Chapter 43: Meeting

Chapter 43: The Meeting

Zuo Yi entered and said respectfully, "Your Highness, everything has been arranged."

Shen Yuchao gave a soft "Hmm" in response.

Seeing his complexion had improved, Zuo Yi's expression softened. "That man's medical skills are truly remarkable. You're looking much better now."

"But..."

"What are you hesitating about?"

Shen Yuchao didn't look up, focusing intently on his painting.

"It's just that Baili He's identity remains unclear. Are you truly certain about keeping him in the residence?"

Most importantly, he was given whatever he asked for.

Baili He alone had nearly emptied the medicinal storeroom of Prince Duansu's estate.

"His interest lies solely in me."

Setting down his brush, Shen Yuchao said, "Leave him be."

"Yes," Zuo Yi acknowledged. "Your Highness, there is one more matter."

Shen Yuchao dipped his hands in the basin, meticulously washing the ink stains from between his fingers.

"What is it?"

"His Majesty has recently mentioned your marriage several times," Zuo Yi lowered his head. "It seems he intends for you to marry soon."

Shen Yuchao's movements paused.

The sound of water abruptly ceased.

After a moment, he flicked the water from his hands, took a towel to dry them, and said, "I understand. You may leave for now."

"Yes."

Zuo Yi wasn't sure what Shen Yuchao was thinking and didn't dare speculate further. He bowed and withdrew.

Just as he was about to step out the door, Shen Yuchao stopped him. "Tomorrow..." He paused for a breath, then continued, "The day after tomorrow, discreetly inform the gate guard that my old injury has flared up, and I will be recuperating at the estate these days."

Zuo Yi thought to himself, *Is His Highness hoping Second Miss Qiu will come to visit?*

Not daring to dwell on it, he immediately agreed, his voice several degrees louder than before.

"Your subordinate obeys."

...

Qiu Shuiyi had been granted two more years to live.

After returning to the estate, the Marquis of Yun'an and Qiu Jinbai fussed over her constantly. Qiu Shuiyi hadn't had a moment to think about it then. Now, back in her own courtyard, a faint sense of joy finally surfaced.

She entered her room with light steps, drank two cups of tea, and as soon as her body touched the daybed, a wave of exhaustion hit her. A throbbing headache set in.

Qiu Shuiyi forced herself to endure the fatigue. "Xin Liu, go fetch some hot water. I'd like to bathe."

"Right away," Xin Liu hurried out to give the order.

Qiu Shuiyi sat up and stretched, just as Nanny Cui entered and saw her.

She awkwardly withdrew her hands.

Nanny Cui, however, didn't comment, simply saying, "You've been through an ordeal, Miss. Go to the small kitchen and prepare a soothing soup for the young lady."

Xin Tao responded crisply.

Qiu Shuiyi smiled softly.

Her hand resting on her waist felt something lumpy.

Two fingers probed and retrieved a prayer bead.

Qiu Shuiyi sat by the lamp, holding the bead up for a close look.

Suddenly, she remembered the scene where Shen Yuchao embedded the prayer beads into the assassin's eyes.

It felt as if the bead in her hand was also stained with blood.

"Miss, the water is ready."

Xin Liu's voice snapped her out of her reverie.

Qiu Shuiyi abruptly closed her palm.

She casually set the prayer bead down and responded, "Coming."

After tidying up, Qiu Shuiyi lay down in bed.

She hadn't dared to sleep soundly the previous night, drifting in and out of a hazy state, getting little proper rest.

Now, back in a familiar place, enveloped in warmth, drowsiness quickly overcame her, and she sank into a deep sleep.

The moonlight was like water. The prayer bead lay quietly beside the pillow, accompanying the young lady into her dreams.

...

It was likely due to catching a chill after falling into the water. Upon waking the next day, Qiu Shuiyi's throat felt itchy. She covered her chest and coughed softly a few times.

Xin Tao came in to attend to her, helping Qiu Shuiyi put on her clothes. "Miss, I'll go fetch Doctor Lin."

"No need," Qiu Shuiyi shook her head. "It's just a slight cough. There's no need to call a doctor; it'll be better by tomorrow. Go pour a bowl of hot water for me."

