Madam Qin pondered carefully and found herself struck by the resemblance between the young man before her and the memory of the Ninth Prince’s childhood features.

Upon closer inspection, their eyebrows and eyes did indeed share some similarities.

Although she had never seen the Ninth Princes as an adult, she had never forgotten what he looked like as a child.

A small, delicate boy with skin as pale as cold snow and lips like a touch of rouge. His eyes were clear and pure like translucent glass. Despite his strikingly attractive appearance, he was always alone, quietly lowering his gaze. His long, thick eyelashes framed his downcast eyes as he stood silently in the corner, exuding a remarkable sense of obedience.

If that child had grown up, he would likely have become just as handsome as this young man.

But she had never heard any news of the Ninth Prince leaving the capital.

Moreover, the Ninth Prince was not crippled.

Madam Qin glanced again at the youth’s simple, coarse clothing and dismissed her speculation entirely.

How could a child of the imperial family have fallen to such a state of poverty?

Beautiful people often share similar traits, she thought. It mush have been her mistake, and with a faint shake of her head, Madam Qin set the thought aside.

She had already refused the Ninth Prince’s marriage proposal, so there was no point in hoping he could become her son-in-law now.

It was better to focus on the present.

After Rong Ting had left, Madam Qin sat by Jiang Rao’s bedside and asked. “Rao’er, did you go out of the city this time to get medicine for that young boy?”

Jiang Rao nodded lightly.

“And the medicine?”

“I’ve already given it to him.”

“Will the medicine really work?”

“Of course it will.”

If it didn’t work, she wouldn’t have gone through so much trouble to obtain it.

Speaking of this, Jiang Rao tilted her chin slightly, a trace of pride flashing in her expression. “The Divine Doctor has treated injuries from the battlefield before. He gave me medicinal pills as well as a medical book he wrote, along with several prescriptions for rehabilitation. With proper use of the medicine and massage therapy, that boy’s leg injury will heal within half a year. Once recovered, he’ll be no different from a normal person and can even resume his martial training.”

Although the carriage had tumbled down the cliff, leaving her startled and slightly injured, the young girl’s eyes no longer reflected the guilt and gloom of the past few days.

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and her mood had significantly brightened.

“As long as it’s effective.”

Since the medicine would work, that young man’s leg injury would heal, and he wouldn’t remain crippled in the future.

Turning around, Madam Qin gave instructions to a maidservant. “Go to the storeroom and find some top-quality tonics to send to that boy. If he visits in the future, there’s no need to announce him. Just bring him directly to see your young miss.”

After giving her orders, she turned back with a smile and gently patted Jiang Rao’s head. “Rao’er has grown up and become quite capable.”

Jiang Rao assumed her mother was praising her for her good deeds in helping others, as she obediently rested her head on Madam Qin’s lap as docile as a kitten she heard her mother’s warm, affectionate voice fall from above her head again.

“Mother understands Rao’er’s thoughts.”

Jiang Rao lifted her head slightly, puzzled.

Her thoughts? What thoughts?

At that moment, the door was pushed open and in strode Fourth Master Jiang, dusted with snow and wind.

He hurried to Jiang Rao’s bedside in a few quick strides. Fresh from the outdoors, he breath came out in white puffs. “Rao’er are you really alright?”

He had heard from the servants that his daughter had returned home, but troubling rumors and gossip on the streets had reached his ears. Anxious and unsettled, he had rushed back, his heart tightly clenched the entire way.

Only when he saw Jiang Rao safe and sound before him did he finally exhale a long breath of relief. Yet, he sat heavily by her bedside, his brows furrowed as he scolded her. “Sneaking out of the city—do you have any idea how worried your family has been?”

Fourth Master Jiang rarely displayed anger in front of Jiang Rao, and the cold, stern tone he used now as even more uncommon.

However, Madam Qin immediately stepped in to defend her daughter. She gently took her husband’s arm and spoke on Jiang Rao’s behalf. “Isn’t Rao’er safe and sound? Besides, she had her reasons.”

