In the main hall of the government office.
Feng Lezhen slowly sipped her tea, then looked mildly at the standing Liu Mingde. “Lord Liu, aren’t you going to explain?”
“Y-Your Highness, this humble official doesn’t even know where to begin…” Liu Mingde chuckled awkwardly.
Feng Lezhen said, “Why don’t you start with the matter of locking up all the seriously ill people in the prison? Quite the clever move, Lord Liu. No wonder I’ve been here for so long and haven’t seen a single seriously ill person—it turns out you detained them in advance.”
“It’s not arresting—it’s not arresting…” Liu Mingde quickly explained, “The epidemic spread so fiercely that to prevent it from worsening, we had no choice but to temporarily confine the infected. Locking them up in prison was a matter of urgency. Once the epidemic is under control, they will naturally be released home.”
“And how does Lord Liu intend to control the epidemic? Surely you don’t plan to simply wait until all the infected citizens die off?” Feng Lezhen’s face was emotionless.
“How could that be? Although the people are in prison, this humble official has never given up on them. Physicians visit daily, and medicine is delivered on time. There’s absolutely no intention to let anyone die,” Liu Mingde hurriedly said.
Feng Lezhen gave a short laugh, her gaze growing colder. “Lord Liu had best do as he says.”
“Your Highness, please understand. I had no choice. Ever since we locked up all the infected citizens, the epidemic in the city has obviously stabilized, and there have been very few new cases,” Liu Mingde sighed heavily. “Locking up our own people cuts me to the heart, but what else could I do…”
Feng Lezhen had no patience for his nonsense and directly cut him off: “Take me to the prison.”
Liu Mingde was stunned. “W-What…”
Feng Lezhen stood up and walked out. “I want to see for myself how much your heart is ‘cut to the heart,’ Lord Liu.”
“But…” Liu Mingde saw that she had already exited the main hall and quickly chased after her. “Your Highness, you mustn’t. The prison is now filled with the sick. Your body is precious—how could you go to such a place? If you were to fall ill suddenly, I fear…”
“Lord Liu, lead the way,” Feng Lezhen’s gaze turned cold, her patience completely gone.
Liu Mingde’s lips trembled, and after a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and said, “If Your Highness insists on going, then should anything happen, I’m afraid it has nothing to do with this humble official.”
“Already starting to shirk responsibility?” Feng Lezhen laughed.
Liu Mingde said no more and began to lead the way.
The city prison of Xijiang was only two streets away from the government office. From bustling to desolate, it was just the distance of two streets. Feng Lezhen looked at the little bridges and flowing water alongside the main road and, quite out of place, thought of the canal that Feng Ji had wanted. It should be something like Xijiang City’s waterways.
Seeing her staring at the river, Liu Mingde took the initiative to explain, “Xijiang City was named after the Xijiang River. The river flows from west to east, cutting through the entire city. In the early years, people used to draw water directly from it. You could say that the river nurtured everyone in Xijiang City. Of course, in recent years under my governance, many families have become wealthier and have dug wells in their homes. Now they can draw water without stepping outside, much more convenient than before.”
Even at this point, he still had the mind to boast about his achievements. Feng Lezhen, who had already considered killing him several times, ultimately just looked at him calmly. “Lord Liu seems quite proud of himself.”
“…I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.” He became a little more honest.
The two rode in a carriage and soon arrived at the prison entrance. Feng Lezhen put on an outer robe and covered her face with a white veil. Ah Ye, still uneasy, somehow managed to find a curtain hat and insisted she wear it.
Liu Mingde was thoroughly disdainful of all their precautions, yet just as they were about to enter the prison, he suddenly clutched his stomach and cried out in pain, “Your subordinate… suddenly has a stomachache… I fear I…”
Feng Lezhen walked straight into the prison. Ah Ye shot Liu Mingde a vicious glare and quickly followed after. Liu Mingde sneered lightly and called over his advisor. “When we head back later, find an excuse to keep me here. She’s the one seeking her own misfortune, insisting on diving into a den of the sick—I won’t risk my life playing along.”
