Just as Feng Lezhen was still processing that, Ah Ye added another blow: “He also said—‘Your Highness’s joy is… just like that.’”
Feng Lezhen: “…”
Thinking of Chen Jinan’s somewhat clumsy swordplay, she became certain: Shen Suifeng was mocking her.
Ah Ye peeked at her expression and cautiously asked, “Your Highness, we’re supposed to depart in an hour.”
“Mm.” Feng Lezhen came back to herself.
“Then are we going to Xijiang, or heading straight through Yunbei?” Ah Ye asked again.
Feng Lezhen glanced at her. “Didn’t we already decide on Xijiang?”
“That was before… but now that things have gone south between you and Shen Suifeng, why go out of our way for him?” Ah Ye said in a small voice.
To reach Yingguan from the capital, the shortest route was through Yunbei, following the Nan River eastward. Xijiang lay to the south of Yunbei; taking that route would add five or six days to the journey. And now, with rumors of an epidemic in Xijiang—even if it was supposedly just a mild rash—how could their noble Eldest Princess risk it?
“Maybe we should just go through Yunbei and send a few men to escort him to Xijiang. That would be more than enough goodwill.” Seeing Feng Lezhen remain silent, Ah Ye made the suggestion.
Feng Lezhen smirked. “What do you mean ‘falling out’ or ‘goodwill’? Nonsense. That golden doll, Shen Suifeng—he’s mine for the taking.”
“Then why not speak to him?” Ah Ye asked softly.
“That’s a question for him,” Feng Lezhen replied coldly. “I don’t think I’ve treated him poorly, yet he keeps saying all these cold, heartless things to provoke me. If he doesn’t want my kindness, then I simply won’t offer it anymore. There’s still a month or two before we reach Yingguan—plenty of time to come up with a new way to make him and the Shen family willingly submit.”
Looking at her determined expression, Ah Ye couldn’t help but feel that this whole situation might not go as planned.
Since Feng Lezhen wasn’t changing the route, the convoy continued on toward Xijiang as originally planned.
During this time, Shen Suifeng was constantly absorbed in those ancient texts on epidemics. The closer they got to Xijiang, the graver his expression became. Even though Feng Lezhen had planned to give him the cold shoulder for a few days longer, she couldn’t help calling out to him during a rest stop.
“What’s been bothering you lately?” she asked.
Shen Suifeng was silent for a moment before answering, “With Your Highness’s intellect, I’m sure you already have a guess.”
After several days of ignoring each other, now facing one another again, things had cooled somewhat.
Feng Lezhen thought for a moment. “Is it about the epidemic in Xijiang?”
Shen Suifeng nodded. “A few months ago, when the first signs of the epidemic appeared, I paid a visit there. It was that visit that drove me to return to the capital in search of long-lost ancient texts.”
Feng Lezhen looked up at him. “And this time… is there something strange about the illness?”
“There is,” he said. “Aside from severe rashes and unbearable itching and pain, there are no other symptoms. Appetite and energy remain normal. But no matter what medicine I used, the rash wouldn’t go away—sometimes it even worsened. Strangely, the ones who weren’t treated… gradually recovered on their own.”
As Shen Suifeng recalled those events, his brows furrowed deeply.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “Sounds like a kind of seasonal cold—treatment might not help, but as long as the person is healthy, they’ll pull through.”
“Roughly.”
“Then what’s troubling you now? Did you find something in the ancient texts?” she asked.
Shen Suifeng fell silent for a while before replying, “There are a few pages describing a strange and unnamed plague… quite similar to the current epidemic.”
Feng Lezhen’s eyes immediately turned cold. “You’d best be careful with your words, Shen. If this were truly a plague, the governor of Xijiang would have already reported it to the court. Why else would there be no movement even now?”
“Then just treat my words as nonsense,” Shen Suifeng said, unwilling to explain further. He picked up his book and returned to the carriage.
