinking she was angry, the old imperial physician immediately knelt. “Fuma, please forgive us! My granddaughter has been insolent. This subject is willing to accept punishment in her stead.”
“Grandmother!” Zheng Yi exclaimed in frustration.
Chi Wan helped her up. “Imperial Physician Zheng, there’s no need for this. I was just shocked, as this is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing.”
No wonder Imperial Physician Zheng had asked Zheng Yi to bandage her wound. She was hoping to leave her granddaughter in the Princess’s Residence. Didn’t the old physician know that Chi Wan held no real status here?
Still, if Zheng Yi wanted a place to practice her skills, the Princess’s Residence was indeed more suitable than other places.
Chi Wan understood the situation but didn’t pursue the matter. The Princess’s Residence belonged to Yu Jiuzhou; she couldn’t make decisions on her behalf.
After Imperial Physician Zheng left with Zheng Yi, Chi Wan put on the clothes Chun Gui had prepared. The undergarments were simple yet soft, incredibly comfortable against her skin—far more so than any clothes she had worn in her past life. The outer layer was a pure white cross-collared robe embroidered with a bamboo pattern. The embroidery was uncolored, just simple white thread. A matching sash and a coordinated outer coat completed the outfit, giving her an air of nobility and youthful aloofness.
At that moment, likely due to blood loss and exhaustion, Chi Wan’s face and lips were pale, creating a look of cold, fragile beauty. A persistent worry was etched between her brows. How could she not be worried in her current circumstances?
She still didn’t know how Yu Jiuzhou would deal with her upon waking. She wanted to escape but couldn’t. This was the capital. For the Fuma to flee would be a slap in the face to the Emperor and the Princess. If she were caught, it would be over.
She would have to wait until she was more familiar with this world before making any plans.
Forget it, she thought. I should go check on Yu Jiuzhou. Hopefully, she’ll spare me on account of me saving her life.
When Chi Wan returned to the heated chamber, it had been completely refreshed. Everything that had been used was replaced.
Yu Jiuzhou lay quietly on the bed, her fierce expression gone. Chi Wan took her pulse and, feeling that her body had completely calmed, finally felt relieved.
Chun Gui had someone bring dinner. “Fuma, this subject will take care of the Princess. Please go have your meal.”
Although Chun Gui’s rank was higher than hers, she still referred to herself as “this subject,” as the Fuma was considered semi-royalty.
Chi Wan’s stomach was indeed empty, so she nodded and left. She had to admit, the food at the Princess’s Residence was quite good.
Chi Wan didn’t know that just as she left, Yu Jiuzhou woke up.
“Chun Gui?”
“Your Highness.” Chun Gui hurried forward. “The Fuma’s prescription really worked.”
“Her?” Yu Jiuzhou recalled what had happened before she lost consciousness. Rage and humiliation surged through her, making her wish she could kill Chi Wan right then and there.
The Grand Princess, the Emperor’s only daughter, with no siblings, showered with endless affection—to suffer such a humiliation was worse than death.
Having been reborn, she knew even better what the scum Fuma had done.
Yu Jiuzhou struggled to raise a hand and grab Chun Gui’s arm. “Kill her! Chun Gui, kill her for me!”
