Shen Qingrui, who had just been feeling somewhat smug, now turned deathly pale.
“Father!” Cen Liangxuan stood up, only to have his shoulders pressed back down by his mother, who insisted he sit still and open his mouth for the physician to examine.
He pushed the physician aside, stood up, and embraced Shen Qingrui. “My son and Qingrui have already bowed to heaven and earth, to our parents, and to each other. We are rightfully husband and wife!”
Shen Qingrui turned her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling brightly.
Lady Shen forced another apologetic smile. “Indeed, Duke Anguo, Duchess. Since these two children have already performed the rites and share mutual affection, why not let them be together?”
Duke Anguo remained silent.
Lady Shen had no choice but to look toward the Duchess, knowing full well that the Duchess shared her thoughts—how could Yiren possibly be worthy of the esteemed heir?
Cen Liangxuan also gazed pleadingly at his mother.
As both a child born late in life and a precious treasure doted upon for eighteen years, the Duchess’s heart softened. She rose to persuade her husband.
“The rites have already been completed. How can we change the bride now?” She glanced at Shen Yiren and offered a feigned smile. “Shen Yiren doesn’t wish to marry either. Why force a mismatched couple?”
Shen Yiren truly had no intention of marrying.
A tainted thing that had been used by another—how could it be worthy?
Duke Anguo had already learned from the servants that Shen Yiren had arrived in Prince Duan’s carriage. He also recalled the prince’s ambiguous remark before leaving.
“This prince thinks the heir and Shen Qingrui make a rather well-matched pair.”
Was this a sign that the prince did not want Shen Yiren to have any connection with his son?
And what exactly was the relationship between Shen Yiren and Prince Duan?
Duke Anguo fell silent.
…
Prince Duan’s carriage had not traveled far.
“These two tiny Ginseng Spirit roots—are they truly a thousand years old?” Zhou Jinyan examined the Ginseng Spirit roots Shen Yiren had shoved into his hand, turning them over and over.
A thousand-year-old Ginseng Spirit could revive the dying and was always precious and hard to find. Even the one in the Empress Dowager’s possession was only close to a thousand years old.
“The physician said at least a thousand years.”
At least?
That made it even more precious.
For Shen Yiren to casually produce thousand-year-old Ginseng Spirit roots—was she truly just a simple village girl?
And also…
“Cang Xu, did you detect any scent on Miss Shen?” Zhou Jinyan carefully stored the Ginseng Spirit roots away.
He had been born with a weak constitution, and after missing the optimal treatment period, years of recuperation had yielded little improvement. After being enfeoffed and moving to his territory, he lost access to the superior conditions of the capital, and his health had steadily declined.
Cang Xu answered truthfully, “The scent of blood.”
He added, “A heavy scent of blood. Losing that much blood couldn’t possibly heal so quickly, yet judging by the act Miss Shen put on at the Duke’s residence, her vitality seemed quite robust.”
“Indeed.” Zhou Jinyan pondered thoughtfully. Shen Yiren must be hiding some secret.
“Are you certain it was only the scent of blood?”
“This subordinate is certain.”
Zhou Jinyan wondered if he had misperceived it.
Yet the feeling of complete comfort and ease throughout his body couldn’t be false, nor could the refreshing nap he had taken in the carriage.
“Your Highness, your complexion seems to have improved, and you appear more spirited.” Especially his lips, which now carried a faint, delicate flush.
“Is that so?” Zhou Jinyan was quite surprised and instinctively glanced toward the jar that had been left in his carriage.
On the way to Duke Anguo’s residence, he had seen Shen Yiren and her so-called brother fussing over this shabby jar.
He opened it to look.
A jar of soil.
“…” He had thought it was some great treasure.
“Your Highness, Miss Shen and Lady Shen have come out.”
Zhou Jinyan resealed the jar. “Go and invite Miss Shen over.”
Cang Xu walked over just as Lady Shen was furiously dragging Shen Yiren along, while shouting at Xiao Ba to go back to wherever he came from.
Xiao Ba hugged Shen Yiren’s waist: “I want to stay by sister’s side!”
Shen Yiren hugged him back: “Where I am, Xiao Ba will be!”
“Fine, then take him back to the countryside with you!”
Shen Yiren snorted. Once she made those who bullied the original body suffer their retribution, she would naturally return to Buxian Mountain to live freely and happily.
“Lady Shen.” As soon as Cang Xu appeared, Lady Shen immediately suppressed her anger. In front of others, she still couldn’t lose her composure.