Feng Lezhen also returned to her own carriage, her face dark. On the way, she saw Chen Jinan reading a military treatise and snatched the book from his hands.
“Rest when it’s time to rest. Reading all day long—aren’t you afraid of going blind?”
“…Yes.” Chen Jinan noticed her mood and didn’t bother explaining that he’d only just opened the book.
After the break, the convoy continued heading toward Xijiang, traveling day and night. The closer they got, the more deserted the roads became. When they were just an hour away from Xijiang’s city gates, their convoy was the only one on the wide official road. Even the naïve Ah Ye noticed something was wrong.
“Xijiang is a major city—there should be people coming and going even on a slow day, right? Isn’t it strange there’s no one at all?” she asked, clearly anxious. “Your Highness, are we really going in? I’ve got a bad feeling…”
Feng Lezhen fell into silence, remembering what Shen Suifeng had said.
Ah Ye’s eyes lit up when she saw that she wasn’t immediately refuted. “How about we avoid Xijiang altogether? If Your Highness is concerned about the people in the city, you could send a letter to the capital. Even if His Majesty doesn’t think highly of you, he still cares somewhat for his people. He’ll surely send someone to investigate, and if there really is something going on, I believe it will be resolved quickly.”
Feng Lezhen lifted her cup thoughtfully, lost in her own musings.
Seeing this, Ah Ye was about to say more when a sudden commotion erupted outside. Her expression changed, and she immediately rushed out of the carriage. Feng Lezhen, faintly hearing the sound of a woman crying, also lifted the curtain to look ahead.
She saw a dozen or so soldiers with their faces wrapped in white cloth, wielding blades and chasing two men and a woman. One of the men was stabbed through the chest and collapsed limply to the ground. The woman screamed at the sight and tried to run back, but the other man grabbed her to stop her.
The pursuers were about to reach their convoy when several guards stepped forward to block them. Seeing the guards’ attire, the soldiers hesitated, realizing these people were no ordinary travelers. Just then, the fleeing man and woman, seeing hope, ran toward the guards for protection.
“Don’t let them touch you!” the soldiers shouted urgently.
The lead guard reacted instantly, drawing his sword and pointing it at the pair. They immediately stopped and knelt, kowtowing repeatedly. “Please, sirs, save us! We beg you!”
The soldiers tried to step forward and seize them, but seeing the sharp swords in the guards’ hands, they hesitated. “May we ask who is riding in that carriage?”
“How dare you! Her Highness the Eldest Princess is not someone you may question so freely. Kneel and pay your respects!” the guard barked, raising his token of authority.
The soldiers were stunned for a moment, then quickly dropped to their knees. “Pa–paying our respects to Her Highness the Eldest Princess Royal!”
Ah Ye glanced back at Feng Lezhen and, receiving her approval, jumped down from the carriage and walked directly to the soldiers. “What mission are you on, causing such a scene?”
The soldiers exchanged uneasy looks before the leader replied, “Reporting to Your Ladyship, we were ordered to apprehend fugitives. They resisted, so we had no choice but to execute them.”
“You’re lying! We’re just ordinary civilians—how are we criminals?” the woman cried, eyes brimming with tears.
The soldier moved to rebuke her, but Ah Ye cut in coldly, “Lying in front of Her Highness? Then perhaps there’s no need for you to remain alive.”
The guards moved at once, and the terrified soldiers threw themselves to the ground. “Spare us, Your Ladyship! Please, spare us!”
“I’ll give you one last chance,” Ah Ye said calmly.
The lead soldier hesitated, then gritted his teeth and confessed, “A month ago, the provincial governor ordered the city sealed. Anyone who tries to leave is to be executed. These people disobeyed the order and attempted to sneak out. We were just following orders.”
“If we didn’t try to leave, were we supposed to stay in the city and wait to die?” the woman cried in anguish.
“What exactly is going on?” Feng Lezhen stepped out of the carriage and walked slowly toward them. Before she got too close, Shen Suifeng suddenly appeared and stepped in front of her.
