Chapter 8: Life-Saving Medicine

"I do not care about your status. As long as you are willing, you shall be my Crown Princess, or even my Empress." Rong Feng's gaze was fixed intently upon her.

Song Qingcheng was startled by his words. "Your Highness, please say no more! I am but a commoner, and I cannot bear such a burden!"

The Crown Prince reached out, intending to grasp her, but Shen Runzhi stepped forward, his eyes turning cold. He pulled Song Qingcheng’s hand behind his back. "Men and women should maintain a proper distance. I ask that Your Highness be mindful."

Song Qingcheng let out a sigh of relief. For the first time, she did not pull away, instead hiding firmly behind Shen Runzhi to avoid the Crown Prince's gaze. She had not expected the Crown Prince to be so blunt; she had assumed her stance the previous night was already clear enough.

The Crown Prince felt no need to hide his true nature. He looked back sharply. "Young Master Shen, this is a matter between me and Qingcheng. Stay out of it."

The Crown Prince had long been dissatisfied with him; not only did Shen Runzhi interfere with his plans, but he also enjoyed the Emperor's favor, with the Emperor frequently praising him in the Prince's presence. It made the Crown Prince look inferior to his own subordinate.

Shen Runzhi smiled faintly. "Yaoyao is my family. How could I stay out of it? If Yaoyao is unwilling, no one can force her."

The Crown Prince was not a man of patience. His earlier demeanor was merely an act for Song Qingcheng’s benefit. Now, repeatedly provoked by Shen Runzhi, his temper flared.

"Shen—"

Just as he began to speak, a subordinate hurried in. "Your Highness, a problem has arisen with the military affairs under your charge. His Majesty wishes to see you at once."

The Crown Prince cast an annoyed glance at Shen Runzhi, then turned to Song Qingcheng, leaving her with a final word before departing in haste: "I hope you will think this over carefully, Qingcheng. I shall come to ask you again in two days."

The Crown Prince could no longer keep up the pretense—or perhaps, given his status, he felt no need to. He had laid out all the benefits and could not believe she would refuse; he dismissed her current resistance as mere playing hard to get.

Once the Crown Prince left, Song Qingcheng felt a weight lift. She stepped back and said to Shen Runzhi, "Thank you for the rescue, Cousin. It is getting late; let us depart."

Shen Runzhi did not move. "What do you intend to do about the Crown Prince, Yaoyao?"

Song Qingcheng shook her head gently. "I do not know. Perhaps it was just a passing whim; he will likely forget in a couple of days."

Shen Runzhi stared at her, his brown eyes filled with an unreadable emotion. He seemed about to say something, but swallowed it back. "Very well, Yaoyao, let us go."

As Shen Runzhi turned to leave, Song Qingcheng exhaled in secret. That had been terrifying. For some reason, she had briefly thought that Shen Runzhi was going to propose to her. *It cannot be because of his actions in my past life,* she thought, patting her head to clear the stray thoughts, and followed him, lifting her skirts.

***

Shen Runzhi gazed deeply at the jade pendant in his palm. When he saw Song Qingcheng climbing into the carriage, he hurriedly tucked it away and hung it back at his waist.

Seeing this, Song Qingcheng asked subconsciously, "What a beautiful pendant. Did someone you love give it to you?"

She regretted the question the moment it left her lips. She suspected Shen Runzhi had drugged her; why else did she act so foolishly whenever she was near him?

Before he could answer, she quickly laughed it off to change the subject. "Cousin, could we stop at the Precious Herb Shop for a moment? I need to purchase some medicinal ingredients."

Song Qingcheng was poisoned, and beyond the necessary medicinal catalysts, she required other rare herbs. Fortunately, she had conducted enough business over the years to accumulate a significant fortune to cover the costs.

Shen Runzhi nodded slightly. He touched the jade pendant at his waist and said with a wistful tone, "This pendant was a gift from someone heartless. She ran off without a trace after giving it to me, making her very hard to find."

"Haha, is that so? Then you should teach them a good lesson, Cousin." Song Qingcheng did not suspect herself at all; she had given no such gift. Her memory was perfectly clear, and she had forgotten nothing, so it could not be her.

Shen Runzhi’s long, slender fingers brushed against the pendant as he raised his eyes with a glint of amusement. "According to your logic, Yaoyao, if I were to catch her, how should I teach her a lesson?"

Adhering to this train of thought, Song Qingcheng offered a sycophantic suggestion: "If they have forgotten, you could feed them medicine to make them remember, then tie them up and give them a sound thrashing so they never dare to forget you again."

Song Qingcheng threw out all sorts of cruel ideas. Since it wouldn't befall her, what did she have to fear? The one who should be afraid was the person who had forgotten Shen Runzhi; to toy with a madman like him was simply courting death.

Shen Runzhi raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly. "That is not a bad idea, Yaoyao. Tying them up and watching them day and night—that would ensure they never forget me again."

Song Qingcheng found this a bit strange, but upon closer reflection, she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.

"Yes, yes, that is exactly what you should do, Cousin." Unable to find fault, she echoed his words.

The carriage moved forward and finally stopped in front of the Precious Herb Shop. Song Qingcheng asked Shen Runzhi to wait while she went inside for a moment.

"I will be right back, Cousin." Above all, she feared that an observant man like Shen Runzhi would discover she was poisoned, and she feared the situation spiraling out of control.

After she stepped down, an apprentice greeted her. "Miss, what are you looking for?"

Song Qingcheng adjusted her hat and handed over a prescription. "I need these."

The apprentice glanced at the list, realizing this was a major client, and his attitude became even more respectful. "I will get them for you at once."

***

The apprentice ran to fetch the medicine, returning shortly with a troubled expression. "I am terribly sorry, Miss, but the last portion of the snowflake grass has been bought out by Li Feixue of the Li family in the west of the city. If you truly need it, you might try asking her if she is willing to sell it. Otherwise, we will have to wait for the merchant caravans to arrive next year."

Snowflake grass only grew in the Cold City and was only available through the annual merchant caravans.

Song Qingcheng understood this and did not ask further. She paid for the other ingredients and returned to the carriage, deep in thought. "Let us go, Cousin."

She knew of the Li family in the west; the daughter was known for being weak-willed, but her parents were eccentric and disliked visitors. In her past life, she knew of someone who had gone to their home without permission and was thrown out. That person had connections to a high-ranking official, yet they were still cast out—they were not people to be trifled with.

Song Qingcheng was in a bind. The poison in her body could not wait that long. She would either have to travel to the Cold City herself or find a way to purchase some from the Li family.

"The medicine purchase did not go well?" Shen Runzhi asked with concern, noting her troubled expression.

Song Qingcheng thought for a moment and brushed it off. "No, it is just that the ingredients are very expensive, which is a bit heart-wrenching. We have been delayed too long; let us set off."

Shen Runzhi said nothing more, but subtly gestured for his men to investigate.

After leaving the city and reaching the outskirts, they were greeted by lush trees, vibrant flowers, and steaming hot springs. Butterflies danced in the air, gathering nectar from the blossoms.

Song Qingcheng lifted the curtain, stunned by the beauty outside. It lacked the bustling noise of the capital and possessed a natural tranquility that made her feel as if she had returned to the mountains.

Shen Runzhi stepped out of the carriage first and reached out to assist her. "Come, Yaoyao."

Song Qingcheng placed her hand in his warm palm and stepped down. Just as she was about to speak, a sharp voice erupted nearby.

"Get lost! You reek of copper and filth! Get away at once and don't defile this place!"

A weak voice followed, "Please, let my puppy go... What are you doing? Don't treat it like that!"