For a moment, the chamber fell completely silent. Their eyes met in the dim candlelight. Neither of them spoke. Time seemed to stretch endlessly between them. Only after a long while did Bai Wan finally regain her senses. Her eyes widened suddenly. “Wangye!” she exclaimed.
(Wangye — “Your Highness the Prince,” the respectful form of address used for an imperial prince.) Her eyes—clear and round like those of a startled deer—opened wide in shock. The astonishment within them was so genuine, so intense, that the man narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed her.
His lips parted. “Who… are you?” He had not spoken for a long time. His voice was hoarse and low, rough from disuse. At that moment, both of Bai Wan’s wrists were still firmly held in the man’s hands. Because he had forced her arms upward when he seized her earlier, she could not keep her balance. Her body leaned helplessly against him. Pressed against his broad, powerful chest, Bai Wan’s face immediately flushed crimson. Never in her life had she been so close to a man.
The unfamiliar warmth of his body, the faint scent of medicinal herbs mixed with a masculine presence—everything about it was overwhelming.
It felt almost aggressive. Every breath the man took rose beneath her cheek, causing her heart to tremble uncontrollably. She was both embarrassed… and frightened. Bai Wan tried carefully to twist her wrists free. But his grip was firm. When her gaze accidentally met his sharp, penetrating eyes, she immediately stopped struggling. Her voice softened unconsciously. Almost guiltily, she murmured in a barely audible tone,
“Before Your Highness awakened… His Majesty issued an imperial decree granting us marriage.” (Imperial decree — an unchallengeable order issued by the emperor. Such commands were absolute and could not be refused.) She lowered her head awkwardly. “So now… I am probably… perhaps… your Wangfei.” (Wangfei — the official Princess Consort of a prince, the legitimate wife within a princely household.) As she spoke, Bai Wan nervously picked at her fingers .Fearing he might misunderstand her intentions, she hurried to add, “I know that someone like me is not worthy of Your Highness.” Her voice was quick and anxious. “But the emperor’s decree cannot be disobeyed. I am merely a woman with no power to resist fate.” She lowered her gaze respectfully.
“So… I can only ask Your Highness to forgive this offense.”
“Please rest assured—”
“I harbor no improper thoughts toward you.”
“I would never dare presume myself worthy of truly being Your Highness’s consort.” She raised her eyes slightly, her expression extremely sincere. “All I ask is that Your Highness allow me to remain here… and make a living.” Her tone was steady. Her gaze firm. Her sincerity seemed almost excessive. Very few people would humble themselves so openly during a first meeting—especially when the other person had not even spoken yet. The more obedient and modest the woman before him appeared, the more suspicious Xie Qingchuan became. (Xie Qingchuan — personal name of Prince Ning. In formal situations he is addressed as Wangye.) He did not underestimate her simply because she looked delicate and harmless.
Many people in this world hid knives behind gentle smiles. Xie Qingchuan remained silent for a long time. Finally, he released her wrists.
Lowering his eyes slightly, he spoke in a hoarse voice. “Get down.” His voice was not loud. His breathing was still weak from illness.
Yet the authority within his tone was unmistakable. His gaze felt like a heavy mountain pressing down upon one’s head, making it difficult to breathe. Bai Wan trembled instinctively. “Yes—yes, Wangye!” she replied hurriedly. When a person’s mind is thrown into chaos, mistakes easily follow. Especially when events occur so suddenly. At that moment, Bai Wan felt as if barely one tenth of her awareness remained within her body. The restraints around her wrists disappeared. Startled, Bai Wan quickly withdrew her hands. Without thinking, she pressed her palm against his chest to support herself while climbing off the bed. Unfortunately— her hand landed directly on his wound.
Xie Qingchuan’s face instantly turned pale. A muffled groan escaped his throat. Bai Wan’s expression changed drastically. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” In a panic, she scrambled down from the bed and immediately knelt beside it. Her body trembled as she looked at him cautiously.