She looked up at him. He furrowed his brow and silently shook his head.
“T-this must be Her Highness the Eldest Princess…” The woman trembled, then burst into sobs. “Your Highness, please save us! The people of Xijiang City… we can’t survive any longer!”
“Watch your words—” the soldier began to scold her, but stopped at the sight of Ah Ye’s sharp glare.
“If it’s just a common outbreak, how has it come to this?” Feng Lezhen asked.
The woman sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. The man beside her answered angrily, “A regular outbreak wouldn’t kill this many people! It’s a plague—a plague!”
At the word plague, Feng Lezhen glanced at Shen Suifeng.
He stepped forward. “What are the symptoms? Tell me in detail.”
The man recalled carefully, his face pale. “First there’s a rash, which spreads and merges into larger patches, then it starts to fester and itch. Then the lips darken, and people become delirious. By the time they can’t eat anymore, they’re almost done for.”
Shen Suifeng continued to ask more questions, but Feng Lezhen had lost interest. She turned and went back to the carriage. She had barely sat down when Ah Ye followed her inside.
She looked like she had a lot to say, but as soon as she met Feng Lezhen’s gaze, she swallowed her words.
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it,” Feng Lezhen said quietly.
Ah Ye replied, “The provincial governor of Xijiang is Liu Mingde—he’s connected to the Hua family. If we go there, it won’t be as easy as it was in Zhenan. And more importantly… so many people have died, yet he hasn’t reported it to the court. He’s clearly determined to cover it up. If Your Highness goes, it could be dangerous.”
A dog cornered in a dead alley will do anything to survive—who knows what desperate things he might try. And with an unknown epidemic on top of that, natural and man-made disasters combined… it was a deadly mix.
She knew Feng Lezhen understood this just as well. Feng Lezhen only gave her a mild glance in response.
Having said all she could, Ah Ye quietly left.
Feng Lezhen pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, intending to rest a moment. But just as she began to drift off, someone lifted the curtain outside the carriage. She opened her eyes to see Chen Jinan standing there.
“Your Highness.” He hesitated.
“You’ve come to persuade me not to go to Xijiang too?” Feng Lezhen asked, lifting her gaze to him.
Chen Jinan was silent for a moment, then said, “If Your Highness wants to go, this servant will accompany you.”
That was all he came to say.
Feng Lezhen’s eyes softened into a smile. “Not afraid of getting infected?”
“Not afraid,” Chen Jinan answered firmly.
She looked at him for a long while, then gave a silent smile. “I understand. You may go back.”
He responded with a quiet “yes” and returned to his own carriage.
Since the other two had already come, Shen Suifeng was bound to appear soon. As she expected, it wasn’t long before he arrived.
“Your Highness.”
“Are those two infected?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Shen Suifeng replied, “They’ve already been examined—no rashes, and their pulses are strong.”
“But that doesn’t mean they’re not sick,” Feng Lezhen looked at him.
Shen Suifeng nodded. “Understood. I’ve already had people keep an eye on them.”
“And the soldiers?” Feng Lezhen asked again.
“They’re still waiting outside,” Shen Suifeng answered.
Feng Lezhen fell silent for a moment, then knocked on the window frame. Ah Ye immediately lifted the curtain from outside. “What are Your Highness’s orders?”
“Let them go,” Feng Lezhen said slowly. “Tell them, if they want to stay alive, they’d best not mention encountering us on the road. As for the rest, they can handle it however they like.”
Shen Suifeng gave her a longer look than usual. Ah Ye acknowledged the order, lowered the curtain, and left. Inside the closed carriage, only Shen Suifeng and Feng Lezhen remained.
Since leaving Zhenan, this was the first time the two of them shared a carriage.
After a long silence, Shen Suifeng finally spoke. “I didn’t expect Your Highness to spare their lives.”
He was referring to the soldiers who had been hunting down innocent civilians.
