After Qin Zheng walked out of the door, she thought for a moment and decided to go and invite the doctor from the mountain stronghold.

The old doctor had just checked the crown prince’s pulse in the morning.

Now, upon hearing that he had awakened, he looked incredulous, saying, “Is the girl teasing me? Your husband is indeed a tough man. With such a serious injury, just keeping him alive would be considered good. How could he wake up so quickly?”

Qin Zheng felt embarrassed. “My husband did wake up indeed.”

The old doctor immediately grabbed his medicine box, and followed Qin Zheng to their courtyard.

After checking the pulse, the old doctor exclaimed repeatedly, “Such a constitution! I’ve been practicing medicine for many years, and I’ve never seen anything like it!”

When he looked at the prince again, there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes. “Has the young master been practicing martial arts since childhood?”

The prince’s aura was indifferent and restrained, seeming reluctant to answer the doctor’s question directly.

He just said, “I’ve learned a bit, just for the sake of fitness.”

Qin Zheng thought to herself that his domineering martial arts skills were definitely more than just a bit.

The old doctor naturally understood that this was a modest statement, so he didn’t inquire further.

He made some adjustments to the original prescription and instructed Qin Zheng to brew and administer the medicine to the crown prince every day.

When Qin Zheng returned after seeing off the old doctor, she saw the prince holding the prescription and reading it.

His fingers, holding the pale yellow paper, were long, slender, and fair, with distinct joints.

These hands seemed born to hold a pen and a scroll.

Presumably, he heard Qin Zheng’s footsteps, but he didn’t look up when she entered.

His brows were slightly furrowed, and some stray hairs fell down from his forehead, making his profile appear even colder.

“When collecting the herbs, reduce the amount of Baiji by one qian, and add three qian of Xianhe grass,” the prince said indifferently.

Qin Zheng hesitated a bit. “Um… by not following the doctor’s prescription, will it affect your recovery?”

The prince handed the prescription back to her. “I’ve looked over the prescription. Just follow what I said when collecting the herbs. This prescription is too conservative.”

Qin Zheng was puzzled. “Does my husband understand medicine?”

The prince’s hand, passing back the prescription, paused slightly, but his tone remained calm. “I’ve seen similar prescriptions from other doctors before.”

The phrase “other doctors” in his mouth made Qin Zheng think of only one person: the royal physician.

Since the royal physician prescribed medicine according to his instructions, Qin Zheng had nothing to worry about.

She carefully collected the prescription. “The medicine bags that the doctor brought earlier are enough for two brews. While it’s still light out, I’ll tidy up the small kitchen. Tomorrow, I’ll go and collect the herbs.”

The prince looked at her, and emotions that crown prince couldn’t understand surged in his eyes. “These days, you’ve worked hard.”

Suddenly saying something so earnestly made Qin Zheng feel a bit embarrassed.

“It’s not hard. When it was most dangerous, wasn’t it you who protected me all the time?”

Though she spoke the truth, saying it in such a situation seemed to add a subtle hint of ambiguity.

Qin Zheng didn’t dare to stay in the room any longer and made an excuse to go out and tidy up the kitchen, cursing herself for blurting out that sentence.

After she left, the prince sat silently by the bedside for a while, his eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

After a moment, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing.

His internal injuries were the most severe, and using internal energy to heal would be faster.

---

Qin Zheng had only halfway tidied up the kitchen when Lin Zhao and her servant came over.

Behind them were two big men, each carrying a large wooden basin. One basin was filled with various dishes and utensils, while the other was filled with fruits, vegetables, and meats.

Lin Zhao held two large hemp bags in her hands and had already called out from outside the courtyard, “Sister A-Zheng, I’ve come to see you!”

When Qin Zheng came out of the kitchen and saw their setup, she was surprised. “What’s all this for?”

Magpie, wiping the sweat from her forehead, smiled and put the four chickens she was carrying in a corner of the courtyard. “The young miss heard that Madam needed to use the small kitchen, so she had these things prepared after meeting with the leader.”

Qin Zheng felt somewhat guilty.

She looked at Lin Zhao and said, “Staying in the stronghold to recuperate has already caused you trouble.

Now you’re spending so much.”

“Sister A-Zheng, what are you talking about? If it weren’t for you, I’d probably still be held hostage by the river bandits! The courtyard was empty before.

It’s convenient for you to cook if we have everything prepared. These are all crops and livestock we’ve raised ourselves, so it’s not a big deal!”

Lin Zhao effortlessly carried two large hemp bags weighing about forty to fifty catties each. “I brought a bag of rice and a bag of flour over. Sister A-Zheng, where do you think it’s suitable to put them?”

Qin Zheng thought for a moment. “I just washed the rice vat in the kitchen. It probably won’t dry until tomorrow. Let’s put them in the kitchen cabinet for now.”

She reached out to help Lin Zhao carry one of the bags, but Lin Zhao dodged away. “I got it. I’ve been practicing martial arts since childhood, so carrying this bag is nothing. Sister A-Zheng, it might be a bit strenuous for you!”

After Lin Zhao placed the rice and flour bags in the cabinet Qin Zheng had cleaned, she noticed that the kitchen still needed tidying up.

She then instructed the two big men to do some dirty work. “Asan, go to the courtyard and split the firewood. Asi, fill up the water tank.”

With someone helping, Qin Zheng felt much easier, but she didn’t idle around. She wiped every nook and cranny inside and outside the house with a cloth until everything was clean.

After finishing the cleaning, Qin Zheng wanted to make tea for Lin Zhao and the others, but she realized she didn’t even have tea leaves.

After some thought, she simply reheated the chicken soup in the clay pot, and using clean earthenware bowls, she served each of them a bowl of chicken soup.

At first, Lin Zhao hesitated. “This is the chicken soup you brewed for your husband. We’re not hungry. Besides, there’s a banquet tonight, and we need to save our appetite for that.”

Qin Zheng smiled. “A bowl of soup won’t fill much of your stomach. My husband’s injuries are severe, and he can’t eat much. If it spoils, it would be a pity.”

Since she put it that way, Lin Zhao couldn’t refuse anymore.

Seeing Lin Zhao taking the bowl, Magpie and the two men who had helped came to the table to pick up their bowls without Qin Zheng having to serve them personally. They drank the soup with gusto.

The chicken soup smelled delicious, and the taste was even better when it entered the mouth.

After taking a sip, Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up. “So delicious! It’s even better than the chicken soup stewed by the chef at Zui Xianlou in the town below!”

The two big men had already finished the soup in three or four mouthfuls, and like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit, they had already finished the chicken pieces in their bowls.

Now, they were full of endless aftertaste.

Magpie also nodded vigorously. “Delicious!”

Although Qin Zheng knew how to cook, she had only cooked for herself before.

When she served the chicken soup to the prince just now, she didn’t see any reaction from him.

Now, being praised, she felt a little happy inside. “Is it really that delicious?”

Lin Zhao nodded heavily. “Am I lying to Sister A-Zheng!”

After saying that, she finished the rest of the chicken soup in one gulp.