Bianjing had begun to snow as well.

Unlike the light snow in the Jianghuai region, this ancient capital city resembled an aging lion, entirely submerged under the raging snowstorm.

The vast palace city, with its roofs and ground covered in a blanket of snow, was a scene of pure white, with only the palace walls retaining their vermilion hue.

Li Xin had been bedridden for many days, and the affairs of state were now entirely under the control of the Regent Prince, Shen Yanzhi.

Both the Prime Minister Gao Zhuo and the Marquis of Wen had fallen from power due to palace intrigues, leaving the remaining courtiers wary of his sharpness.

The Golden Luang Palace had not hosted morning court for several days; its doors were locked, and a thin layer of dust had settled inside.

The once-idle Xihuo Hall had become the place for ministers to debate politics.

Shen Yanzhi, adorned in a crimson prince’s robe with golden threads, lazily sat on a rosewood chair in the Xihuo Hall.

Below him, the courtiers argued incessantly, but he merely half-closed his eyes, occasionally twirling the white jade finger ring on his hand.

Behind his delicate features lay an unmistakable impatience.

He realized that sitting in this position was no different.

What he desired remained out of reach.

An elderly courtier argued vehemently with his colleagues, only to find that Shen Yanzhi seemed to pay no heed to their discussions.

This further fueled his anger.

Bowing respectfully, he said, “Regent Prince, the plague is rampant, and the people are suffering. Previously, if we couldn’t find a cure, it was understandable. But now, a wandering doctor has found a solution. Why then detain this doctor?”

Shen Yanzhi glanced at the speaking courtier indifferently.

His casual gaze was akin to a sharp knife that could take lives at any moment. “Detain? The Empress Dowager ( Shen Chan ) is ill. I’ve heard of this skilled doctor; I’ve invited him to the palace to treat the Empress Dowager. How does that equate to detention?”

He lifted his eyelids slightly, a cold smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “Does Lord Wang still think that the Empress Dowager’s illness is not serious enough to warrant the summoning of the wandering doctor to the palace for treatment?”

The old courtier dared not respond directly and said, “Of course, the health of the Empress Dowager is of utmost importance, but allowing the wandering doctor to prescribe remedies for the plague and having the common people follow those prescriptions to cure their illnesses…”

Shen Yanzhi sneered lightly, causing the old courtier’s voice to unconsciously lower.

Shen Yanzhi asked, “In Chen Guo’s jurisdiction, where is the epidemic rampant?”

Anger flashed across the old courtier’s face. “Zhuzhou is nearly deserted. How many people have died in the streets because of the epidemic? Does the Regent Prince, sitting high in this hall, not see the suffering of the people?”

“Is Zhuzhou now part of my Chen’s territory?” Shen Yanzhi’s casual remark effectively silenced all the passionate words of the old courtier.

In the end, the old courtier could only stutter, “After all, it used to be under Chen’s rule, and this disaster was caused by the Crown Prince. The people of Zhuzhou suffer greatly…”

“Lord Wang,” Shen Yanzhi’s smile turned cold, “I say, Zhuzhou is no longer under Chen’s Territory. When there was famine in Xiling in the past, I didn’t see any of you generously offering to send grain to Xiling.”

The old courtier was so angry his beard trembled. “How can you compare Xiling with Zhuzhou?”

He was about to mention that Zhuzhou had been part of the Great Chu Dynasty for over three hundred years.

However, before the words left his mouth, he realized that it was no longer the Great Chu Dynasty but the court of the Li family of Qixian.

The real power to control the life and death of the people lay only with the former Crown Prince’s faction.

After all, they were the ones who had truly ruled this land for over three hundred years.

A sudden sense of desolation filled the old courtier’s heart, and he shouted, “Shen Yanzhi, you and this unjust Li family treat the people like mere grass and weeds. People are watching, and one day you will face retribution!”

Immediately, some imperial guards intervened.

The guards dragged the old courtier out of the hall, while he continued to curse loudly.

Shen Yanzhi’s face showed no sign of anger, only mockery in his upturned phoenix eyes. “Lord Wang, it was you who defected to the New Dynasty in the first place.

Now, seeing the former Crown Prince’s growing power, you want to speak up for him.

Do you really think that a traitor returning to the side of the former Crown Prince would still be favored?”

His words were meant to be a warning, causing the old courtier and other former loyalists to the Great Chu Dynasty to reconsider their options:

Whether to continue down this path, or to repeatedly betray and become the subject of ridicule.

Shen Yanzhi glanced over the various expressions of the courtiers, his disdain deepening.

He ordered two imperial guards, “Take him to the dungeon.”

The two guards dragged the old courtier out of the hall, and Shen Yanzhi lazily raised his eyes to the sky. “If there are no further matters to report, you may all leave court.”

