Chapter 113

Chapter 113

The afternoon sun had sunk lower, half its light blocked by the western wall of the shabby little courtyard.

Shen Lian was boxed in by the wall's shadow and the young concubine's body, stuck in the gloom with nowhere to run, his face burning red, his toes curling in embarrassment.

"We can't, Dian Xia," he looked up, pleading nervously.

After all, he was still a man under criminal sentence, and didn't dare flat-out refuse the young concubine's request, so he could only reason with him in a soft voice: "What if my father suddenly barges in?"

"Then what's the worst that could happen?" Xie Yuan smirked teasingly: "Family dirty laundry shouldn't be aired in public. The old man would have no choice but to beg me to make an honest man of you, and we'd be married before you know it."

Shen Lian squirmed and pushed him away reluctantly: "Where did you learn such dirty tricks? Don't you already have three wives?"

"I've read many storybooks," Xie Yuan confessed: "I had Eunuch Xu haul all the best-selling romance novels from the past few years into my study where I handle military affairs, and I went through them one by one. I figured if I read all these love stories, how could I lose to some Deputy Guard Commander or a marquis's little heir?"

Shen Lian bit his lip to stifle a smile and teased in a soft voice: "So what real skills has His Highness the Crown Prince actually picked up?"

"Didn't you get a feel for my real skills last night?" Xie Yuan asked, puzzled.

"Hahaha!" Shen Lian quickly stifled his laughter, careful not to comment on the young concubine's actual performance so as not to bruise his ego: "No, I'm not talking about bedroom fun with your wives—I mean the art of winning people over."

"Nope, haven't got that one."

"So what exactly has the War God of Great Wei been reading? Is it all just bedroom stuff?"

"No." Xie Yuan laughed: "The folks who write those books probably don't have real wives either—it's all wishful thinking. They're always writing about some broke scholar who accidentally rips a marquis's daughter's sleeve, and just seeing her bare shoulder counts as ruining her honor—but instead of crying harassment, she throws herself at him.

According to those books, if I did the deed right here in your yard in front of your dad, the old man wouldn't come at me with a cleaver—he'd get on his knees and beg me to marry you, no bride price needed—he'd even hand me a hundred taels to go take the imperial exams in the capital. And I'd become the top scholar, stressing every day over whether to marry you or a princess."

"Hahaha, you really have read a ton of those books! The War God is so dedicated!"

"Honestly, they're way more fun than military memos."

"What's even good about them! You're a prince—how is reading some poor scholar's fantasy satisfying?"

"The misses and princesses in those books are all so sweet. They marry some frail, broke scholar and don't look down on him—they just pity him and fuss over him. Not like my ex-wife."

"Haha. Huh?" Shen Lian stopped laughing, puffing up in annoyance as he glared at the young concubine, who was always making snide remarks: "Do you think being a prince's boy toy was that much better than being a scholar? Didn't your ex-wife still take pity on you?"

"Wasn't that all just an act?"

Shen Lian got flustered, squirming and no longer in the mood for cuddling: "I told you it wasn't an act! The letter was the act! Let go of me, Dian Xia. You won't even step into my room, and there's no table or chair out here. Are you seriously going to do it standing up?"

"You're on."

"Who challenged you? Taking on random dares—aren't you scared of throwing your back out?"

"You think I trained in martial arts all these years for nothing? Ever heard of 'waist and horse as one'? They say once you master it, you can please your wife anytime, anywhere. That's why I've been doing horse stances rain or shine."

"Hahahaha, cut it out, Dian Xia!" Shen Lian couldn't stop laughing.

The young concubine had no patience for anything else, but when it came to playing house, he had endless patience and tricks, sweet-talking and cajoling to keep Shen Lian happy.

No wonder those male-lead harem fantasies keep growing—these guys just have too much energy.

"Isn't His Highness the Crown Prince being a bit too indulgent? Shouldn't you be looking after your health and focusing on your duties?"

"Isn't my current job being Lord Shen's personal bodyguard?"

"When I say personal, I mean keeping your eyes on me, not—ah!" The arm around Shen Lian's waist suddenly let go, and without support, he lurched forward, almost falling. He looked up at the young concubine in surprise.

"Shh." The young concubine suddenly turned serious, pressing a finger to his lips. "Your dad and brother are really back. So many people—how many dads do you have?"

Soon Shen Lian heard footsteps too.

Then a group of people slammed open the courtyard gate with a bang, the old door panel crashing into the wall and sending wood chips flying.

The newcomers stormed in, though Third Uncle had only brought seven men from the clan.

