“Dates belong to earth with fire, sweet in taste and gentle in nature. Their sweetness first enters the spleen. Eating too many will inevitably cause the spleen to suffer,” Xie Yunhuai spoke directly. “If the Princess wishes to supplement qi and nourish the blood, ginger sugar would be better.”

“Ginger enters the lungs to benefit lung qi, enters the kidneys to dry dampness below, enters the liver meridian to guide blood medicines to generate blood.” Shen Xihe smiled gently. “It is indeed good medicine, but I’ve never been able to tolerate ginger’s pungency since birth, which is why the physicians chose dates as the next best option.”

“In Min and Shu regions, there is a fruit called sugarcane, neutral in qi and sweet in taste, benefiting spleen qi. When crushed and juiced, combined with ginger juice to make sugar, it loses its pungency,” Xie Yunhuai said.

“Doctor Qi, are you married?” Shen Xihe suddenly asked.

The typically calm and steady Xie Yunhuai was startled by the question, though the emotion passed in an instant: “In reply to the Princess, this humble one has no fixed residence, focused solely on pursuing medical knowledge, and currently has no thoughts of marriage.”

“I see Doctor Qi is dignified in appearance, possesses miraculous healing skills, and speaks with refinement. I’ve developed an appreciation for talent. I was thinking of finding a good match for Doctor Qi, to keep such a talented scholar by my side.” Shen Xihe slowly stood up. “Since Doctor Qi’s aspirations lie elsewhere, I won’t force the matter. That datura was collected on my orders, to be used in preparing a mind-calming incense. Doctor Qi need not worry, I know how to use this flower.”

“The Princess’s favor makes this humble one deeply anxious.” Though Xie Yunhuai spoke of anxiety, his tone remained calm without a trace of unease or nervousness. “If that’s the case, if the Princess has no further instructions, please allow this humble one to take leave.”

“Has Doctor Qi ever seen the Immortal’s Sash?” Shen Xihe didn’t grant his leave but asked another question.

“Immortal’s Sash?” Xie Yunhuai’s brow twitched as he frowned and said, “Princess, the Immortal’s Sash is a legendary item. White Elder’s claim of exchanging it for the Bone-Shedding Pill was deliberately making things difficult. The Princess shouldn’t take it to heart.”

White Elder?

Shen Xihe had heard of this person, an eccentric skilled in medicine. His medical skills were extremely high, his whereabouts elusive. For Shen Xihe’s deficient condition, Shen Yueshan had never stopped searching for this person over the years.

She hadn’t expected the Immortal’s Sash to be connected to the White Elder.

“Doctor Qi, I know nothing of any Bone-Shedding Pill. Just before you came, I happened to be reading and saw mention of the Immortal’s Sash, hence my question.” Shen Xihe asked frankly, “Might Doctor Qi tell me about this Bone-Shedding Pill?”

Realizing he had let something slip, Xie Yunhuai felt somewhat vexed but knew that if he didn’t explain, the Princess would surely send people to inquire.

So he explained everything: “A month ago…”

A month ago, this remarkable White Elder announced his time was near. Having no disciples, all his life’s learning was in his notes, along with a Bone-Shedding Pill he had developed with all his ability. This medicine could allow one to be reborn anew, hence its name.

On his deathbed, with only these two precious items remaining, he spread the word that whoever could find the Immortal’s Sash and fulfill his one wish would receive both items. If brought early enough, he could even personally teach medical principles for a month or two.

This was now the most talked-about matter in the jianghu. Shen Xihe, as a noble daughter, naturally wouldn’t know such street gossip.

Shen Xihe quietly cast her gaze on the flower bed outside the pavilion, where brilliant chrysanthemums were blooming in their glory.

Xie Yunhuai waited quietly for a moment with no further instructions. He bowed and withdrew. As he turned, his clothes fluttered, the cyan color like splashed ink flying in the wind, his steps soundless, steady yet light.

“Better to die embracing fragrance on the branch than be blown down by the north wind.”

Shen Xihe raised her eyes slightly, watching that figure disappear around the corridor’s corner through a wind-blown curtain.

Xie Yunhuai was like these chrysanthemums—neither vulgar nor garish, neither fawning nor yielding.

He was the first to dare face power directly, shed his fine silk garments, step out from the brilliant high gates, cast aside wealthy splendor, and accept simple food and tea, yet remain so pure and untainted.

“Tch, to think the precious pearl of the Northwest King would fancy such a common man. Your eyes need treatment!” An unrestrained voice tinged with disdain sounded from not far behind.

Shen Xihe turned to see Xiao Changying, face somewhat pale, clearly still weak, barely able to stand steady leaning against a corridor pillar. Those narrow phoenix eyes, proud as a fox’s, cast toward Shen Xihe with a hint of scrutiny.

Beside him was a pale-faced maid, obviously they had been there for some time. The maid had been ordered to stay silent, and now her head was almost buried in her chest, her body trembling slightly, afraid of punishment.

“It seems Your Highness has recovered quite well.” Apart from weakness and pallor from blood loss, Shen Xihe could see nothing wrong with the Prince of Lie who still had the strength to mock others. “In that case, this subject can feel at ease handing Your Highness over to the Changsha Prefecture Governor.”

“What did you say!” Xiao Changying shoved away the maid trying to support him, disregarding his weak limbs from just awakening and the pain from his wounds as he strode before Shen Xihe. Though only seventeen, he was a head taller than the fourteen-year-old Shen Xihe, looking down at her scrutinizingly. “You want to hand this prince over to the Changsha Prefecture Governor!”

“Naturally. Your Highness is an unrelated man, and this subject has not yet come of age. Yesterday was an emergency that could be handled with some flexibility, not bound by minor proprieties.” Shen Xihe’s expression was calm. “Now that Your Highness’s life is no longer in danger, this subject should avoid suspicion.”

As she spoke, Shen Xihe gave a slight curtsy and turned to leave, but Xiao Changying grabbed her wrist, his gaze sharp: “Shen Xihe, playing hard to get? This prince was pursued and hunted from Guangling to Changsha Prefecture and just happened to meet you at the moment of life and death. Don’t tell this prince it was such a coincidence. Now this prince is indebted to you for saving his life as you all wished, spending days and nights together, yet you start acting aloof?”

Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Changying with pity: “Your Highness, you are truly pitiful, living in the imperial family, even having to be wary and suspicious of those who save you. But Your Highness has forgotten, if you hadn’t thrown your jade pendant before this subject, I imagine Your Highness would have found release by now.”

After a pause, Shen Xihe’s gentle voice drifted out like orchid breath, “I might as well tell Your Highness, that this subject indeed knew your identity beforehand, but simply didn’t want to save you. Before this subject left the Northwest, portraits of all the princes were already memorized. Everyone knows why this subject is entering the capital, but from His Highness the Crown Prince down to the Twelfth Prince who is the same age as this subject, four princes lack principal wives. Why should this subject fancy you? Your Highness, do not think too highly of yourself.”

“In terms of nobility, you don’t match His Highness the Crown Prince; in terms of favor, you don’t match His Highness Prince Zhao; in terms of temperament, you don’t match His Highness Prince Jing; in terms of age, you’re also behind His Highness Prince Xin.” Shen Xihe’s eyes were calm as she discussed the current princes as if appraising goods, ignoring the visible throbbing of veins on Xiao Changying’s forehead. “Your only distinction is your notorious reputation. Tell me, why should this subject try to get close to you?”

Prince Lie, Xiao Changying, Emperor Youning’s ninth son, fierce as fire, known throughout the capital for his perverse cruelty—the unruly demon prince whom all in the capital wished to avoid.