Volume One, Chapter 12: Young in Age, Yet of Common Taste

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Shen Zhi gave a slight bow. “Thank you, Young Marquis.”

Physician Qin waved his hand, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Tsk, tsk, Lady Wang, do you and Ah Jing have a secret?”

In her previous life, Shen Zhi had heard of Physician Qin’s name but never interacted closely with him. Hearing his words now, she could only feel a wave of exasperation welling up.

She replied, “What secret could there possibly be between us?”

There were plenty of secrets, in fact!

Physician Qin looked at her with an inscrutable smile. “Tsk, tsk, Lady Wang, you don’t know yet? From today onward, I’m going to live in the Seventh Prince’s mansion.”

After saying that, he stood up, tugged at his collar, and left with a peculiar grin.

Shen Zhi was utterly perplexed. She looked up and asked Mingzhi, “What happened during the hours I was unconscious?”

Mingzhi’s expression was guarded, and she hesitated.

Judging by her look, Shen Zhi’s intuition told her something was amiss. “Mingzhi, are you planning to betray me?”

“Miss, I wouldn’t dare… It’s just… I feel my days are numbered…”

Mingzhi immediately knelt down in fear.

“When you had a fever… the Prince… he came in… When I entered, I saw the Prince had placed a handkerchief all over your face. I thought he was trying to smother you, so I knelt down and begged him to spare you… not to smother you… Then… then he called me blind…”

“He… he got angry and left, never to return again…”

Shen Zhi was speechless.

Her head throbbed slightly. She then stood up. “Help me change clothes.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After changing, Shen Zhi went to Pei Jing’s study and saw Physician Qin gesticulating wildly by his side, clearly chatting away.

Carrying the tea she had brewed herself, she entered with graceful poise. Seeing her come in, Physician Qin’s grin widened shamelessly. “Ah, it’s my Lady Wang!”

Pei Jing was still reviewing memorials, not even raising his head.

Physician Qin chuckled, eyes crinkling. “Lady Wang! Why are you bringing tea yourself? You’re not well yet; don’t tire yourself out.”

Saying that, he hurried over to help place the tea on the table.

Only then did Pei Jing lift his head leisurely, his gaze fixed on her.

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Shen Zhi smiled at him and moved closer, placing her hands on Pei Jing’s forehead. Her fingers were slender and fair as she gently massaged his brow.

Her fingertips were cool; the moment they touched Pei Jing, a shiver ran through him, freezing him in place.

“I’m not seriously ill. Still, I thank you, Young Marquis, for coming personally. I’m sorry to trouble you.”

Shen Zhi was thorough in her words, then addressed Pei Jing, “Your Highness, while the memorials are important, health is paramount. You must take better care of yourself.”

Her touch was neither too heavy nor too light, but it left Pei Jing somewhat dazed. He realized this woman loved to put on a show, especially in front of others.

With that thought, he grabbed her hand and yanked it away.

Shen Zhi cried out in pain, “Your Highness…”

Remembering the injuries she bore, Pei Jing paused. “Let’s have dinner first. Mingzhi, bring the food. Tonight, I and the Princess…”

His eyes darkened with a hint of intrigue as he slowly leaned toward Shen Zhi, speaking with heavy emphasis, “Tonight, the Princess and I shall dine together.”

Those last words were weighted; if Physician Qin weren’t present, Shen Zhi might have thought Pei Jing was bidding her farewell.

Feeling guilty, she smiled and tried to appease him.

[Beep! Beep!]

The familiar mechanical voice sparked Shen Zhi’s interest.

[Detected protagonist’s favorability rating toward target: -1%]

…

She bit her lip in frustration. Damn it, it was hardly fair that her ruse to gain Pei Jing’s favor only brought it back to zero.

If it slipped back any further, she’d be at a serious loss.

At the dinner table, Shen Zhi sat beside Pei Jing, both silent. Physician Qin, however, was exceedingly talkative.

“Ah, Lady Wang, you don’t know how worried Ah Jing was when you had a fever!”

Shen Zhi smiled faintly and then lowered her head to bite her chopsticks. Ha, if Pei Jing really cared about her, that would be something.

Seeing Shen Zhi’s disbelief, Physician Qin grew anxious. “Lady Wang, I swear it’s true. I even dragged Chen Er here by force. Ah Jing told me to live in the Seventh Prince’s mansion to look after your health, said you’re not well and must be nursed back before leaving.”

Shen Zhi was stunned, then suddenly looked toward Pei Jing.

Noticing her gaze, Pei Jing snorted coldly. “Hmph, don’t overthink it. I just don’t want you to mess up the archery competition next month!”

“The archery competition!”

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Shen Zhi was taken aback. The archery competition was an annual event in the Xuan Yue Kingdom. Whoever hit the bullseye the most would win, and the emperor would bestow valuable prizes.

Pei Jing was an excellent archer; among the princes, only Pei Huai could rival him. But Pei Jing was cold and ruthless, disrespectful to his father, and never compliant, which is why the emperor disliked him so much.

A heavy feeling settled in Shen Zhi’s heart. Thinking about it, Pei Jing had suffered much hardship. She had heard his mother died early, and the emperor never favored him, letting him be bullied, shaping him into the man he was today.

Suddenly, she felt a pang of sympathy for him.

“Yes, Lady Wang. When the time comes, you’ll participate. Let Ah Jing win you a prize, hahaha!”

“I heard the prize is a pair of the emperor’s Nine Mystic Color Scales Cups.”

“The Nine Mystic Color Scales Cups!”

Shen Zhi’s eyes sparkled. She had heard those were excellent for tasting wine, and just so happened to have a fine brew at the Shen estate.

Seeing her eyes gleam with desire, Pei Jing smiled. “What? You want them that badly?”

“Of course, it’s perfect for savoring wine!”

Shen Zhi nodded eagerly, then leaned on Pei Jing, linking her arm through his. “Imagine this: I bring out the finest wine from the Shen household. The two of us sit in the courtyard, each holding a Nine Mystic Color Scales Cup, tasting wine under the moonlight. Isn’t that the classic scene of ‘raising a cup to invite the bright moon, casting shadows to form three companions’?”

The more she imagined, the more excited she became. Looking back, she had never done such things with Pei Huai in her previous life.

Watching her grow more animated, Pei Jing withdrew his smile. “Well then, keep dreaming. It’s dusk now—perfect for daydreaming.”

Shen Zhi felt the urge to punch him. Why was he either silent or so caustic? Who had taught him such a talent?

“Tsk, tsk, is this love-hate?” Physician Qin munched his food, grinning mischievously at the pair.

“You must be mistaken. We only hate each other—no love involved,” Pei Jing corrected him.

Then he immediately spat out his tea with disgust. “Did you brew this?”

Shen Zhi was about to nod when someone else spoke up again: “Not old, but your taste is unique.”

Shen Zhi was left speechless.