“What if Her Highness catches the illness and the court holds us accountable?” the advisor asked worriedly.
Liu Mingde let out a cold laugh. “Accountable? His Majesty would be delighted—how would he ever blame me?”
Hearing this, the advisor asked no more.
Inside the prison, in the dark and damp corridor, Ah Ye muttered under her breath, “Liu Mingde is probably outside right now sincerely praying for Your Highness to fall ill.”
“He had better pray sincerely, or once I settle things here, he’ll have no way out,” Feng Lezhen said coldly.
Ah Ye’s face also turned fierce. “I’ll make sure to—”
Before she could finish, they turned a corner and the entire prison came into view—
In each small prison cell, nearly twenty people were crammed together—old and young, men and women—all squeezed into one room. Every one of them was covered in red rashes, some even with ulcerated skin. Their symptoms varied, but they all shared the same dull, lifeless eyes and vacant expressions.
The air was foul and suffocating, mixed with the stench of human waste. Despair clung to each person, pressing down so heavily it was hard to breathe. A toddler, just over two years old, suddenly sobbed softly. The woman holding him had already turned pale, her pupils completely dilated.
A jailer, clearly used to this, walked over, confirmed she was no longer breathing, then called over two assistants to drag her away. The toddler, unaware of what had happened, wobbled to his feet, only to be shoved roughly back down by the jailer.
The child fell onto a man. Crying like a kitten, he clung to him. The man’s eyes shifted slightly but he still didn’t raise a hand to help him.
…This was a living h*ll. Ah Ye trembled with rage, unable to hold back as she shouted furiously at several jailers. The jailers, unsure of her status, didn’t dare to act rashly.
But yelling alone couldn’t ease Ah Ye’s anger. She pulled a dagger from her sleeve and was about to hack the locks off the prison doors when Feng Lezhen’s calm voice sounded behind her: “Ah Ye, come here.”
“Your Highness…” Ah Ye choked, turning to look at her.
“It’s time to go back,” Feng Lezhen said, then turned and left.
Ah Ye paused in shock, then quickly turned back to say to the imprisoned people, “Don’t worry, Her Highness will definitely save you.”
There was no response from the prisoners, clearly they had long since given up hope.
She wiped her tears haphazardly and jogged to catch up with Feng Lezhen. “Your Highness, why did you…”
Before she could finish asking, she saw Feng Lezhen’s cold, composed side profile and, inexplicably, fell silent.
Feng Lezhen walked out of the prison in silence. Liu Mingde immediately stepped forward obsequiously, “Your Highness—”
Slap!
Feng Lezhen slapped him hard, knocking his face to the side.
The advisor beside him gasped sharply, still frozen in shock, while Liu Mingde collapsed to his knees in tears. “Your Highness, please forgive me! Please forgive me! This humble official was only considering the bigger picture and had no choice but to confine the people in the prison. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness…”
Feng Lezhen removed her veil and outer robe, turned, and got into the carriage. Ah Ye burned with the desire to kill him on the spot but in the end, did nothing—just coldly followed her mistress.
As the carriage slowly pulled away, Liu Mingde’s expression instantly changed. He spat viciously in the direction of the departing carriage.
“Has Jinan not returned yet?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Ah Ye bit her lip and shook her head. “Our people have been waiting on the city walls this whole time. If he had returned, we would have reported to Your Highness immediately.”
Feng Lezhen’s gaze grew even colder.
Ah Ye quickly asked, “Your Highness, what shall we do next?”
“Go see Shen Suifeng,” Feng Lezhen answered.
Ah Ye nodded, then frowned as she processed the name. “But Your Highness just saw him. Why go again? He may be a doctor, but he was just in contact with infected people…”
“If I don’t see him, how will I ask about the epidemic?” Feng Lezhen cut her off.
Ah Ye fell silent immediately.
The two returned to the government office. When they arrived at the side courtyard where Shen Suifeng was staying, they happened to see him sitting under the eaves, basking in the sun.
