“I’ll do it!” Yuan Bi suddenly said. “I’m strong and male. I can fool the imperial physician.”
Zhou Shu considered this and nodded, “That might work.”
The imperial physician then stated solemnly, “Your Majesty, the Yiking Prince’s chances of survival are slim. It depends on his own fate.”
Si Shuo looked stunned, his expression a mix of relief and regret. He said, “Withdraw,” before turning to comfort Ning Wanwan. “Yunxiang, don’t worry. I believe the fifteenth brother has divine protection and will survive.”
Ning Wanwan lowered her eyes, grief barely suppressed on her face. “Thank you, Imperial Brother. Yunxiang believes the Prince will recover.”
Si Shuo thought Ning Wanwan was genuinely distressed and nodded, saying nothing further.
After a while, he turned and looked through the curtain at Si Zhan. “I heard that a few days ago, assassins broke into the Yiking Prince’s residence?”
Ning Wanwan touched her ‘tears’ and nodded, “Indeed, this happened.”
Si Shuo frowned. “Have the assassins’ identities been discovered?”
Ning Wanwan shook her head, worried. “Not yet.”
Si Shuo contemplated. “To prevent future assassination attempts, I plan to grant three hundred garrison troops to the fifteenth brother.”
Ning Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat; she was unsure of Si Shuo’s true intentions—genuine concern or intentional surveillance?
She furrowed her brow. “That may be true, but what if the Emperor and Empress Dowager become suspicious? Then we would not be able to leave even if we wanted to.”
Si Zhan looked at her with gentleness, soothing her inner anxiety. “Although Qian Nan is my fief, the financial affairs are controlled by the imperial court. They believe I cannot afford to raise so many soldiers. Moreover, Di Jin cannot prove that the garrison and its soldiers are related to me, as all information transmitted to Qian Nan comes through the Lumen Pavilion’s intelligence network.”
Even if they trace it layer by layer, they will not be able to trace it back to me. “You can be at ease,” he said, putting down his teacup. “Besides, if Di Jin truly holds evidence against me, he would first come to talk to me.”
Ning Wanwan seemed to understand, “Because of Di Huan?”
