Your Highness, your wife has had her virginity mark applied and married someone else.

Shen Mingshu gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Why would Prince Wei still remember the past? Perhaps he's trying to get some lie from me again?"

Shen Mingshu's nonchalant provocation completely ignited Wei Ziye's suppressed anger!

"Do you really think I care?"

Wei Ziye released her and looked down at Shen Mingshu indifferently: "I just want to remind you that you are not even qualified to be a concubine in the Wei family now."

"..."

Looking at Wei Ziye's mouth, Shen Mingshu was truly afraid that he might poison himself to death one day.

Unfortunately, he still doesn't have the final say in the Wei family's affairs.

Shen Mingshu smoothed out her wrinkled sleeves and nodded indifferently: "Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness, please return."

Wei Ziye didn't move, his gaze slowly falling on Shen Mingshu's chest.

Shen Mingshu instinctively became alert and was about to call for help.

"hiss--!"

"what!"

A chill ran down her chest, and Shen Mingshu covered her chest in embarrassment and anger: "Wei Ziye!"

Wei Ziye coldly took out a cloth and easily bound her hands, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Men don't experience such fluctuations."

Long, slender fingers gently fiddled with her belt, her blouse opened, and Shen Mingshu stared in astonishment!

"Stop! You! Stop!"

Shen Mingshu struggled in his arms, but Wei Ziye just kept a blank face as he bound her breasts, his gaze sweeping over her fair skin—without leaving a trace.

Her clothes were quickly pulled back up, and Wei Ziye handed the belt on the ground back to Shen Mingshu, his tone unusually cold.

"Your exposure and death are minor issues; the impact on the Wei family is a major one."

Seeing the effect of his belt being practically unwrapped, Shen Mingshu angrily snatched it away: "Are you just going to fart with your mouth on?! You really like taking your pants off to fart!"

Shen Mingshu pushed him away in annoyance and rearranged her belt.

Looking at her slender waist, Wei Ziye felt that those who hadn't recognized Shen Mingshu were blind.

"You'll be exposed sooner or later if you stay here. I don't recommend going to the Heavenly Pavilion to get you the real Youth-Refining Pill."

Shen Mingshu glanced at him and said irritably, "I am not worthy of such hospitality. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

Every medicine has some degree of toxicity, especially one given by Wei Ziye.

Shen Mingshu wouldn't be greedy for such an advantage.

Wei Ziye thought she meant that her body couldn't withstand the effects of the medicine, and after a two-second silence, she suddenly explained.

"Master Shen Yangjue may know about your health condition; some things must be prioritized over minor ones."

"What's a small matter, and what's a big matter?"

Shen Mingshu turned her head and looked him straight in the eye: "Is being scorned by thousands a small matter, but merely clinging to life a big deal?"

"Wei Ziye, why don't you make the same choice for yourself?"

Wei Ziye's brows still held that cold arrogance that looked down upon the world: "I won't push myself to that point."

"Oh?"

Who would resort to jumping into a river to force marriage if they had no other choice?

Shen Mingshu gave a faint smile: "Then I wish my cousin all his wishes come true and that everything goes smoothly for him in the future."

Wei Ziye sensed Shen Mingshu's sarcastic tone and frowned as he gave her a reminder.

"Shen Mingshu, I'm talking to you nicely."

Whoever wants to speak properly is the one who binds someone else's chest first!

Shen Mingshu straightened her clothes and looked up impatiently: "Wei Ziye, you don't want me to apologize to her, do you?"

Shen Mingshu's resistance was clearly written on her face. Wei Ziye stepped forward, gripped her hand tightly, and looked at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Your physical condition is no longer just your own concern. Within three days, you either get an answer from her, or I will use you to exchange for one!"

"Wei Ziye!"

Shen Mingshu's eyes turned red with anger, and she kicked him hard!

"In your eyes, my very existence is a sin, isn't it? Compared to her, is my existence so worthless?!"