Fourth Master Jiang’s ears perked up. “Reasons? What reasons?”

“She went to save someone. Leaving the city was to get medicine. Rao’er acted out of kindness, so don’t blame her.” Madam Qin deliberately kept her explanation vague, knowing that mentioning their daughter’s possible romantic inclinations would only irritate her husband.

Yet, Fourth Master Jiang was unusually sharp in this matter.

He quickly recalled the rumors he’d heard while searching for Jiang Rao over the past few days—about how she had often been seen heading to the western part of the city to visit a certain young boy.

Fourth Master Jiang immediately understood.

As a father, his heart was heavy with mixed emotions.

‘This time, I won’t punish you.”

The thought that his daughter would eventually marry and leave their home filled him with a sour bitterness. He felt he should establish some stricter rules for her but couldn’t bring himself to be too harsh. “But if you ever disappear like this again, I’ll confine you to the house!”

…….

In the palace, foreign envoys from neighboring states were presenting their tributes.

The offerings of fat cattle and strong horses from the distant tribes were turned into exquisite dishes, filling the banquet tables with sumptuous fare. At the center of the feast, foreign dancers with graceful figures moved with enchanting elegance, their dances as beautiful as blooming flowers.

The envoys and Emperor Zhaowu engaged in lively conversation over the wine and food, that atmosphere brimming with camaraderie. After several rounds of food and drink, it was time for the customary martial contest to add excitement to the event.

A warrior from the western tribes stepped forward. He was massive, with a physique as solid as a boulder, his arms bulging with thick, hard muscles. Simply standing there, he loomed like a small mountain, an intimidating sight.

The nomadic tribes, raised on horseback, were naturally fierce and proud. Last year, during their visit to Da Zhao, this so-called strongest warrior of their tribe had suffered a humiliating defeat. The young Rong Ting, only thirteen at the time had bested him in three consecutive matches, utterly crushing him. The warrior had spent an entire year training relentlessly, determined to reclaim his honor this time.

However, as his gaze swept across the crowd, he failed to spot Rong Ting’s figure among them.

The warrior’s fighting spirit visibly waned, his enthusiasm all but drained. He half-heartedly went through the motions, lacking any real zeal.

Even so, he won match after match effortlessly.

This made the Fourth Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the others who faced him seem particularly incompetent in comparison.

Emperor Zhaowu’s displeasure became apparent in his expression.

Ordinarily, he didn’t care much about the outcome of these contests.

Before last year, it was typical for foreign warriors to win such martial competitions, and Emperor Zhaowu had grown used to it.

The results were predictable—Da Zhao would lose, and the foreign tribes would triumph. It had become such a routine that he paid little attention to the matches.

However, last year, Rong Ting’s three consecutive victories had earned him significant prestige. It had also sparked a newfound interest in these contests for the emperor.

Now, losing again this year made it hard for Emperor Zhaowu to maintain his composure.

He hadn’t expected that out of all his sons, not a single one could secure a win!

If the barbarian warrior was truly so formidable, then how could it be that last year, the young Ninth Prince—only thirteen years old at the time—had defeated him in all three matches?

To make matters worse, the foreign envoy accompanying the warrior was oblivious to the tension. Laughing boisterously, he pointed at his warrior and, in heavily accented Central Plains dialect, declared. “This year, he’s finally giving it his all.”

With a single sentence, he dismissed Rong Ting’s three consecutive victories last year as nothing more than the result of their warrior holding back.

Hearing this, Emperor Zhaowu was deeply displeased.

However, seated to the emperor’s left, Empress Jiahe’s lips curled into a faint smile.

To her, any insult aimed at Rong Ting was music to her ears.

What’s more, none of the princes who had just competed were her sons. Their disgrace had nothing to do with her.

When her own Seventeenth Prince grew older and managed to defeat these foreign warriors, it would only make him shine even brighter.

The more Rong Ting had basked in glory last year, the more radiant her Seventeenth Prince’s triumphs would appear in the future.

As for Rong Ting? He would forever remain a useless, defeated shadow of his former self.

^_^