Princess, Spare My Life - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: To Secretly Slip Away

Chen San nodded and said, “Of course, I know but it’s just that…it’s not convenient for me to tell you now. If you go back, I will go to the owner of the Thousand Jade Pagoda and make sure that the prince consort is returned to you while completely intact.” After a brief pause, he started to ask with a dejected expression, “Do you know that your family’s prince consort is…”

When Chen San spoke up to here, Yuan Shang made a sound by clearing her throat. After being in contact with Chen San for the past few days, she had already understood him. This person was a medical guru. Although his martial arts skills were strong, he trained in the medical field. His internal strength was profound and he was an expert in saving people, but he was an amateur in murder. Besides his study of medicine, this person was tight-lipped when it came to secrets. Therefore, even when she was in female clothing, he would not question it.

Moreover, Yuan Shang was not afraid of others discovering her gender. Regardless, she had already decided not to be part of the Su family. She had to run far away. In order to facilitate this escape, she would wear clothing for women.

However, at this time, she noticed that some of the questions that Chen San wanted to bring up were related to her, causing her to become anxious.

She didn’t know why but she just didn’t want the princess to find out that she was a woman; she did not want the princess to think that she was deceiving her.

Chen San hesitated before asking, “Regarding the identity of your family’s prince consort…do you…”

In any case, Princess Minghui couldn’t know that Yuan Shang was a woman. She replied, thinking that he was acting odd. “Senior Brother, what did you say? What happened to the prince consort?”

Chen San paused and ultimately stopped asking. He didn’t know what would happen if the prince consort’s gender were to leak out, but deceiving the imperial family was a heavy crime. Even if Chen San disdained the matters of the mundane world, he was clear about how serious the matter was. How could he be willing to push a medical prodigy like Yuan Shang into danger?

Switching topics, he said, “It’s nothing, I haven’t seen you for a few years, yet you have become so big and even got married. I still remember how you would spend time in the mountains in high spirits. You would often shout about how you would never get married. Your aunt, Gu Changyi, crossed over to another country and settled down to bring peace and stability like a hero. I never expected to see you again, but when I did, you had already married Su Qi…who’s such a weak prince consort for a woman like you. Still… it’s a matter worthy of virtue.”

At this moment, Princess Minghui finally flashed a bright smile, a smile that was from the bottom of her heart. She had the aura of a naturally young lady. “Senior Brother, how did you remember the words that Yuemin said when she was a child? At that time, Yuemin was naughty and would always suffer serious injuries. Yuemin would always cause trouble to Senior Brother!”

After the discussion was over, her smile gradually became stifled and as vague as the reflection of the moon on a lake. It was short-lived and vanished without a trace. “What virtue? I was only assuming the countenance that was proper for going to the imperial palace.  But now, even when I am out of the palace, it became a habit. The palace is not as comfortable as the mountains I frequented in the past. I am the sister of the crown prince. Nowadays, my elder brother’s, the crown prince’s, position not stable. As his only younger sister, how could I not help him with his plans?”

Glancing at Chen San, she spoke once again, “Judging by Senior Brother’s tone, is the prince consort… safe and sound?”

“This is naturally the case, otherwise, I would dare not to say that the prince consort could be returned to you intact.” Chen San thoughtfully nodded and said, “It turns out that you only married Su Qi to let the crown prince gain the support of the Duke of Zhao, right? However, the Duke of Zhao was the pillar of support when establishing the Dayan dynasty. He would never participate in the battle of succession!”

Princess Minghui raised a teacup in one hand and removed the lid with her other. She moved the tea stalk floating the water aside without hesitation and said, “As long as Su Qi is still my prince consort, the Duke of Zhao will not ignore the crown prince. Even if the Duke of Zhao told the emperor that he wouldn’t do anything on the outside, he would be slightly more indulgent to my elder brother, the crown prince.”

Su Qi was the Duke of Zhao’s most beloved grandson; this was a well-known fact. When it came to the emperor, she would also be lenient towards Su Qi. It was just that Su Qi had never caused trouble nor act arrogantly. She grew up outside of the Imperial City, so she never had any conflicts with the noble children of the capital. Therefore, she did not attract people’s attention nor hatred.

Chen San’s voice had become a bit muffled; he sighed and said, “In my eyes, you are still only a child, but you are thinking about the schemes and fights of the imperial court for days…it’s no wonder why you are so anxious when it comes to your family’s safety. Sure enough, your actions are for these schemes. I originally thought that you cared about your family’s prince consort… I read his pulse and found out that he has numerous kinds of medications in his body. Most of the drugs are good and should have been taken for months. However, giving him too much of these medications would lessen their effects. These may not have hurt his body nor bones for now, but if this continues for any longer, I am afraid that his life might be in danger!”

“Is that so?” Princess Minghui’s vision swept around. Perhaps she noticed the indifference and dissatisfaction on Chen San’s face as she slowly said, “Senior Brother, Su Qi was always in bad health from childhood until now. To improve his health, Su Ce sent the number one martial arts prodigy of the Su family, Su Yin, to help him train daily. I also constantly search for the best medicinal ingredients to nourish him—Last time, I got some snow lotus herbs from Senior Brother for him to eat. Senior Brother, you should understand, I want him to live past a hundred-years-old, so how could he be poisoned? I even acted like an arrogant and overbearing princess when dealing with the prince consort so that the Duke of Zhao would pay attention to us. If he had an unexpected accident, wouldn’t the Duke of Zhao despise me? I want the Duke of Zhao to protect my elder brother, the crown prince. Su Qi is the Duke of Zhao’s grandson and grandson. In my mind, it would be better if Su Qi lived longer, so why would I try to harm him?”