Xie Qingchuan clutched his chest. It took a long moment before his breathing steadied again. When he finally lifted his eyes, his gaze was cold.
The girl kneeling nearby looked pitiful. Her eyes were slightly red, like a small lamb that had accidentally wandered into a wolf’s den. She had curled herself into a corner, trembling faintly. Knowing she had caused trouble, she dared not move. Occasionally she would steal a glance at him. But the moment their eyes met, she would quickly lower her head again. Xie Qingchuan was still weak from his serious illness.
Slowly, he raised his hand. Seeing him lift his arm, Bai Wan’s body shrank back instinctively. Fear flashed across her face. Xie Qingchuan’s gaze paused briefly. His eyes lingered on the faint wound at the side of the girl’s neck. Then he lowered his hand again. Bai Wan finally let out a quiet breath of relief. Forcing a flattering smile onto her face, she looked at him eagerly. “What does Your Highness need?” Her eyes were full of cautious pleading. “Just tell me what to do!” Xie Qingchuan silently studied the girl’s bright, innocent eyes. Then he spoke coldly.
“Leave.”
“Go find someone else.”
The sudden order caught Bai Wan completely off guard. Her heart leaped into her throat. Panicked, she blurted out, “Please don’t send me away!”
“I’m very good at taking care of people!” Very good? Xie Qingchuan slowly leaned back against the pillow. Even lying flat, he could still feel something pressing beneath his head. A lump. He let out a quiet sneer. Bai Wan’s eyelids twitched. Her intuition suddenly screamed in warning.
She quickly slid off the bed. “I’ll go call someone immediately! Right away!” That night— the commotion within Prince Ning’s Residence (the official estate granted to an imperial prince) lasted until very late. By the following morning, news that Ning Wang had awakened had already spread through the capital like wildfire. Bai Wan soon discovered something troubling. She should not have left Prince Ning’s chamber so obediently. Because from that moment onward— until the evening of the next day— she had not been able to step outside the side hall even once.
Let alone approach Prince Ning again to show her attentiveness. One phrase surfaced slowly in her mind. House arrest. Bai Wan pressed her ear against the door, trying desperately to hear what was happening outside. Only in the afternoon did she hear the sound of numerous footsteps.
From the commotion, she guessed that people from the imperial palace had arrived. Apart from that brief moment— everything else remained quiet. The servants within Prince Ning’s residence were unusually disciplined. None of them were the type to gossip. They certainly would not casually discuss their master’s affairs. After eavesdropping for an entire day— Bai Wan had not gathered a single useful piece of information.
Several times, she thought no one was outside and cautiously opened the door. But every time— two identical, dark-faced guards stood there.
The moment she appeared, they stared directly at her. Their expressions did not change at all. Finally, Bai Wan gathered her courage. She clasped her hands together politely and spoke in a humble voice. “Guard brothers…”
“Could you please help me ask whether Wangye is feeling better?” The two guards maintained identical expressions. Their tone was respectful.
Yet they completely avoided answering her question. They simply replied,
“Please, Wangfei, rest well.” (Wangfei — Princess Consort, the legitimate wife of a prince.) Bai Wan froze. In that instant, she seemed to understand something. Her face turned pale. Without another word, she slammed the door shut. Her heart pounded violently. This was terrifying. Wasn’t this basically saying— If you don’t behave properly… you will face the consequences .Bai Wan shivered faintly. She could not tell whether it was from fear… or simply because her body had not yet fully recovered from illness. A faint chill spread through her limbs. Slowly, she climbed back onto the bed, pulling the quilt tightly around herself. Wrapped in the thick bedding, she still felt uneasy.
Her thoughts drifted back to the scene from the previous night—when Ning Wang, Xie Qingchuan had ordered her to leave his chamber. The way he had “invited” her out… If he had truly intended to kill her immediately, he would have done so already. Perhaps he would summon her later. Yes… that must be it. She should not panic. Sometimes, when nothing happens, it does not necessarily mean the worst outcome.
