Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 378: Call me Brother and let me hear it...

Zhan Lan turned to glance at him. "I said you’re even with him now—nobody owes anyone anything—and she shouldn’t call you Yan!"

Mu Yan raised an eyebrow and teased, "Jealous?"

Zhan Lan scoffed coldly, "Absolutely not!"

Mu Yan smiled faintly, his eyes twinkling. "Then let me hear you call me ’Brother,’ Lan’er..."

Zhan Lan stared blankly at the golden fallen leaves on the ground and said, "No!"

Mu Yan pinched her waist lightly, whispering, "If you don’t say it now, then you’ll have to say it tonight..."

Zhan Lan’s ears turned bright red, and she whispered, almost inaudibly, "Brother."

Mu Yan tilted his head and pretended, "I didn’t hear you."

Zhan Lan shut her eyes and called out again, louder this time, "Brother!"

Mu Yan was stirred by the sound, his heart aflame. He curled his lips into a smile and turned Zhan Lan’s face towards him. Zhan Lan felt a sudden softness against her lips.

Mu Yan’s lips pressed against hers, lingering. Flustered, Zhan Lan’s breath quickened, her ears burning as she muttered, "So many Hidden Guards are watching!"

Mu Yan wrapped his arms around her waist and replied, "They... wouldn’t dare!"

Riding behind their master, Vermilion Bird suddenly noticed what Mu Yan was doing. Immediately, he raised his hand, and all the Hidden Guards pulled their reins in unison, turning their eyes elsewhere.

Vermilion Bird shook his head—master had lost control again.

He stole another glance, only to blush furiously and turn away, comforting himself: "I’m protecting the master, not spying. Not spying!"

...

Leaving the forest, Mu Yan and Zhan Lan switched to a carriage and found themselves on a busy street.

"I want to visit Chu Yin’s clinic," Zhan Lan said, looking at Mu Yan.

Mu Yan nodded, "I’ll go with you."

As the two approached the clinic, they heard a commotion up ahead.

Vermilion Bird reported, "Master, Prince Qi’s carriage just passed by and struck an old woman, injuring her leg."

Zhan Lan lifted the curtain and saw Prince Qi arrogantly barking orders. "You meddling commoners! It’s just a small injury, isn’t it? Are you trying to extort silver from this prince?"

With a cold expression, he threw a piece of silver out, hitting the old woman’s forehead. Her injured leg, already bleeding from the carriage’s impact, gave way as dizziness overtook her. She collapsed onto the ground.

Mu Yan’s eyes darkened instantly. Just as he and Zhan Lan were about to disembark, Prince Xian stepped down from Prince Qi’s carriage ahead of them. He turned to Prince Qi and rebuked, "This is unacceptable!"

Prince Xian bent down, gently helping the elderly woman up, his tone full of concern. "Dear elder, please be more careful while walking in the streets next time. Carriages move quickly—it’s easy to get hurt."

From his pouch, he drew out a piece of gold. "This is my apology to you on behalf of Prince Qi. I ask that you please accept it."

The old woman was immensely grateful but refused to take the gold.

Despite Prince Xian’s repeated insistence, she still turned it down. Eventually, Prince Xian released her.

Chu Yin, noticing that the elderly woman could hardly stand on her feet, stepped out of the clinic to assist her. "Dear elder, please come inside—I’ll take a look at your injuries."

From the second floor, Chu Yin had seen everything clearly. The carriage was moving too fast, leaving the old woman no time to evade. That detestable Prince Qi—it was clearly deliberate.

Prince Xian repeatedly apologized. "I’m sorry, elder. I’ll cover all your medical expenses."

Chu Yin, supporting the injured woman, replied, "That won’t be necessary. Our clinic doesn’t charge the destitute!"

With that, she helped the limping elderly woman into the clinic.

Seeing the crowd of onlookers growing, Prince Xian scolded, "Prince Qi, apologize to the elder!"

