Chapter 97: Reluctant to Let Go More and More

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Tan Qingjiu was stunned for a moment but quickly recovered and loudly shouted, “Someone, quickly! Prince Duan has awakened!”

No sooner had she finished shouting than someone hurriedly entered through the door.

It was the steward.

Tan Qingjiu’s gaze fell on the steward, then she glanced back at Shen Yingjue.

Was Shen Yingjue referring to the steward when he said “coming”?

“Your Highness!” The steward’s face brightened with joy as he quickly approached the bedside and stood there. He reached out tentatively, hesitant to touch, and asked, “How do you feel, Your Highness? Any discomfort anywhere?”

Then he quickly turned to look at Tan Qingjiu. “Divine Doctor Tan, have you checked Prince Duan’s pulse?”

Only then did Tan Qingjiu seem to come back to her senses, raising her hand to pat her head. “What a poor memory of mine—I almost forgot, I’m the doctor here.”

Just as Tan Qingjiu spoke, the person on the bed suddenly sat up with a sharp jerk, his eyes vacant as he stared at the steward. Then he chuckled darkly, “There’s a little ghost sitting on your head, and it’s watching me.”

The steward shuddered all over, stiffening in place. “Your Highness, what’s happening to you? Please don’t scare me.”

Shen Yingjue tilted his head. “He called you ‘father’.”

Tan Qingjiu noticed the steward’s face turn even paler.

What kind of act was this now?

Why did Shen Yingjue start performing without even consulting her?

How was she supposed to respond to this?

The steward’s hand trembled slightly by his side as he turned to Tan Qingjiu. “Divine Doctor Tan, please take a look—what exactly is wrong with Prince Duan?”

Tan Qingjiu looked troubled. “Prince Duan has awakened, and his complexion has returned to normal. It seems the toxin’s effect has been temporarily suppressed by the antidote pills I gave him. But as for this...”

Taking two steps forward, Tan Qingjiu checked Shen Yingjue’s pulse. Blocking the steward’s view, she met Shen Yingjue’s eyes, and they exchanged a quick glance.

“That child looks very much like you. He said it’s very cold over there and asked the steward to send him some clothes because he died without any on.”

The steward’s expression worsened. He froze in place, and for some reason, after hearing Shen Yingjue’s words, he suddenly felt a chill on his head, as if it had grown heavier—just like... someone really was sitting on it.

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Tan Qingjiu had finished checking the pulse. “From the pulse, there’s no abnormality with Prince Duan.”

“How can there be no abnormality?” The steward grew anxious. “Prince Duan looks far from normal.”

Tan Qingjiu stood up, looking troubled. “From the pulse, there’s no abnormality. But Prince Duan fainted from toxin poisoning—he was practically on the brink of death.”

“Having crossed the threshold of death and weakened by the toxin, with his Yang energy depleted, it’s natural for evil spirits to enter his body.”

Watching Shen Yingjue’s expression and hearing Tan Qingjiu’s explanation, the steward shivered all over and took a deep breath. “Then... what should we do?”

Tan Qingjiu shook her head. “I’m only responsible for treating the illness. According to the pulse and his physical condition, there’s no problem. Since there’s no problem, there’s nothing more I can do.”

She lowered her eyes. “Perhaps the steward should report this to His Majesty and let him consider a solution?”

The steward bit his lip and nodded. “I’ll report it immediately.”

He hurriedly turned and left but stumbled slightly at the door.

Shen Yingjue stared at a rope by the bed. When it twitched, he looked up at Tan Qingjiu with a smile. “Divine Doctor Tan, we cooperate very well. Without me saying a word, you seem to understand what I’m thinking. Would you call that a meeting of minds?”

A sly smile curved his lips. “With your brilliance, Divine Doctor Tan, I’m less and less willing to let go.”

Tan Qingjiu looked at Shen Yingjue expressionlessly. “If I told Prince Duan about Shen Zijiao, and Prince Duan then staged this act to get Shen Zijiao into the Duan mansion, how reliable does that sound?”

“I feel it’s rather far-fetched.”

“If Prince Duan can’t pull it off, then I absolutely won’t move to the Duan mansion.”

Shen Yingjue’s lips curled. “His Majesty has already decreed it. Are you preparing to defy the imperial edict, Divine Doctor Tan?”

“I admit you are impressive, but defying an imperial decree is not something you can do.”

Tan Qingjiu clenched her back molars and took a deep breath. “So Prince Duan had it all planned out. You really intend to bring Shen Zijiao over?”

Shen Yingjue’s voice held amusement. “Just kidding. Soon, Shen Zijiao will arrive. You can take this chance to return to the Tan residence and report to Tan Yun.”

“Tan Yun will probably be quite pleased.”

Tan Qingjiu took a deep breath. “I hope so.”

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After speaking, Tan Qingjiu glanced once at Shen Yingjue. “Let Prince Duan rest well. I’ll return to the residence first.”

She boarded the carriage, which stopped in front of the Tan residence. Only then did she realize that because of Shen Yingjue’s commotion, Tan Yun probably had no intention of pursuing the incident she and Tan Yunge caused at the teahouse.

Though Tan Yun was indeed more protective of her now since she had become useful, if it hadn’t been for Shen Yingjue’s fainting, Tan Yun would never have let the teahouse incident go.

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes. Shen Yingjue seemed to have, unintentionally, helped him once again.

Although she had already planned and prepared a response, Shen Yingjue’s stunt saved her a great deal of trouble.

But Shen Yingjue always showed up uninvited, yet helped her nonetheless.

The more Shen Yingjue acted this way, the more uneasy she felt.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Yingjue had some hidden agenda.

Now, having forced her into owing him a favor by such shameless means, Shen Yingjue would likely find some way to collect on it later.

And she truly had no idea what Shen Yingjue’s intentions were.

The longer she interacted with him, the more she felt that Shen Yingjue was unfathomable.

The carriage stopped. They had arrived at the Tan residence.

Tan Qingjiu bent down and stepped out. Upon entering, she saw Tan Yun rushing over, having already received the news.

Seeing Tan Qingjiu, Tan Yun immediately asked, “I heard Prince Duan fainted? Even His Majesty was alarmed? How is Prince Duan now?”

Tan Qingjiu lowered her eyes. “Yes, he was poisoned, and it was quite severe. The imperial physicians have all examined him, but for now, they can’t find an antidote.”

“What then? Aren’t you skilled in medicine? Even you have no remedy?”