Xia Lan Shi stared at Xiao Yuan for a long time, for so long that Xiao Yuan finally raised his eyes and looked at him.
“What?”
Xia Lan Shi immediately lowered his eyes and said gently, “I merely feel that Your Highness looks somewhat better today than yesterday.”
“Tell me the truth.”
Xia Lan Shi was silent for a moment before saying,
“I feel that Your Highness seemed to smile just now.”
The guards in the secret chamber instantly lowered their heads, wishing they had heard nothing at all.
Xiao Yuan said expressionlessly, “You saw wrong.”
Xia Lan Shi readily replied, “Yes. I saw wrong.”
But he did not think that way at all.
He had been sent to the Seventh Prince’s side when he was young. He had seen Xiao Yuan injured and poisoned. He had seen Xiao Yuan publicly humiliated by the Crown Prince at a palace banquet, yet still calmly drink a cup of wine that he knew might be poisoned.
But he had never truly seen Xiao Yuan smile.
Those so-called smiles were either mockery or pretense.
Yet that moment just now had been different.
It was like a lake that had been frozen for years suddenly developing an extremely fine crack, so brief that it almost made one suspect it had merely been the flickering of candlelight.
But Xia Lan Shi was certain he had not seen wrong.
And what had caused His Highness to show that expression was actually those particularly ugly words written on the medicine bag.
—Xiao Yuan, Do Not Take Indiscriminately.
Xia Lan Shi lowered his long white lashes and glanced once more at the emergency handbook in his hand.
This physician from another world was rather interesting.
At the very least… he was quite bold.
He dared to address Prince Su directly by name, and he even dared to write words that were almost like a reprimand on the medicine bag.
Even more strangely, His Highness had not become angry.
Strange.
This was far too strange.
Xiao Yuan paid no further attention to Xia Lan Shi’s scrutiny and turned toward the several wooden boxes.
“Open the boxes.”
The guards immediately stepped forward and opened the boxes one by one.
The first box contained soap and masks wrapped in oil paper.
The second contained gauze, bandages, packets of medicine, and gloves.
The third contained water-purification tablets, portable water filters, and several explanations handwritten by Su Mu Chen.
The fourth contained compressed biscuits, nutritional powder, cotton socks, and cold-weather supplies.
Everyone in the secret chamber fell silent.
It was not because they were not shocked.
It was because they did not know how they were supposed to be shocked.
They had never seen these things before.
The soap inside the white oil-paper packages felt hard and smooth, carrying a faint clean scent.
The masks were thin and light, with fine strings on both sides.
The gauze was white and soft, so clean that it seemed almost unnatural.
As for the medicine packets, there was no need to mention them. Every packet was covered in dense writing, making anyone who looked at it feel tense.
Xia Lan Shi lightly coughed and reached out to pick up a packet of soap.
“Soap for handwashing.”
He read the words on the outside. Although the handwriting was messy, the meaning was not difficult to guess.
The guard beside him looked at the drawing below and hesitated.
“Chief Secretary, this drawing is…”
Xia Lan Shi was silent for a moment. After eliminating every other possibility and reasoning from the words written beside it, he said,
“It should be a hand.”
Guard: “…”
It did not look like one.
It really did not look like one.
But no one dared say so.
After all, these were things His Highness had brought back.
Xiao Yuan glanced indifferently at the drawing.
The image of Su Mu Chen coldly stuffing the soap back into the box surfaced in his mind.
Another extremely faint trace of amusement passed through his eyes.
Xia Lan Shi happened to catch it from the corner of his eye, making him even more certain.
His Highness was not right.
He was very much not right.
However, this was not the time to pursue the matter.
He quickly gathered his thoughts and returned to examining the emergency handbook.
The more he read, the more solemn his expression became.
“Your Highness, if this method can be implemented, the epidemic in the Northern Frontier may perhaps be contained within only a few cities.”
Xiao Yuan asked, “How long will it take to make arrangements?”
Xia Lan Shi thought for a moment.
“If we only select people from within the Prince’s Residence, we can do it tonight.”
“The people must be clean.”
“I understand.” Xia Lan Shi said, “They cannot have any ties to the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, or the Fifth Prince.”
Xiao Yuan’s eyes became colder.
The assassination yesterday had been orchestrated by the Crown Prince’s faction.
But the person who had actually handed over the blade might not have been the Crown Prince alone. His brothers had never lacked the ability to kick someone while they were down.
