Chapter 5: The Crown Prince

Page 1/3

Calling a doctor at night without announcing it was something Left Li could never overlook. Without the official sign, how could the mansion gate be opened?

With Tao Ye staying behind, Shen Quanyi still sent Xing Ye to deliver a message to Huai'an Courtyard.

No sooner had Xing Ye left than Yang Siqiu on the kang suddenly cried out in alarm. Shen Quanyi hurriedly thought to hold her first, but before she could move, Yang Siqiu’s eyes spun dizzily and she fainted.

In the flurry, Tao Ye was instructed to support her. Shen Quanyi pressed firmly on Yang Siqiu’s philtrum, and soon she slowly regained consciousness. Her face flushed slightly, her eyes darting about wildly before she suddenly wept.

“Sister Shen! There’s a ghost! A ghost came for me, demanding my life! Please save me! Save me!”

Shen Quanyi glanced at her; the wound on Yang Siqiu’s head had already scabbed over, a deep red gash. Her brows knitted with terror and fear.

If unaware, Yang Siqiu at this moment looked more like the deadly specter she spoke of.

Shen Quanyi refrained from saying more, only advising: “Sister Yang, be careful with your words. You only just entered the Eastern Palace today. Where could a ghost come from?”

“There is! Of course there is! Don’t you remember? That ghost just died... She... she was wrapped in a mat...”

Yang Siqiu’s eyes were vacant as she murmured, as if recalling that bloody scene. At this, Shen Quanyi felt weary and rubbed her brow.

Yang Siqiu had clearly been frightened by the woman in the Gu Tan Courtyard who was sentenced to death by flogging.

The two maids by the door slowly lost their fear, raising their eyebrows at Shen Quanyi, as if to say, “Surely you’ve witnessed the side consort’s methods.”

“The Crown Princess already knows about this. Do you think you can still be safe, or that the side consort will surely protect you?”

Shen Quanyi sneered coldly. If Yang Siqiu hadn’t gone mad today, perhaps she could have endured the harsh treatment and they might have handled the two maids. But now, half-mad and near death, she couldn’t be silenced. This would inevitably escalate.

The two maids paled, pressing themselves against the door. The cold wind sent shivers through their bodies. Exchanging glances, they already plotted silently.

Shen Quanyi noticed their furtive movements but said nothing, knowing they sought help from Gu Tan. She hadn’t intended to conceal it anyway, for it was impossible to hide.

Meanwhile, at Huai’an Courtyard,

Left Li had already changed into night clothes, leaning against the kang. Her hair was loose, black as a waterfall cascading over her shoulders, with osmanthus-scented hair oil freshly applied. In the candlelight, it shimmered delicately.

Yulan entered with two maids carrying a basin. Seeing Left Li holding a Diamond Sutra, with redwood paper and brush on the small table by the kang,

Left Li was known for her lifelong devotion to Buddhism, rarely parting with her scriptures and often copying and recording them.

“Where is the Crown Prince?” Left Li asked casually without looking up, gently flipping through the pages.

Yulan waved her hand. The maids had gone downstairs, leaving only the mistress and servant in the room.

“The Crown Prince returned late today. He visited the young master and the two young ladies, then sent word he was resting just earlier.”

Hearing this, Left Li smiled and set aside the sutra, rubbing her eyes. But she noticed ink stains on her delicate, pale fingers used for chopping scallions and frowned.

She took a handkerchief to wipe her palm and said, “Our Crown Prince is pure and indifferent to desires; those beauties must be waiting in vain.”

She paused, then the image of Shen Quanyi’s autumn-like eyes flashed in her mind. A grand performance was about to unfold.

“Madam Gu really can’t keep her composure. No one beneath her has brains—how annoying.”

Left Li could say such things, but Yulan dared not respond, only watching Left Li’s expression quietly.

Smoothing her sleeve, Left Li stood and smiled, “Let’s go; the stage is already set.”

Yulan came back to her senses, intending to help her change clothes, but Left Li waved her off, took her cloak, and draped it casually over her shoulders, saying leisurely, “Awakened from sleep, full of worries, disregarding the cold snow to go out alone in the deep night.”

Yulan, once confused, now understood.

When they moved, Left Li had already sent for the doctor, but the snowy night made travel difficult and time-consuming.

Suddenly, the sound of many footsteps approached outside the window. The courtyard lights were lit, the curtain lifted, and Left Li entered. Those around quickly knelt and bowed.

Shen Quanyi glanced quickly and saw Left Li’s hair loose, cloak over her shoulders, evidently having rushed upon hearing the news.

Inside, she saw the almost lifeless brazier on the floor, Yang Siqiu still wrapped in blankets. The maids by the door shivered from the cold. Left Li sneered inwardly, cursing Gu Tan for acting so blatantly.

Looking closer, Yang Siqiu’s face was covered in blood.

“She’s hurt so badly.” Left Li’s face showed concern and guilt. She looked at Shen Quanyi, who was preparing to bow, and quickly grabbed her hand. “You held on just now, thank you.”

Shen Quanyi lowered her head humbly, saying little. With the actual mistress present, what was she? Naturally, she stepped back.

Page 2/3

“Yulan! Did you arrange for this?” Left Li’s lovely brows furrowed as she pointed at the old quilts on the kang.

Yulan knelt immediately as soon as Left Li opened her mouth, bowing deeply several times. “I deserve to die. The two maids originally sent from the water chamber did not come for unknown reasons, replaced by the two maids currently in the room.”

At this, the two maids by the door were terrified. Yulan, the chief maid closest to the Crown Princess, was punished; they wondered if they would survive.

They hurried to kneel and beg for mercy, but before they could speak, several matrons gagged and dragged them away.

Left Li looked at them with disgust and whispered, “Keep useless things, flog to death.”

That single sentence decided their fate.

“I failed in my duties, please punish me, madam.” Yulan remained kneeling.

Left Li sighed deeply, her face full of sorrow, then said, “You are fined two months’ wages and must accept ten slaps from Matron Ji.”

Yulan accepted the punishment with gratitude.

Though the words of mistress and servant seemed half true, Shen Quanyi did not believe the Crown Princess was entirely ignorant. She guessed Gu Tan was still wreaking havoc unchecked in the inner chambers.

“How is she?”

A clear male voice suddenly interrupted from behind, and everyone except Left Li knelt down swiftly.

Shen Quanyi dared not raise her head. She had never imagined their first meeting with the Crown Prince would be under such circumstances.

A hand gently caught her chin, forcing her to look up.

Their eyes met.

The Crown Prince, Li Qian, was just past thirty, but his face was fair and handsome. He wore a dark blue silk robe embroidered with ascending floral patterns, a jade crown upon his head—like a gentle scholar under a clear breeze and bright moon.

He said nothing but scrutinized her carefully, finally resting his gaze on her face.

Page 3/3