When Shen Suifeng saw them, he sat up a little straighter. “Your Highness has come to see me twice in the span of one hour. Are you not afraid of catching the sickness?”
“You’re a physician. If you so easily caught the illness, wouldn’t that make you rather foolish?” Feng Lezhen glanced at him.
Shen Suifeng spread his hands helplessly. “I’ve told Your Highness many times—I’m a doctor, not a god. I cannot control life and death. Besides, if you trust me so much, why are you standing so far away?”
Feng Lezhen’s gaze flickered slightly but she didn’t mention that she had just been to the prison. “In just a few short days in this city, you’ve already figured out that all the sick are being held in the prison, and you’ve even hidden two critically ill people. You are not just an ordinary physician.”
Ah Ye brought over a chair and placed it in the courtyard, ten steps away from Shen Suifeng. She then sat down.
Noticing her sour mood, Shen Suifeng’s expression became more serious. “Precisely because I am a doctor, they were less guarded around me. That’s the only reason I was able to find out so much.”
By “they,” he meant the officials of Xijiang City.
“So aside from knowing this, what else have you found out?” Feng Lezhen looked him in the eye.
Shen Suifeng met her gaze. “What does Your Highness want to ask?”
“This epidemic— is it the same plague you mentioned before?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Shen Suifeng replied, “Thanks to Lord Liu, I’ve been in this city for days and have only seen two patients. They’ve improved a little after taking medicine, but there are no other effects. I still can’t be sure.”
Feng Lezhen fell silent.
Shen Suifeng stared at her for a while and asked, “Your Highness, you’ve been to the prison, haven’t you?”
“What do I need to do now?” Feng Lezhen did not answer his question.
“First, we need to get the people out of the prison,” Shen Suifeng didn’t waste words. “Those who are sick need fresh air and sunlight, but they’ve been locked up in those suffocating cells, so many people crammed into one space… If I’m not wrong, many of them must already be in poor condition.”
“Ah Ye,” Feng Lezhen called.
“Here, Your Highness,” Ah Ye quickly responded.
“Send someone to find a more suitable place in Xijiang City to house these patients,” Feng Lezhen said calmly. “Make sure it’s a well-ventilated, spacious location.”
“Your Highness intends to just move them to another place of confinement?” Shen Suifeng looked at her, clearly disapproving.
Feng Lezhen glanced at him. “What better idea does Mr. Shen have?”
“There’s no place better for recovery than one’s own home,” Shen Suifeng replied.
Feng Lezhen asked, “What if they roam freely and infect healthy citizens?”
“We can impose a strict no-outing order,” Shen Suifeng suggested.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “And what if some people refuse to comply?”
Shen Suifeng fell silent.
“Mr. Shen, as a physician, you should know there are compliant patients and there are defiant patients. I, as the Eldest Princess of Great Qian, cannot think only for the sick,” Feng Lezhen looked him straight in the eye.
Shen Suifeng was silent for a long time before he helplessly said, “Your Highness is right. I was wrong.”
There was nothing more to ask. Feng Lezhen rose to leave, but Shen Suifeng suddenly called out, “Your Highness.”
“Is there something else?” Feng Lezhen paused.
Shen Suifeng met her gaze from more than ten paces away, hesitated briefly, then took out a porcelain bottle from his robe, carefully doused it in strong liquor, and kicked it over to her.
Feng Lezhen’s eyes flickered slightly. After a moment, she bent down and picked it up.
It was a medicinal ointment with a faint floral scent.
“For your hand,” he said.
Feng Lezhen glanced down at her hand, which was red and swollen from slapping Liu Mingde too hard. Her expression softened a little. “Shen Suifeng.”
“Mm.” Shen Suifeng’s eyes held a faint smile.
“Make sure you stay alive,” her eyes carried rare seriousness.
Shen Suifeng smiled fully. “Your Highness as well.”
Feng Lezhen didn’t say anything more. She gave him a deep look and then turned to leave.