“They were only following orders. Not enough of a crime to deserve death,” Feng Lezhen said, eyes closed, leaning wearily against a soft cushion. “The symptoms they described—do they match the plague you’ve seen before?”
Shen Suifeng lifted his eyes and looked at her for a moment before replying, “Only partially.”
“Sounds troublesome,” Feng Lezhen sighed.
Shen Suifeng stayed quiet a while longer. Only when she opened her eyes and looked at him did he speak again. “Your Highness, no matter how far one escorts a friend, a parting must come eventually.”
Feng Lezhen narrowed her eyes. “And what does Mister Shen mean by that?”
Shen Suifeng smiled. “I know Your Highness brought me along hoping to gain the support of the Shen family. But as I’ve already made clear from the beginning, the Shen family will never involve itself in political affairs, nor will we pledge allegiance to anyone. Whatever Your Highness does is in vain. Since it’s all in vain, parting now is no different from parting later.”
Feng Lezhen looked into his eyes, as if seeing through him entirely. “You plan to go to Xijiang alone.”
“All Your Highness’s careful plans will amount to nothing. There’s no need to take risks for my sake,” Shen Suifeng said bluntly.
Feng Lezhen stared at him for a long time before smiling faintly. “Mister Shen is right.”
“In that case, Your Highness should turn back here. Leave Xijiang behind,” Shen Suifeng added with a smile.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “Mm, I understand.”
Shen Suifeng gave a small nod, turned, and lifted the curtain. Just as he was about to step out, he couldn’t help but glance back—only to meet her calm, steady gaze.
He paused slightly, then quickly looked away and left without turning back again.
The smile in Feng Lezhen’s eyes slowly faded. In the end, her face was expressionless as she closed her eyes.
Shen Suifeng had left.
He took his luggage, borrowed a horse, and rode off without looking back. Ah Ye watched his figure disappear into the distance, and faintly sensed that her mistress was likely not in a good mood. After much hesitation, she carefully lifted the curtain of the carriage.
Only to see Feng Lezhen sleeping soundly against the cushioned seat.
“……”
“Miss Ah Ye—” Chen Jinan came looking for her.
“Shh!” Ah Ye quickly pressed a finger to her lips and whispered, “Her Highness is sleeping.”
Chen Jinan paused, then walked a few steps aside with her before asking, “Where should we go now?”
“No idea. We’ll just rest here for now and wait until Her Highness wakes,” Ah Ye sighed. “But with Shen Suifeng gone, I doubt Her Highness will still go to Xijiang.”
Chen Jinan glanced at the quiet carriage. His expression showed no hint of relief.
Feng Lezhen slept for more than half an hour before waking. As soon as she did, she summoned Ah Ye and Chen Jinan into the carriage.
Fifteen minutes later, Ah Ye suddenly jumped to her feet—only to bump her head from rising too fast, and nearly teared up from the pain.
“Take it easy,” Feng Lezhen said, amused and helpless.
“I object!” Ah Ye was so angry she forgot to refer to herself as “this servant.” “If Your Highness insists on entering the city, then I’m going too. Don’t even think about leaving me behind!”
“I’m not trying to leave you behind,” Feng Lezhen said, exasperated. “But now that Wanwan isn’t here, you’re the only capable one left by my side.”
“What about Chen Jinan?” Ah Ye protested.
Chen Jinan paused and silently looked at Feng Lezhen.
“Jinan is good too,” Feng Lezhen said, “but he’s never handled a task alone. I’m not sure he can manage. I feel more assured sending you.”
“Even if Your Highness is assured, I am not,” Ah Ye insisted unexpectedly. “Xijiang is a den of wolves and tigers right now—I have to go with you personally.”
Feng Lezhen frowned and was about to continue persuading her when Chen Jinan suddenly spoke up.
“I’ll go.”
Both Feng Lezhen and Ah Ye turned to look at him.
“Please explain in detail what must be done. This servant is ready to carry it out,” Chen Jinan said steadily, eyes fixed on Feng Lezhen.