Xia Lan Shi said, “I fear Your Highness’s injuries cannot remain concealed for much longer. At tomorrow’s court session, the Crown Prince will certainly test you.”
“Then let him test me.”
Xia Lan Shi frowned.
“Your Highness has not yet recovered. It is not advisable to enter the palace.”
Xiao Yuan’s tone was calm.
“They want to see me in a miserable state. Then let them see.”
Xia Lan Shi knew he could not stop Xiao Yuan and could only remind him,
“The Crown Prince will certainly bring up the unrest along the Northern Frontier tomorrow and do everything possible to make Your Highness go there.”
This was not the first time.
The Crown Prince had previously set traps to make Xiao Yuan go to the battlefield, intending for Xiao Yuan to die there.
But every time, he had failed.
Not only that, Xiao Yuan had repeatedly returned with military achievements, making the Crown Prince hate him to the bone.
Now that Xiao Yuan was seriously wounded, it was the perfect opportunity.
The Crown Prince would certainly not let it pass.
“I know. If I don’t enter the palace, it will look like I have something to hide.”
Xia Lan Shi understood what he meant.
A Prince Su who had just survived an assassination attempt and was still seriously injured, yet could enter the palace as usual to receive orders, would be far more effective at suppressing rumors than a Prince Su who shut himself away to recover.
Only…
Xia Lan Shi’s gaze fell upon Xiao Yuan’s waist and abdomen.
“If that physician from another world knew that Your Highness still intends to enter the palace tomorrow, I fear he would become angry.”
The secret chamber suddenly became silent.
Xiao Yuan looked at him.
Xia Lan Shi’s expression remained gentle, as though he had merely mentioned it casually. His gaze calmly swept over Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan said expressionlessly, “He won’t know.”
Xia Lan Shi said, “Your Highness is still going to see him tomorrow night.”
Xiao Yuan: “…”
Xia Lan Shi lightly coughed, suppressing his laughter.
“I am merely reminding Your Highness that if the wound splits open, I fear it will be difficult to explain.”
Xiao Yuan said coldly, “You have been talking too much lately.”
Xia Lan Shi lowered his head.
“This subject knows his crime.”
Yet there was not the slightest trace of remorse in his eyes.
Xiao Yuan could not be bothered to argue with him.
He picked up a packet of medicine and handed it to Xia Lan Shi for confirmation.
“This is the medicine he gave me.”
Xia Lan Shi accepted it and carefully examined the words on the outside.
Twice a day. Take after meals. For at least three days. Do not stop without authorization.
After reading it, his tone became somewhat peculiar.
“This person manages things very carefully.”
“He is a physician.”
Xia Lan Shi raised his eyes.
“Your Highness has always hated being controlled by others.”
Xiao Yuan gave him a cold look.
Xia Lan Shi immediately lowered his head.
“This subject said nothing.”
A very soft knock suddenly came from outside the secret chamber.
Three short knocks, followed by one long knock.
Xiao Yuan’s eyes moved slightly.
“Enter.”
The stone door was pushed open, and a woman wearing a pale pink cloak walked in.
She was extraordinarily beautiful, with delicate, gentle features and a slender figure, resembling a crabapple flower dampened by rain, making one instinctively want to pity her.
Only, her eyes were too bright.
So bright that they did not resemble those of a fragile woman at all.
As soon as she entered, she curtsied toward Xiao Yuan.
“Your Highness.”
Xiao Yuan said,
“Ban Yue.”
Chi Ban Yue raised her head.
Her gaze first fell upon Xiao Yuan, sweeping over his complexion and injuries. A trace of coldness flashed through her eyes.
“I heard Your Highness was assassinated yesterday. I nearly thought I was going to have to burn paper offerings for Your Highness.”
The guards lowered their heads even further.
Xia Lan Shi was already accustomed to it.
Xiao Yuan said calmly, “I’m not dead.”
Chi Ban Yue smiled sweetly and beautifully. “What a pity. I even thought of the words for your funeral rites.”
Xiao Yuan glanced at her.
“Did you find anything?”
Chi Ban Yue restrained her smile and took a thin roll of paper from her sleeve.
“I found some things. The people who chased Your Highness yesterday were, on the surface, secret guards from the Crown Prince’s Residence. But two of them used techniques that resembled those of the Third Prince’s people.”
Xia Lan Shi took the thin paper and unfolded it, his expression turning slightly grim.
“As expected. It wasn’t only the Crown Prince.”