“Who are you?”
It was no wonder Lady Shen didn’t recognize Zhou Jinyan’s guard. Zhou Jinyan had been frail since birth and rarely appeared in public. Having gone to his fiefdom eight years ago, he had only returned to the capital twice in total.
How could someone as noble and esteemed as the Prince be someone they could see whenever they wished?
Cang Xu showed his token: “My Prince requests Miss Shen’s presence.”
Xiao Ba watched with eager eyes.
Cang Xu: “…and this Young Master as well.”
Lady Shen looked at her daughter in disbelief. When had she gotten to know Prince Duan? Could it be that this child was Prince Duan’s son?
Impossible.
Prince Duan was only twenty now; he couldn’t have fathered a six- or seven-year-old child.
Then it must be Yiren.
“Yiren, how did you get to know Prince Duan?”
“Oh, he brought us to Duke Anguo’s residence to expose Cen Liangxuan and Shen Qingrui.” Shen Yiren felt there was nothing to hide about this.
Upon hearing this, Lady Shen nearly fainted.
Did this mean Prince Duan not only knew about this matter but also condoned it?
Then… then… could this matter reach the Emperor’s ears?
As she stood there worrying,
Shen Yiren took Xiao Ba’s hand and headed toward the luxurious carriage. The two of them boarded the carriage once again.
Seeing the jar, Xiao Ba immediately hugged it tightly. Buxian Mountain Soil was their most delicious food!
“What did you want to see me for?” Shen Yiren didn’t address him as Prince because she was also a king; they were the same.
As soon as she approached the carriage, Zhou Jinyan caught the scent of medicinal herbs. When she sat beside him, he took a deep breath, and his mind cleared.
Zhou Jinyan leaned slightly closer, his gaze fixed intently on her face, which was still stained with blood. There was blood everywhere, but not a single wound.
“The medicinal scent on you is very useful to me. Do you know medicine?”
Shen Yiren trembled all over and quickly hugged herself.
She knew it—this sickly man wanted to eat the Ginseng Spirit!
Terrified, she shook her head vigorously: “I don’t have any, I don’t know how!”
Zhou Jinyan hadn’t expected her to be this frightened.
At the Duke’s residence, she had slapped Cen Liangxuan so hard that he lost a tooth and scolded Shen Qingrui until her face turned green and white. How could he be more frightening than those malicious people?
“Wait, what did you say you smelled?” Shen Yiren suddenly reacted, looking at Xiao Ba in confusion.
Xiao Ba shook his head.
Even Xiao Ba, being of the same clan, couldn’t smell the spiritual energy emanating from her due to her fused human body. How could the person in front of her possibly smell it?
Was it because he was surrounded by Purple Qi?
Or was there something special about him?
Now it was Shen Yiren’s turn to scrutinize him.
Zhou Jinyan sat openly, letting her look. “The scent of medicinal herbs.”
He stated firmly: “You can save me.”
“Yes, as a…” Shen Yiren realized she had misspoken too late. As a ten-thousand-year Ginseng Spirit, if a demon beast ate a piece of her, its power would greatly increase. For humans, as long as they weren’t completely dead, she could pull them back from the brink of death.
“As a what?” Zhou Jinyan pressed, not letting her off.
“A disciple of a divine physician,” Shen Yiren said dejectedly. “I can save you.”
“If Your Highness wishes to fully recover and become as healthy as an ordinary person, how many years would it take?” Among the renowned physicians Zhou Jinyan had secretly sought, all said such a condition could only be nursed slowly—at least eight to ten years, or perhaps a lifetime of dependence on medicine.
“Huh?” Shen Yiren expressed confusion. “Would it take that many years?”
If he were to consume her for just one month, he would surely recover completely.
But over the years, none of the spirits or fierce beasts of Buxian Mountain had ever managed to devour her. How could she possibly allow a mere human to do so?
“How long would you need?” Zhou Jinyan saw a glimmer of hope in her, like a lifeline, and held his breath in anticipation.
Shen Yiren extended one finger. “Half a year.”
In half a year, she would surely have avenged herself.
“If you save me, you can walk sideways through Yujing.” Zhou Jinyan had long grown weary of his wretched body.
Shen Yiren’s eyes lit up. “I want Cen Liangxuan to pay with his life. Will I be caught and executed for it?” While her kind, the yaoguai, were bound by heavenly laws, humans naturally had their own legal constraints.
“Naturally…” Zhou Jinyan paused briefly, then smiled. “…you won’t.”