Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Fubao galloped all the way back to the city, then hurried straight to the city lord's mansion. Zhang Lu, who had been anxiously waiting inside, finally felt relieved. He had previously dispatched his men to report back regularly on Zhang Fubao's whereabouts. Without this, how could he, with his doting and worrying about his daughter, feel at ease? Zhang Lu, preoccupied with the outcome of the battle ahead and constantly worried about his daughter's safety, felt a nagging headache. Seeing his daughter safely return, he finally felt at ease and began to eat.

Seeing this, Zhang Lu's wife gently advised, "Master, why are you so worried? Hanzhong is our home, both inside and outside, and you've arranged for numerous guards to follow us secretly. Your daughter loves medicine and is treating patients, not just fooling around. As long as we can ensure her safety, let her go." Zhang Lu looked at his wife and was about to say something, but he swallowed the words back. He wanted to tell her the same words he usually used to persuade his daughter, but after a moment's thought, he felt that it would be futile. After all, his wife doted on their daughter just as much as he did himself. So, he had no choice but to follow his wife's opinion and said, "Yes, let her go. This girl has been spoiled by us. But now she frequently goes out of the city, and there is chaos outside. We still need to send more guards." After that, he put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands, stood up and walked out, and instructed his men to send more people to protect his daughter's safety. Only then did he feel a little relieved.

In the following days, Zhang Fubao still pretended to be well-behaved and docile in front of his father, but secretly he often went out of the city to treat patients suffering from illness with Hua Tuo. Time passed quietly, day after day.

That day, they were concentrating on treating patients as usual when they suddenly heard a commotion outside. Curious, the patients looked out into the distance. They saw a group of unusual-looking people appearing at the city gate. They were stopped outside by the soldiers guarding the gate. A few patients were just emerging from the gate, ready for treatment, and the crowd quickly gathered around to inquire what was happening. The patient's face was full of excitement, and he spoke with great joy: "This group of people looks extraordinary, and they are all dressed as knights and carry weapons. They claim to be the team of Yuan Xi, the second son of the Yuan family in Hebei, and said that someone was injured and in urgent need of medical treatment. But our Hanzhong is now at war with Xiliang, so these unidentified and large-scale teams must be strictly checked on the city walls, and so we refuse to let them enter the city." After hearing this, everyone started talking at once: "Then why enter the city? Don't we have a ready-made miracle doctor here?" Some people who were curious ran towards the city gate excitedly, wanting to call them over. The patient who came to report the news was still describing incessantly: "You don't know, the young general in charge among them is so heroic, handsome, and handsome to the extreme." When everyone heard this, most of them looked skeptical. Seeing that everyone didn't believe him, he swore and swore, and spoke vividly, which made everyone eager to see how handsome this young talent was.

As expected, guided by the curious, a group of knights hurried towards them. Seeing this, the guards Zhang Lu had sent to protect Zhang Fubao suddenly tensed up, each one acting as if they were facing a formidable enemy. However, as these knights arrived, they displayed no signs of aggression. While they pondered, they subconsciously tightened their hidden weapons and made no other drastic moves. Instead, they quietly and silently gathered around the medicine furnace, forming a seemingly loose yet defensive protective circle.

At this moment, everyone's attention was riveted by the young knight standing in the middle of the knights' ranks. He was tall and slender, his powerful attire accentuating his imposing figure. His face was as white as jade, revealing an innate elegance. His eyebrows were long, slender, and slightly raised. His eyes were like a pool of autumn water, clear and bright, their movements shimmering like stars. His nose was slender, his lips like cherry blossoms. His delicate features combined resembled an elegant ink painting, soft yet heroic. In the sunlight, he exuded a captivating charm that drew everyone's attention.

The patients were momentarily stunned, their gazes fixed on the young officer, as if acupuncture points had been applied, rendering them unable to move. The officer's posture was slender yet agile, his moon-white brocade robe flowing gently in the breeze. His dark hair was tied back with a matching ribbon, a few strands cascading across his fair forehead, adding a touch of casualness and freedom. His face was like a finely carved jade, its lines soft and delicate. His eyebrows were like spring mountains, his peach blossom eyes shimmering and captivating. His nose was like a hanging gall bladder, his lips were red, his teeth were white, and his smile was like a blooming spring flower. He was full of youthful vigor, yet exuded an innate elegance that eclipsed everything around him.

