A winding path led to a secluded spot, where flowers and trees were bathed in intoxicating beauty.
Having rescued Xiao Changying, she could not leave while he remained unconscious. Even if she summoned local officials, they would not permit her departure.
Originally, she had intended to sit briefly in the small pavilion in the garden, as the sunlight was splendid and she felt no fatigue.
Just then, she heard that the mistress of this estate requested an audience. Hongyu reported: "Your Highness, Madame Ma and Miss Ma seek an audience, claiming they have urgent matters to report."
"Bring them in." Shen Xihe held little expectation for their so-called urgent matters.
By residing here, she had made her identity known. The owners of this estate were merely wealthy commoners hoping to gain her favor. Yet since she was using their property, why not indulge this trivial request?
Soon, the three were led in by Hongyu. Shen Xihe’s gaze swept over them and lingered on a tall, slender figure.
He wore coarse hemp robes, his long hair casually draped down his back. One hand was clasped behind him, his steps steady and composed. His once fair skin now bore a sun-kissed tan. Stripped of fine silks and ornate jewels, devoid of the aristocratic elegance bestowed by luxury, he remained the Xie Yunhuai who had once captivated the capital.
Jade hidden in stone makes the mountain gleam; pearls embraced by water lend the river its charm.
The name Xie Yunhuai became extraordinary because of him.
Xie Yunhuai—the eldest legitimate son of the Duke of Wei, head of the eight noble families—was erudite, graceful, dignified in bearing, and refined in manners.
The princes of the Youning Emperor were all accomplished in both civil and military arts, gifted with talent and beauty. Xie Yunhuai had grown up alongside these dragon-born and phoenix-bred scions, studying alongside them in the imperial academy. Yet he was the only one whose brilliance could outshine the rest—a dazzling star impossible to overlook amid the radiance of others.
He had once been Gu Qingzhi’s fiancé, the only man she ever paid attention to.
One was a young gentleman celebrated throughout the capital, the object of many maidens’ affections; the other was a paragon of noble virtue, acclaimed as one of the nine finest ladies of the capital.
Betrothed since childhood, they seemed a perfect match—a couple made in heaven. Yet fate ultimately denied them union.
This gentle, unassuming young man, after his mother died with grievances in the Duke of Wei’s mansion, angrily exposed his father’s plot to murder his wife. During the banquet celebrating his father’s remarriage, he severed his hair before all the guests, severing all ties with his family, declaring he would no longer be a son of the Xie clan.
That year, Xie Yunhuai was fourteen, and Gu Qingzhi was thirteen. They had just begun discussing marriage arrangements.
Afterward, he personally carried thorns to seek punishment, kneeling before the Gu family’s gates to return the betrothal tokens and annul the engagement.
Chancellor Gu tried earnestly to dissuade him, even expressing willingness to wed his cherished daughter to him regardless. But Xie Yunhuai declared his intent to wander the mountains and rivers, henceforth enduring wind and dew, fearing he would disappoint such devotion. He insisted on breaking the engagement without even meeting Gu Qingzhi once, departing resolutely.
This incident further hardened Gu Qingzhi’s already skeptical heart toward men.
Men—they always had their deepest priorities: parents, siblings, beautiful women, wealth, broad avenues of power, or untrammeled freedom… Only when stripped of all these would the foolish woman who poured her entire heart into him remain.
Six years had passed in the blink of an eye. The once bamboo-slender, jade-like youth, though weathered by years of traversing mountains and fields, still carried himself with the innate grace of a noble scion.
"This humble woman and her daughter pay respects to Your Highness." While Shen Xihe was lost in thought, the three had approached, with Madame Ma leading the bow."Rise." Biyu stepped forward with a placid tone. "You claimed to have urgent matters to report to the Lady. What are these urgent matters?"
"With your permission, My Lady." Madam Ma presented Xie Yunhuai. "This is the most renowned physician within a hundred li. Doctor Qi insists on seeing you regarding a matter of life and death."
Xie Yunhuai maintained excellent composure. Even as Madam Ma shifted all responsibility onto him, he stepped forward unhurriedly and bowed with clasped hands. "This humble commoner Qi Yunhuai pays respects to the Lady."
"What life-and-death matter could possibly involve our Lady?" Biyu demanded.
"My Lady," Xie Yunhuai began, "this commoner resides in Majia Village and often gathers herbs in the mountains. Yesterday at noon while descending, I noticed several datura plants growing wild. When I returned this morning, they had been picked. After making inquiries, I discovered your maid was most likely the one who picked them." Though he had changed his surname and given name, Xie Yunhuai could not conceal his dignified composure and graceful bearing. "Thus I came specifically to warn you—while datura is beautiful, it is poisonous and unsuitable for indoor display. Particularly for your precious health, prolonged exposure could be life-threatening."
Shen Xihe had not expected this matter, yet it was indeed serious.
Had anything happened to her here, many innocent people would likely face consequences. The Youning Emperor would have to make a show of giving Shen Yueshan an explanation.
Perhaps from Xie Yunhuai's perspective, Shen Xihe's maid had picked the beautiful wild flowers, unrecognized by anyone, to add elegance and vitality to the Lady's chambers. But Shen Xihe's heart palpitations, present since birth, made exposure to datura's fragrance potentially fatal. That was why she had been particularly cautious while burning incense for Xiao Changying last night.
"Your concern is appreciated." Shen Xihe finally spoke, her voice exceptionally pleasant—soft as feathers brushing clear mountain springs, gentle and serene. "Ziyu, fetch the purple pearl headpiece and mutton-fat jade double-fish pearl bracelets as rewards for Madam Ma and Miss Ma."
Both women bowed with overwhelming delight. "Thank you for your generosity, My Lady."
Ziyu escorted the mother and daughter away. Shen Xihe addressed Xie Yunhuai, "Doctor Qi truly embodies benevolent heart and skilled hands. I've often heard of countless extraordinary talents living in seclusion. Given your remarkable medical skills, and since I've suffered from heart palpitations since childhood, would you examine my pulse?"
"This commoner is but a rustic villager," Xie Yunhuai declined unhurriedly. "You are Golden Branches and Jade Leaves, surely surrounded by Sacred Healers from the medical community. I dare not embarrass myself."
"Having heard enough flattery, I wish to hear truthfulness," Shen Xihe persisted instead of letting the matter drop. "Simply examine my pulse. I won't require prescriptions—only your sincere assessment."
Xie Yunhuai perceived that this Lady wasn't suddenly curious about him or deliberately making things difficult, but genuinely wished to understand her physical condition. He rarely encountered such tranquility in nobility. Bowing, he said, "Then I beg your forgiveness for my presumption."
Hongyu placed a light silk handkerchief over Shen Xihe's wrist. Xie Yunhuai approached the pavilion, maintaining a slight bow throughout, his gaze never straying to Shen Xihe's face as he placed his fingers on her pulse.After withdrawing his hand, Xie Yunhuai pondered for a moment before saying, "Your Highness was originally weak with insufficient qi and blood, and has just recovered from a cold. The faint and deep pulse at the cun position indicates excessive worry and extreme fatigue. Your Highness should calm your mind and rest well. Moreover, does Your Highness consume dried dates daily?"
"Dried dates were recommended by the Imperial Physician. As I was born prematurely with insufficient qi and blood, eating a few dried dates daily helps replenish qi and nourish blood," Shen Xihe indeed had this habit, both in the past and now. "But is there any issue with it?"
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