Chapter 15 Xie Guidu saw her and Pei Siyan
As she pondered this, she walked towards the dining hall, but she stumbled and fell forward.
She jolted awake, instantly regaining her senses. She tried to steady herself, but the expected fall didn't happen. Instead, a large hand suddenly appeared around her waist, pulling her back firmly into the man's broad embrace.
A familiar scent of ambergris mixed with medicinal fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose. Dou Wenyi was startled and subconsciously looked up, only to meet Pei Siyan's deep and calm eyes.
He wore a long robe with wide sleeves and gold trim, adorned with lotus and auspicious cloud patterns, and her sachet hung conspicuously at his waist.
A blush spread from her cheeks to her neck. She quickly took a few steps back, curtsied to him, and said, "Your Highness, I have disturbed you. Please forgive me!"
"It's alright." Pei Siyan's deep gaze swept over her figure.
Her face was pale and she looked tired. She was dressed plainly, except for a pair of lustrous pearl earrings. Although it was a very ordinary light green palace dress, she wore it with a graceful and charming air.
Pei Siyan looked away. "Chiyan, give it to her. Don't let her starve to death."
Dou Wenyi was busy from 3 AM to noon without having eaten or drunk anything. She has never been able to go hungry since she was a child, and if she is hungry for a long time, she will suffer from dizziness and weakness, which is why she almost fell down.
She obediently accepted the food box handed to her by Chi Yan, but even though she was starving, she did not open it immediately.
Seeing this, Pei Siyan's eyes turned cold. "Miss Dou, do you really think that you can rest easy just by climbing up to the concubines in the palace?"
"Your Highness is foolish and ignorant, please enlighten me."
Undoubtedly, Pei Siyan was behind the selection and advancement process.
Pei Siyan narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. "The Imperial Physician of my Great Zhou is a sixth-rank official. When did it become something you can take on as you please?"
Why did she want to enter the palace to participate in the selection? Didn't he know the reason?
This was a blatant threat; if her answer didn't satisfy him, she would likely be trapped in the palace for the rest of her life.
Dou Wenyi carefully chose her words before speaking, “Your Highness, the work of a pharmacist is arduous, and I am worried that it will affect the progress of medicine preparation. Furthermore, my third sister is about to become the Crown Princess, and if I become a lady-in-waiting, I fear that people will gossip about her. I hope Your Highness will be understanding.”
Pei Siyan raised her phoenix eyes, her smile concealing a sharp edge, "You can't even answer the question about the medicinal properties of your own sachet. Are you making fun of me?"
Dou Wenyi knelt down on the ground with a thud.
She looked up at him innocently, her voice aggrieved, "This humble woman is as lowly as grass, how dare I tease Your Highness."
"The prescription involves Your Highness, so I dare not easily reveal it to others. I already have a plan for the specific preparation and am working on developing the pills. However, I am troubled by not knowing how to contact Your Highness, so please forgive me."
Seeing that she was no longer lying, Pei Siyan's irritation dissipated considerably. "Get up first."
Dou Wenlian composed herself and said softly, "If you wish to keep me as the pharmacist, I will have no complaints. However, I hope Your Highness will inform me in advance, so as not to make a mistake and ruin your arrangements."
Pei Siyan listened in silence for a long time.
The scouts reported that she had never met Prince Rui and had no interaction with him whatsoever. To insist that she was a spy planted by Prince Rui to be by his side would be far-fetched.
How could a mere pawn possibly disturb his mind?
Pei Siyan smiled enigmatically, “The Eastern Palace is in dire need of a female historian who can prepare medicinal cuisine. With this title, you can freely enter and leave the Eastern Palace.”
Dou Wenyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, deciding to choose the lesser of two evils.
As long as she is not made a female official and does not have a palace registration, she will still be free and will not be trapped in the palace!
"As Your Highness commands."
Dou Wenyi tentatively asked, "Your Highness wants me to go to the East Palace to take up my post? However, if my family finds out... it might cause unnecessary trouble. I hope Your Highness can help me avoid this."
"I have no shortage of servants."
It seems that as long as she goes to the East Palace occasionally, it's still tolerable.
Pei Siyan's eyes were dark, and his tone was nonchalant, "I'm waiting for your 'miracle drug,' otherwise... you know the consequences."
After saying that, he looked at the Crimson Flame.
Chi Yan reluctantly pulled out a token and handed it over.
Dou Wenyi accepted the exquisite jade pendant with both hands, and hesitated before saying, "Your Highness, I have a favor to ask. If I can cure your headache, may I ask you for a favor?"
"As long as it doesn't violate morality or law, it's within my authority." Pei Siyan never made promises lightly, and even when he did, they had to be in his best interest. "What favor?"
Dou Wenyi's expression softened. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will ask for it after I have taken care of this matter for you."
"The selection time is approaching, you may leave now." Pei Siyan waved his hand.
Dou Wenyi finally felt relieved, though a thin layer of cold sweat had already seeped down her back.
Pei Siyan stopped as he passed by her, his warm breath brushing against her ear. She stiffened abruptly, her heart leaping into her throat. What was he going to do at such close range...?
"The food isn't poisonous, eat it."
When she looked up again, she only saw a tall, slender figure.
The clouds are in the blue sky, the water is in the bottle. He is a dragon in the sky, how could he possibly make trouble for an ant like her?
It was already past lunchtime, and even if she rushed to the dining hall, she would only go hungry. After hesitating for a long time, she finally opened the food box, and a plate of exquisite osmanthus pastries came into view.
She was stunned.
These are her favorite pastries. Pei Siyan is the Crown Prince, and the two of them have never crossed paths. How could he know her preferences?
Dou Wenyi was completely clueless, unaware that a snow-white figure had been standing behind the bushes not far away for a long time.
Xie Guidu's eyes were cold and aloof, and the knuckles beneath his sleeves were faintly white. Even though he couldn't hear their conversation, there was an undercurrent between them, as if they were hiding a secret... She was still smiling at the Crown Prince, a smile so obsequious!
So, as Mingyan said, Wenyi has designs on the Crown Prince?
When did she become so shameless that she even dared to covet her own brother-in-law?
At this moment, Xie Guidu's heart, which had been dormant for twenty-two years, was in turmoil. An unnamed rage raged within him. He tried hard to control himself and subconsciously wanted to go and question her, but his lifelong upbringing did not allow him to make a mistake in the palace.
He ultimately attributed this feeling to male pride; no man wants to see his fiancée fawning over another man.
The afternoon exam lasted for more than two hours, and Dou Wenyi was unsurprisingly rejected, which put her at ease.
As soon as she stepped out of the palace gate, she saw Xie Guidu's tall and straight figure.
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