Chapter 161

Chapter 161: An Imperial Edict Arrived

The hunt ended early, and Northern Di Fourth Prince had been poisoned. In just one day, a Palace Eunuch came early the next morning to announce that everyone would depart ahead of schedule and return to the capital.

Sheng Zhi Wan had already told Liu Shang and An Zhi to pack. As soon as Sheng Zhi Wan walked out of the Annex Courtyard, she saw Qi Shu Xian supporting Meng Yang as Meng Yang came out.

Meng Yang’s face looked terrible, but her mood seemed quite good. When Meng Yang saw Sheng Zhi Wan, Meng Yang pretended to panic and tried to push Qi Shu Xian away. Qi Shu Xian refused to let Meng Yang stand alone, so Meng Yang only struggled a little before going limp and leaning back against him. Meng Yang said softly, “Heir Apparent, Princess is still here. Don’t be like this.”

Qi Shu Xian only glanced at Sheng Zhi Wan and said flatly, “It’s fine. You’re injured. Sheng Zhi Wan should understand.”

Qi Shu Xian still had not told Meng Yang that the child was gone. In Qi Shu Xian’s mind, this was what Sheng Zhi Wan owed Meng Yang. Even if Sheng Zhi Wan felt unhappy, could it compare to Meng Yang’s pain at losing a child?

With that resentment in his chest, Qi Shu Xian ignored Sheng Zhi Wan completely and helped Meng Yang into the carriage.

The Annex Courtyard rooms in the travel palace stood close together. Many people saw the scene, and many startled, curious eyes turned toward them.

An Zhi bit her lip. “Princess…” Those people would surely start twisting things again.

Sheng Zhi Wan only laughed softly. “It’s fine. The Heir Apparent and Concubine Meng were deeply in love, made for each other. That’s good.”

As for Sheng Zhi Wan, she would no longer stand between them.

After they returned to Duke Manor, Qi Shu Xian’s carriage entered the manor directly. Qi Shu Xian did not say a single word to Sheng Zhi Wan. Sheng Zhi Wan did not care.

When Sheng Zhi Wan got down, a Palace Eunuch came to collect the medical book. It was not Su De Yun, but Sheng Zhi Wan recognized him as the one who had delivered the oral message the other day. Sheng Zhi Wan did not make things difficult. Sheng Zhi Wan had An Zhi fetch the book from the study and hand it over directly, without Sheng Zhi Wan even touching it.

After the Palace Eunuch left, Sheng Zhi Wan went alone to the study.

Sheng Zhi Wan had An Zhi light a brazier outside.

The first thing Sheng Zhi Wan threw in was the straw grasshopper Qi Shu Xian had given her the first time they met. Back then, Qi Shu Xian did not know her identity. He had seen her outside the palace playing with grasshoppers and casually handed her a straw one. His youth had been bright as sunlight, but it had only been warm for the Sheng Zhi Wan of that time.

The second thing Sheng Zhi Wan tossed in was the wooden hairpin Qi Shu Xian had made for her. Sheng Zhi Wan lacked nothing, yet when Qi Shu Xian gave her a hairpin he carved with his own hands, she had been truly happy. The smooth wood had long since developed a sheen, polished by the way Sheng Zhi Wan used to touch it again and again.

As for the rest…

Sheng Zhi Wan took out every painting scroll from around the study. Qi Shu Xian fishing. Qi Shu Xian flying a kite. Qi Shu Xian smiling. Qi Shu Xian frowning while studying…

During the two years Qi Shu Xian was gone, Sheng Zhi Wan had painted countless versions of him, stroke by stroke. With each scroll, she only needed one glance to remember how she had felt while painting, how she had waited and waited for Qi Shu Xian to return.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s fingers rested on the scrolls. In the end, without a trace of longing, Sheng Zhi Wan tossed them in one by one.

Flames licked upward.

Sheng Zhi Wan heard the maids gasp.

Sheng Zhi Wan opened the door and saw Qi Shu Xian rushing toward her with coldness gathered in his eyes.

Sheng Zhi Wan frowned and called, “Liu Shang.”

Liu Shang immediately stepped in front of Sheng Zhi Wan.

Qi Shu Xian’s face turned even darker. His eyes swept the brazier and the smoke and ash in the study, but he had no interest in dealing with it. He only looked at Sheng Zhi Wan with deep disappointment and said, word by word, “The child in Meng Yang’s belly is gone.”

