Chapter 35 The Future Princess of Duan

"My goodness, it's Prince Duan!"

"Why is Prince Duan here? Why has he come to meddle in this matter?"

"I heard that the Miraculous Physician was summoned to treat Prince Duan not long ago, after posting on the imperial notice board."

"The Miraculous Physician actually came out of Prince Duan's residence alive? Without losing any limbs? Could it be that the Miraculous Physician's skills are truly so extraordinary that she cured Prince Duan's illness?"

"Keep your voice down! We should leave at once. If Prince Duan loses his temper, he doesn't care about anyone—he recognizes no one..."

Countless murmurs rose from the crowd. Though not loud, they were far from quiet. Yet Shen Yingjue appeared utterly indifferent, as if he heard nothing at all. He stepped down from the carriage, approaching with measured strides.

Wherever he passed, the onlookers swiftly retreated, clearing a wide path for him.

Shen Yingjue stood tall and straight, the golden mask on his face gleaming beneath the sun. Stopping three steps before the kneeling woman, he lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and inscrutable as he cast a glance at Tan Qingjiu, only then turning to the woman.

"What I detest most," he said, "is being lied to."

"If she refuses to tell the truth, then have someone fetch some iron pellets, throw them into the furnace, melt them down, and pour the molten iron, every drop, down her throat."

The woman recoiled two steps in fright, the last trace of color draining from her face. Had anyone else uttered those words, she might have thought it no more than an empty threat.

But this was Prince Duan.

Prince Duan, who in his madness took no heed of anyone.

He was perfectly capable of carrying out his threats.

And that person had claimed she wielded influence, that she could bribe the authorities. But now that Prince Duan was involved, could her influence possibly surpass his?

Panic gripped the woman's heart. Shaking her head frantically, she stammered, "No, no, please..."

Standing at the gate of the Tan estate, Chen Yueru's face had grown unsightly as well. She had only just managed to stir up doubts about Tan Qingjiu's medical skills, and Tan Qingjiu had brazenly spun her tales and fooled everyone, even taking the chance to boast of her own abilities. Then that Physician Lin had stepped forward to speak on the little wretch's behalf.

And now, Prince Duan had arrived...

Chen Yueru clenched her teeth in secret, nearly grinding them to dust. Hadn't this little wretch only just returned to the capital? How had she come to know so many influential people?

Resentment simmered in Chen Yueru's heart. It had been so difficult to get Tan Qingjiu into such a predicament. If this chance slipped away, it would be even harder in the future to destroy her reputation.

With these thoughts, forcing down her dread of Prince Duan, Chen Yueru gritted her teeth and spoke: "Your Highness, you know nothing of the cause or course of this matter, yet you step forward and threaten to pour molten iron down this woman's throat. Is that not a forced confession under duress?"

"What if this woman's husband truly died at Tan Qingjiu's hands by accident? If the truth comes out, would that not tarnish Your Highness's own name?"

Shen Yingjue laughed aloud, as though he had heard a most amusing jest. "My name? What name do I have?"

"Is it madness? Ruthlessness? Cruelty and disregard for human life? Which of these reputations do you suppose I fear being tainted?"

Chen Yueru was silenced, unable to retort.

Indeed, what good reputation did Shen Yingjue possess?

What had he to fear?

Shen Yingjue seemed to chuckle. "Besides, the medicine the Miraculous Physician prescribed last time—after I took it, I found it most effective. Therefore, I believe her medical skills are superb."

"Since I think her skills are excellent, I cannot abide anyone saying otherwise. Whoever voices such words, I will see to it that they never speak ill again."

A heavy suffocation settled on Chen Yueru's chest, neither rising nor falling, making her deeply uncomfortable.

Yet Prince Duan was precisely the person whom she could neither afford to offend nor dare to provoke.

She shot a resentful glance at Tan Qingjiu, who stood by with a calm, detached air, as though all this were none of her concern. That little wretch must be feeling quite triumphant now.

From the edge of the crowd, the distant clamor grew—a commotion as the constables arrived. "Who reported this to the authorities?"

The constables parted the crowd and entered. Their eyes swept over the gate of the Tan estate, the kneeling woman, and the corpse beside her shrouded in white cloth. They immediately understood.

This must be the case that the higher-ups had specifically mentioned.

The head constable fixed his gaze on Tan Qingjiu. "You must be the Miraculous Physician. Was it you who reported the case?"

His eyes roved up and down, assessing Tan Qingjiu. He clicked his tongue inwardly—beauty that could topple a kingdom, yet she had offended the wrong people, truly unfortunate.

However...

If they took her into custody, they could...

Take full advantage of her.

His gaze grew lewd. Before he could look his fill, something shot toward him. Instinctively, he closed his eyes, only to feel it pierce into his eye—a stabbing pain!

Agony exploded in his eye.

"Ah! Ahhh!" The constable clutched at his eye, his hand coming away sticky with blood and the sharp hidden weapon. "It hurts! My eye, my eye!"

"Who was it? Who attacked me? I'll kill them! I'll kill them!"

His eye was completely blind now, the pain making his head feel as though it would split open, cold sweat beading on his brow.

"It was I," came a voice. "If you wish to kill me, come ahead."

The head constable turned toward the direction of the voice. Who was it? Who?

All was darkness; he saw nothing but black, heard only the buzzing tumult around him, felt nothing but pain.

"Prince Duan—it was Prince Duan!" one of his men behind him blurted out. At the sound of that title, the head constable felt ice run through his veins.

How could it be that madman?

He clenched his teeth. His eye—he feared it was lost forever.

"I do not know what offense I gave Your Highness," he choked out, "that you should destroy my eye?"

The pain was unrelenting. The world buzzed and whirled in darkness. The thought that he might spend the rest of his life in this endless night filled him with seething hatred.

But the man before him was Prince Duan.

Never mind his noble status.

His infamous madness was known to all. He had cruelly killed the princess bestowed by the Emperor himself, and after that, behaved as though nothing had happened.

He dared not...

For Prince Duan, blinding him was as easy as squashing an ant; even killing him would be no more trouble.

Yet if he did not seek an explanation, he could not rest easy.

"How did you offend me?" Prince Duan sneered, approaching step by step. "You dared cast such a lecherous gaze at my future princess. So what if I destroy one of your eyes?"