The Northwest King's Manor and the Kang Prince's Manor had forged a deadly enmity fourteen years ago.
Fourteen years ago, Shen Yueshan was summoned to the capital to receive imperial rewards. No one expected the wine bestowed by the emperor to have been drugged.
Initially thought to be overwhelmed by alcohol, Shen Yueshan was permitted to rest in the palace. It was then that Xiao Shi infiltrated the bedchamber where he was resting.
Defiling the imperial harem and violating the emperor's cousin—the legitimate daughter of the Kang Prince's Manor—drew the Youning Emperor's thunderous wrath. Had the Empress Dowager not uncovered that Xiao Shi had bribed palace attendants to tamper with the emperor's bestowed wine and drugged Shen Yueshan, Shen Yueshan would have deserved imprisonment.
Even so, to preserve imperial dignity, how could the Youning Emperor allow his cousin to become a concubine? Though the fault lay with Xiao Shi, with the Empress Dowager upholding justice and the imperial clan exerting pressure, they sought to have Shen Yueshan marry Xiao Shi as an equal wife.
Shen Yueshan had no choice but to suppress his disgust and agree. When the news reached the Northwest, the Northwest Consort, who was pregnant with Shen Xihe, was immediately distressed. Forced into premature labor at only eight months, she later suffered a difficult birth, giving life to the sickly Shen Xihe before passing away.
Upon hearing the news, Shen Yueshan rushed to the palace, surrendered his military authority over the Northwest, and insisted on observing mourning for his deceased wife, firmly refusing to marry Xiao Shi.
Coincidentally, the Turks beyond the Northwest launched an invasion. Left with no alternative, the Youning Emperor could only reprimand Xiao Shi and the Kang Prince's Manor, while lavishly posthumously honoring the Northwest Consort and the critically ill Shen Xihe.
In the end, Shen Xihe was enfeoffed as the Zhaoning County Princess, with a fief of three thousand households and privileges equivalent to a Duke of the State. The use of the character "Ning" in her title highlighted the emperor's favor.
Shen Yungan was enfeoffed as the heir, while Xiao Shi remained in the capital, forbidden from setting foot in the Northwest for life.
Only then did Shen Yueshan accept the command in a time of crisis, leading troops once more to quell the external turmoil in the Northwest.
Unexpectedly, two months later, Xiao Shi was diagnosed with pregnancy, and ten months after that, she gave birth to Shen Yueshan's only illegitimate daughter—Shen Yingluo.
With a father who was the powerful Northwest King, a mother who was the legitimate daughter of a prince's manor, and an uncle who was the reigning emperor, she ought to have been a golden branch and jade leaf on par with a princess. Yet, her status as an illegitimate child made her position extremely awkward.
In recent years, Shen Yingluo had accompanied the Fourth Princess in her studies at the palace. Favored by the Youning Emperor for her wit and intelligence, she was enfeoffed as a County Lord, which slightly improved her circumstances.
The Kang Prince's Manor held not only a mortal grudge against Shen Xihe but also the hatred of her mother's death!
"Princess Manor." Shen Xihe disliked crowds. "Have more flowers and trees purchased."
"Acknowledged." Biyu withdrew to make the arrangements.
Shen Xihe felt somewhat fatigued and took a brief nap under Hongyu's care. Upon waking half an hour later, Hongyu informed her that Xie Yunhuai had arrived.
Over the past half month, Xie Yunhuai had discerned some insights, but without practical application, he could not be certain. However, with only one Bone Shedding Pill in existence, it was impossible to test it arbitrarily on someone. Hearing that Shen Xihe had arrived, Xie Yunhuai came to seek her instructions.
"I will take it myself," Shen Xihe said with a calm expression.
"County Princess, please reconsider." Xie Yunhuai disapproved of Shen Xihe testing the medicine on herself.
"This pill is unique, and I have but three to five years to live. It is better to take a risk." Shen Xihe insisted.