Ah Ye was out the entire morning and didn’t return until lunchtime. As soon as she entered, she gulped down a cup of hot tea.
“Did you find a suitable place?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Ah Ye hurriedly nodded. “The training grounds in the east of the city—it’s large and spacious, and there are no soldiers stationed there now. It’s the best place to house the people.”
Feng Lezhen immediately turned to leave.
Ah Ye was momentarily stunned. “Your Highness, where are you going?”
“To find Liu Mingde,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Ah Ye was surprised. “Right now?”
“Right now,” Feng Lezhen didn’t even turn her head.
Ah Ye quickly said, “But Chen Jinan hasn’t returned yet. If Your Highness acts rashly now, I’m afraid it will provoke him. We have less than fifty people with us—I’m worried…”
“Even a moment’s delay could mean another corpse in the prison,” Feng Lezhen said coldly, her eyes frosted over.
Sensing that things were taking a bad turn, Ah Ye hurried after her and casually pulled a guard aside, instructing, “Go fetch Shen Suifeng, tell him Her Highness is heading to confront Liu Mingde.”
Why call Shen Suifeng? He’s just a doctor—what could he possibly do in a power struggle? Ah Ye didn’t think about these things, only that his presence might somehow help Her Highness.
Feng Lezhen led her people and stormed into the main hall of the government office. Liu Mingde had already received the news and was waiting inside. When he saw her, he quickly greeted her with a flattering smile. Feng Lezhen glanced at his still-swollen face and got straight to the point: “Send people to relocate all the sick citizens to the training grounds.”
“What does Your Highness mean by this?” Liu Mingde asked in confusion.
Feng Lezhen said coldly, “You locked the people in the prison and now dare to ask me what I mean?”
“I’ve already explained—locking them in the prison was a last resort…”
“Liu Mingde!” Feng Lezhen snapped.
When the imperial family is enraged, bodies pile up across the land, rivers of blood flow.
Liu Mingde flinched, but quickly regained his composure. “The epidemic in the city has only just come under control. Even if Your Highness beats me to death today, I will never release those infected people.”
“I said to move them to the training grounds, not send them back home,” Feng Lezhen emphasized.
Liu Mingde chuckled. “In my eyes, there’s no difference.”
“So, you intend to disobey my orders?” Feng Lezhen’s long eyes narrowed.
Liu Mingde laughed, completely dropping all pretenses. “Your Highness, you were supposed to be on your way to Yingguan right now, yet you’ve suddenly taken a detour here and now you insist on releasing the infected people. I really can’t understand Your Highness’s intentions.”
“What do you mean by that, Lord Liu?” Feng Lezhen could hear the hidden insinuation in his words.
Liu Mingde met her gaze directly. “Could it be that Your Highness resents His Majesty for sending you to Yingguan, and now you intend to bring chaos to Great Qian out of spite?”
“Outrageous! Who gave you the courage to frame the Eldest Princess?” Ah Ye scolded sharply.
Liu Mingde knelt down, shamelessly playing the scoundrel. “This humble official only spoke out of deep concern for the people. I beg Your Highness to forgive my recklessness.”
Feng Lezhen narrowed her eyes, coldly staring at him. Liu Mingde didn’t dare meet her gaze and simply fixed his eyes on the ground, clearly intending to drag this standoff out as long as possible.
Just as the tense standoff reached its peak, Shen Suifeng rushed in but stopped at the doorway.
“Lord Liu, do you intend to lock those people in the prison until they die?” he asked loudly.
Liu Mingde shot him a sideways glance. “What are you, that you dare speak in front of this official?”
He didn’t even bother to pretend anymore.
Shen Suifeng chuckled. “I am a physician. I am here to remind Lord Liu, in my capacity as a doctor, that with so many commoners crowded in the prison, if they all die and their corpses rot and fester, it’s likely a new epidemic will break out.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve already ordered that the corpses be burned, leaving no risk behind,” Liu Mingde said smugly.
“Burn them just like that? Do you think these are livestock that need to be disposed of when sick?” Ah Ye angrily questioned.