After drinking a bowl of hot water, her throat felt much better.

Xin Tao brought another bowl, but Qiu Shuiyi waved her hand in refusal. "Let's have breakfast."

The morning meal was light. After finishing half a small bowl of white jade and jadeite porridge, Xin Liu, who had gone out early in the morning, returned.

Xin Tao stopped her before she entered, whispering, "Sister Xin Liu, the young lady wasn't feeling well when she woke up this morning. Regarding His Highness..."

Hearing this, Xin Liu's expression turned hesitant.

"You two, what are you whispering about over there?"

Qiu Shuiyi swallowed another mouthful of porridge.

Xin Liu and Xin Tao exchanged a glance, then bowed and stepped forward. "Miss, word has come from outside that His Highness will be recuperating at his estate these next few days."

"His injuries haven’t healed yet?"

Qiu Shuiyi asked, surprised.

"His Highness was only injured the day before yesterday, so it probably... isn’t that fast, right?" Xin Tao whispered.

Qiu Shuiyi coughed lightly and scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth.

She had forgotten—something this unbelievable, even if Shen Yuchao’s wounds had truly healed, he should still keep it from the public.

"Miss..." Xin Liu hesitated for a long while before finally speaking up, "The news that you and His Highness spent the night alone together has already spread. For the time being, it would be best not to meet with His Highness again."

Even if you were to meet, it should only be after His Highness visits the Madame Marquis to give an explanation.

She didn’t want the rumors from outside to reach her mistress’s ears.

Qiu Shuiyi ate her porridge quietly.

She was thinking about something.

"You two, tell me—how would a mere guard at the prince’s estate know that His Highness would be resting at home these next few days?"

Huh?

Xin Liu and Xin Tao were stumped by her question for a moment.

Qiu Shuiyi set down her porridge bowl. "His Highness didn’t hide his comings and goings when leaving the estate, and that guard has worked there for many years. If he looked into it carefully, it wouldn’t actually be difficult to find out His Highness’s whereabouts."

"But His Highness stays in the inner chambers—how did he manage to extend his reach inside the estate?"

Xin Liu guessed, "Perhaps he learned it from someone serving by His Highness’s side?"

Qiu Shuiyi poured herself a cup of water and gently blew on it. "If he could extend his reach into the estate, why would he settle for a mere guard’s position?"

After thinking it over, Xin Liu said, "Miss, are you suggesting that this information was deliberately leaked to that guard?"

"Xin Liu, you're so clever."

Qiu Shuiyi said teasingly.

Xin Liu blushed, and Xin Tao asked right away, "But Miss, who leaked this information? And why would they do so?"

"Who else could it be?"

Qiu Shuiyi rubbed the rim of the cup with her fingertip, feeling its warmth.

Besides the man himself, there was no one else.

As for the reason...

Qiu Shuiyi set down the cup, her eyes shining brightly.

She said with conviction, "He wants to see me."

...

At the moment, Lady Mei would absolutely not allow Qiu Shuiyi to leave the house.

The three of them had no choice but to resort to their old trick: one would distract Nanny Cui, while the other stayed behind at Chunhui Garden to act as needed.

After changing into Bi Tao’s clothes and slipping out through the back gate, Qiu Shuiyi headed straight for Prince Duan Su’s estate.

Coincidentally, as soon as she appeared, Zuo Yi walked out from inside and his gaze just happened to sweep over and spot her, his tone rising in exaggerated surprise.

"Why is Second Miss here?"

It carried an air of affectation.

Qiu Shuiyi suppressed a laugh. "I’ve come to visit His Highness."

Zuo Yi’s eyes immediately lit up as he tried to squeeze out a smile. "Please come in, Miss."

It was the same study as last time.

Shen Yuchao was still painting.

Qiu Shuiyi stood at the doorway without a word, quietly watching as he lifted his brush and put down stroke after stroke on the paper.

Shen Yuchao occasionally looked up and seemed quite surprised to see her. "Why isn’t Second Miss coming in?"

"Watching Your Highness paint, I got lost in it for a moment."

A faint blush colored Qiu Shuiyi’s cheeks, and she looked slightly embarrassed.