"Although this medicine is not highly toxic, it is potent in heat and dryness. I recommend using snow water to guide the medicine." Knowing he could not dissuade her, Xie Yunhuai carefully suggested, "One cup of snow water with half a qian of the Bone Shedding Pill. Take one dose first, County Princess. Allow me to check your pulse for a few days before deciding further."The Bone Shedding Pill contained a large amount of potent tonic herbs. Although Old Man with White Hair had formulated it with exceptional skill, Shen Xihe's constitution was inherently cold and frail. Xie Yunhuai exercised extreme caution—half a qian was already the minimum dosage that could ensure medicinal efficacy, entirely calculated according to pediatric standards.
Snow water was easily obtainable, as many tea connoisseurs and tea houses collected winter snowmelt. With enough money, there was nothing that couldn't be purchased.
Just as Shen Xihe was about to instruct Hongyu to buy a jar, Xie Yunhuai lifted a small wine jar: "This is my stored White Plum Snow Water. If the princess wishes to take the medicine, please use this."
"Thank you." Shen Xihe did not refuse. Taking advantage of Xie Yunhuai's presence, she immediately poured a cup and scraped approximately half a qian of the Bone Shedding Pill. Without even furrowing her brow, she first swallowed the medicine, holding it in her mouth,
then downed a cup of the icy snow water in one gulp. The penetrating cold snow water slid into her body, making her hands and feet feel frozen, while the pill entering her system felt like a ball of fire burning inside.
In an instant, Shen Xihe felt as though her body was trapped between ice and fire. Her originally pale face, already paler than most, drained completely of color.
Fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead. She was in extreme agony but clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and endured silently without uttering a word.
"Doctor Qi, will the princess be able to withstand this?"" Hongyu asked, her eyes glistening with tears.
Xie Yunhuai's expression was grave. He firmly held Shen Xihe's wrist, monitoring the changes in her pulse, while his other hand held a silver needle, ready to administer acupuncture at any moment.
Shen Xihe's pulse fluctuated abnormally—at times as faint as a wandering thread, at others strong and vigorous—causing Xie Yunhuai's brows to gradually knit together.
Unable to bear the excruciating pain of the clash between ice and fire, Shen Xihe collapsed onto the table with a thud.
"Princess!"" Hongyu and Biyu exclaimed in alarm, while Moyu and Ziyu, who were guarding outside, rushed in.
Xie Yunhuai pressed his lips together and prepared to administer acupuncture to Shen Xihe.
As the cold glint of the needle flashed past the corner of her eye, Shen Xihe weakly and laboriously spoke: "I... can endure..."
Shen Xihe was in such pain that the veins on her forehead and the back of her hands bulged. Her bloodless lips were stained with a layer of blood, yet she continued to grit her teeth and endure.
Xie Yunhuai held her wrist. Although her pulse was chaotic, it was gradually stabilizing. Administering acupuncture now would undo all the progress.
"A handkerchief, for the princess to bite on," Xie Yunhuai commanded gravely.
Biyu hurriedly took out a clean handkerchief, folded it, and handed it to Shen Xihe. Trembling slightly from the discomfort, Shen Xihe closed her eyes.
She could also sense that the intensity of the pain was slowly diminishing. Having endured the worst of it, she knew she could persevere through the remainder.
She had a premonition that if taking the Bone Shedding Pill in this manner proved effective, she would inevitably have to endure such agony each time. If she didn't tough it out now, she would develop fear in the future.
Seeing her refuse the handkerchief, Xie Yunhuai sighed inwardly, a flicker of pity crossing his eyes.
She was one of the most delicate and noble ladies in the world—ordinary young misses would fuss for ages over a prick from an embroidery needle. Yet, despite her fragility and having been raised in utmost luxury, she could endure such torment. He couldn't help but regard her with newfound respect.
A full half-hour passed—Shen Xihe endured the pain for half an hour before fainting after the agony subsided.
When she awoke, it was already evening with lanterns lit. Opening her eyes, she saw Hongyu and Ziyu with red, rabbit-like eyes, and felt a slight warmth in her heart."Your Highness, let us never take the Bone Shedding Pill again. When Sister Zhenzhu returns, we will surely find another way." Ziyu spoke through sobs as she helped Shen Xihe up.
"Have I not endured it?" Shen Xihe's face remained pale, her voice gentle. "I too wish that one day I could gallop across the grasslands with Father and Elder Brother, racing with the wind and chasing the sun."
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