Liu Mingde lowered his gaze. “Ah Ye, as a servant, you should focus on serving Her Highness well. There’s no need for you to meddle in this matter.”
“You—”
“Burning the corpses does greatly reduce the risk, but no corpse can ever be completely burned to ash. What does Lord Liu plan to do with the remaining ashes?” Shen Suifeng didn’t wait for a rebuttal and continued calmly, “Allow me to remind you, a few ashes from one or two bodies may not cause trouble, but when the number of corpses grows, there will inevitably be remnants. Whether you bury the ashes or dump them into the rivers, it will likely lead to a disease called ‘bone-growth tumors.’ By then, the dead will not just be those in the prison.”
Liu Mingde’s face darkened. “Nonsense. I’ve never heard of such a disease.”
“There are many things in this world you’ve never heard of, Lord Liu,” Shen Suifeng smiled faintly.
Liu Mingde wanted to argue back, but Ah Ye suddenly sneered. “Do you know who this Shen Suifeng is?”
“Who?” Liu Mingde frowned.
“He’s the miracle doctor that Qing Wangfei was desperately searching for a few months ago! Do you think he would have come all the way to Xijiang for no reason? He came to treat this epidemic! Not only do you refuse to cooperate, but you also constantly oppose him—how utterly ridiculous!” Ah Ye scolded angrily.
Even though Liu Mingde was far away in Xijiang, he had still paid attention to the events in the capital. He had heard about Qing Wang’s household searching the city for the miracle doctor. Now, looking at Shen Suifeng again, his gaze was no longer filled with the same disdain as before, but after some hesitation, he still did not speak.
Just as he remained silent, his advisor hurried in from outside. Upon seeing Feng Lezhen, the advisor shrank back for a moment but still ran to whisper a few words in Liu Mingde’s ear.
Liu Mingde suddenly looked at Feng Lezhen, his expression shifting rapidly.
Ah Ye caught sight of their own people outside the door, quietly went out to confirm, then returned and silently nodded at Feng Lezhen.
Feng Lezhen picked up a cup of hot tea and slowly took a sip. “Lord Liu, I told you from the very beginning: though I am granted a fiefdom at Yingguan, there’s a world of difference between being bestowed a domain and being exiled. Why wouldn’t you believe me?”
Sweat poured down Liu Mingde’s face. “Yes… Your Highness is right. It was this official’s stupidity and shortsightedness that confused the two.”
“This is my final question: will you or will you not agree to transfer the people to the training grounds for treatment?” Feng Lezhen looked at him.
“I agree. Of course, I agree. How could I dare disobey Your Highness’s command?” Liu Mingde said, then suddenly turned to Shen Suifeng. “If I move all the sick people to the training grounds, do you have a way to cure them?”
“If I cannot, then no one in this world can,” Shen Suifeng answered with absolute confidence.
“Good! Then I’ll trust you this once!” Liu Mingde slapped his thigh. “I’ll give you five days. If you haven’t found a cure by then, don’t blame me for being harsh!”
Shen Suifeng curled his lips slightly and looked up at Feng Lezhen.
Following his gaze, Liu Mingde immediately put on a fawning expression. “Your Highness, are you satisfied now?”
Feng Lezhen glanced at him coldly and picked up her tea cup once more.
Seeing that she had no intention of leaving, Liu Mingde realized she was forcing him to carry out the order immediately. Gritting his teeth, he sent people to the prison, preparing to spend the entire afternoon transferring the people to the training grounds.
“Go and keep an eye on them,” Feng Lezhen instructed Ah Ye.
Ah Ye agreed and quickly left.
Only Feng Lezhen remained in the hall. She put down her cup and looked at Shen Suifeng, who was still standing outside the door. “Why aren’t you coming in?”
“I’m afraid I’ll pass the illness to Your Highness,” Shen Suifeng shrugged.
Feng Lezhen said coldly, “I just came from the prison, where thousands of sick people are held. If anyone’s passing illness to anyone, it should be me passing it to you.”
