Chapter Eighty-One: Where Has His Highness Gone?

“Just to be on the safe side, Your Grace should still take some medicine to ward off the chill. I will go and prepare it at once,” said Physician Wang.

Shen Sinian nodded. “Thank you, Imperial Physician.”

After the physician left, he dismissed the palace maids from the room. Once he heard that there was no movement outside, his voice grew low and grave. “Tell me everything in detail. What happened?”

He had always thought Shen Nanyuan was not the type to carelessly fall into water on her own. Now that he reconsidered, aside from being pushed, there seemed no other possibility.

“Wasn’t His Highness with you when you went to admire the flowers?”

“His Highness said he had something to show me, so he left. Later, a palace maid told me she was sent by His Highness to accompany me, so I wouldn’t get lost in the imperial garden. When we were crossing the bridge, she pushed me into the water.”

After speaking, Shen Nanyuan lifted her gaze, meeting Shen Sinian’s eyes.

“At first, I thought it might be His Highness, but when I think about it, it seems too obvious. If it were him, wouldn’t he be making it too easy to suspect?”

“Besides, what reason would he have to order someone to push me into the water?”

“Perhaps he wished to play the hero and rescue you, changing your impression of him?” Shen Sinian pressed his lips together. “But as you say, if you think about it, it does seem a bit too blatant.”

He asked, “Do you remember what that palace maid looked like?”

Shen Nanyuan shook her head.

The maid had been walking behind her the whole time; she’d barely glimpsed her face. And after the shock of falling into the water, her memory was even hazier.

If it was the Second Prince, he likely just wanted to play the hero. But if it was someone else, then they truly meant to kill her.

She hadn’t expected that a mere visit to the palace would result in something like this.

Only a few days ago, she had barely survived an assassin’s attack, and now this—how could someone want her dead, when she was merely a supporting character? It was like the butterfly effect: some things had changed, and so her life had begun to shift in turn.

Shen Sinian’s ear twitched; he heard footsteps approaching outside. He exchanged a glance with Shen Nanyuan, and the siblings tacitly fell silent.

There were two knocks at the hall door, and a thin, sharp voice called, “Captain Shen, His Highness heard that Her Grace has awakened and hurried over. Is Her Grace resting now?”

“She is not,” Shen Sinian replied. “Please, let His Highness enter.”

The door was gently pushed open. Gu Shengyu entered, his dark eyes settling unerringly on Shen Nanyuan, just as she had seen him through her haze.

She was about to rise and offer a salute, but Gu Shengyu quickly said, “You should rest, Your Grace, there’s no need for formalities.”

He looked genuinely concerned. “Are you all right?”

“Your Highness, I am unharmed,” Shen Nanyuan replied evenly. “I must thank you for your brave rescue; otherwise, I fear I would not be here to speak today.”

She was indeed grateful to Gu Shengyu for saving her at her most desperate moment, yet regarding the palace maid, she still harbored doubts.

“That’s good. There’s no need for further courtesy,” Gu Shengyu said, frowning slightly. “How did you fall into the pond, Your Grace?”

At his words, Shen Nanyuan glanced at Shen Sinian, lowered her eyes slightly, and said nothing. Shen Sinian, standing beside her, spoke up instead, not answering the question directly.

“Wasn’t His Highness admiring the flowers with Nanyuan? Where did you go, Your Highness?”

Though his tone was calm, Gu Shengyu immediately caught a hint of doubt and displeasure flickered across his face. “During last year’s royal hunt, I brought back a wild rabbit. At first, it was difficult to care for, but now it’s thriving. I wished to bring it for Her Grace to see.”

His voice was low. “When I returned, I saw Her Grace struggling in the pond, so I jumped in and saved her.”

“If Captain Shen still does not believe me, there are many palace maids and eunuchs who saw me carrying the rabbit to the imperial garden. You may question them. Besides, what reason would I have to push Her Grace into the water?”

Shen Sinian bowed. “Please, Your Highness, do not be angry. I did not mean to doubt you. It’s just that after Your Highness left, a palace maid arrived, claiming she was sent by you to accompany Nanyuan. It was that maid who pushed her into the water. Under such circumstances, it is difficult for me not to be suspicious.”

Gu Shengyu seemed genuinely shocked by this news. He furrowed his brows in bewilderment. “A palace maid I sent?”

He shook his head solemnly. “I never sent any maid. The imperial garden is not far from Huale Palace. I meant to return quickly, so why would I send a maid? And why would I order someone to push Her Grace into the water?”

“Clearly, someone is trying to frame me, to sow discord between myself and the Duke Protector’s household.”

Shen Nanyuan lowered her gaze, her mind in turmoil. For the moment, she could not discern whether the Second Prince spoke truth or falsehood. Too much had happened today; she was weary.

“Captain Shen should know,” Gu Shengyu narrowed his eyes, “if Her Grace had not awakened and no one could testify to what happened, it would be deemed my negligence that caused her to fall into the pond. The Duke Protector’s family would undoubtedly distance themselves from me. Who would benefit then...”

He left the sentence unfinished, but Shen Sinian understood. He pressed his lips together and looked down.

Recently, he had heard rumors in private—whispers of the Second Prince’s close ties with the Duke Protector’s household. With their support, the Second Prince would be the prime candidate for crown prince.

Perhaps someone was growing desperate.

Hearing that Consort Zhuang had invited Shen Nanyuan to the palace today, they had devised this vicious scheme to drive the Second Prince away from the position of heir.

Shen Sinian did not accept the Second Prince’s words without reservation, but in his heart, the scales tipped slightly in favor of Gu Shengyu’s explanation. He spoke, “I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

He bowed. “In any case, thank you, Your Highness, for saving Nanyuan’s life.”

He and Consort Zhuang had been too far from the pond to intervene in time. By the time they arrived, the Second Prince had already pulled Shen Nanyuan from the water. If not for him, Shen Sinian dared not imagine the consequences.

Gu Shengyu’s expression eased somewhat, and he nodded. “I, too, wish to know who is behind these events.”

He looked at Shen Nanyuan, his gaze softening. “Let Her Grace rest for today; she must be exhausted. Captain Shen, I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with the side hall for the night. The palace is under curfew—please leave at dawn.”

“I will stay until she has taken her medicine, then rest. Your Highness, you should return as well.”

“Very well,” Gu Shengyu agreed. “Now that I’ve seen Her Grace is safe, I can rest easy. Please take care, Your Grace. I will take my leave.”

Shen Nanyuan bowed her head. “Safe travels, Your Highness.”

She rubbed her brow, suddenly feeling a sharp headache.

If only she could leave the capital behind, none of this would have happened.