“This grand gesture from Your Highness the Crown Prince is more than this old man deserves, truly more than I deserve.”

Shen Qianyu took the opportunity to rise, smiling as he said, “Without Uncle Yan, this prince would have died countless times. You naturally deserve this bow from me.”

Yan Changpu had only one daughter, Yan Qing, and having no disciple to inherit his medical knowledge remained a lifelong regret. Years ago, when he saw how pitiful Shen Qianyu’s circumstances were, he had thought of taking him as a disciple.

However, the young man’s temperament was truly unsuited for medicine, so in the end he gave up on the idea.

But he couldn’t bear to see Shen Qianyu tormented by Qin Rao, which was why he protected him so much. Over time, they developed feelings akin to father and son.

When he left, Yan Changpu had worried deeply for quite some time. Now seeing him again and observing Shen Qianyu’s imposing presence, he couldn’t help but feel joy in his heart.

The old gentleman smiled comfortingly and patted the child who had grown much taller than himself.

“You’re much more robust than before, truly looking like a proper man now.”

Shen Qianyu also smiled openly and patted Imperial Physician Yan’s hand.

Men were not as emotionally delicate as women—with just one simple gesture, the bond from their past friendship across generations was rekindled.

“Father…”

Yan Qing nervously tugged at Yan Changpu’s sleeve. Yan Changpu quickly said, “This is my daughter. Does Your Highness still remember her?”

“Of course I remember.”

Yan Changpu’s old face reddened, his expression somewhat uneasy.

He was not one to leverage favors for personal gain. Facing Shen Qianyu now, he felt rather like a duck being forced onto a perch. But Yan Changpu also felt he had failed his daughter. After much consideration, he awkwardly spoke up.

“This old man… this old man is growing old, and only one matter weighs constantly on my mind—my daughter.”

“If Your Highness… finds it convenient, I hope you can look after my daughter in the future.”

Shen Qianyu looked at Yan Qing, whose cheeks were flushed red, and answered straightforwardly, “Naturally.”

“I wonder what plans Uncle Yan has for the future? If you still wish to practice medicine, this prince can arrange for you to enter the Imperial Medical Bureau. If Uncle Yan no longer wishes to deal with imperial clan members, this prince can also establish a medicine hall for you in Dongning and recruit students.”

Yan Changpu’s eyes lit up upon hearing this: “Your Highness still remembers this matter.”

Seeing the two conversing about other topics, Yan Qing couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“Father has been thinking of Your Highness the Crown Prince all these years. Surely Your Highness feels the same.”

Yan Changpu gave a dry laugh, his heart constricting slightly.

Before Yan Qing entered the palace, she hadn’t possessed this eagerly ambitious nature. Over ten years of palace life had actually cultivated several traces of greed in her.

How could she know that wealth and status could threaten one’s life? Now that there was a chance to safely and cleanly become a wealthy household head, what could be wrong with that?

To abandon home and career to seek survival in another country—simply settling down successfully would be no easy feat. They really shouldn’t ask for more…

Yan Changpu pressed his lips together without speaking. Yan Qing pulled at his sleeve, her face showing anxiety.

As his sleeve was tugged tighter and tighter, Yan Changpu’s face reddened. Finally, he couldn’t resist the pull of blood kinship.

“To speak candidly, this old man has one presumptuous request. I wonder if Your Highness might grant it?”

“Please speak, Uncle Yan.”

Yan Changpu said, “Your Highness knows that Qing’er is this old man’s only concern. If Your Highness doesn’t find her unworthy, could you give Qing’er a place to belong?”

“Such a small matter naturally requires no request from Uncle Yan. When we return to Dongning, this prince can personally arrange a marriage for Yan Qing.”

“That’s not what this old man means.”

Yan Changpu’s old face grew more and more embarrassed. He didn’t know whether Shen Qianyu was pretending not to understand or what. After pondering for a long while, he reluctantly said, “Can this old man ask Your Highness to give Qing’er a position?”

Shen Qianyu asked, “What kind of position does Uncle Yan refer to?”

At this point, Yan Changpu finally understood that Shen Qianyu had absolutely no interest in Yan Qing. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but to let Yan Qing give up, he still continued speaking: “If Your Highness doesn’t mind, you could take Qing’er into your household.”

“With Your Highness looking after her for the rest of her life, this old man would be at ease.”

