The old military doctor stared, unaware that the silver needles in his hand had fallen to the ground. He stared intently at Luo Qingrou's eyes, which appeared unusually bright and sharp in the dim medical tent, then glanced at the life-saving vomit on the ground. His gaze shifted from shock and confusion to a deep scrutiny and incredulous admiration. This technique… was no ordinary one!
"You..." The old army doctor's voice trembled slightly, "What method did you just use...?"
Luo Qingrou's heart tightened, but she tried her best to remain calm. She lowered her eyes and said in a deliberately low, hoarse voice, "Reporting to the military doctor, it was...it was a folk method I learned back in my hometown when I saw an old hunter rescuing a dog that was stuck in a bone. I just tried it out haphazardly."
"Just a haphazard attempt?" The old army doctor stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized her from head to toe. His eyes lingered for a moment on her slender, fair hands, still covered in dust, and now trembling slightly. His gaze then swept over her delicate neck and overly refined features. A glint of suspicion flashed in his cloudy old eyes. This physique, these hands, these features… and this terrifyingly precise "folk remedy"…
“You…” the old medic’s voice was low, carrying a sharp, insightful quality, “Come with me!”
Luo Qingrou's heart leaped into her throat; she could almost hear her blood rushing. Had she been exposed? Instinctively, she clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to remind herself to remain calm. She forced herself to take a step forward and follow the old military doctor to the small, curtained compartment behind the medical tent, filled with medicinal herbs.
The moment the curtain fell, it shut out the noise from outside. In the cramped space, the strong smell of medicine was almost suffocating. The old military doctor turned around, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on her face, his scrutiny seemingly able to pierce through the grime and pretense on her skin.
"Take off your hat." The old medic's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone of command.
Luo Qingrou felt a chill run from her feet to her head, her whole body stiffening. She bit her lower lip hard, tasting a metallic, metallic flavor. Should she remove it? Or not? If she removed it, her identity would be exposed, and she would be doomed. If she didn't remove it… the old military doctor's eyes were clearly suspicious; she probably couldn't fool him anymore.
Just as she was torn between her inner turmoil and cold sweat was almost soaking through her inner garment, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the tent, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves and the loud announcement from her personal guards: "General Lu is on patrol! Where is the physician?"
General Lu? Lu Zheng?!
The name exploded in Luo Qingrou's mind like a thunderbolt! She looked up abruptly, her eyes flashing with immense panic. Almost reflexively, she pulled her felt hat down even further, as if trying to hide her entire face inside. How could he be here? He can't see her! Absolutely not!
The old military doctor was clearly distracted by the commotion outside, his brow furrowed as he peeked through a corner of the curtain. Taking advantage of this split second, Luo Qingrou abruptly lowered her head, desperately suppressing the sob in her throat and the stinging in her eyes, and said in a hoarse, humble voice, "Sir, military doctor! I...I am of lowly status and dare not offend the general's eyes! Please, sir, have mercy and let...let me hide for a while!" The fear and pleading in her voice were utterly genuine.
The old medic turned around and saw her hunched over, wishing she could disappear into the ground. Remembering her skill in saving lives and her excessively beautiful hands… doubts swirled in his mind, but now was clearly not the time to delve into it. He gave a heavy snort, a warning in his voice: “We’ll talk about your matter later! Now, stay here quietly and don’t make a sound! And don’t come out!”
"Yes! Yes! Thank you, sir!" Luo Qingrou felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She immediately shrank behind a pile of sacks of medicinal herbs in a corner, curled up into a ball, and held her breath.
The old military doctor straightened his robes and hurriedly lifted the curtain to greet them.
The curtain fell, leaving only Luo Qingrou in the room, the overwhelming smell of medicine, the darkness, and the steady, powerful footsteps approaching from outside the tent, each step seemingly pounding on her heart.
Lu Zheng, clad in dusty black armor, strode into the medical tent. The strong smell of medicine and the groans of wounded soldiers filled the air. His sharp gaze swept over the slightly crowded beds, his brow furrowing slightly before finally settling on the old military doctor who hurried to greet him.
"Old Chen, how are the patients in the camp? Are they alright?" Lu Zheng's voice carried a hint of fatigue, yet remained steady and powerful. His gaze habitually swept around, passing over the sickly and haggard soldiers, and over the busy medical officers and servants.
Just as his gaze swept over the thick curtain behind the medical tent, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly. Beneath the curtain, a small section of gray-blue, dust-covered coarse cloth peeked out, along with the toe of a military boot, similarly covered in mud and grime, yet unusually slender and delicate. That size was definitely not that of an ordinary man.
A faint, unsettling feeling flickered through Lu Zheng's heart. But his mind was in turmoil, and he didn't delve into it. The farther he traveled from the capital, the heavier the silk handkerchief, scented with apricot blossoms, felt in his arms, searing his heart like a brand. Her pale face as she resolutely turned away that day, the tear that fell into the dust at his feet… and the Crown Prince's pointed remark about an "escape plan" before his departure… His chaotic thoughts, like the sandstorms of the frontier, tossed him into a state of unease.
“Reporting to the General,” the old military doctor Chen’s voice interrupted his momentary reverie, “most of them are suffering from colds or fatigue. After taking the medicine, most are out of danger. However…” He paused, glancing subconsciously at the curtain behind him, “There was a dangerous situation just now. A soldier almost choked to death on phlegm, but fortunately… a new junior servant saved him with a makeshift method.” He deliberately emphasized the words “makeshift method,” as if testing the waters.
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