Shen Zhi’s deeply insecure heart received a tiny bit of comfort at this moment.
But it was only a tiny bit.
“This concubine thanks Your Highness.” Shen Zhi leaned directly into his embrace, allowing him to hold her.
Physician Liang walked into Lanxin Pavilion once again, looking at Shen Zhi sitting before him.
He understood clearly that the Crown Prince was exceptionally fond of this Consort Shen today.
“Greetings, Your Highness, Consort Shen.” Physician Liang bowed to the two of them.
“Take a look at what is going on with her; her hands are as cold as ice blocks in the middle of summer.” Pei Lian stood to the side, his handsome eyes looking at Physician Liang as he spoke indifferently.
At this moment, Pei Lian had returned to his usual aloof and noble demeanor.
After acknowledging the request, Physician Liang immediately began to take Shen Zhi’s pulse.
Once he finished, he looked at Pei Lian and said, “Reporting to the Crown Prince, Consort Shen has been frightened, which has stirred up some unpleasant memories for her.”
“Her physical health is fine, but her mental state is not very good.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Lian’s brows furrowed.
“How can she be cured?”
Physician Liang shook his head: “Your Highness, this is not easy to treat.”
“However, I can prescribe some medicine that Consort Shen can drink every night.”
Pei Lian nodded: “Write it quickly.”
After Physician Liang left, Pei Lian looked at her and asked: “Are you very afraid of seeing someone killed?”
Shen Zhi shook her head; what she feared was blood, and knives.
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“Blood and knives.” Shen Zhi replied slowly.
“Why are you afraid?” Pei Lian frowned. As a woman of the inner household, she usually had no opportunity to encounter such things. It was only today, because he wanted to make an example of someone, that he had allowed the groom to be killed.
“When a knife is thrust in here, it hurts so much, so much.” Shen Zhi raised her hand and slowly touched her abdomen, her voice light and airy.
“That person stabbed me three times here; I hadn’t yet stopped breathing when I fell to the ground. I could clearly feel my life slipping away bit by bit, feeling that I was about to die.” Shen Zhi looked at Pei Lian as she spoke slowly. She spoke very softly and slowly, but the images of that time surfaced in her mind again.
Shen Zhi had a good memory; she remembered everything with great clarity.
Shen Zhi did not have a single person she could trust in this Great Zhao Dynasty. The so-called “rebirth system” had gone silent after bringing her here.
Unless absolutely necessary, it would not easily appear.
Shen Zhi didn’t even have a close friend; she had to digest everything on her own.
She had to complete that so-called mission while carrying this massive psychological trauma because Shen Zhi wanted to go home.
At first, Shen Zhi had indeed been tempted by the generous rewards promised by the system, and she was also somewhat arrogant.
She thought that as a modern person, couldn’t she outplay these ancient people?
But Shen Zhi forgot that this was a dynasty with a strict hierarchy. The women in the Eastern Palace fought every day; they fought for Pei Lian’s favor, and they fought to give birth to heirs.
They wanted to win glory for their families, they wanted to protect themselves, and they wanted a child to rely on.
In this back courtyard filled with ulterior motives, everyone had reasons beyond their control.
Recalling her journey so far, Shen Zhi lowered her eyes slightly, and hot tears fell from her sockets.
“Your Highness, I’m afraid…”
“I am just a weak woman; I do not want to live in fear day after day.”
Shen Zhi’s “I’m afraid” made Pei Lian’s heart tremble. Watching her shed large tears, he felt a pang of heartache.
A beauty in tears, her somewhat pale face adding a fragile, sickly aesthetic to her beauty—as Shen Zhi dissected her inner self before him, speaking of her fears.
Pei Lian clenched his hands slightly into fists, his eyes narrowing. Hidden in his gaze toward Shen Zhi were emotions no one else could perceive.
At this moment, Shen Zhi used a handkerchief to gently wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes, then looked up at him with a slight smile: “But in this lifetime, since Your Highness said you would protect me and not let me die, I am very happy.”
“So Your Highness must protect me well.”
Otherwise, if she continues to die, you will just continue to be the Crown Prince; no one will ever be able to walk out of this strange cycle.
Watching Shen Zhi, who now had a smile on her face, Pei Lian felt as if the string in his heart had snapped.
Pei Lian walked over, reached out, and cupped Shen Zhi’s face. Looking at her tear-stained, rain-drenched appearance, a different kind of emotion welled up inside him.
Shen Zhi had cried quite a lot today, and now her eyes were red-rimmed, making her look just like a rabbit.
Very cute, and very beautiful.
Looking at Shen Zhi like this, Pei Lian endured and endured before finally suppressing the urge to kiss her.
Pei Lian finally understood why he had brought Shen Zhi into the Eastern Palace in the first place; when he had chanced upon her on the street, he had been captivated by her beauty.
That was why he had ignored the Empress’s objections and insisted on bringing her into the Eastern Palace.
He was a man susceptible to beauty.
Even at a time like this, he was still thinking about such trivial matters.
“Shen Zhi, I will not let you die. If I cannot do that, then I will die before you do.” Pei Lian cupped Shen Zhi’s face and spoke subconsciously.
Shen Zhi looked at him, feeling quite reassured by his words.
Even if he was hesitant regarding the Liu Yan situation, it didn’t matter to Shen Zhi. Liu Yan was his “white moonlight,” after all; it would be abnormal if he could punish Liu Yan for someone as unrelated as her.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Shen Zhi smiled at him, her soft, sweet voice ringing out.
Because Shen Zhi had been frightened, Pei Lian stayed the night at Lanxin Pavilion again.
This made the other concubines feel sour and bitter in their hearts.
Looking at Pei Lian, who held her in his arms, Shen Zhi frowned slightly—when did their relationship become this close?
At Yichun Hall:
“Younger sister is truly favored by the Crown Prince. Yesterday’s event didn’t affect your status in the Crown Prince’s heart in the slightest,” He Xuan toyed with the handkerchief in her hand, looking at Shen Zhi and speaking with acid sarcasm.
“Younger sister has truly found a blessing in disguise.”
Shen Zhi, whose thoughts had been drifting, heard someone name her. She turned her gaze toward the speaker, smiled lightly, and replied: “Many thanks for the kind words, Lady He.”
He Xuan’s face darkened even further upon hearing this. Who is speaking kind words to you? Can’t you tell I’m being sarcastic?
“Ever since Younger Sister Shen entered this Eastern Palace, she has been deeply favored by the Crown Prince. She is truly capable,” Jiang Nanxi added at this moment.
“More favored than those of us who have been here for a long time.”
Shen Zhi continued to pretend she didn’t know what was happening, smiling and asking: “Oh? When this concubine hadn’t entered the Eastern Palace yet, did you sisters not receive the Crown Prince’s affection?”
“Why is that?”
This single sentence offended all the women present.
The Crown Princess put down her teacup at this moment and said calmly: “This palace is tired. Everyone, return to your quarters.”
“Respectfully taking our leave, Crown Princess.” They rose from their chairs and called out in the direction where Lin Shiya was leaving.
After exiting Yichun Hall, He Xuan immediately directed her sarcasm at Shen Zhi, who was walking ahead: “Younger Sister Shen is truly capable; your methods for seducing men are indeed remarkable.”