And if something does happen… it might not be a good thing either. After repeating these thoughts several times, Bai Wan slowly calmed herself.
Her tense nerves loosened at last. The moment she let out a quiet breath of relief— darkness rushed over her consciousness. Her eyelids closed.
She fell into a deep sleep. Inside the main bedchamber of Prince Ning’s residence (a princely estate granted by imperial decree to a prince of the royal house)—
Xie Qingchuan leaned against the carved wooden headboard of the bed. The heavy bed curtains were half drawn, and soft lamplight illuminated the stack of reports placed before him. These were documents submitted by his subordinates while he had been unconscious. Xie Qingchuan read swiftly. His eyes moved rapidly across the pages. Within a short time, the towering stack of memorial reports had been completely finished.
Standing beside the bed, Wei Han (a trusted attendant serving Prince Ning) respectfully gathered the memorials that now contained written replies. He carried them away quietly. Meanwhile, Xie Qingchuan closed his eyes and listened as Chi Jun reported the recent happenings.
Chi Jun spoke energetically, recounting everything that had occurred during the prince’s long period of unconsciousness. When the subject of the imperial marriage decree arose— Xie Qingchuan’s brows drew together slightly. His expression changed. The shift was subtle. Yet Fu Guanchen immediately noticed it. (Fu Guanchen — a military physician serving under Prince Ning.) However, Fu Guanchen remained silent.
He carefully concealed his thoughts. Unfortunately, Chi Jun remained completely unaware of the atmosphere in the room. Still full of righteous indignation, he continued speaking with strong personal bias.
“I saw it with my own eyes,” Chi Jun declared firmly.
“That woman is utterly unworthy of Your Highness.”
He crossed his arms. “We must find a way to drive her away!” Just as he finished speaking— someone suddenly tugged his sleeve.
Chi Jun turned his head. He saw Fu Guanchen giving him a discreet wink. Chi Jun blinked in confusion. Following Fu Guanchen’s gaze, he slowly turned his head toward the bed. There— he met his master’s dark, steady eyes. Chi Jun jumped in fright. He immediately lowered his head.
“Your subordinate misspoke!” The room fell silent. After a long while, when no reprimand came, Chi Jun cautiously raised his head again. Xie Qingchuan sat quietly against the pillows. His gaze was distant, as though he were deep in thought.
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then— Fu Guanchen suddenly spoke. “Your Highness,” he said calmly, “I believe it would be better not to send her away.” Chi Jun’s eyes widened instantly. He stared at Fu Guanchen as if looking at a madman. His expression clearly said: Have you lost your mind? Xie Qingchuan raised his chin slightly. “Continue.” Fu Guanchen smiled faintly. “If she is not a spy, then driving her away will only create unnecessary trouble.”
“And if she is someone planted by our enemies…” He chuckled softly.
“Then even if we remove this one, another will soon appear.” Fu Guanchen folded his hands behind his back. “So why not keep this one?”
“What if the next spy sent to us is actually clever?”
“Wouldn’t that be far more troublesome?” Chi Jun frowned deeply. He sighed in frustration. “Lord Fu,” he lamented, “you’ve clearly been deceived by that woman. You’re acting foolish!” At that moment— Xie Qingchuan gave a quiet laugh. “A clever one…” he murmured softly.
His eyes darkened slightly. “Very well.”
“Let us follow your suggestion.”
“We will keep her—for now.” Let her remain under his watch. Then he would see for himself exactly what sort of trouble she might cause. Chi Jun still could not understand the hidden meaning behind their exchange. Scratching his head in confusion, he turned and left the room.
Fu Guanchen, however, stopped halfway to the door. He turned back. Through the half-drawn bed curtains, he spoke in a low voice. “Your Highness… there are many suspicious aspects about this woman.” His expression became serious. “She may… possess medical knowledge.”
