Chapter 17

Yi Ling was settled in the west wing, a chamber that used to be the boudoir of the eldest daughter of the Zhou family before her marriage. Though it had been vacant for several years, it was cleaned daily, maintaining a warm and tidy atmosphere.

The female guests of the Zhou family had all gathered there. Even the elderly Mrs. Zhou, who had been napping, changed her clothes and hurried over upon hearing the news, bringing along her personal physician.

The room was crowded and slightly chaotic.

Shen Shufang, still shaken, kept asking the physician to confirm Yi Ling’s condition. However, the doctor repeatedly checked her pulse with his brows furrowed into a deep “Chuan” shape, unable to diagnose anything conclusive.

Feigning unconsciousness under so many concerned gazes was pure torment.

Every time Yi Ling’s eyelashes fluttered, she worried someone might notice her act.

Thankfully, her maid Mallow proved quick-witted at critical moments, using a handkerchief to dab at Yi Ling’s face from time to time, masking her unnatural expressions.

No one could say how long it had been when the noisy room suddenly fell silent.

Yi Ling immediately sensed that Xie Hengzhi had arrived.

Sure enough, the next moment, his voice rang out.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“Is this the time for formalities?” Shen Shufang said anxiously. “Go check on your wife immediately!”

The room grew even quieter.

Yi Ling could clearly hear Xie Hengzhi’s footsteps and felt his presence drawing nearer.

A casual glance landed on her.

Yi Ling held her breath, her entire body stiff as stone.

But soon, Xie Hengzhi turned away and addressed Shen Shufang and the elderly Mrs. Zhou.

“Your Highness and Madam need not worry. My wife is frail by nature and has had trouble adapting to the water and soil since arriving in the capital. Fainting spells are common for her.

I’ll take her back to the manor to rest.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially Mrs. Zhou, who, as the hostess, was reassured that Yi Ling’s condition was not serious. She chanted “Amitabha” several times.

Only Shen Shufang pursued the matter relentlessly: “Water and soil issues? Have you not consulted a doctor for her? And if she faints so often, how is that not serious? How are you taking care of her?”

“Your Highness is correct,” Xie Hengzhi replied. “I will take her home immediately and ensure she is well looked after.”

After speaking, Xie Hengzhi glanced at the maids waiting nearby.

As they prepared to step forward, Shen Shufang suddenly said, “You’re letting the servants handle this?”

Yi Ling: “…”

Thanks to the Crown Princess, she was ultimately carried out of the wing by Xie Hengzhi under the watchful eyes of everyone.

---

Despite his lean appearance, Xie Hengzhi carried Yi Ling as effortlessly as if she were a rabbit.

Because of this, Yi Ling was pressed tightly against his chest. She could smell the faint fragrance of incense on his clothes and feel his warmth blending with her own.

It was sheer torment—absolute torment!

Moreover, the Zhou residence was far too large. Even after a long time, they hadn’t reached the exit.

To make matters worse, his height made each step feel precarious, leaving Yi Ling worried that if he stumbled, she’d end up badly injured.

Unable to resist, she occasionally peeked through one eye, either checking the distance or sneaking a glance at Xie Hengzhi’s expression.

Fortunately, he kept his gaze straight ahead, never looking down at the woman in his arms, leaving her only the view of his jawline.

But as he walked, still staring ahead, a smile suddenly curled at the corners of his lips.

In broad daylight.

Yi Ling squinted and scanned their surroundings. Nothing had happened. Why was he smiling like that? It was unsettling.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Yi Ling was laid down in the Xie fu’s carriage.

Her entire body felt as sore as if she’d been doing heavy labor for three days straight. Seizing the moment while Mallow adjusted a soft pillow for her, Yi Ling discreetly shifted her position to stretch her stiff limbs.

Mallow quickly adjusted herself, blocking Xie Hengzhi’s view and kneading Yi Ling’s arm in the process.

The mistress and maid had put on quite the act together—it had been exhausting.

At this moment, Xie Hengzhi’s calm voice sounded.

“That’s enough. Stop pretending.”

Yi Ling: “…”

Mallow bolted, leaving only Yi Ling lying stiffly on the carriage bench.

When the two of them were finally alone in the carriage, Yi Ling opened one eye first, sneaking a glance at Xie Hengzhi.

Seeing his calm expression, Yi Ling carefully sat up and huddled in the corner.

After a moment of silence, she awkwardly said, “Thank you for your trouble, my lord.”

