Chapter 351: Chapter 352 The Appearance of the Fifth Prince’s Good Match

Shao He was unfazed by this, having already prepared to face everyone’s provocations. Such a trivial matter hardly counted for anything, and making her upset proved even more difficult.

It wasn’t until she had finished speaking that Eldest Princess Huimin feigned noticing Shao He’s arrival, pulling Qi Jiayuan along to greet her.

“Doctor Shao has arrived, why not come over and chat with everyone? I thought you would come later.”

“I pay my respects to Eldest Princess Huimin.” Shao He bowed slightly in greeting.

“Rise, please. I want to introduce you to a lady.”

Eldest Princess Huimin, holding Qi Jiayuan’s hand, introduced her: “This is Qi Jiayuan, the legitimate daughter of the Qi Family, who has a life-saving bond with Huaian. The two fought side by side, experienced life and death together, and their friendship is anything but ordinary, incomparable to common folk.”

She was reminding Shao He that Qi Jiayuan and Pei Huaian were the real pair, to make her understand her own status.

When introducing Shao He, Eldest Princess Huimin only had one sentence to say.

“This is Doctor Shao.”

Her tone was as flat as water, as if Shao He simply could not be mentioned in the same breath as Pei Huaian.

Shao He lifted her eyes to glance at Qi Jiayuan, indeed a beauty who caught people’s attention.

Qi Jiayuan was also looking at Shao He, and although she had long heard of Shao He’s name and rumors, she was still stunned by her charm upon meeting her in person.

Dressed in a pristine white garment, with her hair meticulously coiled into an elegant bun, a Jade Hairpin slanted amidst her locks. She was serene and composed, a faint graceful smile hanging on her lips. Undeniably, she was a woman of immense charm.

Eldest Princess Huimin went on to say, “The Empress Dowager and The Emperor have always thought highly of Jiayuan, and have always hoped she would become a Prince’s Consort. Especially because her achievements are remarkable, and moreover, Yinying is still unwed. In my view, she and Huaian are perfectly matched.”

Qi Jiayuan did not deny such a notion but her gaze betrayed a slight impatience, and she subtly withdrew her hand.

Shao He lightly pursed her lips, her expression remaining utterly untroubled, and instead spoke with utmost respect, “Miss Qi is indeed a fine match for the Fifth Prince.”

Eldest Princess Huimin felt somewhat uneasy; she had thought that Shao He would be angry. However, to her surprise, Shao He remained remarkably calm, leaving her at a loss.

Just as Shao He was about to turn away and leave, the silent Qi Jiayuan suddenly called out to her.

“Doctor Shao, please wait a moment.”

This voice, crisp as a flowing spring, instantly drew the attention of those around with all eyes turning in anticipation of the scene.

Step by step, Qi Jiayuan approached Shao He, her demeanor showing no difficulty but rather a very serious tone as she inquired: “How is Doctor Shao’s medical skill?”

“I hear you can open up people’s abdomens and even join severed limbs; is that true?”

“I dare not boast. I can only help others recover from their injuries,” Shao He humbly replied.

Furrowing her brows upon hearing this, Qi Jiayuan said, “I’ve heard about your exploits, how you fitted the Crown Prince with a prosthetic limb that allowed him to stand and walk again. Your medical skills must be extraordinary.”

“Miss Qi flatters me,” Shao He responded politely to the praise.

“So, to what extent can a severed hand or foot be restored?” Qi Jiayuan asked further.

“While I can achieve it, I must ensure that each injured party’s condition is identical, otherwise deviations can easily occur, which can be fatal.”

“Oh? So what you’re saying is—-”

“What I mean is, full recovery isn’t possible, but normal life is attainable, and the person cannot engage in horseback riding or combat, but can maintain the state of an ordinary person,” Shao He explained, not understanding the purpose of her question, but answered truthfully nonetheless.

Qi Jiayuan’s interest was piqued and she spoke more cordially, “I wonder if Doctor Shao might be free to join me for tea in the pavilion to talk more about this?”

Shao He was looking for an opportunity to escape the scrutiny of the crowd, and this presented a welcome chance. Besides, she didn’t sense any malice from Qi Jiayuan.

“Certainly.”

“Please,” Qi Jiayuan gestured invitingly.

This left the onlookers who had been ready for a spectacle dumbstruck, as everyone expected a scuffle, not such harmony.

Even the maidservants behind Eldest Princess Huimin couldn’t help but comment, “Princess, it seems Miss Qi does not mind the presence of this female doctor.”

“Impossible. No one would like to share their husband with someone else,” Huimin dismissed it immediately.

The two women took their seats in the pavilion, where Qi Jiayuan poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward Shao He, then filled one for herself.

“Could Doctor Shao kindly elaborate on how the prosthetics are fitted? Are there any side effects?”

Qi Jiayuan urgently wanted to know the method of manufacturing these things, as she needed to use them herself.

Shao He frowned slightly upon Qi Jiayuan’s question. She had not expected Qi Jiayuan to have such a keen interest in prosthetics, nor did she anticipate the rushed nature of her queries. However, it was asked, there was no need to be secretive.

“Prosthetics are a type of assistive device, allowing those with crippled legs to stand, and they can also…”

As Shao He spoke at length, the surprise on Qi Jiayuan’s face grew increasingly noticeable.

She had never imagined that someone would one day invent such things, nor that the world contained so many fascinating and bizarre objects.

Once Shao He had finished explaining, Qi Jiayuan eagerly asked: “Do these things really exist?”

“Hasn’t Miss Qi already met the Crown Prince? He is the best proof,” Shao He said with a smile.

“That’s wonderful,” Qi Jiayuan clapped her hands joyfully.

The rest of the onlookers waiting outside, upon seeing such amiable conversation, gawked in surprise.

Even Jhiang Yijia found it hard to believe, but was somewhat relieved.