Sensing Yun Chunfeng’s hostile gaze, Xiao Zhenhuai suddenly realized he had lost his composure and quickly lowered his eyes.
“Oh? The Second Prince is truly chivalrous, willing to lower himself to personally escort the General to the carriage.”
Xiao Zhenhuai’s face flushed red. Although he didn’t understand why the National Preceptor was being so sarcastic, his own secret feelings were ultimately difficult to voice.
After all, the woman’s husband—his soul—was inside her body right now. How could he harbor such improper thoughts?
“It was merely a small effort. The National Preceptor need not dwell on it.”
Lying prone inside the carriage, Jiang Xingyan’s view was completely blocked by Huo Ci, so she missed the silent exchange between Yun Chunfeng and Xiao Zhenhuai.
“Yun—National Preceptor, the Second Prince helped me a great deal during our time in Qingzhou.
Today, I invited him to accompany me to the Imperial Medical Bureau to have Doctor Sun examine him and see if his chronic weakness can be treated.”
Jiang Xingyan had almost blurted out “Yun Ge’er” but managed to stop herself just in time.
Yun Chunfeng narrowed his eyes.
Why did the eldest young lady’s tone sound so full of trust and familiarity toward this man?
Xiao Zhenhuai, having reined in his churning emotions, now calmed down and found the entire atmosphere inside the carriage strangely off.
“Huo Ci” had been flogged until his skin was torn and bleeding, yet he appeared perfectly normal, chatting and laughing casually.
Yun Chunfeng, who had once been at odds with Huo Ci in court, was now not only helping “him” look after his daughter but also showing clear hostility toward anyone who got close to “him.”
Even stranger was the sight of “Jiang Xingyan,” whom he was seeing for the first time. Though her body bore not a single scratch, she was trembling all over from pain, tears streaming down her face.
Back in Qingzhou, the situation had been reversed.
What on earth had happened in just a few short days?
The mystery of it only deepened his curiosity.
“Since General Huo is so insistent, it would be improper for me to refuse repeatedly.
In that case, I suppose I must impose on your kindness.”
Bearing the weight of Yun Chunfeng’s dagger-like glare, Xiao Zhenhuai climbed into the carriage.
Jiang Xingyan waved her hand dismissively. “Second Prince, don’t mention it. It’s just a small detour to give you a ride.”
“General Huo genuinely has my best interests at heart, and I am deeply grateful.”
Although his words were directed at “Huo Ci,” his eyes were fixed firmly on Yun Chunfeng, a faint provocative smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
At this point, if Yun Chunfeng still failed to notice something was amiss, he would have wasted his life.
Even Huo Ci, despite gritting his teeth against the pain, managed to shoot an incredulous look through his tear-filled eyes.
Huo Ci: What’s going on here?
Xiao Zhenhuai gave him a slight nod. “This must be the legendary heroine, the General’s wife, I presume?”
Jiang Xingyan added from the side, “We’re divorced.”
She had no desire to continue bearing the title of “General’s Wife.”
What bad luck!
One sentence, and Huo Ci’s physical pain vanished completely.
Only a churning, agonizing heartache remained.
But he didn’t dare argue, silently weeping under the guise of enduring pain.
“Oh? In that case, may I ask what I should call you?”
Such blatant inquiry into a woman’s private name was too much for Huo Ci to bear. “Second Prince, this risks being improper.”
“Jiang Xingyan.
Her name is Jiang Xingyan.”
It was just a name.
Why could men speak their names openly, while a woman’s name was considered something shameful?
“‘Spring mountains, mist about to clear; pale sky, sparse fading stars.’
A beautiful name.
From now on, Miss Jiang, you may freely share your name with others.
After all, throughout history, has there ever been another woman who, like you, willingly gave away half her family fortune to support the army’s provisions?”
Jiang Xingyan felt the atmosphere in the carriage was strangely familiar.
Huo Ci glanced at Yun Chunfeng: Isn’t this exactly how you acted when you first showed up?
Yun Chunfeng shot Huo Ci a glare, gripping the bamboo handle of his feather fan so tightly it creaked, his mind racing to figure out what was wrong.
