A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

The night is deep, the starry sky is as dark as ink, and countless stars dot the sky.

Hu Wanwan's delivery was successfully completed. Everyone was dirty, hungry, cold, and thirsty.

Zhao Xuanmu invited everyone to stay overnight at his residence, where they bathed and ate. Nie Qianqian had nothing more to say to Zhao Xuanmu and Zhao Jiaojiao, but she was thinking about the jade pendant, so she had no choice but to agree. She asked Director Zhang to help send someone to Qinghe County to inform Liu Yan and Gu Xiao.

After bathing and changing, Zhao Xuanmu set out exquisite food again and invited everyone to drink together.

This time, in addition to Zhao Xuanmu, Zhao Jiaojiao was also present.

During the meal, Zhao Xuanmu kept giving Zhao Jiaojiao meaningful glances, signaling her to apologize to Doctor Qian. Zhao Jiaojiao received the message but awkwardly hesitated to get up.

Zhao Jiaojiao was spoiled since childhood and has always been arrogant. In Fulin County, with Zhao Xuanmu backing her up, others always apologize to her, and she has never apologized to anyone.

Seeing that Zhao Jiaojiao remained motionless, Zhao Xuanmu finally turned cold and glared at her.

Zhao Jiaojiao shrank back, remembering what Zhao Xuanmu had told her.

"This Doctor Qian is exceptionally capable. He may become a five-star physician in the Medical Association and gain great fame. If we remain confined to this corner of Qinghe County, that's fine. But we may be able to return to the capital soon. Therefore, we cannot afford to offend Doctor Qian and must do our best to win him over."

Zhao Jiaojiao pouted and, under Zhao Xuanmu's gaze, picked up her cup and slowly walked over to Nie Qianqian's side.

"Dr. Qian, thank you for saving my mother and younger brother. Jiaojiao is young and unaware of the dangers, and treated you lightly. I hope you can forgive me."

Zhao Jiaojiao had already lowered her stance, expecting that Doctor Qian would say some kind words to comfort her, but unexpectedly Doctor Qian coldly said, "You're not a child anymore."

Zhao Jiaojiao: "Huh?"

Nie Qianqian didn't indulge her at all. "If you were from a farming family, you would already be well-mannered and sensible by the age of fourteen or fifteen. You would be working in the fields, taking on household chores, and supporting your family. So, stop using your young age as an excuse."

Zhao Jiaojiao blushed and opened her mouth to retort, but seeing the murderous look in Zhao Xuanmu's eyes, she reluctantly shut her mouth.

Zhao Jiaojiao's eyes were red. "Jiaojiao thanks Doctor Qian for his guidance." After saying that, she finished the tea in her cup, threw it on the table, and ran away crying.

Seeing Zhao Jiaojiao like this, Zhao Xuanmu shook his head helplessly and sighed inwardly.

Doctor Qian is right. They always treat Jiao Jiao like a child, but she's not that young anymore. She's so immature and impatient, and she wears her heart on her sleeve. If she goes to the capital, everyone around her is shrewd, and she'll definitely suffer.

Zhao Xuanmu raised his wine glass and stepped forward, his attitude humble. "It is the father's fault if the son is not taught properly. On behalf of Jiaojiao, I would like to offer a toast to Doctor Qian. I hope Doctor Qian will forgive me."

Nie Qianqian hadn't forgotten Zhao Xuanmu's cold face when he stopped her earlier. His change in expression now was simply because he felt that Doctor Qian had become valuable.

Merchants act with profit as their primary concern.

Nie Qianqian twitched the corners of her mouth, but did not pick up the wine glass. "As I said, I am just an ordinary person. I only take money to treat patients. I don't care about anything else."

Hearing this familiar rhetoric, Director Zhang thought to himself: Here it comes, Dr. Qian is here with his familiar routine. I wonder how many feathers he'll pluck this time.

Seeing that Doctor Qian had not raised his cup, Zhao Xuanmu tightened his grip on the wine glass, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After a moment's thought, he had no choice but to drink it all in one gulp.

"Of course, I will not treat you doctors unfairly for your hard work."

-

After Zhao Jiaojiao ran away, she went to the pavilion in the courtyard and cried for a long time, her eyes becoming red and swollen.

Zhao Jiaojiao kicked away the pebbles on the ground. "I was just worried about Mother's safety and got a little anxious. What kind of person is this, bullying me at their age and saying I'm rude and immature? You might not have been as good as me when you were this age!"

Zhao Jiaojiao felt more and more wronged. Although it was just a casual remark from someone else, she just couldn't stand it.

“Brother Chu is very understanding, he will surely understand me.”

Zhao Jiaojiao blushed slightly as she recalled Chu Shaoyang's strong features, his imposing figure, and his flowing black robes during battle.

Such a majestic man, yet he has a kind heart.