—I only wish for the Duke of Zhao to protect my elder brother, the crown prince. In order to do this, I need Su Qi, the grandson of the Duke of Zhao.

When this sentence was said, Yuan Shang felt that someone’s gaze was on her. She glanced back at Yu Qinghong as Yu Qinghong coldly looked back at her without backing down. The corners of her mouth curled as she sneered as if she were saying, “Look, your family’s princess has no affection towards you! It’s no wonder why you decided to run away from home!”

Yuan Shang ignored her as she continued to watch Princess Minghui’s appearance carefully.

Her body was the epitome of weak and she knew this from her observations. This body might be frail ever since she was in her mother’s womb. Although her body had been nourished by the internal rehabilitation and tonics over the course of many years, it was not enough. Every medicine would have its side effects. If used well, one could strengthen oneself. Internal force could be used to treat the meridians, and external training could strengthen the body. She had used her own medicine to train like her predecessor, and with her strong and unwavering personality, her body was much better than before.—Her mentality also had a great impact on her body. The original Su Qi was a gloomy shut-in who did not go out of her house throughout the entire day, so how could she have a healthy body?

Princess Minghui was still frowning as she revealed a weary expression; she said, “Senior Brother, you can be considered a part of the Tianyun Temple’s members. Why do they live in the outskirts of the Imperial City yet refuse to set foot within the imperial palace? The Tianyun Temple is a martial arts school. Nevertheless, they can still enter the imperial court, but how come the Godly Medical Sect can’t?”

Chen San repeatedly waved his hands in denial and said, “I am not a member of the Tianyun Temple! Tianyun Temple’s Cheng Tian cares about the affairs of the country. This old man is just a doctor who practices medicine to help people. I refuse to meddle with the country’s politics!”

“Senior Brother and the Godly Medical Sect manage the common folk while the Tianyun Temple manages the whole world. Aren’t you all using different routes to reach the same destination?”

“Don’t bring words that your father had said into the conversation. I have already said that this doctor can’t cure the world; he can only cure people. Moreover, the emperor cannot call upon the Godly Medical Sect. You, a royal from the younger generation, shouldn’t try to argue against this old man’s decision ever again!”

Princess Minghui smiled and said, “Right now, the rulers of the world have yet to be decided. However, the Xiongnu are rebelling in the north, the southern borders have been invaded, the east has Lu Zhenhai as the emperor, the southwestern Sichuan prefecture is being independently governed, and the Emperor Shuwei, Fan Bing, bullies the common folk and people have no way to make a living under him. The remaining forces of the former dynasty are led by the Queen of Qin, Guo Heng, who refuses to leave the mountains and forests. The reason why the world has not been unified yet is not that our soldiers and officers would refuse to obey orders. Rather, each and every one of our imperial high-ranking officers is a well-known, clever, and valiant military leader. In addition, all of our soldiers would risk their lives and limbs to fight through thick and thin, but it is always difficult to overcome obstacles such as not being used to the climate, plague, smuggling, etc. If Senior Brother is willing to become the head of the imperial physicians, the power of the whole country would increase. Furthermore, the earlier you do, the earlier the Dayan citizens could be freed from the chaos of war. Won’t countless people in this world have freedom from pain and suffering and won’t have to end up under a soldier’s blade? Wouldn’t the troubled times stop? I want the soldiers of our army to bring peace to this world, and I want to protect my Dayan people by relying on Godly Doctors like Senior Brother!”

Chen San bitterly laughed twice before saying, “You are quite eloquent with your words. Indeed, you are the emperor’s daughter. Even your abilities of persuasion are similar! After listening to you saying this, if I don’t accept the imperial physician title, it would be as if I were an executioner allowing soldiers to die in vain! Frankly, the difference between me being here and me entering the palace to become the imperial physician is not big. It’s only a little distance away from here, but there might be times when I will be too late during an emergency even if a fast horse could take me there. As someone who works with families, I also wish to go to the capital to teach and pass my medical skills down. That would definitely develop and promote the Godly Medical Sect’s practices. However, the sect leader had specifically instructed us to never treat a member of the imperial family, so I must obey!” He shook his head and sighed.

Princess Minghui smiled in satisfaction. “You can be the finest doctor in the Imperial City; you don’t need to be an imperial physician! Let my father, the emperor, make a special case. My father would surely become very happy! As long as Senior Brother desires that a well, we can discuss and find the best of both worlds. Senior Brother can not only avoid violating the instructions of your master, but also enhance the Godly Medical Sect’s art of healing!”

Princess Minghui put down the teacup and said, “Senior Brother, I have now promised to not pursue any matters regarding the assassination. Now, can tell me where the prince consort is?”

Chen San nodded and said, “You, follow me!” Chen San took a few steps toward the small incense burner table and used the opening mechanism. Before them, the entrance to the basement suddenly appeared as the sound of machinery echoed. Chen San pointed with his finger and said, “He’s here!”

Princess Minghui, who has always been calm and collected, suddenly became rigid.

“I am afraid that you will take the disciple of the Thousand Jade Pagoda back, so…huh, where are they?” Chen San stopped on the stairs leading to the underground room with a stunned expression.

As Princess Minghui walked past the entrance, she saw medicine cabinets scattered across the ground of the hidden room. The corner had a dark hole that was tall enough for an average man to pass through as it continued to extend to the outside. The edges of the hole were clearly man-made based on the traces of vandalism as the room’s mechanisms were completely broken. It may take a lot of effort, materials, and skills to close that tunnel.

Occasionally, the wind would blow from the tunnel, carrying a mixture of a muddy and rocky smell. As the scents diffused in the desolate air, the people were gone and the place was now empty.

—End of Volume 1—