Xie Hengzhi didn’t seem inclined to respond, not even offering a perfunctory reply.

Yi Ling didn’t mind. As she rubbed her neck, she mumbled to herself, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

“Why did Her Highness suddenly come to the Zhou residence? Wasn’t she supposed to be at the palace welcoming the Empress Dowager?”

As she muttered, Xie Hengzhi slowly turned his head, noticing faint traces of blood on her ear.

“Since Her Highness is here, could it be that Princess Yu’an is also…”

Before she could finish, her ear was suddenly touched. Yi Ling froze and turned to look at Xie Hengzhi in confusion. “What are you doing?”

Her ears were pale, and the bloodstains were stark against them.

“What happened here?” Xie Hengzhi asked.

There was no way Yi Ling could admit she had injured herself while faking unconsciousness.

“Perhaps I accidentally scratched it on a stone,” she said, touching her ear. “You have sharp eyes to notice something so small.”

Xie Hengzhi didn’t expose her lie. Staring at her earlobe, he said in a low voice, “If you don’t want to associate with the Crown Princess, just find an excuse to avoid her. There’s no need to go to such lengths.”

“Avoid her?” Yi Ling said in disbelief. “She’s the Crown Princess!”

Xie Hengzhi replied indifferently, “And so what?”

Yi Ling: “?”

She stared blankly at Xie Hengzhi’s face, utterly unable to comprehend how this elegant and dignified man could so casually utter such audacious words.

---

However, with Xie Hengzhi’s reassurance, Yi Ling realized that Shen Shufang likely posed no threat to her.  

Thinking about it carefully, she concluded that there was no reason for her earlier panic.  

Shen Shufang probably harbored no ill intentions. She was simply too enthusiastic.  

After all, Shen had always spoken highly of the “most talented woman in business,” practically worshiping someone she’d never even met.  

Now that a member of the Shang family had married in, how could she not be excited?  

Yi Ling simply hadn’t expected the dignified Crown Princess Shen Shufang to have such a side to her.  

Coming to this realization, Yi Ling’s fear of today’s events lessened.  

It was just a fervent admirer, after all. Worst case, she could always play faint to escape.  

Compared to Princess Yu’an, who wasn’t entirely sane, Shen Shufang was far easier to deal with.
 
Speaking of Princess Yu’an…  

Yi Ling’s steps unconsciously slowed, and worry crept back into her heart.  

She couldn’t possibly hide from Princess Yu’an forever in the Xie residence, could she?  

If she did, forget about revenge—she’d suffocate herself first.  

“Xie—”  

Yi Ling turned, intending to probe Xie Hengzhi for solutions to her predicament.  

But she saw a man beside him, quietly reporting something with a solemn expression.  

When the man finished speaking, Xie Hengzhi nodded slightly, and the man left in a hurry.
 
Originally heading back to Linfeng Yuan, Xie Hengzhi abruptly changed course, seemingly planning to leave the Xie residence.  

After taking a few steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Yi Ling.  

“I have important matters to attend to tonight, so I won’t return to the residence.”  

Yi Ling: “?”  

What?! Without him, if her illness acted up at night, she’d lose half her life!  

All thoughts of Princess Yu’an were abandoned as she urgently asked, “Why aren’t you coming back? Where are you going?”  

“Nowhere important.”  

Xie Hengzhi clearly didn’t want to reveal too much, turning instead to instruct Mallow, “Take good care of the lady.”  

With that, he prepared to leave.  

Panic surged in Yi Ling’s heart. Without thinking, she grabbed his sleeve.  
“Don’t go!”  

The nearby servants turned away tactfully.  

Yi Ling paid no attention to their reactions, her sole focus on keeping Xie Hengzhi from leaving. She clung tightly to his sleeve, refusing to let go.  

“It’s so late already—why must you go out?!”  

Xie Hengzhi turned his head, his gaze sweeping slowly over her face before settling on her eyes.  
His brow arched slightly, and without a word, Yi Ling felt a pang of guilt, shrinking back instinctively.  

But she was desperate to keep him there.  

Her fingers slowly climbed up his sleeve, finally resting in his palm.  

Yi Ling lightly shook his hand, lifting her gaze to meet his, her eyes shimmering with a pleading softness.  

“Or perhaps… could you come back tonight? Please?”  

For a brief moment, Xie Hengzhi’s expression froze.  

