Chapter Thirteen: Probing

Shen Hezhi held a needle in his hand, pricking the scar-faced man's finger. The pain that pierces through every nerve—this was a most brutal punishment.

At that moment, Cen Changxiao deliberately turned to glance at Yan Heru, but he found her expression unchanged. Yan Heru, too, noticed his gaze yet said nothing, simply turning to leave.

Seeing her departure, Cen Changxiao lowered his head in contemplation and soon followed suit.

The two emerged from the tunnel into the courtyard. Yan Heru halted, her eyes cold as she looked at Cen Changxiao. "Did you bring me here just to witness the prince torturing someone?"

"I... Aren't you afraid?" Cen Changxiao looked at her in confusion.

Yan Heru frowned, equally perplexed. "Afraid? Afraid of the prince? Or of the scar-faced man?"

She paused briefly before continuing, "This man tried to kill the prince. If the prince had died, would you have let him go? If you cannot be ruthless to your enemy, you invite your own demise."

"Young Master Cen, I don't know what your purpose is in testing me like this, but I ask you not to engage in such pointless acts again." With that, Yan Heru turned and walked away.

Cen Changxiao rubbed his nose, suddenly feeling he had erred.

"I told you before, she is not like other women, but you didn't believe me," Shen Hezhi said, stepping out from the tunnel. Cen Changxiao turned to him, offering a helpless smile.

"Hezhi, though Sixth Miss Yan is indeed different, you wouldn't abandon Jing'er because of her, would you..." Cen Changxiao's tone grew serious.

At the mention of "Jing'er," Shen Hezhi’s face instantly turned cold. "Changxiao, I know Jing'er is your sister and you care for her. But it wasn't I who wronged her—it was she who chose to leave."

"She..." Cen Changxiao opened his mouth, but could find no words to defend her.

"I'm tired. The man in the tunnel did organize people to kill me. The emperor has grown restless lately—it seems he can't wait for my death. Keep an eye on the prince's residence," Shen Hezhi said before striding away.

Cen Changxiao nodded, gazing after Shen Hezhi's departing figure, his heart heavy with sorrow.

Jing'er... if you do not return soon, I'm afraid the prince you cherish may truly fall for another.

Shen Hezhi left the tunnel to seek Yan Heru. Upon returning to the courtyard, she was nowhere to be seen; only Yan Hecheng sat alone, lost in thought.

Shen Hezhi quietly approached Yan Hecheng. "What are you thinking about?"

Startled by the sudden voice, Yan Hecheng leaped to his feet. When he saw it was Shen Hezhi, excitement lit up his face. "Your Highness! I misunderstood you before—I'm sorry!"

Yan Hecheng's abrupt apology left Shen Hezhi a little bewildered. "What is it?"

"I... I thought you were bullying my sister, so I behaved poorly. But now I know I was wrong. Can you forgive me?" Yan Hecheng looked up at him with wide, earnest eyes.

Shen Hezhi had never been angry to begin with. "Very well, then stay here and keep your sister company. There's no need to return to that troublesome Yan residence."

He reached out and patted Yan Hecheng's head. The gesture surprised even himself—never before had he been so affectionate with anyone.

He reasoned it must be because of Yan Heru. She could cure the cold poison in his body, so naturally he would be kinder to her brother.

That was the story Shen Hezhi told himself.

He expected Yan Hecheng to accept happily, but to his surprise, the boy shook his head, leaving Shen Hezhi puzzled.

"You don't want to stay?"

"I do, I really do! But I cannot. I know how well Your Highness treats my sister, and that is enough for me. So I want to ask a favor—send me to the army." Yan Hecheng was deadly serious, and there was no trace of jest.

"Why?" Shen Hezhi pressed.

"I want to protect my sister. She has suffered too much, for too long. I want to give her someone she can rely on." Yan Hecheng's words seemed far too mature for a child.

It reminded Shen Hezhi of the courtyard where Yan Hecheng had lived. At the time, he hadn't felt disdain, only shock. The Yan family was not minor gentry—how could they so neglect their own son?

It was plain to see that Master Yan truly disliked Yan Heru and Yan Hecheng. Yet this only deepened Shen Hezhi's confusion.

Even if they were born of a concubine, that dislike seemed excessive. Yan Hecheng, after all, was a son—a direct descendant. Why would his father despise him so?

Looking at the obedient and sensible Yan Hecheng, it was impossible to imagine he had caused any great trouble.

It seemed the Yan family was small in name only; its depths were not to be underestimated.

"I can agree to your request, but I will offer no assistance. You must start as the lowest ranking soldier," Shen Hezhi replied.

"No problem!" Yan Hecheng nodded eagerly.

Seeing his earnestness, Shen Hezhi smiled. "Then you'll have to persuade your sister yourself."

"I already spoke to her. She agreed," Yan Hecheng answered.

"Very well. I'll have Shen Yi arrange it. From now on, you'll be on your own." Shen Hezhi felt a pang of pity. This boy had suffered so much.

Yet Yan Hecheng himself seemed not to mind. Overjoyed at the prospect of joining the army, he hugged Shen Hezhi tightly. "Thank you!"

The embrace left Shen Hezhi momentarily frozen.

—

Shen Hezhi left the prince’s residence and went alone to the House of Blossoms, the most famed pleasure house in the capital. Before marrying Yan Heru, he had spent nearly every night here.

When the house’s attendant saw Shen Hezhi arrive, he immediately led him to a second-floor private room. Inside, however, there was no courtesan, but rather a handsome young man.

The man's restraint was the very opposite of Shen Hezhi’s usual rakishness. He seemed the very image of ascetic allure.

Recently, Shen Hezhi had spent most of his time with Yan Heru, and much of his former mischief had faded. In her presence, he unconsciously became more proper, no longer the infamous red-clad libertine of the capital.

"You've finally come. I've waited three days for you," the man said softly.

"Every time I hear your voice, I feel as if you're trying to seduce me," Shen Hezhi replied with a laugh, settling into a nearby chair.

"Me, seduce you? I’d say it’s you who seduce me. Look at yourself—devilish good looks, dressed in red, the spitting image of a seductive young lord," the man retorted without backing down.

"Jiang Canxing, are you tired of living?" Shen Hezhi deliberately raised his voice.

Jiang Canxing immediately shrank back, grinning sheepishly, "No, no, not at all. This time I brought you a bottle of Life-Extending Balm! Just one can prolong your life for a month. If there’s truly no other way, use this. I brought three bottles in all, so if—"

"No need. My wife can save me," Shen Hezhi interrupted.

"Wife? What?" Jiang Canxing asked, baffled.