Chapter 51: The Meeting

 Chapter 51: The Meeting

"Physician Liu, please bring the ointment I prepared for Young Master Yun," Chu Qianchen instructed. Physician Liu quickly handed her a small box containing dark green ointment.

"Here, I'll apply the medicine for you," Chu Qianchen said with a smile, looking at the little girl. She dipped her finger into the ointment and gently applied it to the girl’s face, her movements tender.

At first, Qiniang resisted a little, but as the ointment touched her face, it was cool and soothing, which made her feel comfortable.

Gradually, she began to relax.

As she applied the ointment, Chu Qianchen spoke, "Don’t cover her face. Wash it off tomorrow."

"I’ll prepare a bit more ointment for you later. Apply it once a day and wash it off the next day."

"Could I buy some more from you? I’ll pay for it, any price is fine!" The Princess of Jing quickly said, eager.

Chu Qianchen smiled and replied, "This ointment mainly stops bleeding and promotes healing. The scars on her face have been there for some time, so we need to remove some of the stagnant blood first. But to regenerate tissue and remove the scars, this alone isn’t enough. I’ll need some time to prepare a new ointment, so come back in three days."

The scar-regenerating ointment, called "Shiquan Ointment," was a special formula she had created in her previous life. Later, the prince discovered that it worked better than the military’s gold wound medicine for stopping bleeding and healing injuries. He had her adjust the ingredients and create "Jiuxu Ointment," the one she was using now.

Both ointments were made from the same base but had different uses.

The Princess of Jing quickly agreed, her spirits lifted.

Chu Qianchen focused intently on her task, and soon, the left side of Qiniang's face was covered with the dark green ointment.

"All done," Chu Qianchen said with satisfaction.

Qiniang, still somewhat dazed, instinctively raised her hand to touch her face.

Chu Qianchen gently pulled her hand down, shaking her head. "Don’t touch it."

Qiniang didn’t move or respond.

Chu Qianchen furrowed her brow, sensing that something was off with the girl. Just as she was about to ask, she noticed the room had fallen silent.

The air around them seemed to have subtly changed.

She looked up and saw a figure in moon-white clothing standing at the doorway, seemingly having appeared unnoticed.

The young man wore a moon-white robe, his hair casually tied with a matching silk cord, some strands falling loosely.

A gentle breeze stirred his hair, caressing his fair and handsome face, giving him an air of carefree independence, as if he could float away at any moment.

Chu Qianchen stared at his face, feeling as though the surroundings had brightened the moment he entered.

It was the prince!

Her eyes grew slightly dry, and the familiar pain from the wound he had left in her heart flared up again.

Amid the sting, there was also a hint of warmth.

He was alive; he was still alive!

She repeated it in her heart, though she had already known that today might be the day she would see him here. Yet at this moment, she couldn’t suppress the rush of emotions in her chest.

As Gu Jue stepped into the front hall, he also noticed Chu Qianchen applying ointment to a young girl. He couldn’t help but look at her again.

This second glance made him pause.

He recognized those phoenix eyes, having seen them on the day he returned to the capital.

At that time, her eyes had been red from crying, her tears blurring her gaze.

But now, her pupils were clear and bright, shining like the rising sun, radiant and full of life.

This young woman possessed the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

Seeing the other person staring at her blankly, Gu Jue guessed that she must also remember him.

Not only that, but Gu Jue also guessed that she was probably the little divine physician who had saved Yun Zhan.

The Princess of Jingguo recognized Gu Jue as well and, from a distance, curtsied to him as a form of greeting.

Gu Jue gave a slight nod and then entered the inner hall.

Chu Qianchen’s mind wandered for a moment, feeling a sense of inexplicable grievance: The prince hadn’t said a word to her.

Having lived two lifetimes, Gu Jue was the closest person to her. He was her teacher, her brother, the person she would do anything for.

Memories from her previous life flooded her heart in that moment. She felt as if her heart was being swept by tides, emotions rising and falling uncontrollably.

Chu Qianchen absently took the handkerchief that Hu Po handed to her, wiping the remaining medicinal ointment off her fingertips.

At that moment, a servant entered with another box. The ointment prepared for Seventh Miss was placed inside this box, which was then handed to the princess’s maid.

The princess lovingly looked at her daughter and asked a few more questions, like whether there were any foods to avoid, before taking her leave.

Chu Qianchen’s gaze once again turned towards the curtain leading to the inner hall.

At this moment, however, she felt as if that thin curtain was separating two lifetimes.

Chu Qianchen’s mind was restless, and she didn’t notice Hu Po looking at her with a complicated expression.

Hu Po couldn’t shake the feeling that her young lady was acting strangely. Could it be that she feared His Royal Highness Prince Chen?

No, that wasn’t possible. Her young lady was fearless, and besides, when Prince Chen had returned to the capital that day, she had specifically gone to watch the excitement and even lost a sachet...

In the midst of her thoughts, Hu Po saw Chu Qianchen striding towards the inner hall.

For some reason, she had an uneasy feeling that her young lady’s slender back seemed to carry a sense of resolve.

Hu Po hurriedly followed her inside.

Inside the inner hall, three men stood in different postures.

Yun Zhan was still lying obediently on the couch, not daring to get up even when Gu Jue had arrived.

Mo Chen stood motionless by the side, like a long spear standing in the battlefield.

Gu Jue sat lazily in a chair nearby, and all three men’s eyes turned towards Chu Qianchen.

The inner hall fell into a brief silence.

At this moment, Chu Qianchen was truly glad she was wearing a veil; otherwise, she feared she might lose composure.

She walked slowly forward, each step feeling so difficult, her eyes never leaving Gu Jue, wanting to imprint his features deeply in her heart.

Suddenly, Chu Qianchen’s gaze fell on Gu Jue’s left hand. She keenly noticed that his little finger was slightly curled.

Chu Qianchen’s eyes darkened.

She quickly took three steps in two, pointing at Gu Jue’s left hand and saying, “Give me your hand.”

Her voice was soft and clear, as pleasant as a yellow oriole in the valley, carrying a sense of naturalness and a hint of girlish coquettishness.

Gu Jue raised his brows and extended his left hand.

Yun Zhan’s pupils widened in surprise.

As expected of the little divine physician, just one look, and she could tell that the patient they had spoken of yesterday was the prince! Yun Zhan silently thought. It seemed that the little divine physician was going to examine the prince.

In the next instant, Yun Zhan saw Chu Qianchen take out a silver needle and his eyes grew even wider.

Chu Qianchen’s first needle was steadily inserted into the Hand Sanli acupoint on Gu Jue’s left arm.

Then came the second, third, and so on...

Gu Jue could clearly feel the intense pain in his chest gradually alleviating...

Every time his old injuries flared up, it would take at least an hour, and sometimes even a whole day or night. This was the first time his pain had eased so quickly.

Gu Jue observed the young woman who was administering the acupuncture.

She had her hair styled in two loops, and under the neatly arranged black bangs, a pair of beautifully shaped willow-leaf brows were visible. At that moment, her eyes were half-lowered, and her thick, long lashes fluttered slightly as she focused intently.

Her hands were steady and agile, each needle inserted precisely into the acupuncture points, without hesitation or doubt.

Clearly, she had absolute confidence.

(End of this chapter)