Zhao Jiaojiao unconsciously walked towards Chu Shaoyang's courtyard, completely forgetting Zhao Xuanmu's repeated instructions not to disturb the guests.

In the courtyard where Chu Shaoyang lived, the moonlight was as clear as water. The man was dressed in black and held a long sword. The sword was as white as frost and snow. As he swung it, the sword light flowed and cast a silvery glow around him.

Zhao Jiaojiao was mesmerized, quietly admiring the picturesque scenery.

After finishing his sword routine, Chu Shaoyang sheathed his sword, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. Zhao Jiaojiao took out a handkerchief and was about to step forward when she heard a silvery voice, like a clear spring flowing over rocks, which was very pleasant to hear.

"Brother Chu, why are you in the mood to wield your sword? It's quite a sight for Mu Xin to see." As soon as the words were spoken, a woman's graceful figure slowly walked out.

The woman wore a white, misty plum blossom skirt, over which she wore a moon-colored satin cloak embroidered with magnolias and flying saucers. Her figure was graceful, her face as bright as the moon, and her long, jet-black hair reached down to her waist.

Her hair was tied up with a purple and white ribbon, reflecting a faint glow under the moonlight. Her hair was adorned with only a jade hairpin, inlaid with a piece of white ice jade, clear and shimmering, clearly no ordinary jade.

The woman raised her hand and handed the handkerchief to Chu Shaoyang, revealing her slender arm. On her arm was a milky white jade bracelet, completely translucent and without a single impurity.

The woman's every gesture exuded the grace of a lady from a distinguished family; every step and every raised hand reflected the family's refined traditions.

Zhao Jiaojiao froze, finding herself unable to muster the courage to approach such a woman.

Chu Shaoyang took the handkerchief and wiped his sweat. "It's cold at night, why did you come out?"

The woman smiled slightly; any more would have been too enthusiastic, any less would have been too cold—the curve was just right.

“I heard from Pei’er that you had been out for a long time, so I was a little worried and came out to check. I happened to see you practicing your sword in the courtyard.”

Chu Shaoyang slightly curled the corners of his lips, "I just encountered someone with comparable martial arts skills, and after exchanging blows, I became interested."

The woman raised her eyebrows slightly. "Oh? I didn't expect there to be someone in this small place who could rival Brother Chu in martial arts."

Chu Shaoyang nodded, recalling Nie Qianqian's miraculous medical skills, "Indeed, there are many hidden talents among them."

Chu Shaoyang: "I heard you don't like the food here?"

The woman was slightly taken aback. Upon hearing this, her maid glanced at the woman's expression and whispered, "Miss has always had a weak stomach. After the bumpy journey from the provincial capital, her appetite has been poor. Originally, our young lady only ate fruits and vegetables picked that day, ate the tenderest part of the meat, and drank only the tenderest tips of the tea leaves. This has become a habit over the years, which is why she is not so used to it here."

The woman interrupted softly, "Pei'er, stop talking."

"It's already quite good that this place can provide such food; Mu Xin is just being picky."

As Zhao Jiaojiao listened, she twisted her fingers. The food at the Zhao family's residence was second to none in Fulin County, yet this woman still complained.

Chu Shaoyang smiled and said, "Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang have doted on you since you were little, and Jiang Zheng'an is especially protective of you. It's okay for you to be a little sharp-tongued."

Mentioning her elder brother Jiang Zheng'an, Jiang Muxin smiled faintly. She had indeed grown up being endlessly pampered, and no young lady in the capital could help but envy her.

Jiang Muxin looked up at the full moon in the sky. "The moon is so round tonight. I've missed my parents and older brother these past few days."

Chu Shaoyang asked with concern, "Is Aunt Jiang's inner conflict still unresolved?"

Jiang Muxin looked into the distance, tears welling up in her eyes. "No. Mother lost my sister here back then, and every year since then she has come to Fulin County to search for her. She has been searching for 20 years. In recent years, she has simply settled down in the provincial capital and lived separately from Father, not returning to the capital."

“My mother’s heart is still unresolved, and her health is getting weaker and weaker. She insisted on coming to Fulin County this time. If I hadn’t stopped her and come in her place, she definitely would not have agreed.”

The Chu family and the Jiang family have been friends for generations and know things that outsiders don't.

Jiang Muxin is not actually the biological daughter of the Jiang family, but an adopted daughter. When the Jiang family lost their daughter, Jiang's mother was distraught and even attempted suicide. Later, in order to comfort Jiang's mother, Jiang's father adopted Jiang Muxin and projected all his guilt and love for his daughter onto Jiang Muxin.

Over the years, everyone in the capital believed that Jiang Muxin was the biological daughter of the Jiang family, but a few closely related aristocratic families knew the truth.

However, Jiang Muxin has already been included in the family genealogy, so she is no different from a biological daughter of the Jiang family.