Chapter Thirteen

His words left me speechless.

When he began writing the prescription, my heart was still racing. After a long silence, I finally asked, “Is anyone else available at the Imperial Medical Bureau?”

He wrote swiftly. “On second thought, it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

I fell silent again, realizing I had spoken too abruptly.

As I reached for a blank sheet of paper, my mind went completely blank.

Seeing this, he turned as if to leave.

“Physician Shen, could you deliver a message for me?” I blurted out.

He turned back with a smile. “I forgot to mention—the Emperor has ordered the Prince of Yongping to accompany the imperial procession to Fengxian Temple today. If you have something to say, it’s better to speak in person.”

“Today?” I exclaimed.

After kneeling in the snow all night, he still had to accompany the Emperor?

Shen Qiu nodded. “If you wish to speak with him, wait another hour. I must first ensure he’s fit to travel.”

I nodded quickly.

—

The mountain path was being cleared with boiling water. The procession waited at the foot of the mountain.

Wu Chengsi stood beside the Emperor, praising the auspicious weather. The Crown Prince and his sons stood nearby. From a distance, I saw Li Chengqi—his expression calm, as if nothing had happened the night before.

Soon, everyone began ascending the mountain.

I walked behind with Yongtai.

“Be careful,” I said.

She blinked. “Are you my maid today?”

I pinched her nose lightly. “You’re an imperial granddaughter. Of course I’ll look after you.”

She sighed. “Imperial granddaughter… after making mistakes, I’m no better than a servant.”

I fell silent. “Don’t say that again.”

She muttered, “If I had the surname Wu like you, maybe life would be easier.”

I forced a smile. “Then I’ll find you a Wu husband one day.”

She laughed, tossing snow at me.

As we walked, her earlier words weighed on my mind.

Soon, the snowfall intensified again.

Li Chengqi and Li Chengyi came back to escort us.

“We were sent to accompany you,” Li Chengyi said.

We walked in single file.

Yongtai quickened her pace, leaving us behind.

I slowed down deliberately.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me against the rock wall.

It was him.

We were hidden in a hollow in the cliff.

“Are you cold?” he asked softly.

I nodded.

“I heard your birthday is on the eighth day of the first month,” he said.

I nodded again, confused.

“You’ll be twelve next year?”

Another nod.

He sighed. “A bit young… though Empress Wende married at twelve.”

My heart skipped.

“When next year comes, I’ll ask the Empress Dowager to grant our marriage.”

He let go of my hand.

I stood there, stunned, unable to speak.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Only then did I notice people approaching.