After the courtiers bowed to him, they gradually left the Xihuo Hall.

Shen Yanzhi left through a side door.

Outside the hall, the wind and snow were fierce, as if threatening to engulf the entire palace city.

He draped a large cloak over his shoulders, concealing his overly thin figure.

He looked up at the snow falling from the sky, the cold and fragile curve of his lips forming a faint smile. “It should be snowing in Jianghuai as well.”

Chen Qin, who had been following him for a long time, could probably discern some of his temperament by now.

For example, at this moment, he likely wanted to enjoy the snow without using an umbrella.

Carrying an umbrella, Chen Qin followed behind him, hearing his seemingly muttered words.

He knew that only the former Crown Princess of the Great Chu Dynasty would be in Jianghuai at this time.

However, he dared not engage in such topics.

Fortunately, Shen Yanzhi only seemed lost in thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s go to Muxi Palace.”

Muxi Palace was where Shen Chan lived.

Chen Qin quickly caught up, holding the umbrella.

Ever since Shen Chan saw blood beneath her, she had been experiencing signs of miscarriage.

Despite Shen Yanzhi’s efforts to find renowned physicians, they couldn’t save the fetus in her womb.

The “prince” who competed for the position of heir was nothing more than a peasant’s son.

After Shen Chan’s miscarriage, her health declined significantly.

Despite constantly receiving tonics and medicines, and several changes of imperial physicians and chefs, her condition did not improve.

Upon learning that Shen Yanzhi often pressured the imperial physicians and chefs, she would always attribute her poor health to herself whenever she met him, urging him not to blame others.

In order to ease Shen Yanzhi’s worries, she even forced herself to eat a few more bites of food, only to end up vomiting bile as soon as she turned her head.

Shen Yanzhi, upon discovering this, was furious.

Instead of punishing the kitchen staff and physicians, he ordered the removal of the outspoken palace maid from Shen Chan’s side.

He had her witness the scene of over a dozen prisoners having their tongues ripped out, which frightened her into silence.

The other palace residents were chilled to the bone and dared not speak out of turn in front of Shen Chan.

Everything Shen Chan heard from the palace maids was filtered through Shen Yanzhi’s permission before reaching her ears.

However, she was like a dying bird. No matter how carefully nurtured, she only grew weaker with each passing day.

Perhaps one day, she would lose all vitality.

Shen Yanzhi ordered the capture of the wandering doctor into the palace, claiming it was for treating Shen Chan’s illness, which was not entirely untrue.

A doctor capable of saving the lives of the people would surely be able to heal his sister.

As Shen Yanzhi stepped into Muxi Palace, he heard the faint laughter coming from inside, which belonged to Shen Chan.

When the palace attendants moved to announce his arrival, he stopped them.

Standing outside the door, Shen Yanzhi listened carefully to the laughter.

The wind and snow raged on, pressing his vermilion prince’s robe against his black cloak.

His complexion was even paler than the snow accumulated on the palace walls.

The last time Shen Chan had smiled like this seemed to be when she received the wooden hairpin he had carved for her when she came of age.

Shen Yanzhi asked, “Who is inside the hall?”

The chief eunuch in charge of Muxi Palace answered nervously, “It’s… it’s that wandering doctor.”

He carefully observed Shen Yanzhi’s expression. “The Empress Dowager often listens to the amusing anecdotes told by the wandering doctor about his medical journey. It often brings her laughter, and her appetite has improved somewhat in recent days.”

Shen Yanzhi’s expression remained inscrutable. “Is it only the Empress Dowager and the wandering doctor inside?”

The chief eunuch hastily shook his head. “Several palace maids and eunuchs are also inside, watching over.”

On one hand, it was to facilitate serving Shen Chan, and on the other hand, it was to prevent the wandering doctor from speaking out of turn in front of her.

Shen Yanzhi nodded and lifted the thick curtain made of rhinoceros flower cloth to step into the hall.

Shen Chan was half-lying on the Empress Dowager’s couch, with several flower-shaped cushions propped up behind her.

She looked even thinner than when she was pregnant, almost giving the impression that she couldn’t bear the weight of her luxurious clothes and furs.

Her hair was not styled, and her face was clean, which, due to her thinness, made her almond-shaped eyes appear even larger.

If someone unaware of her identity were to see her, they might mistake her for a delicate young girl from a wealthy family.

The wandering doctor was a woman in her early thirties with an average appearance.

She wore plain clothes that had been washed until they turned white.

Sitting on a embroidered stool nearby, she was neither overly formal nor obsequious, as if it made no difference to her whether she was speaking to nobility or common folk.

She exuded a sense of calm and tranquility.

Shen Chan enjoyed listening to her speak, as if she herself had traveled far and wide to experience the customs and people of different places.

Seeing Shen Yanzhi enter, she didn’t change her smile. “Brother.”

