Chapter 71: Something Is Off

After venting her emotions, Princess Jing’an gradually regained her senses. She became aware of the pain in her body and looked at the filthy, ugly beggar before her. A foul-smelling mouth pressed against her lips, and the stench of spoiled food filled her nostrils.

“Ah! Get away, all of you! Do you know who I am? I am the Princess—I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you all!”

Princess Jing’an screamed, her voice hoarse and shrill, her emotions teetering on the brink of collapse. Yet her only answer was two loud slaps.

“You filthy woman, even now you dare look down on us? Weren’t you calling out in satisfaction just now?”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

“You’re a princess? Ha, and I’m the emperor.”

The beggars, their twisted pride inflamed by years of contempt and scorn, tormented Princess Jing’an with renewed fervor. She could only stare helplessly at the swaying sky above, wishing she could tear these men limb from limb.

Suddenly, with a loud thud, a beggar was sent flying by a blow. The others turned, startled, to find a young gentleman standing there, a sword in his hand, its blade dripping blood. The beggar who had been struck lay on the ground, clutching his bleeding shoulder and howling in pain.

The rest were terrified, hurriedly pulling up their ragged trousers and scattering in all directions.

The young man did not pursue them. Instead, he removed his outer robe and draped it over Princess Jing’an’s exposed body.

She shivered as she clutched the garment, unable to cover the bruises that mottled her skin. She muttered, “Who are you? Take me back to the Princess’s residence. I’ll give you money, a lot of money.”

“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll take you home now.” Excitement flickered in the young man’s eyes, barely suppressed. “My name is Shen Minglei.”

…

News of Jing’an’s rescue quickly reached the prince’s residence.

“My lord, what should we do?”

“How are things at the Princess’s manor?”

“Her Grace invited the imperial physician to treat Princess Jing’an. She seems to have suffered severe trauma—her mind is clouded and unstable. The beggars who escaped were caught; their limbs were severed and they were thrown into the pauper’s graveyard.”

“Then let her remain confused. Go to the Medical Pavilion and find Lian Rufeng. He will tell you what to do.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The guard hurried away. Si Molie returned to the flower hall, where Shen Qingyun waited with an anxious expression.

“My lord, is it news of Princess Jing’an?”

“Yes.” Si Molie was once again surprised by her keen intuition. “The guards say she was rescued by someone named Shen Minglei.”

“Shen Minglei?” Shen Qingyun asked in disbelief. How could it be him? If he gained Princess Jing’an’s support, it would not bode well.

“You know him?” Si Molie observed her reaction and asked calmly.

“Yes. Forgive me, my lord, but he is my father’s son by a concubine. I met him once at a gathering in the Ministry of Justice’s residence. He is a man of deep cunning.”

Sensing her concern, Si Molie pressed his lips together. “Do not worry. He is merely the son of a concubine—I will not let him gain influence through Jing’an.”

Shen Qingyun looked up at Prince Li in surprise.

Today, he was dressed in a dark, long robe with a white jade belt fastened at his waist, his figure tall and noble, exuding an aura that kept others at bay. His cold, handsome features seemed unmoved by any event.

Yet she wondered why Prince Li would go to such lengths to help her.

“My lord, may I ask—” Shen Qingyun hesitated, probing gently, “Does Princess Jing’an’s hatred for me stem from some misunderstanding involving you?”

Prince Li gazed at her face, fair as white jade, his own reflection visible in her clear eyes.

His Adam’s apple shifted slightly, and his eyes grew tinged with an emotion hard to define. “Perhaps it is not a misunderstanding.”

Such a simple phrase made Shen Qingyun’s heart tremble.

She quickly lowered her head, a blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears, her heart pounding wildly, unsure where to look.

She curtsied lightly and said in a small voice, “It is late, my lord. I shall take my leave. Thank you for your assistance—I will find a way to repay your kindness.”

With that, she tried to slip away.

“How will you repay my kindness?” Si Molie blocked her path, a hint of a smile on his lips as he gazed at her flushed cheeks.

“I—” Shen Qingyun was stunned. Looking up, she suddenly realized how close she was to Prince Li; she could almost feel the heat of his breath.

Seeing her embarrassment and panic, Si Molie’s heart softened. He stepped aside, swallowing his words. “Come, let me escort you out.”

It didn’t matter—she was still a year away from coming of age. He could wait for her to accept his feelings in time.

He hadn’t expected that falling in love, as Lian Rufeng had said, didn’t require long acquaintance—a single glance from her could make his heart leap.

Thinking of Lian Rufeng, Si Molie’s gaze shifted to Shen Qingyun’s waist.

Her belt accentuated her slender figure, and the large pearl upon it glowed softly. Set against the pale blue skirt, it shone even more brightly.

Why did it seem so familiar? It shouldn’t be possible…

“This pearl is beautiful,” he said in a deep voice.

Shen Qingyun, relieved, smiled gently. “A friend gifted it to me a few days ago. Since I was visiting the Ministry of Justice’s residence today, I embroidered it onto my belt as decoration. I thought it looked lovely.”

“Oh? Which friend?” Prince Li’s eyes narrowed, his tone laced with a hint of gritted teeth.

An inexplicable unease crept into Shen Qingyun’s heart, as if she’d been caught meeting someone in secret. She shook her head to clear the strange notion and answered cautiously, “It was a gift from the master physician at the Medical Pavilion. If you like it, my lord, I have a few more—shall I have them sent to you?”

“No need. I was merely asking,” Si Molie forced down his anger, maintaining a calm exterior as he escorted Shen Qingyun to her carriage at the door.

Lian. Ru. Feng!

At that moment, Lian Rufeng had just delivered a packet of medicine to Prince Li’s guards. The contents would disturb the mind, inducing confusion. If administered to Princess Jing’an, she would likely never recover her sanity.

Lian Rufeng pondered his good deed—helping Si Molie yet again. He decided he must visit Prince Li’s residence tonight to see what treasures he might find to gift Miss Shen.

Shen Qingyun, unaware that Lian Rufeng was about to land himself in trouble on her account, sat in her carriage on the way home, reflecting on the day’s events.

Since Shen Minglei had rescued Princess Jing’an, he would surely seek some reward.

She could not delay any longer. In the next few days, she must deal with Yue Niang and Shen Zhifeng first—cut off his escape route to prevent him from making trouble.