Standing next to Old Man Shen Ao was another big investor in the shop. This investor, fed up with the shop's poor business, wanted to pull his money out and invest elsewhere. Afraid Shen Zaishan would scuttle the deal, he'd been playing peacemaker since morning.

But he looked even older than Old Man Shen and had none of Third Uncle's boss energy.

Third Uncle had also brought the clan chief's son, Shen Duo—a strapping man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, broad-shouldered and intimidating, striding in like an executioner about to do his job.

Shen Lian took two steps back, and the young concubine instinctively moved to shield him, one hand going to his waist—but he wasn't carrying a blade.

"Shen Laosan, what exactly are you trying to do! This is trespassing!"

Third Uncle didn't even glance at Old Man Shen, quietly instructing one of the men to block him outside the door.

But seeing the fake "Han Wangchuan" standing in the middle of the courtyard, Third Uncle's momentum weakened considerably.

Even knowing this man was an impostor, there was no denying he could fight. Last time he and his son had followed this kid, and in a moment of carelessness, the kid had kicked him flying, leaving him bedridden for half a month before recovering.

And of all times, he happened to be at Shen Lian's house.

But remembering he'd brought seven men, Shen Zaishan regained some confidence, stepping forward to explain with false bravado: "Lian'er, this is adult business, you don't need to get involved. Your father went early this morning to take over a small clan shop. Brother Duo here thinks the money might not be from legitimate sources and needs to be investigated, to avoid implicating you younger ones. It's for the clan's good. Take your friend and wait outside first. When it's done, Third Uncle will let you know."

"What's not legitimate about it?" Shen Lian poked his head out from behind Xie Yuan's arm, scolding fiercely: "The money my father used to take over the shop is my money! What's illegitimate about that!"

"Oh, heh heh," Shen Zaishan smiled without sincerity: "You're young, worked at the Imperial Medical Academy for a year—where did you get several hundred taels of silver, enough to redeem the land deed and buy a prime shop in the busy market? How is it that I didn't know an 8th-Rank Imperial Doctor's salary was so much higher than my 6th-rank one? If it's not salary, then where did the money come from? If I don't investigate, am I supposed to wait until your family is executed and the whole clan implicated?"

"I sold White Immortal Powder," Shen Lian argued irritably: "It's the White Immortal Powder you wanted me to sell at your shop and I refused. You haven't forgotten, have you? Or are you deliberately seeking revenge?"

Third Uncle sneered: "Why do you two have different stories? Your father said the silver was reward from the Crown Prince for presenting some Water Mill working model to feed the people and achieve great merit. How did it become money you earned from selling medicine?"

Shen Lian was stunned, looking toward his father, who was being held back not far away.

This boast was quite embarrassing for Lord Shen, mainly because the Crown Prince himself was standing right there. The three thousand taels of silver was purely pocket money given to his then-"fiancée" to spend for fun, having nothing to do with the Water Mill or White Immortal Powder.

Suddenly claiming it was a reward for the Water Mill sounded like self-aggrandizement, especially since the Water Mill wasn't even built yet—a bit too eager.

"Why so quiet now?" Third Uncle smiled, turning to the clan chief's son and pointing at Shen Lian with a low laugh: "This kid has never been able to lie, unlike his old man."

The clan chief's son also relaxed upon hearing this, turning to instruct his clan brothers: "Search for the illicit funds."

"Hold on." The Crown Prince, who had been stunned, finally raised his hand to block everyone's path, looking at the group of men in disbelief: "What are you doing? Even an official house search requires reading the decree first, doesn't it?"

The clan members' faces were full of hostility, but they could still recognize this pale-faced young man as Master Wangchuan, who had defeated all comers at the spring sacrifice, so no one dared to argue.

Only the elder Third Uncle, relying on his seniority, warned sternly: "This is clan internal business. No outsiders need to interfere. Please step aside, young master."

Meanwhile, Shen Ao, furious, broke free from the clansmen and stepped forward to shove Shen Zaishan: "What does our family's money have to do with you? I've said if you think it's from dubious sources, you can report it to the authorities! If you dare carry a single item out of this courtyard today, I'll fight you to the death!"

The two sides immediately erupted into argument again. The little old man who had come to mediate stood in the middle shouting: "Oh, Zaishan! Forget about where the money came from for now. First sell our shop to them, split the accounts, then you can investigate your clan matters, can't you? Why are you blocking their purchase of the shop?"

“Once we’ve looked into it, we can still do business.”

