Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times - Chapter 112

“Your Majesty, what exactly happened yesterday?” Shen Zhengchu asked curiously. Still, seeing his daughter standing safe and sound before him, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. He hadn’t slept well the previous night, afraid that something might have happened to her.

“Someone tried to assassinate Yining yesterday. If Yu’er hadn’t arrived in time with the Yuning Guards, I might never have seen her again,” the Empress said gravely. “Too much happened yesterday. Once Yining’s condition stabilizes, I’ll explain everything at court. For now, I want to check on her.” As she spoke, she glanced at Shen Xingyue and gave a small smile.

“Yu’er, the method you came up with yesterday really worked. In the second half of the night, Yining’s fever went down. The imperial physicians said it was very effective. In a few days, I’ll be sure to reward you properly.” As Empress Shen Kaiyuan spoke, she walked toward the resting chamber.

Upon entering, she noticed that her daughter’s complexion looked slightly better than the day before. At least she wasn’t as deathly pale.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhengchu quietly pulled his daughter aside and asked in a low voice, “What really happened?”

“I’ll explain once we’re back at the residence,” Shen Xingyue replied softly. The Empress clearly didn’t want to talk about it for now—most likely, she planned to explain everything to the court in a few days. After all, no matter how calm Shen Kaiyuan appeared on the surface, Shen Yiqian and Shen Yijia were still her children. Losing them both overnight—especially because they had plotted against their younger sister—was something no mother could simply brush off. It was unthinkable that she wouldn’t be grieving. Now was not the time to bring up more pain. It was best to go along with whatever the Empress wanted.

Shen Zhengchu was also quite worried about Shen Yining’s condition. He still didn’t know that the other two royal siblings were already dead. If anything were to happen to the Crown Princess, the Prince of Ankang’s household might also be dragged into disaster. So he followed the Empress into the room to see for himself.

Shen Yining was still unconscious, but her face looked much better than before.

The Empress turned to the physicians stationed by the bed and asked, “How is Yining doing?”

“Your Majesty,” the lead physician replied with a bow, “thanks to Heaven’s protection, Her Highness’s condition has stabilized. We just changed her medication. Today, we’ll continue flushing the remaining toxins from her system and make sure her fever doesn’t spike again. If she can make it through the next day or two, she should be out of danger.”

“Very well. Take good care of her. Once she wakes up, I will reward you all generously,” the Empress said, finally feeling a bit more at ease. Then she turned to Wenjing and added, “Wenjing, send someone to replace the white liquor and bring fresh cloths. If her fever returns later, use Yu’er’s method again to help cool her down.”

Perhaps it was because of how decisively Shen Xingyue had acted at the South Gate, turning the tide and saving Shen Yining, or perhaps it was the image of Yu’er praying to the heavens that had left a deep impression. Whatever the reason, the Empress now seemed to have an inexplicable trust in Shen Xingyue. She believed Yu’er was her daughter’s lucky star. She even believed wholeheartedly in the high-proof white liquor remedy Yu’er had suggested to lower fevers.

Watching all this unfold, Shen Zhengchu stood there utterly confused. When had his daughter learned anything about treating illness? As her father, he had never heard of such a thing. He studied her quietly, puzzled, but he didn’t dare speak up—especially not when the Empress’s full attention was on Shen Yining.

After giving those instructions, the Empress paused, then said, “Yu’er made a good point yesterday. Yining’s fever has gone down for now, but the physicians said it might return. In times like this, we don’t need to stand on ceremony. Wenjing, send someone to bring Zhou Zixuan here in one of the palace carriages. Let her stay here and keep Yining company.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll have someone go fetch Miss Zhou right away,” Wenjing replied promptly.

“Wait,” Shen Xingyue called out to Wenjing. She quickly walked over to the bedside, took out the small white pig-shaped sachet, and handed it to him. “Have the eunuch give this to Miss Zhou,” she instructed gently. “Tell her that Her Highness’s condition is now stable and that she shouldn’t worry too much.”

“Yes, I’ve noted it,” Wenjing replied immediately, taking the sachet carefully.

“You really are thoughtful,” the Empress said warmly, patting Shen Xingyue on the shoulder with genuine appreciation.

Shen Zhengchu looked at the Empress, then at his daughter, starting to feel something was off. Why did his elder sister mention Yu’er in nearly every conversation? Was their Yu’er really that important now?

Before he could think more about it, Empress Consort Ye Yuran arrived in a hurry. Her eyes were still red and slightly swollen—clearly, she hadn’t slept well. She waved off formalities from Shen Zhengchu and the others, then saw Shen Xingyue keeping watch so early in the morning. Her eyes welled up again as she walked over and said, “You’ve worked so hard, my dear. You were here yesterday, and now you’re still here first thing in the morning, watching over Yining.”

Shen Xingyue quickly bowed and responded respectfully, “Your Majesty is too kind. Her Highness is my cousin—it’s only right for me to be here.”

Before she could say more, Empress Shen Kaiyuan interrupted, “There’s no ‘only right’ about it. The way you care for Yining shows what a loving older sister you are—not like those two ungrateful ones. They were her siblings by blood, yet they could bring themselves to do such terrible things.”

Shen Xingyue bowed again and chose not to say anything more. Whatever the Empress said, she would simply accept it.

“You’re a good child,” Ye Yuran said softly. “But don’t wear yourself out. What if Yining wakes up and you’ve fallen ill?”