Shen Yanzhi bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Empress Dowager.”

This formal gesture seemed to remind Shen Chan of her current status and where she was.

She was helped to sit up by a palace maid, her smile fading slightly. “Brother, there’s no need for such formality.”

She then instructed someone to offer Shen Yanzhi a seat.

Shen Yanzhi inquired, “Have you been feeling better lately?”

Shen Chan’s smile returned. “Since using the prescription from Doctor Mu, I haven’t felt as breathless, and I’ve regained some energy.”

Shen Yanzhi glanced at the wandering doctor beside them and ambiguously remarked, “Then I’ll trouble Doctor Mu to stay in the palace for a while longer to continue treating the Empress.”

The wandering doctor nodded slightly, her expression stiff.

As Shen Yanzhi left Muxi Palace, he paused under the eaves.

The wandering doctor, who had left a few steps behind him, noticed that he was waiting and approached. “Your Highness, I’ve seen the Regent Prince.”

Shen Yanzhi gazed at the snowflakes falling from the eaves into the mortal realm, lost in thought. “Didn’t you say before that there was no cure for the Empress Dowager’s illness?”

The wandering doctor replied, “That’s correct. The medicine used by the common folk is no different from that used by the imperial physicians.

What has been preventing the Empress Dowager from recovering is her troubled heart.”

Shen Yanzhi didn’t turn around, but the solitary figure standing in the wind and snow momentarily gave him a feeling of loneliness that tightened his chest.

He spoke coldly, “The lives of those dozen or so patients are still in my hands. If you dare to neglect the treatment of the Empress Dowager, I will send you to meet King Yama along with them.”

When the officials and soldiers took the wandering doctor away, fearing that the prescription might fall into the wrong hands, they had initially intended to execute her.

The dozen or so plague victims who were being treated were taken away by the officials and soldiers as requested by the wandering doctor.

Soon after, the place where she treated the plague victims was set on fire and completely burned down.

Not only were the records of the patients’ symptoms and medication reactions destroyed, but even the medicinal herbs and remnants were consumed by the flames.

The wandering doctor remained calm but also somewhat sorrowful. “In the eyes of a commoner like me, both the Empress Dowager and those dozen or so plague victims from Zhuzhou are just patients. As a physician, I would never do anything harmful to my patients.”

Shen Yanzhi stood silently for a long while, watching the heavy snowfall.

Finally, he spoke. “The Empress Dowager enjoys hearing about your travels and experiences. Please come often to keep her company and talk to her.”

As he prepared to walk into the heavy snow, the wandering doctor’s voice came from behind again. “May I dare to request, Your Highness, permission to share the method of treating the plague victims with other physicians? I am willing to focus on treating the Empress Dowager in the palace, but the countless people suffering from the epidemic in this world also need someone to treat them.”

“Are you tired of living?” A voice as cold as ice emanated from the swirling snow.

Shen Yanzhi walked through the snow, his steps uneven.

Despite the heavy and bulky overcoat he wore, he still seemed frail.

After walking for who knows how long, he leaned against a doorpost and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood on the ground was even redder than the blooming plum blossoms nearby.

“Master!” Chen Qin rushed over, throwing away his umbrella to support Shen Yanzhi.

Shen Yanzhi wiped the blood from his lips casually, as if nothing had happened, and asked, “Has anyone come from Jianghuai?”

Chen Qin shook his head. “Not yet.”

Shen Yanzhi smiled faintly, bloodstains still visible on his lips. “Let’s wait a little longer.”

She would come to ask him for people, and then he could see her again.

He wanted to have a good conversation with her.

In Qingzhou…

The batch of doctors sent to investigate Zhuzhou returned empty-handed.

When Song Heqing mentioned this to Qin Zheng, he cursed Shen Yanzhi vehemently. “That scoundrel Shen did nothing right! Not only did he capture that wandering doctor named Mu, but also those patients who were treated by her were taken away. He even set fire to the medical office, turning it all into ashes. Now we can’t even find the remnants of the decoctions!”

Qin Jian was filled with anger, his hatred for Shen Yanzhi growing deeper after the passing of his father the Duke of Qin.

He immediately declared, “I’ll go back and write a public letter to condemn Shen Yanzhi. Even if the scholars of the world criticize and denounce him, he won’t remain indifferent!”

Although it was uncertain whether the public condemnation would be effective, it was still a method.

Qin Zheng nodded, then added, “Send someone to negotiate with the Chen army and see what conditions they propose for an exchange.”

If necessary, they would resort to a direct assault.

However, with so many military campaigns and the epidemic raging, they needed time to recuperate.

Otherwise, even if they captured Bianjing, the vast territory would be devoid of prosperity, and it would provide an opportunity for neighboring tribes to invade while they were weakened.