Chapter 8: A Marriage Arranged for You

The Prince of Jin chuckled.

"It seems you have a very high opinion of her, Physician Fu. You’ve praised her several times already in the short time you’ve been here."

"I am an old man who has always spoken the truth," Physician Fu replied.

Lu Zhaoning was indeed clever.

"There is no need to worry about that. I have already sent two maidservants to her side. They were personally trained by Matron Qing, so they should be attentive."

"That is good, that is good."

Physician Fu finally exhaled in relief, but then, struck by a thought, he couldn't help but study the Prince of Jin, his eyes flickering. "How did Your Highness and Miss Lu meet? You seem quite partial to her."

"She said she could save me."

The Prince of Jin’s single sentence instantly scattered all the gossip from the physician's mind. His expression turned serious.

"How could Miss Lu possibly know of Your Highness’s condition?" As he spoke, he glanced toward the Prince’s chest. Years ago, he had witnessed the strange affliction on the Prince's chest, but he had been helpless to treat it. That was precisely why the Prince had spent all these years traveling and seeking out famous physicians and extraordinary individuals.

"She said she could see it. Do you believe her, Physician Fu?"

Physician Fu thought of the way Lu Zhaoning had treated him just moments ago, and his expression grew even more solemn. "I have no choice but to believe it."

He paused, then could not help but add, "It is just that this matter is truly astonishing. Miss Lu is a young girl of only sixteen, raised in the countryside—where could she have learned such skills?"

"That is exactly what I wish to know." The Prince of Jin lightly stroked a black ring on the middle finger of his left hand.

"Miss Lu does not seem like a bad person."

The Prince of Jin couldn't help but laugh. He cast a sidelong glance at the physician. "Physician Fu, you are not young anymore; I am surprised you could say something so naive."

Can the goodness or wickedness of a person be seen at a single glance? It seemed that girl had quite a way about her, capturing the heart of the physician so quickly.

"I have lived for decades and have seen many people. Miss Lu’s eyes are clear; she is absolutely not a treacherous person," Physician Fu insisted.

The Prince of Jin did not argue with him, only saying lightly, "Since you are so fond of her, you should go back and prepare a generous gift."

"Prepare a gift? What kind of gift?"

"I am about to be betrothed to that Miss Lu. Shouldn't an elder like you send a gift?"

"What? Betrothed?!"

Outside, the steward and Matron Qing exchanged glances. See? Another person who had been so struck by the Prince's news that they had shouted until their voice cracked.

In the Imperial Palace, the Empress Dowager reclined on a soft couch, while a fair-skinned, red-lipped eunuch knelt beside her, gently massaging her legs.

Someone rushed in hurriedly. "Empress Dowager, the Prince of Jin has returned to the capital!"

The Empress Dowager sat up abruptly. "What did you say? Why has he returned so suddenly?"

"No one received word beforehand. The Prince of Jin has already returned to his residence; he will likely enter the palace soon," the attendant replied.

The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth. "It must have been the Retired Emperor who summoned him. I had people watching him closely; how did he manage to send word out?"

The Retired Emperor had been critically ill and bedridden for two months. Those with ulterior motives were secretly waiting for news of his passing, but no one had expected the Prince of Jin to return at this moment.

"What does it matter if he returns? Even that old fool Fu Yuan cannot cure the Retired Emperor; the Prince of Jin’s return is a wasted effort!" The Empress Dowager calmed herself, waved her sleeve, and sat back down gracefully. "However, it reminds me—hasn't Shen Xiangjun admired the Prince of Jin since childhood? Go, summon her to the palace. I wish to ask the child if she still desires to be the Princess of Jin."

"Yes."

Shen Xiangjun, the daughter of Chancellor Shen, had just turned sixteen. She was dignified and beautiful, and though she should have been considering marriage prospects, she had been waiting for the Prince of Jin—a fact known to almost everyone in the circles of the elite. This was largely because the Empress Dowager had tacitly allowed it, having hinted years ago that when the Prince returned, she would bestow a marriage upon them. Consequently, the entire Shen family had practically accepted this union.

Upon receiving the summons, Shen Xiangjun did not dare to delay and quickly dressed to enter the palace. After meeting the guiding palace maid, she slipped a small purse into the maid's hand and asked in a low voice, "Did the Empress Dowager summon only me today, or are there other young ladies coming as well?"

"Only Miss Shen was summoned." The maid squeezed the purse; Miss Shen had always been generous, and she tactfully added, "I heard the Prince of Jin has returned to the capital and will be entering the palace soon. That is why the Empress Dowager summoned you."

"The Prince of Jin is back?"

Shen Xiangjun was both shocked and delighted upon hearing the news, her face flushing with excitement. Was she called here only because the Prince of Jin was entering the palace? Recalling how the Empress Dowager had held her hand years ago, praising her beauty and declaring that she and the Prince would be a match made in heaven, Shen Xiangjun’s heart pounded. The Empress Dowager must be intending to bestow the marriage upon her!

It was worth all the effort she had spent over the years, giving gifts to the Empress Dowager during every festival and learning the arts of tea preparation and double-sided embroidery that the Empress Dowager favored. The Empress Dowager truly favored her.

Suppressing her excitement, Shen Xiangjun met the Empress Dowager and performed the ritual of obeisance perfectly. "This humble daughter greets the Empress Dowager. May you be blessed with longevity and peace."

"Rise quickly," the Empress Dowager said, gesturing for her to stand. She studied Shen Xiangjun with a kindly smile. "It has been some time. The Shen girl has become even more vibrant—you look just like a flower."

Shen Xiangjun bowed her head slightly. "The Empress Dowager is the one who resembles a flower, like a peony of incomparable beauty."

"Haha, your mouth is truly sweet. Xiangjun is sixteen this year, is she not? Your parents must be anxious; at this age, others would have long since been betrothed."

It really was about her marriage! Shen Xiangjun’s cheeks grew warm. "Empress Dowager, this humble daughter is not in a hurry."

"How can you not be in a hurry?" The Empress Dowager beckoned her over and took her hand. "I know your heart, child. The Prince of Jin has returned, and I am asking you now so that I don't make a mistake in playing matchmaker later."

"Empress Dowager..." Shen Xiangjun lowered her head, blushing. "Xiangjun will follow whatever the Empress Dowager decides."

"Good, good. Then I shall make this decision for you. We must hurry and settle the match for the Prince of Jin before someone else snatches him away."

"Empress Dowager, the Prince of Jin has entered the palace!" an attendant reported.

Shen Xiangjun looked up suddenly, unable to hide her excitement. He really had entered the palace. Her heart had been tied to him for eight full years! In this life, she wanted to marry no one but him.

"Did he go to the Retired Emperor’s quarters?"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Prince of Jin went to the Imperial Study first."

The Empress Dowager stood up and pulled Shen Xiangjun along. "He still remembers his Imperial Brother. Very well, let us go to the Imperial Study and have the Emperor issue the decree for marriage immediately."

Outside the Imperial Study, the Prince of Jin, sitting in his sedan chair, looked at the bright yellow figure standing at the entrance and curled his lips slightly. He came out to greet me?

The Emperor walked with a bold, steady gait toward him and exclaimed excitedly, "Ah Yue, I have finally waited for your return! All these years, there has not been a moment I haven't thought of you!"

"Imperial Brother, it has been many years. You have aged; there are wrinkles on your face," the Prince of Jin said, shaking his head with a sigh.

The Emperor stiffened.