To Ye Yuran, Shen Xingyue wasn’t just a dutiful niece anymore—she had become the person who had saved her daughter’s life. If Shen Xingyue hadn’t arrived when she did, Yining might not have made it. From that moment on, Ye Yuran saw everything about her in a positive light. Even just seeing her pass by made her want to offer praise.

All Shen Xingyue could do was humbly accept it. She quickly bowed again and said, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I’ll take care of myself. But you should also look after your health. Once Her Highness recovers, she’ll definitely want to see you well and strong.”

“I will,” Ye Yuran replied with a soft smile. Knowing her daughter’s condition had stabilized finally allowed her a moment to breathe and speak more kindly.

Off to the side, Shen Zhengchu felt a bit jealous. That was his daughter, after all. But looking at the way the Empress and Empress Consort treated her, it almost felt like the three of them were one family—and he was the outsider.

He cleared his throat and pushed the thought aside. It must be because Yu’er had helped so much yesterday that the Empress was treating her with such favor.

Once Ye Yuran entered to see Shen Yining, Empress Shen Kaiyuan followed. Along the way, she once again retold how Shen Xingyue had come up with the idea to use white liquor to lower the fever. She praised her once more in front of everyone.

Outside, Shen Xingyue could hear it all. At this point, she felt numb. Did the Empress and Empress Consort see her through some kind of glowing filter? Was everything she did worth praising?

—

Meanwhile, back at the palace, the eunuchs and guards moved quickly. Soon, the imperial carriage arrived at Grand Preceptor Zhou Yuanzhen’s estate. After briefly speaking with the servants, the lead eunuch entered the residence with a few attendants.

Zhou Yuanzhen quickly came out to greet them. “Sirs, is there a message from His Majesty?” he asked respectfully.

Zhou Yuanzhen had been at the palace the day before and knew things had descended into chaos. When palace attendants arrived, he assumed the Empress had sent them to escort him into the palace to discuss national affairs.

The lead eunuch quickly clarified, “His Majesty gave a verbal order. At a time like this, protocol must give way. Her Majesty would like to invite Miss Zhou to the palace to visit Her Highness.”

Zhou Yuanzhen hesitated. This kind of arrangement clearly showed how much the Crown Princess meant to his daughter, but it was still highly irregular and went against traditional etiquette.

Seeing his reluctance, the eunuch gently added, “Grand Preceptor, you saw the state of things yesterday. Now may not be the time to challenge Her Majesty’s will.”

Zhou Yuanzhen thought it over. Of all people, the one most emotionally distressed right now had to be the Empress. If he insisted on protocol now, wouldn’t that be the same as walking straight into trouble?

With that, he turned to a nearby servant and instructed, “Go call the young miss.”

“Yes, Master,” the servants answered, hurrying off.

As soon as Zhou Zixuan heard palace attendants had arrived, she rushed to the front hall. “Father, the palace sent someone?”

“Yes,” Zhou Yuanzhen replied with a nod.

The lead eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Miss Zhou, His Majesty has sent us to escort you to the palace to visit the Crown Princess. The Princess gave us this sachet to bring to you, and asked us to tell you that Her Highness’s condition has stabilized. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Zhou Zixuan hadn’t expected they’d come to bring her into the palace. For a moment, she was stunned. She took the small white pig-shaped sachet in her hands, and a small sense of relief settled in her heart. Without wasting a second, she said, “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

She turned to her father and said quickly, “Father, I’m going to the palace with them.” Then she followed the eunuchs out without delay.

The carriage moved swiftly. After a full night of sweeping operations by the Yuning Guard, the rioters in the capital had been rounded up or driven out. Those who refused to cooperate were executed on the spot. By early morning, corpses were being cleared from the streets, and order had returned to the capital.

Because of the urgency, Shen Kaiyuan had specifically instructed the eunuchs to bring Zhou Zixuan directly to the Hall of Diligent Governance. So, unlike others who had to walk the last stretch, Zhou Zixuan arrived by carriage right at the hall.

She didn’t take time to compose herself and immediately stepped inside, bowing respectfully. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I, Zhou Zixuan, humbly greet you.”

“Please rise. You’ve come a long way so early in the morning—thank you,” the Empress said, nodding in acknowledgment.

“I’ve been worrying about Her Highness since yesterday,” Zhou Zixuan replied anxiously. “I’m grateful to Your Majesty for allowing me to see her. May I go in now to check on her?”

“Go see Ning’er,” the Empress said gently, seeing how anxious she was. She didn’t say more and simply gave her leave.

Zhou Zixuan quickly made her way to the side chamber where Shen Yining was resting. A few imperial physicians stood nearby. She gave them a small nod of greeting before hurrying to the bedside.

She looked at Shen Yining, lying there with her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling slowly. Her brows were furrowed tightly, as if she were still in pain. Zhou Zixuan’s eyes instantly turned red with emotion.

Watching from the side, Ye Yuran understood she should give them a moment alone. She gently said, “Let’s step out and give Zixuan some time with Ning’er. Physicians, you may return shortly.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the physicians replied and stepped out as instructed.

Shen Xingyue and the others also left the chamber and returned to the Hall of Two Rites. The eunuchs even thoughtfully closed the door behind them to give the girls some privacy.

As soon as everyone was gone, Zhou Zixuan could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down her face. With trembling hands, she reached out and gently caressed Shen Yining’s cheek.

“How did you end up so badly hurt?” she whispered, her voice choked with sorrow. “Does it hurt?”

Carefully, she lifted the corner of the blanket and saw both of Shen Yining’s shoulders wrapped tightly in gauze. Fresh blood was already seeping through. Zhou Zixuan’s heart ached terribly. Her little pig—how could she be hurt this badly?

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