Feng Lezhen chuckled lightly. “Weren’t you the one earlier who insisted on going into the city with me?”
“If only one of us can stay outside… then let it be me,” Chen Jinan said. “Miss Ah Ye is more skilled—she can better protect Your Highness.”
As he mentioned “skills,” his eyes darkened like ink.
Ever since he had been kept by her side, he had felt the sting of inadequacy each day—and today, that frustration had reached its peak. Fu Zhixian had once told him that Her Highness only keeps the best beside her. And clearly, he wasn’t one of them. So even though he wanted to follow her into the city, he had no choice but to take a step back and let Ah Ye go instead.
He wasn’t good enough. Following her would only hold her back.
Feng Lezhen didn’t know what was in his heart. She only thought he was being sensible and considerate. After a moment of thought, she spoke slowly, “Then you must be sure. What you do outside the city will be critical. If anything goes wrong, this Eldest Princess’s life will be at risk.”
“Have you made up your mind?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Chen Jinan’s gaze grew resolute again. “Yes. Miss Ah Ye will accompany Your Highness, and I’ll remain outside the city.”
A faint smile rose at the corner of Feng Lezhen’s lips. “Then it’s settled.”
Ah Ye’s eyes flicked back and forth between the two of them before she silently stepped out of the carriage. Feng Lezhen then laid out every detail of the task to Chen Jinan—from who to see, what to say, to what to do and when. She left nothing out.
By the time she had finished giving her instructions, a full hour had passed. Feng Lezhen lifted a cup, took a small sip, and asked, “Have you memorized everything?”
“I have,” Chen Jinan answered seriously.
“Then go,” Feng Lezhen said with a gentle smile.
Chen Jinan replied with a word of affirmation and turned to leave. But after stepping down from the carriage, he suddenly turned back, hesitating as he looked at her.
“Something else?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Chen Jinan paused, then said, “Your Highness, please take care. I will return as soon as possible.”
“Very well. I’ll be waiting,” Feng Lezhen smiled.
Chen Jinan pressed his lips together, but ultimately left.
As soon as he was gone, Ah Ye climbed back into the carriage. “It’s just having him gather a few men to guard the gate. Why did Your Highness spend so long talking to him?”
“It’s his first time carrying out a task alone. Naturally, I had to explain everything clearly to avoid any mishaps,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Ah Ye let out a breath. “You think he can do it?”
“If you’re so worried, why didn’t you go yourself?” Feng Lezhen gave her a sidelong glance.
Ah Ye looked sheepish. “The city’s too dangerous. If he followed Your Highness in there, I’d be even more worried… Actually, Your Highness could’ve sent someone else. It didn’t have to be him. Chen Jinan is loyal and sometimes quick-witted, but compared to others who serve Your Highness, he’s still not quite up to standard.”
“Loyalty is enough. That’s exactly what I value most in him.” Feng Lezhen was well aware that sending someone else might’ve been safer. But ultimately, she would only choose between Chen Jinan and Ah Ye—because they, more than anyone else, were willing to go all in for her.
And wasn’t that, in its own way, a form of safety?
Feng Lezhen rubbed her temples and gave a firm order: “Set up camp here. We’ll enter the city at first light.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
—
The next morning, the convoy traveled slowly along the desolate official road, heading toward Xijiang City.
The closer they got, the heavier the air became. By the time they reached the city gates, everyone in the convoy had wrapped their faces in white cloth.
Ah Ye went to knock on the gates while Feng Lezhen stood in front of her carriage, slowly sweeping her gaze across the faces of her people. After a long pause, she spoke: “This journey will likely be filled with danger. Since you have followed me for many years, I will give you the choice—if any of you do not wish to take this risk, you may each take a horse and return to the capital. The Eldest Princess Royal’s estate will still care for you, food and pay as usual. There will be no retribution.”
“Your servant swears to follow Your Highness to the death!”
“Your servant swears to follow Your Highness to the death!”