Then, he shifted his gaze away, decisively withdrew his hand, and left, leaving only one sentence behind:  

“If anything happens, send someone to Wenhua Hall to find me. I won’t be anywhere else.”  

Watching his departing figure, Yi Ling stomped her foot in frustration.  

Heartless!  

---

Once Xie Hengzhi decided to leave, not even eight hands could hold him back.  

After sulking for a while, Yi Ling resigned herself to the reality and began to console herself.  

Though she and Xie Hengzhi hadn’t shared any real intimacy recently, their frequent proximity had seemingly kept her illness at bay.  

Could she possibly be cured already?  

As night fell, tension and unease gripped her.  

For the most part, everything seemed fine—aside from some fatigue, there were no major issues.  
Thus, Yi Ling went to bed early.  

Winter nights were bitterly cold, but the house was warm from the heated floor. Though the windows weren’t entirely shut, muffled whispers from Mallow and Mama Cao outside could be heard.  

After a long while, Yi Ling woke up, shivering from the cold.  

She opened her eyes and glanced around. Outside, the corridor was still lit by a few lanterns.

Mama Cao’s plump silhouette was visible against the window as she sipped freshly warmed rice wine.  

It seemed she hadn’t slept long—midnight had yet to arrive.  

This was bad.  

Yi Ling struggled to sit up and touched the bedding, now damp with her cold sweat.  

She quickly called Mama Cao inside, instructing her to send someone to fetch Xie Hengzhi.  

“Tell him to return quickly and say I’m unwell,” Yi Ling said. “As fast as possible!”  

Seeing Yi Ling’s pale and weak appearance, Mama Cao hesitated. “This old servant will send someone to fetch the master, but shouldn’t we also summon a doctor?”  

“No need.”  

Yi Ling shook her head. “Just get him back here quickly.”  

The household sprang into action, the servants fully alert. While some tended to Yi Ling, others anxiously awaited Xie Hengzhi’s return.  

The frigid night dragged on, but there was no sign of him.  

Yi Ling didn’t dare lie back down. Draped in an outer robe, she paced the room, forcing herself to stay awake.  

Finally, around a quarter past midnight, the servant sent to the palace returned.  

Dust-covered and haggard, he didn’t dare face Yi Ling directly. Instead, he whispered to Mama Cao at the door, shaking his head. “The master said he’s attending to urgent matters and cannot return!”  

Mama Cao sighed heavily, nodding. “I understand. Go fetch a doctor to wait at the residence, just in case.”  

After giving her orders, Mama Cao adjusted her expression and turned with a reassuring smile, only to see Yi Ling standing behind her with a cold expression.  

Clearly, she had overheard everything. Mama Cao’s heart sank, but she quickly tried to comfort her.  

“The night is deep and the dew heavy. The master is dealing with important matters in the palace. Please rest, my lady. He’ll surely return by morning.”  

Yi Ling remained unmoved, her face growing increasingly pale. 

Breaking promises and losing trust—truly fitting for Xie Hengzhi. 

Mama Cao, seeing her expression, quickly suggested, “Should we send someone else to invite him again?”  

It’s useless.  

Yi Ling knew that at this moment, Xie Hengzhi must think she was stirring up trouble.
 
The more people she sent, the more annoyed he would become.  

Yet the discomfort in her body was intensifying, and now a buzzing sound had started ringing in her ears.  

“I’ll go invite him myself.”  

Since Xie Hengzhi was unwilling to return, perhaps being closer to him would alleviate her symptoms.  

---

Under the cover of a dark and windy night, a simple carriage discreetly departed from the Xie residence.  

Yi Ling didn’t want to alert anyone in the manor, nor did she want anyone to know she was seeking Xie Hengzhi in the middle of the night. She only brought Mallow with her, leaving Mama Cao to manage Linfeng Yuan.  

On the way, Mallow kept dabbing at the cold sweat on her forehead.  

“Madam, why are you running a fever again?” she murmured, “Could it be because of this afternoon…”  

Yi Ling closed her eyes without replying.  

Even Mama Cao had sensed something unusual when they left the residence but hadn’t stopped her and had instead calmly arranged everything.  

Only Mallow, who accompanied Yi Ling daily, had failed to notice any pattern to her sudden illnesses.  

But perhaps that was for the best.  

A maidservant too clever might uncover secrets Yi Ling couldn’t afford to let slip—secrets about her connection to the Shang family.  