Prince Qi begrudgingly muttered, "I’m sorry!" as the old woman disappeared inside.

Prince Xian climbed into the carriage with an angry flourish of his sleeve, and Prince Qi gloomily followed.

Once inside, Prince Xian’s face changed drastically—it was no longer that approachable visage but rather one of cold calculation. Hidden behind the carriage curtains, his icy gaze scanned the scene outside.

Pulling his gaze back, he said, "I’m sorry for what you’ve endured."

Prince Qi smiled faintly, his expression turning sinister. "As long as my older brother gains a good reputation, your younger brother doesn’t mind suffering a little!"

Their mothers were sisters from the same family, having wed Emperor Xuanwu one after the other and borne the two princes.

With such connections, it was natural for Prince Qi and Prince Xian to share a close relationship.

"Where are you headed for fun today?" Prince Xian asked.

Prince Qi laughed. "To Jiao Fangsi, of course!"

...

Outside the clinic, a large crowd of commoners gathered.

"Ah, Prince Xian is such a good-hearted man! Did you see how he reprimanded Prince Qi earlier? Such a noble elder brother!"

"Indeed! It’s the mark of someone who understands propriety. Prince Xian even apologized on behalf of his younger brother—what a true gentleman!"

"You praise Prince Xian, but let’s not forget the young madam from General Mansion—that’s a true kind heart!"

"Exactly! This Compassionate Medical Clinic charges little for treatment of the poor, and sometimes they don’t charge at all. Compared to other clinics, they’re leagues better!"

Shrouded in veils, Zhan Lan and Mu Yan disembarked from their carriage. Before doing so, Mu Yan whispered something to Vermilion Bird, who promptly left.

Inside the clinic, Chu Yin was treating the elderly woman’s leg.

The area struck by the carriage was swollen and still bleeding. Seeing the frail, gaunt woman, Chu Yin first bandaged the gash on her forehead.

She then called for the clinic’s trauma specialist.

"Doctor Zhang, please take good care of her injury, and don’t charge her anything!"

"Understood, young madam!" Doctor Zhang began tending to the old woman’s leg.

Chu Yin stepped out of the inner room and saw two veiled figures. "Are you here for medical attention?" she asked.

The clinic charged only minimal fees for the poor, though regular fees were still applied to others.

Zhan Lan removed her veil, prompting Chu Yin to rapidly approach and playfully tap her arm.

Mu Yan instinctively pulled Zhan Lan into his protective embrace.

Chu Yin withdrew her hand, pursing her lips. "Your husband is way too protective—you won’t even let me lightly smack you!"

Zhan Lan grinned mischievously, planting her hand on Chu Yin’s shoulder. "Then let me smack you a few times—let’s see if your own husband minds!"

From outside, Zhan Hui’s voice suddenly rang out, "Who dares to smack my wife!"

Zhan Lan turned back to face Zhan Hui. "Brother, you’ve just been married—how can you let Chu Yin come out and work already?"

Looking thoroughly innocent, Zhan Hui glanced at Chu Yin, whose face turned crimson. "I... I chose to come," she murmured.

Though their marriage was recent, they had yet to move out. Newlywed life came with its inconveniences, along with filial obligations and formalities. Despite Qin Shuang’s leniency, Chu Yin still found it embarrassing to stay home constantly.

Suddenly, Chu Yin envied Zhan Lan. Even in the harmonious household of the General Mansion, she couldn’t match the freedom Zhan Lan enjoyed living solely with Mu Yan.

Zhan Lan surveyed the clinic surroundings and remarked, "You’ve done well for yourself—our Doctor Chu is truly impressive!"

Feeling sheepish, Chu Yin replied, "My medical skills are far from perfected. It’s thanks to the senior doctors supporting me. I can only handle basic pulse readings and medicine prescriptions. Come, come, let me check your pulse!"

As she spoke, her fingers reached for Zhan Lan’s wrist.