The voices rang out with thunderous loyalty. A glint of satisfaction flickered in Feng Lezhen’s eyes.
Ah Ye returned after knocking, taking her place at Feng Lezhen’s side in silent readiness.
The city gates remained shut. Every face in the convoy was cold, waiting to see just how bold Liu Mingde, the governor of Xijiang, really was. Would he dare defy even the Eldest Princess?
Turns out he did have some nerve—but not too much. After an hour-long standoff, the gates finally creaked open.
As the heavy gates parted, Liu Mingde rushed out with a group of officials to welcome them. When he saw Feng Lezhen with her face veiled in white cloth, his forced smile nearly slipped off his face.
“Y-Your Highness… why is your face covered?” he asked with a dry laugh.
Feng Lezhen shot him a cold glance. “Why did the gates take so long to open?”
“The soldiers inside aren’t very sharp… they thought Your Highness was an imposter. It took them a while to report to me. Please, Your Highness, forgive the delay,” Liu Mingde said respectfully.
Feng Lezhen didn’t bother acknowledging his flimsy excuse. She merely said, “Lead the way. We’re entering the city.”
Liu Mingde’s face stiffened. “Ah… this…”
“Is there a problem?” Feng Lezhen narrowed her eyes.
Sweat beaded on Liu Mingde’s forehead. “N-no, of course not. It’s just… wasn’t Your Highness headed to Yingguan? I fear lingering in Xijiang may not be appropriate. If something were to happen…”
“You’re threatening me?” Feng Lezhen laughed.
Liu Mingde immediately dropped to his knees. “Your servant would never dare! I only meant to consider Your Highness’s safety.”
“Liu Mingde,” Feng Lezhen called his name softly.
Liu Mingde felt as if he could barely breathe. “Y–Your servant is here.”
“My journey to Yingguan is due to an imperial grant of land, not exile,” Feng Lezhen reminded him with gentle emphasis.
Liu Mingde opened his mouth to speak, but after a long moment, he could only mutter an awkward agreement.
And so the convoy rumbled into the city. Inside the carriage, Feng Lezhen sat with a calm and distant expression, while Ah Ye kept peeking out the window.
“Your Highness, why are there so few people on the streets?” she asked, puzzled.
She had traveled with Feng Lezhen before and had once witnessed a plague outbreak. Back then, bodies lay on the roads and people collapsed mid-stride. But here in Xijiang, the streets were completely empty—so different from what she remembered.
“Why do you think it took them an hour to open the gate?” Feng Lezhen asked in return.
Ah Ye froze, then muttered in realization, “That Liu Mingde really is audacious… Even now, he still thinks he can deceive Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen didn’t respond. But when they passed a certain residential house, she instructed Ah Ye to stop the carriage.
Understanding immediately, Ah Ye jumped down and kicked the door open. Liu Mingde cried out in alarm and rushed over—only to see a family sitting peacefully in their courtyard having a meal.
The family didn’t recognize Ah Ye, but they did recognize Liu Mingde. They trembled at the sight of him and quickly knelt.
“No need, no need. Please continue your meal,” Liu Mingde said with forced kindness. Then he turned to Ah Ye and asked, “Miss Ah Ye, what are you doing?”
“Just checking if anyone’s inside,” Ah Ye replied with a smile. “Who knows—maybe Lord Liu is trying to trick Her Highness with an empty city.”
Liu Mingde also smiled. “Miss Ah Ye, what are you saying? How would I dare play tricks in front of Her Highness?”
Ah Ye gave a light snort and turned back to the carriage. The smile quickly faded from Liu Mingde’s face as he ordered the procession to move forward again.
In the end, the Eldest Princess’s entourage was settled within the yamen. While the others busied themselves unpacking, Feng Lezhen followed Liu Mingde to the main hall.
“Please have some tea, Your Highness.” Liu Mingde personally served her.
Feng Lezhen glanced at him. “It’s only been a year, but Lord Liu seems to have aged quite a bit.”