Xie Yuan turned to look at the young imperial physician behind him and asked in a low voice, “Are all these people your relatives? Since when do relatives get to question where your family’s money comes from? Is this how common folks run their clans?”

Shen Lian huffed and whispered to the Young Male Concubine, “He’s my third uncle—the one I always joked about in my letters, that eccentric relative. He found out I was making good money off White Immortal Powder and wanted a piece of the action, but I told him no. So he got my dad and brother kicked out of their jobs. Now he’s definitely got his eye on the money my dad’s using to buy the shop.”

Meanwhile, the two sides were going at it louder and louder.

The shop’s main investor angrily snapped at Shen Zaishan, “That money’s been stuck in that money-pit shop for two years! You’re cutting off our income!”

Shen Zaishan shot back, “If that money’s dirty and he uses it to buy the shop, the funds could get seized if trouble comes up—then the shop might get confiscated to pay off the debt.”

“Then you should report it—” The investor didn’t finish his sentence. His chest heaved a few times, and his voice suddenly went hoarse.

His face went pale and ashen. He pressed a hand to his chest, swayed, and suddenly collapsed against a male clansman nearby.

“Hey? Master He? What’s wrong? Master He!” Shen Duo caught the old man, frantically patted his pockets, found nothing, then looked up at Shen’s father: “Do you have any Suhexiang pills at home? Master He has a heart condition—hurry, get the medicine!”

“What the hell!” Shen’s father shouted in panic. “This isn’t a drugstore! Go find a doctor!”

Someone said urgently, “Isn’t your youngest son a doctor?”

Shen Lian, pushing through the crowd, answered, “That’s right, I’m a doctor. Everyone move aside—carry him to the bed. I’ll get my medical kit. Quick.”

Afraid they’d all be blamed if someone died, everyone scrambled to obey.

The chaotic courtyard finally settled down.

Shen Lian walked over and sat by the bed.

The patient’s face was pale, but he didn’t show the typical signs of a heart attack—it might not be a relapse of his old condition.

Shen Lian pulled out a roll of acupuncture needles, uncorked a small porcelain bottle, and cleaned his hands: “Everyone back off, don’t crowd the bed. Go open the windows too.”

The clansmen obediently scattered and headed for the door.

Xie Yuan ran over to open the windows. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Lian’s third uncle silently gesturing for men to carry a box near the cabinet outside to search it.

It was just a box of extra clothes.

But Xie Yuan’s skin was crawling with irritation, and he couldn’t take it anymore. Striding over in three quick steps, he stomped the box back down, crushing a few fingers in the process, and a chorus of yelps rang out.

“What do you think you’re doing!” Shen Zaishan snapped. “How dare you keep sticking your nose into my clan’s business?”

Xie Yuan was out of patience. He hadn’t wanted to get rough in front of the young physician, but now he couldn’t hold back. He asked in a low, cold voice, “You want to walk out, or crawl out?”

The men tensed up and backed away.

“Can’t hear me?” Xie Yuan advanced step by step, hands on his hips. The five men beside Shen Zaishan didn’t dare say a word, backing away until they were forced out of the west wing.

Xie Yuan stared down at Shen Zaishan. “This is your last warning.”

Inside the room.

Shen Lian’s attention was completely on the patient. Before inserting the needles, he pressed two fingers to the man’s neck, paused for two breaths, then grabbed his left wrist to check his pulse.

“Hmm?” Shen Lian frowned.

This pulse… seems totally fine?

“Why haven’t you taken any anesthetic?”

The old man on the bed suddenly spoke, but he’d turned off the voice simulator, using his own voice, and said excitedly to his idol, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer, Professor Shen.”

Shen Lian’s pupils shrank. In an instant, he realized this stranger was the assassin host in disguise.

He scrambled to his feet to run, shouting at the figure outside the door, “Dian Xia!”

Xie Yuan, mid-threat against Shen Zaishan, felt his heart jolt.

A strange ache swelled in his chest. The War God of Great Wei, who remained calm before thousands of troops, suddenly looked panicked.

He spun around.

In the dim room, the young physician ran a few steps toward him, a wild reluctance and longing seeming to burst from his eyes—then suddenly faded.

He collapsed onto the small round table that had no matching stool.

With a sharp screech, the table slid away.

Xie Yuan lunged forward like lightning.

Before the young man hit the cold floor, he scooped the little cat into his arms.

Oddly, the young physician didn’t tense up and strike a pose like he usually did when he stumbled into Xie Yuan’s arms. Instead, his head lolled to the side, his mouth slightly open, utterly indifferent to the image of the seductive consort Daji.