After saying goodbye to Xie Qinglan, Shen Youying returned home.

She experienced more in one day than she usually does in a month. She felt dizzy and exhausted. When she returned to Qingwu Courtyard, she went to the bathhouse and soaked herself in the hot water.

The hot water soothed her skin, gradually relaxing her tense body, and only then did Shen Youying have the mind to sort out the events of the day.

The Zhou Family Villa, Zhou Zhenrong, Prince Chen, and... Prince Qin.

Thinking of the King of Qin, Shen Youying somehow recalled the image of him sitting sideways on the edge of the couch, his eyes lowered, casually wiping his fingers with a handkerchief.

The man's fingers were long, but not as delicate and smooth as those of a pampered nobleman. His palms were somewhat rough, with slightly rough knuckles that protruded just right, making it clear at a glance that these were hands full of strength.

Shen Youying had personally experienced it and knew that these hands were not only powerful but also very flexible.

The blush that had just faded from her face spread again. She pursed her lips in annoyance, forcing herself not to recall those absurd things.

But I was still somewhat grateful for the other party's gentle treatment.

She was of marriageable age and had secretly read some popular stories, so she wasn't completely ignorant about matters of love and romance. When she sought help from the King of Qin, she was prepared to burn her bridges, but she never expected that the King of Qin would not only preserve her dignity but also ensure her future.

—That's right, she thought about it again and again, and she felt that things couldn't be so coincidental. How could it be that she had just escaped, and Zhou Zhenrong was already sleeping with Prince Chen?

Even when she fled, King Chen's voice was still clear.

Therefore, she believed that the King of Qin was most likely behind this.

Perhaps he disliked Prince Chen, or perhaps Zhou Zhenrong offended him... But whatever the reason, he had avenged Shen Youying.

If Zhou Zhenrong hadn't gotten into trouble with Prince Chen, she would probably be the one whose scandalous affair would spread throughout Tokyo tomorrow.

Shen Youying accepted this affection.

*

After leaving the Zhou family's villa, Xue Shen entered the palace.

He was over twenty and had already left the palace to establish his own residence, so in principle he should not be allowed to freely enter and leave the inner palace. However, Emperor Cheng'an was guilty and afraid that someone would say that he had obtained the throne illegitimately and mistreated the son of the late emperor, so he issued a token, allowing him to freely enter and leave the inner palace.

Relying on this "favor," Xue Shen often caused trouble for Emperor Cheng'an.

Therefore, when Emperor Cheng'an heard that the Prince of Qin had come to the palace to request an audience, the veins on the side of his forehead began to throb.

He had to pretend to be kind and helpless when he summoned him, speaking in a gentle and caring tone: "What brings you to the palace, Yuan Jin? It's early spring and the air is still chilly. Are your legs still aching? If you're not feeling well, have Physician Yuan accompany you to the Prince's residence for a while."

Xue Shen, who had a leg ailment, cupped his hands as a gesture of respect: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My leg ailment is an old problem, and even the Imperial Physician Yuan couldn't find anything wrong with it. However, I recently managed to invite the Fire Cave Master from Jiangling Prefecture. The Master is quite accomplished in alchemy, and after taking two pills, my pain has been relieved, and I am not suffering as much as before."

As he spoke, he patted his legs, which were covered by a thick blanket, a hint of gloom in his eyes.

Seeing his unwilling expression, Emperor Cheng'an felt relieved, but also felt a dark sense of pleasure.

He knew how outstanding his nephew was before his legs became disabled.

His beloved elder brother was devoted to the late Empress, but the late Empress was frail and unlucky, and only had Xue Shen as her only son. He doted on him like the apple of his eye, personally teaching him and making him the crown prince at the age of ten.

However, Xue Shen himself lived up to expectations. Despite such great favor, he remained humble and composed. At a young age, he participated in government affairs and was praised by the court and the public alike. People said that he had the qualities of his father and that he would surely become a wise and prosperous ruler when he inherited the throne.

At that time, the Crown Prince was living a life of luxury and extravagance, and even his own uncle, the Emperor, wanted to outdo him.

But what do we think about it now?

He was nothing more than a useless wastrel who was crippled in both legs, frustrated and unsuccessful, and could only indulge in sensual pleasures.

Emperor Cheng'an's gaze settled on Xue Shen's legs, and his mood improved slightly: "Although that Fire Cave Master has some fame, we can't completely trust what these Taoists say. Before those pills enter our mouths, we should have someone try them to make sure they don't harm our health."

Xue Shen nodded and said, "They have all been tested." He then added, "I rushed into the palace today because I have a request for Your Majesty to grant."

"Speak. Which young master has offended you this time?" Emperor Cheng'an has cleaned up his messes countless times over the years, feeling both annoyed and, at the same time, thinking it's better that he's just useless.

Xue Shen shook his head: "This time I'm here for my nephew's life-long happiness."

He looked at Emperor Cheng'an with eager eyes, his face showing barely suppressed excitement: "A few days ago, Master Huodong gave me a divination, saying that my nephew's love star is shining. If I can find my destined person and get married as soon as possible, I can use this happy event to dispel bad luck and greatly help my nephew's illness."

Emperor Cheng'an frowned almost imperceptibly, and then continued, "I didn't really believe it at first. If a marriage to ward off bad luck could cure me, my leg wouldn't be crippled like this now. But today, when I went to the Xiangguo Temple to offer incense, the head monk there gave the same advice and even pointed me westward, saying that I might meet my destined one. I was skeptical, but since I had nothing else to do, I actually went west, and to my surprise, I actually met the person they were talking about."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng'an's face darkened. His mind raced, and he placed his hands on his knees, leaning slightly forward. His gaze, like that of a hawk surveying its prey, fixed on Xue Shen: "Oh? Which family's daughter is she?"

He looked uneasy, disbelieving these superstitious claims and suspecting that Xue Shen had ulterior motives.

Although Xue Shen had taken in many women in his harem over the years, he had never married a principal wife. He was still young when the accident happened and was not engaged. The three-year mourning period further delayed the marriage. Later, Emperor Cheng'an arranged several marriages for him, but they all fell through for various reasons.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!