Chapter 124: Ill-Fated Affinity, A Narrow Encounter

The so-called South Palace is located within the imperial palace grounds, yet it is not formally considered part of the palace proper. To be precise, it sits to the south, a grand estate or rather a sprawling garden complex immediately adjacent to the palace. In terms of standing, it is positioned directly opposite the East Palace.

One could enter the South Palace from within the imperial palace. Historically, it served as a quiet retreat for summer leisure. However, after Chu Liuchen was stripped of his status as Crown Prince while still a child, he was moved into the South Palace, which then earned the title of "Prince Chen’s Mansion." In the previous life, the plaque for Prince Chen’s Mansion was eventually removed, and the name reverted to the South Palace. In this life, although everyone knows it is now called Prince Chen’s Mansion, many still refer to it privately as the South Palace. Because of this unique location, the name, and Chu Liuchen himself, people remain wary of him and the place he inhabits.

Qin Wanru had visited the South Palace in her previous life, but she had always entered through a small side gate from within the imperial palace. She had never approached it from the outside. Still, this did not hinder her from locating the former South Palace—now Prince Chen’s Mansion—based on her general sense of direction. Before they even arrived, she could see the towering plaque gleaming from afar, the massive, bold characters exuding a fierce and imposing energy. It was said that these characters were inscribed by the current Emperor himself, though at the time, Chu Liuchen had still been an infant in swaddling clothes.

The carriage driver had asked for directions several times along the way, but those he asked merely pointed vaguely, as if they were loath to associate with anything related to the South Palace. Fortunately, it was Qin Wanru who had come; relying on her fading memories, she finally guided them to the vicinity.

Rounding a corner, they should have reached Prince Chen’s Mansion. The driver pulled the reins cautiously; in the capital, a lowly coachman like him dared not act with any arrogance. The driver, newly hired by the Qin estate, was fairly familiar with the capital's streets and had a sharp eye. When he realized his carriage was stuck in a narrow lane and saw another carriage approaching from the front, he did not dare to proceed further.

"What is going on?" Yujie lifted the curtain and asked, leaning out.

"Miss Yujie, there is a carriage coming from the front," the driver whispered. Although he could not identify which noble house the carriage belonged to, its sheer size and opulence, nearly blocking the entire path, were not something an ordinary family could possess. Moreover, there were two guards on horseback following behind. The sight alone was enough to make the driver feel intimidated.

"Back up and clear the way," Qin Wanru’s voice came from inside the carriage. Through the gap in the curtain held by Yujie, she saw their predicament.

"Yes, Miss!" The driver complied, secretly relieved. Having only recently joined the Qin estate, he did not know the temperaments of the masters. He feared that this Second Miss, having just arrived from Jiangzhou, might still expect the same deference she had been shown there, and if she caused a scene, no one would be able to handle the fallout.

Their carriage began to back up slowly. The carriage ahead followed closely, taking the Qin family's yielding as a matter of course. The Qin carriage driver grew nervous; judging by this display, the people in front had significant status, and he became increasingly cautious.

Yet, the more one tries to avoid trouble, the more likely it is to find them. A wheel caught in a small gutter by the side of the road, sinking and locking fast. No matter how hard the driver tried, the carriage remained immovable, blocking the path.

"Miss... Miss, it’s stuck!" The driver tried several times, his brow drenched in sweat.

The carriage in front was forced to stop. A curtain was slightly raised, and someone shouted loudly: "Can you hurry up? We have a sick person here! If something goes wrong, how many heads will you have to answer for?"

"We seem to be stuck. Could you please back up?" the driver asked, his face turning pale with anxiety.

"What do you mean 'back up'? Do you know how long that would take? Hurry up! If something happens, you’ll be finished!" A middle-aged woman jumped down from the carriage, her expression fierce and sharp.

"We... we are trying our best!" The driver dared not reply, pulling the reins again and straining to move.

"What do you mean 'trying'? You must! Our Grand Mistress is ill; if she is not treated immediately, it will be a catastrophe!" The woman was desperate, pushing against the carriage horses with fury in her eyes.

Someone was ill? And it seemed quite urgent? This was a matter that could not be delayed.

Qin Wanru signaled for Yujie to lift the curtain. Yujie jumped down first, and then Qin Wanru jumped down, supported by Yujie. Once on the ground, she looked at the anxious woman and asked gently, "What is the nature of your Grand Mistress’s illness?"

The woman, not expecting such a young girl to step out of the carriage, froze for a moment before replying with displeasure: "Our Old Mistress suddenly fell ill; she can’t even speak now. Hurry and move your carriage out of the way!"