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her brows. Sheng Zhi Wan was not surprised.

“It was a boy, already formed,” Qi Shu Xian said, voice icy and accusing. “If you had been willing to act yesterday… he might not have died. Zhi Wan, when did you become so cold and heartless?”

That was Qi Shu Xian’s first offspring. Because of Sheng Zhi Wan, the child never even got a chance to see the world.

Qi Shu Xian’s grief twisted in his chest.

Sheng Zhi Wan only froze for an instant, then laughed coldly. “Her child died. What does it have to do with this Princess?”

Qi Shu Xian did not expect Sheng Zhi Wan to still refuse to admit wrong at a time like this. Were other lives really so cheap to her?

“Meng Yang said you pushed her into the flower pond and forced her to soak there for a long time. She said you shoved her too,” Qi Shu Xian said harshly. “Meng Yang was always healthy. If you hadn’t kept making things hard for her, how could she have gone into early labor?”

Sheng Zhi Wan found it ridiculous. “Which eye of yours saw this Princess push her into the flower pond?”

“You still dare deny it?” Qi Shu Xian snapped. “If I had known it would be like this, I should have waited until she gave birth before bringing her back to the manor!”

Regret tangled with anger, and Qi Shu Xian hated Sheng Zhi Wan’s coldness even more.

Sheng Zhi Wan sneered. “Instead of suspecting Concubine Meng’s early labor was because of me, the Heir Apparent should ask your own heart. If you weren’t so useless, why would she need to work herself to earn silver for Duke Manor while still serving the Duchess?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s words cut deeper and deeper. “If you truly cared about her, why didn’t you personally take care of the Duchess? Why didn’t you personally go out and work to earn silver?”

Qi Shu Xian turned hot with shame and anger. Yet Qi Shu Xian could not force out a single word in rebuttal.

A servant announced outside, “Princess, Duke requests your presence!”

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips together and flicked his sleeve coldly.

Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at the time and smiled faintly. “Fine. Then I will go.”

Sheng Zhi Wan also wanted to see just how shameless Duke Manor could be.

The winter evening wind still cut to the bone. Sheng Zhi Wan and Qi Shu Xian entered one after the other. As soon as Sheng Zhi Wan stepped inside, she saw Concubine Lian looking at her with worry.

All the masters and concubines of Duke Manor were here now, except Qi Fei Rui and Meng Yang.

Madam Cui lay in bed with eyes wide open. Qi Shu Lang stared at Sheng Zhi Wan with a gloomy hatred. Concubine Ping attended Madam Cui at the bedside. Concubine Lian and Madam Tao sat below Duke Qi. Duke Qi sat high at the head.

The moment Duke Qi saw Sheng Zhi Wan, Duke Qi hurled a teacup at her. “Shu Xian’s daughter-in-law! Kneel!”

The cup shattered at Sheng Zhi Wan’s feet. Sheng Zhi Wan did not even blink. Sheng Zhi Wan only looked at Duke Qi and smiled. “Why should this Princess kneel?”

Duke Qi’s face went black. “Because you are unvirtuous and ungrateful, jealous and vicious. You killed Shu Xian’s first offspring, Duke Manor’s first grandchild!”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled lightly. “May I ask what evidence Duke has?”

“I saw it with my own eyes!” Duke Qi shouted. “You are jealous and heartless. You clearly know medicine, yet you only save outsiders and refuse to save your own family. If you won’t reflect and confess, Duke Manor will never keep a daughter-in-law like you!”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile did not change. “Then how does Duke want this Princess to confess?”

Duke Qi said ruthlessly, “Kneel and reflect. And also, didn’t His Majesty grant you one promise after you saved Northern Di Fourth Prince yesterday? Use that promise to restore Shu Xian’s position. That can count as you barely redeeming your sin!”

Sheng Zhi Wan could not hold it in anymore. Sheng Zhi Wan laughed with pure contempt.

Duke Qi roared, “What are you laughing at?”

At that moment, the steward rushed in with an urgent report. “Duke! Heir Apparent! An Imperial Edict has arrived from the palace!”

Everyone’s expression changed. Duke Qi shot to his feet and said joyfully, “It must be Shu Xian’s reward for performing well during the hunt. His Majesty’s reward edict has arrived!”