At this point, continuing to lie was meaningless.
Shang Shiyan simply picked up the ointment from the desk and shoved it into Gu Peice’s hand. “This is the Shen family’s ancestral ointment, highly effective for external wounds. I heard that Your Highness was injured in the suburbs. I could not rest easy, so I wished to deliver it to you.”
“You care this much for me?” Gu Peice’s gaze was deep, unreadable. Shang Shiyan could not discern his emotions.
“Repayment! I only wish to repay a debt of gratitude!” Shang Shiyan’s eyes brightened. “A few days ago, Your Highness brought me safely back to the capital—you saved my life…”
“This ointment works very well. You must have heard of it—it greatly aids recovery from injuries!”
Shang Shiyan looked anxiously at his hand, but saw him casually toss the ointment back onto the desk. “My body is not in such dire need.”
His dismissive attitude made Shang Shiyan frown. Just as in her previous life, he was indifferent now, but later he would suffer the agony of having rotten flesh cut away.
Thinking of this, Shang Shiyan stepped forward, snatched up the ointment again, and spoke with irritation: “If you truly die now, it will be exactly what they want! Take off your clothes.”
Gu Peice had not expected her boldness. He raised his brows slightly. “?”
“Which people?”
Ignoring him, Shang Shiyan pulled down the collar of his robe. Beneath the white bandages, blood had already seeped through.
“Shen Shian and those like him!” Shang Shiyan dared not mention the Emperor, so she named Shen Shian instead.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince were united in targeting Gu Peice.
Gu Peice suddenly found Shang Shiyan rather interesting. He did not stop her hand as it worked at his chest. His dark eyes fixed intently on her. “I heard Miss Shang is the Crown Prince’s betrothed.”
“Not for much longer.” Shang Shiyan lifted his arm, unwrapped the blood-soaked bandages, and revealed the wound—part scabbed over, part still bleeding.
Shang Shiyan had only seen such wounds once before, when she was destitute on the streets. In a ruined temple, someone had set a fire, and her leg had burned until it fused with her clothing. When the cloth was torn away, the wound scabbed in the same horrifying way.
Even with fear in her heart, Shang Shiyan forced herself to endure, carefully applying the ointment to his wound. The moment the ointment touched the injury, she heard the man above her let out a low, pained groan. She lifted her eyes, her lashes trembling. “Does it hurt badly? I’ll be gentler.”
Gu Peice leaned his elbow on the desk, his gaze lazy as it swept over her. This young woman before him seemed far too at ease, almost familiar. She wasn’t afraid of him at all. Usually, just a glance from him was enough to make the noble ladies of the capital turn pale and tremble all over.
“You approach me—what for?” His voice was calm, but Gu Peice didn’t believe anyone would sneak into his residence at midnight merely to repay a favor. Unless she was deeply attached to him, such devotion was hard to imagine.
Shang Shiyan: “…”
She carried the memories of her past life, knowing how well he would treat her later. But Gu Peice didn’t know that.
After a moment’s thought, Shang Shiyan lifted her clear, bright eyes. “I want to annul my engagement.”
“If you wish to annul it, you should go to the Empress.”
Shang Shiyan lowered her gaze, a trace of sorrow flickering in her eyes. “The Empress refuses.”
“And you think I can help you?” Gu Peice pressed.
“As long as Your Highness petitions the Emperor to marry me, the engagement will naturally be dissolved.”
Toward Gu Peice, Shang Shiyan felt mostly gratitude. But she also knew that once she chose to protect him, they were bound together like grasshoppers tied to the same rope.
In her previous life, after Shang Yunrou secured the betrothal to the Crown Prince, Shen Zuizhi was cast aside. The Emperor seized the opportunity to strike at the Shen family, accusing them of treason and exiling the entire clan.
Shang Shiyan would never believe that Shang Changhe and the Emperor hadn’t colluded in this.
The current Emperor was deeply suspicious. Even if her maternal grandfather was a founding hero, peaceful days would not last long.
Gu Peice was the perfect example: despite his countless wounds earned for the empire, he could not escape the Emperor’s suspicion and even his desire to see him dead.
Thus, it was better from the start to join forces with Gu Peice—marriage would bring them closer, and her memories of the past could help protect him.
Gu Peice suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Shang Shiyan, you are truly bold.”
Being called by her full name by Prince Lin’an sent a chill down Shang Shiyan’s spine.
“I have no intention of stealing another man’s fiancée.”
His refusal was within Shang Shiyan’s expectations.
“Even if Your Highness is unwilling to help, it doesn’t matter. I will find a way to annul this engagement!”
After tending to his wound, Shang Shiyan rubbed her sore back from bending over so long. “There is one more matter. Does Your Highness know that Shengting Academy is currently seeking a master skilled in riding and archery?”
“If Your Highness has time, you might visit the academy.”
Gu Peice gave her a sidelong glance. “You want me to serve as a riding and archery instructor at the academy?”
Shang Shiyan tilted her head with a smile. In the flickering candlelight, her eyes sparkled brilliantly. “Your Highness’s skills are unmatched. If the students of the academy could learn from you, it would truly honor the saying that our empire was won from horseback.”
“Your Highness, I shall take my leave now.” With those words, Shang Shiyan bowed gracefully and quietly withdrew from the study.
At present, Gu Peice was the thorn in the Emperor’s side. If he were seen associating with powerful ministers in the capital, the Emperor would only grow more uneasy, even suspecting him of rebellion. But if he set aside everything and took up a position at the academy as an instructor, he could both recuperate and ease the Emperor’s suspicions, no longer watched so closely.
Whether Gu Peice would agree, however, was not something Shang Shiyan could decide.
By the time Shang Shiyan and Hubo returned to the Marquis’ residence, the night was deep and silent.
Shang Shiyan held Hubo’s hand tightly as they walked back to her Yaoguang Courtyard.
Just as they were about to step inside, a sharp voice demanded, “Who’s there?!”
Hubo’s heart clenched instantly—she recognized the voice as Qiuyue’s.
If Qiuyue discovered them, she would surely run to Madam and report it.
“It’s me,” Shang Shiyan said, leading Hubo out of the shadows.
“Miss Shang?” Qiuyue blinked, then quickly put on a look of concern. “At such a late hour, where have you been?”
“Hubo, is this how you serve? Miss Shang is already willful by nature. If she goes out so late and something happens, what then? As her personal maid, how can you not share her burdens?”
Qiuyue loved to put on airs before Hubo and Zhenzhu. Because she had once been praised for being steady and proper, she considered herself above the other maids and constantly lectured them.
“My maid—since when is it your place to scold her?” Shang Shiyan’s face darkened.
“I only worry for you, Miss. After all, at such a late hour…”
Though she expressed concern, Shang Shiyan knew that by tomorrow Qiuyue would run to Shang Yunrou, claiming she had stayed out all night. Shang Yunrou would then use it to tarnish her reputation before her father and brother.