Chapter 128: Unable to Withstand the Onslaught

As soon as Tan Qingjiu finished speaking, she flicked her sleeves, sending a volley of poisoned needles flying toward Shen Yingjue.

Shen Yingjue shifted his posture, deftly dodging the needles, his eyes crinkling with a faint smile. "A-Jiu, your enthusiasm is truly more than this husband of yours can handle."

Tan Qingjiu gave a cold snort and lifted her chin slightly. "Didn't you ask me to kiss you? I'm just letting my needles do the kissing for me. Why are you dodging?"

"Didn't you say before, A-Jiu, that you didn't want to be a widow?"

"If I hadn't dodged, you wouldn't just be a widow; you would be a 'widow-to-be'—a woman whose fiancé died before the wedding. If word got out that you were a jinx who cursed your husband to death before even entering the household, it wouldn't exactly do wonders for your reputation, would it?"

"A widow-to-be? A jinx?" Tan Qingjiu nodded thoughtfully. "That doesn't sound too bad, actually."

Seeing that she seemed to be genuinely considering the prospect, Shen Yingjue quickly interjected, "Let's not, shall we? We really ought to discuss official matters."

"The palace banquet is tomorrow night."

Tan Qingjiu nodded. "What role am I supposed to play? Is Prince Duan planning to faint at the banquet again?"

"Or perhaps fall into a mysterious illness?"

"..." Shen Yingjue couldn't help but lower his eyes and chuckle. "In your eyes, am I just someone who spends all day feigning illness and fainting?"

Tan Qingjiu gave a nearly imperceptible nod, silently scoffing to herself. *He’s an Academy Award-level actor. A male version of Lin Daiyu.*

Observing her expressions and reactions, the amusement in Shen Yingjue’s eyes deepened. "Faking illness and fainting too often makes people suspicious. So, this time, I want to try a different approach. We won't fake a faint; we will fake 'not fainting'."

Tan Qingjiu looked utterly bewildered. "I know how to fake a faint, but how does one fake 'not fainting'?"

The smile in Shen Yingjue’s eyes grew even more pronounced. "When we go to the banquet tomorrow, find a way to make me look pale. Then, at the banquet, I will ensure you are seated right beside me."

"You will look after me and, from time to time, cast worried glances in my direction."

"..."

Shen Yingjue leaned closer. "And then..."

The following afternoon, Shen Yingjue had clothes delivered for Tan Qingjiu to wear to the palace. Once she was dressed and ready, she boarded the carriage with him.

"What is the occasion for today's banquet?"

"The southwestern border has never been peaceful. The winter before last, General Shenwu led troops to quell the unrest. It was a grueling campaign that lasted over a year, but they finally achieved a significant victory."

"The enemy dare not harass our borders for the time being, and now that General Shenwu has returned in triumph, His Majesty is holding a banquet to welcome him back."

Tan Qingjiu paused, puzzled. "The army has returned, so why hasn't there been any noise or fanfare in the city?"

In her limited experience with historical dramas, the return of an army was a major event that would never be so quiet.

"It's called a return, but in reality, a large portion of the troops remained at the border. The General only brought a thousand men back to the capital. Furthermore, because his mother fell ill, he returned early and kept things low-key."

"Besides, you haven't been paying attention to these things, which is why you haven't noticed."

Tan Qingjiu nodded, tilting her head. "If it's to welcome the General, why are female relatives invited?"

"They aren't," Shen Yingjue laughed. "A banquet like this, naturally, does not include female guests."

Tan Qingjiu looked at him with blank confusion, pointing to herself. "Then I..."

Shen Yingjue chuckled. "You are an exception."

"I specially requested it from His Majesty, because you are not only my Princess-to-be but also my physician."

"I told him my health has been poor lately and I feared a sudden relapse or a flare-up of the poison. So, His Majesty granted me permission to bring you along."

Tan Qingjiu remained skeptical, frowning. "But if the Emperor knows you are unwell, suffering from both illness and poison, why not just allow you to recuperate at the manor instead of forcing you to attend this chaotic banquet?"

Shen Yingjue blinked, smiling at her. "Indeed, why would he?"

"..."

Tan Qingjiu rolled her eyes. "I'm asking you."

"I don't know either. I may be a Prince, but I am merely a 'leisurely' one. When I told the Emperor I was ill, he just granted me permission to bring you; he never said I was excused from attending."

Tan Qingjiu squinted at him, but Shen Yingjue maintained his look of innocence.

She felt certain, however, that he was far from the innocent party he pretended to be. He must know exactly what the Emperor’s intentions were. Moreover, he certainly had his own reasons for insisting on attending this banquet.

Shen Yingjue hadn't lied; aside from the serving maids, there were indeed no other noblewomen present.

Consequently, as Tan Qingjiu followed Shen Yingjue to his seat, countless eyes turned toward her, accompanied by hushed whispers.

Tan Qingjiu kept her head low, sitting in her place with a timid appearance, though her peripheral vision scanned the room.

There were quite a few familiar faces at the banquet. Her sixth master, the Imperial Preceptor Li Xiao; her grandfather, Shen Chang'an; as well as Shen Xiao and Tan Yun...

"Is today's banquet not to welcome General Shenwu? Why has Prince Duan brought a female guest? Who is this?"

Shen Yingjue replied with an air of nonchalance, "You don't know? This is the Princess-to-be whom the Emperor has just betrothed to me."

"However, she is not just my future wife; she is also the physician treating my ailments."

Shen Yingjue sighed softly. "My health has been poor lately, and I didn't much want to attend, but the Emperor said it was not good for me to stay in the Prince's manor all day, as it wouldn't aid my recovery. He told me to come out and get some air, saying it might improve my condition."

"His Majesty said that since I am unwell, I could bring the Princess-to-be along, as she is a brilliant doctor with exceptional medical skills."

"In case of any emergency, or if I feel unwell, she can treat me immediately."

As soon as he finished, someone looked toward Tan Qingjiu. "The Princess is a brilliant doctor? I have heard the name of the 'Miraculous Physician' before, but is she really so young?"

"Indeed."

Shen Yingjue smiled, then leaned over to whisper to Tan Qingjiu, "The one who just spoke is General Shenwu, Yang Pei."

"I mentioned on the way here that his mother is ill and he has been searching for a master physician. This is a golden opportunity for you to earn some money..."