Just as she was lost in thought, the steady rumble of the carriage wheels suddenly halted.  

Mallow lifted the curtain and poked her head out to ask the driver, “What’s going on?”  

The driver, equally puzzled in the darkness, replied, “It seems we ran over a stray cat.”  

Mallow asked, “Madam, should I get out to check?”  

Yi Ling nodded. “Be quick.”  

Mallow disembarked with a lantern to inspect the wheels with the driver.  

At first, they were whispering to each other, but their voices abruptly fell silent.  

“Mallow? Mallow!”  

Yi Ling called out twice, but there was no response.  

She immediately knew something was wrong. Yet staying hidden in the carriage wouldn’t help her situation.  

Despite her body alternating between chills and fever, Yi Ling reached out and cautiously pulled the curtain aside.  

The moment she saw what lay outside, her chest tightened, and she instinctively tried to scream—but a hand clamped over her mouth.  

As she was dragged out of the carriage, Yi Ling didn’t waste time guessing who might want to harm her.  

Her mind was preoccupied with one thought: if she died this time because of seeking Xie Hengzhi in the dead of night, she wouldn’t bother reincarnating.  

She would become a ghost and haunt him endlessly!  

---

When Princess Yu’an returned to the Hehuan Palace, the night sky was as dark as ink. Outside, faint stars glimmered in the freezing silence.  

She had deliberately left Yi Ling waiting after having her abducted.  

How dare she deceive her so brazenly?  

Upon entering, she saw Yi Ling sitting calmly by the luohan bed, her hands tied behind her back. Her compliant demeanor annoyed the princess.  

“Why aren’t you struggling?”  

Yi Ling: “…”  

Would struggling even help?  

From the moment she was dragged into the Hehuan Palace, Yi Ling knew there was no one she could call for help.  
Moreover, she was so weak that even keeping her eyes open was a challenge, let alone mustering the strength to struggle.  

Princess Yu’an approached, noticing the pallor on Yi Ling’s face.  

She froze for a moment, then turned to question the eunuchs who had brought Yi Ling in.  

“Did you hit her?”  

The eunuchs immediately knelt.  

“Your Highness, we wouldn’t dare!”  

Good.  

She figured this deceitful woman was merely pretending.  

“Why have you been avoiding me recently?”  

Princess Yu’an ignored the rest, gripping a whip made of nine sections and repeatedly striking the nearby table. “Explain yourself. The other day, we agreed to work together, but you deceived me, didn’t you?”  

“How would I dare…”  

Yi Ling sighed helplessly. “But Your Highness, abducting me in the middle of the night is difficult to explain, don’t you think?”  

“Don’t try to scare me, Mrs. Xie.”  

The princess smirked, leaning in closer to Yi Ling. “You and Xie Hengzhi are in cahoots. That day, all your words were lies, weren’t they?”  

Judging by her tone, the princess seemed unaware that Xuantiansan was actually a poison.  

“Your Highness, I’ve been genuine from the beginning. You’re the one who claimed Xuantiansan was effective. I went through great lengths to obtain it, only to find it was a lethal toxin!”  

After finishing, Yi Ling mustered her remaining energy to closely watch Princess Yu’an.  

As expected, her face instantly fell. She gaped for a long moment, unable to speak or even blink.  
If this wasn’t superb acting, then she genuinely hadn’t known.  

Yi Ling doubted the princess had the skill for such performance.  

She felt reassured and grew calmer.  

“L-Lethal toxin?”  

Princess Yu’an’s hands trembled, and the whip clattered to the floor. “Did… did Xie Hengzhi die from your poison?”  

“…”  
What nonsense was that?  

“If I hadn’t caught it in time, Xie Hengzhi would’ve already succumbed to the Xuantiansan. Your future consort might have never seen the light of day again.”  

The thought visibly shook Princess Yu’an. Her lips turned white, and she seemed unsteady, collapsing into a chair for support.  

“No… no, that can’t be. Xuantiansan isn’t poison. The person who gave it to me said it was a truth serum.”  

So, there was a third party manipulating the princess. That explained everything.  

But who could it be?  

Yi Ling wanted to ask more, but her strength was fading fast.  

Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, and her senses dulled.  

Princess Yu’an noticed and signaled to a maid.  

The palace maid immediately brought a cup of ginseng tea.

Yi Ling drank it down, then forced herself to speak, “Princess, you’ve been used by this person.