Based on Bai Wan’s words and behavior over the past two days— and the medical books she had brought back from the Bai family residence—
it was clear that she understood medicine. However, Fu Guanchen did not yet know the extent of her knowledge. He feared only one thing.
That she might discover secrets she was never meant to know. From within the bed curtains came a faint sound of movement. Xie Qingchuan turned slightly. His voice sounded somewhat tired. Almost sleepy. “If you believe something is wrong…” His tone was indifferent.
“Then kill her.”
Fu Guanchen fell silent. “…Yes, Your Highness.” After leaving Prince Ning’s bedchamber, Fu Guanchen declined the invitations of several colleagues. He returned directly to his own residence. Once inside, he went straight to a side room that served as his study. On the western side of the room stood a large wooden chest. From it, Fu Guanchen removed a stack of books nearly half his height. With practiced ease, he pulled out a blue-covered notebook. Sitting down, he began flipping through its pages. The more he read—the more serious his expression became.
Finally, he closed the book. Leaning back in his chair, he shut his eyes. That night— Fu Guanchen did not sleep at all.
Meanwhile—
Bai Wan slept exceptionally well. When she woke, she felt refreshed. Her body felt far better than before. When Mo Xia (a senior maidservant responsible for attending to matters in the inner residence of Prince Ning’s household) arrived with breakfast— the courtyard doors happened to be wide open. From outside came the sound of Chi Jun grumbling loudly. “Sleeping so comfortably, huh?” His voice was full of irritation.
“Now that His Highness has awakened, she’s dropped all pretense!” He snorted.
“Looks like she’s preparing to leave.”
“Too bad—she can’t!” Mo Xia’s face darkened. She set the dishes down heavily. Then she grabbed the empty food tray and stormed outside.
Smack! The wooden tray struck Chi Jun squarely with a loud slap. Chi Jun howled in outrage. Jumping up and down, he shouted,
“Whose subordinate are you, anyway?!”
“You traitor!” Mo Xia, who had been suppressing her anger for days, finally exploded. Pointing at him, she shouted back, “The master has already spoken!”
“If you’re angry, go complain to him!”
“Don’t bark like a dog here!”
Chi Jun pointed at her, trembling with fury. “You—! You—! You—!”
“Hmph!!”
Mo Xia rolled her eyes dramatically. Like a victorious rooster returning from battle, she turned and strode back toward the room. Behind her, Chi Jun could only jump around helplessly in rage. Inside the room— Bai Wan lowered her head, quietly sipping her bowl of porridge.
A faint smile slowly curved her lips. In all her life— she had never experienced such a chaotic, noisy morning before.Bai Wan had believed that remaining in the residence of Ning Wang, Xie Qingchuan was the correct choice.
Yet the moment she saw him again, that fragile certainty shattered. She stood alone in the center of the chamber, her head lowered so deeply it was nearly buried against her chest. The silence in the room pressed down upon her like a physical weight. An invisible pressure radiated from the man seated above her, suffocating and immense. She trembled, unable to speak a single word. The man’s presence was overwhelming. The entire room seemed saturated with his aura, as if the air itself belonged to him. Bai Wan felt like a fish dragged from the water, caught within an invisible golden net. His sharp gaze seemed to slice through her skin, leaving her feeling as though countless wounds had opened across her body.
“Your Highness, I…” Seated on the couch, Xie Qingchuan leaned back lazily. One long leg was bent while the other stretched out with careless elegance. He tilted his head slightly, watching the girl’s trembling figure with leisurely interest. So timid. And yet she had dared to seek him out.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips. “I heard,” he said slowly, “that you wished to see me.” Bai Wan sensed the chill beneath those words. Her shoulders shrank instinctively, and she gave the faintest murmur.
“Mmm.”
