The Wandering Doctor Mu looked up in astonishment. “Empress Dowager…”

Shen Chan smiled. “Listening to Doctor Mu’s stories, it’s as if I’ve personally visited those beautiful mountains and rivers. I am content.”

She coughed weakly a few times before continuing. “Two days from now is the anniversary of my mother’s death. I will tell my brother that I want to return to the Shen family cemetery to pay respects to my mother. You can accompany me out of the palace. There is a secret passage in the Shen family’s temple that leads outside the city. You can escape from the city through that passage.”

Doctor Mu knelt down. “Empress Dowager, your grace is immense, and I will never forget it.”

Shen Chan wanted to help her up, but she was too weak to get off the bed.

She urged, “Doctor Mu, please get up quickly.”

The Wandering Doctor Mu clasped her hands, looking hesitant. “There is another request from this humble one.”

Shen Chan said, “Doctor Mu, please speak your mind.”

The Wondering Doctor Mu then revealed everything: “Previously, I treated several plague patients in Zhuzhou, but the Regent Prince confiscated them. He is using the lives of those plague patients to coerce me. If I leave, those dozen or so plague patients may suffer.”

Shen Chan only knew her as a doctor hired by Shen Yanzhi from the common folk, unaware that she had been brought back from Zhuzhou, still holding the prescription for treating the epidemic.

She asked in surprise and suspicion, “Doctor Mu, were you treating plague patients in Zhuzhou before?”

Doctor Mu nodded. “I discovered a way to treat the plague. Those dozen or so plague patients will recover after drinking two more doses of medicine.”

Shen Chan’s chest heaved violently, her eyes filled with disbelief. “What is my brother… What does he intend to do? With the plague ravaging Zhuzhou, is he willing to abandon the people there?”

Seeing Shen Chan almost unable to catch her breath, Doctor My hurried forward to help her with acupressure. “Empress Dowager, please try to remain calm…”

Before the traveling physician could finish her sentence, Shen Chan tightly grasped her wrist, as if clinging to a lifeline, and begged, “Doctor Mu, please tell me, please tell me everything my brother refuses to let me know.”

Doctor Mu hesitated. “This…”

Tears fell from Shen Chan’s eyes like broken pearls. “I have been taking medicine and eating, fighting desperately to live longer, just to spend more time with my brother.

He’s the only family I have left in this world. I can’t bear to watch him stray further down the wrong path…”

Doctor Mu sighed and finally revealed everything. “Zhuzhou has been captured by the Crown Prince of Chu. The Regent Prince ordered to take you away, and recently he demanded the medical records, medicines and prescriptions from epidemic, seemingly to negotiate with the Crown Prince of Chu’s consort.”

Ever since the influx of refugees from Jianghuai, and with Chu Chengji taking over the territory of Prince Huaiyang,

The common people no longer refer to them as ‘former Chu’, as if they tacitly acknowledge them as the legitimate regime.

Shen Chan closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks once again. “He’s gone mad!”

How did her brother, who used to have nightmares every night because of the fifty thousand comrades who died tragically, come to this point?

Shen Chan’s heart was torn with pain.

With tears in her eyes, she promised the traveling physician, “Rest assured, I will protect those dozen or so people from Zhuzhou with my life.”

Seeing Shen Chan in such agony, Doctor Mu felt uneasy and bowed. “On behalf of those people from Zhuzhou, thank you, Your Highness.”

Shen Chan shook her head. “It’s my fault and my brother’s fault for letting down the people of Zhuzhou and the people of this world…”

She seemed exhausted, sinking back into the soft pillow.

Though her eyes were closed, tears continued to flow from the corners, dampening her hair. “Doctor Mu, please return for now. Prepare your belongings in advance. Two days from now, follow me out of the palace.”

In Qingzhou, Qin Zheng felt instinctively apprehensive about Shen Yanzhi’s proposal to meet at the Ten Mile Pavilion three days later.

Firstly, given her current status, falling into Shen Yanzhi’s hands would undoubtedly be a huge problem.