“How could one not age when constantly worrying for the people?” Liu Mingde sighed. “Your Highness has been traveling these past days—you must be exhausted.”
“It’s been a mix of moving and resting. Not too tiring.” Feng Lezhen lifted her teacup.
Liu Mingde smiled. “I still remember the last time we met—at a palace banquet. I wonder if Your Highness still recalls the occasion.”
“How could I forget?” Feng Lezhen said mildly. “That potted orchid you presented had the emperor so delighted, it’d be hard for me to forget even if I wanted to.”
Liu Mingde looked slightly embarrassed. “It was just something I grew in my spare time. This year I’ve cultivated quite a few more. If Your Highness likes, you may take a few with you when you leave.”
“We can talk about orchids later. For now, I’m more interested in the epidemic in Xijiang.” Feng Lezhen raised her eyes to meet his. “Lord Liu, what kind of illness has lasted four to five months, and even forced you to seal off the city?”
“I didn’t—”
“Lord Liu,” Feng Lezhen cut him off, her tone growing cold. “If I’ve come all the way here, naturally I already have both witnesses and evidence. If you still refuse to speak truthfully, I’m afraid even I won’t be able to protect you.”
They were both clever people—Liu Mingde knew she wouldn’t have made this detour without good reason. He had still hoped to muddle through, but now that Feng Lezhen had laid it bare, his shoulders slumped. He fell to his knees and began wailing, tears streaming down his face. “Your Highness! Your Highness! This humble official has suffered terribly—!”
Feng Lezhen curled her lips slightly, waiting to see what he would say.
Liu Mingde sobbed for a long time, and when she still didn’t speak, he finally choked out, “At first it really was just a mild illness—barely even qualified as an epidemic. After all, it was just a few red rashes. But these past few days, it’s suddenly worsened. I had planned to report to the court first before taking any action, but disease waits for no one! To keep it from spreading throughout Great Qian, I had no choice but to seal the city gates. Your Highness, I had no other choice—!”
“He’s lying!”
In a remote guestroom, the man and woman who had been rescued earlier on the road spoke up bitterly.
Feng Lezhen sat calmly at the table, looking thoughtful as she regarded the two of them. She had come straight to them after leaving Liu Mingde’s presence and had told them everything he’d said. As expected, they looked indignant.
“For the first month or so, it really was just some rashes,” the woman said tearfully, “but after that, more and more people got seriously ill! And in the past two months, things have completely spiraled out of control. It’s not just something that started recently like he said!” She turned to Feng Lezhen with wet eyes. “Your Highness, please don’t be fooled by him!”
As she stepped forward, Ah Ye blocked her path, and the woman immediately froze.
“Just stay here for now,” Feng Lezhen said calmly. “Without my orders, don’t leave the room. If anyone asks, say you’re my people and had contact with infected citizens—so you’ve been placed under temporary isolation.”
The two quickly agreed.
Feng Lezhen looked to Ah Ye, who immediately helped her out of the room.
“Liu Mingde still won’t tell the truth. What does Your Highness plan to do next?” Ah Ye asked in a low voice.
Feng Lezhen said, “Now’s not the time to press him. First, we need to get a clear picture of how things really are among the common folk.”
“I’ll send someone right away,” Ah Ye said quickly.
“Don’t alert the enemy,” Feng Lezhen warned.
“Yes!” Ah Ye turned to go.
“Wait,” Feng Lezhen called.
“Does Your Highness have more instructions?” Ah Ye asked.
“Tell those going out to protect themselves. They’re seasoned enough to know what to do. Also…” Feng Lezhen paused, then added, “Try to find Shen Suifeng’s whereabouts.”
“Yes,” Ah Ye answered.
And so, Feng Lezhen continued to stay in the yamen.
For three days straight, Liu Mingde came to report to her each morning and left late at night. Feng Lezhen let him cry and complain in front of her about how uncontrollable the plague was—but behind the scenes, her secret investigation never stopped. Yet no matter how hard she dug, progress remained minimal.