Xie Qingchuan did not respond. His hand rested casually upon his knee. His slender fingertips began tapping against the fabric of his robe—soft, measured taps. Each one seemed to count down the last threads of his patience.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
By the fifth tap, a trace of impatience flashed through his dark eyes. “Someone,” he said quietly, his voice deep and calm, “come here.” In matters of life and death, Bai Wan’s instincts had always been painfully accurate. The Prince of Ning had killing intent. Startled, she raised her head abruptly—and collided with the man’s cold, murderous gaze. Panic burst from her before she could stop herself. “I—I know medicine!” she cried. “I can treat Your Highness!” Xie Qingchuan’s expression did not change. He simply looked at her. Bai Wan clenched her teeth and forced herself to continue. “It’s true! I’ve been studying medicine since I was eleven years old. I’m especially skilled with poisons and Gu [a traditional southern sorcery involving venomous insects raised together until one survivor absorbs the poison of the others; often feared as a deadly toxin]. I also know how to treat external injuries—wounds, fractures—and I’m familiar with acupuncture!”
In truth, none of that was accurate. She had never truly learned the art of detoxifying poisons. She had never touched Gu in her life. Her understanding of trauma medicine was shallow at best. The little she did know about wounds and broken bones came from being beaten by Bai Heng countless times since childhood. Her true specialty lay in gynecology, followed by ordinary internal medicine. She knew a little about minor ailments as well—skills that had absolutely nothing to do with the condition of Ning Wang.
But what choice did she have? If she wanted to survive, she had to lie. This was the first time she had ever volunteered herself for anything.
And now she had to boast shamelessly about talents she did not possess. It was mortifying. “I… I’m very skilled…” Bai Wan stammered desperately. “I’ve saved many people—elderly patients, weak villagers, even soldiers returning wounded from the battlefield… and nobles who had been poisoned… all of them… all of them…”
None of them. Not a single one. Her voice grew softer and softer. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and her long lashes—dark and delicate like raven feathers—fluttered uncontrollably. Her eyes darted nervously, and every few words she bit down on her lower lip. Her hands clasped tightly together in front of her, fingers twisting anxiously, her entire body stiff with tension. It was painfully obvious.
She was lying. She had deliberately mentioned Gu and poison. What was her purpose? Xie Qingchuan considered the question for the briefest moment. Then he lost interest. “Never mind,” he murmured softly. His voice was so quiet it almost vanished the moment it left his lips.
But the signal had already been given. From the beam of the roof above, A Wu, the leader of the Prince’s secret guards, dropped silently to the floor. His landing made no sound at all. Like a shadow come to life, he began walking toward Bai Wan. A knife gleamed faintly in his hand. A chill shot down Bai Wan’s spine. “Your Highness!” she cried in alarm. Xie Qingchuan ignored her completely. He merely pulled the blanket over himself and lay down, as though the matter before him was no more important than the rustling of the wind. With Ning Wang unmoved, Bai Wan truly had no idea how to salvage the situation. All her hopes had been placed upon him. There was no road left for her to retreat.
If she failed to become the Prince of Ning’s ally, then the moment she stepped out of this room would likely be the moment she died. Just as the blade drew closer— Xie Qingchuan suddenly spoke again. “Although one poison in my body has already been removed,” he said calmly, “the other has lingered for quite some time. Even Fu Yishi—Physician Fu [a court-trained physician serving noble households] is powerless against it.”
He paused. Only then did he lift his eyes to look at her again. Bai Wan’s heart leapt. “Then… why not let me try?” she said quickly. Her eyes suddenly shone with desperate determination—the kind that belonged to someone standing on the edge of a cliff with nowhere left to retreat.
“Is that… acceptable, Your Highness?”
Author’s Note
Wanwan: I really need this job… [weeping]
Ning Wang’s perspective:
A tiny lamb trembled as it approached the wolf’s jaws… nudged the wolf’s mouth open with its head… and then willingly stuffed itself inside.
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