"My Lord, terrible news! The Deputy Magistrate of Qingxia County sent a messenger. Yang Cenan, the third son of Panzhou's Pacification Commissioner Yang Ruiping, was severely injured after being assassinated in the Wumeng Tribe's territory. He is already on his way to Suining City and specifically asked for the County Princess. Lord Shi urges you and the Princess to return immediately."
Sweating profusely, Liu Hucheng rested his hands on his knees, his voice hoarse. He tilted his chin up, his anxious gaze darting between Song Qiming and Song Jinzhao.
Song Qiming turned around in astonishment. "This is rather strange. Why would someone from Panzhou think to come all the way to Suining City to seek medical treatment from you?"
Leaving aside the fact that the southwestern foreign tribes were inherently wary of imperial officials, they shouldn't have put such absolute faith in his sister's reputation as a miracle doctor either.
Song Jinzhao released the ear of rice in her hand. The aura around her settled into something heavy, her eyes calm yet serious.
"Where is he now?"
"Did the messenger mention the extent of his injuries?"
Liu Hucheng struggled to straighten his back.
"They are traveling by carriage and should reach the city in about six hours."
"The yamen runner who delivered the letter said Yang Cenan was struck by three arrows and stabbed in the stomach. All the doctors in Qingxia County were helpless, which is why they thought to seek the Princess to save his life."
Rushing to the city gates without a moment's delay to wait, Song Jinzhao instructed Qingshuang, "Tell the Second Miss to get ready. The moment he arrives, send him directly to the clinic."
Compared to the government office, the clinic run by Song Shixue had a more complete stock of medicines and was closer and more convenient.
Song Qiming furrowed his brows, his heart filled with worry.
He was injured so severely; who knew if he could even be cured?
Although Yang Cenan was assassinated within the Wumeng Tribe's territory, if he died in Suining City and Yang Ruiping decided to vent his anger on them, it would be a massive headache.
Why didn't Lan Wenzhang know how to push this matter away? This was simply an unmitigated disaster falling from the sky.
He could only hope the injuries were on the lighter side and that his sister could treat them.
Two hours later, the carriage appeared before everyone's eyes.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and the first to emerge was a white-haired old doctor.
Song Jinzhao's nostrils flared slightly; she could smell a thick stench of blood.
Lan Wenzhang, the Deputy Magistrate of Qingxia County, dismounted with an anxious face and hurried over to Song Qiming as if grasping at a lifesaver.
"My Lord, Yang Cenan absolutely cannot die."
Song Qiming rolled his eyes at him right then and there.
His angry voice was softer than a mosquito's buzz. "If you know he can't die, why did you bring him here? Was your brain eaten by dogs?!"
Lan Wenzhang hastily defended himself, looking incredibly wronged.
"This humble official didn't want to either, but Yang Cenan insisted on finding the Princess, even threatening war. I truly couldn't stop him."
Song Jinzhao climbed into the carriage. The man lying inside had already fallen into a coma.
While ordering the driver to head to Song Shixue's clinic, she questioned the elderly doctor.
"When did the patient lose consciousness?"
Lifting the thin quilt covering the man, Song Jinzhao discovered that two arrowheads had not been removed. They were in a precarious position, and the area around the gauze was still bleeding.
The doctor nervously wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
Rushing like this at his advanced age left him breathless and nauseous.
"Starting this morning, the patient gradually became delirious. I used ginseng slices to sustain his life and applied acupuncture every hour. His condition worsened four hours ago, and he hasn't woken up since."
The carriage soon stopped at the entrance of the clinic, and the man was carefully placed onto a stretcher.
Heye was just about to close the door when a dark, tanned hand stopped her.
Yang Zhong looked at Heye with a vigilant expression and said, "Don't close the door. I'm going in to guard my young master."
He was Yang Cenan's personal bodyguard; the two had grown up together.
Heye scanned the dried bloodstains on his clothes, her brows twisting into a tight knot.
She scolded, "You're so dirty. What if you cause an infection?"
"The surgery requires silence. You going in will only delay his treatment."
Yang Zhong immediately reached to unfasten his robes. "I can take off my clothes. I can't be at ease with only you people here."
Heye's face instantly darkened.
"If you're not at ease, then take him away. It's not as if I, the Princess, am obligated to treat him."
Having already put on her protective surgical gown, Song Jinzhao came to the door.
Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Yang Zhong immediately regretted it. He took a step back and bowed his head in apology to Song Jinzhao.
"This lowly one was overly worried and spoke rudely. Please forgive me, Princess Linghui. I entrust my young master's life to you, Princess."
Right now, he had no other choice but Princess Linghui.
Song Jinzhao turned and returned to the hospital bed. Heye closed the door and slid the wooden bolt into place.
She had a nagging feeling that the man might barge in. If he saw the bloody scene of a body being cut open and impulsively tried to interfere, it would be disastrous.
