Chapter 123: Yuqin Guo's New Princess

Fortunately, she had already let Yun Shan leave, and her identity had not been exposed; otherwise it would only have caused unnecessary trouble.

Early the next morning, just as Chi Nan Yi had gotten up, a clamor of noise came from downstairs.

"The authorities are investigating a case! Open all your doors!"

The constables' voices were loud enough for everyone in the inn to hear clearly.

Behind the constables followed a man dressed in Yuqin Guo attire. No need to guess — they were searching for Yuqin Guo's lost treasure.

"Every door must be opened. Anyone who refuses will be treated as obstructing an official investigation."

"Yes, sir!"

A dozen or so constables combed through the inn. Yuqin Guo's belongings were easy to find — the sheer size of the trunks was unmistakable, and the quantity was astonishing. One glance was all it took to spot them.

They turned the inn inside out, but could not find so much as a single hair.

"Damn it, where on earth did that little thief run off to?"

Just then, a runner in Chi Nan Yi's room noticed the medicine chest on the table. He hurried downstairs and whispered a few words into the lead runner's ear.

The lead runner's eyes flickered. He pointed at Chi Nan Yi's room and said loudly, "Whose is that medicine chest in that room?"

"Mine." Chi Nan Yi stepped forward. "May I ask if there is some problem?"

"If the medicine chest is yours, that means you know medicine."

"That is correct."

"Come with us."

"My lord." Lanxi hurried forward, placing herself in front of Chi Nan Yi. "My lord, what is the meaning of this? The medicine chest does belong to our young master, but surely it hasn't broken any law! Why are you taking our young master away?"

"What business is it of yours to speak?" the lead constable said coldly. "Hinder the authorities' work and you'll get a beating." He shoved Lanxi aside with force, showing not the slightest tenderness.

"You—!"

"Keep blocking me and I'll have you locked up!"

Chi Nan Yi steadied Lanxi's shoulder, her expression dark. "What is the meaning of this, my lord? What exactly is wrong with my medicine chest that I must go to the yamen with you? Please explain clearly. And why did you just use force against my maid? We are common folk — how have we offended you?"

"You do whatever I say. What's with all this blather?" He raised the whip in his hand. "My whip doesn't discriminate."

With that, he raised the long whip and brought it crashing down on the table. The deafening crack made everyone in the inn flinch involuntarily.

"Take your medicine chest and come with me!"

"And if I refuse?"

"You refuse? Who gave you the nerve…"

"This young master did." Chi Shao yuan's voice carried in from outside as he strode in unhurriedly, leading a group of Chi Family guards.

He looked coldly at the constables. "The Southern First Young Master is this young master's honored guest. What do you think you are doing?"

When the constables saw that the newcomer was Chi Shao yuan, the arrogance on their faces reined in.

"Second Young Master of the Chi Family." The constable put away his whip and smiled. "Second Young Master, what wind brings you here?"

Chi Shao yuan ignored his flattery and said in a low voice, "Were you just giving her a hard time?"

"No, no, no…" The constable waved his hands repeatedly. "I only wanted her to see a patient. We were just discussing it!"

"Discussing? It didn't look like discussing to me — it looked more like threatening." Chi Shao yuan glanced at the whip in the runner's hand. "Preparing to use force?"

"No, no, no, how could that be? Since she is the Second Young Master's honored guest, how could we use force?" He walked over to Chi Shao yuan's side and lowered his voice. "Second Young Master, to tell you the truth, the Yuqin Guo envoy passed through here. The Yuqin Guo Princess who came for the marriage alliance has fallen gravely ill. From last night until now, over a dozen doctors have been summoned, none able to cure her. Every physician in the city has been consulted — there is truly no one else to find." He said with a troubled look, "If something happens to the Princess here, we will all be implicated. I ask the Second Young Master to put in a word with this young master — consider it doing me a favor."

His favor?

How much was his favor worth in silver?

Chi Shao yuan was about to refuse when Chi Nan Yi's voice came from beside him: "It's not impossible."

Hearing this, the runner's eyes lit up, his face full of smiles. "The young master agrees? Then please come with me…"

"I only said it's possible, but I have one condition."

"What condition? Please, go ahead."

Chi Nan Yi's gaze swept over the Yuqin Guo man behind the runner, and she said coolly, "If you're asking for help, act like it. You want her to treat your master, yet he stands there with his nose in the air, looking down on everyone. Who is that display for?"

Hearing her words, the Yuqin Guo envoy frowned deeply and glared at Chi Nan Yi. "What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. Since you understood, why ask when you already know the answer?"

"You—!"

The runner hurried to the envoy's side and said respectfully, "My lord, word went around some days ago that the Chi Family invited a Divine Doctor, whose medical skills are extraordinarily brilliant. Even the Chi Family's old master, who had all but one foot in the grave, was brought back. If she can treat the Princess, it will surely cure her instantly!"

Hearing this, the envoy, though somewhat displeased, dropped the arrogant attitude from before. He cupped his hands toward Chi Nan Yi with visible reluctance. "Please come with us, young master. If you can cure our Princess, you will be handsomely rewarded."

"That's more like it." Chi Nan Yi nodded. "Lead the way."

Chi Shao yuan walked beside her. "I'll go with you. Don't worry — even the Yuqin Guo envoy won't dare bully you."

Hearing this, Chi Nan Yi raised a brow slightly. If the Chi Family was as formidable as her second cousin claimed, why had they endured the court's provocations at every turn from the start?

How could she know that just last night, the Chi Family had decided to hold back their edge no longer.

The moment they entered the relay station, they saw a man in a purple robe pacing the hall. Seeing the guards lead people in, he assumed they had caught the thief who stole the treasure and slammed his cup down hard, saying angrily, "Audacious thief! Stealing in broad daylight — utterly lawless!"

Beneath the sovereign, purple robes denote the highest rank. This man's official position in Yuqin Guo was clearly not low.

The teacup shattered to pieces, shards flying to their feet. Before Chi Nan Yi could speak, Chi Shao yuan beside her gave a cold shout: "What is this madness?"

Mou Hanqin was about to lose his temper when the guard who had gone to fetch Chi Nan Yi quickly stepped to his side. "Lord Mou, this is not a criminal — this is a physician."

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Mou Hanqin's face. He coughed twice. "Where did this physician come from? Are her skills any good?" His eyes scrutinized Chi Nan Yi from head to toe, and seeing how young she was, he could not help but feel doubtful.

"If you don't trust my medical skills, then forget it." Chi Nan Yi waved her hand. "A waste of time." With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.

"Stop!"

Mou Hanqin had been about to use his rank to press her down when a maid came rushing frantically down the stairs: "My lord, it's terrible — the Princess has fainted again."