The Seventh Prince again?
Could it be that Jun Anche had taken notice of him because of his meritorious service during the previous celebration's protection of the Emperor? Qian Xingzhi felt that this Seventh Prince had emerged out of nowhere with great momentum, likely to catch the Crown Prince and the Third Prince off guard.
This figure had never had a role before. The General of the Northern Pacification was completely unprepared. He racked his brains for a long time but had no impression: "...The Seventh Prince? What does he look like?"
Indeed, he was so unremarkable that he was hard to remember. But if this Seventh Prince could earn military merits, he might compete for attention with the other two.
They weren't due to go to Chengxin Temple for three days. In her spare time, Qian Xingzhi finally finished reading all the strange novels, so she went out on the street to "investigate the people's sentiments."
The weather had been poor these past few days, with several spells of rain. Qian Xingzhi had hoped that after each rain, it would get warmer, but now, blowing in the still-piercing cold wind, she knew it was probably wishful thinking.
Now, the epidemic had only not completely disappeared in a few small villages. Luo County, however, had briefly emerged from the shadow of the past few days. Scattered shops were open along the street. Qian Xingzhi suddenly recognized the shop selling bead strings. She stood silently in front of it for a long time before finally going inside.
Eight years had passed, yet the shop's layout had changed only slightly, just like in her dream.
"Oh, young gentleman, are you choosing something for your wife? You're my first customer in these two days. If you buy two more strings, I'll give you one free."
Qian Xingzhi looked at the shopkeeper and could vaguely make out his appearance from back then. But unfortunately, time had been unkind; he had aged considerably.
Qian Xingzhi nodded. "Just browsing."
She hadn't taken two steps before a seven- or eight-year-old girl poked her head out from the side of the counter to look at her. The girl was cute and lively, clutching a rattle drum in her hand.
Qian Xingzhi crouched down to tease her. "Little girl, what's your name?"
The girl shyly averted her eyes and didn't answer. She just lowered her head and fiddled with her drum. "Dong dong"—two beats. Qian Xingzhi's chest tightened; her heart felt as if it were being squeezed. She struggled to open her mouth wide to breathe, but the suffocating sensation still knocked her to the ground.
The memories still came too suddenly.
*
"Dong dong, dong dong, dong dong."
The Fourth Prince shook the drum rhythmically. He coldly watched the family of three trembling like leaves, and said to the Third Prince with displeasure, "Nanchuan is no fun at all. Every day it's either accompanying Father and Mother to watch operas or accompanying them to admire flowers. Today, Father finally allowed us to go out alone, but there's nothing interesting on the streets. Brother, I want to go back to Shengjing."
"We'll set out tomorrow. Be patient. Fourth Brother, why don't you first think about how to punish these people?"
The elegant, noble princes did not suit the humble dwelling. The two of them chattered back and forth, deciding the fate of others.
Suddenly, Father snatched the sword from the guard behind him. Probably not expecting a commoner to know some martial arts, the few guards surrounding them were caught off guard. In an instant, chaos erupted into a melee. Yan Zhaoshuang was pulled by her mother as they fled towards the back mountain.
The Third Prince wasn't upset. He took the bow from his attendant's hands. His studies were poor; only archery barely passed. He nocked the arrow and drew the bowstring to the full. At that moment, he suddenly found hunting interesting.
Mother let out a muffled groan, her body falling beside Yan Zhaoshuang. She stopped in her tracks, stunned.
Don't look down, don't think, don't scream, don't cry.
Before she could react, she had already turned around.
She saw Father rushing towards her. She saw the Third Prince smiling smugly. Father hoisted her up onto his shoulder. Before the Third Prince disappeared from her sight, Yan Zhaoshuang heard her own voice.
"I will definitely kill you."
*
The face that came into view was Lu Yu's.
Qian Xingzhi was drenched in cold sweat. Her right hand, in a "rebellious" act, was gripping Lu Yu's collar. The fear and hatred from that moment were too strong, the overflowing emotions making her temples throb wildly.
"Nightmare?" Lu Yu looked at her calmly. "Why do you have these fainting spells so often? I've called a doctor for you. You'll be seen properly shortly."
Qian Xingzhi let go and sat up, only then realizing she was lying in Lu Yu's bed. "Just a minor issue. It's nothing."
"You really scared the shopkeeper and his little daughter," Lu Yu scolded with a laugh. "If you have a spell during court one day, you'll give them an excuse to send you back home to recuperate."
A doctor named Pei arrived. The old man respectfully bowed. The moment he felt Qian Xingzhi's pulse, his face turned grave.
Lu Yu quickly asked, "Is there something wrong?"
Doctor Pei's expression changed several times. He felt the pulse again and again in disbelief. "This..."
After stammering for a long time without saying anything definitive, Qian Xingzhi teased him, "What is it, doctor? Am I about to kick the bucket?"
At these words, both Lu Yu and Doctor Pei changed color. The former scolded her for speaking recklessly, while the latter broke out in a cold sweat.
"This... this gentleman's pulse is very peculiar. My skills are limited. I need to go back and consult some books..."
After taking her pulse for so long and coming to that conclusion, Qian Xingzhi laughed heartily. "Lord Lu, where did you find this doctor?"
Doctor Pei mysteriously asked Lu Yu to step out. After some hesitation, he dared to speak. "It would be better to invite a few more doctors to take a look. This pulse is truly alarming."
Lu Yu frowned deeply. "Please be frank with me."
"This pulse... is that of someone nearing the end of their life. I don't know why this gentleman faints so frequently. I suggest you seek a second opinion."
With that, he scurried away, leaving Lu Yu alone, stunned.
Qian Xingzhi saw Lu Yu put on a facade of ease as he entered the room, but she felt a vague unease. Could Yan Zhaoshuang's body really be in trouble?
Lu Yu sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Qian Xingzhi seriously. "Aside from occasionally fainting, do you really not feel any discomfort?"
She couldn't meet his eyes. Those eyes were alluring to begin with, and being stared at so intently by them made her heart race and her cheeks flush. Qian Xingzhi turned her face slightly, shifting her gaze to Lu Yu's wrinkled collar that she had grabbed. "Absolutely nothing. What did that doctor tell you?"
How could he tell her? Lu Yu hesitated. Qian Xingzhi had no other family. He couldn't arbitrarily decide to hide her condition from her. But she was only eighteen. Could she really accept this?
He suddenly remembered that last night, Qian Xingzhi had confessed to him that she, too, had come for revenge. If what she said was true, how regrettable would it be to die before the deed was done?
That doctor must be talking nonsense. Lu Yu planned to call in a few more doctors later.