Li Su put away the items and said cautiously, "After this incident, Lin Sa's identity will undoubtedly attract even more attention. Your Highness must be careful.
At least for now, you need to be more vigilant when entering and leaving the Prince's mansion and Bai Xing Lin."
It was due to her carelessness before that Ning Wang and Duke Xu learned of her identity.
Fortunately, Duke Xu and Ning Wang were wary of Duke Pei and others, so her identity was not widely exposed. This time, Li Su was exceptionally cautious.
Lu Qing Wan nodded, "I understand. Let's go quickly. If we linger, we'll arouse suspicion."
It was already eye-catching for a guard from the Regent's mansion to personally escort a physician to Dali Temple.
If the two of them continued to dawdle, it would be difficult for others not to suspect something was amiss.
As Li Su left with the syringe, Su Shang entered and closed the door cautiously before speaking.
"Mistress, since yesterday's incident, no less than five groups have come to inquire about Hu Yan Che's condition.
Even the patients and their families who were already staying here have been bribed to help them spy on Hu Yan Che's condition. It's difficult for our brothers to maintain security. What do you think? Should we move Hu Yan Che somewhere else?"
Bai Xing Lin had the backing of the Regent's mansion, but in the eyes of outsiders, it was just a slightly renowned apothecary.
Those people did not take Bai Xing Lin seriously and frequently intruded without hesitation.
Su Shang was worried that if something happened to Hu Yan Che here, it would implicate Lu Qing Wan.
"No, he is seriously injured, and moving him in his current condition is not advisable."
Lu Qing Wan pushed open the door and walked towards the special ward, "Besides, if he leaves, wouldn't all those who rushed to Bai Xing Lin to gather intelligence be left with no purpose?"
Although Su Shang was not involved in court affairs, she was aware of Lu Qing Wan's identity.
Hearing this, she was surprised, "Your Highness intends to use Hu Yan Che as bait, casting a long line to catch a big fish?"
"Whether it's a big fish or not is not for me to say. I just will not tolerate anyone using me as a pawn in their power struggle and getting away with it."
As they spoke, they arrived at the special care ward.
Inside, two trusted medical women trained by Buye Zhou were attending to the patient. Upon seeing Lu Qing Wan, they bowed silently.
Lu Qing Wan nodded, "Is the situation stable?"
One of the medical women immediately presented Hu Yan Che's medical records, "The patient's condition is relatively stable. He woke up briefly this morning and asked if you were alright.
After being told you were fine, he fell unconscious again."
Lu Qing Wan was slightly surprised, not expecting Hu Yan Che to be concerned about her first thing upon waking.
However, she did not show it on her face. "Continue to monitor him. Report any developments to Su Shang immediately."
The two medical women responded respectfully, and Lu Qing Wan then exited the special care ward. As soon as she stepped out, she saw two women and one man who looked familiar.
The three of them were also surprised to see Lu Qing Wan and stood at one end of the corridor, unsure whether to approach.
However, Lu Qing Wan walked directly towards them without needing them to make a decision. The three of them quickly bowed in unison, "Greetings, Physician Lin."
The three spoke in unison, as if rehearsed.
Lu Qing Wan's expression was inscrutable, "Why are you here?"
After speaking, she looked at one of the women with complicated eyes, "With your attire, have you become a medical woman at Bai Xing Lin?"
The woman quickly curtsied, "Your servant Cheng Nan Shu greets Physician Lin. I am indebted to Physician Lin for saving my life, and my Lin Er and I have been fortunate to survive.
However, my husband is in peril, and it is difficult for me to manage alone with my child. So, I pleaded with Physician Xiao Meng to let me stay at Bai Xing Lin.
Although I do not understand medicine, I have read a few books and know a few characters.
After being taught by Physician Xiao Meng, I can now perform basic tasks such as nursing, dispensing medicine, and decocting herbs."
When they first met, Cheng Nan Shu was disheveled, but the clothes she wore were not ordinary.
Her husband, before leaving, had also given Lu Qing Wan a bamboo whistle, saying it could save her in times of crisis.
And Cheng Nan Shu's demeanor also revealed an unusual temperament. Yet now she claimed to be alone with her child and struggling, asking Bai Xing Lin to take her in.
Lu Qing Wan did not hesitate to show her suspicion, "If I recall correctly, when we first met, he was carrying you to seek medical help, wasn't he?
You said your husband is in peril, so who is he?"
She pointed to the man standing beside Cheng Nan Shu, "You did not pay the consultation fee then, and he gave me a bamboo whistle, telling me to blow it when in need to save me from danger.
If he could save me from danger, couldn't he take care of his wife and child?"
Cheng Nan Shu looked flustered and was about to explain, bowing towards Lu Qing Wan.
The man pointed to by Lu Qing Wan, however, had already spoken, "Physician Lin, please calm your anger. I am not Nan Shu's husband, but her cousin. The situation was special then, so we concealed our relationship from you.
However, my sister is not deceiving you; her husband has indeed met his demise.
Although I am her cousin, I am a rough man. I am capable of fighting and killing, but I am truly inadequate in caring for my sister and young nephew.
I implore Physician Lin to take my sister in for a period. I am willing to serve Physician Lin with all my might, without any limit."
This was said as if Lu Qing Wan would be greatly benefited by his service.
Lu Qing Wan said sarcastically, "Whether you are her husband or her cousin, I am not interested.
But your sibling's evasiveness makes it clear you are not ordinary. How can I be sure that keeping you by my side won't bring me trouble?"
The man was anxious to say something more to persuade Lu Qing Wan to keep Cheng Nan Shu, but unexpectedly Lu Qing Wan spoke again.
"It is not impossible for me to keep them, mother and son. Tell me, what benefit can you bring me?
Don't talk about empty promises of service. Bai Xing Lin, vast as it is, does not lack people to run errands for me. If you want me to keep them, show me your actual value."
The man gritted his teeth and said, "Physician Lin, may I request a private conversation?"
Lu Qing Wan shook her head, "There is no need for a private conversation. As long as you don't shout, this is the safest place."
The third floor was all special wards and Lu Qing Wan's administrative offices and laboratory. Except for the special wards, all others were currently vacant.
The corridor was empty, and anyone approaching could be seen, making it an ideal place for conversation.
The man heard this and did not insist further, instead speaking in a low voice, "Does Physician Lin want to know why Ming Wu Ya helped Su Bo Jun intercept the battle reports from the Sai Bei King's army?"
Lu Qing Wan's eyes suddenly turned cold, "Do you know my identity?"
The man replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "My sister and nephew are my life. If I am to entrust them to Physician Lin, how can I not investigate Physician Lin a little?"
He admitted without hesitation that he had spied on Lu Qing Wan's true identity.
Lu Qing Wan's gaze turned cold as she stared at him, "Since you know my identity, do not think of playing tricks with me.
If you dare to deceive me even in the slightest, I guarantee that you, your sister, and your nephew will disappear without a trace from the Great Qian territory."