The very next day, the edict issued by Emperor Zhaowu to depose the crown prince was posted by officials and soldiers at the Zhengxian Gate of the Imperial City.
The paper had barely been pasted up when it attracted many people from the city gate market to stop and watch.
Shen Yunjiao's clinic happened to be located diagonally opposite Zhengxian Gate. Seeing the bustling scene in front, she couldn't help but ask Lin Kai, who was carrying a bag of medicinal herbs as he entered the clinic, "What's that notice posted up there? Why are so many people looking at it?"
"Young lady, I just happened to pass by and overheard a few words. It's big news! Our emperor has deposed the crown prince and reduced him to a commoner."
Lin Kai placed the medicinal herbs on the ground, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said, "The emperor is truly ruthless; that's his own son."
Shen Yunjiao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly clenched her fist in her sleeve and said calmly, "Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Who can know what the emperor is thinking?"
Xiao Huaijin had already warned her beforehand, telling her about the phoenix rising from the ashes and being reborn from the ashes. If things got really bad, they should find another way.
But now that he has been crippled, Shen Yunjiao can do nothing for him, and an indescribable feeling spread through her mouth.
But since Xiao Huaijin said he would be fine, then he definitely would be fine.
"Young lady, how should these medicinal herbs be stored?" Lin Kai asked, looking up after opening the cloth bag.
Shen Yunjiao's thoughts were interrupted.
After taking a deep breath, she said to Lin Kai, "We need to pick out the good parts of the ephedra and cinnamon twigs that arrived today and sun-dry them. The rest can be pounded into small pieces and wrapped in sachets to make medicine pouches."
Just as she was about to walk to the counter to settle the bill with the shopkeeper, Fu Xia came in and asked if she had an appointment with a customer for a consultation today.
“Miss, there’s a carriage parked outside.”
Shen Yunjiao was stunned. "Wasn't there no one here today?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a handsome man with deep-set eyes walked in. His hair was slightly curly, and his deep blue eyes were exceptionally profound. He looked at Shen Yunjiao with boldness and passion.
"We meet again, Shen Yunjiao." Yelü Qi greeted Shen Yunjiao with a smile, raising his hand. "I brought the medicine you requested."
He then tossed a small package into Shen Yunjiao's arms, saying, "Open it and take a look."
Shen Yunjiao placed the package on the counter. Upon opening it, she found at least seven or eight bottles of the medicine she needed.
"Thank you." Shen Yunjiao carefully put away the medicine jars as if they were precious treasures before looking up at him gratefully.
With this painkiller, she was able to perform some simple surgical procedures.
Yelü Qi smiled and looked at the woman in front of him. Her fair and flawless skin glowed, complementing her soft lips and flowing black hair. Her eyes were fixed on the medicine jars, as if she were looking at rare treasures.
That's really interesting.
One sentence slipped out of his mouth involuntarily: "What else do you want? I can find it for you."
When Shen Yunjiao heard his words, she was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "These medicines are very good. Yelü Qi, my brother said that you will be setting off back to Beihu today. I also have some medicines to give you as a token of my appreciation. Come with me."
As Shen Yunjiao spoke, she led Yelü Qi to the storeroom at the end of the corridor. "Brother, I heard that the weather in the Northern Hu is dry and often windy and rainy, so I prepared some Shengmai Yin (a traditional Chinese medicine) for him to clear his lungs. This contains red ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Schisandra chinensis. Since you gave me so many medicines, how about I give you some tea bags of Shengmai Yin as well?"
Shen Yunjiao took down the neatly arranged tea bags from the shelf and turned around to ask.
But Yelü Qi's expression was somewhat deep, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
"Yelü Qi?"
She tried calling out, and Yelü Qi snapped out of his daze, his face returning to its usual relaxed expression. "Okay."
After hearing this, Shen Yunjiao took a few more packets.
Yelü Qi crossed his arms and leaned against a wooden pillar in the storeroom, gazing at her beautiful, slender back. He said, "You heard the news this morning, didn't you? The Crown Prince has been deposed. Although he still lives in the palace, he's now just an ordinary commoner. He's completely powerless, while you, as the daughter of the Prime Minister, are of vastly different statuses. Can you still be together?"
Yelü Qi moved closer, his voice low and seductive, "Why don't you come with me and return to the Northern Hu? I'll take the position of Crown Prince of the Northern Hu and make you the rightful Crown Princess, how about that?"
When Yelü Qi said this, his deep blue eyes gleamed slightly, like a wild wolf on the grassland.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao's face immediately turned cold. "No, you're not worthy."
Yelü Qi was stunned; this was the first time he had been rejected by a woman so without a second thought.
He was born a chosen one, and he never expected that Shen Yunjiao would reject him so painfully, let alone hear the words "you are not worthy" from her mouth.
The vague emotions that had been uttered just now, whether anticipation or nervousness, have all been completely washed away by these three words.
He felt a stab in his heart, and his voice turned cold as he said, "Aren't you just after Xiao Huaijin's power and status?"
After saying that, he slowly walked to Shen Yunjiao's side, wrapped his big hand around her waist tightly, and lifted her delicate chin. "What he has, power or status, I used to disdain, but now, for you, I can also fight for it."
"Try it with me, and you'll see who's better, won't you?"
Yelü Qi's voice was like an electric current, sending shivers down one's spine.
His eyes darkened slightly as he saw Shen Yunjiao's soft, rosy lips. His breath hitched. He lowered his head, and just as their lips touched, he heard Shen Yunjiao whisper in his ear, "Let me go, or you'll die a horrible death."
Yelü Qi was stunned for a moment, then felt something sharp pressing against his neck.
It turned out that the moment he approached, Shen Yunjiao secretly took out the small knife she used to cut the medicine rope behind her back.
Now the blade of the dagger was slowly disappearing into the flesh of his neck. Yelü Qi looked at the delicate woman in front of him, her thick, raven-feather-like eyelashes fluttering. She was clearly afraid, but she still pretended to be calm.
It's both heartbreaking and touching.
The servants and maids in the clinic were all outside, leaving only him and Shen Yunjiao in the storeroom. If he wanted, he could easily pin her hand down and kiss her.
But he didn't.
Perhaps he was hoping that this seemingly docile but stubborn little flower would open its stamens to him on its own initiative.
Yelü Qi felt the pain in his neck becoming more and more obvious. He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly. He lightly pressed the acupoints on Shen Yunjiao's wrist with his index and middle fingers, and the silver knife immediately fell to the floor with a clatter.
Yelü Qi then released Shen Yunjiao and saw her take a few steps back, looking at him warily, her small hand still on her waist, ready at any moment.
He touched his neck, and felt a warm flow on his fingertips—his own blood.
"Shen Yunjiao, you really showed no mercy."
Hearing him speak so casually, Shen Yunjiao couldn't help but coldly reply, "If you're not afraid of death next time, you can try again. I'll try stabbing you in a different spot and see if my knife is sharper or if the carotid artery in your neck is stronger."
Yelü Qi gave her a deep look. "What's so good about Xiao Huaijin? How come he can catch your eye but I can't? Give me an explanation today, and I'll give up on him and never bother you again."
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