He took advantage of your trust and used you to kill with a borrowed knife. If something goes wrong, all the responsibility will fall on you and me, while he remains untouched. It’s truly malicious!”

Princess Yu’an still couldn’t believe it. “He shouldn’t be that kind of person. He’s always been straightforward and honest. How could he dare to use me?”

“It’s you, Princess, who’s always been straightforward and honest! The facts are right in front of you. If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to inquire outside about what that Xuantiansan really is.”

Despite having her hands bound, Yi Ling leaned closer to Princess Yu’an. “Who exactly is this person with such malicious intent, hiding it so well?”

Princess Yu’an glanced at Yi Ling, hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly whispered, “…Yi Yun.”

Yi Ling: “………”

“I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Young Master Yi must have been deceived by an evil person.”

Princess Yu’an, already confused, became even more annoyed upon hearing Yi Ling’s words. 

What kind of nonsense was this? They didn’t even make sense!

This woman was definitely playing her—this couple was just as treacherous as the other!

“You’d better be honest with me and not try any tricks!”

“I’m really not.”

As the night grew darker, Yi Ling’s breathing became more labored. An overwhelming chill had already spread through her body without her noticing.

She lifted her eyes to look at Princess Yu’an, her face pale.

“Princess… Why not let me go back? What use is it to keep me locked up here?”

“No!”

Princess Yu’an had finally found the opportunity to capture Xie Hengzhi’s wife. Though she didn’t know what else she could do, she would never let her go so easily.

“I’ll keep you locked up here. I want Xie Hengzhi to taste what it’s like to lose someone he loves for no reason.”

Yi Ling lowered her head, gasped several times, and with great effort, managed to speak.

“Princess… Do you really think you can keep me here? When Xie Hengzhi comes to take me, it’ll be different from you letting me go.”

“Are you threatening me? This is my Hehuan Palace. Not even a fly can enter!”

Princess Yu’an picked up the nine-section whip on the ground and lashed it at Yi Ling’s legs.

“Does Xie Hengzhi dare?!”

Yi Ling wanted to say, “That’s not certain.”

Before she could speak, a sharp, cold wind rushed through the Hehuan Palace’s ancient money-patterned door, slamming against the side beam with a loud crash, the sound echoing.

As if sensing something, Yi Ling used her remaining strength to weakly lift her head.

The night was dark like ink, yet Hehuan Palace was brightly lit. Xie Hengzhi stood alone at the door, his dark gold robes gleaming under the palace lights, still trembling slightly from the impact of having kicked open the door.

The entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, eunuchs and palace maids rushed in, but they dared not act, only frantically gathering outside the door.

Princess Yu’an, stunned, watched as Xie Hengzhi steadily entered the hall, walking toward Yi Ling.

He looked down and saw the ropes binding Yi Ling’s hands.

At this moment, Princess Yu’an snapped out of it, shouting loudly, “Guards! Seize them!”

The guards unsheathed their swords and rushed forward.

But in the midst of Princess Yu’an’s shouting and the flashing swords, Xie Hengzhi calmly untied the ropes around Yi Ling’s hands.

On her delicate wrists were two prominent red marks.

His expression didn’t change, but his gaze froze for a moment.

“Does it hurt?”

By now, Yi Ling’s vision was blurry, and the sounds around her seemed distant. Only Xie Hengzhi’s voice, though calm, was like a stabilizing anchor in her ear.

Yi Ling knew she was safe now, but she lacked the strength to speak.

Her head hung low, her entire body swaying as if about to collapse.

Xie Hengzhi didn’t say anything. He simply picked her up in a bridal carriage and turned to leave.

Princess Yu’an had never suffered such humiliation.

This was the inner palace. If Xie Hengzhi could come and go freely, where would the imperial family’s authority be?

“Where are they! Take him down! Treat him as an assassin! Quick! Take them both down!”

The guards knew the situation was urgent, but as they tried to block Xie Hengzhi with their swords, it was as though he didn’t even see them. His steps didn’t falter, forcing them to retreat with every move.

Seeing this, Princess Yu’an nearly fainted with rage.

She grabbed the whip, intending to take matters into her own hands, when Xie Hengzhi suddenly stopped and turned his head.

Yi Ling, in his arms, looked like she had just endured inhuman torture.

In the bright light, Xie Hengzhi’s profile was as cold as ice.

“Princess, today you tortured my wife. Xie Hengzhi will return the favor in kind.”

Princess Yu’an: “?”

I didn’t!