This Second Prince usually kept to himself, rarely interacting with others, so his true nature was unknown.
Had he not been sent to the border this time, he might never have crossed paths with them in his entire life.
Could it be… that he was also one of the eldest young lady’s destined connections?!
Crack!
The bamboo handle of Yun Chunfeng’s fan snapped clean in half.
“National Preceptor?”
Xiao Zhenhuai pieced things together quickly and understood the situation.
Not only did Yun Chunfeng know the truth, but he also possessed a possessive, domineering attitude toward Miss Jiang.
Oh? Interesting.
Since such an extraordinary woman was already divorced, there was no reason he couldn’t try to win her over for himself, was there?
“Whoa!
General, why are the gates of the Imperial Medical Bureau tightly shut today?”
As soon as morning court ended, Doctor Sun had ordered his servants to bolt the gates firmly and bar them with a beam as thick as two men could encircle.
“Unless His Majesty summons me, don’t open for anyone, no matter who calls!”
Sun Miao had known Huo Ci would come looking for him after being punished.
After being fooled so many times, if he still didn’t learn his lesson, he’d have no one to blame but himself.
In the past, it had been minor pranks, and he had endured them.
But now, this brat actually wanted to meddle in the succession struggle—wasn’t that dragging him toward death?
The lives of his entire family hung by a thread tied to his belt. Was being an imperial physician really this hard?
Dealing with the endless troubles of the harem every day was already exhausting enough. Now he had to be dragged into this!
All he’d wanted was to earn some consultation fees from that brat, and now the brat wanted his life?
Starting today, he had to cut all ties with “Huo Ci,” or he’d die without even knowing how.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Xingyan winced.
“I told you we pushed Doctor Sun too far. Look, now he won’t even open the door for us.”
Yun Chunfeng temporarily set aside his hostility toward Xiao Zhenhuai and quietly called Wang Qi over, whispering a few instructions.
Clutching several land deeds and property titles, Wang Qi stood outside the Imperial Medical Bureau and wailed in an exaggerated tone:
“General’s Wife, you can’t give these away! This is half a year’s savings from our shops! If you hand it all over to Doctor Sun to buy land and houses, how will we survive in the future?
And we’re supposed to support the troops with half our savings!”
“What? You’re counting on the General’s salary?
Oh my, my foolish General’s Wife, wake up!
After the General’s careless remarks at court this morning, plus the whole matter of the golden pearls, his entire year’s salary has already been docked. Counting on that is a lost cause!”
“General’s Wife, just look—you specially came here to deliver land and property deeds, and they won’t even open the door for you.
Even if Doctor Sun is benevolent and wishes to heal the world, if he acquires surrounding land and properties, it’s to offer free clinics to the people and gather medical practitioners from all over to compile medical texts—a truly meritorious deed for generations to come!
But he still has to appreciate your kindness first!”
Jiang Xingyan’s mouth twitched.
Wang Qi’s acting skills were wasted if he didn’t join a theater troupe.
Xiao Zhenhuai couldn’t help but smile.
Turning to glance at the stunned and flustered expression of “Jiang Xingyan,” he felt this wasn’t the reaction she should have.
When his gaze shifted to “Huo Ci,” he saw “him” pursing his lips in a faint smile, a look of helpless fondness mingled with quiet pride in his eyes.
This was the vitality and self-assurance she should possess.
Yun Chunfeng, focused on other matters, secretly observed Xiao Zhenhuai’s every move.
He saw the prince’s gaze flicker back and forth between the eldest young lady and Huo Ci.
When his eyes rested on Huo Ci, there was admiration mixed with regret.
Ultimately, his gaze settled on the eldest young lady, with undisguised appreciation.
It almost seemed as if he knew the truth about their situation.
Xiao Zhenhuai sensed Yun Chunfeng’s stare and met his eyes without flinching.
One was an immortal descended to the mortal realm; the other was a noble prince of the world.
Truly, they were each other’s most formidable rival.
“Oh dear, oh dear! General Huo’s wife, I appreciate it, I truly do!
I’ll open the door for the General’s Wife right now!”
Doctor Sun’s urgent plea rang out just in time.
Only, judging by the sound of his voice, it seemed to be coming from somewhere up high…