Chapter 122: Something’s Up With This Brother...

Cen An was free, but he still had to wait here for Jun Zhan, so he had to stay for another two days.

It wouldn’t do to suddenly be idle. He still hadn’t dealt with the herbs he’d put to soak yesterday. ’If those herbs soak for too long, it’ll affect their potency. I’d better go fish them out now.’

However, as he was scooping them out, Cen An suddenly realized something. ’Wait a minute. I could have just asked for Jun Zhan’s address and gone to find him myself. Why am I still stuck here working?’

The Princess could have just passed on the message, but she chose to help him by summoning Jun Zhan. ’How is that helping me? She clearly calculated that I wouldn’t leave, so she could continue to enslave me.’

’Damn it! I knew this Princess wasn’t that kind.’

’Looks like I’ll be doing this unpaid labor for another two days!’

’Well, it’s not entirely unpaid labor.’

Looking at the herbs he had already half-scooped out, he shut his eyes and opened them again. ’Oh, whatever. I’ve already come this far. I’ll just bear with it and it’ll be over soon.’

------

"COUGH, COUGH!"

A carriage stopped at the entrance of Manxi Building. A slender figure emerged, looking somewhat frail even when wrapped in a cloak.

Braving the wind and snow, he disembarked and hurried inside, where Manager Jiang was speaking with a man in a straw rain cape.

The other man had a cold expression and seemed to be a man of few words.

Seeing the newcomer, Manager Jiang quickly stood up. "Sir, the Young Master is here."

The guard stood and cupped his hands in a salute. "Mr. Song."

Song Junzhan quickly returned the gesture. "You’re too kind, sir. May I ask what instructions Miss Xiao has?"

The past few days had grown increasingly cold, so Song Junzhan had mostly stayed in his residence. He had only rushed out because this man said Miss Xiao had sent him with a matter of importance.

The guard relayed the message woodenly. "Cen An, the successor of the Divine Doctor you were looking for previously, is searching for you, Young Master. My master sent me to ask if you wish to see him."

Manager Jiang was surprised. "Cen An? Where is he?"

The guard replied, "He is at my master’s villa."

’A villa... that means it’s outside the Imperial City.’

"Cough, cough..." Song Junzhan coughed violently again. Manager Jiang quickly handed him a cup of hot tea. After drinking it, he suppressed the tickle in his throat. "Cen An is an old friend of mine. Of course I must see him. Will Miss Xiao have him come to me, or must I go and fetch him myself?"

The guard thought for a moment. ’The Princess didn’t explicitly forbid the Young Master from going over.’

"It is all up to the Young Master’s wishes."

Song Junzhan’s heart skipped a beat, and his breathing became unsteady.

’What does this mean? Is Miss Xiao going to see me in her capacity as the Princess?’

After a moment’s hesitation, Song Junzhan made his decision. "I’ll trouble you to lead the way, sir."

In any case, he had to see her. Not Miss Xiao, but the noble and revered Princess Xuanyang.

The reason Xiao Li didn’t send Cen An directly to Song Junzhan was to let Song Junzhan decide whether he wanted to see this person.

Otherwise, her good intentions might backfire. What if he didn’t want to see him? Just shoving Cen An at him would be so presumptuous.

As for Song Junzhan discovering her identity by coming here, she couldn’t care less.

It was just an open secret. A meeting wouldn’t change anything. Besides, she was only having him come to see Cen An and take the man away; she had no intention of meeting him herself.

Song Junzhan arrived faster than Xiao Li had imagined.

She thought it would be tomorrow at the earliest, but he ended up coming that very night, braving the wind and snow.

The villa had a hot spring, about the size of a small swimming pool. Eight dragon-head spouts on four sides continuously circulated the water, keeping the temperature at a very comfortable level.

Soaking in a hot spring in the dead of winter—Xiao Li couldn’t be more pleased. And so, she accidentally soaked for a little too long.

Hong Yue had to urge her several times before she finally got out.

She was leisurely drying herself off when a maid came to report that a gentleman surnamed Song had arrived and had been taken directly by a guard to see Doctor Cen.

Xiao Li glanced at the dark sky and the glittering white snow outside, then instructed, "The visitor is a guest. Treat him well. You don’t need to report to me."

"This servant understands."

Far from the Imperial City, and after a comfortable hot bath, Xiao Li slept exceptionally well that night.

Meanwhile, when Cen An and Song Junzhan met, their reunion was filled less with emotion and more with a sense of wistfulness. One drinking tea and the other his medicine, they slowly caught up.

Cen An said, "I never thought you’d know the Princess."

Song Junzhan replied, "I looked for you before but could never find you. I also never expected you’d come here to serve the Princess."

Cen An: "Ahem, let’s not talk about that." ’The more I say, the more I’ll want to cry.’

They both sensed the other had some unspoken history with the Princess and tacitly chose to move on, instead talking about what had happened in the years since they’d parted.

Cen An had traveled everywhere in search of medicinal herbs, experiencing all sorts of local customs and strange events. He had endless stories to tell.

Song Junzhan, on the other hand, swallowed his words several times, ultimately falling silent and casting a heavy mood over their reunion.

"Forget it. I won’t ask about your affairs. In any case, I’m here to treat your illness. No matter what you plan on doing, you have to get well first."

Out of a thousand possible words, Song Junzhan managed only two: "Thank you."

Cen An huffed irritably. "Do I look like I need your thanks?"

Song Junzhan could only pick up the medicine bowl and drain it in one go. Quietly taking his medicine was his answer.

----

The weather was so cold that Xiao Li slept in until almost noon. She had just finished washing up when Cen An arrived with Song Junzhan in tow.

Cen An was permitted to see Xiao Li without being announced, which was how he ended up bringing Song Junzhan right before her so brazenly.

Xiao Li was, of course, still the same Xiao Li; her change in status hadn’t changed her appearance. In fact, she was dressed more casually and simply than when she was out.

Seeing her like this, Song Junzhan felt that his previous worries had been somewhat unnecessary. She was far more composed than he was.

He straightened his sleeves, stepped forward properly, and cupped his hands in a formal bow. "This commoner, Song Junzhan, pays his respects to Princess Xuanyang."

Cen An froze for a second. ’Ah, right. I forgot I was supposed to bow.’

"My respects, Princess."

Xiao Li’s gaze swept past Cen An and landed on Song Junzhan. He was dressed in a thick, padded robe, yet it didn’t look bulky on him at all. His face seemed even thinner than the last time she saw him. With the white snow by the doorway outlining his silhouette, he had an ethereal air, as if he might ascend to the heavens at any moment.

’He has the frailest of bodies, yet he possesses the resolute heart of a statesman. Fate truly loves to play tricks on people.’

"You may rise."

She didn’t reminisce with Song Junzhan, instead asking Cen An, "Are you here to take your leave?"

Cen An didn’t answer, looking at Song Junzhan instead.

’He himself wanted to leave this ’den of demons’ immediately, but before he could announce his departure, Song Junzhan had suggested paying a visit to the Princess first. He had no idea what Song Junzhan was thinking.’

Song Junzhan calmly answered, "I intend to take Cen An back to my residence. However, the wind and snow outside are heavy, making travel difficult. I wonder when the Princess plans to return to the city? Might we be permitted to travel with you?"

Cen An narrowed his eyes. ’Something’s up with this brother of mine...’

’Looking at Song Junzhan, then at Xiao Li... Not long ago, he was treating the Prince Consort of Princess Xuanyang. This... it can’t be, can it?’