While everyone else’s attention was elsewhere, Shang Yuanjian retrieved two items from inside her collar—
A jade pendant and a white porcelain bottle.
The jade pendant was a lustrous white, carved with intricate patterns. Unfortunately, the light was too dim to see them clearly, but the pendant felt warm and smooth to the touch, undoubtedly of immense value.
Shang Yuanjian then turned her attention to the white porcelain bottle.
The bottle was small and exquisitely crafted. She opened the lid to find several medicinal pills inside.
Carefully, she poured one out and brought it to her nose for a gentle sniff. A unique medicinal fragrance wafted over her.
Just from the scent alone, Shang Yuanjian felt the sharp pain in her heart lessen considerably, and she was no longer as uncomfortable as before.
As if struck by a thought, her eyes widened as she stared at the pill in her hand—could this be the medicine that could cure the original body’s illness?
Shang Yuanjian had a basic understanding of pharmacology. Although she couldn’t fully determine the pill’s ingredients, she knew it certainly wasn’t poison. Moreover, since the original body had carried it with her, it was clearly of great importance.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Gritting her teeth, she swallowed the pill.
The moment the pill entered her mouth, Shang Yuanjian knew she had guessed correctly.
In less than three minutes, the pain in her chest vanished completely, and strength gradually returned to her body.
Her condition transformed from that of a stumbling elderly person to a spry, energetic youth.
Delighted by the change in her body, Shang Yuanjian felt a surge of relief.
Her previous physical state had been abysmal—she couldn’t even run a few steps, let alone engage in a fight.
While her current physical condition was still far from her previous life’s standards, at least she could move like a normal person. This undoubtedly increased her chances of survival in the days to come.
Shang Yuanjian closed the lid of the porcelain bottle and carefully stored it away.
This was a lifesaving item—she absolutely couldn’t afford to lose it.
Next, she turned her gaze to her own tattered, ill-fitting clothes, and her heart grew cold.
If she were truly a beggar, it would be easier to explain—low status, easily overlooked, and with a greater chance of survival.
But the original body was definitely not a beggar—slender, fair fingers, a valuable jade pendant, and medicinal pills to treat heart pain all hinted at an unusual identity.
Yet, a high-born young lady had ended up in such a state. Shang Yuanjian couldn’t help but suspect that the original body had encountered some danger that forced her into this predicament.
Now was not the time to dwell on this. Shang Yuanjian forced herself to calm down. The road ahead was still unclear, and she needed to seize every moment to recover her strength to face the dangers to come.
Shang Yuanjian and the others in the cage were loaded into an airtight carriage. The carriage seemed to be completely wrapped in a special material, providing excellent sound insulation. Shang Yuanjian couldn’t hear what the people outside were saying, nor did she know where they were headed.
Similarly, any noise inside the carriage couldn’t reach the outside.
Shang Yuanjian looked at the chain as thick as her forearm hanging on the cage door and estimated the number of guards outside. For now, she dismissed the idea of escaping.
She had a way to break the chain, but given her current physical condition, it was impossible to slip away unnoticed by so many people. She would have to wait until they left the carriage to find another opportunity.
"Lord Li, you mentioned earlier that Prince Xin has invited a distinguished guest today. I wonder who has the honor of receiving His Highness's favor," Xu An probed Li Zhengwen.
Prince Xin was known for his arrogance. Though his temperament was violent, many still sought to curry favor with him, yet he had always shown disdain for such efforts. Now, hearing the term "distinguished guest" from Li Zhengwen, Xu An sensed something unusual.
Li Zhengwen smiled mysteriously at Xu An. "How could we possibly guess His Highness's thoughts? However, this distinguished guest is someone you must have heard of—the daughter of the Prime Minister's residence, the cherished daughter of Chancellor Shang."
Li Zhengwen spoke casually, but Xu An's expression changed. He could hardly believe it and stammered, "Prince… Prince Xin invited Eldest Miss Shang?"
But how could that be?
Xu An almost thought Li Zhengwen was joking.
Eldest Miss Shang certainly qualified as a distinguished guest.