Wei Ziye was kicked in the shin. Although he didn't feel much pain, he still frowned, stung by her words.

"What nonsense are you spouting! When did I ever say that!"

Shen Mingshu didn't want to listen to him anymore. She wiped away her tears, pointed to the door, and coldly told him to leave.

"There are still three days left! Get out!"

Shen Mingshu's indifference made him feel even more suffocated. His thin lips were pressed into a tight line, and every word he spoke was filled with awkward hostility.

"Think what you want, I'm not going to explain!"

The wooden door was pulled open in frustration, then slammed shut again.

Shen Mingshu looked at the hem of her skirt fluttering in the cold wind and tightened her fingers.

……

When Wei Yuan returned, he noticed that Shen Mingshu's eyes still had a red blush. His heart tightened, and he immediately pulled Shen Mingshu aside to ask.

"He's here again?"

Shen Mingshu's eyes reddened even more as she nodded, "He told me to apologize to Shen Yangjue in exchange for finding a miracle doctor to improve my health."

Shen Mingshu's physical condition is unique in the Celestial Empire; no one in the capital could pull off such a feat.

Wei Yuan knew what Wei Ziye was investigating, but he absolutely could not bring himself to ask Shen Mingshu to apologize to Shen Yangjue.

He hugged Shen Mingshu reassuringly, "Mingshu, do you want to find out who saved you?"

Shen Mingshu remained silent for a long time before shaking her head: "If he is unwilling to show himself, it would be ungrateful of me to investigate without his consent."

But it was obvious that Wei Ziye was wary of him.

Therefore, Wei Yuan had no choice but to investigate.

Shen Mingshu pulled Wei Yuan and pleaded, "A Yuan, I don't believe that Shen Yangjue or the divine doctor could be involved in this matter. They might not even know about it and are just taking advantage of the situation to curry favor with the Wei family."

"I don't want to see her. I don't want to relive my childhood."

"Don't worry about Ming Shu, I understand."

Wei Yuan tied a short, dark bamboo stick around Shen Mingshu's waist: "Take this with you. With the guards around, no one can force you to do anything."

"Of course, if you want to deal with the Shen family, the secret guards can also help you."

Black Whistle—a token of the Night Realm!

Shen Mingshu's eyes flickered for a moment, then she asked with concern, "And what about you?"

Wei Yuan shook his head: "Thanks to the Lu family, I'm safer than Wei Ziye."

"..." is truly blessed.

Shen Mingshu hugged Wei Yuan, her jealousy tinged with bitterness: "I wish I could help you like Miss Lu did someday."

Wei Yuan chuckled: "Ming Shu, your companionship is the most beautiful gift in the world."

That night, Shen Mingshu was somewhat aroused, but Wei Yuan had already gone to sleep.

Shen Mingshu was pulled into his arms and heard him mumble, "You have to accompany me to the martial arts class at 5 a.m., so get some rest."

"What?!" Shen Mingshu exclaimed in surprise.

She's going to take Wei Ziye's class too??

……

Day two.

Shen Mingshu was carried off the bed by Wei Yuan.

With her eyes closed, Wei Yuan took care of all her changing and washing. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Wei Yuan was the one who accompanied her.

"Ming Shu, the package contains a change of clothes, books, and a water bottle. Drink when you're thirsty, and if you get tired, give some silver to the other pageboys so they can fetch water for you."

Shen Mingshu nodded dazedly, and was practically half-pulled and half-carried by Wei Yuan towards the training ground.

"It's getting late, my dear Ming Shu, hurry up."

"..." Wei Yuan was still late.

Seeing Wei Ziye's dark and sullen face, Shen Mingshu was finally fully awake.

"Heh, very good."

Wei Ziye's lips curled into a wicked and dangerous smile: "For making Master late, you will receive ten lashes from the whip and three extra laps around the playground."

"No!"