Chapter 75: Why Have You Suddenly Taken an Interest in This Matter?

Inside the main hall, Shen Nanyuan entered, knelt, and bowed.
“Second Prince.”
“Please rise,” Gu Shengyu’s gaze rested on Shen Nanyuan, his tone laced with concern. “I have long wished to visit the Princess of Yong’an, but the affairs of court have kept me busy these days. Only now have I found the time to come.”
Shen Nanyuan lowered her head. “Your Highness is occupied; there’s no need to make a special trip to the Duke’s residence. I am well now, Your Highness need not worry.”
Shen Sinian stepped in front of her. “Please be seated, Your Highness.”
The three sat down, with the Second Prince taking the principal seat. He waved his hand slightly, and immediately, the eunuchs brought forward wooden boxes, placing them gently on the table and opening them.
“This is a thousand-year-old ginseng, a tribute from a foreign nation to His Majesty. His Majesty instructed me to deliver it to the Princess of Yong’an.”
Such a gesture revealed His Majesty’s genuine regard for the Duke’s household.
Shen Nanyuan and Shen Sinian thanked the Emperor together. The Second Prince said, “In the future, should the Princess leave the residence, she must bring more guards. May such incidents not happen again. When I heard of it, I was startled. If the Duke’s General were to know, he would surely be unsettled.”
Shen Nanyuan replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will wait until my father returns victorious to tell him, lest he be distracted on the battlefield.”
Gu Shengyu nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Shen Nanyuan’s delicate, refined face.
Because of her injury, her cheeks were a touch pale, which only made her dark eyes shine more brilliantly and her beauty all the more striking.
Gu Shengyu’s heart was filled with satisfaction.
When he first met her, he merely thought her beautiful—if he took her as a secondary consort in his palace, she would be a delight.
But later, he discovered she was the eldest daughter of the Duke’s household.
This suited his ambitions perfectly.
Among all the nobility and royal family, who could match the Duke’s residence? Only he was worthy.
He cared little for Shen Nanyuan’s wishes; ultimately, she would be married to him.
The opportunity was not yet ripe.
What did her resistance matter?
Whom she married was not for her to decide. After all the twists and turns, she would become the princess of his palace.
A faint smile played at Gu Shengyu’s brows and eyes.

“When the Princess’s wounds have healed, she may come to the Imperial Garden in the palace to enjoy the blossoms. The peach flowers there are now in full bloom—though not as splendid as those at Pu Yue Temple, they are beautiful nonetheless. There are many other flowers as well; I could show them to you.”
That was better left unsaid.
Shen Nanyuan dared only to grumble inwardly, her lips curving into a slight, indifferent smile.
“Thank you, Your Highness. But my injuries may not heal so quickly; I must recuperate, and by then the flowers may have wilted, perhaps disappointing Your Highness’s kindness.”
“No matter,” Gu Shengyu raised his eyes, gaze fixed tightly on Shen Nanyuan’s face. “If you cannot enjoy the flowers, I can still accompany you for a walk in the palace. The imperial palace is a place many wish to enter but cannot; your status is unique, you should see it.”
Shen Nanyuan: “……”
This man was like a persistent ointment, impossible to shake off.
She tugged at her lips. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Her wounds truly might not heal soon; if possible, she could feign illness until Shen Yi returned victorious—it would not be impossible.
Shen Sinian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Your Highness, these matters are best left for the future. My sister has just endured these troubles; I doubt she has any intention of leaving the residence soon.”
Gu Shengyu answered leisurely, “I understand. I can wait until the Princess is fully recovered and accompany her to enter the palace.”
Impatience gradually arose in Shen Sinian’s eyes, though he concealed it well.
“Then I must thank Your Highness.”

—

Jun Ci paced restlessly in his study, unable to settle down to read.
Several days had passed since the news of Shen Nanyuan’s injury, yet he had not seen her even once. He wished to visit her personally, but the Duke’s residence was barred to him.
Where once, because of Shen Nanyuan, he could enter easily, now it had become forbidden.
In these past days, he had sought opportunities to inquire of Shen Sinian, but Shen Sinian had always been at odds with him, and after the broken engagement, did not wish to see him at all.
With no other recourse, he remembered that Gao Xueluo was on good terms with Shen Nanyuan, and as she now had a marriage contract with Liu Yuli, perhaps she might have news.
Jun Ci paced back and forth, then a bitter smile curved his lips.
He merely wanted to know how Shen Nanyuan was recovering, yet it was proving so difficult.

Outside, footsteps sounded, and Liu Yuli hurried in, dropping heavily into a chair, his expression sour.
He gulped down a cup of tea, and his tone was filled with resentment.
“If I ever speak to that Miss Gao again after this, I’m a pig.”
He was furious. “If not for wanting to ask her something, she’d think I wanted to visit the Gao family. She looked down on me, mocked me, and I couldn’t retort because I needed something from her—it’s suffocating.”
He shot a sideways glance at Jun Ci. “Do you know how much I’ve endured for you?”
Jun Ci stared at him intently.
“What did Miss Gao say?”
“She went to the Duke’s residence a few days ago. She said Miss Shen’s wounds are a bit deep, but with proper care, she’ll be fine. All the best things in the Duke’s residence have been sent to her courtyard—she’s certainly all right.”
Jun Ci breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Yuli poured another cup of tea and drank, his gaze sweeping over Jun Ci’s face, pausing with interest. “Why are you suddenly concerned about this?”
He scrutinized Jun Ci. “You’re not one to care about such things. When Miss Shen caught a cold or anything before, you never once inquired. Why are you so concerned now?”
He had long felt something was amiss with Jun Ci, suspicion gnawing within him, but he had never voiced it—today, he could no longer hold back.
Jun Ci was taken aback by the question, then lowered his eyes, lips pressed together, his gaze clouded.
“Don’t use the excuse that you grew up together—I’m sick of hearing it. Besides, do you even believe it yourself when you say it?”
Jun Ci’s heart felt bound by countless vines.
He clenched his fists tightly, his chest stifled, as if a blade were slowly carving into his heart, pain deep into his bones.
He had long known the truth, but had never dared to admit it.
He was always decisive and resolute, yet in this matter, he had deceived himself for far too long.