However, everyone in the capital knew that Eldest Miss Shang had been betrothed to the Crown Prince since childhood and was acknowledged by the entire royal family as the future Crown Princess. For Prince Xin to invite Miss Shang to such a banquet was nothing short of audacious.
Moreover… Xu An wanted to say something rebellious.
Eldest Miss Shang's reputation in the capital was far from good—in fact, it was quite poor.
With a father who wielded immense power and the status of the future Crown Princess, her background and position were no less impressive than those of a royal princess.
Perhaps Chancellor Shang had doted on his daughter too much, fostering a domineering and arrogant personality in her.
Three years ago, the young son of the Vice Minister of Revenue encountered Eldest Miss Shang on the road. Displeased with her behavior, the young master spoke a few words of criticism, which reached Miss Shang's ears. That very night, she had him stripped naked and thrown in front of the Vice Minister's residence.
Despite such a humiliating incident, Vice Minister Zhao dared not retaliate. The next day, he took his son to the Prime Minister's residence to apologize, admitting that they had offended Eldest Miss Shang and deserved punishment.
Following this, numerous memorials criticizing Chancellor Shang were sent to the Emperor. Some accused him of failing to educate his daughter properly, while most argued that Eldest Miss Shang lacked virtue and was unfit to be the Crown Prince's consort.
"It's merely childish mischief. There's no need to make a fuss."
With these words, the Emperor defined the entire incident and dismissed all complaints.
Not only that, but the Emperor also claimed that Eldest Miss Shang had been frightened and bestowed many treasures upon her as compensation.
With such blatant favoritism from the Emperor, who would dare offend Eldest Miss Shang?
Thus, Xu An could not understand Prince Xin's actions today. What exactly was he trying to do?
Li Zhengwen knew Xu An had misunderstood. His tone turned subtle. "Of course, it's not the one we're familiar with. Have you forgotten Miss Wantang, whom the Shang family retrieved from the outskirts of the capital?"
"Chief Clerk Xu, although the Chancellor has not explicitly stated it, we all know that Shang Wantang is his true biological daughter," Li Zhengwen said meaningfully to Xu An.
Xu An was momentarily speechless.
Only then did he realize why Prince Xin had acted this way—all of Eldest Miss Shang's status and position were based on her identity as the daughter of Chancellor Shang Ding.
Once that identity vanished, all the privileges attached to it would cease to exist.
Now, that identity had shifted to another person.
While the situation remained unclear, Prince Xin naturally sought to seize every opportunity to engage with Shang Wantang.
Currently, the capital is seething with undercurrents. Xin and the Crown Prince have long been at odds, their respective forces intricately entangled, with factions still observing from the sidelines.
If Xin could win Shang Wantang's favor, he would secure Chancellor as a powerful ally.
As for Eldest Miss Shang…
Xu An recalled that since Shang Wantang was found and brought back, the original Eldest Miss Shang had gradually faded from the news. It seemed the rumors were true.
The intricate schemes among the nobility were truly complex. Having held his position for so many years, Xu An naturally understood that the more one knew, the quicker one might meet their end.
He abandoned the topic, wisely refraining from asking further.
…
When the carriage door was pulled open again, Shang Yuanjian knew they had reached their destination.
"Your Highness, all the people you requested have arrived," Li Zhengwen said, bowing to the young man seated in the center of the high platform.
Shang Yuanjian looked up and, through the bars of the cage, saw the Xin they had spoken of.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in the utmost luxury. Intricate accessories adorned him, making him seem lofty and aloof. His eyes were narrow and long, and the gaze he cast upon them carried a hint of cruelty, as if he were looking at prey about to be executed.
Xin's indifferent eyes swept over them, and when his gaze fell upon Shang Yuanjian, he frowned.
The frail Shang Yuanjian stood out starkly among the tall, burly prisoners. To make matters worse, she was clad in filthy, tattered clothes, her face smeared with grime, making her features indistinguishable.
Where had Li Zhengwen found such a beggar? Her filth was an eyesore.
Just as Xin was about to question Li Zhengwen and Xu An, a subordinate reported that Shang Wantang had arrived.
"Your Highness, Second Miss Shang is here."
Xin immediately changed his expression. Without bothering to punish the two, he stood up directly and looked toward the direction of the newcomer.