“Oh…”

As if just now comprehending, Shen Qianyu drew out the sound in an exclamation: “So Yan Qing wishes to enter the Eastern Palace as a consort.”

This single statement made Yan Qing’s face explode with redness.

But Yan Changpu let out a long sigh.

With these words spoken, all of his past kindnesses to Shen Qianyu, all the friendship between the two of them, had collapsed overnight.

“This prince will think about it.”

Shen Qianyu lowered his eyes and said, “Yan Qing is the daughter of this prince’s benefactor. Too low a position would truly be insulting. Currently in the Eastern Palace, only the Crown Princess position remains vacant—that wouldn’t be disgracing her.”

The sarcastic meaning in these words made Yan Changpu unable to help but bend his spine. Yan Qing’s face also turned deathly pale.

How could the Crown Prince of Dongning possibly marry a palace maid from Nanqing as his princess? Speaking such words, the intention to humiliate was extremely obvious.

Yan Changpu couldn’t utter another word. But Yan Qing mustered her courage and said, “Yan Qing’s life is humble. I dare not harbor other ambitions, only request to remain by Your Highness’s side to serve like an ox or horse.”

Her face flushed as she poured out in one breath: “Yan Qing has cherished feelings for Your Highness. For many years I’ve hoped for a chance to reunite with Your Highness.”

“I implore Your Highness to give Qing’er an opportunity to attend at your side.”

Shen Qianyu shook his head: “I’m afraid that won’t do.”

He looked at Yan Qing and said, “Dongning’s palace rules are very strict. Women without beauty or talent cannot enter the palace.”

Yan Changpu was so embarrassed his old face nearly shrank into his chest cavity. Yan Qing wanted to say more, but he grabbed her and pulled her away, gripping her wrist tightly.

“After so many years apart, we’ve truly caused Your Highness considerable trouble. This old man won’t disturb you further.”

Outside the tent, Ji Rong was waiting. Seeing the two emerge, he came forward to inquire. After settling them both, he returned to the tent to report.

Shen Qianyu was in an excellent mood, casually playing with a jade pendant. Seeing Ji Rong enter, he lazily asked, “Settled properly?”

Ji Rong nodded. He added, “Have someone watch those two. If there’s any unusual movement, inform this prince.”

Yan Qing’s little schemes—how could they be enough before him?

If not for Uncle Yan’s sake, he would have long since thrown her outside the camp to fend for herself. Why waste his energy being entangled for so many days?

Casting this matter from his mind, Shen Qianyu picked up brush and ink to claim credit with Song Wan.

He thoroughly described how Qin Rao had pestered him, how cleverly he had responded and countered her weak points, as well as how Yan Qing had leveraged past favors to make demands and even harbored designs on him—writing several pages in flowing script.

The most heavily emphasized portion was how unwavering his will was, stating that he absolutely could never go out once and bring back one or two women with ulterior motives.

Looking at the hasty handwriting, after Shen Qianyu finished writing, he gently brushed it flat and copied it over again.

When copying the section about his unwavering will, the man thought for a moment and added a few more lines with veiled criticism of Jiang Xingjian.

“This prince’s literary talent is brilliant, my sincere feelings leap from the page. Wan’er will surely rediscover her devoted love for this prince.”

Shen Qianyu nodded to himself, carefully sealing the letter.

Just as he was about to have Wan Xiao send it back to the capital, Ji Rong entered from outside, urgently reporting: “Master, Imperial Physician Yan has gone toward the Lan River to the east.”

Shen Qianyu let out a long sigh: “Follow this prince to take a look.”

Yan Changpu was a man with abundant kindness but insufficient resolve. He harbored goodwill, which was why he had extended a helping hand to him when he was in dire straits years ago. But also because of his lack of resolve, he was easily coerced by others.

Especially by close relations like Yan Qing.

Most likely after the father and daughter left just now, Yan Qing had pressured him into something else. Rather than lose his integrity in his later years, and with the intention of forcibly leaving behind an orphan to compel him to care for her, he had developed thoughts of death.

Shen Qianyu sighed softly, never imagining that what should have been a sincere and pure friendship from the past had degenerated to the point of jade tainted by fly droppings due to worldly contamination.

“Perhaps this is for the best.”

Striding forward, he quickened his pace intending to catch up to Yan Changpu, but only saw him walk to the riverside. Without any hesitation, he leapt upward and jumped directly into the river.