Chapter 99 No Regrets

Eunuch Li, accompanied by several young eunuchs, arrived at the gates of Prince Mu's manor in a palace sedan chair.

His face was wreathed in a smile, the kind that didn't reach the eyes, a superficial yet outwardly proper and courteous smile. He held the yellow silk scroll with both hands, unfurling it leisurely before the assembled crowd.

Only Shen Muzhou and Xiao Liu were present to receive the imperial decree. They knelt, awaiting Eunuch Li's pronouncement.

Eunuch Li flicked his whisk and shouted in his high-pitched voice, "Receive the imperial decree!"

"By the grace of heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

It was a marriage proposal.

A marriage was decreed between Luo Jingxin and Shen Muzhou, and she was to move into the manor the very next day to familiarize herself with the rules.

Long after the decree was read, Shen Muzhou remained kneeling, his gaze slightly lowered, his brow furrowed. Eunuch Li was perplexed, but this was Prince Mu, someone he could not afford to offend. He could only wait, daring not to rush.

Just as the atmosphere thickened to an icy stillness, Shen Muzhou raised his arm, palm facing up, and said, "Your subject accepts the decree."

Eunuch Li's displeased expression eased considerably. He respectfully presented the imperial decree, "Congratulations to Your Highness, a happy occasion is near."

After Shen Muzhou received the decree, he rose from the ground. Eunuch Li's gaze flickered into the distance, his expression momentarily stiffening before he quickly nodded.

Xiao Liu and Shen Muzhou turned their heads simultaneously, following Eunuch Li's line of sight.

Lin Yanxi, her small face devoid of emotion, looked at them with calm, limpid apricot eyes. Her complexion was pale, her constitution weak, and her dark hair cascaded loosely.

She was clad only in a white dress, which hung so loosely on her that it looked utterly out of proportion. The fluttering hem of her garment seemed as if it might be swept away by the wind at any moment, a picture of frailty.

Eunuch Li, regaining his composure, remarked, "It seems the second daughter of the Lin family is unwell. Should we summon an imperial physician to examine her?"

The young lady was dressed thinly, her face sallow. Standing there, she looked rather pitiful. Even the usually businesslike Eunuch Li couldn't help but express a touch of concern.

Shen Muzhou, who had been gravely ill for many years, had a manor physician whose skills were no less than those of an imperial physician. He declined Eunuch Li's kind offer.

Eunuch Li said no more, turning and departing with the young eunuchs.

Shen Muzhou strode quickly towards her, asking, "Why did you come out as soon as you woke up? Shouldn't you be resting?"

His tone was solicitous, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yanxi from head to toe, not daring to relax.

Lin Yanxi lowered her eyes, her gaze falling upon the yellow imperial decree in his hand. She remained silent, turning to walk towards her own Moonfall Pavilion.

Shen Muzhou knew what she was looking at.

The young lady, having just recovered from her illness, was still extremely weak. After only a few steps, she stumbled as if about to fall. Shen Muzhou caught her in time, scooping her up and carrying her towards Moonfall Pavilion.

She struggled weakly in his arms, her strength not even enough to match that of a kitten. Seeing that her struggles were futile, she obediently wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his embrace.

The darkness in Shen Muzhou's eyes instantly dissipated, and he held the person in his arms even tighter.

Moonfall Pavilion was already in a state of chaos.

Tang Chao sobbed, wiping her tears as she explained, "I only went to the latrine for a moment, and Miss was gone."

Li Zi asked, bewildered, "Then why didn't you ask me to come in and attend to Miss?"

Tang Chao stammered, unable to answer, and cried even harder.

Li Zi glared at her but didn't scold her further. "Let's hurry and find her. What's the use of crying here?"

Tang Chao followed Li Zi out of the courtyard. As they ran out, they saw the Prince returning, carrying their Miss.

"M-Miss. You're awake? That's wonderful!" Li Zi's eyes were fixed on her mistress, and she jumped up with excitement.