Secondly, she was not the original Crown Princess, and she had no idea how to handle the tangled relationship between Shen Yanzhi and the original Crown Princess.

In the novels, the original Crown Princess died during the palace upheaval.

Qin Zheng inexplicably transmigrated here and started with Chu Chengji.

She had worked her way up to this point, enduring all kinds of struggles.

Even after Qin Madam and her son came to Qingzhou, she found it difficult to get close to them, let alone Shen Yanzhi, her former boyfriend who had been cleanly cut off before her original self married into the Eastern Palace.

There was a common phrase on the internet in her previous life: ‘A good ex is like dead person.’

Qin Zheng felt it suited Shen Yanzhi and the original Crown Princess perfectly.

In the beginning, when the original Crown Princess entered the Eastern Palace, he accepted it with pain.

Why, after the betrayal, did he insist on obtaining the original Crown Princess?

Was it because he had already taken the wrong path and decided to stick to it?

Qin Zheng couldn’t figure out Shen Yanzhi’s thoughts, but the only thing she could be sure of was that even if the original Crown Princess was still alive, despite the national enmity and family hatred, she and Shen Yanzhi would not have a good ending.

After thinking for most of the night, she finally made a decision.

She would not go to the Ten-Mile Pavilion in Sishui City.

Not because she was afraid, but because she was not the person Shen Yanzhi wanted to see.

Moreover, she didn’t want to put herself in danger during this turbulent time and cause chaos among the people below.

Shen Yanzhi’s hatred for Chu Chengji might stem from her choice of Chu Chengji.

If he knew that the real Crown Princess had long been gone and she was not his childhood sweetheart, would his hatred diminish?

Qin Zheng carefully considered various possibilities, but for a moment, she couldn’t figure out whether Shen Yanzhi would quell his hatred after knowing she was not the original Crown Princess, or if he would intensify his hatred towards them.

But no matter the possibility, the worst outcome would be them and Shen Yanzhi facing each other in battle.

The candlelight in the candlestick reflected in her eyes, her eyelashes curled up like crow feathers.

Emotions seemed to have layers in her eyes, gradually approaching, and her gaze became firmer.

What will come will come; there is nothing to fear or evade.

Except for the fact that her current body used to belong to the original Crown Princess, she and Shen Yanzhi were just two strangers.

The original Crown Princess owed nothing to Shen Yanzhi, her former boyfriend, nor did Qin Zheng owe him anything.

There was no personal affection between them, only a struggle for power.

After realizing this, Qin Zheng wrote the letter to be sent to the Ten-Mile Pavilion in Sishui City three days later without any hesitation.

If she personally went to the appointment, to ensure her safety, Lin Yao or Dong Cheng would definitely accompany her to meet Shen Yanzhi.

In front of them, she couldn’t confess to Shen Yanzhi that she was not the original Crown Princess, and Chu Chengji was no longer the prince of the fallen country.

Using a letter, she informed Shen Yanzhi that the person he loved and the person he hated had both passed away during the palace coup, and now it was up to him to decide.

To prevent this letter from spreading and causing gossip, Qin Zheng only signed her name without affixing a seal.

The letter only mentioned that she and Chu Chengji had switched identities, without revealing their original identities.

She didn’t need to explain so much to Shen Yanzhi; she just needed him to understand that his love and hatred no longer mattered.

Love and hatred for two people who no longer existed should not involve so many innocent people.

After finishing the letter, Qin Zheng sealed it with wax and, to avoid it being seen by anyone, opened the bottom drawer of the desk with a key, intending to temporarily place the letter inside and have someone deliver it to Shen Yanzhi on the day of the appointment.

Important documents and seals would also be kept in this drawer by her and Chu Chengji. It was a tacit secret between them, and only they had the key.

As Qin Zheng was placing the letter, she noticed an extra bright yellow scroll inside, causing her hand to pause.

She hadn’t opened this drawer for a long time.

When did this scroll appear?

Remembering the argument she had with Chu Chengji before and the agreement he signed, Qin Zheng’s eyes widened a bit.

Could this be the rewritten agreement that Chu Chengji mentioned?