Shen Suifeng was silent for a moment, then walked inside.
“Not afraid?” Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow.
Shen Suifeng smiled. “What’s there to fear about death?”
Feng Lezhen said nothing, just sat there quietly. Seeing the fatigue on her face, Shen Suifeng realized she hadn’t rested properly since the moment she saw him on the street, so he also remained silent and just quietly stood by her side.
The hall was completely silent. Feng Lezhen sat with her gaze lowered, seemingly in a daze. Shen Suifeng watched her, the atmosphere briefly relaxing.
But that small moment of peace was soon interrupted by Ah Ye rushing back in.
“Your Highness, bad news! The people in the prison have started rioting!” she said anxiously.
Feng Lezhen frowned. “What happened?”
“They saw the soldiers coming to take them and thought they were being led away to be killed. They panicked, lost control, and started fighting the guards and soldiers!”
Before Ah Ye even finished her sentence, Feng Lezhen was already heading out, with Shen Suifeng sighing in his heart as he hurried to follow.
When they reached the prison, many soldiers and commoners had already fallen. Liu Mingde was sweating profusely and, upon seeing Feng Lezhen, immediately wailed, “Your Highness, you’ve really gotten me into trouble!”
Feng Lezhen ignored him and walked straight into the chaos. Ah Ye and Shen Suifeng quickly moved to shield her, blocking anyone who rushed their way.
“The Eldest Princess of Hengkang is here! How dare you not kneel and pay your respects!” Ah Ye shouted sternly.
In Great Qian, who hadn’t heard the name of this Eldest Princess? The enraged commoners were briefly stunned. Just as they hesitated, unsure of what to do, a burly man suddenly shouted, “Who knows if she’s real or not? Maybe the authorities sent her to deceive us. Brothers, let’s fight our way out—only by fighting do we have a chance to survive!”
As soon as he spoke, the crowd began to stir again. Feng Lezhen simply found a high spot to stand on and, in front of everyone, removed the veil from her hat.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness!”
Ah Ye and Shen Suifeng’s expressions changed at the same time as Feng Lezhen’s face was completely exposed to the air.
The commoners, who had been ready to riot again, stared at her in a daze. Although none of them had ever seen her before, the moment their eyes met hers, more than half of them believed her.
“You are all sick and can barely stand, yet now you dare fight the soldiers. You are simply relying on your numbers. Once the city guards arrive, there will only be one outcome—death,” Feng Lezhen spoke slowly, only after the crowd settled down again.
“But we can’t just wait to die either!” the man from before shouted again.
Ah Ye immediately raised her voice. “Who told you to wait for death? Her Highness personally ordered you to be moved from the prison to the training grounds so you can be properly treated. Yet here you are—if not obeying orders, you’re even starting fights with the soldiers.”
Scolded like this, the commoners hesitated even more, unsure whether they should believe her.
“I know you’ve all suffered during this time. But since I’m here, I won’t allow you to just wait for death anymore,” Feng Lezhen’s tone softened a little. “If you’re willing to trust me, come with me to the training grounds. I’ll eat and live alongside you until your illnesses improve.”
When Ah Ye heard this, she instantly panicked, but in front of so many people, she could only force herself to hold back.
“Y-you really mean to save us…” a small, kitten-like voice spoke up.
Feng Lezhen followed the voice and saw a little girl, seven or eight years old, half her face ruined by red rashes.
Her gaze softened as she said quietly, “You are citizens of Great Qian. As long as I draw breath, I will never abandon you.”
The little girl’s eyes reddened and she suddenly knelt down, crying bitterly. “Why did you only come now? My father, my mother, and my little brother—they’re all gone. You came too late!”
As she knelt down, the rest of the commoners followed, kneeling one after another. Their once numb and hopeless faces became filled with grief again, crying out their sorrows. Some even fainted from crying. Shen Suifeng quickly stepped forward, taking out silver needles to forcibly revive them. When he returned, he happened to see Ah Ye about to wipe her eyes and immediately stopped her.
