Volume One, Chapter 14: The Little Rabbit Princess
“Third Prince?” Wen Shiyan flustered, quickly straightening her posture. “Why are you here?”
At this hour, he should be dazzling everyone at the winter hunting grounds. Why is he inside the palace?
Liang Jiang hurried over, grabbing her wrist. “What’s the matter? If he can come, why can’t I?”
What did Zhu Fenghua have to do with this?
Wen Shiyan felt his nonsense and twisted her wrist, trying to break free. “Third Prince, you’ve misunderstood.”
“Misunderstood?” Liang Jiang sneered coldly. “What could I possibly misunderstand about you?”
A mere hostage with no status—how could she have the power to steal someone from him?
Zhu Fenghua watched where they held her, his thoughts stirring. “Third Prince, it seems you’ve hurt Lady Wen; please let go.”
Liang Jiang glared at him with displeasure. “Do you think you have a say?”
Despite his words, he slightly loosened his grip. Wen Shiyan seized the chance to slip away, rubbing her reddened wrist.
Zhu Fenghua stepped behind her protectively. Facing the legendary reincarnation of the God of Killers for the first time, he carefully measured his tone. “Third Prince, do you have urgent matters for Lady Wen? Are you feeling unwell?”
Hearing him speak, Liang Jiang grew irritated. He pulled Wen Shiyan back from behind Zhu Fenghua without looking back and walked off, leaving behind only, “Young Master Fenghua, I will remember you.”
Wen Shiyan stumbled along, finally stopping after punching him in the back.
Liang Jiang halted in disbelief and turned back. Seeing her furious expression, his sharp questions softened into coaxing words.
“Ah Yan’s fists and heart are both pure and kind. Do you know what kind of person that fellow is to dare associate with him?”
The youth was clad in riding gear, his eyes harboring danger.
For the first time, Wen Shiyan openly showed disrespect toward him, feeling a bit guilty. “Young Master Zhu from Qiong Kingdom may have a heart as intricate as a labyrinth, but what use could a powerless, unprivileged imperial physician like me be? He just comes to me out of boredom.”
In truth, she was reluctant to admit it—her care for Zhu Fenghua was not entirely selfless.
Within two years, Qiong Kingdom’s court would be thrown into turmoil, the royal bloodline tearing itself apart, leaving only Zhu Fenghua abandoned in the Great Liang.
When Zhu Fenghua was triumphantly brought back to inherit the throne, if she succeeded in killing Liang Jiang for revenge, he would be her best escape route.
It was said that in Qiong Kingdom, ability was revered; as long as one had a sharp mind, women could thrive in commerce or officialdom. Away from the Great Liang, she could take root anew, perhaps even open her own clinic.
No longer like her mother, living a secluded life...
Liang Jiang tapped her forehead lightly. “Enough of that. Forget his affairs for now. Take the medicine box and come with me.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
---
Wen Shiyan never expected he would bring her to the Ji Qiu Hall.
The most secluded part of the palace, overgrown with weeds, its door rusted and locked with a heavy iron padlock that seemed untouched for years.
It was said Liang Jiang’s birth mother and sister were imprisoned here.
She watched as Liang Jiang climbed the courtyard wall, then turned back to pull her up.
Wen Shiyan glanced around, declining to reach out. “Third Prince, you…”
Ji Qiu Hall was forbidden territory. The emperor had decreed that, besides palace staff delivering food monthly, no one was allowed near—imperial physicians included. It was as if the lives inside were left to fate.
Disobeying the imperial edict meant death.
Liang Jiang’s eyes darkened. “Liang Nianci suddenly fell ill. Ah Yan, if you worry about being discovered, you may stop here and return. It won’t affect our relationship.”
He was like a wolf in the forest, disguised in sheep’s clothing, feigning kindness while harboring darkness within. Instinctively, he wanted to drag those who approached into the shadows, reveling as they gave themselves over, while he served as the mighty shield, blocking all harm.
Wen Shiyan gripped the medicine box, her thoughts in turmoil.
By her past experience, this poor little princess should never intersect with her life. Why had things changed?
What was wrong?
“Ah Yan?”
She knew she shouldn’t meddle, but the girl inside was so innocent. If she ignored her just because of an imperial decree, would that betray her own original intention?
Original intention...
Liang Jiang’s sister was innocent; was the infant sister she once held not equally so?
Her heart waged war with itself; neither thought would yield.
Against the fading light, looking into Liang Jiang’s gaze felt like a thorn in her back...
If she retreated today, with Liang Jiang’s suspicion and jealousy, there would be enmity between them in the future. How else could she find the chance for revenge?
No more hesitation!
She handed the medicine box to Liang Jiang perched above. “Hold this. I can manage myself.”
The rough stones on the wall bit into her palm as she swung herself up. From this height, the view was unobstructed, layers of vermilion enclosing countless souls.
Liang Jiang looked at her like a lamb knowingly stepping into a trap, willing to leap for him.
He rejoiced, yet feared all the more that she might vanish.
“Ah Yan, aren’t you afraid?” he asked eagerly.
---
Wen Shiyan surveyed the desolate courtyard. The water jar was frozen, eaves dripping icicles, windows and doors dilapidated. No doubt they lacked even charcoal. How could they have survived so many winters?
“Yes.” She answered honestly. “If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have come.”
Not wanting to argue, she climbed down.
Inside the room, it was as rundown as she expected but at least warm. The stove burned high-quality charcoal, and the quilt covering Liang Nianci was thick and soft.
Had Liang Jiang secretly brought it?
“Cough! Cough!”
Urgent coughs rattled, as though the girl might cough her lungs out.
Hearing the noise, Wen Shiyan sat up. At fifteen or sixteen, the girl’s delicate face was wasted by illness, her features bearing no resemblance to Liang Jiang’s—round and wide-eyed like a little rabbit.
She looked first at Liang Jiang. “Brother? And this is...?”
Wen Shiyan sensed the girl’s unease. Understandable—since birth, besides her deranged mother and the occasionally visiting brother, she likely hadn’t seen many living people.
“Princess, I am the physician sent to treat you.”
Liang Jiang nodded, signaling her not to be afraid.
Once Liang Nianci’s breathing steadied, Wen Shiyan slowly approached.
The girl was obedient, showing her wrist and carefully describing her symptoms.
When she mentioned vomiting black blood and fainting for half a day, Wen Shiyan formed a diagnosis. “Princess, what did you eat today?”
Liang Nianci thought a moment. “The usual deliveries. Except the mushrooms were especially fresh, nothing else unusual.”
“Mushrooms?” Wen Shiyan asked. “What did they look like? Or are there any left in the kitchen?”
Liang Jiang frowned. He had suspected food poisoning, as that was the most likely variable.
Combined with the assassination attempt she encountered previously at the Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant.
It was hard not to suspect the Eastern Palace was behind this. The only question was why they waited all these years and chose to act just before the Lunar New Year. What was their scheme?
“I’m sorry, I…” Liang Nianci shook her head in shame.