Volume One, Chapter 20: Ning’er, With Whom Did You Go Out?

Nightfall.

At the Sharp King’s Mansion.

Shen Qiyuan soaked in a bathtub filled with ice cubes, his veins bulging, head splitting with pain, his body burning with a fiery ache. He leaned against the edge of the tub, teeth clenched tightly, eyes bloodshot as he stared at Mo Feng by the bathside. "What is it?"

"Master, the martial arts instructor you asked to find for Miss Song has been located," Mo Feng said, a trace of sympathy flickering in his eyes as he looked at Shen Qiyuan’s suffering. "Do you want me to tell Miss Song? After all, the sooner someone is sent to her, the safer she will be."

Shen Qiyuan shut his eyes tightly. "Just go."

Mo Feng gritted his teeth and took a step forward. "Master, why are you making this so hard on yourself?"

"Mo Feng, do you dare to act as my master?" Shen Qiyuan turned his head slightly toward Mo Feng, his crimson eyes chilling with coldness.

Mo Feng dropped to his knees. "I dare not!"

"Get down!" Shen Qiyuan barked coldly, then sank beneath the water.

At that moment, the door was pushed open. Song Shuning entered, and Mo Feng’s eyes brightened with a hint of surprise. He stood and greeted her.

"Miss Song!"

Song Shuning smiled faintly at Mo Feng, then approached the bathtub and tapped the water’s surface.

From beneath the water, Shen Qiyuan surfaced. Song Shuning smiled at him. "Your Highness, come out. I will apply acupuncture for you."

"Why did you come here?" Shen Qiyuan’s gaze was filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Song Shuning sighed. "Knowing you were in such pain, I couldn’t sleep. My own minor aches are nothing compared to yours. I planned to sneak out by climbing over the wall, but I ran into Mo Yun lurking on my roof. He led me here."

Shen Qiyuan’s expression darkened. "Did they disturb you?"

"No, truly it was I who climbed over the wall and then met Mo Yun." Song Shuning reached out to help Shen Qiyuan out of the bath. "Your Highness, I’m not ungrateful. I can’t just ignore you because of a little pain."

Shen Qiyuan looked deeply into her eyes, then placed his hand into hers. She gripped it firmly, and he used her strength to step out of the tub.

Song Shuning blushed when she saw him wearing only wet undergarments. "Well, Your Highness, you should change your clothes first. I’ll wait outside and come back when you’re ready."

Mo Feng hurried forward to help Shen Qiyuan behind the screen to change.

After Shen Qiyuan changed, Song Shuning returned with silver needles quickly brought by Mo Feng.

Shen Qiyuan lay on the couch beside the bath, eyes closed, teeth clenched tight.

Song Shuning studied his pain-stricken expression quietly before beginning the acupuncture. After half an hour, drenched in sweat, she stood and asked, "Your Highness, do you feel better?"

Sweat beading on his forehead, Shen Qiyuan opened his eyes and nodded. "Much better."

He smiled bitterly. "I used to think enduring this suffering was nothing, but now, after knowing you, it feels unbearable."

If not for Song Shuning’s arrival just now, he might have fainted from the pain in that tub.

"Why endure it when there’s a way to ease it?" Song Shuning said, feeling a pang of unease. "If you’re in pain, just call me, no matter if I’m injured or not."

Isn’t he supposed to be a villain?

Why is such a villain so considerate?

She complained of pain and didn’t want to be disturbed in the middle of the night, yet he endured it alone here?

He wouldn’t even come to her?

Shen Qiyuan didn’t know what Song Shuning was thinking. "Didn’t you ask me to come to your place? I didn’t want the trouble."

"So you just let yourself suffer?" Song Shuning pressed her lips. "Isn’t that asking for pain?"

"Song Shuning, do you know what would happen if a man is found in your chambers?" Shen Qiyuan turned his head serious, looking at her.

Song Shuning paused. Was he only concerned about her reputation?

"Thank you for caring about my honor," she said with a bow, expression calm. "But please also take care of your own health."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Stop!" Shen Qiyuan called out.

Song Shuning stopped and looked back. "Your Highness? Something else?"

He tried to rub his aching brow but couldn’t move his hands because of the needles. "Are you angry with me?"

Song Shuning was startled. Had she just gotten angry with the big shot? Was she crazy?

She shook her head immediately. "No."

Shen Qiyuan didn’t believe her. He narrowed his eyes. "Then what is this?"

"I’m angry at myself! So useless to be beaten like this, delaying your treatment and causing you to suffer such pain."

Watching her earnest words, Shen Qiyuan didn’t know whether to be mad or comforted.

He simply closed his eyes to avoid looking at her. "Mo Feng found the martial arts instructor for you. Tomorrow, suggest to your family to buy a maid. Mo Feng will arrange for the person to come here."

Song Shuning’s eyes moistened at his words.

This man!

Even in his own agony, he remembered to find a martial arts teacher for her?

"I understand." Her voice softened. "Rest well, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave."

Shen Qiyuan ignored her. She left and closed the door behind her.

Seeing Mo Feng and Mo Yun standing by the gate, Song Shuning couldn’t help but ask, "Why do you come to find me only at midnight? The prince’s attacks happen around the hour of the pig, right?"

She glanced back at the brightly lit bath chamber and frowned. "If you had me come before the hour of the pig to treat him, he wouldn’t have to suffer for an entire hour."

"People from the palace come every day at the hour of the pig to check on our prince’s suffering," Mo Yun said bitterly.

Song Shuning was stunned. "Why?"

According to the original story, the emperor treated Shen Qiyuan exceptionally well, even searching everywhere for an antidote. Yet later, Shen Qiyuan rebelled and was despised by the world...

He became the villain, the traitor in the hero’s words.

"Because our master was poisoned by the emperor’s own people!" Mo Yun said through gritted teeth.

Song Shuning was dumbfounded. Poisoned by the emperor? Why?

"Aren’t they brothers by the same mother?" she said in disbelief. Her own brother poisoning his younger brother?

"Miss Song, it’s late. Shall I escort you back?" Mo Feng didn’t want to delve further.

Though curious, Song Shuning wasn’t one to pry relentlessly. Seeing Mo Feng’s reluctance, she let the matter drop and nodded. "Thank you."

After she left, Shen Qiyuan finally opened his eyes.

Thinking of the conversation he had overheard, a mocking curve lifted the corner of his mouth. He wondered if that girl still dared to come near him now that she knew he was despised by the emperor.

On the way back, Song Shuning leaned on Mo Feng’s back and asked softly, "What if I study alone in the other courtyard from now on? What will happen to Your Highness’s health? I won’t be able to find the remedy recipes anytime soon."

"His Highness is strong-willed; Miss Song need not worry," Mo Feng said, pleasantly surprised that Song Shuning, hearing Mo Yun’s words, didn’t want to distance herself from the prince but was instead concerned about his health.

Comforted, he walked more carefully, trying not to jostle her.

Song Shuning arrived home safely, but just as she lay down, there was a knock on the door. She frowned. "Who is it?"

"It’s me," came Song Shiyun’s voice from outside.

A chill ran through Song Shuning. She rose to open the door.

Clad only in underclothes, Song Shiyun stepped in, her gaze deep and piercing as she looked at Song Shuning. "Ning’er, who did you go out with?"