“My people have been investigating for days. The remaining citizens in the city appear to be living peacefully, with no signs of illness. But there are several homes that are completely empty—it’s unclear where those people went. Judging by those who are still here, the epidemic seems to be under control,” Ah Ye whispered.
Feng Lezhen’s eyes flickered. “It’s those missing people we need to find.”
“It won’t be easy,” Ah Ye sighed. “Liu Mingde has placed guards throughout the city—it’s hard for our people to move at all.” Then she added, “Also… still no trace of Shen Suifeng.”
“This city isn’t that big. Where could he possibly go?” Feng Lezhen said, confused.
“…Could he have disappeared with the others?” A disappearance at this time was ominous, and Ah Ye cautiously watched her mistress’s face.
But Feng Lezhen remained calm. “Keep looking.”
“Yes,” Ah Ye said quickly.
The next morning, as usual, Liu Mingde came to make his report. But before he could even speak, Feng Lezhen interrupted him.
“Let’s go out for a walk.”
“…Pardon?” Liu Mingde was stunned.
“I’ve been here for days and haven’t set foot outside. How about a bit of fresh air?” Feng Lezhen suggested lightly.
Liu Mingde readily agreed.
Seeing how straightforwardly he accepted, Feng Lezhen couldn’t help but give him another look.
Four days later, she once again walked the streets of Xijiang City, but the roads were still completely deserted.
With no people in sight, naturally, there was nothing to be found. Feng Lezhen’s expression remained calm, but her gaze was as dark as ink.
“Your Highness, it’s time to return,” Liu Mingde said respectfully.
Feng Lezhen gave him a glance and was just about to turn to leave when she suddenly heard a commotion in a nearby alley. She immediately stopped and leisurely looked at Liu Mingde.
Liu Mingde’s expression didn’t change. He gestured for the guards to go check it out, but Feng Lezhen stopped him. “Why don’t we go over together? It’s rare to find some sign of life on these streets.”
Liu Mingde forced a dry laugh and agreed.
A few of them followed the direction of the noise. Liu Mingde signaled the guards with his eyes, but in the next instant, he was blocked by Ah Ye, who smiled sweetly.
“Come on, Lord Liu, let’s go see the show,” she said.
Liu Mingde was practically grinding his teeth to dust, but he could only force another smile.
The group walked forward a few steps, turned a few corners, and arrived at a deep alley—
Inside the alley, several soldiers were holding knives and swords, threatening the people opposite them. “Hand over the person, and we’ll let this go. Otherwise, suffer the consequences!”
The man opposite calmly replied, “Since I started studying medicine at the age of ten, I’ve never abandoned a patient. I’m afraid I can’t comply with your demand today.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Feng Lezhen looked up.
The soldiers, unaware that anyone else had arrived, exchanged glances and were just about to make a move when a sudden cough sounded behind them. Everyone in the alley turned to look. When the soldiers saw that it was Liu Mingde coughing, their expressions changed, and they hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. Liu Mingde quickly stepped back a few paces, his face full of disgust as he ordered them to stay put.
“Who told you to draw your weapons? If I, even slightly, fail in my duties, you dare to abuse your power like this? What will come of this in the future?”
Amid Liu Mingde’s hypocritical scolding, Shen Suifeng was half-kneeling on the ground, supporting an elderly woman whose face was covered in red rashes.
His white robe was stained and dirty, with what seemed to be bloodstains, and his hair ribbon was loose, strands of hair falling over his forehead, making him look quite down and out. Yet, he didn’t care at all, simply staring steadily in Feng Lezhen’s direction.
Feng Lezhen quietly met his gaze until Liu Mingde’s barking came to an end. Only then did she slowly curl her red lips into a smile. “Mr. Shen, it’s only been a few days—how did you end up in such a miserable state?”
Shen Suifeng’s throat moved slightly, and after a moment, he let out a helpless laugh.