"Let me take a look," Qin Wanru said, walking toward the other carriage.

The woman blocked her, "Miss, what are you looking at? Why don't you move your carriage? We..."

"If we get out, it might be easier to move the carriage, but I cannot guarantee it will be immediate. If you are not worried about your mistress's condition, keep blocking me, and if something truly goes wrong, you can take the blame yourself!" Qin Wanru stopped and interrupted the woman coldly.

Despite her young age, she was remarkably composed. Her slightly upturned, watery eyes held a chill, completely unlike the spoiled or willful behavior expected of a girl her age. The woman’s grip loosened, her face turning pale. She could not afford to gamble. Seeing Qin Wanru walk toward the carriage, she hesitated and then followed behind, her mind in such chaos that she had taken this shortcut, never expecting to be blocked. If something truly happened, a mere servant like her could not bear the consequences.

Qin Wanru walked to the carriage. Yujie jumped up first, then pulled Qin Wanru up. Once Qin Wanru was aboard, the woman jumped up behind them and pulled the curtains high, allowing Qin Wanru a clear view of the interior.

Lying on a couch inside was a wealthy-looking old woman. Her eyes were shut tightly, and one could tell at a glance that her condition was poor; her face was blue, and her breathing was labored. Qin Wanru stepped forward, placed her fingers on the old woman’s pulse, and bowed her head slightly. Seeing this, the woman’s face filled with expectation; she crouched beside Qin Wanru, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing the pulse diagnosis.

Qin Wanru’s pulse check was swift. Upon releasing the wrist, she understood that the old woman was suffering from a sudden acute illness. She pulled up the old woman’s sleeve. "Yujie, bring me my needle kit!"

"Yes, Miss!" Yujie nodded and jumped off the carriage.

"Open the curtains to let some air in for the Old Mistress!" Qin Wanru instructed the woman. The woman hurriedly complied, opening both windows for ventilation.

The air in the carriage began to circulate. Though it was chilly, the rush of fresh air made the old woman’s expression ease slightly, losing that deathly blue, suffocated look.

"Help her sit up halfway; don't let her lie so flat!" Qin Wanru commanded.

Seeing her mistress improve, the woman became entirely obedient. She helped Qin Wanru prop the Old Mistress up, using cushions to support her upper body. By then, Yujie had returned with the medical kit. Qin Wanru selected a needle, found the precise acupuncture point on the Old Mistress’s wrist, and inserted it, followed by several others with practiced skill.

By the time she finished, sweat had beaded on her forehead. Acupuncture required significant strength, and she was still young and physically weak. Moreover, fearing that insufficient force or inaccurate placement would fail, she had used extra care. This was an acute onset of a chronic condition that could not be delayed.

Yujie handed Qin Wanru a handkerchief. Qin Wanru wiped her brow, and seeing the old woman’s expression improve further, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Does your Old Mistress carry any medication?" she asked the woman. This was clearly a recurring illness; a woman of such status would surely have medicine on hand.

"Yes... yes! We have medicine!" The woman, now fully convinced of Qin Wanru’s skill, nodded repeatedly and took a brown vial from a cabinet to show her.

Qin Wanru opened the lid, sniffed the medicine, nodded, and poured out a small brown pill. After examining it carefully, she nodded again. "Dissolve two of these in warm water."

"Miss... usually, the Grand Mistress takes four," the woman hesitated.

"Now is different. She has just had an attack, and her body is weak. She cannot handle such a strong dose all at once. Start with two, and in an hour, dissolve another two, then proceed as usual," Qin Wanru said calmly.

"Yes!" The woman nodded and quickly dissolved two pills. She brought the bowl to Qin Wanru, who took it and, with the woman’s help, fed the medicine to the Old Mistress bit by bit.

She fed her with extreme care and patience, ensuring not a drop spilled. Watching her, the woman’s eyes grew even more respectful. When the bowl was empty, Qin Wanru handed it back, checked the Old Mistress’s now-normal complexion and breathing, and finally relaxed. She removed the needles one by one from the old woman’s arm.

"Keep the windows open for ventilation, and let her sit like this for a while. Don't lay her down; she will wake up soon," Qin Wanru instructed as she cleaned the needles.

"Yes... yes, I understand. Thank you, Miss!" The woman nodded repeatedly, deeply relieved to see her mistress recovered.

Qin Wanru wiped her hands with a handkerchief, stepped out of the carriage, and prepared to descend with Yujie's help. The woman chased after her to the front of the carriage and asked respectfully, "May I ask which family you are from, Miss?"