Chi Ban Yue said, “Also, the Fifth Prince went to the palace today and stayed for an hour. After leaving the palace, his people went to see the Chief Secretary of the Crown Prince’s Residence.”
Xiao Yuan gave a cold laugh.
“He’s certainly in a hurry.”
Chi Ban Yue’s gaze fell upon the wooden boxes in the secret chamber, and she blinked.
“Are these the treasures Your Highness brought back from the other world?”
She stepped closer and picked up a bar of soap, smelling it.
“A clean scent.”
After saying that, she looked at the unmistakably ugly illustration of a hand and froze.
“Is this… a crab?”
The secret chamber fell silent for a moment.
Xia Lan Shi slowly said, “It’s a hand.”
Chi Ban Yue: “…”
After a moment of silence, she sincerely said, “This physician from another world may have good medical skills, but his drawing skills must be quite ordinary.”
Xiao Yuan reached out, took the soap back, and put it into the box.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Chi Ban Yue glanced at him.
Then she looked at the packet of medicine beside him with the words “Xiao Yuan, Do Not Take Indiscriminately” written on it.
Finally, her gaze settled on Xiao Yuan’s slightly softened expression.
She suddenly smiled.
This smile was different from her earlier gentle appearance. It carried more of the delight of watching a good show.
“Your Highness, is this physician from another world a man or a woman?”
“Man.”
Chi Ban Yue’s eyes brightened slightly.
Xia Lan Shi’s fingers paused.
Xiao Yuan said coldly, “What are those looks for?”
Chi Ban Yue immediately lowered her eyes, her voice delicate.
“This servant is merely curious. What kind of extraordinary person could make Your Highness willing to take medicine?”
Xia Lan Shi said quietly, “This subject is curious as well.”
Xiao Yuan: “…”
He suddenly felt that these two people beside him should both be thrown into the snowy fields of the Northern Frontier to cool off.
Chi Ban Yue changed the subject.
“Your Highness is entering the palace tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Then shall this servant continue putting on the usual act for outsiders?”
Xiao Yuan nodded.
Chi Ban Yue was the woman he had publicly purchased from a brothel and brought back.
Outsiders all believed that Prince Su was addicted to women, and that she was his most favored woman, to the point that he often brought her along even when traveling.
This identity allowed her to enter and leave many places, while also blocking those officials who tried to send women to Xiao Yuan’s side.
Chi Ban Yue smiled.
“Then tomorrow I’ll cry a little more and say that Your Highness even summoned me to attend his bed last night, acting as mighty as ever. That should put the Crown Prince’s people at ease.”
Xia Lan Shi choked on his tea and began coughing.
Xiao Yuan’s gaze was cold enough to kill.
“Chi Ban Yue.”
Chi Ban Yue immediately lowered her head weakly.
“This servant knows her mistake.”
Yet her face clearly said she would do it again next time.
Xia Lan Shi finally recovered and said quietly,
“If this matter reaches the ears of that physician from another world…”
Chi Ban Yue immediately followed up, “What will happen?”
Xia Lan Shi thought for a moment.
“He would probably think Your Highness was fooling around despite being so badly injured, and then stitch your wound without any anesthetic.”
Chi Ban Yue: “That’s ruthless. Even more ruthless than me.”
Xiao Yuan said expressionlessly, “Are you two very free?”
Xia Lan Shi immediately composed himself.
“This subject will arrange the personnel right away.”
Chi Ban Yue also smiled and bowed.
“This servant will go spread the information.”
Before the two of them left, Xia Lan Shi glanced at the several boxes of supplies once more.
“Your Highness, the first batch of supplies can first be tested within the Prince’s Residence. If they truly prove effective, we can then take them to the Northern Frontier.”
“Begin tonight.”
Xia Lan Shi nodded.
He knew very well that the Northern Frontier could not wait.
The Prince’s Residence could not wait either.
The Crown Prince’s people were watching them, the Emperor’s suspicion was weighing upon them, and the imperial order concerning the Northern Frontier was already on its way.
They did not have much time left.
Xia Lan Shi had the supplies separated.
The first batch was sent to the Prince’s Residence’s secret guard camp. Some of the people there had been injured while escorting Xiao Yuan back yesterday.
The wounded guards had long been accustomed to herbal medicine, strong liquor, strips of cloth, and gritting their teeth through the pain.
But when rolls of pure white gauze, bottles of strange medicinal liquids, and disinfecting supplies were placed before them, every one of them froze.