After returning from Xuzhou, Qin Zheng had long forgotten about the quarrel with Chu Chengji and hadn’t opened this drawer again.

Upon careful consideration, this should be the agreement.

Qin Zheng took out the bright yellow scroll and spread it out on the desk.

When she read the contents, her pupils dilated, and her breath caught.

“As the mountains and rivers crumble, I, in reverence of the divine mandate, shall continue the grand plan.

Consulting you, Crown Princess Qin, daughter of Duke Qin, born of an illustrious family, embodying beauty and virtue, renowned for your wisdom and deeds.

During my campaigns, you, Qin, have shown respect and diligence, managing affairs of state, amending laws, and promoting irrigation and agriculture for the benefit of the people.

Your character is noble, your intellect keen. In anticipation of my ascension to the throne, I hereby decree that in the event of unforeseen circumstances, all ministers and subjects of the Chu Dynasty shall heed Crown Princess Qin’s commands.

This proclamation shall be disseminated throughout the realm.”

Qin Zheng’s eyes couldn’t help but turn red.

The contract she impulsively drafted was simply a private commitment from Chu Chengji to her.

However, Chu Chengji had instead written a decree that could be announced to the world.

If he ascended to the throne, they would rule together, and if anything happened to him, she could succeed him.

This decree from beginning to end never mentioned the word “heir.” It stated that while he lived, they would share political power equally, and if he died, all political power would belong to her.

Qin Zheng looked up, trying to force back the tears welling up in her eyes, but the tears still fell onto the bright yellow scroll.

Complex emotions surged in her heart, making her chest feel intensely bitter.

All her previous worries and anxieties became insignificant in front of this decree.

Minzhou.

A cold droplet of water fell on Chu Chengji’s eye, and in the darkness, he opened his eyes.

Outside the tent, raindrops were falling incessantly.

It had been snowing north of the Jianghuai region, and in the south, there had been continuous rain for several days.

Another drop of water fell, but this time, he reached out and caught it.

Chu Chengji sat up on his military bed, and after getting down, he lit the candlestick on the table with a fire starter. It was then he discovered that the tent was leaking.

Seeing the candlelight inside the tent, the attendant at the door quickly asked if there were any orders.

Chu Chengji lifted the tent curtain, and the damp air from outside rushed in instantly.

He said expressionlessly, “The tent is leaking.”

Seeing that the leak was directly above the military bed, the attendant said hurriedly, “I’ll get you a new tent right away, Your Highness.”

Chu Chengji was well aware of the military rules; only generals were entitled to sleep in separate tents.

It was late at night, and it was raining heavily.

If he vacated a tent for himself, the other soldiers would probably have to sleep outside tonight.

He said, “No need. I’ll go squeeze in with Colonel Lu.”

Colonel Lu had already gone to bed.

Upon hearing that Chu Chengji’s tent was leaking on such a rainy night, he knew that Chu Chengji didn’t want the soldiers to work in the rain.

As for Chu Chengji wanting to share a tent with him, Colonel Lu was quite nervous.

There were many military tasks to be done tomorrow.

Chu Chengji fell asleep quickly, but Colonel Lu felt uneasy, staring at the tent roof and listening to the rain outside.

It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that he started feeling drowsy.

However, Chu Chengji seemed to sense someone by his bed in his sleep.

Out of habit, he reached out and found that the breath and figure were not right!

When he abruptly withdrew his hand, waking up startled, Colonel Lu was also awakened.

The rain outside had lessened, and the sky was dimly brightening.

Chu Chengji could vaguely see the furnishings inside the tent.

Remembering that his tent leaked last night, he pressed his forehead and got up to leave. “I’ll go inspect the river valley.”

Colonel Lu looked very confused.

It was essential to inspect the river valley after the heavy rain to see if there were any mudslides.

However, the Crown Prince was getting up too early?

He watched Chu Chengji’s back, recalling how Chu Chengji had just laid his arm on him earlier, and then realized afterward.

The Crown Prince must have been thinking of the Crown Princess.

He shook his head with a smile.

With such a stunning wife, he would have had the same thoughts if he were in Chu Chengji’s shoes.