Chapter 96 Continue Singing

"Very well, very well." Shen Yanhuai's gaze darkened slightly. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Divine Physician Tan."

He walked to Shen Yingjue's bedside and sat there for a while before rising to his feet. "I leave everything in your hands, Divine Physician Tan. I still have affairs of state to attend to and must return to the palace."

"Respectfully seeing Your Majesty off."

Shen Yanhuai left the main courtyard of Prince Duan’s residence, his personal attendant trailing behind. Once outside, the attendant lowered his voice, "Why did Your Majesty leave Divine Physician Tan here in Prince Duan’s residence? Her origins are unclear—"

"Unclear?" Shen Yanhuai snorted coldly. "How could they be unclear? Isn’t she the second daughter of Tan Yun?"

"Previously, she used the Five Stone Powder to make Prince Duan believe he was recovering. And today, this antidote pill—now that is interesting."

"But before, she used the Five Stone Powder to get close to Prince Duan; most likely, she wants to secure the position of Princess Duan. I hear she and the Crown Princess of Prince Ding are at odds. She probably wants the title of Princess Duan to overshadow the Crown Princess of Prince Ding."

"This time, she volunteered to stay in Prince Duan’s residence, probably to make everyone believe her position as Princess Duan is all but certain. Moreover, Prince Duan has been deprived of affection since childhood. When she treated him before, he was so moved he rushed to me, demanding to marry her."

"When Prince Duan wakes and sees how devoted she is, he will surely wish to welcome Tan Qingjiu into his home at once."

"Though Prince Duan is sometimes erratic, he is still a prince. She lost her reputation six years ago; none of the other noble sons in the capital would marry her. Her plan is quite cunning."

The attendant’s eyes flashed with surprise. "Your Majesty knows Tan Qingjiu is aiming for the position of Princess Duan, so why permit her to remain in Prince Duan’s residence?"

"Quite satisfactory." Shen Yanhuai lowered his eyes. "Arranging Prince Duan’s marriage has always been a concern of mine. Tan Qingjiu’s status is low, and she is Prince Duan’s own choice—no one suits him better."

"And Tan Qingjiu says Prince Duan’s days are numbered..."

Shen Yanhuai’s lips moved slightly. "Ran Yungui has been scheming to get close to Prince Duan ever since Empress Ran passed, hoping to gain control over him and use him to seize the throne."

"But..." Shen Yanhuai lowered his gaze, his voice softer. "Prince Duan is, after all, Empress Ran’s own child. She and I were married young, our bond deep... He was traumatized by Empress Ran’s death, developed this strange illness, and now has been poisoned. I doubt Ran Yungui can use him any longer."

"The poison in him—none of the imperial physicians can diagnose it fully. I fear the antidote will not be easy to find."

"If Tan Qingjiu, for the sake of becoming Princess Duan, is willing to stay by his side and soothe him, that's quite fine. At least, when my time comes, I can answer to Empress Ran."

Shen Yanhuai pressed his lips together. "The poison in Prince Duan must be investigated."

"I want to see who dares poison him right under my nose."

"Yes."

Shen Yanhuai left the main courtyard. The steward, who had escorted him, soon returned.

He had heard everything Shen Yanhuai said, and hurried to Tan Qingjiu, "I’ll send someone to prepare rooms for you, Divine Physician Tan. Is there anything you require?"

Tan Qingjiu lowered her gaze, recalling what Shen Yingjue had said earlier, her eyelids fluttering slightly. "No need to trouble yourself, Steward. I am here mainly to care for Prince Duan."

"Since my purpose is to look after him, there’s nowhere more convenient than his own courtyard."

"Why not prepare a room for me right here? I can settle in."

The steward was momentarily stunned. "It’s possible, but the main house is for the prince, and the rest are side rooms. Wouldn’t that be improper?"

"It’s nothing improper—I am only a physician."

Seeing Tan Qingjiu’s determination, the steward nodded. "Very well."

He withdrew.

Tan Qingjiu walked to the window, opened it, and watched the steward leave the courtyard before turning to the bedside. She reached out and poked Shen Yingjue. "Alright, everyone’s gone. Stop pretending."

Shen Yingjue’s lashes quivered as he opened his eyes, blinking softly at Tan Qingjiu.

"They’re gone?"

Tan Qingjiu rolled her eyes. "You’re not truly unconscious; you know whether they’ve gone or not."

She sat on the stool by the bed, lifting her gaze to Shen Yingjue. "When His Majesty visited, I deliberately tested him. His reaction didn’t seem feigned. He likely isn’t the one who poisoned you?"

Shen Yingjue blinked. "When did I ever say he poisoned me?"

Indeed, he hadn’t.

But last time in the palace, Shen Yingjue had Tan Qingjiu act out a scene before the emperor, leading her to a mistaken conclusion.

After all, she pretended to use Cold Food Powder to treat him before the emperor, who neither pursued the matter nor questioned her. What father behaves that way?

Her misunderstanding was only natural.

Shen Yingjue saw the look on Tan Qingjiu’s face and laughed quietly.

"So Qingjiu cares about me after all?"

"His Majesty is indeed wary of me, but not just me—he’s suspicious by nature. He’s wary of all his sons and brothers."

"I suppose he sees everyone as a threat to his throne."

Shen Yingjue was utterly nonchalant, speaking of the emperor without disappointment or anger, as if he were not talking about his suspicious father.

"The person who poisoned me—it wasn’t him."

"If not the emperor, then who?"

She remembered, in the teahouse before, he’d said he wanted to lure out the one who poisoned him, to see their reaction when his illness flared up.

That sounded odd—as if he still held out hope for the culprit, wanting to test them. She knew he was familiar with only a handful of people, no wonder she misunderstood.

Shen Yingjue’s lips curved. "Divine Physician Tan, care to guess?"

Tan Qingjiu had no desire to guess, her expression cool as she glanced at him.

"When will you fulfill the promise you made to me, Your Highness?"

"You must remember—if you fail to do what you promised, I won’t stay in Prince Duan’s residence."

Shen Yingjue replied with the same indifference, "Understood."

After he spoke, the sound of a bell suddenly rang out in the room. Shen Yingjue blinked. "Here it comes—now, keep the act going, pretend I’ve just woken up..."