My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Prince Qi Lends a Helping Hand

Hong Ye and Cui Ming both noticed her heavy heart and quietly accompanied her.

Qin Yuan squinted her eyes and sat quietly in the carriage for a while before her mood improved a bit.

She lifted the curtain and leaned forward to look outside, about to say she wanted to go to the West Market, when the carriage suddenly shook heavily. Then the horses in front let out a piercing scream, and the entire carriage lost control, swaying left and right as it sped forward.

If it weren’t for Hong Ye and Cui Ming desperately holding her back, she would have almost been thrown out of the window.

If she really got thrown out, it would be quite a disgrace.

Qin Yuan heard the coachman desperately shouting ”Whoa,” but the horses didn’t heed at all, continuing to gallop madly.

The tea cups, pastries, and other items placed on the table inside the carriage fell and scattered everywhere, tea spilling all over in a mess.

But the three of them couldn’t care about that now.

They were tossed high up, then crashed down heavily, and before they could regain their composure, they were thrown to the left and then shaken back again.

Cui Ming, with her frail body, was already barely holding on.

Hong Ye screamed out loud, her hands tightly protecting Qin Yuan without the slightest retreat.

Qin Yuan sighed internally.

Running into a runaway horse here on the main road, really didn’t expect it.

Just unsure how it would end.

Her hands tightly gripped the table leg fixed in the carriage, preventing herself from being tossed around. Cui Ming and Hong Ye clung to her, the three intertwined, doing their best to minimize potential injury.

Qin Yuan’s head was dizzy from the shakes, and after quite a while, the carriage finally stopped. In her daze, she seemed to hear someone shouting loudly, followed by the roar of the frantic horses, and finally, everything calmed down.

”Madam, Madam?”

The coachman called anxiously from outside: ”Madam, are you all right?”

Qin Yuan was pinned underneath Cui Ming, her hand holding the table leg aching terribly as if it might dislocate.

Hong Ye first pulled out her leg from underneath, took a breath, and weakly called out, ”Miss, Miss, Cui Ming, Cui Ming.”

Qin Yuan responded, ”Hmm.”

Cui Ming was unresponsive.

Hong Ye moved forward, helping Qin Yuan disentangle herself, with Cui Ming limply pressing against her, seemingly passed out.

Qin Yuan took a great deal of effort to crawl up, her clothes disheveled, and her arms and cheeks scratched and bloody. But she didn’t care about that, urgently checking their injuries, fortunately finding they were largely unharmed.

”Madam, Madam?” The coachman’s voice trembled, almost in tears.

”Madam has suffered only minor injuries and needs to be seen at Renhe Hall.”

Hong Ye spoke up.

”Alright,” the coachman replied tearfully, choking up. ”The horse got spooked. It was fortunate Prince Qi’s men stopped it earlier, otherwise I’d be done for even if I had ten lives. Might Madam switch to Prince Qi’s carriage?”

”Is it convenient?”

Qin Yuan asked hesitantly.

The coachman remained silent. After a while, a clear, gentle voice sounded: ”Madam, please use my carriage. I will escort you by horseback outside, it won’t be inconvenient.”

Qin Yuan paused for a moment, then, with Hong Ye, supported the dazed Cui Ming as they struggled to descend the carriage.

Looking up, she saw the elegant Prince Qi standing beside the carriage, watching her with gentle eyes. He said, ”Madam, you were startled, but fortunately you are unharmed. Why not get in and quickly seek diagnosis at the nearby medical hall.”

The coachman, limping, hobbled over and said, ”Madam, had it not been for Prince Qi’s assistance, I’d never have managed with just ten lives.”

Qin Yuan quickly bowed to Prince Qi, softly saying, ”Thank you for your kind assistance, Prince Qi, I shall accept the offer, then.”

”Madam, no need for formalities, please get on the carriage promptly.”

Qin Yuan couldn’t afford to exchange further words with Prince Qi and promptly boarded the carriage, realizing the road was crucial and they had stalled there too long.

At this moment, the small blue wagon carrying the sturdy women and nannies approached as well.

Quickly, the women and nannies jumped off the wagon, came up, took over Cui Ming, and helped move her into Prince Qi’s carriage.

This carriage was much larger and more luxurious than the one from the Marquis Mansion, with a faint incense lit inside it which quickly calmed the passengers.

Upon entering, Hong Ye suddenly felt weak and limp, bereft of any strength from earlier.

Through the curtain, Qin Yuan ordered, ”Check if anyone got harmed or if any stalls were affected. Those injured should be sent to Renhe Hall for treatment; compensation must be made for damaged property.”

”Yes.”

The nannies and attendants left there followed instructions and began verifying the situation.

Prince Qi couldn’t help but glance toward the carriage window.

Even in such moments, thinking about these matters, truly counted as remaining composed under pressure.

Gu Jinghui indeed had good fortune.

When this woman had bowed moments ago, her hair was disheveled, clothes torn, arms and cheeks bloodied, looking woefully shabby. Yet somehow, invoking an impulse to tenderly protect her from further fright and helplessness.

Prince Qi lightly touched his chin, contemplating, her alluring voice, soft demeanour, even her face marred by injuries remained captivating.

An undeniable enchantress.

No wonder Gu Jinghui treasured her so highly.

Constantly boasting about his beloved passionate young wife.

Compared to her, his own sister Fu Yun seemed somewhat lacking.

Prince Qi gracefully mounted his horse, the moon-white robe hem forming an elegant arc. Sitting upright, his head slightly lowered, neck straight, quietly accompanying the carriage outside.

Anyone would certainly praise aloud upon sight, what a handsome young gentleman.

Doctor Li had just seen Qin Yuan off when he noticed Prince Qi’s carriage parked outside Renhe Hall.

”This...”

Doctor Li felt inexplicably flustered.

Renhe Hall had moderate fame. Although used to visiting affluent homes often, he’d never treated esteemed nobility.

Why weren’t these people calling for imperial physicians and instead coming to him?

Doctor Li hurried out to greet them, with a smile offering a bow, inwardly wondering whom Prince Qi escorted by horse?

Prince Qi didn’t spare him a glance, only slightly tilting his head toward the carriage window, saying, ”Madam, we have arrived at Renhe Hall. Are you sure you have chosen to get seen here?”

Qin Yuan’s voice emerged, ”Yes, here. Thank you, Prince Qi, for escorting us all the way.”

Following that, several servant women jumped down the carriage, helping Qin Yuan and the others out.

Seeing their disheveled state rendered Doctor Li’s face pale, pupils contracting nearly shouting aloud.

Only then did Prince Qi turn his gaze toward him, saying, ”This is Dingbei Marquis’s wife. The carriage startled, causing minor injuries, not having time for an imperial physician. Madam mentioned having sought treatment at Renhe Hall before, finding your ointment for injuries quite effective, so you must serve well.”

Doctor Li promptly replied, ”Yes, yes, yes, this falls within my duty.”

Prince Qi merely said, ”Proceed.”

The nannies had already assisted Qin Yuan and others into Renhe Hall, while Doctor Li, filled with suspicions, followed behind them. Before stepping in, he glanced back, spotting Prince Qi still astride his horse, sitting upright without a hint of leaving.