Chapter 11 Then Bring Her Back by Force

Half an hour later, in the inner courtyard of the Prince Duan’s residence.

The man reclining on the soft couch suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze heavy as it landed upon the wall beside him. A flash of red darted swiftly behind a nearby screen before Shen Yingjue finally lifted his hand and turned the flower vase at his side. The wall shifted aside, and Li Wei, leaning on his cane, emerged from within.

“Your Highness.”

Shen Yingjue’s eyes were cold and clear. “You’ve been there?”

“Yes. As you instructed, I sought out that Miracle Physician for treatment. The Miracle Physician’s skill is indeed extraordinary—he discerned my ailment simply by observing my complexion, and after feeling my pulse, he diagnosed the root cause. He then administered acupuncture, and the pain has eased considerably since.”

Shen Yingjue’s gaze flickered slightly. “Is that so? Very well, I understand.”

Li Wei looked as if he had more to say, and Shen Yingjue caught it immediately.

“If you have anything else to report, say it plainly. There’s no need for hesitation.”

Shen Yingjue’s eyes were sharp, and Li Wei felt a palpable pressure bearing down on him. He hurried to continue, “While I was at the Miracle Physician’s, I saw his two children.”

“Oh?” Shen Yingjue raised an eyebrow. Six years ago, when he had first seen Tan Qingjiu, she had indeed been carrying two newborns. By now, those children should be six years old.

“I noticed that the two children bear a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to you, Your Highness.”

“A seven or eight-tenths resemblance to me?” Shen Yingjue’s brows rose in genuine surprise.

“Yes,” Li Wei nodded. “When the Miracle Physician saw my reaction, he pressed me for an explanation. I dared not tell the truth, so I said the children resembled the heir of Prince Ding. The Miracle Physician’s expression grew somewhat odd, then he claimed their father had long since passed away and that it was mere coincidence.”

“Is that so?” Shen Yingjue’s eyes darkened behind his mask, giving no hint of his true thoughts.

“I understand. Thank you for your efforts, Minister Li.”

Li Wei quickly shook his head. “No trouble at all. If Your Highness has no further instructions, I shall take my leave.”

Seeing Shen Yingjue nod, Li Wei hurriedly withdrew through the secret passage.

Once the hidden door was closed, a young man in red emerged from behind the screen. He was strikingly handsome, with delicate, almost androgynous features, but carried not a hint of effeminacy. He poked his head out to make sure the coast was clear, his eyes darting about before he stepped forward. “He’s gone, right? That was close—I nearly died of fright. Luckily, I ran fast enough.”

“Mm.” Shen Yingjue reclined once more on the couch. “You said earlier that the Miracle Physician is most likely the half-sister of the Princess Consort of Prince Ding, Tan Qingjiu?”

“That’s right.” The young man’s face lit up with pride at Shen Yingjue’s question. “I, Duan Ziyue, am a master of all things. My information is never wrong. About seven years ago, Tan Qingjiu was discovered to be pregnant out of wedlock. She refused to reveal the identity of the child’s father, and was sentenced to be drowned. For reasons unknown, she survived. This Hall of Miracles only rose to fame in the martial world about four years ago. The Hall has recruited a group of highly skilled physicians, enforces strict discipline, and fiercely protects the welfare and safety of its doctors, quickly becoming the ideal place for wandering healers.

Most importantly, the Hall’s master is a healer of legendary ability—one who can snatch life from death. As long as a patient still draws breath, she can save them; it’s said she even revived someone whose heart had stopped. Thus, people call her the Miracle Physician who can wrest souls from the King of Hell himself, earning her renown far and wide.

Moreover, Tan Qingjiu never seemed to hide her identity—even after her rise to fame, she still used her own name. The name matches, and she has two children about six years old, which fits perfectly with the Tan family’s drowned daughter. There’s no doubt she’s the one.”

Duan Ziyue smacked his lips. “Just now, Li Wei said Tan Qingjiu’s children resemble you. Could these be your little love tokens left behind?”

Shen Yingjue’s gaze swept over him, light as a feather but carrying a chill. Duan Ziyue quickly patted down his suddenly bristling hairs in an attempt to appease him. “All right, all right, I’m talking nonsense—I misspoke. With your temperament, cold as ice, you barely let any women near you, let alone anything more. Such a waste of that face. Sometimes I wonder if you’re planning to spend your life alone.”

“What’s so wrong with a solitary end? A madman like me is better off not bringing others to ruin.”

Shen Yingjue’s smile was mocking. Duan Ziyue quickly changed the subject. “If it’s not you, it must be Prince Ding’s heir, Shen Xiao. That would fit his notorious ways. And if that’s the case, it makes sense. No wonder, when Tan Qingjiu was discovered pregnant seven years ago, she refused to name the father—after all, Shen Xiao is her brother-in-law. For a young woman to have secretly become involved with her sister’s husband and ended up pregnant, especially given Shen Xiao’s status, that was a secret she could never reveal.”

Duan Ziyue suddenly slapped his knee, his eyes lighting up. “I’m brilliant—an absolute genius! My deductions are both logical and reasonable. It must be so!”

Shen Yingjue frowned, glancing at the boisterous Duan Ziyue. “Ye Bei, Chi Xiao, throw him out. Noisy.”

Duan Ziyue hastily raised his hands. “I was wrong, I was wrong.”

Clearing his throat, he composed himself. “The hunter’s wound, the poison in the courtesan, Li Wei’s illness—these were all cases that stumped Imperial physicians and renowned healers alike, yet Tan Qingjiu resolved them with ease. She truly has genuine skill.

Perhaps she really can cure your poisoning, and… your illness as well. If you’re wary of her tricks or afraid she’ll uncover your secrets, you can simply have her seized—or her children taken as leverage to force her hand so she’ll have no choice but to treat you wholeheartedly. Once you’re cured, once the poison is gone and your illness healed, we can…”

Duan Ziyue made a throat-slashing gesture. “Silence her.”

“The poison in your body can’t be allowed to fester any longer. This past month, we’ve tried everything, exhausted every means, yet found no cure. As long as there’s the faintest hope, we must try.”

Shen Yingjue narrowed his eyes, and suddenly recalled the stubbornness in Tan Qingjiu’s gaze when he’d held her by the throat, the way she’d struggled to pin him beneath her, the jolt in his heart when her hand brushed his neck, and her shrewdness as she bargained with him.

Tan Qingjiu…

This woman had indeed caught his attention.

“Very well. Find a suitable opportunity, and bring her here.”