Zhang Fubao, currently focused on treating a patient, was also dressed in men's clothing. She wore a lake-blue gown, her hair tied back and secured with a jade hairpin, its ends neatly styled. A dark-colored brocade belt cinched her waist, emphasizing her slender yet powerful figure. She stood tall and straight, her robes fluttering as she walked, evoking the beauty of a delicate orchid and a jade tree. Her brows were sharp, her eyes bright and deep, like stars on a cold night, radiating wisdom and composure. Her nose was high and straight, her lips beautifully shaped, and her lips, slightly upturned, held a hint of a smile, lending a coolness yet a touch of friendliness. Her complexion was as white as jade, gleaming softly in the sunlight. Seeing her, everyone couldn't help but compare her to the young general, sighing inwardly that the two, standing together, were truly like orchids and jade trees, each with their own unique qualities. They also wondered what kind of family could have produced such a handsome and elegant young man.

Even Zhang Fubao's maid was stunned. She stared at the young general without blinking, and her feet involuntarily moved closer to Zhang Fubao. She tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Young Master, look, that young general is so handsome. Could he be Pan An reincarnated? There is such a handsome man in the world. I have never seen such a person." Zhang Fubao was originally concentrating on the medical treatment at hand, and was disturbed by the maid's pulling and words. He raised his head helplessly and looked in the direction the maid pointed.

The young general held an imposing bearing, his posture erect as a pine tree, his dark garb accentuating his imposing presence. His face was as white as jade, his eyebrows slanted down to his temples like inky ink, and his eyes, like the cold stars twinkling in the night sky, were clear and deep, revealing an innate elegance and gentleness. His nose was like a hanging gall bladder, its lines graceful, his lips delicately shaped, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, a modest smile on his face. His entire demeanor exuded a courteous demeanor, like the warm spring sun, warming one's heart.

The young general's face was like a ray of light, instantly capturing Zhang Fubao's heart and filling her with joy. Although Zhang Fubao was born into a wealthy family and had seen the world, she had lived in seclusion for many years and rarely had the opportunity to meet such a handsome and well-mannered young hero. Although she was eager to get back to her work, her eyes kept rising and gazing at the young general.

At this moment, the young general approached Hua Tuo with steady steps, his posture graceful and unhurried. He clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Sir, I have several wounded men here in critical condition, in urgent need of medical attention." Hua Tuo had no particularly serious cases on hand today. Upon hearing this, he turned and looked behind the young general. He saw several men being supported by others, all bearing scars from swords and knives, their wounds still oozing blood. His heart tightened, thinking that if he didn't provide timely assistance, the wounded would be in grave danger from excessive blood loss. He quickly stood up and said, "Bring them all in." Turning to Zhang Fubao, he said, "Young man, I'll need your help. There are so many of them, and their injuries are serious. We must expedite treatment and prevent them from losing too much blood." Zhang Fubao immediately stopped what he was doing, neatly rolled up his sleeves, and quickly walked towards Hua Tuo.

Only then did the young general notice Zhang Fubao's arrival. Seeing Zhang Fubao's strikingly handsome features and exquisite clothing, he knew he must be from a wealthy family. However, his heart was preoccupied with his injured companion, so he remained silent. With a solemn expression, he bowed to Hua Tuo and Zhang Fubao and said sincerely, "I'm leaving you in the care of this patient. This is unavoidable. My companion's injuries are so severe, and I'm deeply concerned. Please forgive me for any inconvenience." Then, with a look of deep regret, he addressed the waiting patients, saying, "I deeply regret delaying your care while we were here. You've all been waiting here for so long, and this is all my fault." He then glanced at his attendants, who understood his meaning and continued, "My general has said that as an apology, he'd like to give you some silver. Please forgive me." With that, he began to distribute the silver.

Hua Tuo, witnessing the young man's distributing of silver, found it difficult to agree. He believed that saving the dying and the wounded was a doctor's duty, not to be measured or compensated for the inconvenience caused to others by money. However, the patients' conditions weren't critical, and while the young man's gesture might seem a bit extravagant, it would also benefit the poor. Thinking of this, he refrained from speaking. After a moment's deliberation, Hua Tuo turned to the patients and said gently, "Everyone, please come back in the afternoon. These patients are seriously injured. If you wait here any longer, you might miss your meal." The patients waiting for treatment weren't critically ill to begin with, and now, seeing the young general's attendants distributing silver, they knew its value. Furthermore, considering that each of them bore wounds from swords and spears, and that they rode with such imposing aura, they knew they were not the kind of people ordinary people could afford to provoke. They all said, "It's okay, it's okay. I'll come back in the afternoon." Seeing this, Hua Tuo said, "Since that's the case, please disperse. This thatched cottage is already small and cramped, and with so many people crowded in here, the air is bound to be stuffy." Those who wanted to watch the excitement, though reluctant, could only leave in frustration. Only Zhang Fubao's guards remained, retreating slightly but not daring to leave. They watched the group nervously, their weapons tightly gripped, constantly alert for any possible emergencies to protect Zhang Fubao.