“Chief Secretary, what is this…?”
Xia Lan Shi unfolded Su Mu Chen’s handbook and said solemnly,
“A new method recorded in an overseas medical text.”
He paused and calmly fabricated a source for Su Mu Chen.
“His Highness obtained it by chance. We will test it in the camp first.”
The secret guards did not ask further questions.
They only needed to know that anything His Highness brought back would certainly be useful.
The first person whose wound was treated was a secret guard who had been slashed across the shoulder and back the previous day.
His wound had already begun to swell and become hot.
Following the instructions in the handbook, Xia Lan Shi personally first washed away the blood with clean water, then wiped it with povidone-iodine.
When the povidone-iodine touched the wound, the guard immediately clenched his teeth.
“Does it hurt?”
Xia Lan Shi asked.
Sweat appeared on the guard’s forehead.
“It’s bearable.”
Xiao Yuan, standing nearby, suddenly remembered that he had said the same words last night.
Then Su Mu Chen had unceremoniously increased the pressure of his movements.
His expression became subtly strange for a moment.
Why did that person’s image keep appearing in his mind?
Xia Lan Shi did not notice and continued following the handbook.
Disinfect.
Cover with gauze.
Bandage.
Secure it.
The entire process was cleaner and faster than he had imagined.
Most importantly, after the wound was covered, it no longer quickly began bleeding again from being rubbed by coarse cloth as it had in the past.
The secret guard moved his shoulder and said in surprise,
“It’s lighter than cloth strips.”
A faint light appeared in Xia Lan Shi’s eyes.
Then came the second.
The third.
By the time he had treated the tenth wounded soldier, he could already clearly feel the advantages of this method.
Clean.
Stable.
Simple.
And most importantly, ordinary soldiers could learn it.
That was the most frightening part.
It could become a rule.
It could become a procedure.
Xia Lan Shi’s grip on the handbook tightened slightly.
The physician from another world, Su Mu Chen.
He was not merely skilled in medicine. He could also provide supplies from another world. From the packaging and this handbook, it was clear that this person was extremely meticulous and thoughtful, having considered things thoroughly.
He could even make Xiao Yuan obey and take his medicine in such a short time.
He was truly no ordinary person.
Xia Lan Shi silently committed that name to memory.
On the other side, Chi Ban Yue held a bar of soap and personally tested washing her hands.
At first, she only found it novel.
But when the white foam dissolved in the water and washed away the medicinal and bloody smell remaining on her hands completely, her expression changed.
“If this thing were produced in large quantities, it could make money.”
She could not help smelling her hands. The light fragrance was exceptionally pleasant.
Xia Lan Shi glanced at her.
“Save people first.”
Chi Ban Yue smiled.
“Saving people costs money too, Chief Secretary.”
She dried her hands and picked up another bar of soap, deep in thought.
“And it isn’t only useful in the Northern Frontier. If the noble wives in the capital saw this thing, I’m afraid they would be willing to pay a high price.”
Xia Lan Shi said, “His Highness cannot attract attention right now.”
“I know.” Chi Ban Yue’s eyes curved. “So we’ll hide it for now.”
She paused, then added,
“When the day comes that His Highness no longer needs to hide, this will be an excellent way to accumulate wealth.”
Xia Lan Shi did not argue.
He could also see that these objects from another world were not merely military supplies.
They were also a source of wealth.
But for now, they had to use them to survive.
By midnight, the first round of testing had finally ended.
Seventeen wounded secret guards in the camp had their wounds re-bandaged.
Two people with high fevers took antipyretic medicine.
Several wells in the rear courtyard of the Prince’s Residence had also been marked separately, with designated people guarding them and preventing anyone from drawing water at will.
Following the handbook, Xia Lan Shi drafted the first set of epidemic-prevention rules for the Prince’s Residence.
After reading it, Xiao Yuan changed only two things.
One increased the punishment for violating orders.
The other increased the number of people guarding the supplies.
Xia Lan Shi looked at the rule that read, “Anyone who privately takes medicine will receive thirty strokes; anyone who sells it will be executed,” and was silent for a moment.
“Your Highness, is this too severe?”
Xiao Yuan said coldly,
“In troubled times, medicine is more valuable than life. If the punishment is not severe enough, someone will be exchanging it for silver tomorrow.”
Xia Lan Shi understood.
He simply felt that if that physician from another world saw this rule, he would probably frown again.