But since Shen Yuchao had spoken, she stepped inside confidently, her gaze drifting toward his painting.

One look was enough to startle her.

The painting was of a cute-looking boy, appearing no more than six or seven years old.

What was horrifying was that the boy’s limbs were separated from his body, and he was covered in blood.

His eyes were open, staring at the sky, his face twisted with rage, his gaze filled with hatred.

The boy lay in a pool of blood, with large swathes of red crashing into the viewer’s eyes, creating a powerful impact and an overwhelming sense of discomfort.

Qiu Shuiyi looked away, restraining herself. "Why is Your Highness painting something like this?"

Shen Yuchao set down his brush and smiled. "Second Miss Qiu, don’t you think this painting is beautiful?"

Beautiful?

Qiu Shuiyi stared at him in disbelief.

He... he actually thought this painting was... beautiful?

What kind of pervert was he?!

Setting the painting aside, Shen Yuchao glanced sideways and chuckled, shaking his head. "Why is Second Miss dressed like this today?"

Qiu Shuiyi snapped back to attention, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and countered, "Does Your Highness think it doesn’t look good?"

Shen Yuchao chuckled softly. "Second Miss is naturally beautiful, so of course she looks good in anything."

Qiu Shuiyi smiled brightly, but after a moment, her smile gradually faded. "My mother won’t let me leave the house. I sneaked out."

"My apologies, it is I who have implicated Second Miss."

"I did it willingly, and it has nothing to do with Your Highness."

Qiu Shuiyi lifted her gaze.

Shen Yuchao lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes.

Gazing into her clear, luminous eyes, he slowly spoke, "I have a question for you, Second Miss."

"Please ask, Your Highness."

His low, gentle voice reached her ears.

"Second Miss Qiu... do you truly have feelings for me?"

Qiu Shuiyi was taken aback by his question.

Qiu Shuiyi was in love with Shen Yuchao—wasn't this something they both "understood perfectly well"?

Why bring it out into the open now?

Because of those so-called rumors?

Qiu Shuiyi didn't understand what Shen Yuchao intended, but she instantly knew how she should react.

Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered lightly, and when she opened her eyes again, glistening tears seemed ready to fall.

She looked at Shen Yuchao, her tone filled with disappointment and confusion, "Your Highness... are you questioning my sincerity?"

"Shui Yi originally thought that after facing death together with Your Highness so many times, even if we couldn't call it deep affection, there was at least some fondness. Yet Your Highness would ask such a hurtful question."

She took two steps forward, staring directly at Shen Yuchao, her gaze unwavering.

Tears moistened her long lashes, like a butterfly drenched in water, trembling and precarious.

"The first time we met, it was Your Highness who saved my life from the jaws of death. Though I didn't know who you were at the time, I was still grateful."

"The second time, Your Highness saved me again from those ruffians. That day, the sky was filled with heavy snow, pristine and flawless, yet in Shui Yi's eyes, there was only room for Your Highness."

"The third time, when I fell in the teahouse, I fell into Your Highness's arms. You surely didn't know how thrilled I was when I looked up and saw you."

Qiu Shuiyi's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, a gentle ripple in their depths. Recalling her encounters with Shen Yuchao, her expression seemed both sorrowful and mournful as she earnestly fabricated, "Does Your Highness truly not know my feelings for you?"

"Your Highness knows. Otherwise, you wouldn't have made that bet with me."

"But since you know, why do you repeatedly question my feelings and push me away so harshly?"

Qiu Shuiyi's voice trembled, tears swirling in her eyes, "And why... do you trample on my feelings?"

Shen Yuchao's smile faded slightly, his expression calm and unreadable.

Qiu Shuiyi withdrew her gaze from his, lowering her head with a self-mocking smile, "I understand. It was Shui Yi who overstepped. Please don't blame me, Your Highness. I'll leave now."

As she spoke, she stepped back, but as she turned, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Her body was effortlessly pinned against the desk by Shen Yuchao, unable to move.

A flicker of panic crossed Qiu Shuiyi's expression.

Then she saw Shen Yuchao looking down at her from above, a smile on his lips, his tone icy and menacing.

"What if I... wanted to kill you?"