He shook his head silently. Ah Ye paused, lowered her hand, and upon seeing Her Highness fully exposed to the air, made up her mind to tear off her own face cloth.
“Ah Ye,” Feng Lezhen gave her a warning look.
Ah Ye’s eyes turned even redder.
Feng Lezhen quietly stood there, waiting until everyone had vented enough before bringing up the matter of moving to the training grounds again.
“The training grounds are much more spacious and better suited for recovery. If you trust me, then come live there with me,” she said slowly and calmly.
“We… we trust Your Highness…” an elderly man weakly said, finally settling the matter.
The commoners began cooperating with the soldiers to move slowly. Most walked, and those too ill to walk were transported by horse-drawn carts. Feng Lezhen stood at the prison gate, hands folded at her waist, quietly watching them shuffle out. When a burly man appeared among the people, she gave Ah Ye a glance. Ah Ye immediately stepped forward.
“You, come here,” Ah Ye beckoned.
“Me?” The man looked confused.
Ah Ye replied, “Yes, you. Come, I have something to ask you.”
The man instinctively glanced at Liu Mingde. Seeing no reaction from him, the man hesitated but still followed Ah Ye.
Ah Ye led him straight to a blind spot behind the prison. Before he could even steady himself, she drew a dagger and stabbed him in the neck in one swift, ruthless motion. He didn’t even make a sound—just fell to the ground wide-eyed, unable to die with his eyes closed.
Though it happened out of the commoners’ sight, Liu Mingde saw everything clearly. The moment he saw this small woman kill someone so easily, he suddenly felt a chill down his neck.
Ah Ye calmly returned to Feng Lezhen’s side. “Your Highness, it’s done.”
Feng Lezhen pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve. “Such nice clothes—now they’re stained again.”
Ah Ye glanced down and noticed the blood splattered on her. She stuck out her tongue playfully. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
Liu Mingde’s eyelid twitched when he overheard their exchange. He wanted to step forward to ask, but remembering that Feng Lezhen had just walked through a crowd of sick people, he stayed a distance away. “Your Highness, what does this mean?”
“Inciting the people to rebel against the authorities—doesn’t that warrant death?” Feng Lezhen asked in return.
Liu Mingde was speechless for a moment. “He… he might’ve just acted in the heat of the moment. Maybe he didn’t deserve to die…”
Halfway through his sentence, he met Feng Lezhen’s cold gaze and awkwardly stepped back. “Your Highness just removed your veil in the prison. Who knows if you’ve contracted the illness? For the sake of the other citizens, I fear…”
“If you know I removed my veil, then you should also know I said earlier that I will be moving to the training grounds with the sick,” Feng Lezhen interrupted coldly.
Liu Mingde chuckled, “Your Highness’s dedication to the people is admirable—truly admirable.”
Feng Lezhen completely ignored him. Liu Mingde didn’t mind. When any commoner accidentally came too close, he would pull out his handkerchief in disgust, holding it in front of the cloth covering his mouth.
Shen Suifeng helped the soldiers load the critically ill onto the carts. When he returned to Feng Lezhen’s side, he noticed the corpse in the corner. He paused briefly and gave it another glance.
“What? Are you about to scold me for being reckless with human life, for not treating the commoners like people?” Feng Lezhen raised her eyebrow slightly.
Shen Suifeng smiled. “The commoners have been locked up for so long, most of them are thin and frail. But that man was tall, strong, and his voice was loud and powerful. He didn’t seem like someone who had been sick and imprisoned for long. He looked more like someone who had just blended in.”
Feng Lezhen glanced at him but said nothing.
Liu Mingde had already left. Now, only their own people remained at the prison gate. Feng Lezhen stood quietly for a moment and then said, “Let’s go.”
“Yes.” Ah Ye responded and was about to step forward to support her, but Feng Lezhen suddenly took two steps back.
Ah Ye froze, staring at her in confusion.
“I will go to the training grounds with Mister Shen. You and the others will stay outside,” Feng Lezhen said gently.