Xiao Yuan seemed to have guessed what he was thinking.
“He said that supplies aren’t enough just because they exist. They also have to be distributed.”
Xia Lan Shi was slightly startled.
Xiao Yuan said,
“Then we cannot allow people to reach out and take them however they please.”
Xia Lan Shi lowered his head.
“Your Highness is wise.”
As dawn approached, the Prince’s Residence finally became somewhat quiet.
Xiao Yuan returned to his study.
On the desk were the medicine Su Mu Chen had given him and the emergency handbook.
He stood before the desk and looked at them for a long time.
The sky outside the window had begun to turn pale blue.
In another hour, he would have to enter the palace.
The Crown Prince would certainly test him about yesterday’s assassination attempt in court.
The Third Prince would watch the spectacle.
The Fifth Prince would pretend to be concerned.
And His Father would use those suspicious, cold eyes to measure how much value Xiao Yuan still had to him.
Xiao Yuan had long grown accustomed to these things.
Yet for some reason, today he suddenly felt more tired of them than usual.
He reached out and picked up the medicine bag.
The line written by Su Mu Chen on the oil paper was still conspicuously ugly.
—Xiao Yuan, Do Not Take Indiscriminately.
An unfamiliar warmth quietly flowed through his heart.
It was so unfamiliar that it frightened him.
He looked at it for a while, then opened the medicine packet and poured out a pill.
Just as Su Mu Chen had instructed, he was to take it after eating.
But he had not had breakfast yet.
Xiao Yuan was silent for a moment before calling for someone to bring him a bowl of porridge.
When the guard who had been on night duty entered, he almost thought he had heard wrong.
His Highness had actually asked for breakfast of his own accord?
After the porridge was brought over, Xiao Yuan reluctantly ate half a bowl before swallowing the medicine.
The medicine was bitter, with a slightly strange astringent taste.
But he did not frown.
Only when he drank water did he suddenly remember Su Mu Chen’s words—
“Don’t just go through the motions with me.”
Xiao Yuan lowered his eyes.
Troublesome…
A physician from another world could actually control whether he took his medicine properly from across a single door.
Even more troublesome was the fact that he had actually done as he said.
When the sky had completely brightened, the imperial carriage was already waiting outside the Prince’s Residence.
Chi Ban Yue had changed into a dazzling dress and was wearing a thin veil as she sat inside the carriage waiting for him.
To outsiders, she was Prince Su’s newest favorite.
Only those who knew the truth understood that three kinds of poison were hidden in her sleeves, along with a thin blade. There was even a poisoned silver needle concealed inside her hairpin, capable of taking a life silently at any moment, making her a true beauty beneath whom death could hide.
When she saw Xiao Yuan enter the carriage, Chi Ban Yue immediately leaned softly against him.
“Your Highness’s complexion looks terrible. Surely you weren’t too tired last night?”
The palace attendants waiting outside the carriage immediately lowered their heads.
Xiao Yuan gave her a cold look.
Chi Ban Yue lowered her voice and smiled.
“We’re putting on an act, Your Highness. Just bear with it.”
Xiao Yuan closed his eyes to rest.
“Talk less.”
Chi Ban Yue propped her chin on her hand and looked at him.
“Did Your Highness take your medicine last night?”
Xiao Yuan did not open his eyes.
“Mm.”
Chi Ban Yue’s smile deepened.
“Looks like that physician from another world is more useful than the Imperial Medical Academy.”
Xiao Yuan said calmly,
“If he were here, he would probably sew your mouth shut.”
Chi Ban Yue blinked.
“Your Highness has learned to talk like him?”
Xiao Yuan opened his eyes.
Chi Ban Yue immediately sat upright and lowered her head meekly.
“This servant knows her mistake.”
The carriage slowly headed toward the imperial palace.
Morning light fell upon the vermilion palace walls, unable to penetrate the dark corners within the carriage.
Xiao Yuan closed his eyes.
Hidden inside his sleeve was the medicine packet Su Mu Chen had given him.
Under his other hand lay the Northern Frontier memorial that would be presented at court today.
The snowstorms, epidemics, food shortages, and deaths of the Northern Frontier might not matter to the people in the imperial city.
But they mattered to him.
Because that was his battlefield.
And it was also the reason he had to survive.
And now…
He had gained another path to survival.
A path from another world, hidden deep within Guichen Studio.
He still did not know where this path would lead him.
But he knew that along this path, there was also a person from another world walking beside him.