Tang Chao echoed, "Yes, we were so scared these past few days. Miss is finally awake."

Lin Yanxi's previously tense little face instantly brightened upon seeing the two of them. Her voice was soft, "Why are your eyes red again?"

Tang Chao, addressed by her mistress, began to cry even harder, "I, I was worried about Miss."

Shen Muzhou said in a deep voice, "Summon the manor physician."

Li Zi then scurried off to fetch the physician.

Xiao Liu and Tang Chao remained in the courtyard. He handed Tang Chao a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

The manor physician and Jiang Mingsheng arrived almost simultaneously. After examining her, the physician said, "Miss's body is very weak. Fortunately, now that she is awake, her life is saved. The wound is on her chest, which is extremely dangerous. She will need careful recuperation for some time."

Afterward, he wrote a prescription. Li Zi went to get the medicine according to the prescription, and Tang Chao followed her.

Jiang Mingsheng didn't understand much about medicine, but seeing that she was awake, he used his talisman power to probe her body. Strangely, he couldn't feel any response from the talisman power within her.

He couldn't even sense the talisman power in the ring on her hand.

"Master, is something amiss?"

Jiang Mingsheng smiled and said, "No, just rest well for the next few days and don't use your talisman power. We'll talk about it when you've recovered."

Lin Yanxi nodded.

Everyone dispersed, and the room was suddenly left with only Lin Yanxi and Shen Muzhou.

He asked, "Are you hungry?"

Lin Yanxi lowered her eyes, not speaking to him.

She didn't know why she felt upset, a nameless irritability.

Shen Muzhou didn't get angry and patiently coaxed her, "How about some porridge? Still the same as before, with a sprinkle of osmanthus honey?"

After waiting for a while, she still didn't speak. Shen Muzhou asked again, "You don't want to eat. The cooks at the manor don't cook well. I'll have Xiao Liu buy you something delicious from Baoxiu Tower. How about some braised chicken soup?"

"Or do you want to eat sugar cakes? Your body has just recovered, so you can't eat anything too sweet. Should I ask the shop to put less sugar on them for you?"

Lin Yanxi still ignored him.

Shen Muzhou sighed and said, "The remaining forces of my mother's clan only survived in the border city under the protection of Prince Anchang's manor. The Crown Prince has the support of nearly half the court, and the rest are supporting Shen Yu or other princes."

"Not to mention that the Grand Tutor is unwilling to support me. Even with the support of the Grand Tutor's manor, it's far from enough to contend with the Crown Prince. The Empress also has Shen Yu. This marriage can be seen as proof of the Emperor's favoritism towards Shen Yu."

The Emperor had kept Shen Yu in the capital, giving him a seemingly insignificant but not entirely unimportant position with a generous salary.

"For years, I have been the Emperor's dagger. Whoever he wanted me to stab, openly or covertly, the Darknight Guard would stab. I have offended everyone in the court. Even those I haven't offended, they fear me. Even if the Crown Prince falls, they won't support me."

"Apart from the Grand Tutor's manor, only by gaining the support of Prince Anchang's manor and my mother's clan's influence, combined with the gathered evidence of the Crown Prince's crimes, might I have a thirty percent chance of ascending to the Eastern Palace."

A thirty percent chance.

Lin Yanxi's brow furrowed slightly. Her previously petulant expression turned exceptionally serious.

Shen Muzhou paused, then looked at her, asking cautiously, "So, do you regret it?"

"Regret saving me."

As he looked at her, the emotion subtly flowing in his gaze softened her heart a little.

She shook her head, "No regrets."

Shen Muzhou's eyes burned with a pure intensity. "I will not let you down."

Lin Yanxi's earlier petulance had long since vanished. "I know, I believe in you. Together, we will definitely be able to overthrow the Crown Prince soon."

He stared intently into her eyes and said softly, "I wasn't talking about the Crown Prince."

"Hmm?" She didn't quite understand his meaning.

