Volume One, Chapter 11: The Prince Means to Smother the Young Lady to Death

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Shen Zhi thought it over and found nothing unusual—he only mentioned Zhao Wan once; could it be that he went to find her? That didn’t seem right either, judging by his tone just now, he didn’t seem like he was going to see Zhao Wan. Observing him, Shen Zhi’s eyes suddenly brightened—could it be that Pei Jing himself didn’t know why Zhao Wan had come in?

Zhao Wan had said it was by the empress dowager’s decree! Could it be...?

A flicker of light danced in Shen Zhi’s eyes as she finally understood why Pei Jing had suddenly become angry!

It turned out this guy thought both she and Zhao Wan were there to supervise him.

“Mingzhi, let’s go quickly.”

Little Pei Jing, got to handle him swiftly!

Upon arriving at the Seventh Prince’s Mansion, Shen Zhi did not see Pei Jing but was greeted by an uninvited guest.

Zhao Wan stood at the doorway, laughing loudly upon seeing Shen Zhi’s body covered in bruises and scratches. “Hahaha, Seventh Princess, what happened? Were you beaten up for being too troublesome?”

Hearing this, Shen Zhi’s forehead throbbed with irritation. She ignored her and went straight to her room.

But Zhao Wan wasn’t about to let her off so easily. “Seventh Princess, let’s chat. The prince came back so angry just now—was it because he was displeased with you? No wonder, looking like this, the prince probably finds even a single glance at you annoying, and you keep causing him trouble every day.”

At these words, Shen Zhi spun around sharply, her gaze piercing like a blade. Zhao Wan, startled by her fierce aura, instinctively stepped back.

“What… what are you doing?” Zhao Wan stammered. Shen Zhi sneered coldly, “I have no desire to pay you any attention. I hope you don’t stir up trouble for no reason. This is the Seventh Prince’s Mansion, not your Lin’an Residence! If you really want to be Pei Jing’s secondary consort, you’re still beneath me! If I decide to teach you a lesson, no one can stop me!”

“As for looks, there’s no need for you to worry. If I looked ugly, your beauty wouldn’t be known anywhere in the Xuan Yue Kingdom.”

Having said this, Shen Zhi pushed past Zhao Wan and left. Exhausted from the day, she just wanted to rest. Pei Jing, standing nearby, quietly turned and left at the scene.

“You!” Zhao Wan was nearly unsteady on her feet after being pushed. When she turned around, Shen Zhi had already gone.

She stood there, eyes full of resentment!

Damned Shen Zhi! Just wait and see how I deal with her in the future!

Shen Zhi returned to her room first, intending to find Pei Jing, but her wounds needed tending.

“Miss, I’ll go fetch the mansion’s doctor!” Mingzhi said before rushing out.

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Watching the young girl dash off so urgently, Shen Zhi felt a warmth in her heart; besides her parents, Mingzhi was the only one who cared for her wholeheartedly.

The wind outside grew stronger—it seemed winter was approaching. Flowers in the courtyard, planted by someone unknown, had already withered.

Mingzhi returned with the doctor, who prescribed some medicine. After applying it, Shen Zhi closed her eyes to rest.

The door to the inner courtyard rattled in the wind. She spoke, “Mingzhi, didn’t you close the door properly?”

“Mingzhi…”

Shen Zhi felt weak all over. Though she had only slept briefly, she was utterly fatigued.

She tried to get up but felt as if she were still in a dream—unable to open her eyes fully.

“Mingzhi…”

Her mind seemed to freeze. Where had Mingzhi gone?

Her head throbbed dizzily, and as she opened her eyes, she seemed to see Pei Jing’s irritating face magnified before her.

Rubbing her brow, she muttered to herself, “I’m really out of it if I’m seeing Pei Jing like this.”

No sooner had she spoken than a sharp pain struck her head, and she fainted deeply.

Pei Jing rose, took out a cloth, dipped it in a basin of water, wrung it out, and casually placed it on Shen Zhi’s forehead.

Pathetic stupidity.

She didn’t even realize she had a fever—how could she not be burning up?

Just then, Mingzhi entered carrying a water basin and saw the cloth loosely draped over her mistress’s face, covering it thoroughly.

Recalling the Seventh Prince’s earlier harsh judgment, Mingzhi was so frightened she immediately knelt before Pei Jing, stammering, “Your Highness, spare me! My lady is innocent; please don’t smother her to death… I beg you for mercy!”

Pei Jing laughed in anger at her words, his dark expression turning toward her. “Which eye of yours saw me trying to smother her?!”

Mingzhi trembled in fear and fell silent.

Pei Jing frowned, then turned and left. He called Chen Er over. “Come here!”

“Does Your Highness have instructions?” Chen Er asked cautiously.

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“Send for Qin Yi immediately. The princess is unwell—have him stay at the Seventh Prince’s Mansion to take care of her.”

Chen Er glanced at him with confusion but quickly bowed his head. “Yes! I’ll handle it at once!”

Zhao Wan, watching from a corner, was equally puzzled. Pei Jing was indifferent toward her, despite knowing she was sent by the Empress Dowager. He clearly didn’t care whether she stayed in the prince’s mansion or not. Zhao Wan could not fathom Pei Jing’s thoughts.

The Empress Dowager had said Pei Jing was ambitious and gaining his trust would be difficult, but his current attitude left Zhao Wan baffled.

A flicker of cold cruelty crossed Zhao Wan’s eyes. She beckoned a young maid closer. The maid leaned in, and Zhao Wan whispered, “Handle this matter well, and I will reward you handsomely. If you fail…”

Her ruthless intent was clear. The maid shivered nervously. “Miss, rest assured, I will do my utmost!”

Winter had arrived. The evening sky was bleak, yet it bore a faint resemblance to the scene where autumn waters blend seamlessly with the endless sky.

Slowly opening her eyes, Shen Zhi found a cloth on her forehead. She struggled to sit up and was about to speak but found no voice could emerge.

She parted her lips. Mingzhi, seeing her sit up, hurried over to support her. “Miss, how do you feel?”

“Water…”

Shen Zhi’s voice was dry and hoarse. She licked her lips, her complexion pale.

Mingzhi brought a cup of water before her and respectfully said, “Miss, you have a fever.”

“Indeed, sister-in-law! How careless of you.”

Just as Shen Zhi took a sip, a carefree voice sounded nearby. The man wore a bamboo-green magnolia-style robe and leisurely fanned himself with a fan.

His smile was bright and unfazed as he sat opposite Shen Zhi. “Sister-in-law, how do you feel? You’re covered in wounds, and with this cold wind, it’s normal to have a fever.”

This man was Qin Yi, the young master of the Prime Minister’s residence. Perhaps owing to his name, Qin Yi loved medicine from an early age but refused to serve as a court physician. He lived a wild, free life, unwilling to be restrained.

As the Prime Minister’s most favored young master, Qin Yi was notoriously unruly and looked down on everyone.

Perhaps due to his arrogance, he had been reprimanded by Pei Jing once. For some reason, Qin Yi was quite obedient to Pei Jing.

Over time, he became Pei Jing’s personal physician.