Shen Suifeng’s gaze shifted slightly as he turned to look at her.
Ah Ye’s eyes instantly reddened. “No, I won’t allow it! Even if I die, I will stay by Your Highness’s side!”
“No one I bring with me is allowed to die,” Feng Lezhen said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Knowing her temper, Ah Ye’s tears kept falling, but she dared not protest further. She could only look at her with pleading eyes.
“Once I enter the training grounds, I won’t come out easily. If you go in with me, who will guard me outside? And who will deliver messages for me and Jinan?” Feng Lezhen patiently asked.
Ah Ye couldn’t answer and could only kneel and kowtow. “If anything happens to Your Highness, this servant will never cling to life.”
Feng Lezhen’s gaze softened a little. “Don’t worry, I will be fine.”
Ah Ye choked back sobs and agreed, but before she could rise, Liu Mingde, who had just left, came rushing back in a panic. “Your Highness, your men are suddenly trying to storm the city! You have to stop them!”
Feng Lezhen paused, somewhat surprised, and looked at him. Shen Suifeng’s gaze also flickered, as if something had come to mind, and he turned his head away.
A quarter of an hour later, Feng Lezhen appeared at the tightly shut city gates.
Perhaps because they had heard she had removed her veil in the prison, the guards only saluted her from a distance and briefly explained the situation outside. When they said that the people outside were about to launch an assault because they wouldn’t open the gate, a faint smile appeared in Feng Lezhen’s eyes, and she walked toward the gate without hesitation.
Shen Suifeng stood not too far behind, quietly watching her approach the gate step by step. His usually lazy and carefree eyes now showed a rare calmness.
“Jinan,” Feng Lezhen called out loudly.
Outside the gate came the sound of hurried hoofbeats, followed by someone slamming against the gate so forcefully that even the thick doors trembled slightly.
“Your Highness!” his voice came through.
“I’m here,” Feng Lezhen smiled.
“Your Highness, they won’t let me in!”
He was clearly anxious, even forgetting to address himself as a servant. Feng Lezhen found his words particularly pleasant to hear. Even without seeing him, she could picture his furrowed, serious expression at this moment.
“You brought so many men. Of course they’re not at ease letting you in,” Feng Lezhen patiently explained. “But I wasn’t planning to let you in anyway. There’s a rampant epidemic in the city, and no one knows when it will end. It’s safer for you to stay outside.”
Silence came from Chen Jinan’s side.
Feng Lezhen thought he couldn’t hear and was about to raise her voice when she heard him quietly say, “I don’t want safety.”
Her heart softened.
“If Your Highness doesn’t want to drag others into this, just let them stay outside. I’ll go in and stay with you,” Chen Jinan spoke more quickly now.
Feng Lezhen didn’t refuse him again, only said, “But I need you outside to keep Liu Mingde in check.”
Chen Jinan fell silent.
After a long pause, he asked in a low voice, “Is Your Highness still well?”
“All is well.”
Another pause, and then Chen Jinan spoke with some difficulty, “I want to see Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen hesitated, seemingly troubled.
The city gates certainly wouldn’t open—this was Liu Mingde’s last line, and she wouldn’t waste words trying. But if the gates didn’t open, how could they see each other?
“Your Highness,” Shen Suifeng suddenly spoke up.
Feng Lezhen turned to him and saw him pointing toward the stairs.
Realizing his meaning, Feng Lezhen immediately lifted her skirts and climbed the stairs step by step.
The cold wind whipped her clothes into the air. The sky and earth were a dull yellow, but her red garment blazed like a fiery maple leaf, soaring higher and higher in the wind. Shen Suifeng quietly watched her, only turning away after a long while.
Feng Lezhen reached the top of the city wall and called out, “Jinan.” Moments later, Chen Jinan came rushing out from beneath the city gate.
The two of them gazed at each other from a great distance. Feng Lezhen slowly raised the corners of her lips. “See? I’m fine.”
From afar, Chen Jinan looked at her, finally feeling relieved after days of worry.