Shen Muzhou stood up from her bed, his back to her, his ear tips tinged red. "You should rest and recover first. I'll have the kitchen prepare something for you to eat."

Immediately after Eunuch Li delivered the imperial decree, Lin Ze stormed into Prince Mu's manor in the afternoon with his retainers.

Prince Mu's manor was heavily guarded, and the guards were all selected from the Darknight Guard. Shen Muzhou had already instructed them not to harm anyone from the Grand Tutor's manor.

The guards merely stood in a standoff with them, holding their swords.

Shen Muzhou arrived and saw Lin Ze approaching with a furious expression. "Lord Lin, do you have important business at my manor?"

Lin Ze glared at him and said, "Where is Lin Yanxi? Where is my daughter? Give me back my daughter!"

Shen Muzhou paused, guessing his intention, and waved his hand, causing the guards to lower their swords.

"Lord Lin, Yanxi is resting. I will take you to see her."

He led Lin Ze forward while the guards blocked the retainers Lin Ze had brought from entering the manor gates. Lin Ze entered the room, glanced at his ailing daughter lying in bed, and then rushed back outside to confront Shen Muzhou.

Lin Yanxi, having just eaten a little and resting, vaguely heard her father's angry reprimand.

"Is this how you've taken care of my daughter? She's covered in injuries!"

"My legitimate daughter, whom I've always cherished as a treasure. I didn't agree to marry her to the Crown Prince as his principal consort, yet you've only made her a secondary wife? Shen Muzhou! You've gone too far."

Lin Ze was so enraged that he even called Shen Muzhou by his full name, which was a grave disrespect.

The expressions of those around them changed.

Shen Muzhou paused and said, "Yanxi has been wronged."

"Wronged? More than wronged! I will risk my life today to take Yanxi away."

He became more agitated, reaching out to strike Shen Muzhou. Li Zi and Tang Chao rushed forward to restrain him.

Li Zi exclaimed, "Master! Master, please reconsider!"

Shen Muzhou said, "I will compensate her. If she wishes to leave, even if it means defying the imperial decree, I will let her go. If she does not wish to leave, no one can force her."

"I will bear all responsibility. She only needs to do as she pleases."

Lin Ze's temper eased slightly. "Are you sure?"

A calculating glint flashed in his eyes. This prince was truly good to Zhaozhao. The deeper his feelings for Zhaozhao, the more advantageous the situation would be for him.

Shen Muzhou looked at the closed door of the room, paused, and said with determination, "Sure."

Lin Ze gave a cold laugh. "Good, then I will take her away now!"

"Father, I cannot leave." A weak voice came from the crack of the door.

The closed door opened a sliver, and Lin Yanxi looked out from the gap.

Lin Ze was also stunned. Shen Muzhou quickly stepped in, helped her back to bed, and sat her against the headboard.

He pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "What I just said... I meant it."

Lin Yanxi looked at him, blinked, and remained silent. He gave a somewhat unnatural smile. He seemed to be restraining himself, and after a moment of silence, he still withdrew from the room.

"I... I'll wait for you in the courtyard."

Seeing this, Li Zi and Tang Chao also prepared to leave the room and serve outside.

Lin Yanxi suddenly spoke, "Tang Chao, you stay in the room and serve. Pour my father a cup of tea."

"Yes, Miss." Tang Chao was nimble and quick-witted. She closed the door and turned to make tea.

For a moment, only Lin Ze and Lin Yanxi were left in the room. He looked at Lin Yanxi with heartache and said, "Zhaozhao, come back with me."

"That Princess Chaoyang is the legitimate daughter of Prince Anchang's manor. She grew up in the palace. Although she appears gentle and virtuous on the surface, how many people who thrive in the harem are easy to deal with?"

"Don't be foolish. Look at all your injuries. Leave Prince Mu's manor with your father as soon as possible."

Lin Yanxi lowered her eyes and looked at her body, which indeed bore old and new wounds, looking rather pitiful.

She asked in a flat tone, "Father, aren't all these injuries arranged by you?"